General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - September 2015

Sep 2015

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.

Jul 21, 2018

Rafale Deal Details Classified

France said that a security agreement it concluded with India in 2008 legally binds the two countries to protect the classified information relating to operational capabilities of defence equipment.

However, a statement issued by the French government after Congress President Rahul Gandhi raised the Indo-French Rafale jet deal during the no-confidence motion in Parliament, did not specifically mention whether the classified information included details of the pricing.

Collegium Reiterates K. M. Joseph for Elevation

The Supreme Court collegium has reiterated its recommendation to appoint Uttarakhand High Court Chief Justice K. M. Joseph as a Supreme Court judge.

The collegium also separately recommended Madras High Court Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Orissa High Court Chief Justice Vineet Saran to the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court will have a record three serving women judges with the appointment of Justice Banerjee.

INS Vikrant to Commence Sea Trials

As per reports, sea trials of the indigenously built aircraft carrier, Vikrant, are expected to commence by early 2020. The Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) Project was reviewed by defence secretary Sanjay Mitra at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) in Kochi.

The ship was launched in August 2013.

Modi Govt. Wins No-confidence Test

The NDA government cruised to an over a two-thirds (at 72%, close to three-fourths) majority in the house, decisively defeating a no-confidence motion, even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi set the stage for the 2019 elections.

Jul 20, 2018

Crackdown on Economic Offenders

The Lok Sabha passed a bill that empowers authorities to attach and confiscate the assets of fugitive economic offenders and aims to deter them from fleeing the country in an attempt to evade prosecution.

The Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, 2018 replaces the fugitive economic offenders' ordinance that was promulgated in April to initiate seizure of assets of jewellers Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi.

The bill allows for a person to be declared a fugitive economic offender if an arrest warrant is issued against him/her for any specified offence involving over Rs 100 crore and the accused leaves the country and refuses to return to face prosecution.

RTI Amendment Bill

In temporary relief for the right to information crusaders, the government agreed to the Opposition's request to send the Right to Information Amendment Bill to a select committee of Rajya Sabha after the Bill is introduced in the House.

The proposed amendments seek to grant the power to the government to fix salaries and tenures of state and central information commissioners.

First Ever 2+2 Dialogue

According to US state Department, the first-ever talks 'two-plus-two dialogue' between India and US will be held in the national capital on September 6.

The talks will aim at developing and strengthening strategic defence cooperation between both the countries.

Earlier the US had deferred the talks for unavoidable reasons.

Doyen of Hindi Poetry Neeraj Passes Away

Doyen of Hindi poetry Gopal Das Neeraj passed away on Thursday evening at the AIIMS trauma centre here. He was 93.

He had also written songs for Bollywood films. Neeraj had penned several hits such as 'Ae Bhai Zara Dekh Ke Chalo', 'Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya', 'Dil Aaj Shayar Hai', 'Likhe Jo Khat Tujhe, among others.

He was awarded Padma Shri in 1991 and Padma Bhushan in 2007.

Jul 19, 2018

CBSE Considers using Encrypted Question Papers

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is considering using encrypted question papers for classes X and XII examinations, and passing on the task of printing them to schools from next year. The move is being currently tested as a pilot project in the ongoing compartmental examinations. The CBSE is also planning to provide logistical support to examination centres that lack adequate printing and xerox machines. The printing cost will be borne by the CBSE.

Amendment to the Right to Education Act

The Lok Sabha witnessed a rare bonhomie between ruling and Opposition benches, as the House unanimously passed an amendment to the Right to Education Act. The amendment aims to do away with the "no-detention policy" that prohibits schools from detaining students till they complete elementary education. The amendment once passed by Rajya Sabha too, will allow states to hold a regular examination at the end of Classes V and VIII.

India US Held Meeting to Further Defence Cooperation

At a time when the India-US military relationship appears to have taken a hit because of American sanctions against Russia, senior defence officials from both sides met to strengthen defence cooperation.India and the US held the seventh meeting of the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) that seeks to overcome bureaucratic obstacles to cooperation and identify opportunities for sharing of defence technologies. The DTTI meeting was co-chaired Ajay Kumar, secretary (defence production) and Ellen M Lord, US under secretary of defence for acquisition and sustainment.

The DTTI seeks to identify opportunities for co-development and co-production of military hardware, collaborate on science and technology projects and jointly explore policy changes needed to further the military relationship. The US Department of Defense established an exclusive India Rapid Reaction Cell in 2015 to support the DTTI.

NDA to Face its First Motion of No-Confidence

The 4-year old NDA government led by PM Narendra Modi will face its first motion of no-confidence after Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan admitted a notice moved by the Telugu Desam Party. Eight notices of no-confidence in the Council of Ministers were received as the monsoon session of the Parliament commenced. The Speaker allowed TDP MP Kesineni Srinivas' notice given to protest denial of a special package for Andhra Pradesh. She said, Srinivas' notice was the "first in point of time".

Chandan Mitra Resigns from BJP

Two-term former Rajya Sabha member Chandan Mitra has resigned from the BJP amid speculation that he may join the Trinamool Congress. . Considered close to veteran BJP leader L K Advani, Mitra was nominated to the Upper House in 2003 when the BJP-led NDA was in power at the Centre and again elected to the House in 2010 from MP on party's ticket. However, his political stock within the party plunged under Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, and he was left with little responsibility.

Jul 18, 2018

Anurag Thakur Made BJP Chief Whip

Hamirpur MP Anurag Thakur has been appointed the BJP's chief whip in the Lok Sabha.
The appointment was announced on the eve of the monsoon session of Parliament with Mr. Thakur replacing Ramesh Singh, who has been appointed Madhya Pradesh BJP chief.

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