General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - September 2015

Sep 2015

Dec 26, 2017

First made-in-India plane cleared for civilian flights

The DGCA has allowed HAL-manufactured Dornier 228 to be used for civilian flights. The aircraft, so far used by defence forces, is the first plane to be made in India for commercial flights.

The DGCA has given certificate of airworthiness to HAL’s Dornier 228. Now, HAL can sell this plane to airlines in India and it can be used by them for regional flights under the government’s ambitious UDAN scheme. Some special incentives may be given to operators using this plane.

Mumbai Gets India’s First AC Local Train

With more than 1,000 commuters on board, the first airconditioned suburban train in India completed its first run from Borivli to Churchgate. Although some complained about the steep tariff, most were upbeat about seeing the service finally being launched.

Dec 25, 2017

Bengaluru becomes first city to get its own logo

Brand Bengaluru got its own logo – the tagline ‘Bengaluru – Be U’ (be you) is expected to build the city’s image on the global stage. The city is the first to gets its own identity badge. Selected from among 1,350 entries, the logo aims to signify Bengaluru’s cosmopolitan culture, a sense of belonging, 480-year history and futuristic outlook. The rolling font was devised by bankers-turned-designers Rushi Patel and M Venkateswara Rao, founders of Nammur, a design firm. The first two letters, B, E, and the last, U, of Bengaluru are in red, highlighting the tagline Be U. The seventh and eighth letters (U and R) resemble the vowel, oo, in Kannada.

Modi to be first Indian PM at Davos in 20 yrs

PM Narendra Modi will make his debut at Davos, where the world’s top CEOs gather for the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in January. Modi will be the first Indian PM to attend the meet in two decades. Only two PMs—PV Narasimha Rao and HD Deve Gowda-—had gone to Davos with the last one being in 1997. Modi will be the first Indian PM to attend the meet in over two decades but it will be the first time that an Indian Prime Minister will be the treated like the chief guest, with the country expected to dominate the show, where nearly a hundred Indian corporate chiefs and policymakers will be present. The India theme will be in focus at the conference with several sessions around India.

Jai Ram Thakur Appointed as 13th Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh

The BJP gave the reins of the state to five-time MLA and former minister Jai Ram Thakur. The 52-year-old will be the 13th chief minister of the hill state. He will take oath on December 27 in the presence of PM Narendra Modi. This is the first time in the state that a leader from Mandi has become CM.

Dec 24, 2017

Defence Ministry Approves C-17 Globemaster Airlifter from US

The defence ministry has approved the acquisition of one more C-17 Globemaster-III strategic airlifter from the US for $366 million to add to the 10 such gigantic aircraft already inducted by the IAF earlier. The Pentagon had notified the US Congress of the proposed sale of the C-17 aircraft to India during PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington. The joint statement after the Modi-Trump summit had also noted the US “offer” to sell 22 unarmed Predator Sea Guardian surveillance drones worth over $2 billion to India. But, talks for these unmanned aerial vehicles are still in the preliminary stage, with India more keen on acquiring armed drones.

Baba Farid’s University VC Gets Three- Year Extension

Dr. Raj Bahadur, Vice Chancellor, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot has been given a three-year extension. He joined as VC in 2014. His first term ended on 24 December.

Dec 23, 2017

Prof Dhirendra Appointed as UGC Chairman

Professor Dhirendra Pal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC). He is at present the director of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), Bengaluru. He has been appointed as the Chairman of UGC for a period of 5 years . The post of the Chairman of UGC has been lying vacant after the retirement of Prof Ved Prakash Sharma. At present, Prof Virendra Singh Chauhan is officiating as the Chair person of UGC.

Vijay Rupani Re-Elected as Gujarat Chief Minister

Vijay Rupani and Nitin Patel have been re-elected as the Gujarat Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, respectively. Both decisions were taken unanimously. Senior Minister in the outgoing Rupani Cabinet Bhupdenrasingh Chudasma proposed Rupani’s name. The proposal was accepted by all.

Bill Passed for Death for Dealing in Spurious Liquor

The Uttar Pradesh Assembly passed a bill to award death penalty and life imprisonment to those dealing in spurious liquor. The Bill provides for death penalty, life sentence, and fine to the tune of Rs 10 lakh and not less than Rs 5 lakh in case of death caused due to consumption of spurious liquor. It also provides for rigorous imprisonment up to 10 years and not less than 6 years in case of disability caused by consumption of spurious liquor and fine to the tune of Rs. 5 lakh and not less than Rs 3 lakh. UP is the third state after Delhi and Gujarat, where bootleggers may be sent to the gallows, if consumption of spurious liquor leads to loss of life.

Himachal Pradesh HC strikes down Act to Regularise Buildings

The Himachal Pradesh High Court struck down the HP Town and Country Planning Regularisation Amendment Act 2016, following regularisation of unauthorised structures- both commercial and residential. A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Tarolok Singh Chauhan observed that the perusal of provisions of the Planning Act, the Municipal Corporation Act, and the Municipal Act, all activities of building are controlled and can be carried out in consonance with the sanctioned plan and any construction beyond the sanctioned or compoundable limit is illegal. Insertion of Section 30-B by the amending Act is contrary to the object and purpose of the principal Act, as also the ultra vires of the Constitution of India.

Dec 21, 2017

GST To Be Part of MBA, MA Courses

Days after the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) by the Narendra Modi government at the Centre, the newly introduced legislation will now be taught at the Savitribai Phule University in Pune.
According to ANI, the Academic Council of the University had taken the decision to add the GST Act as a subject for MBA and MA courses.

App to Check Illegal Construction

Punjab Chief Minister launched a mobile app to check unauthorised construction, and also unveiled a new web portal of the housing department for online issuance of change of land use.
The android-based App, known as PUDA-UCIC (Unauthorised constructions and illegal colonies), opened for public use today in Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) region.

India's First Rail University

The Cabinet has approved the Ministry of Railways` transformative initiative to set up the first ever National Rail and Transport University (NRTU) in Vadodara, to skill its human resources and build capability.
The University will be set up as a Deemed to Be University under de novo category as per the UGC [Institutions Deemed to be Universities] Regulations, 2016.
Government is working towards completing all approvals by April 2018 and to launch the first academic program in July 2018.

Indian Scientists Returning to Country

According to Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, there is a significant increase in the number of Indian scientists returning to work in India during the last five years...The number of Indian scientists returned to India in the last five years (2012-17) stands at 649 as against 243 in the period 2007-12.

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