General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - December 2016

Dec 2016

Dec 05, 2018

India to Allow Business Visa Extension

India has decided to allow extension of business visa for up to 15 years and conversion of a regular visa into medical category in an emergency for a foreigner.
As per Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba, the number of e-visas issued has seen a tremendous growth during the last four years from 5.17 lakh in 2015 to 21 lakh till November 30 this year.

Dec 04, 2018

Ludhiana Airport Proposal Cleared

The Punjab Cabinet cleared the proposal to set up an international airport at Halwara in Punjab's Ludhiana district.
The airport will be set up on 135 acres of land in coordination with the Airports Authority of India.

Dec 03, 2018

India to Host First G-20 in 2022

For the first time, India will host the annual G-20 summit in 2022, coinciding with the country's 75th anniversary of Independence.
PM Modi thanked Italy for allowing India to play the host. Italy was to host the international forum of the world's top 20 economies in 2022. The 14th edition will be held in Japan, while Saudi Arabia will host the 15th.

First Ever Formal Meeting for Opposition Parties

The first-ever formal meeting of political parties opposed to the BJP has been scheduled for December 10 on the eve of the winter session of Parliament. The meeting also comes a day before votes for the five assemblies will be counted.
Coordinated by TDP Chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, the meeting of leaders belonging to the Congress, NCP, Left, SP, BSP, NC, JD(S) and Sharad Yadav's Loktantrik Janata Dal, among others, is the firs major attempt to work on a plan ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Dec 02, 2018

Mufti Writes to PM Modi to Open Sharada Peeth Pilgrimage

Former Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party President Mehbooba Mufti has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking him to initiate the process of opening the Sharada Peeth pilgrimage on the lines of the Kartarpur corridor.
The ancient Sharada Temple across the line of Control in the PoK is of immense significance for Kashmiri Pandits.

SC Dismisses Petition Regarding NJAC

The Supreme Court dismissed a petition seeking review of its October 2015 verdict that declared National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) unconstitutional and revived the Collegium system of judicial appointments.
A five-judge Constitution Bench headed by CJI Ranjan Gogoi dismissed the review petition filed by the National Lawyers' Campaign for Judicial Transparency and Reforms, saying it was delayed and devoid of merit.
In accordance with the practice followed in the Supreme Court, the review petition was taken up 'in chamber' and it was dealt with 'by circulation' without advocates being allowed to advance arguments.
The review of the 2015 verdict was primarily sought on the ground that it went against the doctrine of separation of powers as the top court assumed the role of both Parliament and the Executive.
It has resulted in a "ridiculous scenario" where Articles 124 and 217 of the Constitution (which deal with appointment of SC and HC judges) were to be read diametrically opposite to what they stated, the review petitioner contended. However, the review Bench - which also included Justices Madan B Lokur, Kurian Joseph (since retired), AM Khanwilkar and Ashok Bhushan - was not convinced.
A five-judge Constitution Bench had on October 16, 2015 struck down the NJAC Act, 2014 and revived the Collegium system under which a panel of top judges appoint judges of the Supreme Court and high courts following a 1993 verdict that reduced the role of the executive to mere checking of antecedents and issuance of formal warrant of appointment.

Maharashtra Government Notifies 16% Maratha Quota

The Maharashtra government issued a gazette notification confirming 16% reservation to the Maratha community in government jobs and education.
With this, the Marathas, who form around 30% of the state's population, can get reserved seats in government jobs, in addition to aided and unaided educational institutes in the state, with immediate effect.
The state legislature had cleared the Maratha quota bill. The bill got the assent of the Maharashtra governor C. Vidyasagar Rao.
The move has effectively increased the caste-based quota in Maharashtra to 68%, breaching the Supreme Court-mandated cap on caste-based reservation of 50%. The quota is likely to face a legal challenge, with OBC groups planning to move court.

Dec 01, 2018

Drones to Soon Transport Organs

India could soon see the use of drones for transporting organs and other emergency medical supplies between hospitals under the new policy for remotely piloted aircraft, the official registration process for which began on Friday.
As per Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha, the government is examining the possibility of creating "drone ports" in hospitals to permit this kind of transportation.
Drone ports in hospitals can allow quick transportation of harvested organs to recipients under the Drone Policy 2.0 or the next generation of our policy that was recently announced.

IITS and IISC Lead Race for Patents

The Indian Institutes of Technology in Bombay, Madras and Delhi, along with the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, are at the forefront of centrally funded technical institutes leading in research and innovation this year.
According to latest data available with the human resource development (HRD) ministry, IIT Madras leads the race with 132 patents filed by its students and faculty this year.
IIT Mumbai is second with 104 patents as on November 25, IISc Bangalore is close behind with 101 patents and IIT Delhi has registered 96 patents.
Only three institutes had crossed the century mark last year, with IIT Mumbai registering 185 patents, IIT Madras 132 and IISc Bangalore 106.

India Launches Passport Seva Project

The Indian government has launched an initiative in major consulates in the US to simplify the overall passport applications procedure and reduce the turnaround time for applicants from 10 days to 48 hours or less.
The Passport Seva Project (PSP) prints Indian passports in the US and reduces turnaround for applicants.
The Consulate General of India, Houston, inaugurated the PSP in Houston along with a team led by Minister of State for External Affairs, General (Rtd) V. K. Singh.
The team has been in the US to launch the project at Indian Embassy, Washington DC and in five Consulates, Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, New York and San Francisco.

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