General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - May 2018

May 2018

May 26, 2025

India Boosts Polar & Ocean Research with New State-of-the-Art Hubs in Goa

In a major step to strengthen India's role in polar and ocean research, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated two world-class facilities — Sagar Bhavan and Polar Bhavan — at the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) in Goa. These hubs mark a significant milestone in India's scientific capabilities, especially in the context of growing climate concerns and global ocean geopolitics.
This development aligns with India's broader strategies on the Blue Economy, climate change mitigation, and its vision for Viksit Bharat by 2047.

PM Modi Chairs 10th NITI Aayog Meet: Roadmap for Viksit Bharat @2047

On May 24, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the 10th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, bringing together Chief Ministers and Lt. Governors of 24 States and 7 Union Territories.
With the theme "Viksit Rajya for Viksit Bharat @2047", the meeting focused on aligning state-level goals with the national vision of transforming India into a developed nation by 2047, emphasizing cooperative federalism, skill development, urban planning, women empowerment, and economic growth.

Kerala Becomes India's First Fully E-Governed State, Achieving Total E-Governance

Kerala, the southern state of India, is set to make history by declaring itself as the country's first "total e-governed state."
Building upon its reputation as the first fully-literate state in India, Kerala has achieved this milestone through a series of policy initiatives aimed at transforming the state into a digitally-empowered society.
With a focus on a knowledge-based economy and 100% digital literacy, the government has digitised the delivery of vital services across various domains, ensuring transparency, inclusivity, and accessibility for all citizens.

ECI Introduces Mobile Deposit Facility at Polling Stations to Aid Voter Convenience

In a significant step to enhance the voter experience and ensure the smooth conduct of elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has introduced two key reforms: a Mobile Deposit Facility outside polling stations and the rationalisation of canvassing norms.
These measures are designed to address practical challenges faced by voters and to maintain order and secrecy inside polling booths, especially in light of the rising use of mobile phones and increased poll-day activities.

May 24, 2025

PM Modi to Launch Investors Summit Aimed at Boosting North East Growth

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the Rising North East Investors Summit at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. Organised by the Ministry for Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) along with state governments and industry stakeholders, the two-day event aims to boost investment and economic growth across India's eight northeastern states.
The summit follows extensive pre-event activities, including international roadshows and policy dialogues, to showcase the region's untapped potential. Key participants include Union ministers, state leaders, diplomats, and top investors, with sessions focusing on sectors like agriculture, tourism, infrastructure, IT, and MSME development.

May 23, 2025

Revamped OCI Portal Launched by Home Minister Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the revamped Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) portal on May 19, 2025, aiming to simplify and digitise the experience of overseas Indians.
The portal, featuring an updated user interface, promises enhanced security, functionality, and accessibility for over 5 million OCI cardholders and prospective applicants.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) launched the new OCI portal in response to growing feedback and the need to modernize the older system developed in 2013.
This move comes amid increasing demand from the Indian diaspora for seamless access to India-related services.

Konkan Railway Set to Merge with Indian Railways

The Maharashtra government has officially approved the long-pending merger of the Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) with Indian Railways, paving the way for the complete integration of this vital coastal rail route.
With this, all shareholder states—Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and now Maharashtra—have backed the merger, ensuring that the scenic and strategically crucial Konkan route becomes a full-fledged part of India's national railway network.
The merger comes at a time when KRCL is facing financial difficulties and needs infrastructural and operational support. The Centre has agreed to Maharashtra's conditions, including retaining the name "Konkan Railway" and reimbursing the state's initial investment of Rs. 394 crore.

May 21, 2025

Chhagan Bhujbal Sworn in as Minister in Maharashtra Cabinet

Senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Chhagan Bhujbal took oath as a minister in the Mahayuti-led Maharashtra government at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai.
The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Governor C. P. Radhakrishnan, who administered the oath to Bhujbal. Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, along with several prominent ministers from the Mahayuti government, were also present.

Indian Council of Agricultural Research Host Annual Conference of Vice-Chancellors and Directors ...

