General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - August 2016

Aug 2016

Jan 18, 2025

Cabinet Nod for 8th Pay Commission Implementation

The Union Cabinet approved the implementation of the 8th Pay Commission to revise salaries of nearly 50 lakh central government employees and allowances of 65 lakh pensioners. The 8th Pay Commission will not only lead to increased salaries of Central government employees but also have revised Dearness Allowance (DA).
Since 1947, seven Pay Commissions have been constituted, with the last one constituted in 2014 and implemented on January 1, 2016. The 7th pay commission saw an expenditure increase of Rs. 1 lakh crore for fiscal 2016-17.
As the 7th Pay Commission's term concludes in December 2025, initiating the process now ensures sufficient time to receive and review recommendations before its completion.

Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar Launches the Toolkit for 9th Edition of Swachh Survekshan

The Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal Khattar, launched the toolkit for 9th edition of Swachh Survekshan (SS), the world's largest urban cleanliness survey, in its new avatar–simpler, sharper, systematic and all-inclusive. Secretary, MoHUA, S. Katikithala was also present at the launch event.
Initially launched by MoHUA in 2016, Swachh Survekshan drives urban sanitation improvement through citizen participation and third-party validation.

Jan 17, 2025

Smriti Irani, Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur Join PM Museum's New Power Team; Nripendra Mishra Gets Anot...

The Prime Ministers' Museum & Library (PMML) society and executive council were reconstituted with former Principal Secretary to Prime Minister, Nripendra Mishra, getting another five year term as the organisation's chairperson. However, there were several new entrants at the premier institution's society — including former Union Minister Smriti Irani, former NITI Aayog Vice-chairman Rajiv Kumar, retired Army General Syed Ata Hasnain, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur and Sanskar Bharati's Vasudev Kamath.
The key decision-making body of PMML — helmed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as its president, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as vice-president — was also expanded 34 members, instead of 29 earlier. While its term expired on January 13, 2025, the Ministry of Culture notified the reconstitution of the body for a five-year term.

India Signs Haj Agreement with Saudi Arabia, Quota Fixed at 1,75,025 Pilgrims

India signed a Haj agreement with Saudi Arabia, finalising a quota of 1,75,025 pilgrims for itself. Ministry of Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju signed the agreement with Saudi Arabia's Minister for Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah in Jeddah.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to be Chief Guest at Republic Day 2025 Celebrations

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will be the chief guest of India's Republic Day celebrations on January 26, the government announced.
While this will be President Prabowo's first visit to India in his capacity as president after assuming office in October 2024, this is the fourth time that an Indonesian leader has been invited as the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations. President Sukarno attended the very first Republic Day celebrations in independent India in 1950.

Jan 16, 2025

Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal-Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project

The Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal-Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (PKC-ERCP) is initiative aimed at enhancing irrigation in Rajasthan. This project will impact 23 districts and is crucial for providing water for irrigation, drinking, and industrial use. However, it poses environmental challenges, particularly regarding the Ranthambhore tiger reserve.
The PKC-ERCP will submerge 408.86 sq km of land, including 37 sq km of the Ranthambhore tiger reserve. This reserve is home to 57 tigers and is vital for wildlife conservation. The project aims to channel surplus water from the Chambal river basin, benefiting approximately 3.45 crore people in Rajasthan.

India to Host 28th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in 2026

The Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal-Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (PKC-ERCP) is initiative aimed at enhancing irrigation in Rajasthan. This project will impact 23 districts and is crucial for providing water for irrigation, drinking, and industrial use. However, it poses environmental challenges, particularly regarding the Ranthambhore tiger reserve.
The PKC-ERCP will submerge 408.86 sq km of land, including 37 sq km of the Ranthambhore tiger reserve. This reserve is home to 57 tigers and is vital for wildlife conservation. The project aims to channel surplus water from the Chambal river basin, benefiting approximately 3.45 crore people in Rajasthan.

