Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 10th May 2024

National News 

1.DRDO hands over nine defence tech projects to IIT-Bhubaneswar 

• Nine projects sanctioned from the electronics and communication systems (ECS) cluster of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) were handed over to IIT-Bhubaneswar. 
• Seven more projects are in the process of being sanctioned from ECS with a funding of Rs 18 crore. 
• The IIT-Bhubaneswar will work on these sanctioned projects, which would be beneficial in electronics warfare, AI-driven surveillance, power systems and radar systems. 
• This form of collaboration will enhance the sustainability of defence research programmes and will be part of the ecosystem for nation building. 

About Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) 

• Founded – 1 January 1958 
• Headquarters – New Delhi 
• Motto – “Strength’s Origin is in Knowledge” 
• Chairman – Samir V Kamat 

2. Indian Coast Guard sign MoU with Hindalco Industries 

• Indian Coast Guard has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hindalco Industries for manufacturing and supply of indigenous marine-grade aluminium for construction of ships. 
• The Indian Coast Guard fleet is presently operating 67 ships with aluminium hull with capability of operating in shallow waters. 
• Indian Coast Guard has planned to induct more such vessels where the indigenously manufactured marine-grade aluminium will be utilised. 

3. Indian fintech company Setu launches India's first banking, financial services and insurance focused large language model 'Sesame' 

• Setu, a leading Indian fintech company and part of Pine Labs Group, has unveiled 'Sesame', India's first Large Language Model (LLM) designed specifically for the banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) sector. 
• Developed in collaboration with indigenous AI research firm Sarvam AI, this groundbreaking initiative marks a significant milestone in the adoption of advanced AI technologies in the financial services industry. 
• Sesame was unveiled at Adbhut India, an event organized by nonprofit People + AI, in the presence of prominent people from the fintech, AI and digital public infrastructure domains, including Nandan Nilekani, Shankar Maruwada and Tanuj Bhojwani. 
• Setu and Sarvam AI have hailed this development as a “ChatGPT moment” for the BFSI sector, underscoring its potential to revolutionize financial services. 
• Sesame leverages the rich data ecosystem enabled by India's digital infrastructure to power various features including better credit underwriting, fraud detection, loan monitoring, upsell or cross-sell and personal finance advice. 
• One of the key strengths of Sesame is its ability to utilize large amounts of financial data available internally and externally in a compliant manner. This approach enables enterprise customers to make better and faster credit decisions, while also providing hyper-personalized financial services to their customers across their entire lifecycle. 
• Setu, founded in 2018 by Sahil Kini and Nikhil Kumar, is an API infrastructure provider that offers services like bill payments, savings, credit, and payments. 
• Sarvam was founded in July 2023 by Vivek Raghavan and Pratyush Kumar, who previously worked at Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani-backed AI4India. The company received approximately $41 million in funding from Lightspeed. 

4. India’s ties with Maldives of great value: Jaishankar 

• India’s relations with Maldives rest on the twin important pillars of “mutual interests” and “reciprocal sensitivity”, said External Afiairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday. 
• The remarks came during his interaction with the visiting Foreign Minister of Maldives, Moosa Zameer, when South Block also confirmed that “competent Indian technical personnel” have reached Maldives to look after the aviation platforms that India maintained in the archipelago nation for humanitarian purposes. 
• “The world is today passing through a volatile and uncertain period. In such times, as we saw during COVID, natural disasters and economic di culties, close partnerships with neighbours are of great value,” said Mr. Jaishankar at the meeting.

