General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - May 2016

May 2016

Jul 22, 2024

Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy Inaugurates National Landslide Forecasting Centre

Union Minister of Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy inaugurated the National Landslide Forecasting Centre (NLFC) at GSI, Dharitri Campus, Salt Lake City, Kolkata. Minister also launched the Bhusanket Web Portal and Bhooskhalan Mobile App. The programme was graced by dignitaries from various disaster management agencies and stakeholder organisations besides Director General, GSI, Janardan Prasad, and other senior officials of the organisation.
The NLFC is a pioneering initiative aimed at landslide hazard mitigation in India. It will in due course issue early warning bulletins for all landslide-prone states, operationalizing the regional Landslide Early Warning System (LEWS) nationwide by 2030. Equipped with advanced technology, the NLFC will provide early information to local administration and communities, update landslide inventories, and integrate real-time rainfall and slope instability data for enhanced forecasting accuracy.

Jul 21, 2024

"Rajiv Gandhi Civils Abhayahastam" Launched By Telangana CM

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy launched a unique programme to provide financial assistance to the Civil Services aspirants from Telangana, under which the candidates who qualify for the Mains exams will be provided with Rd.1 lakh for preparation.
This scheme is named 'Rajiv Gandhi Civils Abhayahastam'. It will be helpful to about 400 candidates from Telangana region who qualify for the Mains every year. Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL) will provide the assistance as a part of its 'Nirmaan' programme.
Candidates from the SC, ST, OBC, Women and the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category are eligible for the scheme but their family annual income must be below Rs. 8 lakh. The applicants must be permanent residents of Telangana.

UP Govt. Forms a State Capital Region on the Lines of NCR

The Uttar Pradesh government issued a notification for the formation of a State Capital Region (SCR) which would include Lucknow and five other adjoining districts along the lines of the National Capital Region (NCR) in Delhi.
Uttar Pradesh governor Anandiben Patel officially designated the area surrounding Lucknow as the Uttar Pradesh State Capital Region.
The newly formed SCR comprises the districts Lucknow, Hardoi, Sitapur, Unnao, Rae Bareli and Barabanki with a total area of 27,826 square km.
The UP State Capital Region comprising Lucknow, Hardoi, Sitapur, Unnao, Rae Bareli and Barabanki, is formed keeping in mind the population pressure on the capital city, said chief minister Yogi Adityanath who initiated this project in September 2022.

Vinay Kwatra Appointed as India's New Ambassador to the U.S.

Former Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra was appointed as India's next Ambassador to the United States, as confirmed by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Kwatra filled the position that has been vacant since Taranjit Sandhu's retirement in January 2024.
Kwatra, who served as the Foreign Secretary of India from May 1, 2022, to July 14, 2024, brings a wealth of diplomatic experience to his new role. He joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1988 and has held various significant positions throughout his career.
Kwatra started his career in India's Permanent Mission in Geneva and worked as a desk officer in Delhi handling UN matters.

Jul 20, 2024

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju inaugurates 'Lok Samvardhan Parv' at Delhi Haat in New Delhi

As part of its 100 days' programme, the Ministry of Minority Affairs is organising "Lok Samvardhan Parv" to showcase the schemes, programmes and achievements of the Ministry and also highlighting the activities undertaken in convergence with partner organisations and success stories under its various schemes.
The Lok Samvardhan Parv was inaugurated by Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister for Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs. The Minister released a Coffee table book on schemes and achievements of Ministry of Minority Affairs. Further, a Credit Plan of National Minorities Development & Finance Corporation (NMDFC) for extending credit of over Rs.1000 crores to over 2.5 lakh beneficiaries during 2024-25 was also released by the Minister.

'Utkrishtata ki Ore Badhte Kadam' Event, Organised by MoHUA

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) organised an event in July 2024, named 'Utkrishtata ki Ore Badhte Kadam'. Celebrating Achievements, Inspiring Excellence to felicitate best performers under PM Street Vendor's AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) Yojana and Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM).
The event was attended by Manohar Lal, Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, as Chief Guest, Tokhan Sahu, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, Anurag Jain, Secretary, MoHUA and senior officials from Central Government, State Governments, Lending Institutions, Digital Payment Aggregators, key partners and most importantly, the beneficiaries of DAY-NULM and PM SVANidhi.
The event was organised to commemorate the outstanding accomplishments of the year 2023-24 and express gratitude to the stakeholders whose tireless efforts were instrumental in achieving those milestones.

UPSC chairperson Manoj Soni Resigns

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) chairperson Manoj Soni resigned due to personal reasons, almost five years before his tenure was to end in 2029. However, sources said Soni's resignation was not related to the controversy surrounding probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar, who allegedly submitted fraudulent disability and caste certificates to get selected.
Manoj Soni became a member of the UPSC, a constitutional body, in 2017. On May 16, 2023, he took over as chairperson of the commission, which conducts the civil services exam (CSE) to recruit candidates into top government services like IAS, IPS, IFS.
The Royal Commission on the superior Civil Services in India was set up under the chairmanship of Lord Lee of Fareham by the British Government in 1923. With equal numbers of Indian and British members, the commission submitted its report in 1924, recommending setting up of a Public Service Commission. The Lee Commission proposed that 40% of future entrants should be British, 40% Indians directly recruited, and 20% Indians promoted from the provincial services.
This led to the establishment of the first Public Service Commission on October 1, 1926 under the chairmanship of Sir Ross Barker.

