General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - August 2017

Aug 2017

Mar 08, 2025

Sahitya Akademi Organises "Festival of Letters 2025"

Sahitya Akademi, India's premier literary institution working under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, is organising its annual Festival of Letters at Rabindra Bhavan in New Delhi from March 7 to 12, 2025. Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Government of India, inaugurated the festival.
This is Asia's Largest Literature Festival with about 700 writers from different parts of the country representing more than 50 languages participating in the festival that spans over 100 sessions. The theme of the festival is 'Indian Literary Traditions'.

Mar 07, 2025

Mallikarjun Kharge Creates AICC Department to Oversee Party's Assets in Country

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge constituted a new All India Congress Committee (AICC) department to oversee the party's assets and properties across the country.
Former party MP Vijay Inder Singla was made AICC in-charge of the department with immediate effect.
Singla, a former Punjab Minister, is also the joint treasurer of AICC.

India Launches Multi-Nation Alliance for Collaboration on Sustainable Development

India launched the Cities Coalition for Circularity (C-3), marking a significant step towards sustainable urban development. This multi-nation alliance aims to foster city-to-city collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and private sector partnerships for sustainable solutions in waste management and resource efficiency.
This forum would provide a critical platform for policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and development partners to discuss and implement sustainable solutions for waste management and resource efficiency as economies in the Asia-Pacific region.

Mar 06, 2025

Bhupender Yadav Inaugurates World Sustainable Development Summit 2025

Union Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, inaugurated the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) 2025 in New Delhi. Addressing the summit, Yadav highlighted India's growing role in driving climate action, with a special focus on the Global South's contributions to shaping the global climate agenda.
The summit themed 'Partnerships for Accelerating Sustainable Development and Climate Solutions' was Organised by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). The event was attended by distinguished dignitaries, including Prime Minister of Guyana, Brigadier Mark Phillip, and Brazil's Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Marina Silva, were present at the event.

President of India Inaugurates Vividhta ka Amrit Mahotsav

The President of India, Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the second edition of 'Vividhta ka Amrit Mahotsav' at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The second edition of this celebration focuses on the Southern states. This Mahotsav presents before visitors the rich heritage and vibrant cultures of Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Lakshadweep and Puducherry.
The Mahotsav is open to the general public from March 6 to 9, 2025.

India, Nepal Ink Pact for Water, Sanitation Cooperation

India and Nepal signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation in the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector, including waste management. The agreement aims to improve access to clean drinking water and sanitation in both countries.
The signing ceremony took place at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in New Delhi, with Union Minister of Jal Shakti C. R. Patil and Nepal's Minister of Water Supply Pradeep Yadav in attendance.
The MoU outlines collaboration in key areas, including training Nepali personnel in water resource management, sharing technological expertise, and joint monitoring of groundwater resources. Efforts will focus on quality improvement, artificial recharge, and rainwater harvesting.

Mar 05, 2025

Ministry of Panchayati Raj Launches 'Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyan'

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj launched the 'Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyan' Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi during a National Workshop. The Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyan employs an initiative to strengthen Women Elected Representatives (WERs) of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) through leadership development and decision-making improvements and active governance participation. Territorial administrators Smt. Annpurna Devi together with Union Ministers Rajiv Ranjan Singh led more than 1,200 women representatives during the workshop at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. The event featured panel presentations alongside training module launch activities and the introduction of material explaining violence laws targeting females.
Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyan represents a significant milestone in.getLocal government empowerment through improved women leader development. The initiative demonstrates India's dedication to rural development and gender equality because it brings together 1,200 women leaders through discussions and policy launches. Through its inclusive governance approach the initiative seeks to develop women's decision-making power to create socially neutral and gender-aware Panchayats.

Ajay Seth Takes Additional Charge as Revenue Secretary

Ajay Seth, the Economic Affairs Secretary, was assigned the additional charge of Secretary, Department of Revenue. This decision was announced by the Personnel Ministry. The appointment was necessitated following the transition of Tuhin Kanta Pandey, the former Revenue Secretary, to his new role as the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
Ajay Seth is a senior bureaucrat known for his expertise in economic and financial policy-making. As the Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs, he has played a crucial role in shaping India's macroeconomic policies, fiscal strategies, and financial sector regulations. His appointment as the interim Revenue Secretary further highlights the government's confidence in his capabilities to handle crucial economic portfolios simultaneously.