5. Findings of EAC-PM working paper being misreported, says think tank 

• The Population Foundation of India (PFI) on Thursday night expressed deep concern about media reports misrepresenting the data set put out by the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) in a recently published working paper on the share of religious minorities in 167 countries, including India. 
• The PFI, an independent think tank working on population trends and reproductive/sexual health, said that media outlets were misreporting the findings contained in the working paper “to spread alarm regarding the growth of the Muslim population”. “Such interpretations are not only inaccurate but also misleading and baseless,” it said. 
• In the working paper titled “Share of religious minorities: a cross-country analysis (1950-2015)” published on May 7, the EACPM examines the shares of majority and minority religious communities in populations of 167 countries, including India. 
• The paper said that for India, while the share in population of Muslims increased by 43.15% in this time period, the share in population of Hindus decreased by 7.82%, adding that in 1950, Hindus’ share in population was 84.68%, which came down to 78.06% in 2015. 
• Similarly, Muslims’ share had risen from 9.84% to 14.09%. The 2011 Census had counted 96.63 crore Hindus, 79.8% of the population and 17.22 crore Muslims, 14.2% of the population, at the time. 
• The working paper has expressed the difierence in populations between 1950 and 2015 as a percentage of the population of those respective religious groups in 1950. As a result, the Muslim community’s difierence in share of population, which is a rise of 4.25 percentage points, is being expressed as a “43.15% increase” compared to the Muslim population as of 1950. 
• Using this method, the paper has concluded that Hindus’ share declined by 7.82%, Christians’ rose by 5.38%, Sikhs’ went up by 6.58%, and that of Parsis went down by 85%. 
• It has not used this presentation of data for Buddhists and Jains. If one were to apply the same calculations, it would show the Buddhist population had increased by 1,520% when in fact their share had increased from 0.05% to 0.81% in the total population. 
• Meanwhile, the PFI pointed out in its statement, “Successful family planning programmes in Muslim-majority countries like Bangladesh and Indonesia have resulted in lower birth rates compared to India. 
• These countries have achieved this through higher levels of female education, greater employment opportunities, and better access to contraceptive choices. This clearly shows that fertility decline is in uenced by development factors rather than religious aliliation.” 
• “The media’s selective portrayal of data is an example of misrepresentation that ignores broader demographic trends,” the PFI statement said. The PFI added that successive Censuses have shown that the decadal growth rate of Muslims has been on the decline for three decades now. 
• It also noted that National Family Health Surveys had also shown that the total fertility rate (TFR) in India was declining, with the largest decline being seen amongst Muslims. 

International News 

6. India overtook Japan to become world’s 3rd largest solar power generator in 2023 

• Due to rapid growth in installed solar power capacity, India became the third-largest solar power generator in 2023. 
• The 5th “Global Electricity Review” report published by the United Kingdom-based global think tank Ember said that India, which was ranked ninth in 2015, jumped to third position in 2023, overtaking Japan. 
• India saw the world’s fourth-largest increase in solar generation in 2023 (+18 terawatt hour or TWh), behind China (+156 TWh), the United States (+33 TWh) and Brazil (+22 TWh). 
• Together, the top four solar growth countries accounted for 75 per cent of growth in 2023. 
• The global solar generation in 2023 was more than six times larger than in 2015. 
• Solar’s contribution to electricity generation in India increased from 0.5 per cent in 2015 to 5.8 per cent in 2023. 
• According to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) “Net Zero Emissions” scenario, solar would increase to 22 per cent of global electricity generation by 2030. 

Top 10 Solar Power-Generating Countries 

1. China 
2. United States of America 
3. India 
4. Japan 
5. Germany 
6. Brazil 
7. Australia 
8. Spain 
9. Italy 
10. South Korea 

7. Zomato unveils weather services infrastructure 

• Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal has launched India’s first crowd-supported weather network with over 650 weather stations, the largest private setup in India, for real-time local weather data. 
• These weather stations, developed by Zomato, provide localised, real-time information on key weather parameters such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, rainfall, among others can be seen at http://weatherunion.com. 
• Initially available in 45 major cities, plans are underway for expansion. 

8. According to the United Nations Immigration Agency, India became the first country in the world to cross the $100 billion mark in global remittances

• The United Nations Migration Agency said India has become the first country in the world to reach and surpass the $100 billion mark in global remittances. NRIs have sent 111 billion dollars to their country in the year 2022. 
• According to the World Migration Report, 2024, released by the United Nations International Organization for Migration in Dhaka, Bangladesh on May 8, 2024, India, Mexico and China were the top three remittance recipient countries in 2022, followed by the Philippines, France and Pakistan. 
• Mexico, with inward remittances of $61 billion, was the second largest recipient, surpassing China at $51 billion. 
• Three South Asian countries, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, are among the top ten recipients of international remittances in the world. This underlines labor migration from the region. 
• The UN World Migration Report 2024 highlighted India's steady growth in remittances, from $53.48 billion in 2010 to $111.22 billion in 2022. India is the source of the largest number of international migrants – about 18 million, with large diasporas in the UAE, the US and Saudi Arabia. 
• The US and Saudi Arabia were the top two in the list of foreign remittance senders, with outflows of $79 billion and $39 billion respectively in 2022. Migrants sent an estimated $831 billion in international remittances globally in 2022, up from $791 billion in 2021 and $717 billion in 2020. 

