1. World Bank approves USD 1 bn aid to India to accelerate COVID-19 social protection response programme

• World Bank has approved one billion US dollar 'Accelerating India’s COVID-19 Social Protection Response Programme' to support India. Total commitment from the Bank towards emergency COVID-19 response in India is two billion US dollars. 
• This new support will be funded in two phases - an immediate allocation of 750 million US dollars for fiscal year 2020 and a 250 million US dollar second tranche that will be made available for fiscal year 2021.
• World Bank India Head Junaid Ahmad has praised India's economic stimulus package on private channels as tactical and sign of commitment. The first phase of the operation will be implemented country wide through the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana.
• It will immediately help scale-up cash transfers and food benefits, using a core set of pre-existing national platforms and programmes such as the Public Distribution System and Direct Benefit Transfers and provide robust social protection for essential workers involved in COVID-19 relief efforts. It will also benefit vulnerable groups, particularly migrants and informal workers, who face high risks of exclusion under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana.

Foot Notes: About World Bank
Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
President: David Malpass
Membership: 189 countries (IBRD); 173 countries (IDA)
Purpose: Economic development

2. HRD Minister e-launches seven titles on "Psycho-Social Impact of Pandemic & Lockdown and How to Cope With" under corona studies series

• Human Resources Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank e-Launched print as well as e-editions of the set of seven titles on "Psycho-Social impact of pandemic and lockdown and how to Cope With".It has been published under the corona studies series published by National Book Trust, NBT India. 
• To counter the formidable circumstances that the world is facing these days, NBT has brought out these remarkable and unparalleled set of books.
• He hoped that these books serve as guides to mental well-being of people at large.

3. Landing Craft Utility Ship 'INLCU L57' commissioned into Indian Navy in Port Blair

• Landing Craft Utility Ship 'INLCU L57' commissioned into Indian Navy in Port Blair. The indigenously designed ship have been built by Garden Reach Shipbuilder and Engineers, GRSE, Kolkata. 
• This is the seventh Landing Craft Utility (LCU) MK-IV class to be inducted into Indian Navy.
• It is an amphibious vessel with a designated primary role of transporting and deploying main battle tanks like Arjun, T72 etc. armoured vehicles, troops and equipment from ship to shore. The ship can also be deployed for multirole activities like search and rescue, disaster relief operation, supply and replenishment and evacuation from distant islands. 
• The ship is fitted with state-of-art equipment and an advanced system.

Foot Notes:
Chief of the Naval Staff : Admiral Karambir Singh.
Commander-in-chief: President Ram Nath Kovind
Defence Minister: Rajnath Singh

4. India’s CO2 emissions falls for the 1st time in four decades: Carbon Brief

• According to an analysis by the environmental website, Carbon Brief, India’s Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions fell by 30 metric tonnes(1.4%) in the fiscal year ending March, which is the first annual decline in four decades. 
• Furthermore, emission fell by 15% during the month of March and is likely to fall by 30% in April.

Foot Notes: About Carbon Brief
It is a United Kingdom based website covering the latest developments in climate science, climate policy and energy policy.
Headquarters: London, UK
Director & editor: Leo Hickman

5. ARCI scientists develop next-generation biodegradable metal implants

• Scientists at the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI) and Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences, Thiruvananthapuram both autonomous institutes under the Department of Science & Technology (DST) have jointly developed new generation Iron-Manganese based alloys for biodegradable metal implants for use in humans.
• Biodegradable materials (Fe, Mg, Zn, and polymer), which can participate in the healing process and then degrade gradually by maintaining the mechanical integrity without leaving any implant residues in the human body are better alternatives to currently used metallic implants which remain permanently in the human body and can cause long-term side effects like systemic toxicity, chronic inflammation, and thrombosis.

Foot Notes:
About ARCI(International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials):
Director: Dr G. Padmanabham
Founded: 1997
Headquarters: Hyderabad

6. Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana to be launched by Chhattisgarh from May 21

• The Chhattisgarh State Government is to launch the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana. The scheme is to be launched on May 21, 2020. The scheme is being launched to commemorate the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
• Under the scheme, the farmers are to be paid Rs 10,000 per acre for the crops such as sugarcane, corn and paddy. The scheme will benefit more than 1.87 million farmers. The funds are to be transferred to the farmers based on the registered and notified areas for oilseeds and pulses
• It is to be noted that Telangana became the first state to tell the farmers what to grow. And through this, the state government has reduced the paddy growing to 50 lakh acres. Also, it will prioritize the other required food grains based on the requirement of the state.

Foot Notes: About Chattisgarh
Chief Minister: Bhupesh Baghel
Capital: Raipur
Governor: Anusuiya Uikey

7. Delhi police launches 'Thermal Corona Combat Drone-(TCCD)' to enhance social distancing

• The Delhi Police has also launched a 'Thermal Corona Combat Drone-(TCCD)' in collaboration with Indian Robotics Solution (IRS).
• The drone is fitted with a day-vision camera that can see the real image of the personnel, a disinfectant tank to sanitise an area when a suspected person is taken away for further tests, a spotlight with a night utility camera, a loudspeaker for giving instructions and a medical box to carry essentials like medicines or portable coronavirus testing kits.
• It also launched ‘Thermal Corona Combat Headgear’ through which police personnel will be able to detect the temperature of a large number of people from a distance of 10-15 metres.
• With the help of this equipment, live imagery can also be sent to a centralised control centre.

8. World Telecommunication and Information Society Day: 17 May 

• World Telecommunication and Information Society Day is observed to raise awareness about the use of technology and the importance it plays in the current scenario. 
• The world is connected despite being geographically distant because today we can connect to each other at any time using the technology.
• The theme for World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2020 is “Connect 2030: ICTs for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”.
• May 17 is celebrated as the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, as it marks the anniversary of the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention and the creation of the International Telecommunication Union.

9.  Rajesh Goel appointed as Director-General of NAREDCO

• Realtors body National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO) has appointed Rajesh Goel as director-general (DG) of the association. 
• Earlier, Goel was serving as the chairman and managing director, Hindustan Prefab Ltd.
• Rajesh Goel is a professional with over 37 years of experience in leading PSUs under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, superannuated in November 2019 as the chairman and managing director of Hindustan Prefab Ltd.
• NAREDCO and CREDAI are the two major associations of real estate developers across the country.

Foot Notes:
About NAREDCO(National Real Estate Development Council):
Founded: 1998
Parent organization: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
Headquarters: New Delhi
President: Niranjan Hiranandani

10. President Ram Nath Kovind decides to forego 30% of his salary for a year

• In a bid to make more resources available for coronavirus COVID-19 relief measures, President Ram Nath Kovind has decided to forego 30 percent of his salary for a year.
• The President took the step after contributing one month’s salary to the PM-CARES Fund in March.
• President Kovind has given instructions to the Rashtrapati Bhavan to set an example by economising the expenditure, making optimal usage of resources, and dovetailing the saved money to combat COVID-19 and mitigate the people’s economic plight.