General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - November 2018

Nov 2018

Dec 26, 2022

Goyal Launches Right to Repair Portal, National Consumer Helpline Premises

Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal launched a host of new initiatives, including the right to repair portal and an NTH mobile app and opened new premises of National Consumer Helpline centre in the national capital.
A memorandum of understanding was also signed between the Consumer Affairs Department and IIT (BHU), Varanasi as well launched a capacity building programme of consumer commissions.
On the 'right to repair' portal, manufacturers will share the manual of product details with customers so that they can either repair by self, by third parties, rather than depend on original manufacturers. Initially, mobile phones, electronic, consumer durables, autombile and farming equipments will be covered.

Cabinet Approves Pending One Rank One Pension (OROP) Revision for Retirees from Armed Forces

The Union Cabinet approved a pending pension revision for pensioners from the armed forces and their families under the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme, which has been delayed since July 2019. Arrears will be paid from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2022 which is approximately Rs. 23,638 crore as per the applicable dearness relief.
Armed forces personnel with a retirement date up to June 30, 2019, excluding premature retirees with effect from July 1, 2014, will be covered under this revision.
OROP implies uniform pension to personnel based on rank and length of service, and irrespective of the date of retirement.
Pension for those drawing above the average shall be protected and the benefit would also be extended to family pensioners, including war widows and disabled pensioners.
Arrears will be paid in four half-yearly instalments. However, all the family pensioners, including those in receipt of special, liberalised family pensions, and gallantry award winners, shall be paid arrears in one instalment.

Dec 23, 2022

Suhel Ajaz Khan Named India's New Ambassador to Saudi Arabia

Indian Foreign Service official of 1997 batch, Suhel Ajaz Khan who is presently the Ambassador of India to the Republic of Lebanon was appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He will replace Ausaf Sayeed, a 1989 batch IFS officer. Khan is expected to take up the assignment shortly.

Dec 22, 2022

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal Rolls out Govt e-Marketplace Services

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal rolled out Government e-Marketplace services, (GeM) through Common Service Centres, CSC, and India Post, Department of Post in New Delhi.
The integration of India Post and CSC with GeM will prove to be beneficial for last-mile buyers, sellers and service providers in public procurement.
Goyal said that GeM engineered one of the biggest change management processes in the country by triggering a massive transformation in procurement processes and bringing the much needed transparency in public procurement.
The Minister also launched the Government e-Marketplace Seller Samvaad Booklet. The booklet is a compilation of testimonials from sellers and service providers based on their experience on the GeM portal.

Odisha CM Launches 'Drink from Tap' Facility in 19 Cities, Towns

Noting that safe drinking water provision at every Odisha home has long been his dream, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched the Drink From Tap' project in 19 cities and towns of the state.
Earlier, the facility was unveiled in Puri and Gopalpur.
Under the project, drinking water will be supplied round the clock through taps installed in households.
Patnaik said that at least 5.55 lakh people in the 19 cities and the towns would benefit from the project.

Dinesh Kumar Shukla is New Chief of AERB

Senior nuclear scientist Dinesh Kumar Shukla was appointed as the chairperson of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) for a period of three years.
Shukla, who has been the executive director of the AERB, succeeded G. Nageswara Rao to the top post.
A graduate in mechanical engineering from the Jabalpur University, Shukla joined the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) in 1981.
He has been associated with the commissioning of high-flux research reactor Dhruva and later, held the positions of reactor superintendent of the Dhruva Research Reactor and the head of the Reactor Operations Division (ROD) at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). As the head of the ROD, BARC, he was responsible for the safe and efficient operation of the research reactors at Trombay.

Dec 21, 2022

Shankar Chaudhary Elected Unopposed as Speaker of Gujarat Assembly

Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Shankar Chaudhary was elected unopposed as the Speaker of the newly-formed Gujarat Legislative Assembly.
Besides, senior BJP MLA Jetha Bharwad was elected unopposed as the Deputy Speaker during the first session of the 15th state Assembly in Gandhinagar.
The opposition Congress as well as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supported the nominations of ruling party legislators Chaudhary and Bharwad.

