1 Vaishali Ramesh Babu got the title of Grandmaster
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) on May 2 honored young Indian chess player Vaishali Ramesh Babu with the title of Grandmaster . Vaishali is the third Indian woman Grandmaster after Koneru Humpy and Harika Dronavalli . Vaishali had achieved the required 2500 ELO points for Grandmaster at the Llobregat Open tournament in Spain last year. The title was officially announced after the FIDE Council meeting during the Candidates Tournament in Toronto. Viswanathan Anand is the first Indian player to become a chess grandmaster. Koneru Humpy is the first Indian woman to win the Grandmaster title. The youngest Indian chess grandmaster is R. It is Pragananand. The Indian state with the most number of Grandmaster titles is Tamil Nadu. The International Chess Federation (Fédération Internationale des Échecs – FIDE) is the governing body of the game of chess and controls all international chess competitions.
2 NPCI will create payment system like UPI for Namibia
On May 2, National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) announced to help International Payments Limited (NIPL) develop a UPI-like instant payment system for Namibia . NIPL has signed an agreement with Bank of Namibia (BON) for this. The agreement aims to enhance digital financial services in the African country, supporting real-time person-to-person (P2P) and merchant payment transactions (P2M). This is NPCI’s first collaboration with a central bank to deploy the UPI stack in the international market.
3 At the invitation of the Election Commission of India, 75 international visitors from election management bodies of 23 countries came to witness the world’s largest elections
As a symbol of electoral credibility and transparency , the Election Commission exemplifies its commitment to conduct general elections with the highest standards in the country while offering global election management bodies (EMBs) a first-hand view of democratic excellence in India . The Election Commission has been continuously promoting international cooperation through the organization of International Election Visitors Program (IEVP) during the ongoing Lok Sabha Elections 2024 . In terms of scale and magnitude of participation, this will be the first event involving 23 countries namely- Bhutan, Mongolia, Australia, Madagascar, Fiji, Kyrgyz Republic, Russia, Moldova, Tunisia, Seychelles, Cambodia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh 75 delegates representing various election management bodies (EMBs) and organizations from Kazakhstan, Georgia, Chile, Uzbekistan, Maldives, Papua New Guinea and Namibia will participate. Members of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and media teams from Bhutan and Israel will also participate.
4 Amul will sponsor America and South Africa in T20 World Cup
Indian milk products manufacturer Amul will sponsor the US and South Africa teams during the T20 World Cup in June . The cricket boards of both the teams made this announcement. America will make its debut as co-host in the tournament starting June 1. Many matches in the tournament including semi-finals and final will be held in West Indies. The first match of the World Cup will be between America and Canada on June 1. Amul has previously been a sponsor of Netherlands, South Africa and Afghanistan. Amul milk is now sold in America also.
5 Mumps cases are increasing rapidly in India
Mumps is a viral disease caused by the mumps virus , which belongs to the paramyxovirus family . This virus targets the salivary glands , causing painful swelling of the parotid glands located between the ear and jaw . This inflammation, known as parotitis, gives the affected child a distinctive “ chipmunk cheeks ” appearance. The mumps virus is highly contagious and is spread by direct contact with an infected person’s saliva or respiratory droplets released by coughing, sneezing or talking. It can also be spread by sharing contaminated objects like toys, cups or utensils.
6 ICICI Bank included in the top 5 companies of India, whose market cap crossed Rs 8 trillion.
In a remarkable achievement , ICICI Bank has registered its name among the top five companies of the country in terms of market capitalization by crossing Rs 8 trillion . Shares of the private lender rose more than 5%, pushing its market value to new heights and cementing its position as a financial powerhouse. Following in the footsteps of HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank has become the second bank in India to cross the Rs 8 trillion market capitalization milestone. This achievement underlines the Bank’s strong financial performance, strong growth prospects and investor confidence. In terms of market capitalization, in the top club of the top five companies of India, Reliance Industries is at first place with Rs 19.8 lakh crore while Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is at second place with Rs 14 lakh crore. Among banks, HDFC Bank is at the top with a market capitalization of Rs 11.6 lakh crore, while State Bank of India is at the top with a market capitalization of Rs 7.4 lakh crore.
