General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - February 2015

Feb 2015

Feb 24, 2025

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, attends 'Unity Utsav - One Voice, One...

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, attended the 'Unity Utsav - One Voice, One Nation' event organised by Assam Rifles in New Delhi as the chief guest. Many dignitaries including the Director General of Assam Rifles were present on the occasion.
In his address, Amit Shah emphasised the significance of unity for the North-East, noting that for years after independence, the region felt physically and emotionally distant from Delhi. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with bridging this gap through enhanced connectivity, stating that the North-East now belongs to all of India, and vice versa.
Reflecting on the event's theme, "One Voice, One Nation," Shah praised India's unity in diversity as its greatest strength.

Feb 23, 2025

Adani Foundation Unveils 'Butterfly Effect'

Ahead of the upcoming International Women's Day next month, the Adani Foundation hosted the first national-level roundtable consultation in the national capital.
The event brought together key stakeholders to discuss strategies and chalk out pathways to accelerate women's empowerment across India.
The national-level event also saw the unveiling of the Foundation's 'Butterfly Effect' framework - a transformative approach tailored to address the evolving needs of women throughout their lives.

India Rolls Out Digital Pilot Licenses, Second After China

India took a major step in modernising its aviation sector by launching the Electronic Personnel License (EPL) for flight crew. With this initiative, India became the second country in the world after China to implement digital licensing for pilots. EPL, launched by Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu, is expected to enhance convenience, transparency, and efficiency in the licensing process. The initiative aligns with India's vision of digital transformation and aviation safety while preparing for the growing demand in the aviation industry.

PM Inaugurates 98th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan

Marathi was recently granted classical language status by the government. Taking this further and celebrating the rich culture and heritage of India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 98th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. He also addressed the gathering on the occasion.
The Sammelan hosted a diverse array of panel discussions, book exhibitions, cultural performances, and interactive sessions with eminent literary figures. The Sammelan celebrated Marathi literature's timeless relevance and explore its role in contemporary discourse, including themes of language preservation, translation, and the impact of digitalisation on literary works.

Feb 22, 2025

PM Inaugurates First Edition of the SOUL Leadership Conclave

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first edition of the SOUL Leadership Conclave at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. He also addressed the gathering on the occasion. Prime Minister of Bhutan Dasho Tshering Tobgay delivered the Keynote Address as the Guest of Honour.
The two day SOUL Leadership Conclave served as a premier platform where leaders from diverse domains like politics, sports, arts and media, the spiritual world, public policy, business and the social sector shared their inspiring life journeys and discussed aspects relating to leadership. The conclave fostered an ecosystem of collaboration and thought leadership, facilitating learning from both failures and successes, to inspire young audiences.

Kerala Launches First-of-its-Kind Project for Unused, Expired Medicine Disposal

Kerala launched nPROUD (New Programme for Removal of Unused Drugs), a first-of-its-kind initiative in India to collect and scientifically dispose of expired and unused medicines. Health Minister Veena George inaugurated the project in Kozhikode.
Initially rolled out in Ulliyeri panchayat under Kozhikode Corporation, the project will expand state-wide in phases. The project aims to tackle the lack of proper disposal systems, preventing environmental pollution, health hazards, and antimicrobial resistance.

Feb 21, 2025

Shivraj Singh Chouhan Inaugurates 77th Session of Executive Committee of the AARDO

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated the 77th Session of the Executive Committee (EC-77) of the African-Asian Rural Development Organisation (AARDO) in New Delhi. The two-day event was organised at AARDO's headquarters with the support of the Government of India. The session brought together senior officials, including Secretaries and Permanent Secretaries from AARDO member countries across Asia and Africa, and deliberated on crucial aspects of rural and agricultural development.
Welcoming international delegates with the Indian ethos of 'Atithi Devo Bhava,' Minister Chouhan highlighted the critical role of rural development in shaping the future of both Asia and Africa. He stressed that improving the living standards of rural populations is crucial for national progress, given that nearly 70% of India's population resides in rural areas. Acknowledging AARDO's collaborative efforts, he detailed India's initiatives to address unemployment and poverty through various government schemes.

V. Anantha Nageswaran's Term as Chief Economic Advisor Extended to March 2027

The Indian government extended the tenure of V. Anantha Nageswaran as Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) until March 2027, marking a significant development in the nation's economic leadership. The extension was confirmed by the Ministry of Finance with approval from the Union Cabinet's appointments committee led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Nageswaran has been instrumental in advising the government on economic policies and drafting the annual Economic Survey, which precedes the Union Budget. His extended term comes amid concerns about the country's economic slowdown, with the Economic Survey projecting a GDP growth of 6.3% to 6.8% for the next fiscal year (FY26).

Rekha Gupta Keeps Finance, Water with Parvesh Verma

The portfolis of the ministers of the New Delhi government were announced after a cabinet meeting. The ministries were divided between the Chief Minister and her six cabinet colleagues and it is Rekha Gupta, along with Parvesh Verma, who are doing the heavy lifting. The key portfolio of water went to Mr. Verma, the son of former Chief Minister Saheb Singh Verma. He has also got the Irrigation and Flood Control Department, which is tasked with the cleanup of the Yamuna River, and Kapil Mishra got the law department.
Ms Gupta will be handling at least 10 portfolios -- and any others that are yet to be distributed.
The heaviest one in her basket is finance. While earlier there were expectations that she would be handling home, that department went Ashish Sood, who will be handling seven departments.

Feb 20, 2025

New Uttarakhand Law Restricts Outsiders from Buying Land in 11 Districts

The Uttarakhand Cabinet approved a new draft law banning people from outside the state from buying agricultural and horticultural land in 11 of the state's 13 districts. The new draft law will be tabled in the ongoing Budget Session of the Assembly.
Under the new draft law, people from outside the state — except for Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar — will not be allowed to purchase horticultural and agricultural land, and district magistrates will no longer have the authority to approve land purchases.
This is a departure from the current rule, which states that non-residents can purchase up to 250 sq. m of land without permission outside municipal limits, while there is no limit for permanent residents.

Rekha Gupta Delhi's New Chief Minister

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Shalimar Bagh MLA Rekha Gupta was appointed as the new Chief Minister of Delhi, marking the BJP's return to power after 27 years. The party secured a clear majority with 44 out of 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly elections held in February 2025.
Gupta became Delhi's fourth woman CM.
Gupta joined the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the students' organisation affiliated to the RSS, starting her political journey at Daulat Ram College in 1993. She served as the general general secretary of the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) from 1995 to 1996 and was its president from 1996 to 1997. She holds a degree in commerce and a Master's degree in management and arts from the University of Delhi.
In 2002, Gupta joined the BJP and went on to become the secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha's Delhi unit.

DoT and ITU Partner to Revolutionise Infrastructure with AI Digital Twins

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) took a significant step in the world of infrastructure planning with the announcement of their partnership. They have signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to explore the transformative potential of AI-driven digital twin technologies. This collaboration aims to bring cutting-edge advancements like 5G, IoT, AI, and AR/VR to the forefront, creating virtual models of physical assets. These virtual replicas will allow for real-time monitoring and simulations, enabling adaptive outcomes that can reshape the future of urban and infrastructure planning.
Digital twin technologies represent virtual models that mirror physical assets, systems, or processes. By incorporating AI, these models can provide real-time insights, helping to optimise planning, predict maintenance needs, and simulate various scenarios. The collaboration between DoT and ITU will allow for the integration of advanced technologies to create smarter, more responsive infrastructure. This shift promises a future where cities, transportation networks, healthcare systems, and urban spaces are designed with efficiency, sustainability, and adaptability in mind.

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