General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - January 2016

Jan 2016

Jul 23, 2023

B. R. Sharma, Ex J&K Chief Secretary, Takes Oath as State Election Commissioner

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief secretary B. R. Sharma took oath as the State Election Commissioner of the Union Territory. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha administered the oath of office to B. R. Sharma at the Raj Bhavan in Srinagar.
He succeeded K. K. Sharma.
A 1984-batch IAS officer hailing from Kathua district of the Jammu region, B R Sharma has served as the chief secretary of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir from 2015 to 2017.
He has also served as Additional Secretary in the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), as well as the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Jammu and Kashmir.

Haryana Govt. Appoints Nodal Officials to Facilitate the MoR

The Haryana Government appointed nodal officials to facilitate the Ministry of Railways to ensure the timely implementation of PM Gati Shakti - National Master Plan for establishing goods sheds in every district of Haryana. A decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal at Chandigarh today. Additional Deputy Commissioners and Executive Engineers of PWD (Building and Roads) will coordinate and supervise the smooth functioning of goods sheds within their respective districts. This strategic move is expected to significantly boost the State's economy, enhancing trade and logistics across the region.

Jagdeep Dhankhar Reconstitutes Rajya Sabha Panel of Vice-chairpersons

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar reconstituted the panel of vice-chairpersons of Parliament's Upper House with half of them being women.
Among the Rajya Sabha members who are the new vice-chairpersons are P. T. Usha, S. Phangnon Konyak, Fauzia Khan, Sulata Deo, V. Vijaysai Reddy, Ghanshyam Tiwari, L. Hanumanthaiah and Sukhendu Sekhar Ray.
As per Rajya Sabha rules, the chairman shall, from time to time, nominate from amongst the members of the Council a panel of not more than six vice-chairmen, one of whom may preside over the Council in the absence of the chairman and the deputy chairman when so requested by the chairman, or in his absence, by the deputy chairman.
This is the first time in the history of the Upper House that equal representation has been given to women members in the panel of vice-chairpersons.

Jul 22, 2023

G20 Meeting in Indore `Zero Waste' Event

The three-day meeting of the G20 Employment Working Group which concluded in Indore city of Madhya Pradesh on July 21 was a `zero waste' event, with plastic bottles not allowed and writing pads of reusable paper were used.
Indore, notably, has been ranked as India's cleanest city in the national cleanliness surveys conducted by the Union government for the last six years.
The G20 meeting was aimed at finding solutions to the current global challenges in the areas of labour, employment and social security to workers.
As many as 165 guests, including representatives from 20 nations and nine invited countries of G20 and top officials of global organisations of labour, employment and social security participated in different sessions.

G20 Energy Transitions Working Group Meet Concludes in Goa

The 4^th and last Energy Transitions Working Group Meeting, held under India's G20 presidency, concluded in Goa. The two-day meeting witnessed proactive engagement from over 115 delegates representing G20 member countries and nine invitee countries. The discussions centered around critical challenges related to climate change, sustainability, energy security, equitable energy access and financing, in the context of global energy transitions. The meeting emphasized the urgent need for feasible, collaborative, and accountable policy actions to accelerate global energy transitions while ensuring universal energy access and just, affordable, and inclusive energy transitions in line with achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Jul 21, 2023

Regional Office of Universal Postal Union Inaugurated in New Delhi

Minister of State for Communication Devusinh Chauhan and Director General, Universal Postal Union (DG UPU) Masahiko Metoki inaugurated the Regional Office of Universal Postal Union (UPU). The Regional Office will undertake UPU's technical assistance activities in South Asia region by entering into a host country agreement by Department of Posts, India.
The Regional Office of UPU in India will serve as a vital platform for exchanging ideas, experiences and expertise, thereby accelerating the modernisation and transformation of the postal sector. It will act as a hub for promoting collaboration among UPU member countries in the Asia Pacific region, encouraging innovation and facilitating knowledge sharing to enhance postal services.
Establishment of the UPU Regional Office in India is a significant step towards India's commitment for South-South cooperation and its active role in global postal development. It will also create opportunities for joint initiatives and capacity building programmes that will enhance the quality of postal services, cross-border e-commerce and contribute to economic development and social well-being.

Union Minister Parshottam Rupala Inaugurates International Symposium

Under the aegis of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and the Agriculture Working Group (AWG) of G20, Shri Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying inaugurated an International Symposium on Sustainable Livestock Transformation at NDDB, Anand.
The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Govt of India; National Dairy Development Board (NDDB); Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations jointly organised the 2-day Symposium under the Agriculture Working Group (AWG) of G20.
The 2-day long symposium was aimed to foster insightful discussions and deliberations on the transformation to more efficient and sustainable agri-food systems, with a particular focus on the livestock sector. Distinguished experts, policymakers, and stakeholders from the G20 who participated in the event exchanged knowledge, shared experiences, and explored innovative approaches to ensure the sustainability of the livestock sector.
The symposium was highlighted as a milestone event, driving transformative change in the livestock sector and fostering collaborations for a sustainable future.

Opposition Bloc 'INDIA' Gets its Tagline 'Jeetega Bharat'

After the opposition parties announced 'INDIA' as the name for their alliance, they finalised 'Jeetega Bharat' as the 26-member bloc's tagline, setting the tone for their 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign.
The Hindi tagline means 'India will win' and is likely to be replicated in several regional languages.
During the meeting in Bengaluru, several leaders felt that the word 'Bharat' should feature in the name of the alliance. So, it was decided that it would feature in the tagline.

