General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - July 2016

Jul 2016

Aug 28, 2020

Goyal Launches National GIS-enabled Land Bank System

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal launched the national GIS-enabled land bank system, which will help investors to get real-time information about the availability of industrial land and resources.
Goyal expressed confidence that other states/UTs will be onboarded by December 2020, as the project has been launched for six states.
The system is being developed by integrating the Industrial Information System (IIS) with state GIS (Geographic Information System).
This is a prototype only and will be developed further with inputs from states to make it an effective and transparent mechanism for land identification as well as procurement.
The IIS portal is a GIS-enabled database of industrial areas/clusters across the states.

Congress Appoints Gaurav Gogoi as Deputy Leader

Congress president Sonia Gandhi appointed Gaurav Gogoi as the party's deputy leader in the Lok Sabha and Ludhiana MP Ravneet Singh Bittu as its whip in the Lower House of Parliament.
Sonia also appointed Jairam Ramesh as chief whip in Rajya Sabha and formed a five member panel for Rajya Sabha strategy.
The panel will comprise Jairam Ramesh, Ahmed Patel and K. C. Venugopal apart from Leader of opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad and deputy leader Anand Sharma.

Government Lines Up over 20 Bills for Monsoon Session of Parliament

The Centre has lined up an intensive legislative agenda with over 20 bills for the monsoon session of Parliament beginning on September 14.
The ministries are not only preparing to push through bills that have been passed in one House of Parliament but also introduce fresh legislation.
According to sources, the government's top priorities include discussions on border dispute with China and India's response to Covid-19 pandemic and 11 bills to replace ordinances passed between March and August. However, the ministries have already begun the spadework to push fresh bills.
The bills that are high on the government's agenda include the Companies (Amendment) Bill, Major Port Authorities Bill, Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, Indian Institutes of Information Technology Laws (Amendment) Bill, National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Bill, National Commission for Homeopathy Bill, Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda Bill, Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (Amendment) Bill, Persons in Destitution (Protection, Care and Rehabilitation) Bill and Manual Scavenging Amendment Bill.

Aug 27, 2020

India Gifts 36 Vehicles, Including 10 Troop Carriers, to Uganda

India gifted 36 vehicles, including 10 buses,10 troop carriers, 2 ambulances and 14 motorcycles to Uganda for civilian use and for Uganda's defence force. It may be recalled that during his visit to Uganda in July 2018, PM Narendra Modi had announced to gift vehicles to Ugandan government.
The vehicles were handed over by India's High Commissioner to Uganda Ajay Kumar to Uganda's Defence Minister Adolf Mwesige.

Congress Turmoil Continues

The turmoil in Congress appears far from over with former Union Minister Kapil Sibal alleging his younger colleague Jitin Prasada was being officially targeted in Uttar Pradesh.
Sibal and Prasada are both signatories to the controversial letter 20 party leaders wrote to Congress president Sonia Gandhi recently asking for a full time and active chief and also for overhaul of party structure to make it battle ready for the next elections.
The Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Monday took note of the letter and trashed it attacking the signatories with some veterans seeking action against them.
The CWC unanimously urged Sonia to continue as party president till the next AICC session elects a new full-time chief.

Guwahati Sports India's Longest River Ropeway

India's 'longest' passenger ropeway across a river was unveiled in Guwahati, almost a year after it was completed.
The 1.82 km bi-cable jig-back ropeway connects a forest campus near the Kamrup (Metro) Deputy Commissioner's office in the city on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra and a hillock behind the Doul Govinda temple in North Guwahati on the other.
The ropeway passes over the mid-river Peacock Island that houses Umananda, a medieval Shiva temple.
The Rs. 56.08-crore ropeway project had been assigned to the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) in 2006. The foundation stone was laid in December 2009, a year after a Kolkata-based firm was awarded the construction work. A Swiss firm designed the cabins later.

Syed Zafar Islam BJP Candidate for Uttar Pradesh Rajya Sabha Bypoll

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced the name of party spokesperson Syed Zafar Islam as its candidate for upcoming by-election for Rajya Sabha seat from Uttar Pradesh.
The election for this seat has been necessitated due to the death of Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh.
Islam is a former banker and it is said that he had played an important role in bringing former Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia to the saffron fold. The BJP's decision to name Islam as a Rajya Sabha candidate would also address criticism that the saffron party is reluctant in giving chance to Muslim leaders. Notably, the BJP has a comfortable majority in Uttar Pradesh Assembly and Islam is set to emerge victorious and enter the Upper House of Parliament.

