General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - December 2016

Dec 2016

May 19, 2018

Pakistan Voices Concern over Kishanganga Project

Pakistan has voiced concern over the inauguration of the 330 MW Kishanganga hydroelectric Project in Jammu and Kashmir by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying inauguration without resolution of a dispute between the two countries will tantamount to violation of the Indus Water Treaty.

Modi will inaugurate the power project in Bandipora district.

BJP Legislator Asked to Prove Citizenship

An MLA of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in Assam has been served a notice to prove his citizenship amid the exercise to update the National Register of Citizens (NRC) that is nearing completion.

Kishore Nath and six members of his family were served the notice on Friday by the Foreigners' Tribunal No 1 on suspicion of being doubtful voters. Mr. Nath, 53, represents the Barkhola Assembly seat in southern Assam's Cachar district.

High-level Bureaucratic Reshuffle

In a high-level bureaucratic reshuffle, the Union government named Secretaries for the important Ministries of Commerce, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Information and Broadcasting, Education and Steel.

The reshuffle involves appointments of over two dozen top bureaucrats.

May 18, 2018

India and Pakistan to Revive Joint Judicial Panel

Pakistan has responded positively to India's proposal to revive a mechanism of a joint judicial panel which looks into humanitarian issues of fishermen and prisoners in each other's custody.

The ministry said that names of members of the reconstituted committee from the Indian side have been communicated to Pakistan.

The committee was first formed in 2007.

It consists of retired judges of the higher judiciary who visit and meet prisoners in each other's jails.

The committee met seven times. The last meeting was hosted by India in October 2013.

Nuclear Submarine INS Arihant

India has bolstered its second strike capability by operationalising submarine-launched nuclear and conventional missiles which can hit targets over 700 kilometres away. Only four other countries - United States of America (USA), Russia, China and France - have such a strategic capability at present. But with Indian Navy's nuclear submarine INS Arihant getting the K-15 Sagarika (B05) nuclear-tipped missiles in its arsenal, the country has joined a select club.

West Bengal's Panchayat Polls

The ruling Triamool Congress (TMC) swept West Bengal's panchayat polls held earlier this month. The BJP, which appeared to be a distant second, made its presence felt in districts like Purulia and Jhargram in the State's Jangalmahal region by putting up some resistance to the ruling party.

A total of 31,814 seats went to the polls at the gram panchayat level.

May 17, 2018

Ceasefire during Ramzan

The Centre has asked security forces not to launch operations against terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir during the holy month of Ramzan. The Ministry of Home Affairs has said that the decision has been taken to help the peace-loving Muslims observe Ramzan in a peaceful environment.

However, the Centre has said that the security forces reserve the right to retaliate if attacked or if essential to protect the lives of innocent people.

Swachh Rankings

According to the government latest swachhta survey, Jharkhand has emerged as the best-performing State in terms of cleanliness, while Indore in Madhya Pradesh was adjudged the cleanest city in the country.

Maharashtra stood second behind Jharkhand, while Chhattisgarh was at the third position in the category of 'best-performing States' in the 'Swachh Survekshan 2018' released by Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.

As far as cities are concerned, table-topper Indore is followed by Bhopal, while Union Territory of Chandigarh stands at the third place in the national-level category.

First-ever UK-India Week

A first-of-its-kind UK-India Week will be held in Britain next month to promote bilateral trade and investments through a series of events to be attended by ministers and professionals from both countries.

The events, to be held in London and Buckinghamshire between June 18 and 22, will culminate with the UK-India Awards to recognise individuals and organisations based in both countries that make a significant impact on the UK-India strategic partnership.

Yeddyurappa Invited to Form Karnataka Government

After a day of high-political drama, Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala invited BJP's B. S. Yeddyurappa to form the next government in the state.

May 16, 2018

India Third Largest Solar Market

According to Mercom Communications, India emerged as the third largest solar market in the world in 2017 behind China and the US.

India has grown at a CAGR of approximately 170 per cent since 2010.

The robust growth boosted the country's total solar installed capacity to 19.6 GW as of December 2017.

Bastar to Get Air Connectivity

The Bastar district of Chhattisgarh, battling Maoist insurgency for long, will be on the aviation map of the country from June 15 when Air Odisha begins services from Visakhapatnam to district headquarters of Jagdalpur and Raipur.

Jagdalpur was one of the four cities in Chhattisgarh to get an airport under the regional connectivity scheme (RCS) of the Centre.

Karnataka Assembly Elections

No single party was able to win a majority of 113 seats in the Karnataka elections, paving way for frantic negotiations and post-poll alliances . The BJP, which won 104 seats in the 224-member House, emerged as the single largest party but fell short of complete majority. The Congress, with 78 seats, and the JD(S) with 37, together they have 117 seats (with the support of 1 BSP and 1 Independent), rushed to join hands and stake claim to form the government in a bid to keep the BJP out of power in the state.

Counting is complete in 222 of 224 seats. Two of the seats, RR Nagar and Jayanagar, will see repoll on May 28.

Rohatgi Appointed Eminent Jurist

Former Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi has been appointed eminent jurist in the high-profile Lokpal selection committee led by the Prime Minister, which will shortlist candidates for appointment as the anti-corruption ombudsman.

Besides the Prime Minister, the selection committee is composed of the Chief Justice of India and the Lok Sabha Speaker.

May 15, 2018

Reshuffle in the Cabinet

Change at I&B is part of a mini-reshuffle in the Cabinet affected by the PM, who has assigned the vital Ministry of Finance to Railways Minister Piyush Goyal, who will be at the helm of the Ministry of Finance till Arun Jaitley fully recovers after his successful kidney transplant surgery. Ms. Irani helmed the Ministry for little less than 10 months. She had replaced Venkaiah Naidu who resigned after he was elected to the post of Vice-President of India.

This is the second time that Ms. Irani has been divested of an important portfolio. She was appointed Minister for Human Resource and Development in May 2014. After a little over two years, she was replaced by Prakash Javedkar. She remained away from the limelight handling the relatively obscure Ministry of Textiles for over a year before getting I&B in July last year.

Share on

TCY Analytics (View Subscription Plans)

Subscribe to GK Updates

I want to receive

GK Tags

October GK, September GK, August GK, INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, ENVIRONMENT, BUSINESS AND ECONOMY, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, SPORTS, NATIONAL AFFAIRS, DEFENCE, PERSONS IN NEWS, DAYS AND EVENTS, AWARDS AND HONOURS, GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND SCHEMES, GENDER/ HEALTH/ EDUCATION, ART AND CULTURE, BOOKS AND AUTHORS, TOURISM AND HOTEL INDUSTRY AWARENESS, ART AND CULTURE, LAW AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Start Discussion

On any topic

Take Tests

Compiled from GK updates

Login

Sign Up

Forgot Password

Download TCY App

Unlock All Services and Enjoy The Premium Benefits

US$ 10

US$ 13

US$ 15

US$ 17

US$ 19

US$ 20

US$ 21

US$ 22

US$ 23

US$ 24

US$ 25

US$ 26