7 Micron India’s Sanand unit to launch first batch of domestic semiconductor chips in 2025
Micron India ‘s Sanand unit to produce its inaugural batch of domestically manufactured semiconductor chips in 2025 with a focus on global exports is set to launch . Managing Director Anand Ramamurthy underlined the growing global demand, strategic partnerships and diverse applications spanning across sectors, particularly emphasizing the lack of agility and talent in niche domains such as cyber security.
8 Elected women representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions participated in the event “Localization of SDGs: Women Leadership in Local Governance in India” on the sidelines of CPDI57 in New York on 3 May 2024
On May 3, 2024, the day marked a momentous occasion as the rousing voices of women representatives echoed in the hallowed halls of the United Nations Headquarters . Elected Women Representatives (EWRs) from Panchayati Raj Institutions across India graced the sidelines of CPD57 . The title of the event was ” Localizing the SDGs: Women’s Leadership in Local Governance in India “. In this, the women representatives enthralled the audience with their inspiring stories and transformative initiatives. Three eminent women Panchayat leaders Mrs. Supriya Das Dutta, Mrs. Kunuku Hema Kumari and Mrs. Neeru Yadav empowered women and girls through initiatives like tackling child marriage, promoting education, financial inclusion, livelihood opportunities, environmental sustainability and sports. Inspired by his groundbreaking work of creating. Their stories exemplify the tenacity and impact of women’s leadership in realizing the SDGs. In this programme, impressive interactive presentations were made by three eminent women elected representatives, namely, Mrs. Supriya Das Dutta from Tripura, Mrs. Kunuku Hema Kumari from Andhra Pradesh, and Mrs. Neeru Yadav from Rajasthan.
9 India to host BWF World Junior Championships in Guwahati next year
India will host the World Junior Badminton Championships at the National Center of Excellence in Guwahati next year . BWF, the global governing body of the sport, gave this information. This will be the first time since 2008 that this prestigious competition of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) will be organized in India. The 2026 edition of the BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Final will be held in Horsens, Denmark .
10 West Indies cricketer Devon Thomas banned for 5 years
On May 2, the International Cricket Council (ICC) banned West Indies player Devon Thomas from cricket for 5 years . He was accused of fixing in the cricket leagues of Sri Lanka, UAE and West Indies. Thomas pleaded guilty to the charges, resulting in his sentence being reduced by 18 months. Wicketkeeper Devon Thomas has debuted for West Indies in all three formats. He has played one Test, 21 ODIs and 12 T20s.
11 International Firefighters Day: 4 May
International Firefighters Day is celebrated every year on 4th May . This day is celebrated to recognize the sacrifice of firefighters. Furthermore, the day creates awareness to ensure that the environment and communities are as safe as possible. International Firefighters Day is celebrated on 4 May as it is also Saint Florian’s Day . St. Florian was one of the commanding firefighters of the Roman battalion. He saved many lives and is considered the patron saint of firefighters. He saved an entire burning village in ancient Rome.
12 International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action 2024
International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action , observed each year on 4 April , serves as a poignant reminder of the dangers posed by landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) around the world . The day not only highlights the urgent need for collective action to address these threats but also celebrates the progress made in mine action efforts globally. The theme of the 2024 International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, observed on 4 April, is “ Protecting Life. Focuses on “Protecting Lives. Building Peace. ”
13 Famous author Paul Auster dies at the age of 77
Renowned American novelist and filmmaker Paul Auster has died at the age of 77. The prolific author, best known for his acclaimed work “ The New York Trilogy, ” died of complications from lung cancer at his home in Brooklyn, New York. Her first memoir, “The Invention of Solitude,” which dealt with her father’s death, received favorable reviews upon its publication in 1982. However, it was the “New York Trilogy” – consisting of “City of Glass,” “Ghosts,” and “The Locked Room” – that brought him widespread fame. This postmodern take on detective fiction explored themes of identity and the existence of knowledge.
