General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - September 2017

Sep 2017

Nov 11, 2023

NPCI Appoints Pankaj Tripathi as 'UPI Safety Ambassador'

In an effort to strengthen safety awareness on digital payment platforms, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) announced the appointment of actor Pankaj Tripathi as its 'UPI Safety Ambassador.' This move came in the wake of discussions regarding the safety and security of digital payment platforms, particularly United Payments Interface (UPI).

Flying Wedge is First Company to Secure DGCA Certification for UAVs

Flying Wedge Defence and Aerospace became India's first-ever private firm to secure a Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) type certification for indigenous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology.
Two of the company's surveillance drones are already deployed in the heart of New Delhi, carrying out observation of the airspace and grounds around the Prime Minister's residence.
Under the DGCA's regulatory framework, no drone, aircraft, or aeroplane can operate in India without DGCA-type certification. This stringent certification process is regarded as a vital step in ensuring the safety and reliability of unmanned aircraft within the country.
Flying Wedge is now leading the way not only in defence but also in the agriculture sector with their autonomous agriculture drones. Its drones have transformed smart farming in India, offering cost-effective solutions that enhance crop yield and reduce water consumption.

Nov 10, 2023

Govt. Begins Process of Constituting Sixteenth Finance Commission

The government has started the process of constitution of the Sixteenth Finance Commission, appointing the Officer on Special Duty for the Advance Cell. The Finance Commission, which mainly decides the tax sharing formula between Centre and states, is scheduled to be formed before the end of this year (2023).
Terms of Reference and members are also expected to be announced soon after state elections. States have already given their suggestions for terms of reference.
The government announced the appointment of Ritvik Ranjanam Pandey, a 1998-batch IAS officer of the Karnataka cadre serving as Joint Secretary, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, as Officer on Special Duty for Advance Cell of 16th Finance Commission in the rank and pay of Additional Secretary.
The Finance Commission is constituted by the President under article 280 of the Constitution, mainly to give its recommendations on distribution of tax revenues between the Union and the States and amongst the states themselves.

Parshottam Rupala Inaugurates the Pavilion of Department Of Animal Husbandry and Dairying

Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Parshottam Rupala inaugurated the pavilion of Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying in the World Food India event 2023 organised in November 2023 at New Delhi. The Department participated as partner department in the event. Minister for State of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Dr. L. Murugan was also present during inauguration. The World Food India event was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The President of India Droupadi Murmu was the Chief Guest of valedictory function.
The pavilion Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying exhibited its major schemes, programs, new initiatives, and innovative technologies in the livestock and dairy sector. Pavilion also featured 20 stalls, including the National Dairy Development Board, start-ups, and companies working in Animal Husbandry and Dairy sector. The main attractions at the pavilion were the "Selfie Point" and live demonstrations of various innovative products by start-ups and companies. The exhibition highlighted the department's commitment in promoting technological advancements and facilitating the growth and development of the sector.

Nov 09, 2023

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde Unveils Shivaji Maharaj Statue in J&K's Kupwara

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, along with other dignitaries, inaugurated a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir. The statue, a symbol of cultural pride, was installed at the 41 National Rifle (Maratha LI) camp, which is located in close proximity to the Line of Control (LoC) separating India and Pakistan.
The inaugural event saw the presence of notable personalities, including Maharashtra Cultural Affairs Minister Sudhir Mangantiwar and Lt. Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha.
Their participation added significance to the occasion, highlighting the unity and cultural exchange between the two regions.

Hitesh Kumar S. Makwana Appointed Surveyor General of India

Senior bureaucrat Hitesh Kumar S. Makwana was appointed as Surveyor General of India as part of a senior-level bureaucratic reshuffle effected by the Centre.
Makwana is a 1995-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre.
He was appointed as the Surveyor General of India, Survey of India, Department of Science and Technology in the rank and pay of Additional Secretary by keeping the recruitment rules for the post in abeyance.

Aligarh Nagar Nigam Passes Resolution Seeking Change in City's Name to 'Harigarh'

The Aligarh Nagar Nigam passed a resolution seeking a change in the city's name to 'Harigarh'.
The resolution, which was passed, will be sent to the Uttar Pradesh government for consideration.
Aligarh, which houses the famous Aligarh Muslim University, was earlier called Ramgarh, according to the UP government website.
In the mid-1700s, the city was renamed Aligarh after its most important fort.
The first attempt to change the name of Aligarh was made by former Chief Minister Kalyan Singh in 1992 but he could not succeed as there was a Congress government at the Centre.
In 2015, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad had also pushed for recognition of the fact that Aligarh's original name was 'Harigarh'.

Nov 08, 2023

Heeralal Samariya is the New Chief Information Commissioner

Senior bureaucrat Heeralal Samariya was sworn in as the chief of the Central Information Commission (CIC) by President Droupadi Murmu, making him the first Dalit person to hold that post.
The top post of the transparency panel was vacant following the end of the term of Y. K. Sinha in October. Samariya has a distinguished career in public service, having served as Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
The Commission is led by the Chief Information Commissioner and can have up to 10 information commissioners.
The appointment comes after the Supreme Court's October directive to the central and state governments to fill the vacant positions, warning that the 2005 Right to Information Act would become ineffective otherwise.

Nov 06, 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi as Elected Chairman of Shree Somnath Trust for Five-Year Term.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been elected as the chairman of the Shree Somnath Trust (SST) for a five-year term, marking a significant departure from the traditional one-year tenure for the trust'
At the 122nd meeting of the SST's board of trustees held at Raj Bhavan in Gandhinagar, Prime Minister Modi, the incumbent chairman, was re-elected to the position for a five-year term.
This marks a historic moment as it is the first time in the 74-year-long history of the Shree Somnath Trust that a chairman has been elected for a five-year tenure.

Union Ministry of Power urged to take up insolvent assets.

To tackle increasing demand, the Union Ministry of Power has urged central and state public-sector power-generating companies (gencos) and state power and energy departments to pick projects that are undergoing insolvency proceedings.
The power ministry is looking at a quicker turnaround of these stressed power plants and enhancing power supply.

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