General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - May 2017

May 2017

Aug 09, 2023

Centre to look into Havana Syndrome in India

The central government has agreed to investigate the possibility of the presence of the Havana Syndrome in India. The government made a submission to this effect last week in the Karnataka High Court, which was hearing a plea seeking an investigation into the mysterious illness in the country.
The petition was filed by A Amarnath Chagu, a resident of Bengaluru, who sought an inquiry into the syndrome in India and measures to prevent its transmission within the country. The Centre's counsel has agreed to examine the matter in a time-bound manner, with the investigation to be completed within three months.
Havana Syndrome is a term used to describe a set of mental health symptoms experienced by US intelligence and embassy officials in various countries. The symptoms include hearing sounds without any external noise, nausea, vertigo, headaches, memory loss and balance issues.
The syndrome first came to light in 2016 when US officials stationed at the country's embassy in Havana, Cuba, began reporting these symptoms. The exact cause of the syndrome remains unknown, but it has been linked to high-frequency microwave transmissions.

CBI Academy joins Interpol Global Academy Network

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Academy on Tuesday joined the Interpol Global Academy Network at a virtual event. The network supports academic collaboration among law enforcement training institutions across the world.
The event was organised by the agency and the Singapore-based Interpol Global Complex for Innovation. The Letter of Acceptance was signed by Mohit Gupta, Deputy Inspector-General (Training), CBI Academy, and his counterpart at Interpol, Glenn Martindale, Director (capacity building & training directorate).
The signing ceremony was held subsequent to the negotiations with Interpol in consultation with the Ministries of Home and External Affairs and the Department of Personnel and Training.
The CBI Academy had become the 10th member of Interpol Global Academy Network. According to the agency, over the years, it has emerged as a major police institution of the country and South Asia.

Aug 08, 2023

India Hands over INR 450 Million to Sri Lanka to Fund its Digital Identity Project

India handed over INR 450 million in advance to Sri Lanka to fund its unique digital identity project, the most crucial step in the island nation's digitalisation programme being implemented through the Indian grant assistance.
The project aims to collect biographic and biometric information, including facial, iris, and fingerprint data, which will be stored in a centralised system to issue identification cards as per the standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
The implementation of the project would lead to more effective and efficient delivery of government services, poverty reduction and welfare programs; financial inclusion through better access to banking and other products/services.
The project commenced with the signing of an MoU between Sri Lanka and India in March 2022 and an Indo-Sri Lanka Joint Project Monitoring Committee (JPMC) for the Sri Lanka Unique Digital Identity Project (SL-UDI) was introduced.

Rajasthan Cabinet Approves 19 New Districts, 3 Divisions

The Rajasthan Cabinet approved the proposal of a high-level committee to form 19 new districts and three new divisions in the state.
Rajasthan will now have a total of 50 districts, up from 33.
Jaipur district was divided into Jaipur and Jaipur Rural, and Jodhpur district into Jodhpur and Jodhpur Rural. The other new districts are Apoongarh, Balotra, Beawar, Deeg, Didwana-Kuchaman, Dudu, Gangapur City, Kekri, Kotputli-Behror, Khairthal-Tijara, Neem ka Thana, Phalodi, Slumber, Sanchore and Shahpura.
The number of divisions in the state is now 10. The new divisions are Banswara, Pali and Sikar.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had announced in the assembly the formation of 19 new districts and three divisions in March.

SC Forms All-women Judicial Panel for Humanitarian Aspects in Manipur

The Supreme Court (SC) formed an all-women judicial panel to address the aftermath of the Manipur violence. Led by former Jammu & Kashmir High Court Chief Justice Gita Mittal, the committee includes Justices (retd) Shalini P Joshi and Asha Menon. This move aims to oversee various aspects beyond the investigation, such as relief, rehabilitation, and compensation for those affected by the violence.
Chief Justice of India D. Y. Chandrachud, who heads the bench, emphasised that the committee's role extends beyond investigation, encompassing vital aspects of recovery and rebuilding. It has been constituted to look into aspects other than investigation including rehabilitation, compensation. The primary goal behind this decision is to restore public confidence, reinforce faith in the rule of law, and rebuild trust within the affected community.
To ensure a comprehensive approach, the SC has also appointed former IPS officer Datta Padsalgikar to supervise the investigation and report back to the court.

