General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - August 2017

Aug 2017

Feb 21, 2025

Shivraj Singh Chouhan Inaugurates 77th Session of Executive Committee of the AARDO

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated the 77th Session of the Executive Committee (EC-77) of the African-Asian Rural Development Organisation (AARDO) in New Delhi. The two-day event was organised at AARDO's headquarters with the support of the Government of India. The session brought together senior officials, including Secretaries and Permanent Secretaries from AARDO member countries across Asia and Africa, and deliberated on crucial aspects of rural and agricultural development.
Welcoming international delegates with the Indian ethos of 'Atithi Devo Bhava,' Minister Chouhan highlighted the critical role of rural development in shaping the future of both Asia and Africa. He stressed that improving the living standards of rural populations is crucial for national progress, given that nearly 70% of India's population resides in rural areas. Acknowledging AARDO's collaborative efforts, he detailed India's initiatives to address unemployment and poverty through various government schemes.

V. Anantha Nageswaran's Term as Chief Economic Advisor Extended to March 2027

The Indian government extended the tenure of V. Anantha Nageswaran as Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) until March 2027, marking a significant development in the nation's economic leadership. The extension was confirmed by the Ministry of Finance with approval from the Union Cabinet's appointments committee led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Nageswaran has been instrumental in advising the government on economic policies and drafting the annual Economic Survey, which precedes the Union Budget. His extended term comes amid concerns about the country's economic slowdown, with the Economic Survey projecting a GDP growth of 6.3% to 6.8% for the next fiscal year (FY26).

Rekha Gupta Keeps Finance, Water with Parvesh Verma

The portfolis of the ministers of the New Delhi government were announced after a cabinet meeting. The ministries were divided between the Chief Minister and her six cabinet colleagues and it is Rekha Gupta, along with Parvesh Verma, who are doing the heavy lifting. The key portfolio of water went to Mr. Verma, the son of former Chief Minister Saheb Singh Verma. He has also got the Irrigation and Flood Control Department, which is tasked with the cleanup of the Yamuna River, and Kapil Mishra got the law department.
Ms Gupta will be handling at least 10 portfolios -- and any others that are yet to be distributed.
The heaviest one in her basket is finance. While earlier there were expectations that she would be handling home, that department went Ashish Sood, who will be handling seven departments.

Feb 20, 2025

New Uttarakhand Law Restricts Outsiders from Buying Land in 11 Districts

The Uttarakhand Cabinet approved a new draft law banning people from outside the state from buying agricultural and horticultural land in 11 of the state's 13 districts. The new draft law will be tabled in the ongoing Budget Session of the Assembly.
Under the new draft law, people from outside the state — except for Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar — will not be allowed to purchase horticultural and agricultural land, and district magistrates will no longer have the authority to approve land purchases.
This is a departure from the current rule, which states that non-residents can purchase up to 250 sq. m of land without permission outside municipal limits, while there is no limit for permanent residents.

Rekha Gupta Delhi's New Chief Minister

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Shalimar Bagh MLA Rekha Gupta was appointed as the new Chief Minister of Delhi, marking the BJP's return to power after 27 years. The party secured a clear majority with 44 out of 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly elections held in February 2025.
Gupta became Delhi's fourth woman CM.
Gupta joined the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the students' organisation affiliated to the RSS, starting her political journey at Daulat Ram College in 1993. She served as the general general secretary of the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) from 1995 to 1996 and was its president from 1996 to 1997. She holds a degree in commerce and a Master's degree in management and arts from the University of Delhi.
In 2002, Gupta joined the BJP and went on to become the secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha's Delhi unit.

DoT and ITU Partner to Revolutionise Infrastructure with AI Digital Twins

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) took a significant step in the world of infrastructure planning with the announcement of their partnership. They have signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to explore the transformative potential of AI-driven digital twin technologies. This collaboration aims to bring cutting-edge advancements like 5G, IoT, AI, and AR/VR to the forefront, creating virtual models of physical assets. These virtual replicas will allow for real-time monitoring and simulations, enabling adaptive outcomes that can reshape the future of urban and infrastructure planning.
Digital twin technologies represent virtual models that mirror physical assets, systems, or processes. By incorporating AI, these models can provide real-time insights, helping to optimise planning, predict maintenance needs, and simulate various scenarios. The collaboration between DoT and ITU will allow for the integration of advanced technologies to create smarter, more responsive infrastructure. This shift promises a future where cities, transportation networks, healthcare systems, and urban spaces are designed with efficiency, sustainability, and adaptability in mind.

Feb 19, 2025

BJP Sweeps Local Body Polls in Gujarat by Winning 60 Municipalities of 68

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swept the local body polls in Gujarat by winning the Junagadh Municipal Corporation (JMC) as well as 60 municipalities out of 68 and all three taluka panchayats where voting was held on February 16.
This time, the BJP has managed to snatch more than a dozen municipalities from the Congress in a state where the ruling party continued its electoral dominance after sweeping the 2022 assembly polls and winning 25 of the 26 Lok Sabha seats last year.
The Congress won just one municipality, while the Samajwadi Party (SP), a regional outfit, did better by bagging two municipalities.

