General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - May 2018

May 2018

Dec 02, 2021

Sanjeev Kaushal is Haryana's New Chief Secretary

Haryana government appointed 1986-batch IAS officer Sanjeev Kaushal as the new chief secretary. He replaced 1985-batch IAS officer Vijai Vardhan. Additional chief secretary, power, PK Das was posted as additional chief secretary, revenue and disaster management in place of Kaushal.
Prior to this, Kaushal had worked with Centre as Joint Secretary, two state governments, two large PSUs as Managing Director, and also the largest Municipal Corporation of Haryana (as the Chief Administrator of Faridabad Complex with the responsibilities of the Mayor and Commissioner both).

Shiromani Akali Dal Leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa Joins BJP

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa joined BJP ahead of the upcoming Punjab assembly elections.
Sirsa, who was also the chief of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, was inducted into the saffron camp in the presence of Union ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. After joining, he met Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president J. P. Nadda.
Before joining the BJP, Sirsa in a tweet had announced his resignation from the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC).

Congress Setback Continues in Meghalaya

Days after 12 of its 17 MLAs including former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma joined the TMC, Meghalaya Congress' working president James S. Lyngdoh resigned from the primary membership of the party without citing any reasons.
The switch over of the 12 Congress MLAs last week has made the TMC, a political newbie in Meghalaya, the principal opposition party in the assembly.

Sambit Patra is Chairman of India Tourism Development Corporation

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra was appointed as the chairman of India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
IAS officer, GKV Rao will hold the post of managing director of ITDC.
ACC approved the proposals of the Ministry of Tourism of splitting of the post of Chairman and Managing Director (CMD), India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) into two posts of Chairman, ITDC and Managing Director (MD) ITDC.

Dec 01, 2021

Government Launches 'Unique' Face Recognition Techology for Pensioners

Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh launched a "unique" face recognition technology for pensioners.
The face recognition technology would act as a proof of life certificate' for pensioners.
It will ensure ease of living for retired & elderly citizens.
All pensioners are required to submit their life certificate annually in order to receive pension.
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions has also implemented a facility to give certificate digitally.
This face recognition technology has been devised by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in collaboration with the UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India). The initiative to provide digital life certificates was launched by the Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare (DoPPW).

India - ITU Joint Cyber Drill 2021

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Department of Telecommunications operating under the Ministry of Communications conducted a Joint Cyber Drill 2021.
The cyber drill was conducted for the Critical Network Infrastructure operators of India. The Critical Network Infrastructure is the systems, assets and networks that are essential to ensure the security of a country.
It aimed to improve the cyber security readiness of India. Also, it aimed to improve the protection and incident response capability of the country.
During the cyber drill, the cyber attacks and information security incidents were simulated. And the participants were trained to defend and respond against such incidents. Thus, the drill helped to test the cyber capabilities of an organisation.

Govt. Seeks Names of Farmer Leaders for Panel on MSP, other Issues

To constitute a committee for discussion on MSP and other issues, the Centre has sought five names from the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) and it will be decided by the umbrella body of farmer unions in its December 4 meeting.
The move comes a day after both Houses of Parliament passed a Bill to repeal the three contentious farm laws against which farmers have been protesting for a year.
The SKM, an umbrella body of over 40 farm unions, has been spearheading the farmers' movement against the three farm laws and their other demands, including a legal guarantee for MSP.

Centre Appoints Committee to Revisit Criteria for Determining EWS

Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment formed a three-member committee to review the criteria for reservation for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category in terms of the provisions of the explanation to Article 15 of the Constitution. The committee has been asked to complete its work within three weeks. Former Finance Secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey heads the committee.
The announcement to appoint a committee and revisit the EWS reservation criteria came after the Supreme Court intervention. The SC is hearing petitions challenging the government notice issued in July which provides for a 10 per cent EWS quota in NEET admissions.

Nov 30, 2021

Nagaland Police Launches 'Call your Cop' Mobile App for Citizens

Nagaland Police launched a mobile application for facilitating the users to get in touch with the law enforcers anywhere in the state Launching the mobile app 'Call your Cop'. DGP T John Longkumer said that it will enable citizens especially those in distress to give a call to the force that will now be just a call away. The App has contact numbers of Nagaland Police officers along with other features like alerts emergency numbers and police station details. He also said that stress is on stopping violence against women and making mothers and sisters realise that they can get in touch with the police easily. The mobile application is now available on the Google Playstore for Android users PTI NBS MM MM.

First Edition of "Indian Young Water Professionals Programme"

First edition of the Indian Young Water Professionals Programme was launched virtually.
Programme was launched in the presence of Indian High Commissioner to Australia, Manpreet Vohra; Australian High Commissioner to India, Barry O' Farrell and Additional Secretary of Ministry of Jal Shakti, Debashree Mukherjee.
This launch was joined by more than 100 participants.
The program was taken up under National Hydrology Project.
National Hydrology Project is a Central Scheme of DOWR, and RD & GR. It is supported by Australian Water Partnership.
The India Young Water Professional Programme is unique and different from typical capacity building and training programs.
It focuses on Engaged Training and Learning Model.
70% of this program is focused on project-based learning by means of Situation Understanding and Improvement Projects (SUIP).
It also focuses on gender equality and diversity, since sustainable water management can only benefit from the skills and views of all members of society.
For the first edition of the programme, about 20 participants have been selected, comprising of 10 men and 10 women, from central & state implementing agencies of National Hydrology Project.

Nov 29, 2021

BJP Sweeps Tripura civic Body Elections

The civic elections in Tripura, the first major poll held in the state after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the roll back of the three controversial farm laws, was swept by the ruling BJP.
The party won a mindboggling 329 out of 334 seats spread over 13 urban local bodies, including the Agartala Municipal Corporation.

Vivek Johri New CBIC Chairman

Senior bureaucrat Vivek Johri was appointed as the chairman of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).
Vivek Johri is a 1985-batch Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Indirect Taxes) officer.
He is currently working as the member in the CBIC.
His appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
He replaced M. Ajit Kumar.
CBIC is the nodal national agency to administer GST, Customs, Central Excise, Service Tax & Narcotics in India. The Customs & Central Excise department was established by the British Governor General of India in 1855, for administering customs laws and for collecting import duties or land revenue. CBIC is one of the oldest government departments in India.

Nadda Rules out Change in Himachal Leadership

Putting to rest all speculation regarding a change in leadership in Himachal Pradesh after the bypoll rout, BJP national president JP Nadda declared that the party would march ahead under the leadership of CM Jai Ram Thakur and win the 2022 Assembly poll with an even bigger majority.

Nov 28, 2021

Bihar, Jharkhand, UP Emerge as Poorest States in India

Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh emerged as the poorest states in India, according to Niti Aayog's first Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) report.
As per the index, 51.91 per cent population of Bihar is poor, followed 42.16 per cent in Jharkhand, 37.79 per cent in Uttar Pradesh. While Madhya Pradesh (36.65 per cent) has been placed fourth in the index, Meghalaya (32.67 per cent) is at the fifth spot.
Kerala (0.71 per cent), Goa (3.76 per cent), Sikkim (3.82 per cent), Tamil Nadu (4.89 per cent) and Punjab (5.59 per cent) registered the lowest poverty across India and are at the bottom of the index.

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