United Nations Migration Agency 

• In 1970, there were only 84 million international migrants, accounting for 2.3% of the world population. As of mid-2020 (according to the latest available data), approximately 280 million people lived in a country other than their country of birth, which is 3.6% of the world population. 
• The Mexico-to-US corridor, with a population of about 11 million people, is the largest in the world. This is followed by the Syrian Arab Republic to Turkey and the Russian to Ukraine corridors. The India-UAE corridor is the fourth largest. There were 3.47 million Indians in the UAE. 

9. European Union adopts first law to deal with violence against women 

• The EU adopted the first legislation to combat violence against women on 7 May 2024, including action against forced marriage, female genital mutilation and online harassment, but failed to set out a common definition of rape. 
• The sweeping law aims to protect women in the group of 27 countries from gender-based violence, forced marriage and female genital mutilation. 
• It also criminalizes cyber violence against women, including online stalking, harassment, incitement to hatred or violence, and sharing of intimate images without consent. 
• According to the new law, these crimes will have a minimum prison sentence of one to five years, depending on the crime. 
• The law also provides that if the victim is a child, spouse or exspouse, the punishment against the offender can be made more severe. The new law will also make it easier for victims of domestic abuse to report crimes. 

European Union 

• The law requires countries to introduce measures to protect children. If a child reports a crime committed by someone with parental responsibility, authorities must take measures to ensure that the child is safe before notifying the alleged perpetrator. 
• The inclusion of an EU-wide definition of rape became a point of contention during the negotiations. Countries like Italy and Greece were in favor of including such a definition, but Germany and France opposed it, saying that the EU does not have competence in this matter. 
• Maastricht Treaty-1992: Also called the Treaty of European Union, this treaty was signed by the members of the European Community in Maastricht, Netherlands on February 7, 1992 to further European integration. The European Communities (ECSC, EAEC and EEC) were incorporated as the European Union. 

10. Infosys is the first IT company in the world to receive ISO 42001:2023 certification for AI. 

• Global leader Infosys said it has been certified by TUV India for its Artificial Intelligence Management System (AIMS) framework to ISO 42001:2023, the world's first international standard on AI management systems. 
• Salil Parekh, CEO, Infosys, said, “We became the first IT services company globally to achieve ISO 42001-2023 certification, validating our commitment to excellence in AI management. 
• This ISO 42001:2023 from TUV India (part of the TUV Nord Group), a leading independent provider of technical quality and safety services, is the world's first international standard on AI management systems. 
• This AIMS framework is a part of the Infosys Topaz Responsible AI Suite, a set of 10+ offerings built around the Scan, Shield, and Steer frameworks. This certification underlines Infosys' dedication towards responsible AI practices, increasing accountability and reducing risks associated with AI initiatives. 
• ISO 42001:2023 certification provides a clear roadmap and systematic approach to AI management through effective risk mitigation and streamlined processes. 
• The Infosys Topaz Responsible AI Suite aims to monitor AI models and systems and protect them from risks and threats, as well as enable businesses to implement AI responsibly. 
• Founded in 1981, Infosys is a NYSE listed global consulting and IT services company with over 317k employees. From a capital of US$250, we have become a US$18.6 billion (LTM Q4 FY24 revenue) company with a market capitalization of US$74.42 billion. 

