General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - May 2016

May 2016

Mar 19, 2025

UIDAI Partners with Sarvam AI to Enhance Aadhaar Services with AI-Powered Solutions

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has joined hands with Sarvam AI, a Bengaluru-based indigenous Generative AI (GenAI) company, to improve the user experience of Aadhaar services. This collaboration, effective from March 18, 2025, introduces AI-powered voice interactions, real-time fraud detection, and multilingual support, making Aadhaar services more accessible, secure, and efficient.
The custom-built GenAI stack will operate within UIDAI's secure infrastructure, ensuring data privacy and sovereignty. This one-year agreement, extendable by another year, reflects UIDAI's commitment to technological advancements and user-centric innovations.

Government Establishes Fintech Panel to Address Regulatory Challenges

To address regulatory concerns and devise a long-term strategy for the financial technology sector, the Indian government has set up an Inter-Ministerial-Industry Committee on Fintech (IMICF). The committee, chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Financial Services (DFS), aims to evaluate fintech's impact on the banking and financial services industry (BFSI), identify obstacles to growth, and study global best practices in governance and regulation.

WAVEX 2025: A Game-Changer for Media & Entertainment Startups

Union Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) has launched WAVEX 2025, a pioneering initiative aimed at funding and providing national exposure to startups in the media and entertainment sector. Organised in collaboration with the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), WAVEX 2025 will take place at Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai, as part of the World Audio-Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) which is scheduled to be held from 1^st to 4^th May, 2025 in Mumbai.
WAVEX 2025 will act as a catalyst for Indian startups to lead this transformation, ensuring they receive the right exposure, and investment, to scale their businesses. Startups will have the chance to pitch their ideas to venture capitalists and celebrity angel investors in dedicated sessions, with extensive national television coverage ensuring maximum visibility.
WAVEX 2025 focuses on gaming, animation, extended reality (XR), metaverse, generative AI, and next-generation content platforms. Beyond funding, the event offers mentorship, investor networking, and collaboration opportunities with major media and technology firms. The event will bring together entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, angel investors, and industry leaders. This exposure will not only help secure direct funding but also create broader business and collaboration opportunities. The fusion of entertainment and technology transforms how content is created, distributed, and consumed.

Mar 18, 2025

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah Addresses 57th Annual Conference o...

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah today addressed the 57^th annual conference of All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU) as the Chief Guest in Kokrajhar, Assam. On this occasion, Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Shri Biswajit Daimary, the Union Home Secretary, and the Director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), along with several other dignitaries were present.
In his address, Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah said that All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU) has played a significant role in establishing peace, development, and enthusiasm in the region. Without the role of ABSU, the Bodo Accord would not have been possible, and peace would not have been established in Bodoland. On this occasion, Shri Shah also paid tribute to the five thousand martyrs who fought for the peace of Bodoland.
Shri Amit Shah said that today, when entire Bodoland is following the path shown by its leader, Upendra Nath Brahma Ji, the government has decided to name a prominent road in Delhi as Bodofa Upendra Nath Brahma Marg. He also mentioned that in the first week of April, a program will be held in Delhi where a bust of Upendra Nath Brahma Ji will be unveiled. He said, the Modi government and the Assam government will bring every dream of Bodofa Upendra Nath Brahma Ji to fruition.

Maharashtra Inaugurates First-Ever Temple Dedicated to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Bhiwandi

In a historic tribute to the legendary Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated the state's first-ever temple dedicated to the Maratha king. The inauguration took place in Bhiwandi, Thane, on the occasion of Shivaji Maharaj's birth anniversary. The temple stands as a symbol of his heroism, valour, and enduring legacy, offering a sacred place for devotees to honour his contributions to India's history.
The newly inaugurated Shivaji Maharaj Temple is a first-of-its-kind structure in Maharashtra, dedicated solely to the revered Maratha ruler. Designed to reflect the architectural grandeur of Maratha forts, this temple embodies Shivaji Maharaj's military precision, bravery, and strategic genius.
Speaking at the event, CM Devendra Fadnavis announced that the temple would soon be designated as a pilgrimage site, emphasizing its cultural and spiritual significance. He further stated that the temple was built because Shivaji Maharaj fought battles for God, country, and religion, shaping the identity of Hindus in India.

Lachit Barphukan Police Academy Inaugurated in Assam by Amit Shah

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, inaugurated the Lachit Barphukan Police Academy in Dergaon, Assam, in March 2025. This significant step aims to strengthen policing in the entire Northeast region and establish the academy as a premier institution. Named after the legendary Ahom general Lachit Barphukan, the academy will train police personnel with modern facilities. During the event, Assam CM Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal were also present.
The first phase of the academy is completed at a cost of Rs. 167 crore, with a total investment of Rs. 1050 crore planned across three phases. The academy is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and will serve as a premier police training center in India. Earlier, Assam's police had to go to other states for training, but now, the academy has already trained 2,000 police personnel from Goa and Manipur. Amit Shah emphasised that in the next five years, the academy will be ranked first among all police academies in India.

Mar 17, 2025

Dr. Shivkumar Kalyanaraman Assumes Charge of Chief Executive Officer Anusandhan National Research...

