General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - June 2015

Jun 2015

Feb 11, 2023

India to Host Several Tourism-related Activities from Feb-April under Country's SCO Presidency

A number of tourism-related activities will be held in India in the next few months under the country's presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
Uzbekistan, in September last year (2022), had handed over the rotating presidency of the eight-member SCO to India in the historic city of Samarkand.
As part of the tourism track activities under India's chairship, the Ministry of Tourism has planned various activities such as SCO Tourism Mart during SATTE (South Asia's Travel and Tourism Exchange) from February 9-11.
An SCO Expert Level Tourism Working Group Meeting and SCO Tourism Minister's Meeting in Varanasi will be held from March 13-17 and SCO Food Festival in Mumbai from April 13-19.

NCAER Report on Farm Machinery Industry in India

The National Council of Applied Economic Research's (NCAER) report on "Making India a Global Power House on Farm Machinery Industry" was released by the Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmer's Welfare, Shobha Karandlaje in New Delhi.
NCAER analyzed the non-tractor farm machinery industry from both demand and supply side perspectives, bringing out the challenges in the sector, and recommending measures & reforms by benchmarking global practices in their report.
The NCAER is one of India's premier economic policy research think tanks.
The NCAER Report on Farm Machinery Industry in India study was sponsored by Mahendra & Mahendra.
The NCAER Report on Farm Machinery, amongst other things, stresses that India needs a vision for the next 15 years to convert itself into a production and export hub for non-tractor farm machinery.

Feb 10, 2023

Union Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Giriraj Singh Inaugurates Mission Antyodaya S...

Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Giriraj Singh inaugurated the Mission Antyodaya Survey (MAS) 2022-23 in New Delhi. The Department of Rural Development has been conducting the Mission Antyodaya survey across all Gram Panchayats in the country since 2017-18. The purpose of this survey is to transform lives and livelihoods of people to measurable outcomes through convergence of various schemes.
Giriraj Singh said that the annual survey in Gram Panchayats across the country is an important aspect of Mission Antyodaya framework. The survey aims to lend support to the process of participatory planning for the Gram Panchayat Development Plan which will improve service delivery, enhance citizenship and improve governance at the local level. He said, this survey will be the lifeline of country's development.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Launches 'Digital Payments Utsav'

Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw launched the Digital Payments Utsav in New Delhi for the promotion of Digital Payments across the country. The Utsav will continue till October 9, 2023, with a particular focus on G-20 Digital Economy Working Group event in cities like Lucknow, Hyderabad, Pune and Bengaluru.
Vaishnaw also flagged off of Digital Payment Sandesh Yatra aimed at making citizens aware of various digital payment solutions. This will also sensitise them about the security and safety of digital payments.

Feb 09, 2023

G20: Environment & Climate Sustainability Meet in Bengaluru

The first Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) Meeting, under India's year-long G20 presidency, is being held in Bengalurur from February 9 to 11.
Hosted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the conference is chaired by Secretary in the ministry, Leena Nandan.
With the goal of adopting an integrated, comprehensive and consensus-driven approach to tackling the challenges of climate change, several delegates from G20 countries along with representatives of international organisations are participating in this meeting.
India's G20 presidency aims to bring an integrated, comprehensive and consensus-driven approach to address climate change and pursue sustainable growth.

Centre Sets up Committee to Prepare Draft Digital Competition Law

The Centre ordered setting up a committee that will review whether existing antitrust laws in the country are equipped to deal with the challenges that have emerged from the digital economy, and submit to the government a draft Digital Competition Act within three months.
The move came amid increased regulatory antitrust-related scrutiny over big tech companies like Google, which last year was fined by the Competition Commission of India in two separate instances for allegedly abusing its market dominance in the Android mobile device ecosystem, and the app store market.
The committee will be headed by the Secretary of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), and will include eight other members including the Chairperson of the Competition Commission of India. The joint secretary for competition at the MCA will join the committee as a member secretary.

PPAC Signs Statement of Intent (SOI) with IEA

Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) with International Energy Agency (IEA) to strengthen cooperation in the field of data and research and enhance global energy security, stability, and sustainability.
The SoI was signed in the presence of Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep S. Puri on the sidelines of India Energy Week 2023.
The Statement of Intent will initiate the cooperation in the energy sector between PPAC and IEA with various areas of cooperation as specified. Further, the comprehensive datasets, reports, analysis will be made available for better analysis and interpretation.

DGGI, NFSU Sign MoU for Setting up Digital Forensic Laboratories

The Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) and the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for setting up digital forensic laboratories along with the exchange of information and knowledge, technological advancement and skill development in the field of digital forensics.
DGGI is the apex intelligence organization, under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), for the collection and dissemination of information and for taking necessary measures to check evasion of GST.
NFSU is an institution of national importance established to promote studies and research in forensic sciences and related fields.
It is the first and only institute in the field of forensic sciences. It has state-of-the-art technology in digital forensics and capabilities to study and analyze digital evidence.
The MoU will be a force multiplier for the DGGI in the field of investigation and digital forensics and will assist the agency in launching effective prosecutions and securing convictions of the guilty.

