General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - November 2015

Nov 2015

Apr 24, 2025

Andhra Fast-tracks Work on India's First Quantum Computing Village in Amaravati

The Andhra Pradesh government has taken another vital step towards establishing India's first 'Quantum Computing Village' in Amaravati, with a high-level meeting convened at the State Secretariat under the supervision of the Real-Time Governance Society (RTGS).
The proposed facility aims to be a world-class hub for quantum computing research, ecosystem development, and innovation, marking India's strategic commitment to becoming a global leader in advanced computational technologies.

India's Longest Rail Tunnel in Uttarakhand

Larsen & Toubro achieved the breakthrough in India's longest railway tunnel – the 14.57 km Tunnel No. 8 – on the 125-km Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Broad Gauge Rail Link Project of Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL). Tunnel No. 8 stretches between Devprayag and Janasu in Uttarakhand.
The breakthrough was achieved using a state-of-the-art Single-Shield Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) named Shakti, of 9.11m diameter, which is also the largest TBM to be deployed in the Himalayan region. Excavating at an average rate of 413 meters per month, 10.4 km of the tunnel was completed with TBM. The New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) was used to complete the remaining 4.11 km of the tunnel.
Celebrating the milestone, Union Railway Minister Mr Ashwini Vaishnaw, in the presence of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Mr Pushkar Singh Dhami, described the achievement as "a testament to India's engineering strength and the commitment to enhancing railway infrastructure in even the most difficult terrains."

India Cuts Ties with Pakistan: Ends Treaty, Seal Borders

India took an unprecedented step by terminating the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan, a move that signifies the most serious breakdown in diplomatic relations between the two nations in recent years. Alongside the treaty's termination, the Atari-Wagah border was also sealed, visa services for Pakistani citizens suspended, and defence advisors from both countries were withdrawn. These actions reflect a decisive strategic shift in India's foreign policy approach toward its western neighbour.
India also announced the cancellation of SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) for Pakistani nationals. Any Pakistani citizen currently in India under this scheme has been asked to leave the country within 48 hours.
Established in 1992, SVES was designed to facilitate travel between SAARC member countries, which include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
In 1988, the initiative emerged from the Islamabad SAARC Summit, where regional cooperation and people-to-people exchanges were emphasised.
Under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES), eligible individuals are issued a special visa sticker by their respective home countries, which allows multiple entries into other SAARC nations without the need for separate visas.
Signed in 1960 under the mediation of the World Bank, the Indus Water Treaty was one of the longest-standing agreements between India and Pakistan, surviving multiple wars and political upheavals. The treaty allocated the eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) to India and the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) to Pakistan, with detailed mechanisms for dispute resolution and cooperation.
The current actions by India follow a steady deterioration in India-Pakistan relations, marked by repeated cross-border terror incidents, infiltration attempts, and diplomatic hostilities.

Apr 23, 2025

India Hosts Inaugural Capacity Building Programme for Central Asian Republics on Combating Terror...

The Department of Revenue (DoR), in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), successfully organised the first-ever Capacity Building Programme for Central Asian Republics (CARs) on 'Countering the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) through Cryptocurrencies, Crowdfunding, and Non-Profit Organisations'. The two-day programme concluded April 22, 2025.
The Capacity Building Programme brought together senior experts from five Central Asian countries — Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan — the programme served as a platform for knowledge exchange and regional cooperation in tackling terrorism financing.

India to Release Monthly Unemployment Data from May 15 Onwards

Starting May 15, 2025, the Indian government will begin releasing monthly unemployment data, marking a significant shift from its previous practice of quarterly and annual reports. This move aims to provide more timely and detailed insights into the country's employment landscape.
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) announced that the first set of monthly unemployment data will cover January to March 2025. Subsequent reports will be released monthly. This change is intended to offer policymakers more frequent and granular data to inform decisions at both national and local levels.

MSDE and Microsoft Launch 'AI Careers for Women'

In an initiative to promote gender inclusivity in the technology sector, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) joined hands with Microsoft and launched 'AI Careers for Women'. This strategic partnership aims to empower 20,000 women from Tier-II and Tier-III towns in six Indian states with industry-relevant Artificial Intelligence (AI) training. The program emphasises not just skilling, but leadership, innovation, and career opportunities in AI, ensuring that women from underrepresented areas become future tech leaders and entrepreneurs.

List of Outcomes: State Visit of Prime Minister to Saudi Arabia

The second leaders meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council (SPC) was co-chaired by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Jeddah. The Council reviewed the work of the various committees, subcommittees and working groups under the SPC, which encompass political, defence, security, trade, investment, energy, technology, agriculture, culture and people-to-people ties. The discussions were followed by signing of the minutes by the two leaders.
To strengthen cultural and people-to-people ties, which has significant momentum in recent years, the Council decided to create a new Ministerial Committee on Tourism and Cultural Cooperation under the SPC.
The four committees under the India-Saudi Arabia SPC shall now be as follows:
(1) Political, Consular and Security Cooperation Committee, (2) Defence Cooperation Committee, (3) Economy, Energy, Investment and Technology Committee and (4) Tourism and Cultural Cooperation Committee.
List of MoUs/Agreements:
MoU between the Saudi Space Agency and the Department of Space of India on Cooperation in the field of Space Activities for Peaceful Purposes
MoU between the Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of India on Cooperation in the field of Health
MoU between the Saudi Arabian Anti-Doping Committee (SAADC) and the National Anti-Doping Agency, India (NADA) on Cooperation in the field of Anti-Doping Education and Prevention
Agreement between the Saudi Post Corporation (SPL) and the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications of India on Cooperation in Inward Surface Parcel.

