General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - July 2016

Jul 2016

Oct 25, 2020

Farooq Abdullah to Lead Gupkar Alliance

Seven mainstream parties of Jammu and Kashmir gave a formal shape to their recently cobbled alliance for the restoration of Article 370, electing National Conference's Farooq Abdullah as its chairman and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti as vice-chairperson, and asserted that theirs was "not an anti-national" grouping.
Veteran CPM leader M. Y. Tarigami was elected as the convenor, while Lok Sabha member from South Kashmir Hasnain Masoodi would be the coordinator of the conglomerate known as People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD).
Sajjad Gani Lone of People's Conference would be the spokesman for the amalgam.

Modi Inaugurates Paediatric Heart Hospital, Girnar Ropeway

The Prime Minister inaugurated Paediatric Heart Hospital attached with the UN Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre and a Mobile Application for telecardiology at the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad. Besides, he also inaugurated Asia's longest temple ropeway on mount Girnar via video-link.
The 2320 metre-long ropeway has a capacity to carry 1000 passengers per hour.
The UN Mehta Institute of Cardiology is undergoing expansion at the cost of Rs 470 crores. The number of beds will increase from 450 to 1251 after the completion of the expansion project. The Institute will also become the biggest single super specialty cardiac teaching institute in the country and one of the biggest single super specialty cardiac hospitals in the world.

Israel is to establish a "Water Attache" in India

Israel is to establish a "Water Attache" in India. It is to operate from January 2021 under the Israel Embassy in India. The Water Attache division will share Israel's best practices, technologies and water management in agriculture sectors.
Also, Israel is to soon appoint an honorary Consul to the north-east. Its objective is to increase its presence and collaboration in the north-east region.
A strategic cooperation of G2G level in the field of agriculture is under implementation between the countries. The cooperation focuses on crop diversity, increased productivity and enhances water efficiency in horticulture. This is currently addressing the challenges of Covid-19 pandemic. Under the cooperation, Centres of Excellence are to be established.
The centres will adopt advanced agriculture farm Technology of Israel. The COE's main objective is to benefit farmers on selected key crops. The COE will focus on Nursery Management, irrigation, fustigation and cultivation techniques. The COE will be the meeting point for Government, Academy and farmers to cooperate towards the beneficial achievement.

BJP in Meghalaya Urge Centre to Settle Inter-State Boundary Dispute with Assam

BJP legislators in Meghalaya has urged centre to settle inter-state boundary dispute with Assam.
Assam-Meghalaya shares 885 km inter-state border. BJP has two MLA's in Meghalaya and is part of the ruling coalition in the state.
BJP MLA Sanbor Shullai in a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated that the decision to resolve border disputes among the northeastern states by 2021 is a perfect step but Assam-Meghalaya border disputes must be solved at the earliest.
There are many patches between Assam and Meghalaya where border disputes are very often causing clashes, tension and hostility among the people living in both sides of the border.
Assam and Meghalaya has as many as 12 disputed sites. There has been Chief Minister Level and Chief Secretary Level talks in past.

Oct 24, 2020

Jitendra Singh Addresses First Ministerial Meeting of G-20 Anti-Corruption Working Group

Union Minister Jitendra Singh addressed the first ministerial meeting of G-20 anti-corruption working group on October 22, 2020. Saudi Arabia became the first country to host the first ever meeting.
Anti-Corruption Working Group of G-20 was established in June 2010 at the G20 summit, Toronto.
The objective of the group is to make suggestions on boosting international efforts in order to combat corruption.
The group works with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, World Bank, Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The G-20 countries had agreed on the Anti-Corruption plan for 2019-2021 at Buenos Aires in 2018. The G-20 members planned to look forward to develop targeted actions in promoting the international efforts to combat the corruption.

Govt. to Sell Stake in Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd

The government is planning to sell up to 15 per cent stake in the Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) out of its shareholding of 87.84 per cent and has invited bids from merchant bankers for managing the share sale process.
The government will appoint up to three merchant bankers for managing RVNL share sale.
The responsibilities of the merchant banker include advising the government on the timing and the modalities of the OFS, ensuring best return to the government, conducting market survey, domestic and international road shows and investor meetings.

