General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - May 2018

May 2018

Sep 18, 2023

Unified Portal for Agricultural Statistics Launched

The Indian government introduced the Unified Portal for Agricultural Statistics (UPAg), an online platform developed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare. It is hailed as a significant leap forward in managing agricultural data. The UPAg Portal is intended to serve as a public resource, streamlining access to credible, granular, and objective data while reducing search costs and inefficiencies for users.
The UPAg Portal's core function is to generate crop estimates and integrate with other agriculture-related statistical systems. It aims to combat challenges like non-standardized and unverified data, ultimately supporting data-driven decision-making in India's agriculture sector.
The UPAg was launched by NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand. He described it as an investment and a giant step in the realm of agriculture data management.
The platform is designed to generate crop estimates and integrate with other systems generating agriculture statistics such as price, trade, procurement, and stock.
The initiative aligns with e-governance principles by bringing smartness, transparency, and agility to India's agriculture sector.

Final Two-day Meet of G20 Framework Working Group Held in Raipur

The fourth and final meeting of the G20 Framework Working Group (FWG) under India's G20 Presidency will be held in Chhattisgarh's capital Raipur from September 18.
More than 65 delegates from G20 member and invitee countries and various international and regional organisations will participate in the two-day meeting at Mayfair resort in Nava Raipur.
Chandni Raina, advisor to the Union Finance Ministry and Sam Beckett, chief economic Adviser, HM Treasury, UK will chair the meeting, he said.
The FWG facilitates discussions on the latest global economic outlook and policy guidance on key macroeconomic issues.

IIT Kanpur Director Abhay Karandikar Appointed Science and Technology Secretary

Professor Abhay Karandikar, the director of the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, was appointed as the secretary of department of Science and Technology (DST), taking over from Rajesh Gokhale, who held the additional charge along with his post of secretary department of biotechnology.
Karandikar was appointed to the post till the date of his attaining the age of 60 years.
Karandikar was appointed as director of his Alma Mater IIT Kanpur in 2018. He is an electrical engineer who is known for his contributions to the telecommunications sector of the country.

Rahul Navin Takes Charge as Director of Enforcement Directorate

IRS officer Rahul Navin was appointed as in-charge director of the Enforcement Directorate on the completion of tenure of the incumbent Sanjay Kumar Mishra.
According to an official order, Navin, a 1993-batch IRS officer, will hold the charge till the appointment of a regular director or until further orders. Navin is currently the ED's special director.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is a specialized law enforcement agency in India responsible for enforcing economic laws and regulations in the country. It is primarily tasked with investigating and prosecuting cases related to financial crimes, money laundering, foreign exchange violations, and economic offenses.
The Enforcement Directorate operates under the administrative control of the Department of Revenue, which, in turn, is part of the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. It plays a critical role in maintaining the integrity of India's financial and economic systems by ensuring compliance with laws and regulations related to economic activities.

Sep 17, 2023

Uttarakhand's Global Investor Summit Curtain Raiser Held in New Delhi

A Global Investor Summit 2023 is to be organised in Uttarakhand on December 8-9 on the tagline of 'Peace to Prosperity'. On the occasion of the curtain raiser of the summit in New Delhi, ITC proposed an investment of Rs. 5,000 crore to the Uttarakhand government. An MoU for investment of Rs. 1,000 crore was signed with Mahindra Holidays and Resort India Limited and Rs. 1,600 crore was signed with e-Kuber.

Sep 16, 2023

ED Director Sanjay Kumar Mishra Step Down

Enforcement Directorate (ED)'s director Sanjay Kumar Mishra stepped down. The Centre had sought from Supreme Court of India that Mishra's tenure be extended till October 15, which the top court granted, albeit reducing a month from the demand.
The Supreme Court in July had noted that S. K. Mishra's tenure as the ED chief was extended till September 15 in view of 'national interest'. The court had clarified that no further application seeking an extension would be entertained.
Sanjay Mishra had become an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer in 1984. Prior to his stint as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) stint, Mishra was posted as chief commissioner of Income Tax in Delhi.

Haryana Govt Appoints Actress Mita Vashisth as Chair of Entertainment Policy Council

In a significant development for the entertainment industry in Haryana, the state government appointed renowned film actress Mita Vashisht as the chairperson of the governing council tasked with overseeing the implementation of the Haryana Film and Entertainment Policy. This appointment follows the untimely demise of the beloved actor, director, and producer Satish Kaushik, who previously held the position. Mita Vashisth's extensive experience in the world of entertainment and her dedication to the craft make her a fitting choice for this prestigious role.
Mita has also served as visiting faculty at esteemed institutions such as the National School of Drama (NSD), the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), the National Institute of Design (NID), and the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). Her contributions to the development of young talent have been invaluable, and she continues to inspire the next generation of artists.

Sep 15, 2023

VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Inaugurates International Conference on Dam Safety

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurated International Conference on Dam Safety at Jaipur in Rajasthan. Professionals from across the nation and about fifteen countries participated in the conference. Jal Shakti Ministry said that there are over six thousand dams in India and it is ranked third globally in terms of large dams. Approximately 80 per cent of these dams are over 25 years of age.
The conference aimed to provide a major platform for experts to come together and debate cutting-edge topics in dam safety and management. Dams have been essential to civilization's development, and have played a multifaceted role in meeting the increasing demand for drinking water, irrigation, hydropower and flood protection.

Assam Governor Launches 'Sarpanch Samvad' App

Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria launched the 'Sarpanch Samvad' app.
The launch ceremony, held at the Raj Bhavan, was attended by over 30 sarpanchs from different parts of the country.
The app has been developed by the Quality Council of India (QCI).
QCI chairperson Jaxay Shah said that the objective of this initiative is to provide comprehensive support to sarpanchs and foster their growth as leaders.
The app is aimed at connecting approximately 2.5 lakh sarpanchs across India, and serves as a holistic platform for networking, knowledge dissemination, and collaboration.
The app not only ensures a single platform for idea-sharing, but also reinforces QCI's commitment to empower grassroots leaders.

Sep 14, 2023

Bhupesh Baghel Launches 'Largest Wholesale Market'

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel laid the foundation stone of three projects — commercial hub, aerocity and Shaheed Memorial — during an event in Raipur.
This day marked the foundation stone laying of the country's largest wholesale commercial market which is expected to generate employment opportunities for lakhs of people.
With the aim of promoting investment, settlement, and commercial activities in Nava Raipur, a commercial hub will be developed on 1,083 acres.

Fourth G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group Meeting in Varanasi

The fourth and last meeting of the G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group (SFWG) under India's G20 presidency was held in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi.
The two-day meeting brought together over 80 delegates from G20 member countries, special invitee countries and international organisations.
The meeting focused on finalising the 2023 G20 sustainable finance report.
The key highlight of the 4th SFWG meeting reflected and shared experiences by G20 members on the progress made in the implementation of the G20 Sustainable Finance Roadmap.
SFWG aims to help scale up private and public sustainable finance and in doing so, accelerate the implementation of the Paris Agreement and 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The Paris Agreement is an international treaty on climate change adopted in 2015. The agreement covers climate change mitigation, adaptation, and finance.

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