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) hosted the Annual Conference of Vice-Chancellors of Agricultural Universities and Directors of ICAR Institutes at Bharat Ratna C. Subramaniam Auditorium, NASC Complex, PUSA Campus, New Delhi. Theme of the Conference was 'Convergence for Action: Shaping Agricultural Research, Education and Extension for Viksit Bharat@2047'. The event briought together key policymakers, thought leaders, and academic experts to deliberate on strategic reforms needed to strengthen India's agricultural innovation ecosystem.
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan, inaugurated the conference and also chaired a high-level panel on reimagining the National Agricultural Research System (NARS) for India's long-term development.
The conference included the following three core sessions: (1) Panel Discussion I: Reimagining NARS for Viksit Bharat@2047, (2) Panel Discussion II: Reorienting Agricultural Education, (3) Expert Session: Strategic directions for integrating research, education, and extension

May 20, 2025

Om Birla Inaugurates Pradhan Mantri Divyasha Kendra in Kota

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inaugurated the Pradhan Mantri Divyasha Kendra (PMDK) in Kota, Rajasthan, and distributed assistive devices to differently abled beneficiaries, bringing smiles and a renewed sense of hope to many.
The event saw the distribution of various aids designed to meet individual needs. Recipients expressed gratitude and shared their joy at the life-changing support.
The newly inaugurated centre in Kota focuses particularly on serving visually impaired individuals and offers a comprehensive range of services, including advanced rehabilitation technologies such as prosthetics, orthotics, Braille appliances, and mobility aids. The centre also promotes skill development through vocational training programmes aimed at fostering employment and entrepreneurship.

Former BJP MP Uday Singh Named First National President of Jan Suraaj Party

Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor announced that former BJP MP Uday Singh was unanimously chosen as its first national president.
As per Prashant Kishor, Uday Singh will now concentrate on public outreach.
Kishor also asserted that Uday Singh, known to be providing logistical support to the party, was "chosen, not by a mere majority, but unanimously" by a committee set up for the purpose.
Uday Singh, who had won the Purnea Lok Sabha seat for the BJP in 2004 and 2009, is the younger brother of N. K. Singh, a retired bureaucrat who is also a former Rajya Sabha MP and had headed the 15th Finance Commission.

Tripura Announces Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan to Boost Agricultural Production

Aiming to boost agricultural production, the Tripura government announced the launch in the state of the central government's ambitious nationwide Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan from May 29.
The Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan is a pan-India campaign announced by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in New Delhi recently. It will cover 723 districts in the country.

User-friendly Interface, Seamless Registration: Shah Launches Revamped OCI Portal

Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the revamped Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) portal and said that its updated user interface will simplify the registration process for overseas citizens.
"The new portal will provide enhanced functionality, advanced security and a user-friendly experience for the existing over five million OCI cardholders and new users.
According to the MHA, the OCI scheme was introduced through an amendment to the Citizenship Act, 1955, in 2005. "The scheme provides for the registration of Persons of Indian Origin as Overseas Citizens of India, provided they were citizens of India on or after January 26, 1950, or were eligible to become citizens on that date.

Share on

TCY Analytics (View Subscription Plans)

Subscribe to GK Updates

I want to receive

GK Tags

July GK, June GK, May GK, INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, ENVIRONMENT, BUSINESS AND ECONOMY, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, SPORTS, NATIONAL AFFAIRS, DEFENCE, PERSONS IN NEWS, DAYS AND EVENTS, AWARDS AND HONOURS, GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND SCHEMES, GENDER/ HEALTH/ EDUCATION, ART AND CULTURE, BOOKS AND AUTHORS, TOURISM AND HOTEL INDUSTRY AWARENESS, ART AND CULTURE, LAW AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Start Discussion

On any topic

Take Tests

Compiled from GK updates

Login

Sign Up

Forgot Password

Download TCY App

Unlock All Services And Enjoy The Premium Benefits

US$ 10

US$ 13

US$ 15

US$ 17

US$ 19

US$ 20

US$ 21

US$ 22

US$ 23

US$ 24

US$ 25

US$ 26