General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - December 2016

Dec 2016

Mar 22, 2019

India's Deepest Shaft Cave

Barely a year after the discovery of the world's longest sandstone cave Krem Puri in Mawsynram region of Meghalaya's East Khasi Hills district, now a cave with the deepest shaft in the country has been discovered.
The discovery was made during the 28th edition of the annual 'Caving in the Abode of the Clouds Expedition' that took place between February 3 and 28.
In the process, Krem Um Ladaw that has the deepest shaft in the country was discovered.
Though located on the valley floor, Krem Um Ladaw yielded an astonishing 105 m deep shaft entrance passage.

India Drops in UN World Happiness Report

India figured among the lowest 20 of the 156 nations ranked on this year's UN World Happiness Report.
India came in 140th this year, dropping seven places from 133 last year. As a result, India featured in the five countries that had the largest drop since 2005-2008 in the index, along with Yemen, Syria, Botswana and Venezuela.
None of the world's major economic powerhouses made it to the top 10.
Finland topped the index of the happiest nations for the second year in a row.

Mar 21, 2019

Congress NC Alliance

The Congress announced an alliance with the National Conference (NC), but the two parties failed to reach a consensus on seat-sharing for the six Lok Sabha constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir.
The two parties have decided to fight together in the Jammu-Poonch and Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha seats, where the BJP is strong. It had won both the seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

Sawant Government Wins Trust Vote

The newly inducted BJP-led coalition government of Pramod Sawant won the vote of confidence during a special session of the Goa Assembly.
The coalition received 20 votes, five more than the Opposition's 15 votes in the 36-member truncated House of 40.
Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo was in the chair as Mr. Sawant had resigned his Speaker's post before being sworn in as the Chief Minister.

Mar 20, 2019

All Sitting MPs in Chhattisgarh Dropped

As per party general secretary in charge of the State Anil Jain, reflecting the BJP's loss in the recent Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, none of the party's 10 sitting MPs will be given a ticket this time round.
BJP will change all sitting MPs in the State in this election, CEC has approved it. The BJP will bring 11 new candidates.

'My Thana' App Launched

In an effort to crack down on crime, especially those directed against women, Indore Police has launched a mobile application which promises to ensure that swift action is taken on complaints lodged.
Called 'My Thana', the application was launched by Indore Police with the promise that people at large can use the video calling facility to contact cops and lodge their complaint.
The cops have also ensured that swift action would be taken on complaints lodged through the application because the video data could be used as credible evidence against the accused.

GP to Take on Modi and Rahul

U.S. Aashin, national election coordinator of the Indian Gandhian Party, headquartered in Kerala's Thrissur district, is planning to take on two prime ministerial candidates in the Lok Sabha election, Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi.
Ever since its launch in 2011, the IGP, whose motto is to develop India through entrepreneurship, has been contesting in panchayat and Lok Sabha elections.
The IGP fielded candidates in three Lok Sabha constituencies in the previous elections and supported many Independents.
This time, IGP will contest from all 543 constituencies.
IGP's social media campaign has received 5,000 applications from prospective candidates. The party would release the list on March 23.

Delhi Police Unveils Mobile Command Room

A mobile control room that can be used on the road during public events in the city was launched by the Delhi Police.
Equipped with the latest technologies such as integrated communication system, CCTV surveillance and a conference room, the mobile control room inside a bus can be sent to any location on a short notice.
According to Delhi police, the mobile control room will play a very vital role during important arrangements like the Republic Day, Independence Day, VIP movements, traffic management, election arrangement and other emergency requirements.

Separate Lok Sabha and State Polls in J&K

The Election Commission's decision to hold Parliament and Assembly elections separately gives an edge to the Bharatiya Janata Party and allows it to reframe J&K poll politics and stock up vote capital, while reducing the chances of the regional parties to throw up any surprise.
Despite grand alliances being stitched together across the country against the BJP, the Congress, the NC and the PDP are forced to keep their cards close to their chest.
The parties are finding it hard to decide on any pre-poll alliances, with the EC decision keeping the suspense alive on the BJP's State poll plans.

Mar 19, 2019

India Lodges Protest with Pakistan

India has lodged a strong protest with Pakistan over several incidents of alleged harassment of Indian High Commission officials in Islamabad between March 8 and 11, and demanded an immediate investigation into them.
The Indian High Commission issued a note verbale to the Pakistan Foreign Ministry on March 13, giving a detailed account of the incidents, including the tailing of India's Deputy High Commissioner, Naval Adviser and a first secretary on multiple occasions.

EC Approves Applications for Electronic Media Ads

The BJP has got the Election Commission's nod for its 23 requests for putting out advertisements in the electronic media, while the Congress submitted its first application on 18th March.
When the model code of conduct is on, political advertisements have to be certified by the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee within 24 hours of submission.
An application might contain several cases which may pertain to radio spots, advertisements on social media and television.

Patnaik to Contest from Two Seats

The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) announced that Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will contest from two Assembly seats for the first time.
Mr. Patnaik will contest from Hinjili Assembly seat in his home district Ganjam and from Bijepur seat in Bargarh district.

Notification for First Phase

Notification for the first phase of the Lok Sabha election was issued, setting in motion the high-voltage electoral battle in which the BJP seeks to return to power amid the Opposition's efforts to present a united fight to unseat it.
Polling will be held in 91 constituencies spread across 20 States on April 11 in the first of the seven-phase schedule.
The nomination process which has now begun will continue till March 25.
Scrutiny of papers will be held on March 26, and the last day for withdrawal of nomination is March 28.

Mar 18, 2019

India Now Has 2,293 Political Parties

The Election Commission's latest data on political parties, registered till March 9, a day before the Lok Sabha elections were announced, reveal that the country has a total of 2,293 political parties.
These include 7 recognised national and 59 recognised state parties.
In fact, 149 political parties were registered with the poll panel between February and March.

India and Maldives Strengthen Ties

India and the Maldives discussed measures to strengthen ties and agreed to collaborate in the fields of defence, development cooperation, capacity building and health.
Ms. Swaraj is in Malaysia on a two-day visit, the first full-fledged bilateral trip from India to the island nation after the government of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih came to power in November 2018.

Country's First Lokpal

Retired Supreme Court judge Pinaki Chandra Ghose is likely to be appointed the country's first Lokpal, the anti-corruption ombudsman, after a Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led selection committee agreed on his name.
The Parliament passed the Lokpal Act in 2013, when the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government was in power.
The law provides for a Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas in states to investigate cases of corruption against public servants.
Justice Ghose, currently a member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), retired as a Supreme Court judge in May 2017.

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