General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - February 2016

Feb 2016

Sep 18, 2020

Two Bills Aimed at Transforming Agriculture Passed

Two bills aimed at transforming agriculture in the country and raising farmers' income were passed by Lok Sabha today. The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 were introduced in Lok Sabha on 14th September 2020 by Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, to replace ordinances promulgated on 5th June 2020.
The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 seeks to provide for the creation of an ecosystem where the farmers and traders enjoy the freedom of choice relating to sale and purchase of farmers' produce which facilitates remunerative prices through competitive alternative trading channels to promote efficient, transparent and barrier-free inter-State and intra-State trade and commerce of farmers' produce outside physical premises of markets or deemed markets notified under various State agricultural produce market legislations; to provide a facilitative framework for electronic trading and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 seeks to provide for a national framework on farming agreements that protects and empowers farmers to engage with agri-business firms, processors, wholesalers, exporters or large retailers for farm services and sale of future farming produce at a mutually agreed remunerative price framework in a fair and transparent manner and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

Sep 17, 2020

PM Narendra Modi's Birthday: BJP Organises 'Sewa Saptah'

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has organised several events as part of the "sewa saptah" programme to celebrate Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 70th birthday.
From blood donation camps to distribution of oximetres, food items etc, the party has organised a series of events to celebrate the PM's birthday.

Lok Sabha Clears Bill to Reduce Salaries of MPs by 30%

Lok Sabha has passed the bill on September 15, 2020, that reduces the salary payable to the Members of Parliament by 30% for one year starting from April 1, 2020.
The Salary, Allowances, and Pensions of Members of Parliament (Amendment) Bill, 2020 has replaced an ordinance that was brought earlier as part of the measures to gather resources for fighting the Coronavirus pandemic.
The bill was introduced in the lower house on September 14, 2020. The temporary suspension of Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme Fund for 2020-21 and 2021-22 was also approved by the government in the wake of the pandemic.

Sep 16, 2020

Rajya Sabha Passes Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda Bill

The Rajya Sabha (RS) passed the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda Bill, 2020.
The institute will be declared an institution of national importance following the passage of the bill and will be instrumental for the promotion of quality and excellence in education, research and training in Ayurveda.
The bill seeks to merge three institutes into one integrated centre. It will be called the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, which will be based in Jamnagar, Gujarat. It will be the first Ayurveda institution to be given the status of institution of national importance.

New Parliament Project: Tata's Bid Lowest

Tata Projects Limited's financial bid of Rs. 861.90 crore for the construction and five-year maintenance contract of a new Parliament building was the lowest of the two bids opened by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), according to the bid documents.
Citing security concerns and the nature of the project, the CPWD had opted for pre-qualification of potential bidders before inviting financial and technical bids.
The project, which is a part of the HUA Ministry's larger Central Vista redevelopment plan, is scheduled to be completed in 21 months from the start of construction, according to the CPWD's invitation for bids.

Aircraft (Amendment) Bill cleared in Rajya Sabha

A Bill that gives three aviation regulators statutory powers and enhances the fine for violations from Rs. 10 lakh to Rs. 1 crore in a bid to improve aircraft safety, was passed by Parliament after a heated discussion in Rajya Sabha over privatisation of airports.
The Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020, which was passed by the Lok Sabha on March 17, was passed by the Upper House by voice vote in September 2020.
The Bill gives statutory powers to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Puri said the changes were necessary in view of the growth of the sector.
The Bill empowers the aviation watchdog DGCA to levy penalties of upto Rs. 1 crore on airlines, airports and other aviation entities.

Essential Commodities Amendment Bill passed in Lok Sabha

The Lok Sabha passed the Essential Commodities Amendment Bill by a voice vote. The Bill proposes to deregulate the production, storage, movement and sale of several foodstuffs, including cereals, pulses, edible oils and onions, except in the case of extraordinary circumstances.
With thousands of farmers rising up in protest against the Bill in Punjab, one of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) allies, the Shiromani Akali Dal MP and president Sukhbir Singh Badal, expressed concerns and misgivings about the proposed legislation during the debate in the House.
He questioned the manner in which the Bill was brought without consultation with farmers' organisations. Punjab farmers were the worst affected, he said, adding that they feared multinational players would initially offer lucrative deals and then dominate the market to the detriment of farmers.

