General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - November 2018

Nov 2018

Apr 23, 2023

Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, UNCDF Team up to Make India Global Agri-tech Leader

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) jointly launched a whitepaper aimed at making India a global leader in agri-tech innovation and expanding these innovations to the least developed countries in Asia and Africa.
The whitepaper outlines the significant observations and recommendations required to tackle challenges in the agriculture sector and promote sustainable practices that support smallholder farmers across developing economies. According to the statement, agri-tech innovations will help address food security, supply chain inefficiencies, and climate change concerns.

Kerala Launches 'One Panchayat, One Playground' to Revive Sports Culture

The Kerala government launched a project for reviving the sports culture in the State by opening quality playgrounds in every panchayat of the southern state.
The 'One Panchayat, One Playground' project was inaugurated by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at Kallikkad where he said that a good sports culture was essential for building a healthy and happy society.
The playgrounds would serve as a hub of local gatherings and social interactions.
The project will address the lack of quality playgrounds in around 450 local bodies in the State.

CM Khattar Launches 3 Online Services

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced three online services to digitally empower people, and said that Persons With Disabilities (PwDs) will now get their pensionary benefits at home.
The newly launched online services are: Pro-active Divyang Pension Service, 'Tau se Poochho' WhatsApp chatbot and online booking of government rest houses.
These IT initiatives will prove to be a milestone in the state government's vision of paperless and transparent governance. About the Pro-active Divyang Pension Service for the physically challenged, Khattar said that the government is committed to deliver all services for them at doorsteps.

India Signs Deals with EU for Cooperation in Aviation Safety, Air Traffic Control

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) signed a memorandum of understanding with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for cooperation in aviation safety.
The agreement was signed on the first day of the EU-India Aviation Summit where the Airport Authority of India also signed a declaration of intent with Eurocontrol, a pan-European, civil-military organisation dedicated to supporting European aviation.
While the MoU between DGCA and EASA will focus on collaboration at regulatory level and safety level, the declaration of intent between AAI and Eurocontrol will be focused on the area of air traffic control.

Apr 22, 2023

Himachal Pradesh BJP Chief Submits Resignation to Nadda

Ahead of the Shimla Municipal Corporation polls, Himachal Pradesh BJP chief Suresh Kashyap handed over his resignation to the party's national president BJP Nadda.
As per reports, Kashyap cited personal reasons for resigning from his post.
Kashyap, who was appointed as the chief of the BJP's Himachal Pradesh unit in July 2020, following the resignation of Rajeev Bindal, had a lacklustre tenure. The party suffered defeat in the bypolls to the Mandi Lok Sabha seat and in Arki, Fatehpur and Jubbal-Kotkhai Assembly constituencies in November 2021. It also lost the Assembly polls held in December 2022.

Amit Shah Addresses First Conference of Anti Narcotics Task Force Heads

Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the first national conference of Anti Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) heads of states and Union Territories (UTs) in Delhi in a bid to crack down on sale of psychotropic substances and expedite cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
In the conference, ANTF heads of states and Union territories apprised about their anti-drug programmes and a roadmap to tackle the menace.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had in December 2021 directed the states to create dedicated ANTF under the directors general of police (DGPs) to fight the menace of drugs and realise the dream of a 'drug-free India'.
The MHA also launched a national call centre, 'Manas', while an effective system is also being put in place to deal with the "increasing use of dark net and cryptocurrency in the trade of illegal drugs".

Arun Singhal New DG of National Archives of India

In a major bureaucratic rejig, the government shifted Fertilizer Secretary Arun Singhal and assigned additional charge of the post of Secretary, Department of Fertilizers to Chemicals and Petro-Chemicals Secretary Arun Baroka.
According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Arun Singhal, a 1987-batch IAS of UP cadre, was appointed as Director General of the National Archives of India.
The government also shifted Road Transport and Highways Secretary Ms. Alka Upadhyaya, a 1990-batch Madhya Pradesh cadre IAS and appointed her as Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying.

India, Thailand Review Defence Ties during 8th Defence Dialogue in Bangkok

The eighth India-Thailand Defence Dialogue was held in Bangkok, during which both the sides expressed satisfaction at the ongoing bilateral defence cooperation.
The meeting was co-chaired by Special Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Nivedita Shukla Verma and Deputy Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Defence, Thailand, Gen Nuchit Sribunsong.
The progress on various bilateral defence cooperation initiatives was reviewed.
The co-chairs identified means to enhance existing areas of collaboration, especially in the field of defence industry, maritime security and multinational cooperation.

Apr 21, 2023

Assam, Arunachal Signs MoU on the Border Dispute

In a move that both Assam and Arunachal Pradesh saw would put to rest an issue festering for nearly five decades, Chief Ministers of the two states signed a Memorandum of Understanding over disputed areas along the roughly 800-km shared boundary.
The MoU was signed by Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Arunachal Pradesh counterpart Pema KHandu in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Law Minister Kiren Rijiju.
The dispute in question is over 123 villages that stretch across 12 districts of Arunachal Pradesh and eight of Assam. These villages had been claimed by Arunachal Pradesh in 2007, before a Supreme Court-appointed Local Commission to identify the boundary between the two states.