11. Anandana, Coca-Cola India Foundation announce their first partnership with National Women's Hockey League 

• Anandana, Coca-Cola India Foundation, announced its first partnership with Hockey India for the National Women's Hockey League 2024. The first phase of the tournament began on 30 April, and will conclude on 9 May 2024, in Ranchi, Jharkhand. 
• The National Women's Hockey League comprises the teams that secured the top eight positions in the recently concluded 14th Hockey India Senior Women's National Championship 2024 in Pune. The participating athletes represent various states including Haryana, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Bengal, Mizoram, Manipur and Odisha. 
• In line with Coca-Cola India's commitment to sports, the three year collaboration underlines its role in positively shaping the sports and gender equality landscape. 
• The partnership also aligns with the company's #SheTheDifference campaign, an initiative to celebrate, uplift and support women. 
• This strategic partnership aims to uplift women's hockey by tackling essential components such as specialized coaching, provision of training equipment, nutritional support and organizing camps and tournaments to promote development. 
• Sporting Ethos, Coca Cola's implementing partner of the programme, provides valuable support to players to reach their full potential and bring out the best in the Indian sporting landscape. 

12. Taliban are trying to install their nominees in India, cautions Afghan diplomat 

• Days after Afghanistan’s most senior diplomat in India resigned over charges of smuggling, diplomats still loyal to the previous democratic regime in Kabul warn that the Taliban are making another attempt to install a nominee in India, and urged India and other countries not to “normalise” ties with the Taliban. 
• The warnings came amidst turmoil within Afghanistan’s Delhi Embassy and Consulates in Mumbai and Hyderabad and a scandal involving a top diplomat accused of smuggling gold, that has left the missions in India practically leader-less. “Normalisation and recognition should not occur until they take tangible actions aligned with the demands of the Afghan people and the international community, focusing on the formation of an inclusive system based on the will of the people, justice, and the rule of law,” Afghanistan’s Acting Permanent Representative to the United Nations Naseer Ahmad Faiq told The Hindu, pointing to many countries in the region that have now accepted Taliban-appointed diplomats. 
• However, the United Nations has refused to grant accreditation to new diplomats at the UN mission, citing the Taliban’s unkept promises on inclusive government, human rights and education and employment rights to women and girls. 
• Diplomatic sources confirmed to The Hindu this week that the Afghanistan Embassy in Delhi has also received documents appointing an India-based Afghan academic reportedly cleared by the Taliban Foreign Ministry in Kabul for the post of Acting ConsulGeneral in Mumbai. 
• If granted permission by the Ministry of External A airs (MEA), the academic, who is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at the South Asian University in Delhi, could become the first Talibanappointed diplomat to take office at Afghan missions in India. 
• Mr. Faiq acknowledged the reports on the new consul’s appointment attempt in India, saying that the Taliban are “inserting people” into missions worldwide as a means to “gain recognition” . 

State News 

13. Krishikalp launches India's first accelerator program for farmer producer organizations in Bengaluru 

• Krishikalpa, a non-profit organization, has launched India's first accelerator program for farmer producer organizations in Bengaluru, Karnataka. 
• National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, NABARD has provided financial support for this initiative. Krishikalpa will transform Farmer-Producer Organizations – (FPOs) into sustainable rural businesses, thereby driving positive change in the agricultural ecosystem. 
• This will help FPOs to connect to markets and resources. Krishikalpa will also help in developing entrepreneurial skills, supply chain management and providing market orientation training to the members of the FPO. 
• NABARD will work on cost-effective business strategies to bridge critical gaps in the agricultural value chain. This will help FPOs to deal with risk mitigation, knowledge sharing and incremental revenue growth for farmers. 
• Earlier, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has set up a fund of Rs 1,000 crore to promote technologydriven agricultural startups and rural enterprises. 
• Additionally, Rs 750 crore has been set aside for seed investment to foster additional innovative solutions. This blended capital support will be initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture and managed by NabVentures, a wholly owned subsidiary of NABARD. 
• NABARD is the apex development bank of India established in 1982 through an Act of Parliament. It was formed on 30 March 1979 on the recommendations of the Craficard Committee constituted under the chairmanship of Shri B. Sivaraman, former member of the Planning Commission. 
• It was dedicated to the service of the nation on 05 November 1982 by the late Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi. 

Appointment News

14. Keki Mistry appoints as Chairman of HDFC Life

• The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDAI) has approved the appointment of Keki Mistry as chairman of HDFC Life. 
• Last month, the company had appointed Mistry as the chairman of the board, following the decision of Deepak S. Parekh to step down as the chairman and non-executive director of the company. 
• Mistry, who was the vice chairman and CEO of HDFC Limited was designated as a non-executive director on the board of HDFC Bank Limited following the amalgamation of HDFC Limited with HDFC Bank. 
• Mistry is also a director on the boards of multiple other companies. He is a qualified chartered accountant and a fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. 

