General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - September 2015

Sep 2015

Jan 21, 2018

President honours 'first ladies' of the country

Beno Zephine, India’s first 100% visually-impaired person to join the Indian Foreign Service in 2015, was among 111 women felicitated by President Ramnath Kovind for their remarkable journey as "first ladies" in their respective fields. Currently serving in the Indian embassy in Paris, this young woman’s story showcases how will power coupled with support at home can help overcome any physical disability. In the absence of study material in Braille, it was Zephine’s parents who spent hours reading out to her so that she could learn. She got a rank of 343 in civil services exam and ensured a place for her in the coveted foreign service.

Jan 20, 2018

India now part of 3rd export control regime

In what is likely to further strengthen its case for NSG membership, India has become a member of export control regime Australia Group which seeks to check proliferation of chemical and biological weapons. This is the third export control group which India has joined after Missile Technology Control Regime and Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies. Like with MTCR and Wassenaar Arrangement, China, which continues to block India’s NSG membership bid, is not a member of the Australia Group.

Trai gives approval for mobile calls, net surfing while flying

India will soon join the growing league of countries where air passengers can make phone calls, send messages or go online while flying. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) gave a green signal for the use of internet and mobile communications on board aircraft flying in the 9.6 million sq km Indian airspace (includes space above the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal). Internet services through Wi-Fi on board should be made available only when electronic devices are permitted to use in-flight/airplane mode, it added. Mobile phones cannot be used when aircraft (in flight) is below 10,000 feet. An aircraft crosses that altitude within 4-5 minutes of take-off. Passengers on board airlines/aircraft that provide the option of internet and mobile connectivity will be able to log onto WiFi or use their mobile phones to connect to the network service provider subscribed by the airline.

Jan 19, 2018

Court seeks arrest warrant for Mallya

A special court, constituted under the Companies Act, in Bengaluru has directed issuance of arrest warrants against absconding defaulter businessman Vijay Mallya and 18 others. The action comes on a complaint filed by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) in the Kingfisher Airlines case. As per court document, as the amount involved in the case is very high, the warrant has to be issued against all the accused.

Israel backs India's surgical ops across LoC

Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu has said his country and India "have some understanding" should India decide to unilaterally carry out strikes across the LoC against UN-designated terrorists, a statement that is indicative of an endorsement of India’s right to defend itself. He, however, added that Indo-Israeli partnership is not directed against any specific country.

Jan 18, 2018

Laptops only in cabin bags on flights soon?

Due to battery fire fears, keeping personal electronic devices (PEDs) like laptops in check-in bags is increasingly not going to be an option. Indian carriers, like many of their international counterparts, have begun ‘recommending’ that PEDs like phones and laptops be carried in hand bags. The recommendation could mean flyers being asked if there are laptops in check-in bags and then being told to transfer them to hand bags. The reason: with rising incidence of batteries in PEDs catching fire, it is easier to control that situation when the bag is in the cabin instead of letting the fire go undetected in the cargo.

From April, GPS, panic button must for taxis, buses

All taxis, buses and public transport vehicles, barring three-wheelers and e-rickshaws will have to install a location tracking device or GPS and an alert button from April 1. The road transport ministry has reiterated the deadline amid reports that most of the states had not done much to meet the target. A senior official said there will be no extension to roll out these passenger safety measures in public transport vehicles. The devices will be fitted by the manufacturer or dealer or the operators.

Jan 17, 2018

Tenth avatar of Times Green Ganesha rewards eco-friendly celebrations

The tenth edition of Times Green Ganesha in association with the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) recently culminated in an award ceremony in the city. Environment minister Ramdas Kadam, minister of state for environment Pravin Pote Patil, MPCB member secretary Dr Anbalagan, MPCB PRO Sanjay Bhuskute and Maharashtra Times editor Ashok Panvalkar presided over the awards and felicitated the winners. Times Green Ganesha is a movement for eco-friendly celebrations. More than 500 mandals, societies and homes participated in Times Green Ganesha this time.

BEST aims to take on Uber, Ola with 200 mini buses for commercial hubs

To woo the daily commuters who depend on aggregator cabs, the BEST plans to operate 200 mini buses both AC and non-AC along the north-south and east-west corridors, connecting suburbs with commercial hubs such as the Bandra-Kurla Complex, Lower Parel, Fort, Colaba and Nariman Point. The existing fleet of 284 AC buses (single-decker Ceritas) was taken off roads in April 2016 and is now put up for scrap. Mehta has issued a one month ultimatum to the BEST to initiate the process of procuring these mini buses. He has also threatened to recover the Rs 21 crore given as Diwali bonus to employees from their February salaries if the BEST panel failed to implement the 'turnaround measures' which includes clearing a proposal for procuring 200 mini buses.

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