General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - November 2018

Nov 2018

Aug 11, 2022

MP, Rajasthan and Karnataka among Top States to Provide Power Subsidy

As many as 27 states and Union territories out of 36 are providing subsidised electricity to consumers, with at least Rs. 1.32 trillion spent nationwide in the 2020-21 financial year alone, power ministry data showed. Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Karnataka footed the highest power subsidy bill, accounting for Rs. 48,248 crore or 36.4%.
Delhi has seen an increase of 85% in its subsidy expenditure between 2018-19 and 2020-21, from Rs. 1,699 crore in 2018-19 to Rs. 3,149 crore, the second highest among all provinces, an analysis of three-year data show. Manipur saw the biggest jump of 124% in power subsidies in these three years, although the increase was from Rs. 120 crore to Rs. 269 crore.
The data assumes significance as the Supreme Court is hearing a public interest litigation that wants political parties to be deregistered and their election symbols seized for offering "irrational freebies" ahead of polls.

Arun Sao is New BJP Chief in Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh MP from Bilaspur Arun Sao was appointed as the new state BJP president. Sao replaced the party's tribal leader Vishnudeo Sai.
Inducting Sao, who belongs to the Sahu community, as the BJP state unit chief is being seen as a response to Chhattisgarh Congress's son of the soil image. Political experts believe his proximity to the RSS was also a decisive factor in his favour.
Chhattisgarh BJP, which has been in Opposition only for the second time in over two decades of the state's existence, has been gearing up for the upcoming state election in 2023 for some time with senior party leaders hinting at a change in the leadership.

Assam, Mizoram Sign Joint Statement on Resolving Border Dispute

The Assam and Mizoram governments signed a joint statement after a ministerial-level discussion in Aizawal and Mizoram to take forward the process of resolution of the boundary dispute between the two states. According to the statement, both states agreed to promote and maintain peace to prevent any untoward incident along the borders. Also, the Deputy Commissioners of the bordering districts of both states shall meet at least once in two months. "Both the States reaffirm the Joint Statement of 5th August 2021 in letter and spirit.
Both the states agreed that economic activities including cultivation and farming which have been practised by the people along the borders of the two states shall not be disturbed but allowed to continue regardless of the administrative control presently exercised by either state at such locations subject to Forest Regulations and after informing the Deputy Commissioners concerned.
The next meeting between High-Level delegations of two states will take place at Guwahati in October this year where issues and claims will be deliberated in detail.

Aug 10, 2022

Sanjay Agarwal Takes Charge as ICRISAT Assistant Director General

Sanjay Agarwal from the Indian Administrative Service, who is currently the Chair of the Government of India's Committee on Minimum Support Price, joined the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) as its new Assistant Director General.
Director General of ICRISAT, Dr. Jacqueline Hughes, welcomed Mr. Agarwal.
While serving as the Secretary in the Department of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, Government of India, Mr. Agarwal was also an ex-officio member of ICRISAT governing board from 2018 to 2022.
Mr. Agarwal is a 1984-batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre. He has over 37 years of experience in administration and public policy.

Nitish Kumar Takes Oath as Bihar Chief Minister for 8th Time in 22 Years

After having announced a new "Grand Alliance" which includes Tejashwi Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and other Opposition parties, Nitish took oath. Interestingly, this was the eighth time that Nitish Kumar took oath as the Bihar CM.
The eight times since the year 2000 that Nitish has taken oath as CM of Bihar are: First time: March 2000, second time: November 2005, third time: November 2010, fourth time: February 2015, fifth time: November 2015, sixth time: July 2017, seventh time: November 2020 and eighth time: August 10, 2022.
Kumar ended his alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led (BJP) National Democratic Alliance and rejoined hands with RJD on a day of rapidly changing political developments in Bihar.

HM Amit Shah Launches Onboarding of Cooperatives on GeM Portal

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah launched the onboarding of cooperatives on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal.
The move will allow cooperatives to procure through the GeM portal like other government buyers—Central and state ministries, departments, public sector enterprises, autonomous institutions and local bodies. It comes days after the Union Cabinet, on June 1, gave its approval for expanding the mandate of GeM to allow procurement by cooperatives as buyers on GeM. Till now only government buyers could procure through the GeM portal, and private sector buyers were not allowed to do so.

