General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - December 2016

Dec 2016

Apr 25, 2018

India-Russia Defence Deals Face US Sanctions

U.S. sanctions on Russian military exports have put the brakes on a $6 billion deal with India and may derail the arms purchases of other U.S. allies around Asia.

Under a law that U.S. President Donald Trump signed in August, any country trading with Russia`s defence and intelligence sectors will face sanctions.

The law is designed to punish Russian President Vladimir Putin for the 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, involvement in the Syrian civil war and meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Diu Smart City Runs on 100% Renewable Energy

Diu Smart City has become the first city in India that runs on 100 per cent renewable energy during daytime setting a new benchmark for other cities to become clean and green. Diu, which is a town in the district by the same name in the Union Territory of Daman and Diu, had been importing 73 per cent of its power from Gujarat until 2017.

To further enhance its solar capacity, Diu offers its residents a subsidy of Rs 10,000-50,000 for installing 1-5KW rooftop solar panels resulting in a saving of about 13,000 tonnes of carbon emissions every year.

Apr 24, 2018

Gallantry Awards Presented

President Ram Nath Kovind presented gallantry awards and distinguished service decorations at the Defence Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

He conferred three Kirti Chakras and thirteen Shaurya Chakras to Armed Forces Personnel for displaying conspicuous gallantry, indomitable courage and extreme devotion to duty.

The President also conferred thirteen Param Vishisht Seva Medals, two UttamYudh Seva Medals, two Bar to Ati Vishisht Seva Medals and twenty-six Ati Vishisht Seva Medals to senior officers of the Armed Forces for distinguished service of an exceptional order.

AFSPA Removed from Meghalaya

Union Home Ministry has removed Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from Meghalaya and reduced it to eight police stations in Arunachal Pradesh.

The decision to remove AFSPA from Meghalaya and parts of Arunachal Pradesh was taken due to significant improvement of security situation in the two states.

AFSPA gives special powers to the Army and central forces deployed in "disturbed areas" to kill anyone acting in contravention of law, arrest and search any premises without a warrant and provide cover to forces from prosecution and legal suits without the Central government's sanction.

It is still effective in the whole of Nagaland, Assam, Manipur (excluding seven Assembly constituencies of Imphal).

Sainik School Opens Doors for Girls

In a first, as many as 15 girls got admitted to Uttar Pradesh-based Sainik School for the academic year 2018-19. The girls took admission in Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey Uttar Pradesh Sainik School.

There were 2,500 aspirants out of which only 15 could manage to get through.

The proposal to include girl students was sent to the Uttar Pradesh government in 2017.

Apr 23, 2018

China and India Agree to Resume Kailash Mansarovar Yatra

Ten months after the pilgrimage was stopped following the Doklam standoff, India and China have agreed to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through the Nathu La route in Sikkim.

The decision was made during talks between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing.

Sitaram Re-elected as CPI(M) General Secretary

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) re-elected Sitaram Yechury as the party's general secretary. The decision was taken during the ongoing 22nd party Congress, amid a tussle between the general secretary Sitaram Yechury and former general secretary Prakash Karat over the political line which the party should pursue.

Apr 22, 2018

Death Penalty of Raping Children up to 12 Years of Age

The Cabinet approved an ordinance to award death penalty to those who are convicted of raping children up to 12 years of age. In case of rape of a girl aged under 16 years, the minimum punishment to be awarded has been increased from 10 years to 20 years, which is extendable to life imprisonment. The minimum punishment to those raping a girl aged under 12 will be 20 years imprisonment. The Cabinet has also decided to put in place measures for speedy investigation and trial of rape cases. The ordinance will now be sent to the President for his approval.

Yashwant Sinha Ends All Ties with BJP

Former finance Minister Yashwant Sinha quit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He said that he is taking 'sanyas' from any kind of party politics.

Sinha had joined the BJP in the mid-90s.

Yashwant Sinha held the portfolio of External Affairs Minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. He became the Finance Minister in the same government for the next term. The veteran leader's son Jayant Sinha is currently the Minister of State for Civil Aviation in Narendra Modi's cabinet.

Apr 21, 2018

Municipal Corporations Elections Jharkhand

The ruling BJP swept all the five municipal corporations for the posts of mayor and deputy mayor, polls for which were held on party lines for the first time in Jharkhand.

India Eyes AK-103 Assault Rifles

As part of its modernisation process, the Indian Army is eyeing the Kalashnikov AK-103 7.62x51 mm assault rifles for its soldiers. The Army needs over 7,68,000 assault rifles for its soldiers.

According to Russian news portal SputnikNews.com, senior Ministry of Defence officers along with a team of Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) officials will be in Moscow later this month to visit Kalashnikov rifle works at Izhevsk to discuss fast-tracking the government to government agreement for licensed production of the upgraded Kalashnikov AK-103 7.62x51mm assault rifles in India.

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