NITI Aayog launched the National Data & Analytics Platform (NDAP) for open public use today(13th May 2022). The platform aims to democratize access to public government data by making data accessible, interoperable, interactive, and available on a user-friendly platform. It hosts foundational datasets from various government agencies, presents them coherently, and provides tools for analytics and visualization. 

 

NDAP follows a use-case based approach to ensure that the datasets hosted on the platform are tailored to the needs of data users from government, academia, journalism, civil society, and the private sector. All datasets are standardized to a common schema, which makes it easy to merge datasets and do cross-sectoral analysis.

 

The platform was launched by Mr. Suman Bery, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog, in the presence of Mr. Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog; Dr. Anantha Nageswaran, Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India; and other senior officials from NITI Aayog, various ministries and state governments, academics and researchers..

Source : PIB

* Former Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds passed away in a car accident, Cricket Australia said on Sunday(15th May 2022). Symonds was 46.

 

* "Early information indicates shortly after 11pm the car was being driven on Hervey Range Road, near Alice River Bridge when it left the roadway and rolled," a police statement read according to cricket.com.au.

 

* "Emergency services attempted to revive the 46-year-old driver and sole occupant, however, he died of his injuries," it added.

 

* The 46-year-old had played 26 Tests and 198 one-day internationals for Australia.

 

* "Australian cricket has lost another of its very best," Cricket Australia chairman Lachlan Henderson said in a statement.

 

* "Andrew was a generational talent who was instrumental in Australia's success at World Cups and as part of Queensland's rich cricket history..

Source : Firstpost

Every year on May 16th, the International Day of Light commemorates the first successful operation of the laser by scientist and engineer "Theodore Maiman" in 1960. The laser is a prime illustration of how a scientific breakthrough may help society in areas such as communications, healthcare, and many others.

 

The International Day of Light is a global project that serves as an annual focal point for the continued enjoyment of light and its significance in science, culture, art, education, sustainable development, and disciplines as diverse as medical, communications, and energy. The broad topic of light will enable many diverse sectors of society across the world to engage in events that highlight how science, technology, art, and culture can assist UNESCO accomplish its aims of education, equality, and peace.

 

 

* Improve public knowledge of how light and light-based technologies affect everyone’s everyday life and are critical to the global society’s future growth.

* Build global educational capacity through initiatives aimed at young people, addressing gender concerns, and focusing particularly on poor and emerging economies.

* Highlight and explain the close connection between light, art, and culture, strengthening the role of optical technology in cultural heritage preservation.

* Improve international collaboration by serving as a primary information resource for activities organised by learned societies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), government agencies, educational institutions, businesses, and other partners.

* Emphasise the importance of basic research in the underlying science of light, the need for investment in light-based technologies to develop new applications, and the global need to encourage careers in science and engineering in these domains.

Source : News18

The Department of Telecommunications has launched the GatiShakti Sanchar portal, which would streamline the application and approval procedure for Right of Way (RoW) across the country. According to Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the platform would help achieve the goal of Ease of doing business for telecoms infrastructure projects, which is in line with the vision of the Hon’ble Prime Minister.

 

The prompt disposal of RoW apps by various service and infrastructure providers would allow for faster infrastructure building, which will aid in the timely deployment of 5G networks, he added. The minister praised the states’ and UTs’ contributions and collaboration with the central government in bringing the GatiShakti Sanchar portal online.

The International Day of Living Together In Peace is celebrated every year on May 16. The day is meant to signify unity in differences and diversity. People around the world come from different races, genders, nationalities, classes, colors, disabilities and birth status. But irrespective of all this diversity, “having the ability to listen to, recognise, respect and appreciate others, as well as living in a peaceful and united way,” should be our mission, according to the United Nations.

 

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF LIVING TOGETHER IN PEACE HISTORY : After World War II ended, the devastation that it caused led the United Nations to work towards saving the coming generations from the death and destruction of war. The UN strives to bring about world peace and eradicate problems faced by people internationally. This includes inequalities people face in every country on the basis of color, race, sex, birth status, disability, etcetera.

 

In 1997, the General-Assembly declared by its resolution 52/15 that the year 2000 to be observed as the International Year For Culture of Peace. The following year, it declared the period of 2001-2010 to be observed as “International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for Children of the World."