Gaya and Nalanda Selected for Development under Swadesh Darshan 2.0

Gaya and Nalanda in Bihar were selected for development under Swadesh Darshan 2.0.
Union Tourism Minister G. Kishan Reddy also said the Punaura Dham site in the Sitamarhi district of Bihar has been identified for development under the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) Scheme of the ministry.
The ministry under its Swadesh Darshan, PRASHAD and Assistance to Central Agency for Tourism Infrastructure Projects schemes provides support to state governments, Union Territory administrations and central agencies for the development of tourism infrastructure in the country.
The projects for development under the schemes are identified in consultation with the states, Union territories, and central agencies and are sanctioned subject to the availability of funds, submission of suitable detailed project reports, adherence to scheme guidelines and utilisation of funds released earlier.
The ministry has now revamped its Swadesh Darshan scheme as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 with the objective to develop sustainable and responsible tourism destinations, following a tourist and destination-centric approach.

Govt. Accords in-principle Approval for Setting up of 21 Greenfield Airports

The Government accorded in-principle approval for setting up of 21 Greenfield Airports across the country. So far nine Greenfield airports have already been operationalised and the tenth Greenfield airport at Mopa, Goa was inaugurated in December 2022.
This information was given by Minister of State for Civil Aviation General V. K. Singh (Retd) in a reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.
The Minister said that during the pre-covid period, in the year 2018-19 the number of passengers footfall at airports across the country had increased by 11.6 per as compared to 2017-18.
Passenger footfall had decreased during pandemic era. However, post-covid, in the year 2021-22, the trend shows an increase of 63.7 percent over the year 2020-21.

Dec 20, 2022

Parliament's Winter Session likely to End, a Week Ahead of Schedule

The Winter Session of Parliament is likely to conclude on December 23, a week ahead of schedule.
The decision to recommend early conclusion of the session was taken at a meeting of Lok Sabha's Business Advisory Committee chaired by Speaker Om Birla.
The Winter Session began on December 7 and was scheduled to end on December 29.
Several Opposition leaders had urged the government and Birla to end the session early, citing Christmas and New Year festivities.

Taj Mahal Gets Rs 1.9 crore Water Tax, Rs 1.5 lakh Property Tax Notices

Agra Municipal Corporation served notices on the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) asking it to pay property tax and water bills for the iconic Taj Mahal.
ASI superintendent archaeologist Raj Kumar Patel said that property tax is not applicable on monuments. We are also not liable to pay taxes for water as there is no commercial use of it. Water is used to maintain greenery within the premises. Notices related to water and property tax for Taj Mahal were received for the first time. It could have been sent by mistake.

PM Modi Launches "Grih Pravesh" Programme in Agartala

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the "Grih Pravesh" programme in Agartala for more than two lakh beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Urban and Rural schemes.
Addressing a rally in Agartala Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Tripura is now elevated to a new height of development with various projects.

Visakhapatnam: Awareness Walk against Child Marriages

A 130-km awareness walk with the slogan: 'Let's stop child marriages – let's educate girl child' is being organised by Dharani, an NGO, and Ken Foundation Society, from Visakhapatnam to Vanjangi, covering three districts of Andhra Pradesh from December 20 to 23.
The walk was flagged off by District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Secretary K.K.V. Bullikrishna.

Minister Jitendra Singh Inaugurates 'Prashasan Gaon ki Ore' Campaign

Union Minister for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh inaugurated Good Governance Week 2022 at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. The Minister also launched a five day "Prashasan Gaon Ki Ore" a nationwide campaign, to commemorate the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Around 3,120 New Services identified by District Collectors across the country will be added for Online Service Delivery under the campaign. During the preparatory phase of the Good Governance Week 2022, the District Collectors have also identified 81,27,944 applications for Service Delivery to be disposed of, along with 19,48,122 Public Grievances to be redressed in State Grievance Portals.
Earlier Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances V. Srinivas informed that 373 best Good Governance Practices were identified for discussion in District level workshops on 23rd December.

Share on

TCY Analytics (View Subscription Plans)

Subscribe to GK Updates

I want to receive

GK Tags

August GK, July GK, June 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