Recent Appointment in Banking & Insurance Sector 

• Head of Key Relations Group in SBI General Insurance – Jaya Tripathi 
• CEO of Paytm Money – Rakesh Singh 
• MD & CEO of Ujjivan Small Finance Bank – Sanjeev Nautiyal (replace Ittira Davis) effect from 1 July 2024 
• Executive Director of Ujjivan SFB – Carol Furtado (3 years) 
• Chairman of HDFC Bank – Atanu Chakraborty (reappointment for 3 years) 

15. R Shankar Raman elevated as President of L&T 

• Larsen and Toubro was elevated R Shankar Raman as the President of the engineering and construction conglomerate. 
• Post the promotion, Raman will continue to hold the position of the whole-time Director and CFO of the company as well. 
• Raman joined the L&T Group in November 1994 to set up L&T Finance Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary. He later assumed the role of CFO at L&T and was appointed to the board in October 2011. 

Recent Appointment 

• Director in Ministry of Ayush – Subodh Kumar 
• Country Manager for Visa India – Sujai Raina 
• DG of National Institute of Solar Energy – Mohammad Rihan 
• Head of GST Appellate Tribunal – Sanjaya Kumar Mishra (for 4 years) 
• MD of Raymond -Gautam Hari Singhania 

Awards News

16. Vyjayanthimala, Chiranjeevi receive Padma Vibhushan 

• Actors Vyjayanthimala Bali and Konidela Chiranjeevi; the late M. Fathima Beevi, the first woman judge of the Supreme Court; and Mumbai Samachar owner Hormusji N. Cama were among the eminent persons given the Padma awards by President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday. 
• Ladakh’s spiritual leader Togdan Rinpoche and Tamil actor ‘Captain’ Vijayakant (both posthumous), BJP leader O. Rajagopal, and Kundan Vyas, group editor and CEO of Gujarati newspaper Janmabhoomi, were also given the Padma awards. While 90-year-old Ms. 
• Bali and 68-year-old Mr. Chiranjeevi were given the Padma Vibhushan, Mr. Cama, Mr. Rajagopal, Mr. Vyas, Vijayakant, Rinpoche, and Beevi were given the Padma Bhushan. 

17. OTT play bagged INMA Global Media Awards 2024 

• OTTplay has bagged the Gold for Best Product Iteration and Silver in Best Use of an Event at INMA 2024. 
• OTTplay has won Gold (first place) in the Best Product Iteration category and Silver (second place) in the category for Best Use of an Event to Build a News Brand. 
• The platform’s transition to an OTT aggregator, addressing the challenge of multiple subscriptions, was celebrated for its innovation. 

About OTTplay 

• OTTplay is India’s pioneering OTT aggregator that uses AI-based recommendations to revolutionise content discovery and consumption. 
• With the introduction of OTTplay Premium, the platform now offers a curated selection of content from 37 premier OTT platforms which are personalised based on each user’s unique preferences. 

18. Genius Box honored by BIS for quality and branding excellence 

• Genius Box, a leading brand specializing in innovative DIY educational kits for children, has been recognized and honored by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for its outstanding commitment to quality and branding excellence. 
• The prestigious recognition comes alongside Genius Box’s distinguished feat of maintaining a flawless record of nil sample failures over the past three years.
• Genius Box stands as a pioneer in revolutionizing children’s education through its “Play-full-learning” approach. With a mission to engage children in immersive learning experiences, the brand offers thoughtfully curated kits and games designed to foster curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking skills. 

19. Pawan Sindhi honored with Global Pride of Sindhi Award 2024 

• Social worker Pawan Sindhi was bestowed with the prestigious Global Pride of Sindhi Award 2024 for Outstanding Social Work. 
• The award night witnessed a gathering of like-minded individuals who came together to promote the values of humanity, peace, and prosperity. 