Sep 15, 2020

Sixteen-Member Committee to Study Ancient Indian Culture

Union Minister Prahlad Patel informed Parliament that the government has formed an expert committee for conducting a study on the origin and evolution of Indian culture dating back to around 12,000 years ago.
The 16-member committee includes K. N. Dikshit, Chairman, Indian Archaeological Society, New Delhi and former Joint Director General, Archaeological Survey of India, among others.

Harivansh Rajya Sabha Deputy Chief again

The Rajya Sabha re-elected Janata Dal (United) parliamentarian Harivansh Narayan Singh as the Deputy Chairman of the Upper House by voice vote. His name was proposed by BJP president and party MP Jagat Prakash Nadda. Leader of the House Thavarchand Gehlot seconded it. The opposition had fielded Manoj Jha, an RJD member.

India Beats China to Win Crucial Election to UN Commission on Women

In a significant victory, India got elected as Member of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, the principal global body focused on gender equality and women empowerment, beating China in a hotly-contested election.
The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is a functional commission of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
The 54-member ECOSOC, holding the first plenary meeting of its 2021 session in the General Assembly Hall on Monday, held elections for two seats in the Asia-Pacific States category with Afghanistan, India and China in the fray.
Afghanistan, which is led by Ambassador Adela Raz at the UN, garnered 39 votes and India got 38 votes of the 54 ballots cast.
China, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, got only 27 votes and could not even cross the half-way mark and also failed to get the required majority of 28 votes.

Sep 14, 2020

Odisha Signs MoU With NCDC For Promoting Farmer Producer Organisation

An MoU was signed between the Government of Odisha and the National Co-operative Development Corporation (NCDC) at Krushi Bhawan for the promotion and management of Farmer Producer Organisation.
This MoU is based on Farmers Producer Organisation (FPO) Promotion and Management with central sector scheme.
The MoU was signed between Rohit Kumar Lenka, Director of Horticulture on behalf of Agriculture and Farmers' Empowerment Department, Government of Odisha and Shardul, S. Yadav, Regional Director, NCDC in the presence of Suresh Kumar Vashishth, Special Secretary, A and FE Department.
Under this Central scheme, NCCD will be formed Farmer Producer Organisation (FPOs) and will impart training, proper guidance to the small and marginal farmers of Odisha to face various challenges in production, technical knowhow, quality of production, optimum price realisation, credit, seed production, processing, utilisation and marketing. These FPOs will be governed/managed as per the Cooperative Society Act.
This Central Section scheme is being implemented in the State for benefit of the farmers due to their able guidance, hard-working efficiencies and strong determination and will power quick disposals.

Gram Panchayat Polls across Karnataka Likely to be after Deepavali

Elections to nearly 6,000 gram panchayats across Karnataka are likely to be held after Deepavali, in November-end or early December.
As per reports, Deputy Commissioners have already notified the reservation list for various categories and the State Election Commission (SEC) has prepared the electoral rolls of all GPs.
With increase in COVID-19 cases, the SEC is expected to once again seek suggestions from the DCs on their readiness to conduct the polls.
The SEC had postponed the polls, scheduled in June and July, based on suggestions by the DCs. Following the end of the term, administrators have been appointed for GPs.

Odisha Proposes to Repeal 699 Redundant Laws

The Odisha government has proposed to come up with a Bill to repeal as many as 699 redundant Acts and amendments.
Departments have been asked to offer their views on the Odisha Repealing Bill, 2020 for repealing redundant Acts and amendments enacted between 1974 and 2016.
The highest 113 redundant or obsolete acts were identified in the Revenue and Disaster Management department while it was followed by the Finance department having 83 laws which were not in use.
The Housing and Urban Development department and the Panchayati Raj department have 77 redundant Acts.
In the Parliamentary Affairs department, while the Odisha Offices of Profit (Removal of Disqualifications) Amendment Act, 2016 was identified to be obsolete, as many as 43 Acts and amendments pertaining to salary, allowances, pensions of MLAs, Ministers and Speakers were found to be redundant.

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