 

In 1999, by resolution 53/243, the General-Assembly adopted the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace, which is a universal mandate for the international community to follow in order to sustain peace and non-violence to protect the future generations from the peril of war.

 

Finally in 2017, the UN General-Assembly, by its resolution 72/130, declared May 16 to be observed as International Day of Living Together in Peace to promote inclusion, tolerance, solidarity and peace. Amongst the diverse communities of people..

Source : News18

Buddha Purnima 2022 : Every year Buddha Purnima is celebrated on the full moon day of the Baisakh month (April/May). This year, Buddha Purnima will be celebrated on May 16, 2022.

Buddha Purnima on Monday, May 16, 2022

 

Purnima Tithi Begins :  At 12:45 PM on May 15, 2022

Purnima Tithi Ends :  At 09:43 AM on May 16, 2022

 

It is believed that Gautama Buddha obtained Enlightenment on this day. Buddha Purnima is also known as Buddha Jayanti, Vesak, Vaishaka and Buddha's Birthday. This is believed to be the 2584th Birth Anniversary of Gautama Buddha..

Source : Times Of India

In India, the National Dengue Day is observed every year on 16th May. The day is an initiative by the Ministry of Healthy and Family Welfare, to raise awareness about dengue and its preventive measures, and preparedness for control of the vector-borne disease before the transmission season begins.

 

* Dengue is spread through the bite of the female mosquito (Aedes aegypti).

* Dengue is a mosquito-borne disease that is caused by the dengue virus of four distinct serotypes — DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3 and DEN-4.

* Dengue, which is spread by the Aedes albopictus species of mosquitos, can lead to flu-like illness such as severe muscle pain and nausea and can lead to death if not cured properly.

* Devasahayam Pillai has become the first Indian layman, who was declared a saint by Pope Francis on Sunday(15th May 2022). Pillai had embraced Christianity in the 18th century.  

 

* During the Canonisation Mass, 85-year-old pope canonised Blessed Devasahayam. The ceremony was organised in St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.  

 

* It was also attended by more than 50,000 people from all over the world. There were also government delegations for honouring the 10 new saints..

Source : WION

Vivek Kumar Dewangen, a Manipur cadre 1993 batch IAS officer, has been appointed Chairman and Managing Director of REC Ltd., Ministry of Power. In a top-level bureaucratic upheaval, the Centre has nominated senior IAS officer Nidhi Chibber"" as the chairperson of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

 

Vivek Kumar Dewangen is now the Ministry of Power’s Additional Secretary. Nidhi Chibber is the Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Heavy Industries. She is a 1994 batch Indian Administrative Service officer from the Chhattisgarh cadre. She has been appointed as the chairwoman of the CBSE with the status and pay of Additional Secretary to the Indian government.

 

* Additional Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) S Gopalakrishnan has been appointed to the Department of Health and Family Welfare.

* According to the decision, Rakesh Sarwal, Additional Secretary, NITI Aayog, would be the Managing Director of the Ministry of Minority Affairs’ National Waqf Development Corporation Ltd.

* Aditi Das Rout, the Ministry of Women and Child Development’s Joint Secretary, has been promoted to Additional Secretary.

* Additional Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat will be Shyam Bhagat Negi, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Coal.

* Manisha Sinha, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Finance’s Department of Economic Affairs, has been promoted to Additional Secretary.

* Kumar Anugreh Prasad Sinha has been promoted to Additional Secretary of the National Disaster Management Authority.

Source : Economic Times

Senior bureaucrat Nidhi Chibber has been appointed as the chairperson of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) as part of a senior-level bureaucratic reshuffle effected by the Centre on Friday(13th May 2022). Chibber, a 1994 batch IAS officer of Chhattisgarh cadre, is currently Additional Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries.

 

She has been appointed as chairperson of the CBSE in the rank and pay of Additional Secretary to the government of India, an order issued by the Personnel Ministry said. Vivek Kumar Dewangen, a 1993 batch IAS officer of Manipur cadre, has been named Chairman and Managing Director, REC Ltd., Ministry of Power. He is currently Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Power.

 

S Gopalakrishnan, Additional Secretary in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), has been appointed as Additional Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare. A total of 17 joint secretary and Additional Secretary-level officers have been appointed to different posts in the central government departments and organisations in Friday's(13th May 2022) reshuffle. .

Source : Republic World