General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - September 2016

Sep 2016

Apr 17, 2025

NITI Aayog Launches Report on 'Unlocking $25+ Billion Export Potential - India's Hand & Power Too...

NITI Aayog launched a report on Hand and Power tools sectors – 'Unlocking $25+ Billion Export Potential - India's Hand & Power Tools Sector'. The report underscores the transformative potential of hand and power tools industry for India's economic growth, delving into the challenges, policy headwinds, and necessary interventions vital for strengthening the Indian hand and power tool ecosystem. It outlines a strategic path for the sector to enhance its global competitiveness and capture a significantly larger share of the international market. The report was launched by Suman Bery, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog in the presence of Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Member, Dr. Arvind Virmani, Member, and B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, CEO, NITI Aayog.

Tamil Nadu Forms High-Level Committee to Strengthening State Autonomy

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin set up a high-level committee - under retired Supreme Court judge Kurien Joseph - to recommend measures on state autonomy with a view to protect state governments' rights and improve working relations with the union government.
The committee has also been tasked with recommending measures to retrieve state subjects moved to the concurrent list; i.e., to return areas of governance and policy-making that were once left to state governments but are now jointly administered by the state and centre.
The committee, which includes former bureaucrats Ashok Shetty and Mu Nagarajan, is expected to assess and evaluate laws without affecting the integrity of the union of states that makes up India.
An interim report is due by January 2026 with a final submission by 2028.

Ambassadors' Meet Organised by MDoNER

In a significant step toward enhancing international cooperation and fostering global investment in India's vibrant North East, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) organised Ambassadors' Meet in New Delhi. Ambassadors, High Commissioners, and senior diplomatic representatives from over 80 countries participated. The event was aimed at showcasing the immense potential of the North Eastern Region (NER) and strengthening bilateral ties for sustainable development.
The Ambassadors' Meet was graced by Minister of Development of North Eastern Region, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, who emphasised the strategic importance of the region, both economically and geopolitically.

"Special Handloom Expo"- Celebrating Hand woven Products of India

National Handloom Development Corporation under the aegis of Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, launched "Special Handloom Expo" at their Corporate Office in Noida.
The event brings together handloom weavers from across 13 states and aims at renewed focus on the age-old tradition of Handloom weaving and provides an added platform for weavers to sell their products directly to customers.
The highlights of the event include; 25 stalls of Handloom products showcasing exquisite varieties of Sarees, Dress Material, stoles, dupattas etc.
The 'Special Handloom Expo, My Handloom My Pride' exhibition will remain open at NHDC Complex, Sector 2, Noida till April 24, 2025.

Ajay Narayan Jha Steps Down from Finance Commission

About six months before the 16th Finance Commission (FC) is due to submit its report, one of the three full-time members of the body, Ajay Narayan Jha, is learnt to have stepped down.
Jha brought extensive experience in public finance to the job. The former finance secretary was appointed secretary, expenditure, in the Ministry of Finance in October 2017 and remained in office until February 2019.
He was also member of the Fifteenth Finance Commission of India from March 4, 2019 to November 26, 2023.

Apr 16, 2025

Karnataka Govt, Bavaria Sign MoU to Boost Ties in AI, Biotech

The Karnataka government and the German state of Bavaria signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate in key areas, including Artificial Intelligence, quantum technology, biotechnology, Smart Cities, higher education, and sustainable agriculture, among others.
The MoU was signed by Karnataka's Minister for Large and Medium Industries, M. B. Patil, and Dr. Florian Herrmann, Head of the Bavarian State Chancellery.
As part of the collaboration, the two regions will work together in sectors such as Industry 4.0, space technology, medical technology, green tech, urban infrastructure, skill development, employment generation, entrepreneurship, and cybersecurity.

Hemant Soren Elected Jharkhand Mukti Morcha Central President

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren was elected as the central president of the ruling JMM, while his father Shibu Soren was made the "founding patron" of the party.
Shibu Soren had been the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha's chief for the past 38 years, while his son Hemant served the party as its executive president since 2015.
Senior party leader and Dumka MP Nalin Soren proposed the name of Shibu Soren as the founding patron during the JMM's 13th Central Convention and it was seconded by the Maheshpur MLA Stephen Marandi.
Thereafter, Shibu Soren proposed the name of Hemant Soren as the central president of JMM, which was passed unanimously.

