General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - September 2016

Sep 2016

Jan 23, 2024

UNGA Prez Arrives in India

United Nations General Assembly President Dennis Francis was on a five-day official visit to India, with geopolitical tensions around the world topping the agenda during his trip.
Francis met External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and discussed a wide range of issues, including geopolitical tensions, India's contribution to the UN, and key global meetings.
He also travelled to Jaipur and Mumbai. In Jaipur, met state dignitaries and visited a centre that produces prosthetic limbs.
Francis, who comes from Trinidad and Tobago, was elected last year (2023) to serve as President of the UN General Assembly's 78th session, until September 2024.

Ayodhya Ram Mandir Inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, marking a momentous occasion in India's history. The inauguration involved the 'Pran Pratishtha' (consecration) ceremony of the Ram Lalla idol, a pivotal event that symbolised the infusion of life into the idol. The event, attended by over 7,000 dignitaries, was not just a religious ceremony but also a cultural milestone for India.
Prime Minister Modi's involvement was central to the ceremony. He participated in the 'Pran Pratishtha' of the Ram Lalla idol. His visit to Ayodhya spanned nearly four hours, filled with various activities and rituals associated with the inauguration.
The Ram Lalla idol, crafted by renowned sculptor Arun Yogiraj from Karnataka, is a 51-inch black-coloured depiction of Lord Ram as a five-year-old child.
Designed by the renowned architect Chandrakant B. Sompura and his son Ashish, the temple stands proudly on 2.7 acres of land in the historic temple town.
Chandrakant Sompura, the chief architect of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir, hails from a distinguished lineage of temple architects based in Ahmedabad. With a family legacy spanning over several generations, the Sompuras have left an indelible mark on Indian temple architecture, having designed and built more than 200 temples.

Jan 22, 2024

India, Cuba Sign Pact on E-solutions

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology signed an MoU with the Ministry of Communications of the Republic of Cuba, on cooperation in the field of sharing successful digital solutions implemented at population scale for digital transformation, in New Delhi. The MoU intends to promote digital transformation through capacity-building programs, exchange of best practices, and other collaborative activities to mutually benefit the digital ecosystems of both countries.
India will collaborate with Cuba by building upon development partnership on digital transformation leading to a smooth adoption of digital public infrastructure in Cuba.
The agreement was signed between S. Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, and Wilfredo Gonzalez Vidal, First Deputy Minister of Communications, Cuba.

National Farmers Society, IndiaAI, Wadhwani Foundation Signs MoU for AI-Driven Agriculture

In a significant development towards revolutionising the agricultural landscape of India, a Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was inked between the National Farmers' Welfare Programme Implementation Society, IndiaAI (Digital India Corporation), and Wadhwani Foundation. This collaborative effort aims to propel India to the forefront of AI-driven digital agriculture, leveraging the expertise and support of the Wadhwani Foundation in formulating and executing a robust AI strategy.
The Wadhwani Foundation, a non-profit organisation committed to accelerating economic development, will play a pivotal role in providing critical support for the development and implementation of AI-driven initiatives in the agriculture sector. With a focus on entrepreneurship, small business expansion, innovation, and skill development, the foundation's involvement is expected to bring about transformative changes in the agricultural ecosystem.

Jan 21, 2024

Nirupam Madaan is AIIMS New Delhi's First Woman Medical Superintendent in 68 Years

India's top central tertiary care hospital All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi got its first woman Medical Superintendent in the 68-year history of the institute.
Nirupam Madaan was appointed AIIMS Medical Superintendent with the hospital and teaching institute creating history by naming a woman for the top job.
She will hold the position for three years.

Jan 20, 2024

India's Nuclear Power Corporation to Commission New Reactor Every Year

As per Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) Chairman and Managing Director B. C. Pathak, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) is on a mission to commission a nuclear power reactor every year.
In December 2023, the fourth unit of India's largest indigenous 700-MWe pressurised heavy water reactor (PHWR) in Kakrapar, Gujarat, achieved criticality, which marked a significant milestone. Pathak highlighted that NPCIL aims to continue this momentum, with another 700-MWe unit set to be commissioned in Rawatbhata, Rajasthan, in 2024.

Jan 19, 2024

Cabinet Nod for Three Officer-level Posts for 16th Finance Commission

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, approved the creation of three posts for the 16th Finance Commission, which was constituted on December 31, 2023.
The three posts include two posts of joint secretary and one post of economic adviser. The newly created posts are required to assist the Commission in carrying out its functions. All other posts in the Commission were already been created as per the delegated powers.
In November 2023, the government approved the terms of reference (ToRs) for the 16th Commission without revealing the names of its chairman and members. The government then appointed former NITI Aayog vice-chairman Arvind Panagariya as the panel's chairman on December 31, 2023, and bureaucrat Ritvik Ranjanam Pandey was named its secretary.

Farsi as India's New Classical Language

In a noteworthy development aimed at strengthening cultural ties, the Government of India, under the New Education Policy, decided to include Farsi (Persian) as one of the nine classical languages of India. This announcement was made by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar during a two-day visit to Iran, highlighting the cultural, literary, and linguistic connections between Iran and India.
Farsi, also known as Persian, is an Indo-Iranian language belonging to the Iranian branch of the Indo-Iranian languages. It has a rich historical and cultural significance, not only in Iran but also in the broader Persian-speaking world.
Before Farsi's inclusion, India recognised six languages as classical: Tamil (2004), Sanskrit (2005), Kannada (2008), Telugu (2008), Malayalam (2013), and Odia (2014). The criteria for declaring a language as 'Classical' include a recorded history of 1500-2000 years, a valuable heritage of ancient literature, an original literary tradition, and distinctness from modern forms or offshoots.

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