General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - February 2016

Feb 2016

Dec 29, 2020

PM Modi to Inaugurate EDFC

The 'New Bhaupur-New Khurja' section of Indian Railways' Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor will be inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi tomorrow. Besides, the Prime Minister will also inaugurate the operation control centre of the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor at Prayagraj.
The 351 kilometres long stretch of New Bhaupur-New Khurja is located in the state of UP and has been built at a cost of Rs 5,750 crore. The EDFC section of New Bhaupur-New Khurja will benefit local industries like the aluminium industry in Pukhrayan region of Kanpur Dehat, glassware industry of Firozabad, asafoetida production of Hathras, textile production and block printing of Etawah, dairy sector of Auraiya, pottery products of Khurja, as well as locks and hardware of Aligarh district.
The new EDFC section will also decongest the existing mainline between Kanpur-Delhi and will also enable the national transporter to run faster train services. The Prayagraj's Operation Control Centre will act as the command centre for the entire Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor's route length.

Election Commission to Push for Absentee Vote, Digi-ID, New Service Rules

Four items on the Election Commission's agenda, which could go a long way in increasing the voter base and facilitate higher turnout during polls, will likely come up before the government in January.
Linkage of the Aadhaar number with voter ID, allowing voter registration as soon as a person turns 18 years, ensuring gender-neutral voting rights to service voters and launching of the digital voter ID for new voters have been on the to-do list of the EC for some time now.
While the first three require amendments to the Representation of People's Act, 1951, the fourth one — a digilocker-enabled version of the voter ID — is set to be launched on January 25 at a National Voter's Day event. All new voter cards issued from next month will be downloadable, like the e-Aadhar.
It is also expected that all or some of the required amendments to the RP Act may be brought in through the Budget session of Parliament.

PM Modi Launches National Common Mobility Card, Flags off India's First Driverless Train

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) services on the Airport Express Line and said that the launch of this service will further India's development.
The Prime Minister said that the time has come for a unified technological interface to be used across services in order bring all-round development in the country. Speaking at the launch of the NCMC services on the Airport Express Line, PM Modi said that the launch of this service is one such interface.
The NCMC will be very useful for passengers as the card will allow passengers carrying a RuPay debit card to swipe these for Metro travel. According to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), those carrying NCMC will now be able to travel on the Airport Express line without any trouble. This facility will become available on the entire Delhi Metro network by 2022.

Dec 28, 2020

Himachal CM Unveils statue of Vajpayee in Shimla

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur unveiled an 18-feet tall statue of late former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the historic Ridge Maidan in the state capital.
The statue has been built at a cost of Rs. 1.08 crore. The Ridge Maidan also houses statues of Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

RLP Convener Beniwal Announces Split from NDA

Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) convener and Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal announced a split from the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) over the Centre's new farm laws.
Beniwal had announced a march to Delhi in support of farmers' organisations holding a protest against the contentious laws.
Beniwal claimed that his coronavirus test was fudged to keep him out of the Lok Sabha when the three farm laws were passed.

Alliance with Shiv Sena Limited to Maharashtra

Senior Congress leader Ashok Chavan said that the Shiv Sena was not part of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the tie-up between the two parties is limited to Maharashtra, a day after Sena MP Sanjay Raut called for expansion of the Congress-led bloc.
Shavan said that Shiv Sena is yet to become a part of the UPA. Our alliance with the Sena in Maharashtra is based on a Common Minimum Programme (CMP) and limited to Maharashtra.

BJP to Organise Webinars on 'One Nation, One Election'

The BJP will organise nearly 25 webinars over the next few days on the issue of 'one nation, one election', as it seeks to build popular support for what has been a strong plank of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
These webinars will be attended by senior leaders, members of academia and legal fraternity,
Since coming to power in 2014, Modi has often advocated holding all elections together, from Lok Sabha to state Assemblies and local bodies, arguing that this will orient various elected bodies fully towards development as the current cycle of frequent polls across the country hampers work.

Dec 27, 2020

JD (U) Suffers Setback in Arunachal Pradesh, 6 MLAs Switches over to BJP

The Janata Dal (United) received a major jolt in Arunachal Pradesh, with six of its seven MLAs shifting allegiance to the ruling BJP.
The lone MLA from the People's Party of Arunachal (PPA), Kardo Nyigyor from Likabali constituency, has also joined the saffron party. The development comes a day ahead of the announcement of the panchayat and municipal poll results.
The JD (U) MLAs who switched sides are Talem Taboh from Rumgong Assembly Constituency, Hayeng Mangfi (Chayang Tajo), Jikke Tako (Tali), Dorjee Wangdi Kharma (Kalaktang), Dongru Siongju (Bomdila) and Kanggong Taku from Mariyang-Geku constituency.

