General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - August 2015

Aug 2015

Jan 26, 2022

India, Israel Launch Commemorative Logo to Mark 30th Anniversary of Diplomatic Ties

India and Israel launched a commemorative logo to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
The logo features the Star of David and the Ashoka Chakra- the two symbols that adorn the national flags of both countries- and forms the numeral 30 depicting the 30th anniversary of bilateral relations. This special logo symbolises the strong friendship, love and admiration that exists between the people of Israel and the people of India. It also depicts the growing strategic partnership between the two sides.
The logo was unveiled virtually at an online event in the presence of Ambassador of Israel to India Naor Gilonand and Ambassador of India to Israel Sanjeev Singla.

Budget Session Part I: Different Timings for Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha

Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will meet at separate times of a day for five hours each to ensure Covid distancing norms during the Budget Session beginning January 31.
Lok Sabha will meet at 11 am on February 1 for the presentation of the Union Budget and it will meet from 4 pm to 9 pm from February 2 to February 11, when the first part of the session concludes.
During sittings of the Lower House of Parliament, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha chambers and their galleries will be used for sitting of members in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The second part of the session will be from March 14 to April 8. But the timings of sittings are not yet clear for the Part II of the session.

Chanchal Kumar is New MD of NHIDCL

Chanchal Kumar was appointed as the Managing Director, National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL), under the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH). He is appointed in the rank and pay of Additional Secretary. He is a 1992 batch IAS officer of Bihar cadre.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet also approved the extension in the central deputation tenure of Ashutosh Jindal, Additional Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat for 1 year beyond February 16, 2022 to February 16, 2023.

Under-bridge in Gujarat's Rajkot Named after General Bipin Rawat

The Gujarat government named an under-bridge in Rajkot after General Bipin Rawat to honour the country's first Chief of Defence Staff who died in a chopper crash in December.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inaugurated the under-bridge located in Laxmi Nagar area virtually.
Earlier, Rajkot Mayor Pradeep Dav had asked the CM to suggest a name for the structure, which was built at a cost of Rs. 48 crore.

Jan 25, 2022

J&K LG Approves 15% Reservation for Women in Non-gazetted Police Posts

Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha approved 15 per cent reservation for women in non-gazetted police posts.
Sinha announced the reservation coinciding with the National Girl Child Day, asserting that this is just the beginning.
"For women and girls to be agents of change, J&K government is committed to ensure Nari Shaktis' social and economic empowerment while redressing long-standing inequalities to build a more just and resilient society", Sinha said.

Punjab polls: BJP Announces Seat-sharing with Amarinder

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), announced its seat-sharing formula for the upcoming Punjab assembly election.
According to the division, the BJP is set to contest the Punjab polls on 65 seats, while the Punjab Lok Congress, led by former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, will field candidates on 37 constituencies.

Jerri Hamlet First 'Milk Village' of J&K

In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the administration declared Jerri settlement in Reasi district as the first 'Milk Village' of the Union Territory and sanctioned 57 more dairy farms under the Integrated Dairy Development Scheme (IDDS) for the hamlet. The village, which houses 73 individual dairy units with 370 cows, will give the local farmers financial security.
The scheme also has a provision for milking machine, bulk milk cooling unit at 50 per cent subsidy (maximum Rs. 5 lakh), paneer making machine, khoya making, Dahi making, cream separator, ice cream making machine, butter and ghee making machine (max subsidy Rs. 3. 5 lakh), milk van (maximum subsidy Rs. 2 lakh), milk ATM subsidy of Rs. 5 lakh.

Jan 24, 2022

Amit Shah Launches District Good Governance Index in J-K

Union Home Minister Amit Shah virtually launched the District Good Governance Index (DGGI) in Jammu and Kashmir.
Shah said that it is in continuation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "commitment to providing a transparent and people-friendly administration" to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
This move makes Jammu and Kashmir the first Union Territory in the country to have a Good Governance Index.
The event was organized jointly by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) and Jammu and Kashmir Institute of Management, Public Administration and Rural Development in association with the Centre for Good Governance, Hyderabad.
The District Good Governance Index of Jammu and Kashmir was prepared by DARPG in collaboration with the government of Jammu and Kashmir in pursuance of the announcements made in the "Behtar e-Hukumat - Kashmir Aelamia" resolution adopted on July 2, 2021, in the Regional Conference on Replication of Good Governance Practices held in Srinagar.

