General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - May 2017

May 2017

Jul 25, 2023

Fifth Helicopter & Small Aircraft Summit at Khajuraho, MP

The 5th Helicopter & Small Aircraft Summit was held at Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh. The event was jointly organised by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Government of Madhya Pradesh, Pawan Hans Ltd., and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
The Summit's theme, 'Reaching the Last Mile: Regional Connectivity through Helicopters & Small Aircraft', underscored its mission to explore ways to enhance India's transportation ecosystem by leveraging the potential of helicopters and small aircraft. The Summit was inaugurated by Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Chief Minister, Government of Madhya Pradesh, and Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Union Minister of Civil Aviation & Steel.
One of the primary objectives of the Summit was to provide a common platform for industry stakeholders and policymakers to discuss the growth story of the Indian Helicopter and Small Aircraft industry. Helicopters and small aircrafts have emerged as critical players in improving accessibility, particularly in remote and hilly terrains. By facilitating smoother transportation, these aircrafts can connect regions that were previously inaccessible and contribute to the nation's overall development.

Naveen Patnaik Becomes 2nd Longest-Serving CM in Indian History

Odisha's Naveen Patnaik became the second longest-serving Chief Minister in the country, replacing West Bengal's Jyoti Basu.
Former Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling still holds the record of being the longest-serving Chief Minister in the country. He was the Chief Minister of the Himalayan state from December 12, 1994 till May 27, 2019 -- more than 24 years.
Patnaik, the five-time chief minister of Odisha, took charge on March 5, 2000, and holds the post for 23 years and 138 days.
Basu served as the Chief Minister of West Bengal from June 21, 1977 to November 5, 2000, which was 23 years and 137 days.

Jul 24, 2023

Admiral Lisa Franchetti Becomes First Woman to Lead US Navy

President Joe Biden chose Admiral Lisa Franchetti as the Navy's highest-ranking officer. If confirmed, she will make history as the first woman to hold this position in the Navy and the first woman to be part of the joint chiefs of staff.
Admiral Lisa Franchetti is currently the Vice Chief of Naval Operations. She has a background as a surface warfare officer with extensive experience in both operational and policy roles. Previously, she held positions as the Director for Strategy, Plans, and Policy for the Joint Chiefs of Staff and as the commander of the U.S. Sixth Fleet. Additionally, she served as commander of U.S. Naval Forces Korea, commander of Carrier Strike Group 9, and commander of Carrier Strike Group 15.

Nirmala Sitharaman Inaugurates GST Bhawan at Agartala

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated the 'GST Bhawan' in Agartala, Tripura's capital. The newly established office complex will serve as the headquarters for CGST, CX, and Customs for the Agartala, Guwahati Zone under CBIC. Situated at Mantri Bari Road, Agartala, the GST Bhawan is designed to offer quick and easy accessibility to all taxpayers in the region, with its proximity to the newly created Agartala Airport complex.
The establishment of the GST Bhawan marks a transformative step in tax administration in Agartala. Prior to its construction, the CGST Agartala Commissionerate operated from rented buildings.
Now, with a dedicated and state-of-the-art infrastructure, the office can efficiently serve taxpayers, providing them with improved services and convenience.

Congress Government in Chhattisgarh Survives No-trust Motion

The Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government in Chhattisgarh survived a no-trust motion moved by the BJP on the last day of the Monsoon Session of the state assembly.
The no-confidence motion was defeated by voice vote in the state assembly.
While the Congress has 71 members in the 90-member assembly, the BJP has 13 MLAs in the House.

Global Food Regulators Summit 2023 Paves Way for Robust Food Safety

The first-ever Global Food Regulators Summit (GFRS) 2023 in the national capital (New Delhi) paved the way for a more robust food safety and regulatory ecosystem. This groundbreaking initiative garnered global acclaim for its potential to transform and strengthen the world's food safety systems. The discussion and outcomes of the sessions laid a strong foundation for collective action in tackling regulatory challenges and ensuring the well-being of consumers worldwide.
The first technical session of the summit focused on food regulatory systems in different countries, key strategies adopted by food regulators to mitigate various risks associated with foods, challenges faced by the regulators globally and the exchange of perspectives on strengthening food safety systems across the food value chain through a cohesive approach.

Tribal Belt in Gujarat Observe Bandh

A bandh was observed in the tribal belt of Gujarat in protest against the ethnic violence and atrocities on women in Manipur.
The opposition Congress supported the bandh in protest against the ruling BJP's failure to control the situation in the north-eastern state.
Several tribal outfits, including Adivasi Ekta Manch, came together for the shutdown in the tribal-dominated districts of Gujarat.

Jul 23, 2023

B. R. Sharma, Ex J&K Chief Secretary, Takes Oath as State Election Commissioner

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief secretary B. R. Sharma took oath as the State Election Commissioner of the Union Territory. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha administered the oath of office to B. R. Sharma at the Raj Bhavan in Srinagar.
He succeeded K. K. Sharma.
A 1984-batch IAS officer hailing from Kathua district of the Jammu region, B R Sharma has served as the chief secretary of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir from 2015 to 2017.
He has also served as Additional Secretary in the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), as well as the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Jammu and Kashmir.