Secretary Department of Science and Technology (DST) Professor Abhay Karandikar who was acting as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) handed over the charge to Dr. Shivkumar Kalyanaraman who was appointed CEO.
With this, Dr. Shivkumar assumed charge of the CEO of ANRF which aims to seed, grow and promote research and development (R&D) and foster a culture of research and innovation throughout India's universities, colleges, research institutions, and R&D laboratories.
Dr. Shivkumar who earlier held the post of Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Energy Industry, Asia at Microsoft is a Distinguished Alumnus Awardee of IIT Madras & Ohio State University (2021).

Mansukh Mandaviya Inaugurates Star-Packed First-Ever Fit India Carnival

The Fit India Carnival kicked off with a grand inauguration at the JLN Stadium in New Delhi, setting the stage for three days of high-energy fitness and wellness activities. The event was graced by Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya, and adding a touch of star power, Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana joined the celebrations alongside wrestling champion Sangram Singh, renowned wellness expert Mickey Mehta, former WWE wrestler Shanky Singh and Guinness World Record holder Rohtash Chaudhary.
Inaugurating the first-of-its-kind three-day event, Mandaviya emphasised the importance of fitness in nation-building.

Andhra CM Naidu Announces 58-Foot Statue for Statehood Icon Potti Sriramulu in Amaravati

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced it will install a 58-foot statue of freedom fighter Potti Sriramulu, the man known for being instrumental in the creation of the separate Telugu-speaking state of Andhra Pradesh in 1953, in the upcoming capital of Amaravati.

PM Announces MAHASAGAR Vision with Mauritius for Maritime Security, Trade

Following talks with his Mauritian counterpart Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Modi announced India's new vision for Global South and named it "MAHASAGAR" or "Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions", a policy approach that came against the backdrop of China's relentless attempts to expand its influence in the Indian Ocean.
The unveiling of the 'MAHASAGAR' vision came 10 years after the Prime Minister announced during his visit to Mauritius in 2015 New Delhi's SAGAR or Security and Growth for All in the Region policy that formed the bedrock for India's engagement with the Indian Ocean Region.
The new approach will focus on the spirit of trade for development, capacity building for sustainable growth, and mutual security for a shared future.

Mar 16, 2025

Tamil Nadu Replaces Rupee Symbol in State Budget amid Massive Row with Centre

Amid its war of words with the Centre over the three-language policy under the National Education Policy, the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government dropped the Devanagari rupee symbol and replaced it with a Tamil letter in its logo for the state Budget 2025-26.
The logo, released by the office of Chief Minister M. K. Stalin, which read 'Ellorkkum Ellaam' (Everything for Everyone), carried 'ru', the first letter of the Tamil word 'rubaai' which denotes the Indian currency in the vernacular language.

Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India and Govt. of Assam Sign Historic MoU for Centre-State...

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the Government of Assam signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under the BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and Employment) Policy. This Centre-State partnership is the first of its kind under the BioE3 framework and aims to accelerate high-performance biomanufacturing while fostering a sustainable biotechnology ecosystem in Assam.
The MoU signed between DBT, and the Government of Assam formalises a strategic collaboration in which DBT will extend its guidance and facilitate partnerships, while the Government of Assam will spearhead initiatives by establishing a State BioE3 Cell and developing an Assam BioE3 Action Plan. This collaboration underscores Assam's proactive approach to harnessing its rich biodiversity and agricultural strength to build a robust biomanufacturing ecosystem in the State.

Mar 15, 2025

Department of Posts Signs MoU with FSID, IISC, for Documentation of Technology Architecture for D...

Department of Posts undertook an initiative namely "Digital Address Code" aimed at establishing a digital public infrastructure for a standardised, geo-coded addressing system in India ensuring simplified addressing solutions for citizen-centric delivery of public and private services to establish ―Address as a Service‖ (AaaS) in India.
As a part of this initiative, the Department of Posts (DoP), under the Ministry of Communications, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Foundation for Science Innovation and Development (FSID), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, for designing and documenting the technology architecture for the Digital Address Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).
This strategic collaboration aims to lay foundational technological principles and design for establishment of digital address DPI which is envisioned as a standardised, georeferenced and interoperable addressing system that will revolutionize the ways in which address data is created, shared and consumed in the country. It will serve as a foundational public infrastructure that integrates with government, business, and citizen services to streamline service delivery, emergency response, financial inclusion, and urban planning.

IGNCA Strengthens Cultural Outreach with the Inauguration of its Tenth Regional Centre in Tirupati

Marking a significant milestone in the preservation and promotion of India's rich artistic and cultural heritage, the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) inaugurated its tenth Regional Centre in Tirupati in collaboration with the National Sanskrit University, Tirupati. The newly established centre is envisioned as a vibrant hub for research, documentation, and dissemination of Vaishnava Agama, and other architectural traditions of India, while also engaging with the region's diverse cultural heritage, deeply intertwined with the spiritual and historical essence of Tirupati.

CCRAS Workshop Train Scholars to Unlock Ayurvedic Manuscripts

The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, in collaboration with the National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM), Ministry of Culture, is organising a "Transliteration Capacity Building Workshop on Ayurvedic Manuscripts" from March 13 to 24, 2025, at the Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CARI), Bhubaneswar.
The workshop aims to train young Ayurveda researchers and Sanskrit scholars in studying, transliterating, and publishing Ayurvedic manuscripts, unlocking their vast potential for contemporary research. Odisha, with its rich manuscript heritage, presents a significant opportunity, and this workshop will help build a skilled human resource pool to preserve and promote Ayurvedic knowledge. 30 scholars from Odisha will participate under the guidance of over 10 eminent experts.

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