India's First World Peace Centre in Gurugram

India took a significant step towards global peace and harmony with the inauguration of the country's first World Peace Centre in Gurugram, Haryana. The centre, established by Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti under the guidance of Jain Acharya Lokesh, aims to promote non-violence, spiritual awareness, human values, and universal brotherhood.
The grand inauguration ceremony witnessed the presence of former President Ram Nath Kovind, Governor of Punjab Gulab Chand Kataria, Governor of Bihar Arif Mohammad Khan, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, and several eminent spiritual leaders, including Shri Shri Ravi Shankar, Morari Bapu, and Govinddev Giri.

PM Chairs the 7th Meeting of National Board for Wildlife

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the 7th meeting of the National Board for Wildlife at Gir National Park in Gujarat. The discussions focused on expanding protected areas, strengthening species-specific programs, and addressing human-wildlife conflict.
The meeting assessed the progress of flagship conservation projects, including Project Tiger, Project Elephant, and Project Snow Leopard. Conservation efforts for dolphins and Asiatic lions, along with the establishment of the International Big Cats Alliance, were also discussed.

Mar 04, 2025

President of India Inaugurates Visitor's Conference 2024-25

The President of India, Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the two-day Visitor's Conference 2024-25 at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The President of India is the Visitor of 184 Central Institutes of Higher Education.
During the session, the President presented the eighth Visitor's Awards in the categories of Innovation, Research, and Technology Development.
The Visitor's Award for Innovation was given to Prof. Saripella Srikrishna, Banaras Hindu University, for developing Novel Indigenous Innovation in Quantum Technology to boost the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
The Visitor's Award for Research in the field of Physical Sciences was conferred upon Prof. Ashwini Kumar Nangia, University of Hyderabad, for his seminal research in the discovery and development of high bioavailability drugs and pharmaceuticals with enhanced efficacy at affordable cost.
The Visitor's Award for Research in Biological Sciences was jointly presented to Prof. Rina Chakrabarti, University of Delhi and Prof. Raj Kumar, Central University of Punjab. Prof. Chakrabarti has been conferred the Award for her research contributions to Sustainable Freshwater Aquaculture while Prof. Raj Kumar has been presented the Award for his research contributions to exploring various cancer hallmarks and the development of synthetic anticancer lead molecules.
The Visitor's Award for Technology Development was presented to Dr. Venkateswarlu Chintala, Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, for his research contributions to the petrol and diesel production at commercial scale from landfill municipal mixed plastic waste.

Sarbananda Sonowal Unveils 'One Nation-One Port' Initiative

In a step towards enhancing India's maritime infrastructure, the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW) introduced a series of transformative initiatives aimed at modernising the sector, strengthening global trade, and promoting sustainability. Among the key announcements is the launch of 'One Nation: One Port Process' (ONOP), a pioneering effort designed to standardise and streamline port operations across the country.
The ONOP initiative was launched with the objective of eliminating inconsistencies in documentation and processes across India's major ports. Standardising port operations is crucial for reducing inefficiencies, cutting costs, and eliminating operational delays. By implementing a uniform port process, India aims to enhance the ease of doing business and facilitate seamless trade activities.
Alongside ONOP, Sarbananda Sonowal also launched Sagar Ankalan, which includes the Logistics Port Performance Index (LPPI) for 2023-24. This index serves as a benchmarking tool to assess and improve port efficiency, competitiveness, and logistics performance in India's maritime sector.
The government also announced the launch of the Bharat Global Ports Consortium. This initiative aims at fostering international collaborations and enhancing bilateral trade relations.

NITI Aayog Launches Report On "From Borrowers to Builders: Women's Role in India's Financial Grow...

NITI Aayog launched the report titled 'From Borrowers to Builders: Women's Role in India's Financial Growth Story.' The report launched by CEO NITI Aayog, B.V.R. Subrahmanyam reveals that more women in India are seeking credit and actively monitoring their credit scores. As of December 2024, 27 million women were monitoring their credit, marking a 42% increase from the previous year, signaling growing financial awareness. The report was published by TransUnion CIBIL, Women Entrepreneurship Platform's (WEP) of NITI Aayog and MicroSave Consulting (MSC).
According to the report, women, from working in rural Self Help Groups (SHGs) to high-tech start-ups in bustling urban centres, are making significant strides as creators, innovators, and leaders. This means the female workforce, present in a broad spectrum of socio-economic levels, have empowered themselves in various ways despite historical barriers and systemic challenges. Their financial participation is becoming an integral part of India's economic story.

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