General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - November 2018

Nov 2018

Apr 03, 2023

Sarbananda Sonowal Launches App of National Logistics Portal (Marine) Sagar-Setu

Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal launched the App Version of National Logistics Portal (Marine) Sagar-Setu in New Delhi.
The app has been envisaged with deliverables covering features like a Login Module, Service Catalogue, Common Application Format, Letter of Credit, Bank Guarantee, Certification, and Track and Trace, etc. It will provide real-time information on activities that are generally not within reach of the importer, exporter, and customs broker. It also enables digital transactions for payments required for the clearance process of import and export like container freight station charges, shipping line charges, and transportation charges.
As per Sonowal, the Sagar-Setu app of the National Logistics Portal (Marine) would help custodians with easier access to functionalities on a handheld device.

India, Philippines Agree to Bolster Defence Ties

The 4th Joint Defence Cooperation Committee meeting between India and the Philippines was held in New Delhi. The Indian delegation was led by Joint Secretary in Ministry of Defence Amitabh Prasad, while the Philippines delegation was headed by Assistant Secretary for Strategic Assessments and International Affairs, Department of National Defence Pablo M. Lorenzo.
Both sides reviewed the ongoing bilateral defence cooperation and discussed effective and practical initiatives to further expand the engagements. The co-chairs reaffirmed their commitment to implement the 2006 agreement concerning defence cooperation, based on mutual trust and understanding, common interest and shared values of democracy and the rule of law.

Tripura Hosts First-ever G20 Summit of State

Tripura hosted the first-ever G20 summit of the State commencing on April 3 and 4.
'Clean Energy for a greener future' was the theme for the G20 Science event held at the Hapania International Fair ground on April 3 and 4.
This was a big opportunity for the state to showcase its wealth and resources before the global stage.
It was decided that the conclave would be held in Guwahati but Prime Minister Narendra Modi batted for hoisting such an event in Agartala.

Apr 02, 2023

Second G20 Sherpa Meet under India's G20 Presidency in Kerala

The second G20 Sherpas meeting under India's G20 Presidency concluded in the picturesque village of Kerala's Kumarakom on April 2.
The meeting was chaired by India's G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant.
The four-day gathering of over 120 delegates from G20 Members, 9 invitee countries, and various international and regional organizations held multilateral discussions on G20's economic and developmental priorities as well as on addressing contemporary global challenges.
India's G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant also led discussions with the G20 Troika comprising India, Indonesia and Brazil.

Rajnath Singh Attends Combined Commanders' Conference-2023

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attended the Combined Commanders' Conference-2023 in Bhopal.
The Combined Commanders' Conference-2023 was held on the theme 'Ready, Resurgent, Relevant'. Look forward to it'.

Apr 01, 2023

G20: Larry Summers, N.K. Singh-led Panel on Multilateral Banks

The G20 expert group on strengthening multilateral development banks (MDBs), such as the World Bank, was constituted and given until June 30 to submit its report.
The group, co-chaired by former US Secretary of Treasury Larry Summers and India's N. K. Singh, chairman of the 15th Finance Commission, has seven other members. They are Tharman Shanmugarathnam: Senior Minister, Government of Singapore, Maria Ramos: Former director-general of the National Treasury of South Africa, Arminio Fraga: Former governor, Central Bank of Brazil, Nicholas Stern: IG Patel Professor of Economics and Government, London School of Economics, Justin Yifu Lin: Former senior vice president and chief economist of the World Bank, Rachel Kyte: Former vice president of World Bank and Vera Songwe: Former executive secretary, Economic Commission for Africa.
The decision to set up the expert group was taken in February in the meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors in Bengaluru.
According to the Indian government statement, the expert group will have to draw up a roadmap for an "updated MDB ecosystem for the 21st century" so that these institutions are better equipped to finance a wide range of sustainable development goals and global challenges such as climate change and health.

Sunil Veena New Trade Commissioner of Asian Arab Chamber

Asian Arab Chamber of Commerce welcomed the appointment of Sunil Veena from Karnataka into the Global Arab Network by consensus of the Member countries. He was presented with the Certificate of appointment in New Delhi that also saw the presence of various diplomats, CEO's and industrialists from different parts of the country.
He was appointed by Saad Al Dabbagh, Chairman at the head office based in Doha, Qatar with a strong presence in India. "India-Bahrain relations are witnessing an unprecedented momentum with a large number of opportunities for cooperation and increasing investments, in key sectors like infrastructure and technology, last weeks delegation of businessmen from Bahrain was a testimony to our growing relations" said Sunil who is the co-founder and CEO of Quinta systems and is actively looking at his new role in promoting trade relations between India and the Arab world especially Kingdom of Bahrain. The President of Bahrain Businesswomen's Society Ahlam Jenahi welcomed the decision of the board to appoint Sunil to build and strengthen relations between the two countries.

Mar 31, 2023

World Bank Grants $363m Loan to Karnataka for Clean Drinking Water Supply

The World Bank's Executive Board of Directors approved a USD 363 million loan to Karnataka to provide clean drinking water supply to two million rural households in the state through a piped water connection in their homes. Through the programme, the World Bank and the state of Karnataka seek to demonstrate 24/7 water supply service in at least 500 Gram Panchayats. The programme will develop an advanced sector monitoring system for rural water service delivery and provide on-the-job skills training to around 3,000 rural women to be employed as plumbers. The USD 363 million loan from the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), uses the Program-for-Results (PforR) financing instrument that links the disbursement of funds directly to the achievement of specific program results. The loan has a maturity of 13.5 years including a grace period of two years.

The First G20 Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group Meeting Held in Gandhinagar

The First G20 Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group meeting under India's G20 Presidency was held in Gandhinagar, in Gujarat. Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister P. K. Mishra and Minister of State for Communication Devusinh Chauhan, inaugurated the meeting. As per Member Secretary, of National Disaster Management Authority Kamal Kishore, five priority areas were identified for the meeting which included:
Global coverage of Early Warning Systems
Increased commitment towards making infrastructure systems – disaster resilient
Stronger national financial frameworks for DRR
Strengthened national and global disaster response system
Increased application of ecosystems-based approaches to DRR

Mar 30, 2023

AFSPA to be Extended in 8 Assam Districts

The Assam government will extend the 'disturbed area' tag under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) for another six months in eight districts of the state from April 1.
It will be extended for Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideo, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao, according to a notification issued by the state home and political department.
The Centre had earlier announced removal of AFSPA from April 1, 2022 from the entire state of Assam barring nine districts and a sub-division of Cachar district.
The state was declared a 'disturbed area' under AFSPA during the intervening night of November 27-28, 1990, and this has been extended every six months since then.
Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), 1958 is an act of the Parliament of India that grants special powers to the Indian Armed Forces to maintain public order in "disturbed areas".

Karnataka Assembly Elections to be Held in May

The Election Commission (EC) announced the Assembly election dates for Karnataka. The elections will be held on May 10 and the results will be declared on May 13.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said that the notification for the elections to the 224-member assembly will be issued on April 13 and the last date for filing nomination papers will be April 20.
The nomination papers will be scrutinised on April 21 and the last date for withdrawal of nominations will be April 24.

Giriraj Singh Launches 'Captive Employment' Initiative

Union Minister for Rural Development Giriraj Singh onboarded 19 captive employers as part of the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) in New Delhi.
The objective is to provide them with the target of training and providing gainful employment to 31,067 rural poor youths under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) with a minimum salary of 10,000 per month for a minimum period of six months.

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