Mandi District Bags Top Position for Implementing PMGSY

Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh bagged the first position among 30 districts of the country for successfully implementing the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
Mandi district has received top position for constructing roads of maximum length in 2020-21.
Along with Mandi, 6 more districts of Himachal Pradesh have found place among top 30 best performing districts. The 6 districts include – Una, Chamba, Kangra, Shimla, Sirmour, Hamirpur and Solan.
Among the states, Himachal Pradesh secured second position for construction of roads under PMGSY.
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) is a nationwide scheme that aims to provide all-weather road connectivity to the unconnected villages. The scheme was launched in 2000 by Late Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The PMGSY is being implemented under the Ministry of Rural Development. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme. In November 2015, it was decided that the project will be funded by both the central government (60%) and states (40%) on the recommendations of 14th Finance Commission.

Oct 23, 2020

PM Narendra Modi to Inaugurate First Seaplane Service from Sabarmati Riverfront to Statue of Unity

PM Narendra Modi is will inaugurate the first-ever Seaplane service in Gujarat on October 31 – the first seaplane to fly from Sabarmati riverfront to Statue of Unity.
The inaugural flight will take off from Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad to the Statue of Unity in Kevadia Colony in Narmada district.
The Gujarat government had earlier announced that the first-ever seaplane service in the state will begin from October 31 – the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
This will also be the first of its kind of Sea Plane service in the country. It will be managed by private airline SpiceJet which will operate a 19-seater plane, which will be able to accommodate 12 passengers.

Second Interim Report by Injeti Srinivas Committee

The Injeti Srinivas Committee submitted its second interim report to the chairperson of International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA). It was an IFSCA Expert Committee that was constituted to study about the international retail business development in IFSC.
The committee as constituted to make recommendations on promoting international retail business in IFSC (International Financial Service Centre). It was also constituted to
1. Suggest potential strategies to make IFSC attractive for international financial services.
2. Provide a roadmap for future growth of international retail business in IFSC
3. Examine and recommend issues that are important in the development of IFSC.

Hardeep Singh Puri launches e-Dharti Geo Portal

Union of Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Shri Hardeep Singh Puri launched the e-Dharti Geo Portal. The portal will integrate map and lease plans in the Management Information System. It will make the system Geographic Information System enabled, GIS enabled.
The Land and Development Office deals with more than 50000 residential, commercial, industrial and institutional properties. Now with the launch of the portal the property certificate details and outline map of the property can be easily accessed online.
The portal is highly beneficial to the elderly public. It will help avoid unnecessary litigation. Also, the portal will help a purchaser to learn about the details of the property whether any law suit is pending in respect of the property.

Oct 22, 2020

Eknath Khadse Resigns from BJP, to Join NCP

Veteran Maharashtra BJP leader Eknath Khadse will join the NCP ending days of speculation around his recent flirtations with the Sharad Pawar-led outfit.
Khadse had to resign as cabinet minister from the Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP government in Maharashtra in 2016 over allegations of graft and was later denied a ticket to run for Assembly election.
NCP leader and state minister Jayant Patil said that Khadse had resigned from the BJP and would be joining the NCP soon.
Patil is currently Water Resources Minister in Maharashtra.

Bimal Gurung's Gorkha Janmukti Morcha Pulls Out of NDA Alliance

In a major blow to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the 2021 West Bengal Assembly election, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, an electoral ally of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), pulled out of the alliance. Party president Bimal Gurung announced the move in Kolkata.
Gurung said that Gorkha Janmukti Morcha is walking out of NDA as BJP-led dispensation did not fulfil its promises. In 2021 Bengal Assembly elections, will support Mamata Banerjee-led TMC and fight against BJP.
Three terms we have helped them win. Our vision is to get Gorkhaland and whoever will support the Gorkhaland we will support that party.

Union Cabinet Approves MoU between India and Malaysia

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the Memorandum of Understanding signed between The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and the Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants. The agreement enables the qualified Chartered Accountants of the countries to join other institutes based on their qualification.
Based on the agreement, the countries will exchange information on material changes, continuing professional development policy and other relevant matter.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India is a statutory body that was established under the Chartered accountants act, 1949. It regulates the profession of Chartered Accountants in India.