Union Minister Pabitra Margherita Inaugurates SILKTECH 2025

Pabitra Margherita, Minister of State for Textiles & Foreign Affairs inaugurated the CSB's International Conference - SILKTECH 2025 in the august presence of Smt. Neelam Shami Rao IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi as a part of the mega textile event - Bharat Tex 2025. The conference, organised by CSB-Central Tasar Research & Training Institute, Ranchi, and CSB-Central Silk Technological Research Institute (CSTRI) under the Ministry of Textiles, focused on emerging technologies in the silk sector to enhance quality, sustainability, and global competitiveness.
Pabitra Margherita mentioned about the exclusive Muga & Eri silks of North East. He highlighted the Zero waste technologies in silk value chain.

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Inaugurates NAKSHA Programme for Urban Land Survey

Union Minister of Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated the National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey of Urban Habitations (NAKSHA) in 152 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) across 26 States and 3 Union Territories (UTs) at Raisen, Madhya Pradesh. The Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, initiated this pilot programme.
The NAKSHA programme aims to create and update land records in urban areas to ensure accurate and reliable documentation of land ownership. This initiative will empower citizens, improve ease of living, enhance urban planning, and reduce land-related disputes. The IT-based system for property record administration will foster transparency, efficiency and support sustainable development.
The Survey of India is the technical partner for NAKSHA programme which is responsible for conducting aerial surveys and providing orthorectified imagery, through third party vendors, to state and Union Territory governments.

MoLE & APNA Join Hands to Expand Job Opportunities

The Ministry of Labour & Employment (MoLE) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with APNA, a leading job recruitment platform, to enhance employment opportunities for job seekers in India.
This partnership is set to bring over 10 lakh job opportunities annually to the National Career Service (NCS) Portal, aiming to strengthen employment accessibility across the country.
The initiative aligns with the government's ongoing efforts to connect job seekers with employers through digital platforms and structured hiring systems.

Feb 18, 2025

Bodoland, Once a Hotspot for Violent Insurgency, Hosts Assam Assembly

The first sitting of the Assam Legislative Assembly outside the state capital took place in Kokrajhar, the headquarters of the Bodoland Territorial Region. Chief Minister Himata Biswa Sarma called it a "historic day for Assam".
The Bodoland Territorial Region is spread across five districts – Kokrajhar, Baksa, Udalguri, Chirang and Tamulpur – and is covered by the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which provides autonomy to areas under it. The Bodos are the largest tribal community in Assam and the region had witnessed a violent insurgency beginning in the mid-1980s for a separate Bodo state.

Gyanesh Kumar New Poll Panel Chief

The President Droupadi Murmu appointed Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar as Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Haryana Chief Secretary Vivek Joshi as Election Commissioner. This came hours after the meeting of the Prime Minister-headed high level committee where Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi asked the Government to defer the appointment until the Supreme Court decides on the petitions challenging the new appointment process.
Kumar took over as CEC as CEC Rajiv Kumar retired.

Feb 17, 2025

India's First National Dolphin Research Centre Inaugurated

In a significant move towards wildlife conservation, India has taken a major step to protect its river ecosystems, The country has inaugurated a special center dedicated to studying and conserving a unique aquatic species.
This initiative aims to improve the health of one of the most important rivers, ensuring that its biodiversity is preserved for future generations. The centre will also raise awareness about the importance of safeguarding aquatic life.

Government to Establish Deregulation Commission to Reduce State's Role in Governance

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the formation of a Deregulation Commission aimed at reducing the role of the state in governance. Speaking at the ET Now Global Business Summit, Modi emphasised the government's commitment to eliminating bureaucratic hurdles and promoting ease of doing business. This move aligns with the broader vision of transforming India into a more business-friendly and efficient economy.

Karnataka Tops Local Governance; UP Rises 10 Places

Karnataka has topped the 2024 Local Governance Performance Index, a significant milestone in the state's growth and development. The Local Governance Performance Index evaluates various aspects such as local body management, finances, capacity building, and accountability. Karnataka's strong performance highlights its effective management of local governance, surpassing Kerala, which was the leader in 2015-16.
Alongside Karnataka's achievement, Uttar Pradesh (UP) has shown remarkable improvement, climbing from 15^th to 5^th place in this year's rankings. This leap signals a positive change in UP's approach to local governance, with improvements in transparency, anti-corruption measures, and overall administrative structures.

BHARAT TEX 2025: A Premier Global Textiles Event Showcasing India's Textile Industry

BHARAT TEX 2025, one of the largest global textiles events returned with its second edition from February 14 to 17, 2025. This prestigious event, backed by the Ministry of Textiles, aims to showcase India's textile industry to the world by bringing together key stakeholders, including manufacturers, buyers, industry experts, and innovators.
The event was hosted across two major venues: (i) Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, and (ii) India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida.
With participation from over 5,000 exhibitors and 6,000 international buyers representing 110 countries, the fair witnessed a footfall of over 120,000 visitors.

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