NGT Extends Term of Oversight Committee to Monitor Pollution of Ganga

The National Green Tribunal has extended the term of an oversight committee to monitor pollution of Ganga River and oversee compliance of environmental norms in Uttar Pradesh.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said that unless the UP government sets up any other effective alternative mechanism, it may not be advisable to close the committee abruptly.
Accordingly, the term of the oversight committee, for the time being, will be extended for six months. If the State of UP has any other suggestion, it will be open to put forward the same.

General Secretary of MNM Joins BJP Ahead of Tamil Nadu Polls

In a setback to Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) chief Kamal Haasan, ahead of the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, general-secretary A. Arunachalam joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the presence of Union Minister Prakash Javadekar.
Arunachalam hails from a village in the Tuticorin district. The development came at a time when Haasan is campaigning for the forthcoming state elections.

Dec 26, 2020

Senior UP Cong leader Pandit Vinod Mishraquits

Senior Uttar Pradesh Congress leader and convener of the Brahmin Mahasabha, Pandit Vinod Mishra resigned from the party.
Mishra is a former general secretary of the UP Congress, who also held the charge of Lucknow district during the Raj Babbar tenure.
Mishra blamed party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for his resignation.
He alleged that the Gandhi family was using the party for saving its skin from the CBI and ED and hence, insulting veteran leaders and forcing them to exit.

Little Alliance Chance, SP May Name Candidates by April End

The Samajwadi Party is likely to give the final shape to its list of candidates for the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls by the end of April next year, as it aims to hit the campaign trail early to recapture power it lost to the BJP in 2017.
The party has already started receiving application forms from those who are eager to contest the polls. The last date for submission of application is January 26.
The party is not accepting applications for constituencies where it has its sitting MLAs.
As per reports, the SP is unlikely to enter into poll pacts with big political parties in the state. There are chances of alliance with small parties in different pockets. So, the selection of candidates for the 2022 assembly polls is not a difficult task.

Assam Congress MLA Ajanta Neog Expelled for 'Anti-party' Activities

The Congress expelled former Assam minister and its MLA Ajanta Neog for her "anti- party" activities.
The move came amid speculations that Neog, who was a close confidante of former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and part of his cabinet, may join the BJP.
The four-time MLA from Golaghat constituency had recently met Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and North-East Democratic Alliance convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Following her meeting with them, Neog was asked by the party's state unit to show cause why action would not be taken against her.

Dec 25, 2020

NSCN-K Faction to Join Naga Peace Talks

A key faction of Naga insurgent group NSCN-K announced that it would join the peace talks with the Centre and restore the ceasefire agreement that it had unilaterally abrogated in 2015 by killing 18 Indian Army personnel in an ambush. This comes at a time when the talks between NSCN-IM, the largest Naga rebel group, and the Centre have reached a standstill.
NSCN-K was part of the SS Khaplang faction but later split over differences. It claims to have nearly 90 armed cadres near the India-Myanmar border. NSCNK's recently elected leader Niki Sumi is wanted by NIA in connection with the 2015 attack. According to officials, Sumi has been in talks with Indian representatives and may join the Naga National Political Groups, a conglomerate of seven political organisations from Nagaland.

Kerala again Seeks Governor's Nod to Convene Special Assembly Session

The Kerala cabinet again decided to recommend to Governor Arif Mohammed Khan seeking approval for a special Assembly sessionon December 31 to discuss and pass a resolution against the three central farm laws, against which farmers have been protesting near Delhi.
As per Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his government was hopeful that the Governor would accord sanction for the special session.
This comes days after Governor Khan declined consent for the Left government in the southern state to convene a one-day session on December 23 to discuss the central laws and express solidarity with the agitating farmers.

Congress Loses Buffer Role in J&K

Congress' lack-lustre performance in the J&K District Development Council polls has not come as a surprise to its leader. The political and ideological fight between BJP and the Gupkar alliance saw the party's sidelining in the UT. While the main national opposition was at odds with its contradictory position in Jammu and the Kashmir valley, the absence of high-profile AICC campaigners, factional feuds and local leaders' focus on family candidates added to the Congress misery.
The regional Congress leadership had announced that it would have an understanding with the Gupkar alliance, taking into account sentiments in the Kashmir valley but AICC disowned the stand due to BJP pressure at the national stage. This saw BJP run over Congress in Jammu while the main opposition's stand against dilution of Article 370 was not enough to help it electorally in the Kashmir valley, where even the son of PCC chief Ghulam Ahmad Mir lost. While BJP opened its account in the valley, Congress' lost its remaining base to the Gupkar alliance.

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