Aug 09, 2022

EC Grants Recognition to AAP in Goa

The AAP was recognised as a political party in Goa - after Delhi and Punjab.
The Election Commission recognised the AAP as a state party in Goa after a review of it's performance in assembly polls held earlier in 2022. The poll body said that the AAP had 'fulfilled conditions laid down in Para 6A of the Election Symbols (Reservation & Allotment) Order'.
Party convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal pointed out that should the AAP get recognised in one more state, they would be declared a 'national party' - a key brand ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election.
The AAP is also looking to expand its footprint in other states, including Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, both of whom vote later this year.

UP Government Appoints Deloitte India to make UP a $1 Trillion Economy

The Uttar Pradesh government signed a memorandum of understanding with Deloitte India, appointing it as a consultant for achieving the target of bringing the state's economy to $1 trillion mark.
The MoU between the consultancy agency and the government was signed in the presence of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
The Uttar Pradesh government has entrusted the big responsibility to Deloitte India for the prosperity of the country's largest populous state.

US Navy Ship Charles Drew Arrives in India for Repair

In a huge boost to 'Make in India' and 'Aatmanirbharta in defence,' the US Navy ship Charles Drew arrived at Larsen and Toubro shipyard at Kattupalli in Chennai for undertaking repairs and allied services.
As per report, this is the first ever repair of a US Navy ship in India. The US Navy had awarded a contract to L&T's Shipyard at Kattupalli for undertaking maintenance of the ship. The event signifies the capabilities of Indian shipyards in the global ship repairing market.

ITU's Regional Standardisation Forum for Asia & Oceania Region

As a part of the celebrations during Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, Ministry of Communication hosted the International Telecommunication Union's (UTI's) Regional Standardisation Forum (RSF) for Asia and Oceania region in New Delhi. The theme of the Forum was "Regulatory and Policy aspects of Telecommunications/ICTs". The Forum will be succeeded by four-day meeting of International Telecommunication Union-T Study Group 3 Regional Group Asia and Oceania (ITU-T SG3RG-AO) from 09th August 2022 to 12th August 2022.
The Regional Standardisation Forum was inaugurated by Devusinh Chauhan, Minister of State for Communications.
The Regional Standardisation Forum is a platform for constructive exchange of ideas, discussing Standardisation topics including inter alia India's experience in various sectors of technology like Sustainable Digital Transformation and the Role of ITU Standards, Harnessing Technologies for Digital and Financial Inclusion in Emerging Markets, evolving Data Value Chain and Digital Health.

Aug 08, 2022

Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba Gets One-year Extension

The Centre gave a one-year extension to Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba.
Gauba, former Union Home Secretary, was in 2019 appointed to the country's top bureaucratic post for two years. This is his second extension on the post. He was given a one-year extension in August 2021.
Gauba is a 1982-batch IAS officer of Jharkhand cadre.
Gauba has also served as Secretary in the Union Urban Development Ministry, Additional Secretary in the Home Ministry, looking after crucial left wing extremism division, among other responsibilities.

Arunachal Pradesh: Hollongi Greenfield Airport Named 'Donyi Polo Airport'

The under-construction Greenfield Airport was named as Donyi Polo Airport, Itanagar," announced Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu.
According to the state government this name of the lone Airport in the Capital city symbolizes the age-old tradition and rich cultural heritage of the tribal State and also will reflect the people's age-old indigenous reverence on the Sun (Donyi) and the Moon (Polo).

PM Modi Chairs NITI Aayog Governing Council Meet

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the seventh Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog at Rashtrapati Bhawan Cultural Centre in New Delhi.
The meeting was the first in-person meeting of the Governing Council after July 2019.
The agenda of the NITI Aayog meeting included achieving self-sufficiency in oilseeds and pulses and agri-communities, National Education Policy and crop diversification, including other things.
The NITI Aayog's Governing Council comprises all Chief Ministers, Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories and several Union Ministers.
Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, did not attend the Niti Aayog meeting. He said that the Centre's think tank and its meetings serve "no constructive purpose" and that participating Chief Ministers are given "hardly a few minutes" to express their views.