Apr 22, 2025

The 6th Edition of India Steel, a Premier Biennial International Exhibition-cum Conference on the...

The 6th edition of India Steel, a premier biennial International Exhibition-cum Conference on the steel sector, will be held from April 24 to 26, 2025, at the Bombay Exhibition Centre in Mumbai.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the event on April 24 via video conferencing, in the presence of several dignitaries, including Union Ministers and Chief Ministers of three States. Organised by the Ministry of Steel, India Steel 2025 will bring together global stakeholders to discuss key issues such as growth strategies, sustainability in steel production, resilience in a changing global economy, and the role of innovation and digital technologies in enhancing competitiveness.

Amaravati: World's First Fully Renewable-Powered City in the Making

Amaravati, the planned capital of Andhra Pradesh, is on track to become the world's first city powered entirely by renewable energy. Envisioned by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, this ambitious project aligns with India's commitment to clean energy and climate-conscious urbanisation. Located between Vijayawada and Guntur, Amaravati is being designed as a modern, eco-friendly people's capital, setting a global benchmark in sustainable city planning.
The foundation stone for the greenfield capital city on the banks of Krishna River is expected to be laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi sometime this month. The Rs. 65,000-crore project is spread across 217 sq km, with Andhra Pradesh Capital Region spanning an area of 8,352 sq km.

Telangana Bhu Bharati Act, 2025: A Major Reform in Land Governance

Telangana government enacted the Telangana Bhu Bharati (Record of Rights) Act 2025 and formally launched the Bhu Bharati portal as a solution to land related issues which cropped up after the introduction of Dharani portal by the previous Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) government.
The then government billed the Dharani portal as a one-stop solution for all land related transactions and claimed that 93% of land records were rectified through the Land Record Updation Programme (LRUP) [The exercise included digitisation of the records]. However, a major chunk of these disputes arose during the digitalisation process.
Scrapping the Dharani portal has been one of the main planks on which the Congress contested the previous [2023] State Assembly elections and the results, especially in the rural areas, reflected the manner in which people suffered because of the Telangana Rights in Land and Pattadar Passbooks Act, 2020 and Dharani portal introduced by the BRS government.

Apr 21, 2025

Dr. Mangi Lal Jat Takes Charge as Secretary, DARE and DG, ICAR

Dr. Mangi Lal Jat, a distinguished Agronomist, assumed charge as the Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General (DG) of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) in its notification, named Dr Jat as the new Secretary of DARE and Director General of ICAR, for period of three years. Prior to this he was serving as Deputy Director General (Research) and Director of the Global Research Program at International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad.
Dr. Jat, a globally respected figure in sustainable agriculture, brings over 25 years of rich experience in agronomy, climate-resilient farming, and conservation agriculture.

Bihar's Mahila Samvad Campaign: Empowering Women through Dialogue and Awareness

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar launched the 'Mahila Samvad' campaign, a state-wide initiative aimed at connecting women with welfare schemes and amplifying their voices in policy discussions. This transformative campaign particularly targets rural women and intends to create a two-way communication channel between women citizens and government officials.
This initiative marks a shift towards inclusive governance, where women's voices are placed at the centre of development planning.

Apr 20, 2025

Andhra Pradesh Cabinet Approved Draft SC Sub-Categorisation Ordinance

In a major step towards equitable distribution of reservation benefits among Scheduled Castes (SCs), the Andhra Pradesh Cabinet approved a draft ordinance to implement sub-categorisation of SCs in the state. The move is rooted in the principle of "reservation within reservation", aimed at distributing quota benefits based on degree of backwardness among SC sub-castes. This ordinance follows the Supreme Court's allowance for states to sub-classify SCs and is based on the recommendations of a commission headed by retired IAS officer Rajeev Ranjan Mishra.

Two-day Conclave on Buddhism in Arunachal Pradesh

A two-day conclave titled 'Buddha Dhamma and the Culture of Northeast India' will be held in Namsai, Arunachal Pradesh, starting from April 21, 2025. This event is significant as it aims to highlight the impact and spread of Buddhism in the North-east region of India, emphasising its role in preserving and propagating various Buddhist traditions, including Theravāda, Mahāyāna, and Vajrayāna. The conclave is being organised by the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture. The event will include panel discussions, cultural performances, and practices related to Vipassana meditation, focusing on the Buddhist influence on the region's art, culture, and global peace.

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