National

Saga Dawa Festival

• Sikkim is celebrating Saga Dawa, a festival that falls annually on the 15th day of the fourth month of the Northern Buddhist Calendar. 
• Saga Dawa is considered the most sacred Buddhist festival, commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and Mahaparinirvana of Buddha Shakyamuni. 
• This day is also known as the ‘Triple Blessed Occasion’.

International

International Solar Alliance

• Spain has become the 99th member of the International Solar Alliance. 
• International Solar Alliance is a collaborative platform for increased deployment of solar energy technologies as a means for bringing energy access, ensuring energy security, and driving energy transition in its member countries.
• It was conceptualized on the sidelines of the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change held in Paris in 2015.

Palestine

• Ireland, Norway and Spain announced that they will formally recognise the state of Palestine amid the tensions created by the Israel-Hamas conflict.
• The recognition of Palestine is expected to take place on May 28.

Economy

Rs 2.11 Lakh Cr Surplus to Govt

• Reserve Bank of India has approved the transfer of Rs 2,10,874 crore as surplus to the Central Government for the accounting year 2023-24. 
• This surplus transfer to the government is a 141 per cent jump over the last year’s (2022-23) dividend of Rs 87,416 crore.
• RBI normally pays the dividend from the surplus income it earns on investments and valuation changes on its dollar holdings and the fees it gets from printing currency, among others. 

Defence

Exercise Cyber Suraksha – 2024

• Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan attended Exercise Cyber Suraksha – 2024. 
• The comprehensive cyber defence exercise is being conducted by Defence Cyber Agency from 20 - 24 May 2024.

Emergency Medical Response System

• An Emergency Medical Response System (EMRS) was inaugurated by Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, Chief of the Air Staff, Indian Air Force at Command Hospital Air Force Bangalore.
• EMRS is a first of its kind 24/7 telephonic medical helpline for serving IAF personnel and their families across India.

Sports

World Para Athletics Championship

• In Para Athletics, India’s Sachin Sarjerao Khilari clinched the gold medal in the men’s shot put at the World Para Athletics Championship in Kobe, Japan.

FIH Pro Hockey League

• Indian men’s hockey team defeated Argentina 5-4 in shootout after both teams were locked at 2-2 at the end of regulation time in a FIH Pro League match in Antwerp, Belgium.

Awards & Honours

International Booker Prize

• Jenny Erpenbeck, a German author, and Michael Hofmann, her translator, have been awarded the International Booker Prize for fiction for their work on 'Kairos.'

ATD BEST Awards 2024

• POWERGRID has been conferred the prestigious ATD BEST Awards 2024 for its strategic approach to talent development driving business results.
• NTPC has achieved an impressive milestone by securing the 3rd rank globally at the ATD BEST Awards 2024. 
• NTPC is the only PSU to have received this prestigious award seven times in the past eight years.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Excellence Awards

• India’s diplomatic missions in the UAE were recognized for their outstanding work at the 5th Minister of Foreign Affairs Excellence Awards ceremony held under the patronage of Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates.
• India became the only country to receive two honours, with the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai both awarded the prestigious Shield of Honour.
• The awards were received by the Indian Ambassador to the UAE Sunjay Sudhir and Consul General at CGI Dubai Satish Kumar Sivan.

Person in News

Pandit Raghunath Murmu

• President Droupadi Murmu paid tributes to Santhali writer Pandit Raghunath Murmu on his birth anniversary.

To Lam

• Vietnam’s National Assembly approved To Lam, the Minister of Public Security, as the country’s next President following a vote at its headquarters in Hanoi.

Ramesh Babu V

• Government appointed Ramesh Babu V as Member in Central Electricity Regulatory Commission.

Miscellaneous

Buddha Purnima

• Buddha Purnima marks the birth of Prince Siddhartha Gautama, who became the Gautama Buddha and founded Buddhism. 
• This day is commemorated by Buddhists all over the world, and is a major festival in countries like India, Nepal, Bhutan, Burma, Thailand, Tibet, Korea, Laos, Vietnam, Mongolia, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia and Sri Lanka.

‘Copilot+’ PCs

• Microsoft debuted ‘Copilot+’ PCs, a new category of personal computers with AI features.