General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - October 2018

Oct 2018

Apr 07, 2025

Karnataka Signs Letter of Intent with Chile to Strengthen Innovation, Technology Ties

In a significant step towards fostering international collaboration in science, technology, and innovation, the Karnataka government announced that it signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with the Government of Chile during the Innovation Summit held in Bengaluru.
The summit was organised as part of the official visit of Gabriel Boric, President of Chile, and his accompanying high-level delegation to India.
Notably, Chile became the first Latin American country to partner with Karnataka under the Global Innovation Alliance (GIA) – a flagship initiative through which the Government of Karnataka collaborates with over 30 countries to promote cross-border innovation, research, and entrepreneurship.

President Droupadi Murmu Gives Assent to Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025

President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, marking a significant shift in the administrative dynamics of Waqf properties in India. The bill, passed after three days of intense debate in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, has stirred nationwide discussions and legal challenges. While the government argues it ensures transparency and accountability, critics claim it potentially violates constitutional principles related to religious freedom.

Apr 06, 2025

First International Research Conference on Pension (IRCP) 2025 Concludes

The First International Research Conference on Pension (IRCP) 2025 held in New Delhi concluded on April 4. It was inaugurated at Bharat Mandapam by Pankaj Chaudhary, Minister of State for Finance, Government of India. The two-day event was organised by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA), to mark a historic milestone in India's journey toward robust old-age income security.
This platform brought together policymakers, scholars, industry leaders, and international experts to deliberate on the evolving dynamics of pension reforms, financial preparedness for retirement, and innovative strategies to secure the future of aging populations.

Centre Withdraws Controversial 'Star-rating System' for State Green Clearances

The Union environment ministry "gave up" on a star-rating system it had introduced in January 2022 to evaluate expert environmental bodies in states on their efficiency and promptness in granting prior environmental clearances to industry and infrastructure projects, according to an order by the National Green Tribunal's (NGT's) southern zone bench in Chennai.
The Centre informed the NGT of its stand as part of the proceedings of a plea which had challenged an office memorandum (OM) rolling out the star-rating system.
The Centre had introduced the star-rating system on January 17, 2022, to incentivise the states through a star-rating system based on efficiency and timelines in the grant of environmental clearances.

Apr 05, 2025

NITI Aayog Hosts National Workshop on 'Mainstreaming Climate Adaptation into Local Development Pl...

NITI Aayog convened a National Workshop on 'Mainstreaming Climate Adaptation into Local Development Planning,' bringing together policymakers, climate experts, civil society organisations, and development practitioners to explore effective strategies for integrating climate resilience into Panchayat Development Plans.
The workshop emphasised the need for equipping Gram Panchayats with tools, knowledge, and resources to effectively address climate challenges. It was emphasised that climate adaptation must be woven into all aspects of sectoral planning at the Panchayat level, rather than being treated as a standalone effort. It was underscored that climate modelling must be coupled with community-level knowledge to develop locally relevant adaptation strategies.
A major focus was on institutionalising climate resilience within Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and embedding climate-responsive planning into local development frameworks. Discussions highlighted the growing frequency of extreme weather events and their impacts on rural livelihoods, agriculture, and water security, reinforcing the need for disaggregated Gram Panchayat-level data for precise planning and informed decision-making.
The workshop emphasised the need to encourage Panchayats to integrate climate-smart approaches into their development planning by strengthening their capacity.

Apr 04, 2025

Lok Sabha passes Aircraft Objects and Coastal Shipping Bills

The Lok Sabha passed two Bills — 'Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects' and 'Coastal Shipping' — by a voice vote.
The Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects Bill, which is meant to protect international lessors and financiers from protracted legal battles, is likely to boost the civil aviation industry and bring down air fares.
The Coastal Shipping Bill is meant to regulate vessels engaged in trade within Indian coastal waters.

Free Bus Service for Women in Jammu & Kashmir

The Jammu and Kashmir government launched a groundbreaking initiative by introducing a free bus service for women, marking a significant step towards gender-inclusive mobility. The service, aimed at empowering women, provides free travel on smart city e-buses and J&K Road Transport Corporation (JKRTC) buses across the Union Territory. This initiative is seen as a major development for women's safety, accessibility, and empowerment, allowing them to travel freely and confidently. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah officially flagged off the service in Srinagar, highlighting its role in ensuring women can access mobility without financial barriers.

Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu Launches 'P4' initiative to Eradicate Poverty by 2029

As part of the ambitious Swarna Andhra-2047 vision, the Government of Andhra Pradesh launched its flagship poverty eradication initiative, the 'Zero Poverty – P4 Policy.' This program aims to eradicate poverty in the state by 2047 and is one of the key principles under 'Padi Sutralu' (Ten Principles) of Swarna Andhra-2047.
The 'P4' Policy stands for 'Public, Private, People Partnership', a unique model that fosters collaboration between the government, private entities, and individuals to eliminate poverty and uplift underprivileged families. This initiative aims to create a sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development model.

Apr 03, 2025

India, Australia Mark Three Years of ECTA

India and Australia commemorated the third anniversary of the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (Ind-Aus ECTA), reaffirming their commitment to deepening economic ties and fostering mutual prosperity. Since the agreement's implementation, bilateral trade between the two nations has reached USD 24 billion.
The ECTA has opened new avenues for trade and investment, benefiting key sectors such as textiles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and agriculture. Additionally, India's imports of essential raw materials, including metalliferous ores, cotton, and wood products, have contributed to industrial growth, reinforcing the complementary nature of the partnership.

Sivasubramanian Ramann Appointed as New Chairperson of PFRDA

The government appointed Sivasubramanian Ramann as the new Chairperson of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA). The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved his appointment for a tenure of five years.
Ramann belongs to 1991 batch of Indian Audit & Accounts Service (IA&AS).
He has served as Chairman & Managing Director, Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), for 3 years between 2021 and 2024.
Before joining SIDBI, he was MD & CEO of National E-Governance Services Limited (NeSL).
Prior to joining NeSL, Ramann was the Principal Accountant General (Audit), Jharkhand, Ranchi during 2015-2016.

Warangal Chapata Chilli Receives GI Tag, Boosting Farmer Benefits

In a significant development for farmers in Telangana, the Chapata Chilli, also known as Tomato Chilli, received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag. This milestone is expected to benefit around 20,000 farmers in the Warangal region by increasing their income and boosting market demand for this unique chilli variety.
The Chapata Chilli is known for its bright red color and mild pungency, making it a preferred choice among pickle makers. Its natural red pigment also makes it ideal as a natural coloring agent in the food and beverage industry, replacing synthetic dyes.

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal Inaugurates Start-up Mahakumbh

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal inaugurated the second edition of Start-up Mahakumbh, taking at Bharat Mandapam from April 3 to 5, 2025.The event aims to contribute further to India's economic growth and showcase to the world the unfolding story of Bharat. Minister of State, Ministry of Commerce & Industry and Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, Jitin Prasada, delivered a special address during the inaugural event.
During this year's edition Tribal entrepreneurs are also taking the stage with participation from 45+ start-ups including those incubated at IIM Calcutta, IIM Kashipur, and IIT Bhilai.

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