Culture Ministry Creates 7 New Circles of Archaeological Survey of India

The Ministry of Culture has announced 7 new circles of Archaeological Survey of India, ASI. In a video message, Culture and Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel said that Ministry of Culture has taken the step in accordance with the Prime Minister's call to facilitate and strengthen the process of preservation and registration of archaeological monuments.
He informed that new circles have been created in Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal and Gujarat. Mr Patel said, Trichy, Raiganj, Rajkot, Jabalpur, Jhansi and Meerut have been announced as new circles.
The Minister said that in a large state like Tamil Nadu which has thousands of temples and glorious memories of the Chola kings, Trichy has been made a new circle along with the circle of Chennai. He said, Hampi city in Karnataka is a place of international importance from the point of view of archaeological heritage therefore the Hampi Sub-Circle now has been made a new full fledged circle.
In West Bengal, Raiganj has been made as a new circle along with Kolkata, which will eliminate geographical inconvenience. In Gujarat, Rajkot has been announced as a new circle along with Vadodara. Mr. Patel said, Jabalpur has been announced as a new circle along with Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh.
This will include the monuments from Jabalpur, Rewa, Shahdol and Sagar divisions. The Minister also informed that Jhansi in Bundelkhand and Meerut in western UP have been announced as two new circles along with Lucknow and Agra in Uttar Pradesh.The Minister said, earlier there were 29 ASI circles across the country.

Aug 26, 2020

AFSPA Extended for Six Months in Assam

The Assam government extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) in the state for six more months with effect from August 28.
The state has been declared a "disturbed area" on account of recent insurgent attacks on security forces in the Northeast and recovery of illegal arms and ammunition from different areas of Assam.
Many civil society groups and activists have been demanding the withdrawal of the draconian law from the state.
The AFSPA, which empowers security forces to conduct operations, arrest anyone anywhere without prior notice, has been continuing in Assam since November 1990. It is renewed every six months.

DRDO Chairman G. Satheesh Reddy Gets Extension

G. Satheesh Reddy was given a two-year extension as the Chairman of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in an order issued by the Personnel Ministry.
He was appointed to the post in August 2018 for two years.

APEDA Signs MoUs with AFC India Ltd and NCUI for Cooperation in Interest of Agriculture & Allied ...

Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has signed two MoUs (Memorandum of Understanding) one each with AFC ((formerly Agricultural Finance Corporation Ltd) India Limited, and National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI), Delhi for working together in the interest of agriculture and allied sectors.
APEDA MoU with AFC India inked by Diwakar Nath Misra, Chairman APEDA and B.Ganeshan, Managing Director (MD), AFC India Ltd. to introduce critical technology intervention requirement for organic production system.
APEDA MoU with NCUI was signed by Dr. Tarun Bajaj, Director APEDA and Mr. N.Satyanarayana, Chief Executive, NCUI to achieve the goal of Doubling the Farmers Income.

Aug 25, 2020

India and Uzbekistan Co-chair the First National Coordination Committee Meeting

V. Muraleedharan, Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs, Government of India and Sardor Umurzakov, Deputy Prime Minister for Investments and Foregin Economic Relations, Uzbekistan co-chaired the first National Coordination Committee Meeting over a virtual platform.
Issues on bilateral interests like, Line of Credit (LoC) projects, bilateral trade and investments were discussed during the meeting.
The works of the committee will strengthen the strategic relations between India and Uzbekistan.
The bilateral trade turnover of India and Uzbekistan is over 300 million USD.
The major trade and investment by India is in the field of Pharmaceuticals.
Indian Companies in the fields of pharmaceuticals, amusement parks, automobile components and hospitality industry are the major Indian investment in Uzbekistan.
A Joint Centre by India and Uzbekistan for Information technology was established in 2006, which was upgraded in 2014.

M. V. Shreyams Kumar of LJD Wins Vacant Rajya Sabha Seat from Kerala

In the bypoll held in Kerala for one vacant Rajya Sabha seat, M. V. Shreyams Kumar of the Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD), an ally of the ruling Left Democratic Front, sailed to victory.
He defeated Congress rival Lal Varghese Kalpakavady by 37 votes. While Mr Kumar bagged 88 votes, Mr Varghese got 41. One vote was declared invalid.
A two-time legislator, Shreyams Kumar won the Rajya Sabha seat held by his late father, M. P. Veerendra Kumar. The death of the 83-year veteran leader on May 28 had necessitated the bypoll.

