General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - May 2018

May 2018

Jan 07, 2026

Siddaramaiah Becomes Longest-serving Chief Minister of Karnataka

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah became the longest-serving chief minister of Karnataka, surpassing the record held by late Devaraj Urs, and etching his name in the state's political history.
In his second term, the 77-year-old leader on January 6 equalled Urs' record of 2,792 days in office, becoming the longest-serving CM of the state. Urs, widely regarded as an icon of social justice and land reforms in Karnataka, served two terms — 2,113 days from March 20, 1972, to December 31, 1977, and 679 days from February 28, 1978, to January 7, 1980.
Siddaramaiah, the only chief minister after Urs to complete a full five-year term, held office for 1,829 days during his first term from May 13, 2013, to May 15, 2018. In his ongoing second term since May 20, 2023, he has so far completed 963 days.

PM Modi lauds HPCL Residue Upgradation Facility at Visakh Refinery

Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the commissioning of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited’s Residue Upgradation Facility at its Visakh Refinery in Andhra Pradesh, announced on January 5, 2026. The project marks India’s first operational residue hydrocracking unit and uses LC-Max technology to convert bottom residues into high-value fuels. With a capacity of 3.55 million tonnes per annum, the facility aims for about 93 percent conversion, raising distillate yields and improving margins by enabling processing of heavier and opportunity crudes. The upgrade enhances refinery complexity, flexibility, and resilience to crude price volatility, aligning with energy security goals and self-reliance initiatives. The Nelson Complexity Index rose to 11.6 after commissioning.

Residue Upgradation Facility (RUF) commissioned at Visakh Refinery
First operational residue hydrocracking unit in India
LC-Max technology enables ~93% conversion of bottoms
Capacity: 3.55 MMTPA; distillate yield up by ~10%
Nelson Complexity Index increased to 11.6

Jan 06, 2026

Amit Shah inaugurates NDDB nutrition CSR conclave

Union Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the National CSR Conclave on Nutrition Security and Malnutrition Mitigation at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The event, organized by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), focused on collaborative and innovative strategies to combat child malnutrition. During the conclave, Shah launched the third phase of the Giftmilk Programme under the CSR initiative of SAIL-Bhilai Steel Plant, benefiting around four thousand government school children in mining areas of Bhilai, Chhattisgarh. The gathering underscored government and industry collaboration to improve nutrition outcomes, with emphasis on sustainable, scalable interventions and monitoring.

CSR Conclave on Nutrition Security inaugurated in New Delhi.
Event hosted by NDDB; influenced by government-industry collaboration.
Giftmilk Programme phase three launched for Bhilai mining areas.
Approximately 4,000 government school children to benefit.
Focus on sustainable, scalable nutrition interventions.
Highlights policy-practice linkages for child nutrition.

Jan 05, 2026

Delhi Assembly Winter Session Begins

The winter session of the Delhi Legislative Assembly began. The four-day session will continue till January 8. During the session, discussions will be held on various issues, including pollution, environment, and CAG's report related to the Sheesh Mahal project, as well asthe Delhi Jal Board.
Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta said that the focus of the winter session will remain on ensuring sthe mooth conduct of proceedings while preserving the decorum of the House. He also informed that during the session, MLAs will use the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) through iPads installed at their respective tables in the House. The Speaker said that the use of this app will ensure transparency, efficiency, and accessibility in legislative work during the proceedings.

Voice of Buddhist Ladakh formed to redefine UT dialogue with MHA

Voice of Buddhist Ladakh (VBL), a new socio-political body, is set to reshape Ladakh's talks with the Ministry of Home Affairs. Buddhist leaders and prominent citizens issued a press note announcing VBL's formation to formally express Buddhist concerns on land, environment, culture, and youth employment. Since Ladakh became a Union Territory in 2019, representation in negotiations has been a point of contention. The HPC previously facilitated dialogue with the MHA, but dissatisfaction over perceived under-representation spurred the creation of VBL. The body adds a parallel voice alongside existing interlocutors such as the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance.

VBL formed to represent Buddhist interests in Ladakh
Concerns: land, environment, culture, youth employment
HPC previously facilitated Ladakh-MHA talks
VBL introduces parallel channel in negotiations
Existing interlocutors include LAB and KDA

Jan 04, 2026

Guntur Hosts Third Edition of World Telugu Conference

Under the aegis of the Andhra Saraswata Parishad, Andhra Pradesh, the 3rd World Telugu Mahasabha is being held from January 3 to 5, 2026. Dedicated to the protection, development, and global propagation of the Telugu language and culture, the event is taking place at the Sri Sathya Sai Spiritual City (Highway) premises in Guntur, on the Sri Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao dais.
Thousands of Telugu delegates from across India and abroad, along with artists from cinema, literature, and cultural fields, are participating. The Mahasabha features poet gatherings, seminars, exhibitions of handicrafts, books, and visual arts, and a spiritual forum. Cultural performances by thousands of youth celebrating Telugu culture is a highlight.

Radio Sangam: LoC radio station comes up in Rajouri

Radio Sangam, the first community radio station along the Line of Control, has been set up in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district. Located at Keri village about one kilometre from the LoC, the station is a joint effort of the Indian Army, civil administration and locals. It will host daily programs on agriculture, education, health and local governance to counter misinformation and provide credible border-area information. The initiative aims to strengthen people-to-people contact, bolster border community resilience, and promote transparency in communications in a sensitive region.

First community radio station along the LoC in Rajouri
Located at Keri village, ~1 km from LoC
Joint effort by Indian Army, civil administration and locals
Programs cover agriculture, education, health and governance
Goal: counter misinformation and improve border-area communication

Jan 03, 2026

Modi inaugurates Grand International Exposition of Sacred Piprahwa Relics in New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Grand International Exposition of Sacred Piprahwa Relics relating to Lord Buddha at Rai Pithora Cultural Complex in New Delhi in January 2026. The event brings together Piprahwa relics that were repatriated after more than a century, alongside authentic relics and archaeological materials from Piprahwa held in major Indian museums. Officials said the exhibition highlights the long history of Buddhist heritage and the ongoing effort to preserve, study, and share it with the public. Mr. Modi emphasised that repatriation strengthens cultural links and invites scholars, students, and visitors to engage with India's ancient past. The exposition will run for several weeks and feature curated displays and lectures.

Piprahwa relics repatriated after more than a century.
Relics from Piprahwa and materials in National Museum Delhi and Indian Museum Kolkata showcased.
Exhibition highlights Buddhist heritage and cultural exchange.
Inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2026.
Event to run for several weeks with displays and lectures.

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