Govt. Appoints New Chairperson to PMLA Adjudicating Authority

Vinodanand Jha, a 1983-batch retired IRS officer was appointed as the chairperson of the PMLA Adjudicating Authority located in the national capital.
Mr. Jha was serving as the Member (Finance and Accounts) in the Authority since September 2018.
He was appointed to this post after he retired from service as the Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax in Pune.
The three-member Authority is mandated to adjudicate the cases of attachment of assets orders issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and order for its continuity and further confiscation or release, considering the merits of the investigation.
The Authority is a mechanism provided under the PMLA to safeguard the interests of the accused against coercive action.

Republic Day: Mahatma Gandhi's favourite 'Abide With Me' Hymn Dropped from Beating Retreat Ceremony

According to a brochure released by the Indian Army, one of Mahatma Gandhi's favourite Christian hymns "Abide With Me" was dropped from this year's Beating Retreat ceremony on January 29.
"Abide With Me", written by Scottish Anglican poet and hymnologist Henry Francis Lyte in 1847, has been part of the Beating Retreat ceremony since 1950.
This year's ceremony will conclude with 'Sare Jahan Se Acha', the brochure stated.
Beating Retreat is a centuries-old military tradition dating from the days when troops disengaged from battle at sunset.

Jan 23, 2022

PM to Unveil 216-foot 'Statue of Equality' in Hyderabad

Prime Minister Narendra Modi would unveil a 216-foot statue of Ramanujacharya, a 11th century saint and a social reformer, in Hyderabad on February 5.
The statue described as the 'Statue of Equality is located in a 45-acre complex at Shamshabad on the outskirts of the city.
The event, along with a 1,035 'yaaga' fire oblation, said to be the largest in modern history, and other spiritual activities like mass mantra-chanting are to be conducted as part of Ramanuja Sahasrabdi Samaroham'.
It is to celebrate the 1,000th birth anniversary of the saint.

India, Denmark Agree to Initiate Joint Research on Green Fuels

As per reports, India and Denmark agreed to initiate joint research and development on green fuels including green hydrogen.
The Joint Science and Technology Committee meeting held last week discussed national strategic priorities and developments in Science, Technology, and Innovation of both countries.
The meeting, held virtually, put a special focus on green solutions for the future -- strategy for investments in green research, technology, and innovation.

Jan 22, 2022

Amar Jawan Jyoti Put Out, "Merged" With War Memorial Torch

India witness a momentous and historic moment on January 21, 2022. Days ahead of the 75th Republic Day, the Amar Jawan Jyoti flame at the India Gate lawns was extinguished and merged with the flame at the National War Memorial. It has been burning for 50 years.
The ceremony was presided over by the Integrated Defence Staff chief Air Marshal Balabadhra Radha Krishna who merged the two flames.
The eternal flame known as Amar Jawan Jyoti was built in 1972 underneath the India Gate arch to commemorate the soldiers martyred in the Indo-Pak War of 1971. It is a memorial symbolised by an inverted bayonet and soldier's helmet over it with an eternal flame burning beside it.
After a long wait and multiple considerations, the National War Memorial - constructed over 40 acres at a cost of Rs. 176 crore - was built in the India Gate complex by the Narendra Modi government and was inaugurated in February 2019. After the inauguration of the building in War memorial, all military ceremonial events were shifted to it from the India Gate memorial.

Nadda Announces BJP's Alliance with Apna Dal, Nishad Party in UP

BJP president J P Nadda announced an alliance with Apna Dal and Nishad Party, two parties that draw their support primarily from sections of backward castes, for the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls.
Nadda said that the three National Democratic Alliance partners in the state will fight the elections to 403-member assembly together and lauded Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led government for its performance on a host of issues, including restoration of law and order, boosting investment and improvement in social indicators.
Apna Dal chief Anupriya Patel, a Union minister, and Nishad Party supremo Sanjay Nishad hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre for working for the interests of Other Backward Classes (OBC) and hit out at BJP's rivals for "denying" a large section of backward communities their rights.

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