General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - May 2017

May 2017

Jul 30, 2023

G-20 Conference on Green & Sustainable Growth Agenda for Global Economy

NITI Aayog, the Government of India's institution for policy planning together with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Ottawa, and the Global Development Network (GDN), New Delhi, convened a two-day international policy workshop of around 40 leading thinkers to examine prospects and challenges for green and sustainable growth globally.
The first day of the workshop focused on themes related to energy, climate and growth; technology, policy and jobs; the growth implications of a fractured trading system and reshaping global finance for sustainable growth. The second day addressed themes related to multilateralism as well as adjustment, resilience and inclusion in an uncertain world. Key takeaways from the workshop will be subsequently pursued by NITI Aayog and its partners in multiple fora.

Jul 29, 2023

ED Chief Sanjay Kumar Mishra to Remain in Office till September 15

The Supreme Court allowed Sanjay Kumar Mishra to continue as the director of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) till September 15. The central government had sought an extension of his tenure till October 15, saying it would be in the nation's interest as Mishra's absence in the ongoing Financial Action Task Force (FATF) review would have an adverse effect.
The top court, while extending Mishra's tenure, said that the Centre's application was only considered because it was in the nation's interest.
Supreme Court of India also noted that there would not be any further extension and that Sanjay Kumar Mishra shall cease to occupy the post from midnight of 15-16 September.

PM Inaugurates Gujarat's First Greenfield Airport

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the newly constructed Rajkot International Airport in Gujarat. It is the first greenfield airport in the state and has been built at a cost of Rs. 1,405 crore.
The facility, located in Hirasar village, around 30 km from Rajkot, is spread over an area of 1,025.50 hectares (2,534 acres), out of which the Airports Authority of India has constructed the airport in an area of 1,500 acres.

Jul 28, 2023

Ministry of Earth Sciences celebrates its 17th Foundation Day in New Delhi

The Ministry of Earth Sciences celebrated its 17th Foundation Day at its Prithvi Bhavan headquarters in New Delhi. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju launched several citizen-centric initiatives to mark this occasion. He lauded the Ministry's efforts and highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi envisions the country becoming a developed nation by 2047. He added that in order to fulfill this vision, every citizen and institution will have to contribute substantially in a focused and targeted manner.
Earth Sciences Ministry is mandated to provide services for weather and climate, ocean and coastal state, hydrology, seismology, and natural hazards.

Jul 27, 2023

PM Modi Opens International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre, Names it Bharat Mandapam

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC) complex and unveiled its new name 'Bharat Mandapam'.
The revamped IECC complex was developed as a national project at a cost of about Rs. 2,700 crore and has a campus area of approximately 123 acres.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by around 3,000 guests including Cabinet ministers, captains of industry, film personalities and others.
The IECC complex is India's largest MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) destination. In terms of the covered space available for events, the complex finds its place among the top exhibition and convention complexes in the world.

Centre Moves SC Seeking Extension of Tenure for ED Chief S. K. Mishra

The Centre moved the Supreme Court to extend the tenure of Enforcement Directorate (ED) chief Sanjay Kumar Mishra, reported Bar and Bench.
Earlier this month (in July), a bench of Justices B. R. Gavai, Vikram Nath, and Sanjay Karol ordered Mishra to resign on July 31 - four months before his third extension expires in November. The court ruled that the two extensions granted to him in November 2021 and November 2022 were illegal.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta urged a bench led by Gavai to urgently hear a petition for a revision of the judgement. The court agreed to hear the case.
Mishra was first appointed as the ED's director for a two-year term on November 19, 2018. The Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central government extended his tenure for a year in 2020.

National Conference on 'Moving Mental Health Beyond Institutions'

Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar inaugurated a national conference on 'Moving Mental Health Beyond Institutions', in New Delhi. Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission Justice Arun Mishra was also present on the occasion. The objective of the conference is to discuss the challenges in the implementation of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, and deliberate on the way forward on the resolution of mental health issues.
Pawar said that mental health is an integral part of our health as it affects all aspects of our lives. Underlining the importance of mental health, she stated that it is critically important to remove the stigma that prevents individuals from seeking the help that they need. She also said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, mental health has been given a lot of importance which is demonstrated by the passing of the landmark Mental Healthcare Act 2017.
The Commission has also worked on a book, 'Mental Health- Concern for All: In Context of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017' and the same was released on this occasion. The book tries to incorporate significant aspects of mental health, such as the mental health of children, women, geriatric, LGBTQIA+, prison inmates; mental health and homelessness; disaster and mental health, among others. It also includes mental health policies and laws in India to make it serve the purpose of a reference book.