Recent Awards 

• Best Employer’ 2023 by Kincentric – DBS Bank India 
• Oxford Bookstore Book Cover Prize 2024 – Bhavi Mehta (for The Book Beautiful) 
• UNESCO’s Guillermo Cano World Press Prize 2024 – All Palestinian journalists 
• Whitley Gold Award (Green Oscar) 2024 – Dr Purnima Devi Barman (Assam) 
• Grandmaster title by FIDE – Vaishali Ramesh Babu 

Sports News

20. Amul to Sponsor Sri Lanka Men’s T20 World Cup Team 

• Sri Lanka has announced Amul, one of India’s iconic diary brands with a global footprint, as their sponsor for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, starting June 2 in the USA and the West Indies. 
• Sri Lanka, former champions of the T20 World Cup, will become the third team after South Africa and USA to be sponsored by Amul at the showpiece T20 tournament. 
• Amul has a history of sponsoring cricket teams during ICC tournaments, having previously collaborated with the New Zealand and the Netherlands national sides for the 2017 Champions Trophy and 2011 Cricket World Cup, respectively. 
• Additionally, Amul was one of the sponsors of the Women’s Premier League in its inaugural edition. 

21. India clinches 5 medals at Asian Open Pickleball Championships 

• India clinched three gold and two bronze medals at the Asian Open Pickleball Championships in Vietnam. 
• Sachin Pahwa and Priyanka Chabbra led India to its first gold medal, defeating Ruben Hellberg and Chitlada Hemasee 11-9, 5-11, 11-9, in the mixed doubles intermediate 35+ category final. 
• While in the women’s doubles open category, the pair of Isha Lakhani and Pei Chuan Kao bagged the gold medal with a dominating 15-7, 15-3 win against Dang Kim Ngan and Tyak K. 
• In the men’s doubles, India’s Aniket Patel and Rohit Patil claimed the yellow metal despite losing the opening game. The duo defeated Nik Alessandro Isagan and Lester Ga 5-11, 11-6, and 11-8 in the final. 
• In the men’s singles advance 35+ category, Vijay Menon defeated Yu Hsuan Cher to secure the bronze, while in the women’s singles intermediate 35+ event, Priyanka Chhabra defeated Marissa Phongsirikul, earning India another bronze medal. 

22. Bajrang Punia suspended by Wrestling Authorities 

• Wrestling’s world governing body (UWW) has suspended Bajrang Punia till the end of this year following NADA’s decision to hand him a provisional suspension for refusing to undergo a dope test. 
• However, despite being well aware of NADA’s order, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) sanctioned close to Rs 9 lakh for his training abroad. 
• Bajrang, one of the country’s most successful wrestlers, was suspended by NADA on April 23 after being served a whereabouts failure notice on April 18. 

Important day 

23. 10 May – International Day of Argania 

• International Day of Argania is celebrated every year on May 10. 
• Objective – To increase awareness about these unique trees, their benefits, and the challenges they face. 
• This special day celebrates the Argan tree, an ancient species that has grown in Morocco for about 80 million years. These trees are not just old; they play a crucial role in the local economy and environment. 
• The Argan tree is a native species of the sub-Saharan region of Morocco, in the southwest of the country, which grows in arid and semiarid areas. 
• It’s the defining species of a woodland ecosystem, also known as Arganeraie, which is rich in endemic flora. It is resilient to a harsh environment under water scarcity, risk of erosion and poor soils. 

24. 10 May – World Lupus Day 

• World Lupus Day is observed on 10 May every year to raise awareness about the autoimmune disease lupus. 
• The day is also dedicated to spreading awareness about the need for research to find a cure for the disease. 
• Lupus is a complex and debilitating autoimmune disease that affects millions of people worldwide. 
• It is characterized by the immune system attacking the body’s own tissues, leading to inflammation and damage to various organs. 
• Lupus can affect people of all ages, especially women. 
• The history of World Lupus Day dates back to 2004 when a global campaign was organized to raise awareness about the autoimmune disease lupus. The day was first established by Lupus Canada in 2004. 

Obituary News

25. International Chess Master Varugeese Koshy passes away 

• International Master Varugeese Koshy passed away recently at the of 66 years. 
• One of India’s finest trainers, Koshy has mentored a host of Indian chess players including GMs P. Harikrishna, S. L. Narayanan and N.R. Visakh among others at some point in their careers. 
• Koshy, who represented India in several International tournaments, was also the president of Chess Players Forum India which was formed in 2020-21.