• China successfully sent a new ocean-monitoring satellite into orbit as part of its effort to build an all-weather and round-the-clock dynamic ocean environment monitoring system which would provide early warning on marine disasters.
• The satellite was launched by a Long March-4B rocket carrying the Haiyang-2D (HY-2D) satellite from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China, the state media reported.
• The HY-2D will form a constellation with the HY-2B and HY-2C satellites to build an all-weather and round-the-clock dynamic ocean environment monitoring system of high frequency and medium and large scale, Xinhua reported.

• The World Bee Day is celebrated every year on May 20 to acknowledge the role of bees and other pollinators for the ecosystem.
• The theme of World Bee Day 2021 is “Bee engaged: Build Back Better for Bees”.
• The day marks the birth anniversary of Anton Jansa in 1734, who in the 18th century pioneered modern beekeeping techniques in his native Slovenia.
• The day was proposed by Slovenia and proclaimed by UN Member States in December 2017.
• The first World Bee Day was observed in 2018.

• US pharmaceutical giant Johnson and Johnson has joined hands with Biological-E Limited (Telangana-based Pharma Company) for the manufacturing of the COVID-19 vaccine.
• The company’s vaccine named Janssen COVID-19 vaccine is currently approved for use in the United States, the European Union, and other nations including Thailand and South Africa.

• Telangana has issued orders to implement the Ayushman Bharat Scheme in the State.
• In the backdrop of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao deciding to join the Central government’s Ayushman Bharath Scheme (PM Jana Arogya Yojana PM-JAY), the state Medical and Health Department had signed a MoU with the National Health Authority.
• Accordingly, the state Medical and Health Department had finalised the guidelines for the implementation of the Ayushman Bharath Scheme in the State.
• The CM has instructed the officials concerned to extend various medical services in tune with the guidelines. Principal Secretary (Medical and Health) SAM Rizvi issued orders to Aarogyasri Health Care trust CEO in implement the Ayushman Bhaart Scheme, according to a statement.

• Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh announced a special development grant of Rs 10 lakh to every village that achieves 100 per cent vaccination target under the State Government’s ‘Corona-Mukt Pind Abhiyan’.
• He was interacting virtually with Village Panchayats represented by more than 2,000 heads and members across over 4,000 live locations in the rural parts of the state through LED screens.

About ‘Corona-Mukt Pind Abhiyan’:

• Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, while announcing the scheme, said that there is a “need to avoid the kind of situation that was prevailing in the villages of Uttar Pradesh”.

• Trinamool Congress govt has approved the setting up of a Legislative Council in West Bengal
• West Bengal Legislative Council remained in existence till 1969 and was abolished 50 years ago by a coalition government of Left parties.
• Currently, six states namely Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka have a Legislative Council.
• Article 168 of the Constitution empowers  Legislative Assembly to create or abolish Legislative Council.

• In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to the poor, the Government of India has decided to allocate free-of-cost food grains @ 5 Kg per person per month to nearly 80 Crore beneficiaries covered under National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) over and above NFSA foodgrains for next two months i.e. May and June 2021 on the same pattern as the earlier “Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY)”.
• Under this special scheme (PMGKAY), around 80 Crore NFSA beneficiaries covered under both categories of NFSA, namely Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Householders (PHH), will be provided with an additional quota of free-of-cost foodgrains (Rice/Wheat) at a scale of 5 Kg per person per month, over and above their regular monthly entitlements under NFSA.
• Government of India will bear full expenditure of over Rs 26,000 Crore on account of cost of food grains, intrastate transportation etc. as part of Central assistance to States/UTs.

• Shakti Theaters Abu Dhabi has announced the Abu Dhabi Shakti Thayat Awards as part of its efforts to find and promote creative Malayalam writers.
• TK Ramakrishnan, a former Minister of Culture who has been the Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Shakti Awards Committee since its formation in 1987.
• Shakti TK was established in memory of Ramakrishnan.
• Writer T Padmanabhan received the Ramakrishnan Award.
• The cultural award carries a cash prize of Rs 500,000, a sculpture and a citation.
• The following are the recipients of the Abu Dhabi Shakti Awards, which have been given since 1987 with the aim of honoring and encouraging the writers who have contributed to the growth and development of Malayalam literature.

Download Daily GK PDF of 20 May 2021