Jul 26, 2023

Jammu to Pioneer India's First Cannabis Medicine Project

Union Minister Jitendra Singh said that Jammu is going to pioneer India's first cannabis medicine project, stressing that the project undertaken by the CSIR-IIIM will produce export quality medicines meant for different kinds of neuropathies and diabetic pains.
The 'Cannabis Research Project' of CSIR-IIIM Jammu is a first-of-its-kind in the country in public-private partnership with a Canadian firm, which has a great potential to put substance of abuse for the good of mankind especially for patients suffering from neuropathies, cancer and epilepsy.
This project of CSIR-IIIM is also important from the perspective of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India) as after getting all the approvals, it will be able to produce export quality drugs meant for different kinds of neuropathies and diabetic pains.

Third and Final G-20 Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group Meeting Concludes in Chennai

The G20 Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group, under the Indian presidency, held its third and final meeting in Chennai from July 24 to 26.
This was the first time a dedicated working group on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) was constituted, signifying India's commitment to addressing global challenges posed by disasters and climate emergencies.
This meeting brought together G20 countries and their leadership, international organisations and knowledge partners to engage in drafting the communique encapsulating shared commitments and key recommendations regarding the working group's priority areas. These areas included the Global Coverage of Early Warning Systems, Disaster and Climate Resilient Infrastructure, Financing Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, Disaster Response System, and the Ecosystem-based Approach to DRR.
The communique, endorsed by all, will serve as a seminal guiding document for G20 nations, underscoring the critical significance of disaster risk reduction. It will outline concrete actions to be undertaken at national and international levels.

Phangnon Konyak Becomes First Nagaland Woman MP to Preside over Rajya Sabha

S. Phangnon Konyak became the first woman member from Nagaland to preside over Rajya Sabha. The BJP leader broke another record last week when she became the first ever woman member of Rajya Sabha (RS) to be appointed to the panel of vice-chairpersons.
She also holds the title of being the first woman to be elected to RS from Nagaland and only the second woman from the northeastern state to be elected to either house of the Parliament or the state assembly.

India and Argentina Agree for Bilateral Exchange of Young Researchers and Start-ups in Biotechnol...

India and Argentina agreed to a bilateral exchange of young researchers and start-ups, particularly in the field of biotechnology and agriculture. Union Minister for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh said this in New Delhi after meeting a high-level delegation led by the Governor of Santa Fe province of Argentina, Omar Angel Perotti. Singh said that the two countries also decided to hold comprehensive talks between delegations comprising academia, research, and development institutes, and industry in the field of science and technology and biotechnology.
The Indian delegation evinced interest in collaborating in geospatial technology, quantum computation, and bio-enzymes. It was pointed out that India has the world's third largest start-up ecosystem and there is huge potential for joint studies and collaboration at various levels such as institutional, universities, and multilateral fora.
India is the 4th largest trading partner of Argentina, with bilateral trade touching a historic peak of 6.4 billion US dollar in the year 2022, recording a growth rate of 12 per cent over 2021.

Congress Move No-confidence Motion against Government in Lok Sabha

The Congress moves a motion of no-confidence against the government in Lok Sabha on the issue of governance failures in the state (Manipur).
Top party sources confirmed that the decision to give the notice to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla was taken, and the entire opposition was on board.
The last motion of no-confidence against the Narendra Modi government was moved by the TDP in July 2018 on alleged discrimination against Andhra Pradesh.
The government had survived the motion.
Prime Minister Modi in February 2019 while speaking in Lok Sabha had predicted that the opposition would bring a no-confidence motion against him in 2023.
The opposition felt a no-confidence motion is its last resort to get PM Modi to speak in the House on Manipur and send a message of solidarity with the north-eastern state.

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