PM Modi Inaugurates First Global Buddhist Summit in New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a two-day Global Buddhist Summit in Delhi that saw the participation of eminent Buddhist monks, scholars and delegates from various parts of the world.
Delegates from Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Russia, among others, attended the event.
The theme of the Conference was 'Responses to Contemporary Challenges from Philosophy to Praxis'.

Veteran Akali Leader Charanjit Singh Atwal Quits Party

Veteran leader and former Punjab Assembly Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal resigned from the primary membership of the Shiromani Akali Dal, days after his son Inder Iqbal Atwal joined the BJP.
The Bharatiya Janata Party named Inder Iqbal Singh Atwal, who quit the Akali Dal recently, as its candidate for the Lok Sabha bypoll to Jalandhar seat in Punjab.
Charanjit Singh Atwal, who was the deputy speaker of the Lok Sabha from 2004 to 2009 and once considered close to former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, quit the SAD on moral grounds after his son and other family members joined the BJP.

Apr 20, 2023

Mizoram is India's 'Happiest State'

Mizoram was declared the happiest state in India, as per a study. The research, conducted by Rajesh K. Pillania, a professor of strategy at the Management Development Institute in Gurugram, shared several factors that make the state the happiest in the country.
Mizoram, which is the second state in India to achieve 100 per cent literacy, offers students opportunities for growth even in the most difficult of circumstances.
The study suggested that Mizoram's happiness index is based on six parameters including family relationships, work-related issues, social issues and philanthropy, religion, Covid-19's effect on happiness and physical and mental health.
Researchers stated that Mizoram's social structure also contributes to the happiness of its youth. It has been observed that every child in the Mizo community, regardless of gender, starts earning early.
No task is considered too small and youths typically find employment around the age of 16 or 17. This is encouraged, and there is no discrimination between girls and boys.

India Becomes World's most Populous Nation

With 142.86 crore people, India surpassed China to become the world's most populous nation, according to the latest United Nations data. China, with a population of 142.57 crore, is the second most populous country, the latest statistics showed.
As per the data from UN agency UNFP, 25 per cent of India's population is in the 0-14 age bracket and 18 per cent in the 10-19 age group. Twenty-six per cent of India's population is in the 10-24 age bracket and 68 per cent in the 15-64 age bracket. Seven per cent of the country's population is above 65 years of age.
Kerala and Punjab have an ageing population, while Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have a younger population.
Several studies, carried out by different agencies, have shown that India's population is expected to increase for nearly three decades before it peaks at 165 crore. It will then start to decline, as per reports.

India Contributes $500,000 to UN Entity for Women Empowerment

India contributed USD 500,000 to the UN Women - United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women.
Ruchira Kamboj, Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, handed over the cheque towards the Government of India's contribution to the core voluntary budget of UN Women. The donation was received by Sima Sami Bahous, the Executive Director of UN Women.
As per Kamboj, India's development model is one that is led by women and focuses on entrepreneurship and STEM education.
India has been a founding member of the Executive Board of UN Women and is currently serving as a member. Additionally, women-led development is one of the priorities of India's G20 presidency.

Army to Learn Chinese Language in Assam's Tezpur University

Indian Army personnel will learn Chinese at Tezpur University in Assam, where an MoU was signed. "A course in the Chinese language will improve in-house Mandarin expertise and empower army personnel to engage with their Chinese counterparts as needed," said Lt. Col. Mahendra Rawat. He stated that with improved Chinese language skills, the army personnel will be able to communicate their points much more effectively.

Apr 19, 2023

MoS for Steel Faggan Singh Kulaste Inaugurates India Steel 2023 in Mumbai

India Steel 2023, a conference and exhibition on the steel industry began in Mumbai. Union Minister of State for Steel, Mr. Faggan Singh Kulaste inaugurated the conference, jointly organised by the Steel Ministry, the Commerce Ministry and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
Over the course of the three days, attendees, including industry leaders, policymakers and experts will have the opportunity to discuss topics like logistics infrastructure, demand dynamics and green steel production.
The conference at the Bombay Exhibition Centre in Goregaon, will also feature panel discussions and roundtable discussions with key stakeholders and decision-makers in the industry, offering unique insights and perspectives on the future of steel in India.
The India Steel 2023 exhibition, showcasing advanced technologies, products, innovations and solutions in the steel sector will also be held concurrently.
The exhibition will facilitate business networking and collaboration as well as offer a comprehensive understanding of the latest trends and innovations shaping the steel industry.

Govt. Launches Sangathan se Samridhhi to Mobilise 100 mn Women into SHGs

Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh launched 'Sangathan Se Samriddhi' campaign to empower marginalised rural households by bringing all eligible rural women into the fold of Self Help Groups (SHGs). He said that the government is targeting to bring 10 crore women under the purview of SHGs from the existing nine crore.

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