Apr 15, 2025

Amit Shah Addresses the All India Forensic Science Summit 2025 Organised by NFSU in New Delhi

Union Minister Amit Shah addressed the All India Forensic Science Summit 2025 organised by the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) in New Delhi as the Chief Guest. The theme of the conference was 'Role of Forensic Science in Effective Implementation of New Criminal Laws and Combating Terrorism'. The conference was attended by many dignitaries including Justice V. Ramasubramanian, Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Attorney General R. Venkataramani, Rajya Sabha MP and Chairman, Bar Council of India Manan Kumar Mishra, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan and Vice Chancellor, NFSU Dr. J. M. Vyas.

Telangana Becomes First State to Implement SC Sub-Categorisation

The Telangana government became the first in India to implement Scheduled Castes (SC) sub-categorisation, following the Supreme Court's approval. On April 14, 2025—coinciding with Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's birth anniversary—the state issued a Government Order (GO) enforcing the Telangana Scheduled Castes (Rationalisation of Reservations) Act, 2025. The move aims to rationalise the existing 15% SC reservation by dividing 59 SC sub-castes into three groups based on inter-se backwardness, thus ensuring more equitable distribution of benefits.

Assam Mandates Assamese as Compulsory Official Language for All Government Works

Assamese to be compulsory official language for all government notifications, orders, acts and other such works in Assam, announced Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. He further said that Bengali and Bodo will be used respectively in the districts of Barak Valley and Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).
All Notifications, Orders, Acts, Rules, Regulations, and Guidelines issued by the Central Government shall be published by translating them into Assamese (Bodo and Bengali, wherever applicable) within thirty (30) days of receipt by the department concerned.
Legacy documents comprising Acts, Rules, Regulations, and Notifications shall also be translated into Assamese (Bodo and Bengali, wherever applicable) over a period of two years in a phased manner. The translation work shall be undertaken with the assistance of the language departments of the Universities.
In the event of any ambiguity, discrepancy, or requirement of legal interpretation, the English version of such laws, Notifications, Roles, Regulations, and ordinances shall prevail.

India's International Technology Engagement Strategy for Quantum

The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India released the first edition of the International Technology Engagement Strategy for Quantum (ITES-Q). This milestone aligns with the celebration of World Quantum Day and the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQST 2025), as designated by the United Nations. This strategy reflects India's outward-facing roadmap to accelerate global collaboration, foster innovation, and align with the National Quantum Mission (NQM) for leadership in quantum science, technology, and innovation (QSTI).
It was released with the intent to accelerate discovery, foster innovation, and catalyse adoption across critical sectors.

Apr 14, 2025

India and Italy Agree to Take Forward IMEEC Initiative

India and Italy decided to expand cooperation in areas of trade, defence, clean energy and high technology while agreeing to work jointly in implementing the ambitious India-Middle-East-Europe-Economic Corridor (IMEEC).
Ways to deepen India-Italy cooperation under the framework of Joint Strategic Action Plan (JSAP) 2025-29 figured prominently during talks between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Italian Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajan.
Tajani, also the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, was on a two-day visit to India.

Kerala Declares CM Pinarayi Vijayan's Dharmadam Constituency Extreme Poverty-Free

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's Dharmadam Assembly constituency in Kannur was declared as the state's first extreme poverty-free constituency.
In a function held at Pinarayi village in his constituency, Vijayan said that the entire state will be declared as an extreme poverty-free state on 1 November, 2025.
Significantly, the four common factors taken as indicators of extreme poverty were food availability, health, income, and housing, which were considered basic requirements for survival of a family.

Apr 13, 2025

Global Technology Summit (GTS) 2025

The 9th edition of the Global Technology Summit (GTS), a flagship event co-hosted by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, and Carnegie India, took place in New Delhi from April 10 to 12, 2025. The Summit brought together global leaders from various sectors—government, industry, academia, and civil society—aiming to shape global technology policy. With the theme "Sambhavna" (meaning possibilities), GTS 2025 explored how emerging technologies can foster inclusive growth, enhance digital governance, and facilitate cross-border cooperation. The Summit addressed some of the world's most pressing tech challenges, engaging over 150 speakers from more than 40 countries, and providing a platform for young professionals to contribute to the dialogue.

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