General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - September 2015

Sep 2015

Apr 27, 2018

India and Pakistan to Take Part in Joint Military Exercises

For the first time since they emerged as different countries in 1947, India and Pakistan are set to take part in joint military drills. This will happen as part of the Peace Mission exercises to be held in Russia in September, along with a number of other partner countries under the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

West Bengal Panchayat Polls

The State Election Commission (SEC) announced the schedule for holding panchayat elections in West Bengal. According to the SEC, the single-phase panchayat polls will be held on May 14 in West Bengal.

The counting will take place on May 17.

The elections were earlier slated to be held in three phases on May 1, 3 and 5.

The decision came after a recommendation from the state government that the polls be held on May 14.

Apr 26, 2018

UGC Releases List of Fake Universities

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has released a list of 24 fake universities across India. The Commission has said that these 24 self-styled, unrecognised institutions functioning in contravention of the UGC Act have been declared as fake and are not entitled to confer any degrees.

Indu Malhotra Set to be Supreme Court Judge

As per reports from the Law Ministry, the government is learnt to have cleared the appointment of senior advocate Indu Malhotra as a judge of the Supreme Court.

She will be the first woman judge to be appointed to the top post directly from the bar.

With this development, the elevation of Justice K. M. Joseph, who heads the Uttarakhand High Court has been put on hold.

IAF Welcomes Dakota DC-3 Plane

A Dakota DC-3 aircraft of 1940 vintage landed in Jamnagar, Gujarat. It has been gifted by Rajya Sabha member Rajeev Chandrasekhar to the Indian Air Force.

The World War II-era aircraft was obtained from scrap in 2011 and was restored to flying condition in the UK by Chandrasekhar for gifting it to the IAF. His father Air Commodore (retd) MK Chandrasekhar was a Dakota pilot in the IAF.

Apr 25, 2018

India-Russia Defence Deals Face US Sanctions

U.S. sanctions on Russian military exports have put the brakes on a $6 billion deal with India and may derail the arms purchases of other U.S. allies around Asia.

Under a law that U.S. President Donald Trump signed in August, any country trading with Russia`s defence and intelligence sectors will face sanctions.

The law is designed to punish Russian President Vladimir Putin for the 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, involvement in the Syrian civil war and meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Diu Smart City Runs on 100% Renewable Energy

Diu Smart City has become the first city in India that runs on 100 per cent renewable energy during daytime setting a new benchmark for other cities to become clean and green. Diu, which is a town in the district by the same name in the Union Territory of Daman and Diu, had been importing 73 per cent of its power from Gujarat until 2017.

To further enhance its solar capacity, Diu offers its residents a subsidy of Rs 10,000-50,000 for installing 1-5KW rooftop solar panels resulting in a saving of about 13,000 tonnes of carbon emissions every year.

Apr 24, 2018

Gallantry Awards Presented

President Ram Nath Kovind presented gallantry awards and distinguished service decorations at the Defence Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

He conferred three Kirti Chakras and thirteen Shaurya Chakras to Armed Forces Personnel for displaying conspicuous gallantry, indomitable courage and extreme devotion to duty.

The President also conferred thirteen Param Vishisht Seva Medals, two UttamYudh Seva Medals, two Bar to Ati Vishisht Seva Medals and twenty-six Ati Vishisht Seva Medals to senior officers of the Armed Forces for distinguished service of an exceptional order.

AFSPA Removed from Meghalaya

Union Home Ministry has removed Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from Meghalaya and reduced it to eight police stations in Arunachal Pradesh.

The decision to remove AFSPA from Meghalaya and parts of Arunachal Pradesh was taken due to significant improvement of security situation in the two states.

AFSPA gives special powers to the Army and central forces deployed in "disturbed areas" to kill anyone acting in contravention of law, arrest and search any premises without a warrant and provide cover to forces from prosecution and legal suits without the Central government's sanction.

It is still effective in the whole of Nagaland, Assam, Manipur (excluding seven Assembly constituencies of Imphal).

Sainik School Opens Doors for Girls

In a first, as many as 15 girls got admitted to Uttar Pradesh-based Sainik School for the academic year 2018-19. The girls took admission in Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey Uttar Pradesh Sainik School.

There were 2,500 aspirants out of which only 15 could manage to get through.

The proposal to include girl students was sent to the Uttar Pradesh government in 2017.

Apr 23, 2018

China and India Agree to Resume Kailash Mansarovar Yatra

Ten months after the pilgrimage was stopped following the Doklam standoff, India and China have agreed to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through the Nathu La route in Sikkim.

The decision was made during talks between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing.

Sitaram Re-elected as CPI(M) General Secretary

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) re-elected Sitaram Yechury as the party's general secretary. The decision was taken during the ongoing 22nd party Congress, amid a tussle between the general secretary Sitaram Yechury and former general secretary Prakash Karat over the political line which the party should pursue.

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