Supreme Court Appoints former Delhi High Court Judge Justice Jayant Nath as Temporary DERC Chairp...

The Supreme Court appointed Justice Jayant Nath, a former Delhi High Court judge, as the temporary head of the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC).
The order was passed by a bench headed by Chief Justice D. Y. Chandrachud, which was told by senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for the Delhi Government, that the apex court could pick anyone for the post.
On July 20, the Supreme Court stated it will appoint a DERC chairperson on an interim hoc basis awaiting a verdict on the Delhi government's petition challenging the lieutenant governor's jurisdiction to make such an appointment.

Aug 07, 2023

PM Modi lays Foundation Stone for Redevelopment of 508 Amrit Bharat Stations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the redevelopment of 508 railway stations across the country virtually, on August 6. The redeveloped would cost more than ₹24,470 crores.
The chosen 508 stations are spread across 27 states and union territories, including 55 each in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, 49 in Bihar, 44 in Maharashtra, 37 in West Bengal, 34 in Madhya Pradesh, 32 in Assam, 25 in Odisha, 22 in Punjab, 21 each in Gujarat and Telangana, 20 in Jharkhand, 18 each in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, 15 in Haryana, and 13 in Karnataka among others.
Mr. Modi informed that these stations were part of the plan - Amrit Bharat Stations scheme in which almost 1300 prime railway stations in the country will be redeveloped.
PM Modi mentioned that 55 Amrit Stations will be developed at the cost of ₹4,000 crores in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, 34 stations in Madhya Pradesh at the cost of ₹1,000 crores, 44 stations in Maharashtra at ₹1,500 crores, and prime railway stations in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala among others will be redeveloped.
Master Plans were being prepared for the development of these stations as 'City Centres', with proper integration of both sides of the city. This integrated approach is driven by the holistic vision of the overall urban development of the city, centred around the railway station. These stations will have better seating on platforms, upgraded waiting rooms and free Wi-Fi amongst other things.

National Handloom Day

National Handloom Day is observed on 7th August every year to honor and celebrate the handloom weavers in the country.
This day highlights the rich cultural heritage and craftsmanship of traditional handloom textiles.
The celebration aims to promote and support the handloom industry, which plays a crucial role in preserving the country's cultural diversity and providing livelihoods to numerous artisans.
On this day, various events and programs are organized to raise awareness about the importance of supporting handloom products and recognizing the skills of the weavers who contribute significantly to India's textile heritage.

Aug 06, 2023

Steel Minister Unveils New Logo of NMDC

In a special event in New Delhi, Jyotiraditya Scidia, the Union Minister of Steel and Civil Aviation, unveiled the new logo of National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC). The launch of new logo is a big step for NMDC, showing its commitment to responsible mining and global standards.
The new logo is a perfect blend of modern style and meaningful symbolism. This new logo represents more than just a visual change, it represents the essence of NMDC's role as a leader in India's sustainable path. Embracing the elements of nature, NMDC now stands committed to creating a world in a responsible and harmonious manner.
The new logo unveiled by Union Minister of Steel and Civil Aviation, signifies the company's future scale and strength after achieving a record production of 40 million tonnes for two consecutive fiscals. The new logo signifies the NMDC's journey of transformation and advancement.
The National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) is a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Steel, established in 1958 as a fully government-owned company. It's headquarter is in Hyderabad, Telangana.

Aug 05, 2023

Indian FM Jaishankar to Visit Nepal for 7th Joint Commission Meeting

Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will visit Nepal to hold a ministerial-level Joint Commission meeting to review the entire gamut of bilateral relations and implement constructive measures for the future.
This will be the seventh meeting of the India-Nepal Joint Commission, it is predominantly a bilateral mechanism at the level of the Foreign Ministers with a mandate of reviewing the entire spectrum of Nepal-India bilateral relations.
Both countries are expected to discuss various facades of cooperation in areas ranging from connectivity, economy and trade, energy cooperation, and water resources.
The sixth meeting of the Joint Commission, co-chaired by Jaishankar and then Nepalese Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, was held in January 2021, in New Delhi.

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