Jagdeep Dhankhar Elected as 14th Vice President of India

Jagdeep Dhankhar was elected as the 14th Vice President of India. Jagdeep Dhankhar was the candidate nominated by the NDA from BJP. He will be administering the oath to the office on August 11, just after the tenure of incumbent Vice President Venkaiah Naidu ends. Jagdeep Dhankhar was serving as the Governor of West Bengal before getting nominated for the Vice President Elections 2022. The Opposition of Vice President Elections 2022 was Margaret Alva who is an ex-Union Minister and former five-times Congress MP.
A total of 725 MPs registered their votes, and 63 skipped the Vice President Elections 2022. 710 votes were found valid, and 15 were invalid out of 725 votes. Jagdeep Dhankhar secured 528 votes, which is higher than the minimum of 363 votes that were required for the victory. Jagdeep Dhankhar had the support of more than 425 lawmakers. Parties like Biju Janata Party (BJD), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Shiv Sena, and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) were there to extend their support to Jagdeep Dhankhar. The Opposition Margaret Alva received the votes of 208 MPs.

LG Manoj Sinha Flags off 'The Great India Run' from Srinagar's Lal

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off The Great India Run from Lal Chowk.
The marathoners would cover a distance of more than 800 kilometres from Srinagar to New Delhi with the message of peace and national integration.
The run was dedicated to the 'HarGharTiranga' campaign to mark 'AzadiKaAmritMahotsav'. The venue was decorated with 75 Indian tricolours to mark 75 years of Independence.
The relay-run will go across four states covering the routes -- Banihal, Patnitop, Mansar Lake, Dinanagar, Hoshiarpur, Rupnagar, Ambala Cantt -- before culminating at India Gate on the occasion of Independence Day.
The first leg of the run was led by ultra-marathon runner Arun Bhardwaj.
Some of India's most iconic sports legends including PT Usha, 'Queen' of Track and Field'; Anju Bobby George, World Championship medalist; Commonwealth champions, former Indian cricketers, footballers among others will join in the various legs of the run.

Aug 07, 2022

Goa Police and Blockchain Network 5ire Agree to work to Build Smart Policing

In order to digitise its operations, Goa Police inked an agreement (MoU) with Level-1 blockchain network 5ire. S.P. Crime, Nidhin Valsan, IPS, and Pratik Gauri, the founder and CEO of 5ire, signed the MoU. Goa would become the first police state in India to totally abandon paper with the signing of this MoU.
With the implementation of a smart policing solution to increase openness and efficiency in policing, the MoU would establish a public-private collaboration between 5ire and the Goa Police.
It will make processes more efficient and give stakeholders a more accurate picture of all events. The digitisation and digitalization of offline systems would also be aided by the MoU.

State-of-the-Art Police Command Centre Comes Up in Hyderabad

A state-of-the-art command and control centre termed "Police Towers", a nerve centre for operations and disaster management, was inaugurated by Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao.
Telangana State Police Integrated Command and Control Centre (TSPICCC), the 83.5-metre tall building, features a 480-seat auditorium, a media centre, training facilities, and conference halls spread across 6.42 lakh square feet, including parking on 2.16 lakh square feet, solar panels, STP, and a glass facade, among other amenities.
The Hyderabad Police Commissionerate is housed in Tower A - a 20 storey building and Tower B is a Technology Fusion Centre, designed to gather data from various apps, emergency response systems, such as Dial 100, social media, and highways watch from all over the state so that there can be an integrated approach.
Tower C houses an auditorium and Tower D will have a media and training centre. There is a multi-agency integrated command control centre located on Tower E's fourth, fifth, and sixth floors.
The tower houses separate chambers for the state Home Minister, state police chief and other top officials. There is also a war room on the seventh floor from where the Chief Minister can oversee disaster relief or emergency operations.

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