Feb 08, 2023

Canada, India to Focus on Trade, Security Ties

The strategic dialogue between Canada and India, which took place after a decade has set the tone for advancing the bilateral partnership in areas of security and growth as part of wider and growing cooperation between the governments.
Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar and his Canadian counterpart Mélanie Joly discussed strengthening the economic partnership between the two countries, advancing security cooperation, facilitating migration and mobility between the two countries, and growing strong people-to-people ties.
The ministers also discussed furthering Canada-India cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, following the announcement of Canada's Indo-Pacific strategy in November. Canada and India share a common vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Rajnath Singh to Host Defence Ministers' Conclave at Aero India on Feb 14

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will host the 'Defence Ministers' Conclave' on February 14, on the sidelines of 14th edition of Aero India in Bengaluru.
The biennial airshow would be held at the Air Force Station in Yelahanka from February 13-17.
The conclave will see participation of Defence Ministers of foreign friendly countries, who would also be attending the Aero India.
The conclave would address aspects related to deepening cooperation for capacity building (through investments, R&D, joint venture, co-development, co-production and provisioning of defence equipment), training, space, AI and maritime security to grow together with the broad theme Shared Prosperity through Enhanced Engagements in Defence' (SPEED).
According to officials, Aero India has carved a niche for itself globally as one of the premier aerospace exhibitions with 13 successful editions organised in Bengaluru since 1996.

NCS to be Primary Govt. Portal for Skilled and Unskilled Workers

The Centre decided that the National Career Service (NCS) portal, which brings together jobseekers, employers and trainers, will now be the primary government portal for both skilled and unskilled workers.
According to a document titled 'Implementation of Budget Announcements 2022-23', at a meeting under the joint chairmanship of skill and labour ministers in October 2022, it was also decided to subsume the Atmanirbhar Skilled Employee-Employer Mapping (ASEEM) portal under the Skill India portal.
The ASEEM portal acts as a directory that matches supply of the skilled workforce with the market demand. On the other hand, the Skill India portal accumulates the skills data of various central ministries, state governments, private training providers and corporates on a single platform.
The main objectives of NCS project are Enhancing career and employment opportunities, Counselling and guidance for career development, Enhancing quality of workforce and Focusing on inclusive growth initiatives

India Signs MoU with Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle Joint Business Council

The three days Working group meeting of G20 on energy transition concluded in Bengaluru. On the sidelines, India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle Joint Business Council (IMT-GT JBC), Malaysia to further promote the adoption of energy efficiency and sustainable practices in the region.
Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Power, signed the (MoU) with the IMT-GT JBC Malaysia coinciding with the India Energy Week celebrations.

Agriculture Ministry Signs MoU with Digital Green

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare signed an MoU in New Delhi with Digital Green under a public-private partnership framework to build a national-level digital extension platform.
The platform will host a digital library of curated multi-format multi-lingual content, helping extension workers access. It will also deliver curated content to farmers on time and up skill the vast network of extension workers for agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, livestock and rural livelihood missions through certified online courses.
Ministry's secretary Manoj Ahuja said that the proposed national digital platform will help make an extension system more efficient and effective by connecting farmers to the strong foundation of the digital agriculture ecosystem that is being built by the government.

Feb 07, 2023

Yuva Sangam Registration Portal Launched

The Yuva Sangam registration portal was launched in New Delhi. The Yuva Sangam is an initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to build close ties between the youth of the Northeast Region and rest of India under the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.
Under the initiative over 20 thousand youth will travel across the country and gain a unique opportunity of cross-cultural learning.
On this occasion, Minister of DoNER, Culture and Tourism G. Kishan Reddy said that the Yuva Sangam program will work to connect the youth of my Northeast with the whole country.
He added that the program is an opportunity for the youth of the North East to explore the country. Mr. Reddy stressed that this Wide Cultural Exchange Program will also give an opportunity to the country's youth to celebrate the ancient culture and natural diversity of India. He said that out of one thousand, 300 students will be from the North East region.
Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju and other dignitaries also graced the event.

Balasaheb Thorat Resigns as Maharashtra Congress Legislature Party Chief

Maharashtra Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat resigned as the state legislature party head, a day after his letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge over friction with state unit chief Nana Patole came out.
Thorat, who represents the Sangamner constituency in Ahmednagar district, has sent his resignation to the party high command.
Thorat is a staunch Congress loyalist and has earlier served as the party's state president apart from holding many key ministerial portfolios.

CAG's 6th SCO SAI Leaders' Meeting to Begin in Lucknow

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) hosted the 6th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) SAI Leaders' Meeting in Lucknow.
Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Girish Chandra Murmu led the discussions on the theme 'Integrating Emerging Technologies in Audit'.
The heads of the Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI) of SCO member countries participated in the meeting and the Governor of Uttar Pradesh inaugurated the event.
India currently holds the SCO presidency, which annually rotates among member countries. India's 2023 theme is 'Towards a SECURE SCO''.
The concept of SECURE stands for: 'S' for security for citizens, 'E' for economic development, 'C' for connectivity in the region, 'U' for unity, 'R' for respect of sovereignty and integrity, and 'E for environment protection.

Share on

TCY Analytics (View Subscription Plans)

Subscribe to GK Updates

I want to receive

GK Tags

August GK, July GK, June GK, INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, ENVIRONMENT, BUSINESS AND ECONOMY, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, SPORTS, NATIONAL AFFAIRS, DEFENCE, PERSONS IN NEWS, DAYS AND EVENTS, AWARDS AND HONOURS, GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND SCHEMES, GENDER/ HEALTH/ EDUCATION, ART AND CULTURE, BOOKS AND AUTHORS, TOURISM AND HOTEL INDUSTRY AWARENESS, ART AND CULTURE, LAW AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Start Discussion

On any topic

Take Tests

Compiled from GK updates

Login

Sign Up

Forgot Password

Download TCY App

Unlock All Services And Enjoy The Premium Benefits

US$ 10

US$ 13

US$ 15

US$ 17

US$ 19

US$ 20

US$ 21

US$ 22

US$ 23

US$ 24

US$ 25

US$ 26