Jan 15, 2025

Union Minister Sonowal Unveils National River Traffic & Navigation System

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, launched the National River Traffic and Navigation System (NRT&NS) during the second meeting of the Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC) in Kaziranga, Assam. This initiative aims to enhance the safety and efficiency of inland waterway transportation across India.
A significant policy initiative, the Riverine Community Development Scheme, was introduced to improve the socio-economic well-being of coastal communities. This scheme focuses on developing infrastructure, promoting trade and tourism, and providing skill enrichment training to enhance the quality of life for those living along the National Waterways.

Amit Shah, Chairs a Regional Conference on 'Drug Trafficking and National Security

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, chaired a regional conference on 'Drug Trafficking and National Security' at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi. The Home Minister also launched the Drug Disposal Fortnight, inaugurated the new office complex of Bhopal Zonal Unit of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and extension of MANAS-2 helpline to all 36 states and Union Territories.
The objective of the conference, organised by the Narcotics Control Bureau, is to focus on tackling the growing concern of drug trafficking and its impact on national security, with a special focus on eight states and union territories of northern India.

Odisha Announces Monthly Pension of Rs. 20,000 & Free Medical Treatment for Emergency Detainees

Odisha government announced a monthly pension of Rs. 20,000 for people who were imprisoned during the Emergency of 1975, imposed by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The pension scheme, effective from January 1, follows Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi's pledge on Independence Day to recognise them.
Eith this decision Odisha joined several other states, including Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Assam, who have similar pension schemes in place for Emergency detainees.

Jan 14, 2025

PM Modi Launches Mission Mausam to Make India more Weather-Ready

Prime Minister Modi launched 'Mission Mausam', an ambitious initiative to significantly enhance India's capabilities in weather forecasting, climate monitoring, and disaster management. The mission will focus on the development of cutting-edge technologies such as next-generation weather radars, high-resolution atmospheric observations, satellites, and advanced high-performance computing systems.
The IMD, which will turn 150 on January 15, has lined up a series of events, workshops, and activities to highlight its achievements, its pivotal role in building climate resilience, and the contribution of government institutions in delivering essential weather and climate services.

Department of Biotechnology Hosts the Fifth Webinar in its Webinar Series on Biomanufacturing and...

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) of the Government of India held its fifth webinar in the Biofoundry and Bio-manufacturing Initiative series. This event took place on January 13, 2025, and focused on the theme "Bio-manufacturing for Climate Resilient Agriculture." This topic is a vital component of the BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment & Employment) Policy, which aims to position India as a global leader in bio-based innovations. Approved by the Union Cabinet in August 2024, the BioE3 Policy emphasises sustainable bio-manufacturing across various sectors, including agriculture. The initiative seeks to support economic growth while ensuring environmental sustainability.
The webinar served as a platform for academia, industry leaders, start-ups, and researchers to discuss advancements and opportunities in sustainable and regenerative agriculture. The discussions highlighted the urgent need for climate resilience in agriculture. As climate change poses significant threats to food security, it is essential to sustain agricultural yields and improve quality while protecting the environment. The entire agricultural value chain, from production to waste management, requires a comprehensive overhaul to maximise efficiency and minimise waste.

India-Nepal Inter-Governmental Committee Meeting on Trade trAnsit and Cooperation Concludes in Ka...

The India-Nepal Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) on Trade, Transit, and Cooperation to Combat Unauthorised Trade was held in Kathmandu in January 2025.
Secretary, Department of Commerce, Government of India, Sunil Barthwal led the Indian delegation which included senior officials from various Ministries and the Embassy of India in Kathmandu. The Nepali side was headed by Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Government of Nepal, Gobinda Bahadur Karkee, accompanied by representatives from different Nepali Ministries and Departments.
This meeting of the IGC, a bilateral mechanism aimed at strengthening trade and investment ties, carried out a comprehensive review of the whole gamut of bilateral trade and economic relationship. Both sides reviewed mutual market access issues, IPR and duty related issues. The agenda also included discussions on review of the Treaty of Transit and the Treaty of Trade, proposed amendments to existing agreements, the harmonisation of standards and the synchronised development of trade infrastructure including the electrification of the Raxaul-Birgunj rail line.

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