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NATIONAL AFFAIRS - December 2015

Dec 2015

Mar 25, 2021

Cabinet Approves MoC Signed between India & Japan in Water Resources Field

The Cabinet was apprised of a Memorandum of Cooperation signed between India and Japan, aimed at achieving water security, improved irrigation facility and sustainability in water resources development.
"The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was apprised of the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) signed between Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India and Water and Disaster Management Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan in the field of Water Resources," a statement said.
This MoC was signed for development of a long-term cooperation in the field of water and delta management, and water technology in order to increase the exchange of information, knowledge, technology and scientific allied experience, as well as implementation of joint projects between the two countries.

Maratha Quota Granted by Maharashtra Govt. Constitutional

Maharashtra has the legislative competence for granting reservation quota to Marathas and its decision is Constitutional as the 102nd amendment does not denude a state of the power to declare its list of Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC), the Centre told the Supreme Court.
The 102nd Constitution amendment Act of 2018 inserted Articles 338B, which deals with the structure, duties and powers of the National Commission for Backward Class (NCBC), and 342A dealing with power of the President to notify a particular caste as SEBC as also of Parliament to change the list.
A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan was told by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, that in its view the SEBC Act, 2018, of Maharashtra granting reservation to people of the Maratha community in the state in jobs and admissions is Constitutional.

Mar 24, 2021

CJI Bobde Recommends Justice NV Ramana as his Successor

Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde sent a letter to the government recommending the appointment of Supreme Court Judge Justice NV Ramana as the next CJI and handed over a copy of the recommendation to Justice Ramana.
CJI SA Bobde is due to retire on April 23.
The development comes after the Centre asked the CJI to recommend his successor with a little less than a month before his retirement.
Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad will put the CJI's recommendation before PM Modi, who will advice the President in the matter of appointment.
Justice NV Ramana is the senior-most judge in the top court after Chief Justice Bobde and has a tenure till August 26, 2022. He is scheduled to take over charge as the 48th CJI on April 24.

Arindam Bagchi Takes Charge as MEA Spokesperson

Arindam Bagchi, an officer of the 1995 batch of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), has assumed charge as the new spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). He replaced Anurag Srivastava, an officer of the 1999 batch of IFS.
Before this, Bagchi was serving as the joint secretary (north) at the MEA headquarters. He was an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer from the 1995 batch. In past, he has served as India's ambassador to Croatia from November 2018 to June 2020. He was also India's deputy high commissioner to Sri Lanka.

Mar 23, 2021

BJP Wins Goa Municipal Elections

Hailing the BJP's win in the Goa municipal elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the results show the people's appreciation towards the party's development agenda.
The ruling BJP won a majority in five out of six municipal councils in Goa where elections were held on March 20.
The party also won a majority in the Corporation of City of Panaji (CCP) where the election was held on the same day.

UP and MP Sign Deal on Linking of Two Rivers

Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for starting work on country's first major project interlinking two rain-fed rivers, Ken and Betwa, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, even as environmental activists said the project would spell doom for the Panna tiger reserve which is known for its critically endangered white-rumped vultures besides a thriving big cat population.
The MoA was signed 18 years after the project was first conceived as a part of country's ambitious programme to interlink rivers to provide water to areas facing scarcity. Officials said the delay was because of no agreement between the two states on sharing of water during the lean supply months, November to April.
According to the project report, 2,800 MCM of water will be diverted from the Ken basin to the water-deficit Betwa basin through a 73.8 meter high dam proposed on Ken at Daudhan in MP's Chhattarpur district.

NITI Aayog Forms Task Forces on Enforcement of Contracts, Conciliation Mechanism

In order to lay emphasis on Enforcement of Contracts and Conciliation Mechanism, NITI Aayog has constituted two task forces.
The Task Force for Enforcement of Contracts will give its recommendation for a policy framework for Enforcement of Contracts and the Task Force on Conciliation Mechanism will give its recommendation for an effective Conciliation Mechanism.
The Task Force for Enforcement of Contracts has been constituted with the participation from key Ministries and Departments of the Government and certain State Chief Secretaries.
The Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog will be the Chairman of the Task force and CEO, NITI Aayog will be the Member Secretary of the Task Force.
The Task Force will submit its report within six months of its constitution.

Trouble Mounts for Arvind Kejriwal as Centre Passes NCT Bill in Lok Sabha

In a major setback to Arvind Kejriwal-led government in Delhi, the centre passed the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021 in the Lok Sabha.
The NCT Bill seeks to provide far-reaching powers to the Lieutenant Governor in the union territory.
The Bill proposes that the 'government' referred to in any law passed by the legislative assembly would refer to the Lieutenant Governor.
According to the Bill, the Delhi government must obtain the opinion of the LG before implementing any policy decision.

Mar 22, 2021

Govt. to Set up Empowered Panel for Manufacturing in High Technology Area

The government will set up an empowered committee for manufacturing on high technology area, according to a circular issued by the cabinet secretariat. The committee will be headed by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.
The move is expected to facilitate investments and promote manufacturing in technology intensive sectors including semiconductors.
Cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba, deputy national security advisor Rajinder Khanna, officials from external affairs ministry and department for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPIIT), Tata Sons Chairman N Chnadrasekaran, Bharat
Forge Chairman Baba Kalyani, among others will also be a part of the committee.
Top officials from the finance ministry, including economic affairs secretary, expenditure secretary, revenue secretary will also be invited in the meetings of the committee.

PM Narendra Modi Launches Jal Shakti Abhiyan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the occasion of World Water Day, launched the 'Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain' campaign via video conferencing.
This movement will take place across India based on the theme of 'catch the rain, where it falls, when it falls.' It will strengthen water conservation efforts happening in our country.
Union Ministry of Jal Shakti and the governments of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh signed a Memorandum of Agreement for the first river-linking project of Ken-Betwa in the virtual launch.
This campaign will be implemented till November 30.

Mar 21, 2021

Ajit Doval, Lloyd Austin Discuss Strategic Partnership

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and US secretary of defence Lloyd James Austin III discussed areas of mutual interest, strategic partnership and cooperation on various aspects of security and defence.
It is the first visit to India by a top official of the Biden administration.

Nitish Kumar to Inaugurate First-ever Museum Biennale

The first-ever Museum Biennale in India and the world will be inaugurated in a hybrid avatar - physical and digital on March 22 on the occasion of Bihar Divas.
The ceremony will be attended by Nitish Kumar, Anjani Kumar Singh, the Nodal Officer of the Bihar Museum and Advisor to the Chief Minister and Deepak Anand, Director, Bihar Museum.
Bringing together a taste of key collections from various museums across India and the world through virtual tours, the biennale features a series of masterclasses with experts from the creative industries and a two-day international conference with speakers including Neil MacGregor, Hilary Knight, Dr Souraya Noujaim, Sabyasachi Mukherjee and Javier Barón Thaidigsmann among others.

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