General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - February 2017

Feb 2017

Jul 23, 2020

India and the US Set Up Industry Collaboration Forum

The US and India have set up an industry collaboration forum under the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI). The DTTI is tasked with co-development of military technologies.
The forum will have a standing mechanism for developing and sustaining dialogue between the Indian and US industry on defence technology and industrial cooperation.
US Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Ellen Lord said that it would open many possibilities for the two countries. The forum will provide an opportunity to individual members of the private sector to provide facts, data, expertise, or other relevant information on possible projects to the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) and also to the US Department of Defence (DoD).
The forum aims at facilitating dialogue between government and industry on issues that may relate to availability of critical and sensitive material and foreign direct investment.

New Rajya Sabha Members Take Oath

Rajya Sabha chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu administered the oath of office to 45 of 61 newly elected members at the first such ceremony in the Upper House's chambers during inter-session amid the Covid pandemic. The remaining lawmakers will be administered the oath at a later date.
Eighteen Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members, including Jyotiraditya Scindia, were among those who took oath.
The BJP's strength in the House has gone up from 75 to 85 even though it is still short of a majority in the Rajya Sabha. The Congress has 40 members in the Upper House.
Naidu said that the new members should reflect on their role and responsibility and not fall for the temptation of disrupting the House for short-term gains.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the BJP MPs who were administered the oath to be updated with the latest policy issues and be effective on the floor of the House.

Kakrapar Atomic Power Plant-3 Achieves Criticality

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated nuclear scientists as the Kakrapar atomic power plant-3 achieved criticality, and said that the indigenous reactor is a shining example of the 'Make in India' campaign.
The 700 MW power plant in Gujarat achieved criticality, meaning it reached the normal operating condition of a reactor. It indicates that the plant is now set to generate power.
Kakrapar is part of India's pressurized heavy water reactor (PHWR) portfolio. Of India's 22 commercial nuclear power reactors with an installed capacity of 6,780 megawatts (MW), which are run by state-owned Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL), there are 14 units of 220MW PHWRs each, making it one of the largest fleets of such reactors.

Jul 22, 2020

Union HRD Minister Launches MANODARPAN to Provide Psychosocial Support to Students

The Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' launched MANODARPAN initiative of HRD Ministry virtually in New Delhi. The initiative provides psycho-social support to students, teachers and parents and addresses their issues related to mental health and emotional wellbeing.
It is a part of the 'Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan', to strengthen human capital and increase productivity and initiatives in the education sector.
Components included in MANODARPAN are:
Advisory Guidelines for students, teachers and faculties
Web page on the MHRD website carries advisory, practical tips, videos, FAQs and an online query system.
National Toll-free Helpline: 8448440632 accessible from 8 AM to 8 PM. It is managed by experienced counselors/Psychologists and other mental health professionals.
Handbook on Psychosocial Support: Enriching Life skills & Wellbeing of Students to be published online. The booklet will cover ways to manage emotional and behavioural concerns during the pandemic and beyond.

Jul 21, 2020

Odisha Government Includes Transgender Community under Madhu Babu Pension Yojana

The official notification of The Department of Social security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) informed that, Odisha Government has included the transgender community under Madhu Babu Pension Yojana(MBPY), a social security scheme by amending to Rule 6 of the Madhu Babu Pension Rules 2008.
In addition to transgenders women, those who are fighting divorce cases in courts are also included.
Under this scheme, about 6,000 transgenders will receive Rs. 500, Rs. 700 and Rs. 900 per month as a pension under various categories depending on their age.
To avail the benefit of the scheme the transgenders should possess a certificate issued under Section 6 of the Transgender Persons(Protection of Rights) Act 2019.
MBPY is initiated under SSEPD. It was launched in Odisha in 2008 by merging the two pension schemes: Revised Old Age Pension Rules, 1989 and Disability Pension Rules, 1985.

Ladakh and Gujarat Get New BJP Chiefs

BJP president J. P. Nadda appointed party's young first-term MP from Ladakh Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, the party chief in the key Union Territory and C. R. Patil the chief of the party's Gujarat unit.
The post of the BJP president in Ladakh was lying vacant following the resignation of Chering Dorjay in May from the primary membership of the party. Dorjay, who was appointed the chief of the party's Ladakh unit in March, resigned to protest the failure of the UT Administration to evacuate Ladakhi passengers, patients, pilgrims and students stranded at various places in the country.
Patil, a third-term MP from Navsari, replaced Jitendrabhai Vaghani as the Gujarat party chief. Patil used technology to push development works in his constituency and is someone considered close to PM Modi.

Jul 20, 2020

OP Dhankar BJP's Haryana Unit President

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President J. P. Nadda appointed Om Prakash Dhankar as the head of party Haryana unit. Dhankar's appointment is with immediate effect.
By appointing Dhankar, the BJP has continued with a Jat face, the most dominant caste in the state. The appointment is also seen as an attempt to balance the caste equations in the state, where politics revolves around Jats and non-Jats. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar is also a non-Jat.
Dhankar replaced Subhash Barala.

New Consumer Protection Act 2019 Comes into Force

The newly enacted Consumer Protection Act comes to force from 20th July, replacing more than three decades old Consumer Protection Act, 1986.
The new Consumer Protection Act 2019 seeks to revamp the process of administration and settlement of consumer disputes, with strict penalties, including jail term for adulteration and misleading ads by firms.
The bill, among other things, proposes setting up of a Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) to promote, protect and enforce the rights of consumers as a class. The CCPA would make interventions to prevent consumer detriment arising from unfair trade practices. The agency can also initiate class action, including enforcing recall, refund and return of products.

Jul 19, 2020

Seven Chinese Companies May Face Action in India for Having Links with PLA

Chinese global giants like Huawei, Alibaba and others having a direct or indirect link with the Chinese Army and could soon face action in India. These companies are among 7 Chinese companies which the government sources claim having deep links with the People's Liberation Army (PLA).
The 7 Chinese companies under the scanner are Xindia Steels, Xinxing Cathay international, China electronic technology group, Huawei, Alibaba, Tencent and SAIC motor corporation. As per government sources, these companies are under watch and could face potential action.

Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot Meets Governor Kalraj Mishra

Amid the ongoing political drama in Rajasthan, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday met Governor Kalraj Mishra at Raj Bhavan and handed him a letter confirming that two MLAs of the Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) are backing his government.
Meanwhile, BJP leader and former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje broke her silence on the ongoing political crisis in the state and said that it is unfortunate that the people of Rajasthan have to bear the brunt of the infighting in Congress.
In 200-member Rajasthan Assembly, Congress currently has 107 MLAs, including Sachin Pilot and 18 other MLAs who have been issued notices of disqualification by Rajasthan Assembly Speaker C. P. Joshi.

Central Government Allows Contributions from Any Person or Institution in NDRF

The Centre allowed contributions from any person or institution in the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF)
The Centre has laid out the modalities for receipt of contributions/grants from any person or institution for the purpose of disaster management in the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) as per Section 46(1)(b) of the Disaster Management (DM) Act, 2005.
Contributions/grants can be made by any person or institution in NDRF through physical instruments, RTGS/NEFT/UPI and Bharatkosh portal.
The central government has laid out step by step instructions on how to contribute to NDRF through Bharatkosh portal using net banking, debit cards, credit cards and UPI.

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