General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - August 2016

Aug 2016

Jun 20, 2023

UP Prisons to Be Known as 'Reform Homes'

The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, made a significant decision to reform the prison system in the state. During a high-level meeting where he reviewed the conditions of the current prisons, Adityanath issued crucial guidelines that emphasised the importance of prisoner rehabilitation.
One of the most notable guidelines was the renaming of Uttar Pradesh's prisons to 'Sudhaar Grah' or Reform Homes.
This move implied a shift from the current approach to prisons, as it went beyond the mere detention of prisoners and aimed to foster a culture of reform and rehabilitation.
By renaming Uttar Pradesh's prisons as 'Reform Homes,' Chief Minister Adityanath signalled his commitment to a novel approach to criminal justice that prioritised rehabilitation and reform above mere retribution.
The chief minister also announced that the state government has introduced a new parole policy that will enable more inmates to be released from prison on parole, subject to certain conditions.
The policy aims to reduce overcrowding in prisons and enable more prisoners to be rehabilitated into society.

India, Philippines Ink MoU for Fintech Cooperation

After having inked a deal for the BrahMos missile systems, India signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to further financial technology (fintech) cooperation with the Philippines. The MoU was signed by Ambassador of India Shambhu Kumaran and Benjamin E. Diokno of the Philippines Department of Finance.
The MoU envisages the constitution of a Joint Working Group (JWG) co-chaired by Finance Ministries of both countries and comprising senior representatives from Foreign and IT Ministries, central banks, financial sector regulatory institutions and other related agencies as members.
The JWG will identify concrete measures for partnership in innovative technologies, fintech industry, digital governance, payment linkages, creation of interoperable APIs, financial inclusion and other related areas.
This MoU would serve as an enabler in building such a partnership by providing an institutional framework for cooperation on three key areas: digitalisation of payments, direct benefit transfer using national ID and financial inclusion.

Jammu and Kashmir Completes 5-year Central Rule

Jammu and Kashmir completed five years without an elected government, prompting a scathing attack from the mainstream National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party over the delay in restoration of democracy in the Union Territory.
On August 5, 2019, the Centre revoked Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and bifurcated the state into two Union territories — Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti resigned from the post of the Chief Minister on June 19, 2018 after alliance partner BJP withdrew support to her coalition government.

Jitan Ram Manjhi's Ham Announces Withdrawal of Support to Nitish Govt.

Former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) withdrew its support to the Nitish Kumar government in the state and a letter to the effect was handed over to Governor Rajendra Arlekar. Manjhi, who met the governor along with his son Santosh Suman, the national president of HAM, also said that he will be in Delhi for the next few days during which he will try to meet leaders of the NDA, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, to explore future options.

Jun 19, 2023

Centre Unveils Dugdh Sanakalan Sathi Mobile App

Union Minister of Heavy Industries Mahendra Nath Pandey launched the groundbreaking 'Dugdh Sanakalan Sathi Mobile App' in Mussorie, Uttarakhand.
The app, developed by Rajasthan Electronics & Instruments Limited (REIL), a 'Mini Ratna' Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Heavy Industries, aims to bring about a significant transformation in the Indian dairy industry by addressing key challenges in the milk collection process.
This mobile app aims to improve the quality of milk, foster transparency among stakeholders, and streamline operations at the grassroots village level, including milk cooperative societies.
As per Mahendra Nath Pandey, through this App Ministry of Heavy Industry has taken a revolutionary step towards realizing the commitment of government of India to digitize the process and facilitate Direct Beneficiary Transfer to milk producers.

PM Modi Proposes Full G20 Membership for African Union

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written to the leaders of the G20 nations proposing the African Union be given full, permanent membership of the diplomatic group at its September summit in India.
Modi's proposal to grant the African Union full membership in the G20 demonstrates India's commitment to strengthening Africa's representation and partnership in shaping global affairs.
The G20 or Group of 20 is an intergovernmental forum of the world's major developed and developing economies. The members represent around 85% of global GDP, over 75% of global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population.
The grouping comprises 19 countries and the European Union.

G20 Agriculture Ministers Meeting Adopts 'Outcome Document'

The three-day G20 Agriculture Ministers Meeting that concluded adopted an 'Outcome Document and Chair's Summary', which reiterated its commitment to food security and nutrition for all while also calling for action on food security and nutrition.
Describing the consensus in adopting the document as historical, an official release said that it was reached after deliberations on various issues centred around the agriculture sector wherein leadership of G20 developing countries was envisaged.
The meeting was attended by the 20 member countries of the grouping, the invited countries and representatives of 10 international organisations.

Jun 18, 2023

West Bengal Govt. Challenges Deployment of Central Forces in Panchayat Polls

West Bengal government filed a review petition in Calcutta High Court against the deployment of Central Forces in all districts of the state for panchayat polls.
In response to the escalating tensions, there was substantial deployment of security forces in the South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. Various regions, particularly the Bhangar block, witnessed clashes between supporters of the ruling TMC and the Indian Secular Front (ISF) led by Naushad Siddiqui over two days.
Following incidents of violence during the nomination process for the upcoming Panchayat elections in West Bengal, a division bench of the Calcutta High Court led by the Chief Justice issued an order for the deployment of Central Paramilitary forces in all districts of the state.

Ratnesh Sada Takes Oath as Bihar Minister

Ratnesh Sada, the Janata Dal-United MLA from the Sonbarsa assembly seat, took oath as a minister in Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's cabinet. The oath of office and secrecy was administered to Sada by Bihar Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at the Raj Bhavan.
Sada is a three-time MLA from the Sonbarsa (SC) seat. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav and several other dignitaries were present at the swearing-in ceremony. Santosh Kumar Suman, the son of former CM and Hindustani Awam Morcha HAM(S) founder Jitan Ram Manjhi, had quit the Nitish Kumar cabinet paving the way for Sada's induction.

Jun 17, 2023

Tamil Nadu Withdraws General Consent Granted to the Central Bureau of Investigation

The Tamil Nadu government withdrew its general consent for an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The government's move came amidst the ruling DMK's criticism against the BJP government at the Centre that it is misusing central agencies to silence opposition leaders.
The central probe agency will now have to obtain permission from the Tamil Nadu government before conducting any investigation in the state. Tamil Nadu became the tenth Indian state to withdraw its general consent for investigations by the CBI.
The other nine states which had withdrawn their general consent to the CBI to probe cases include Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Punjab, Rajasthan, Telangana and West Bengal.
However, despite the withdrawal of general consent by the Tamil Nadu government, the CBI can continue to probe old cases until the consent is specifically taken back by the state government. Further, the probe agency can also continue to investigate cases that were given to it by a court order.

Jun 16, 2023

Women 20 Summit Concludes at Mahabalipuram

Women 20, the official engagement group of G20, held its Jan Bhagidari (Citizens' Connect) event in Mahabalipuram. The summit concluded on June 16. The theme of the summit was 'Women-Led Development- Transform, Thrive and Transcend'.
The citizen connect event on the theme - 'The Journey of Empowerment,' was supported by the National Rural Livelihood Mission, Tamil Nadu Department of Rural Development and Central Ministry of Rural Development.
The Women 20 came into force in 2015 under Turkey's Presidency of G20 in 2015, with the objective of focusing on gender equity, women empowerment, advocating for the rights of women and raising women's voices in society.
As per Sandhya Purecha, chair, W20, the key focus areas of the W20 India summit were entrepreneurship, bridging the gender digital divide, women and girls' participation in climate action, education and skill development and grassroots leadership. She added that the grouping has been working with 21 knowledge and network partners for the same.

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