Haryana Govt. Appoints Nodal Officials to Facilitate the MoR

The Haryana Government appointed nodal officials to facilitate the Ministry of Railways to ensure the timely implementation of PM Gati Shakti - National Master Plan for establishing goods sheds in every district of Haryana. A decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal at Chandigarh today. Additional Deputy Commissioners and Executive Engineers of PWD (Building and Roads) will coordinate and supervise the smooth functioning of goods sheds within their respective districts. This strategic move is expected to significantly boost the State's economy, enhancing trade and logistics across the region.

Jagdeep Dhankhar Reconstitutes Rajya Sabha Panel of Vice-chairpersons

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar reconstituted the panel of vice-chairpersons of Parliament's Upper House with half of them being women.
Among the Rajya Sabha members who are the new vice-chairpersons are P. T. Usha, S. Phangnon Konyak, Fauzia Khan, Sulata Deo, V. Vijaysai Reddy, Ghanshyam Tiwari, L. Hanumanthaiah and Sukhendu Sekhar Ray.
As per Rajya Sabha rules, the chairman shall, from time to time, nominate from amongst the members of the Council a panel of not more than six vice-chairmen, one of whom may preside over the Council in the absence of the chairman and the deputy chairman when so requested by the chairman, or in his absence, by the deputy chairman.
This is the first time in the history of the Upper House that equal representation has been given to women members in the panel of vice-chairpersons.

Jul 22, 2023

G20 Meeting in Indore `Zero Waste' Event

The three-day meeting of the G20 Employment Working Group which concluded in Indore city of Madhya Pradesh on July 21 was a `zero waste' event, with plastic bottles not allowed and writing pads of reusable paper were used.
Indore, notably, has been ranked as India's cleanest city in the national cleanliness surveys conducted by the Union government for the last six years.
The G20 meeting was aimed at finding solutions to the current global challenges in the areas of labour, employment and social security to workers.
As many as 165 guests, including representatives from 20 nations and nine invited countries of G20 and top officials of global organisations of labour, employment and social security participated in different sessions.

G20 Energy Transitions Working Group Meet Concludes in Goa

The 4^th and last Energy Transitions Working Group Meeting, held under India's G20 presidency, concluded in Goa. The two-day meeting witnessed proactive engagement from over 115 delegates representing G20 member countries and nine invitee countries. The discussions centered around critical challenges related to climate change, sustainability, energy security, equitable energy access and financing, in the context of global energy transitions. The meeting emphasized the urgent need for feasible, collaborative, and accountable policy actions to accelerate global energy transitions while ensuring universal energy access and just, affordable, and inclusive energy transitions in line with achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Jul 21, 2023

Regional Office of Universal Postal Union Inaugurated in New Delhi

Minister of State for Communication Devusinh Chauhan and Director General, Universal Postal Union (DG UPU) Masahiko Metoki inaugurated the Regional Office of Universal Postal Union (UPU). The Regional Office will undertake UPU's technical assistance activities in South Asia region by entering into a host country agreement by Department of Posts, India.
The Regional Office of UPU in India will serve as a vital platform for exchanging ideas, experiences and expertise, thereby accelerating the modernisation and transformation of the postal sector. It will act as a hub for promoting collaboration among UPU member countries in the Asia Pacific region, encouraging innovation and facilitating knowledge sharing to enhance postal services.
Establishment of the UPU Regional Office in India is a significant step towards India's commitment for South-South cooperation and its active role in global postal development. It will also create opportunities for joint initiatives and capacity building programmes that will enhance the quality of postal services, cross-border e-commerce and contribute to economic development and social well-being.

Union Minister Parshottam Rupala Inaugurates International Symposium

Under the aegis of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and the Agriculture Working Group (AWG) of G20, Shri Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying inaugurated an International Symposium on Sustainable Livestock Transformation at NDDB, Anand.
The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Govt of India; National Dairy Development Board (NDDB); Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations jointly organised the 2-day Symposium under the Agriculture Working Group (AWG) of G20.
The 2-day long symposium was aimed to foster insightful discussions and deliberations on the transformation to more efficient and sustainable agri-food systems, with a particular focus on the livestock sector. Distinguished experts, policymakers, and stakeholders from the G20 who participated in the event exchanged knowledge, shared experiences, and explored innovative approaches to ensure the sustainability of the livestock sector.
The symposium was highlighted as a milestone event, driving transformative change in the livestock sector and fostering collaborations for a sustainable future.

Opposition Bloc 'INDIA' Gets its Tagline 'Jeetega Bharat'

After the opposition parties announced 'INDIA' as the name for their alliance, they finalised 'Jeetega Bharat' as the 26-member bloc's tagline, setting the tone for their 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign.
The Hindi tagline means 'India will win' and is likely to be replicated in several regional languages.
During the meeting in Bengaluru, several leaders felt that the word 'Bharat' should feature in the name of the alliance. So, it was decided that it would feature in the tagline.

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