Candidates aspiring to crack bank exams, SSC exams or UPSC exams know very well, the importance of preparing for current affairs section. It consists of atleast 15-20 questions.
The easiest way to scoop up full marks in this section, is to keep a track of the important daily events.With vast information available in newspapers, it will be really tough for you to follow everything at one go.
To help you in these preparations, we are here with the daily current affairs for May 19, 2020.
India elected to WHO’s Executive Board; To be chairperson for year 2020-21
India was elected to the WHO’s Executive Board along with 9 other nations – Botswana, Colombia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Madagascar, Oman, Republic of Korea, Russia and the UK.
India is set to be elected as the Chair of the World Health Organization’s decision-making Executive Board at its 73rd World Health Assembly with the Executive Board on 22 May.
The main functions of the Executive Board are to give effect to the decisions and policies of Health Assembly, to advise it and to facilitate its work.
Indian railways brings its 12000 HP made in India locomotive to operation
Indian Railways’ most powerful locomotive, the WAG12B has joined the network of Indian Railways.
• It is equipped with 12000 horse power and has been produced under Make in India programme. along with the French company Alstom.
• The train departed from Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Station at 14:08 hrs in long haul formation for Dhanbad Division of East Central Railway.
India became 6th country in the world to join the elite club of producing high horse power locomotive indigenously. Also, this is the first time,a high horse power locomotive has been operationalised on broad gauge track in the world.
WHO agrees for inquiry into the cause and origin of coronavirus spread
World Health Organization (WHO) has agreed to initiate an independent review into its handling of the coronavirus pandemic.WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, while speaking at the World Health Assembly said WHO is committed to transparency and will therefore facilitate an independent review of its response to the coronavirus outbreak.
- A resolution drafted by the European Union calling for an independent inquiry into the pandemic that has killed more than 3 lakh lives globally, was backed by more than 100 countries including India
- Of the WHO’s 194 member states, none raised objections to the resolution brought by the European Union.
Dilip Oommen is the new president of the Indian Steel Association
Dilip Oommen, CEO, Arcelor Mittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) is the new president of the Indian Steel Association (ISA).
- Oommen, an alumnus of Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur is a veteran of the steel industry with more than 37 years of experience, was unanimously appointed as president for the next two years.
- ISA represents the interests of large steelmakers to central government ministries for mining and manufacturing, prices and foreign trade.
He replaces TV Narendran, MD and CEO, Tata Steel, who stepped down from the post of president of ISA, earlier this month.
Amphan is now a Super Cyclone
The Cyclone Amphan has intensified into a super cyclone as it moved further North-Northeastwards over West Central Bay.
- Amphan is the first super cyclone to hit the region in the last two decades, ever since a super cyclone hit Odisha in 1999.
- It is likely to cross Bangladesh coast between Khulna-Chattogram on Tuesday night or evening of 20 May.
Marathi writer Ratnakar Matkari dies due to COVID-19
Marathi writer Ratnakar Matkari, aged 81, expired due to COVID-19 on Sunday.
- Matkari was considered a pioneer of children’s drama movement in Marathi.He is also a national award-winning director and producer.
- His works include 39 plays, 20 books on short stories, 13 novels and 16 children’s full-length plays.
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs announces results of star rating for garbage free cities
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has released the ‘Garbage Free Cities Rating’. Six cities – Ambikapur, Rajkot, Surat, Mysuru, Indore and Navi Mumbai have been awarded the 5-Star rating by the government.
The Star Ratings were launched by the government in January 2018 to institutionalize a mechanism for cities to achieve Garbage Free status and to motivate cities to achieve higher degrees of cleanliness.
Bill Gates recommends 5 books for summer reading
Bill Gates has listed five books to read this summer. They are:
- Good Economics for Hard Times by Nobel laureates Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo.
- The Choice by Dr Edith Eva Eger
- Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
- The Ride of a Lifetime by Bob Iger
- ‘The Great Influenza by John M Barry
India gives $2 million aid to UN agency working for Palestine refugees
India has contributed $2 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees to support the agency’s core programmes amid the coronavirus crisis.
India had increased its contribution to UNRWA from $1.25 million in 2016 to $5 million in 2018 and 2019 and pledged another $5 million for 2020.
