Current affairs 31 May 2023

Goan writer Damodar Mauzo conferred with 57th Jnanpith Award.

• Governor of Goa, P S Sreedharan Pillai has presented the 57th Jnanpith Award, the country's highest literary honor, to Goan writer Damodar Mauzo.
• 25 books have been published in Konkani and one in English.
• Many of his books have also been translated into different languages.
• In 1983, he has conferred the Sahitya Akademi Award for his novel Karmelin.
• He is the second Goan to receive the Jnanpith Award, after Ravindra Kelekar, who received the award in 2008.

Dubai set goals for Zero-Emissions Public Transportation by 2050.

• The Roads and Transport Authority of Dubai has set a target to achieve zero-emissions public transportation by 2050.
• Aim: To contribute to climate change mitigation and minimize its carbon footprint across three critical areas (public transportation, buildings and facilities, and waste management).
• This move aligns with the UAE COP28 preparations and UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative.
• It outlined ten key initiatives, each assigned to various agencies and sectors.

UP Hockey wins 13th Hockey India Sub Junior Men National Championship 2023.

• Uttar Pradesh Hockey defeated the Hockey Association of Odisha to win the 13th Hockey India Sub Junior Men National Championship 2023, held at the iconic Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium, Odisha.
• Meanwhile, Hockey Haryana beat Hockey Madhya Pradesh to finish third in the competition.
• Ujjwal Pal converted three penalty corners, while Rahul Yadav, Ketan Kushwaha, Rahul Rajhbar, and Ajeet Yadav (Team Captain) each scored a goal to secure their victory.

India clinches title of CAVA Women’s Challenge Cup 2023.

• India has won the title of the NSC-CAVA Women’s Volleyball Challenge Cup held in Kathmandu, Nepal.
• India won the title by defeating Kazakhstan in the final at the National Sports Council’s Covered Hall in Tripureshwor, Kathmandu.
• The event was organized by the Nepal Volleyball Association and is supported by the NSC, eight nations participated in it.
• In the competition, Kazakhstan became the runner-up, followed by Nepal, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, and Kyrgyzstan.

Naveen Patnaik launches "Odisha for AI, and AI for Youth" initiative.

• According to PwC report 'The Indian Payments Handbook - 2022-27, UPI transactions are likely to reach 1 billion per day by 2026-27, accounting for 90% of the retail digital payments.
• UPI is driving the digital payments revolution, accounting for about 75% of the total transaction volume in the retail segment during 2022-23.
• The Indian digital payments market also saw steady growth at a CAGR of 50% (volume) and is expected to reach 411 billion transactions in FY 2026-27.