Shayara Bano Gets Minister Rank in Uttarakhand Government

Anti-triple talaq crusader Shayara Bano, who recently joined the BJP, has been given minister of state status by the Uttarakhand Government.
The move comes just 10 days after Bano, who was the first Muslim woman to question the constitutionality of the practice of triple talaq in the Supreme Court, joined the BJP here in presence of party's state unit president Bansidhar Bhagat and a host of other leaders.
Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat's media coordinator Darshan Singh Rawat said that Bano was among three women, who were appointed vice-presidents of the State Women's Commission besides being accorded MoS status.
The other two women appointed to the post are Jyoti Shah from Ranikhet in Almora district and Pushpa Paswan from Chamoli district.
The three posts in the commission had long been vacant.
Bano was the first to challenge the constitutionality of the practice of triple talaq in the apex court in 2014, four months after being divorced by her husband through speed post.

Oct 21, 2020

India's First Multi Modal Logistics Park in Assam

The Union Minister Nitin Gadkari laid the foundation stone of the first multi modal Logistic Park of India in Assam. The park is being developed under the ambitious Bharatmala Pariyojana.
The park is to be constructed at Rs. 690 3.97 crore. It will provide direct connectivity through rail, road, air and water ways to the people.
These parks are being developed by the ministry of road transport and highways in selected locations of the country under the Logistic efficiency enhancement programme. This was launched to lower the overall bright cost, reduce vehicular pollution and congestion and cut warehousing cost.

FICCI to be National Industry Partner of Third Edition of 'Make in Odisha'

The state government signed an agreement with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) as its national industry partner for the third edition of 'Make in Odisha' conclave.
The agreement was signed on a virtual platform, in presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik between the state owned IPICOL, the nodal investment promotion and industrial facilitation agency and FICCI for investment promotion and investor outreach activities to be undertaken leading up to the next edition of 'Make in Odisha' Conclave.
The previous Make in Odisha Conclaves in 2016 and 2018 have brought a significant increase in the quantum of new investments to Odisha and helped create a diversified industrial base in the state.
Naveen Patnaik said that Odisha has established itself as one of the premier investment destinations in the country.

Punjab Passes Bills to Bypass Central Farm Laws

In a historic move, the Punjab Vidhan Sabha unanimously passed three Bills to counter the contentious farm laws enacted by the Union Government last month. Among other things, the Bills make buying wheat and paddy below minimum support price (MSP) a punishable offence.
There is also a provision to levy fee on corporate houses making purchases outside mandis. The fee will be used for the welfare of farmers.
After passing the Bills, a joint delegation of the Congress, AAP, SAD and Lok Insaaf Party, led by Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, met Governor VP Singh Badnore, seeking his approval to the Bills before sending these to the President.
Amarinder Singh asked the Centre to annul these laws and bring an ordinance making procurement of farm produce at MSP a statutory right of farmers and continue procuring grain through the FCI and other agencies.

Share on

TCY Analytics (View Subscription Plans)

Subscribe to GK Updates

I want to receive

GK Tags

September GK, August GK, July GK, INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, ENVIRONMENT, BUSINESS AND ECONOMY, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, SPORTS, NATIONAL AFFAIRS, DEFENCE, PERSONS IN NEWS, DAYS AND EVENTS, AWARDS AND HONOURS, GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND SCHEMES, GENDER/ HEALTH/ EDUCATION, ART AND CULTURE, BOOKS AND AUTHORS, TOURISM AND HOTEL INDUSTRY AWARENESS, ART AND CULTURE, LAW AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Start Discussion

On any topic

Take Tests

Compiled from GK updates

Login

Sign Up

Forgot Password

Download TCY App

Unlock All Services And Enjoy The Premium Benefits

US$ 10

US$ 13

US$ 15

US$ 17

US$ 19

US$ 20

US$ 21

US$ 22

US$ 23

US$ 24

US$ 25

US$ 26