IMPORTANT DAYS

UN declared May 25 as World Football Day

•The United Nations General Assembly has designated May 25th as World Football Day.

• This resolution was passed during the 80th plenary session of the General Assembly in New York.

• 2024 marks the 100th anniversary of the inaugural international football tournament, which took place during the 1924 Summer Olympic Games in Paris.

• The proposal for this resolution was presented by Taher M. El-Sonni, the Permanent Representative of the State of Libya to the United Nations.

SUMMIT AND CONFERENCES

World Hydrogen Summit 2024

•India has set up its pavilion at the 2024 World Hydrogen Summit.

• World Hydrogen Summit 2024 is being held from May 13–15 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

• The India Pavilion stands as one of the largest at the event. It is being organized by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

• India launched its National Green Hydrogen Mission in January 2023 with an outlay of Rs 19,744 crore.

• Its main aim is to achieve a green hydrogen production capacity of 5 million tonnes by the end of 2030.

• Apart from the Green Hydrogen Mission, scheme guidelines have been notified for utilizing green hydrogen in key sectors such as steel, transportation, and shipping.

• To foster innovation and promote the Green Hydrogen ecosystem in India, the Department of Science and Technology has initiated Hydrogen Valley Innovation Clusters.

• At present, 44 per cent of India’s energy needs are met by non-fossil sources. It will surge to around 65 per cent by 2030.

STATE NEWS

IChhattisgarh's first 15-Mw floating solar plant will be set by Bhilai Steel Plant.

• Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) is set to establish Chhattisgarh's inaugural 15-megawatt (MW) floating solar project on its Maroda-1 reservoir, marking a significant milestone.

• This initiative underscores BSP's commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and embracing renewable energy solutions.

• The floating solar plant, situated in Chhattisgarh, is anticipated to produce approximately 34.26 million units of electricity annually.

• Moreover, it is projected to curtail BSP's CO2 emissions by an estimated 28,330 tonnes each year.

SPORTS

P Shyaamnikhil becomes India’s 85th Chess Grandmaster

• Tamil Nadu’s P Shyaamnikhil became India’s 85th chess Grandmaster (GM).

• He finally achieved the third GM norm in the Dubai Police Masters Chess Tournament.

• R Vaishali was the 84th Indian GM.

• Grandmaster is the highest title in chess, just below the world champion title.

NATIONAL NEWS

UNESCO's Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register

• Ramcharitmanas, Panchatantra, and Sahṛdayāloka-Locana have been included in UNESCO's Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register.

• This recognition marks a proud moment for India, underscoring the nation's rich literary and cultural heritage.

• These timeless works, including 'Ramcharitmanas', 'Panchatantra', and 'Sahṛdayāloka-Locana', have profoundly influenced Indian literature and culture, molding the moral framework and artistic expressions of the country.

• They have traversed through time and space, leaving an enduring impact on readers and artists both within and beyond India.

• It's noteworthy that 'Sahṛdayāloka-Locana', 'Panchatantra', and 'Ramcharitmanas' were composed by Pt. Acharya Anandvardhan, Vishnu Sharma, and GoswamiTulsidas, respectively./p>

• During the 10th meeting of the Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific (MOWCAP), Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts (IGNCA) played an important role in achieving a historic milestone.

• The gathering, held in Ulaanbaatar, brought together 38 representatives of member states, along with 40 observers and nominees.