General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - December 2016

Dec 2016

Sep 12, 2018

Mumbai to Get Two more Metro Rail Lines

The Maharashtra cabinet cleared two new Metro rail lines - Dahisar-Mira-Bhayander and Andheri East- International Airport - that will be integrated with other Metro corridors to improve the connectivity in Mumbai.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) will now float bids for construction of the 10.5-km Dahisar-Mira-Bhayander (Metro 9) corridor and 3.2-km Andheri-International airport (Terminal T2) (Metro 7A).

Over 50% Pay Hike for Asha, Anganwadi Workers

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a substantial increase in the honorarium for Anganwadi and Asha (Accredited social health activists) workers from October in a move that is expected to help millions of women from relatively poor households.

All Asha workers will also get free coverage under the two flagship insurance schemes of the government.

India's Oldest Research Reactor Recommissioned

The country's oldest research reactor "Apsara", which was shut down permanently in 2009 for revamp, has been recommissioned as "Apsara-Upgraded" with a higher capacity. It was recommissioned after upgrade on September 10.

The reactor came into existence in August 1956 and was utilised for various experiments, including neutron activation analysis, radiation damage studies, forensic research, neutron radiography and shielding experiments.

Congress, TDP and CPI Form Alliance

In a major development, opposition Congress, TDP and CPI joined hands to form a grand alliance to take on the ruling TRS in Telangana in the ensuing Assembly elections.

This is the first time in Telugu Desam Party's 35-year-old history that it is joining hands with the Congress in a state.

Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao last week dissolved the Assembly to go for early elections. The polls are likely in November.

PGI Introduces New Cancer Treatment

The department of radiodiagnosis at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) has bought a state-of-the-art machine to treat tumours for the patients who are not suitable to be treated with surgery.

Cryoablation is a treatment to kill cancer cells with extreme cold.

As per an official statement of PGIMER, this machine is the first of its kind installed anywhere in the country.

With the installation of this machine, the institution will now be part of the elite group of hospitals in the world, including the likes of MD Anderson Cancer Centre in the United States.

Sep 11, 2018

Illegal Immigrants a Challenge

Terming illegal immigrants a "challenge" for the nation, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal pitched for the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) across all states of the country.

NRC is a register containing names of Indian citizens, which was prepared for the only time in 1951 and is being updated for only Assam to weed out the illegal immigrants.

First Ever Mid-air Refuelling of Tejas

The first ever mid-air refuelling of the indigenously developed light combat aircraft Tejas was successfully carried.

The milestone was achieved when 1,900 kg of fuel was transferred from the mid-air refuelling tanker of IAF's IL78 to the Tejas LSP8 at an altitude of 20,000 feet.

With this, India joins an elite group of countries who have developed the Air-to-Air (AAR) (refuelling) system for military class of aircraft.

India Has World's Biggest Reserves of Potash

Despite having the world's biggest reserves of potash in Rajasthan, India has failed to explore the huge deposit even 45 years after its discovery, costing US$1,400 million every year to import the mineral.

Rajasthan sits over nearly 20,397 million tonnes (MT) of probable potash deposits, mostly concentrated in Nagaur-Ganganagar basin of the north-west Rajasthan, almost three times the world reserve.

Sep 10, 2018

Doorstep Delivery of 40 Services

Delhiites will be able to avail 40 government services, including obtaining a marriage certificate, driving licence and new water connection , at their doorsteps with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government all set to launch its flagship 'doorstep delivery of services.

Certificates such as caste, new water connection, income, driving licence, ration card, domicile, marriage registration, duplicate RC and change of address in registration certificates, among others, will be covered under the scheme.

UP Bill for Restoring Anticipatory Bail Provision

A key bill that will pave the way for the re-introduction of the provision of anticipatory bail, which was revoked in the state during the Emergency in 1976, has been referred for presidential assent.

Uttar Pradesh governor Ram Naik has referred the Code of Criminal Procedure (Uttar Pradesh Amendment) Bill, 2018, to the President.

The UP Assembly had on August 30 approved the bill that aims at restoring the provision of anticipatory bail in the state.

Indo-Bhutan Border to Undergo Aerial Mapping

The 267-km stretch of the Indo-Bhutan border along Assam would undergo a laser-based aerial mapping which could help the security agencies to pinpoint hideouts of the militants through remote sensing.

Stamp Fee as Per Original Flat Delivery Date

In a major relief to aggrieved homebuyers, an 11-member high-level committee headed by D. S. Mishra, secretary, Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, has recommended that the Uttar Pradesh government allow registry of a flat at the circle rate prevalent when possession of the dwelling unit was promised by the builder.

The UP government will soon take a decision on the recommendations made by the high-level committee formed on June 18, 2018.

The committee's recommendations include waiving off stamp fee for homebuyers, the formation of a 'zero period policy', additional funding to builders to finish stuck projects, legal assistance to aggrieved homebuyers and a separate real estate regulatory authority (RERA) for Noida and Greater Noida, among others.

Sep 09, 2018

Aero India Expo

The 12th edition of Aero India will be held in Bengaluru from February 20-24, 2019, the Defence Ministry announced, ending confusion over a possible change of date and venue.

This five-day event will combine a major trade exhibition for the aerospace and defence industries with public air shows.The show will also see participation by think-tanks from across the world.

Earlier there was much deliberation within the Ministry on shifting the biennial air show to Bakshi Ka Talab near Lucknow and to hold it in November.

Sep 08, 2018

Niti Aayog's First Global Mobility Summit - MOVE

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first ever Global Mobility Summit - MOVE organised by Niti Aayog. The two-day summit on September 7 and 8 will be attended by union ministers and several CEOs from India and abroad.

The themes for the summit include maximizing underutilised assets and infrastructure for both passengers and services; comprehensive electrification and alternative fuels; reinventing public transport; goods transport and logistics; data analytics and mobility.

Amendments to SC/ST Act Cannot be Stayed

The Supreme Court refused to stay the amended Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities Act) passed recently by Parliament restoring the power of police to immediately arrest a person committing an offence under the law but agreed to test its validity.

Lucknow's Hazratganj Crossing to be Renamed

The iconic Hazratganj crossing will now be known as 'Atal Chauraha'.

Mayor Sanyukta Bhatia made an announcement to this effect in a tribute to the former Prime Minister and five-time MP from Lucknow.

The LMC body has also decided to set up a huge park in the honour of the former PM. It will have an open auditorium where literary events will be held on a regular basis.

Electricity-run Public Transport

The government is ready to give "on a platter" all necessary regulatory clearances to investors ready to run public transport buses on electricity or alternative fuel.

Major automobile manufacturers like Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland could also form an operator company on the pattern of London Transport model, the minister proposed while promising to remove regulatory hurdles to give a push to e-vehicles in India.

India's First Clean Street Food Hub

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) declared Kankaria Lake area in Ahmedabad as the country's first 'clean street food hub'. In the next one year, the food regulator hopes to designate 150 such streets across the country.

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