Driving Licenses, Vehicle Documents to Stay Valid Till December 31: Govt

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has decided to extend the validity of driving licences and required documents of motor vehicles till December 30, 2020, in wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
The ministry had earlier extended the validity of the documents till September 30.
It has further advised that all concerned documents whose extension of validity could not or not likely be granted due to the lockdown and which had expired since February 1, 2020 or would expire by December 31, 2020, may be treated to be valid till December 31, 2020.
Enforcement authorities have been advised to treat such documents valid till December 31, 2020.

Centre Constitutes National Council to Monitor, Evaluate Impact of Policies for Transgender Persons

The Central Government has constituted a National Council for Transgender Persons to monitor and evaluate impact of policies designed for the transgender persons.
The Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment will be Chairperson (ex-officio) and Union Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment will be Vice-Chairperson (ex-officio).
The National Council shall perform the following functions:
To advise the Central Government on the formulation of policies, programmes, legislation and projects with respect to transgender persons;
To monitor and evaluate the impact of policies and programmes designed for achieving equality and full participation of transgender persons;
To review and coordinate the activities of all the departments of Government and other Governmental and non-Governmental Organisations which are dealing with matters relating to transgender persons;
To redress the grievances of transgender persons; and
To perform such other functions as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
The other members of the Council include representatives of various Ministries/Departments, five representatives of transgender community, representatives of NHRC and NCW, representatives of State Governments and UTs and experts representing NGOs.

Aug 24, 2020

BJP to Fight Bengal Elections Without Projecting Chief Minister Face

As per repports, the BJP will not project any Chief Ministerial candidate for West Bengal Assembly polls and bank on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's development plank to fight against the TMC.
The saffron camp will pick its Chief Minister, once voted to power.
Incidentally, in 2016, too, the BJP had fought the Assembly polls without any CM face. But a lot of water has flown under the Howrah Bridge over the last four years, with the saffron party having emerged as the prime challenger of the ruling TMC in Bengal, by pushing the traditional opposition parties—the CPI (M) and the Congress—to distant third and fourth positions.
The saffron camp reached its all-time high in Bengal politics last year when it stunned political pundits by bagging 18 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state, four less than the ruling TMC, and with a staggering vote share of 41 per cent.

NCC Looks at Paramilitary for Training Facilities

With the expansion of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) underway, the organisation has approached the Ministry of Home Affairs for utilising training facilities available with the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).
In a letter written to the Union Home Ministry, the Directorate General, NCC, has sought details of the CAPF training areas that can be made available to the organisation for the conduct of its annual camps and proposed that the Ministry's permission be accorded for the same.
While the NCC functions under the operational, administrative and financial control of the Ministry of Defence and draws its officers and instructional staff form the armed forces, the CAPF like the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force, Border Security Force or the Central Reserve Police Force, come under the purview of the Home Ministry.
NCC cadets are entitled to additional weightage in marks for recruitment in the CAPF if they hold A, B, or C certificates.

BJP, JD(U) and LJP to Jointly Fight Polls

Putting an end to speculation and drawing the line for NDA's warring Bihar partners LJP and JD(U), the BJP chief, J. P. Nadda, said that the party-led coalition would contest the Assembly elections as one force with CM Nitish Kumar as the face of the alliance.
Nadda's remarks, at a virtual meet of the Bihar BJP, come amid a war of words between the Janata Dal (U) and the Chirag Paswan-headed Lok Janshakti Party. Chirag has been targeting Nitish over his handling of the migrant crisis, Covid pandemic and floods. However, Nadda not only praised the Bihar Government's handling of the pandemic and floods, but also made it clear that the polls would be fought under Nitish.
It will be the first time that the three parties will be contesting together.

National Council for Transgender Persons Formed

The Centre constituted the national council for transgender persons, headed by the Union social justice minster and comprising representatives from 10 central departments, five states and members of the community.
The council – India's first and formed under Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 – was announced in a gazette notification.
According to the legislation, the council has five main functions -- advising the central government on the formulation of policies, programmes, legislation and projects with respect to transgender persons; monitoring and evaluating the impact of policies and programmes designed for achieving equality and full participation of transgender persons; reviewing and coordinating the activities of all the departments; redressing grievances of transgender persons; and performing such other functions as prescribed by the Centre.
The council will have joint secretary-level members from the ministries of health, home, minority affairs, education, rural development, labour and law. In addition, there will be a member from the department of pensions, Niti Aayog, National Human Rights Commission and National Commission for Women.
Representatives from five states or Union Territories, on a rotational basis, will be members of the commission. The first such clutch comprises Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tripura and Gujarat.

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