Jul 20, 2023

NOIDA CEO Ritu Maheshwari Transferred

The Uttar Pradesh government effected transfers of three senior IAS officers, including Ritu Maheshwari, who was relieved as the Chief Executive Officer of the Noida Industrial Development Authority (NOIDA).
Kanpur's Divisional Commissioner Lokesh. M will replace Maheshwari as the NOIDA CEO.
Lokesh. M of the 2003 batch had in June 2023 joined his new posting in Kanpur, replacing 2004-batch IAS officer Raj Shekhar after a stint as Commissioner of the Saharanpur division.
Maheshwari, a 2003-batch officer of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), will join as Divisional Commissioner of Agra, replacing IAS officer Alok Gupta, who will be joining as the Divisional Commissioner of Kanpur.
Maheshwari was in July 2019 made the CEO of NOIDA after her stint as the District Magistrate of adjoining Ghaziabad district.

NITI Aayog Unveils TCRM Matrix Framework to Revolutionize Technology Assessment

NITI Aayog, India's premier policy think tank, released the Techno-Commercial Readiness and Market Maturity Matrix (TCRM Matrix) framework. Aimed at transforming technology assessment, the framework seeks to ignite innovation and entrepreneurship across the country. The release of the TCRM Matrix under the NITI Working Paper series marks a significant milestone, offering valuable insights and practical intelligence to stakeholders involved in the technology development cycle.
Under the NITI Working Paper series, the TCRM Matrix framework builds upon the core principles of existing technology assessment frameworks, such as Technology Readiness Level (TRL), Commercialization Readiness Level (CRL), and Market Readiness Level (MRL) scales. By integrating these principles, the TCRM Matrix offers an integrated assessment model, empowering stakeholders with in-depth insights at every stage of technology development.
The adoption of the TCRM Matrix framework requires a comprehensive analysis and contextualization within the unique national and sectoral innovation landscapes. By utilizing this framework, India can unlock its innovation potential and establish itself as a driving force in the global technology arena.
The TCRM Matrix framework paves the way for a new era of technology assessment in India, offering an integrated approach that promises to shape the country's technological landscape for years to come. With the support of this framework, India is poised to stride confidently towards a brighter and more innovative future.

German Vice Chancellor Habeck in India

Germany's Vice Chancellor and Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Robert Habeck, is in the national capital for a three-day visit.
He is accompanied by a high-ranking official and a business delegation comprising top executives of large and medium-sized German companies.
Habeck said that India is considered a key growth market.
He affirmed Germany's interest in expanding and deepening its strategic partnership with India, which would also strengthen the resilience and diversification of the German economy.
In particular, he pointed to untapped cooperation potential in renewable energy and green hydrogen.
Habeck will hold high-level meetings with India's Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Power Minister R. K. Singh.
He will also inaugurate an Indo-German Business Forum in Delhi titled 'Inviting innovation: Transforming the economy for a shared sustainable future'.

Jul 19, 2023

Sarbananda Sonowal Launches the Curtain Raiser of Global Maritime India Summit 2023

Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) in the presence of Shripad Y. Naik, Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Shantanu Thakur, Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways officially launched the Curtain Raiser of Global Maritime India Summit 2023 event at St. Regis, Mumbai, Maharashtra.
The objective of this event is to create an international forum for key decision makers and industry leaders; to provide opportunity platform for start-ups, researchers and incubators; to showcase the latest technology and emerging trends in the maritime sector; to recognize and celebrate achievers in the maritime sector and to created a Platform to access skilled manpower through industry academia interaction.
Organized by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, the Curtain Raiser event will serve as a precursor to the main summit and provides an exclusive opportunity to gain valuable industry insights, and witness significant launches.
The Global Summit event is scheduled on 17-19 of October 2023 in which more than 30 countries are expected to participate. The event will focus upon new investments opportunities along with collaborations for knowledge and technology, enhancing trade between nations and to promote Ease-of-Doing-Business.

Vijay Sampla Resigns as NCSC Chairperson

National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) chairperson Vijay Sampla is believed to have resigned from his post as he is likely to be given organisational responsibility in the BJP in the upcoming elections.
Sampla has been holding the charge of NCSC chairperson since 2021.
Sampla, a prominent Dalit face from Punjab, began his political career in 1998 as the sarpanch of Sofipind village in Jalandhar Cantonment.

India Hosts World's Largest Office Building in Gujarat's Surat

India's gem capital Surat in Gujarat surpassed the United States to host the largest office in the world. 'Surat Diamond Bourse', a one stop shop for over 65,000 diamond professionals, is now the world's largest office building, replacing the Pentagon in the US.
Spread across 35 acres of land, the Surat Diamond Bourse is a 15-storey complex consisting of nine interconnected rectangular structures.
Designed by the Indian architecture firm Morphogenesis, the building offers over 7.1 million square feet of floor space, accommodating more than 65,000 diamond professionals, including cutters, polishers, and traders. It aims to be a "one-stop destination" for the diamond industry.
The project took about a period of four years to complete, including two years of Covid-19 pandemic related delay.

Opposition Renames UPA as Indian National Democratic Inclusive Alliance (INDIA)

United Progressive Alliance (UPA) renamed itself as the Indian National Democratic Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The announcement came during the Opposition meeting in Bengaluru.

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