General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - December 2016

Dec 2016

Jul 19, 2025

India-Argentina Hold 2nd JWG Meeting on Agriculture

The second Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting on Agriculture between India and Argentina was held, with the Indian Co-chair, Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, joining the session virtually. The meeting was co-chaired by Sergio Iraeta, Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, from the Argentina side. Both sides underscored the significance of the meeting as a key milestone in deepening bilateral cooperation in the fields of agriculture and allied sectors.

Jul 18, 2025

Ahmedabad Declared Cleanest City in Swachh Survekshan 2024-25

President Droupadi Murmu presented the award to Ahmedabad for being the top city among those with a population of 10 lakh or above during the awards ceremony in New Delhi. This year, the awards included a separate category of recognition for cities that had been in the top three of their categories in the previous three years.

Jul 17, 2025

ICAR Marks 97th Foundation Day

Union Minister of Agriculture, Farmers Welfare, and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan celebrated the 97^th Foundation Day of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) at the Bharat Ratna C. Subramaniam Auditorium, NASC Complex, Pusa, New Delhi. Addressing a gathering of scientists, farmers, and officials, he hailed ICAR's contributions to India's agricultural revolution under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, describing scientists as "modern-day rishis" dedicated to farmer welfare.
During the event, Chouhan conferred the National Agricultural Science Awards to exceptional scientists, including women researchers and young innovators.

Nitish Kumar Announces 125 Units of Free Electricity for Households in Bihar

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced that every household in the state will receive 125 units of electricity free of cost every month, starting from August 1.
According to Kumar, the move would benefit 1.67 crore domestic consumers across Bihar. This step is aimed at providing relief and empowerment to the people.

Gujarat Launches India's First Tribal Genome Sequencing Project

Gujarat became the first state in Indian to launch a Tribal Genome Sequencing Project, aimed at improving healthcare for tribal communities through genetic research. The initiative focuses on early detection of hereditary diseases and development of personalised medical solutions using genome data.
The project was announced by Dr. Kuber Dindor, Gujarat's Tribal Development Minister, during a high-level meeting in Gandhinagar. It is being implemented by the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC) with support from various state departments and experts. It is approved under the 2025–26 Gujarat state budget.

ECI Appoints Nitu Chandra and Kranti Prakash Jha as SVEEP Icons for Bihar

The Election Commission of India (ECI) appointed renowned actors Nitu Chandra and Kranti Prakash Jha as SVEEP icons for Bihar. With the state gearing up for its upcoming Assembly elections, the inclusion of public figures with mass appeal is part of a broader strategy to enhance voter literacy and participation through creative outreach methods. The initiative is part of the ECI's flagship voter awareness campaign, SVEEP (Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation), which is designed to foster an informed and responsible electorate.
The SVEEP programme was launched by the Election Commission of India to address gaps in voter awareness and ensure that every eligible citizen understands the significance of their vote.

Jul 16, 2025

India's First Digital Nomad Village in Sikkim

Yakten, a village in Sikkim's Pakyong district, was officially declared India's first digital nomad village.
A collaboration between the district administration and NGO Sarvahitey under the 'Nomad Sikkim' initiative, the project aims to transform strategic locations in the Himalayan State into year-round hubs for digital professionals across India and abroad, while ensuring sustainable income opportunities for home stay owners.
The initiative was fuelled by Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang's concern over the lack of steady income for home stay operators during the off-season, which may stretch for six months from April-May.
The district authorities have installed two internet lines and ensured village-wide Wi-Fi connectivity, apart from providing inverters to maintain uninterrupted electricity.

Shashikant Shinde Named New Chief of Maharashtra Unit of Sharad Pawar's Party

The Sharad Pawar-led NCP appointed party legislator and former Minister Shashikant Shinde as the new state party President replacing the incumbent Jayant Patil, who held the post for nearly seven years.
Shashikant Shinde has been the member of the State Legislative Council since 2020 and stood with Sharad Pawar after the split within NCP despite most of the party leaders and legislators joining the Ajit Pawar-led NCP.

India's Second Longest Cable-Stayed Bridge Opens in Shivamogga

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the Sigandur Bridge, India's second longest cable-stayed bridge in Shivamogga district, Karnataka. This new bridge stretches 2. 44 km across the Sharavathi backwaters and will help improve road connectivity between Sagara town and Sigandur, where the famous Chowdeshwari Temple is located.

Jul 15, 2025

Sarbananda Sonowal Inaugurates the Second Edition of the BIMSTEC Ports Conclave

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the second edition of the BIMSTEC Ports Conclave in Visakhapatnam, outlining a bold and collaborative vision to transform the Bay of Bengal into a vibrant hub of global trade, cruise tourism, and sustainable development.
The two-day conclave, attended by representatives from all seven BIMSTEC nations—Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand—brought together policymakers, port authorities, maritime experts, private stakeholders, and academics to chart a shared maritime future for the region.
Sonowal described the BIMSTEC Ports Conclave as a springboard for unlocking the potential of the Blue Economy.
The conclave builds upon the momentum of the first BIMSTEC Ports Conclave and aims to operationalise the BIMSTEC Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation (AMTC), which India was the first to ratify.
A major announcement at the event was the establishment of a BIMSTEC Sustainable Maritime Transport Centre in Powai, Mumbai. This centre, to be set up under the Indian Ocean Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Maritime Transport (IOCE-SMarT), will be key to operationalising the AMTC agreement.

Centre Appoints Dr. Abhijat Sheth as New NMC Chief

The Central Government appointed Dr. Abhijat Sheth as the new Chairperson of the National Medical Commission (NMC). The move came at a time when the medical regulator is under scrutiny following a corruption probe involving several officials. Dr Sheth takes over from Dr. B. N. Gangadhar, who resigned earlier but stayed in office due to a lack of suitable replacements.
The National Medical Commission (NMC) is the top body that regulates medical education in India. Its role is very important in ensuring quality and fairness in how doctors are trained and medical colleges operate.

President Appoints New Governors for Haryana, Goa and is L-G for Ladakh

The President of India appointed new Governors for the states of Haryana and Goa, along with a new Lieutenant Governor of Union Territory of Ladakh.
President Droupadi Murmu accepted the resignation of Brig. BD Mishra (Retd.) as the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member Kavinder Gupta was appointed as the new Lt Governor of Ladakh replacing Mishra.
Ashim Kumar Ghosh and Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju have been appointed as the new Governors of Haryana and Goa, respectively.
Professor Ghosh is an academic and political thinker, who succeeded Bandaru Dattatreya in Haryana.
Raju is a veteran politician and has served as the Union Minister for Civil Aviation. He succeeded P. S. Sreedharan Pillai in Goa.

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