'The Future Is Now' As the Theme for IMC 2024: J.M. Scindia

The theme of the India Mobile Congress 2024, to be held from October 15 to 18, 2024 'The Future is Now', was unveiled by Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region. The theme signifies how India stands at the heart of the technological evolution and IMC 2024 bringing together global leaders, visionaries, pioneers, and innovators to collaborate and actively shape the technologies transforming our world today, where the future isn't just a concept, it's happening.
The event aims to showcase more than 900 technology use case scenarios, host 100+ sessions and talks by more than 600 speakers.
IMC 2024 will bring an urgent and engaging narrative, reminding that the technologies we once dreamed of are now an active part of our daily lives and will encourage attendees to delve into the latest advancements in domains like 6G, AI, Semiconductors, Broadcasting, Electronics manufacturing, Satcom, Quantum, and Security etc. India Mobile Congress 2024 will serve as a perfect platform to showcase innovative solutions, services and state-of-the-art use cases for industry, government, academics, startups and other key stakeholders in the technology ecosystem.

Jul 19, 2024

Climate Conference 2024

The Climate Conference 2024, themed "Decoding the Green Transition for India," took place on January 12, 2024, in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Organized by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, the event focused on the pivotal role of the private sector, climate tech Startups and institutional investors in mobilizing financial resources and technical capabilities.
The goal was to leverage government efforts, engage civil society and communities, and develop innovative climate services and adaptation technologies.
The Conference was organised under the Green Climate Fund Readiness Programme with Delivery Partner UNDP India and supported by Knowledge Partner Avaana Capital.

Jul 18, 2024

Uttarakhand's eSwasthya Dham Portal Integrates with Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission

In a significant stride towards enhancing digital healthcare infrastructure, the Uttarakhand government successfully integrated its eSwasthya Dham portal with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). This integration marks a crucial step in improving health monitoring and management for pilgrims undertaking the revered Char Dham Yatra, while also aligning with India's broader digital health initiatives.
Launched in September 2021 as a central sector scheme, the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission aims to create a unified digital health infrastructure across India. This ambitious project seeks to revolutionise healthcare delivery by leveraging technology to improve accessibility, efficiency, and transparency in health services.
The eSwasthya Dham portal plays a crucial role in monitoring the health parameters of pilgrims embarking on the Char Dham Yatra. This spiritual journey, which includes visits to Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath, often presents health challenges due to high altitudes and harsh weather conditions.

Thane to Borivali: India's Longest and Largest Urban Tunnel

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India's longest and largest urban tunnel project, the Thane Borivali Twin Tunnel, developed by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). This Rs. 16,600 crore project will reduce travel time between Thane and Borivali from over an hour to just 12 minutes, cutting the travel distance by 12 km. This initiative is part of broader infrastructure projects worth Rs. 29,000 crore aimed at enhancing connectivity in Mumbai.

Poll Body Gives Aggrieved Candidates Choice on How They Want To Check EVMs

Aggrieved candidates, who have applied for Supreme Court-directed checking of EVMs for tampering post Lok Sabha and assembly results, have been given various choices by the Election Commission, including picking machines from any polling station in an assembly segment and opting for a mock poll and mock VVPAT slip count.
According to standard operating procedure issued by the Election Commission, the candidates who came number two and three have been given a vast number of random tests to choose from.
The Election Commission said that by going beyond controlled environment check and verification process of burnt memory eliminates the possibility or apprehension of any bias or hidden functionality in the firmware.
The Election Commission has received eight applications from aggrieved candidates, including those from the BJP and the Congress, for verification of tampering or modification in micro-controller chips embedded in the EVMs post declaration of the Lok Sabha election results on June 4.

India Completes 4th ICCPR Human Rights Review

India successfully concluded its 4th periodic review by the Human Rights Committee under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) in Geneva.
The Indian delegation, co-led by the Ld. Attorney General for India R. Venkataramani and Ld. Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, also included Secretary (West) Pavan Kapoor, and comprised senior officials from the Ministries of Women and Child Development; Social Justice and Empowerment; Electronics and Information Technology; Minority Affairs; External Affairs; Tribal Affairs; Home Affairs; and the Offices of Ld. Attorney General and Ld. Solicitor General.
The Human Rights Committee, comprising 18 independent experts serving in their individual capacity, monitors implementation of ICCPR and reviews reports of all States Parties (countries) by conducting periodic reviews, and then making observations and recommendations.

India Releases $2.5 Million in Aid for Palestine Refugees

The Indian government released the first tranche of USD 2.5 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) as part of its annual contribution of USD 5 million for the year 2024-25. The UNRWA, which has carried out direct relief and works programmes for registered Palestinian refugees since 1950, is making efforts to keep up its functioning in the middle of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
Over the years, in its endeavour to support the Palestinian refugees and their welfare, India has provided financial support to the tune of USD 35 million till 2023-24 for the UN agency's core programmes and services, including education, healthcare, relief and social services provided to Palestinian refugees.

Appointment of Manoj Saunik as MahaRERA Chairman

Former Chief Secretary of Maharashtra, Manoj Saunik, was appointed as the next Chairman of the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA). He will succeed Ajoy Mehta, whose term ends in September 2024.
Saunik, an IAS officer of the 1987 batch, retired as Chief Secretary in December 2023 and currently serves as the Principal Advisor to the Chief Minister.
MahaRERA has been actively enforcing project updates from developers and is integrating Artificial Intelligence tools to assess real estate projects.
Established in March 2017, MahaRERA previously had Gautam Chaterjee and Ajoy Mehta as its chairs before Saunik's appointment.

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