General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - September 2015

Sep 2015

Jul 27, 2018

Harpal Cheema Appointed as Leader of Opposition

The Aam Aadmi Party removed Sukhpal Singh Khaira as the Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly and announced Dirba MLA Harpal Singh Cheema would take his place.

No specific reason for replacing Khaira was given by the party.

Anti-trafficking Bill Passed

The Lok Sabha passed a landmark Bill to criminalise and penalise trafficking for exploitative sex, forced and bonded labour, begging, surrogacy and forced marriages.

The Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill is the first standalone legislation to prevent trafficking of persons, especially women and children, provide care, protection and rehabilitation to the victims, prosecute offenders and create a legal, economic and social environment for the victims.

POSHAN Abhiyaan

Union Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) organised the 2nd meeting of National Council on India's Nutrition Challenges under POSHAN Abhiyaan in New Delhi.

It was chaired by NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar.

National Council approved inclusion of 32 new districts under POSHAN Abhiyaan in the current year.

POSHAN Abhiyaan (Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition) was launched in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan in March 2018. It aims to ensure holistic development and adequate nutrition for pregnant women, mothers and children.

Delight for Army Jawans

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has sorted out two long-standing issues impacting promotions of jawans and status of junior commissioned officers (JCO's) in the Army.

The ministry issued an order allowing the career progression scheme for jawans to be applicable from January 1, 2006, and not September 1, 2008. Under the modified assured career-progression scheme, a sepoy gets promoted as Naik after eight years of service; as Havildar after 16 years of service and Naib Subedar after 24 years of service.

Clean Yamuna Project

A day after it observed that there has been no "meaningful progress" on the ground over cleaning of Yamuna in the past three years, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has formed a monitoring committee and directed it to submit an action plan on the issue.

The green panel appointed retired expert member B. S. Sajwan and former Delhi Chief Secretary Shailaja Chandra as members of the committee and directed them to prepare an action plan by September and submit a detailed report by December 31.

Resolution Passed to Rename State

The West Bengal Assembly passed a resolution to rename the state as 'Bangla' in three languages �" Bengali, English and Hindi.

The state will have to wait for the nod from the Home Ministry for a final approval on the resolution.

Earlier, the Centre had rejected the state government's proposals of having three names Bangla (in Bengali), Bengal (in English) and Bangal (in Hindi).

Jul 26, 2018

Uniform Compensation Scheme

The Supreme Court has approved a scheme that provides for uniform compensation to women survivors of sexual assault and acid attacks and asked the Centre and states to implement it in letter and spirit.

Under the scheme prepared by the National Legal Services Authority's (NALSA), survivors of gang-rape would get a minimum compensation of Rs. 5 lakh and a maximum of Rs. 10 lakh. Victims of rape and unnatural sexual assault would get a minimum of Rs. 4 lakh and the maximum of Rs. 7 lakh as compensation.

Jul 25, 2018

Sites to be Developed as 'Iconic Tourist Sites'

Ministry of Tourism has identified 17 sites in 12 clusters in the country for development under Iconic Tourist Sites Development Project, pursuant to Budget Announcements of 2018-19, under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Following are the 17 sites: Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri, Ajanta, Ellora, Humayun's Tomb, Red Fort, Qutub Minar, Colva Beach, Amer Fort, Somnath, Dholavira, Khajuraho, Hampi, Mahabalipuram, Kaziranga, Kumarakom and Mahabodhi.

Prevention of Corruption Amendment Bill 2018

The Lok Sabha passed the Prevention of Corruption Amendment Bill 2018 which, for the first time, penalises bribe givers apart from bribe takers.

The Bill, which also covers retired bureaucrats with the need for "prior sanction to prosecute" provision, was passed by Rajya Sabha last week. It will become law once President Ram Nath Kovind gives his assent.

Jul 24, 2018

Centre Clears Air on Grant-giving Powers

A new and independent body comprising academics and using an ICT-enabled platform will give grants to universities after the University Grants Commission (UGC) is repealed.

Exclusion from NRC

Those not part of the draft National Register of Citizens (NRC), a list of Assam's residents, will not automatically be declared foreigners, but will get a one-month window to file claims and objections, besides subsequent judicial recourse.

Exclusion from the final NRC does not mean automatic declaration of anyone as foreigner and once the final document is published, if someone is dissatisfied, he or she can always go to a foreigners' tribunal in the state to get justice.

There are around 300 foreigners' tribunals in Assam.

First Indian Premier to Visit Rwanda

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Rwanda on the first leg of his three-nation Africa tour as part of India's outreach to the resource-rich continent, becoming the first Indian premier to visit the East African country.

His two-day state visit to Rwanda, one of Africa's fastest growing economies, assumes significance as this is the first by an Indian premier.

Jul 23, 2018

Jindal Varsity Signs MoU with Harvard

Students of the O.P. Jindal Global University, a leading private university in Sonipat, will have an annual study programme at Harvard University. Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health has signed an MoU with the university for the programme.
This collaboration has taken the form of an annual study-abroad programme at Harvard University for nearly 30 students of Jindal Global University.

Bihar to Grant Quota in Promotions

The Bihar government has decided to grant reservation in promotions to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes personnel. The decision was taken in compliance with the order passed by the Supreme Court on a special writ petition.

Share on

TCY Analytics (View Subscription Plans)

Subscribe to GK Updates

I want to receive

GK Tags

October GK, September GK, August 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