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NATIONAL AFFAIRS - December 2018

Dec 2018

Feb 27, 2021

Jaishankar and Wang Discuss 'Moscow Pact'

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and discussed the implementation of their 'Moscow Agreement' on the border standoff in eastern Ladakh as well as reviewed the status of disengagement.
A five-point agreement was reached between Jaishankar and Wang at a meeting in Moscow on September 10 on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) conclave.
The pact included measures like quick disengagement of troops, avoiding action that could escalate tensions, adherence to all agreements and protocols on border management and steps to restore peace along the Line of Actual Control.

Govt. Tightens Grip over OTT Content

OTT platforms should self-classify the content into five age based categories --- U (Universal), U/A, (people above 7 years), U/A above (13 years), U/A (above 16 years), and A (all the adults), said the government while announcing guidelines for these platforms.
Platforms would be required to implement parental locks for content classified as U/A 13+ or higher, and reliable age verification mechanisms for content classified as A.
The publisher of online curated content would also be required to display the classification rating specific to each content or programme together with a content descriptor informing the user about the nature of the content, and advising on viewer description (if applicable) at the beginning of every programme enabling the user to make an informed decision, prior to watching the programme.
The government also said OTT platforms must have self-regulatory body/ies, and it must be headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court, a High Court or independent eminent person and have not more than six members.

Feb 26, 2021

Former India Player Ashoke Dinda Joins BJP

Former India player Ashoke Dinda joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, hours after another cricketer Manoj Tiwary was included in the Trinamool Congress.
Ashoke Dinda began his political journey in the presence of Union Minister Babul Supriyo and West Bengal BJP vice-president Arjun Singh.
Ashoke Dinda and Manoj Tiwary's political innings begin months ahead of the West Bengal assembly election, which is likely to take place in April or May.

Union Cabinet Approves President's Rule in Puducherry

The Union Cabinet approved a proposal to impose President's Rule in Puducherry, after the Congress-led government in the union territory lost a vote of confidence motion in Puducherry Assembly.
Announcing the Cabinet's decision, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said that the decision was taken as no party had claimed to form a government following the resignation of Chief Minister V. Narayansamy.

Feb 25, 2021

PM to Inaugurate Multiple Development projects in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Tamil Nadu and Puducherry to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of various development initiatives. The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for 4 laning of NH45-A - 56 km Sattanathapuram - Nagapattinam package of Villupuram to Nagapattinam project covering Karaikal district in Puducherry.
The capital cost to be incurred in this project is about Rs. 2,426 crores. He will also lay the foundation stone of the Medical College Building at Karaikal New Campus - Phase I, Karaikal District (JIPMER). The estimated cost of the project is Rs. 491 crore.

Gujarat Civic Polls: BJP Retains Power

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swept elections to six municipal corporations in Gujarat by winning 483 out of 576 seats.
The ruling party retained power in all the six municipal corporations in the state -- Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Jamnagar and Bhavnagar.
The main opposition Congress got a drubbing, as it won only 55 seats and failed even to open an account in Surat.
On the other hand, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) put up an impressive show by winning 27 seats, all in Surat, and emerged as the main opposition in the Surat Municipal Corporation.
The AAP had for the first time fielded 470 candidates across all six corporations.

India 2nd Biggest Target of Cybercriminals in Asia Pacific in 2020

According to an IBM report, India was the second most attacked country by cyber criminals after Japan in Asia Pacific in 2020.
In 2020, IBM Security X-Force observed attackers pivoting their attacks to businesses for which global COVID-19 response efforts heavily relied on, such as hospitals, medical and pharmaceutical manufacturers, as well as energy companies powering the COVID-19 supply chain.
India was the second most attacked country in the Asia Pacific. Attacks on India made up 7 per cent of all attacks X-Force observed on Asia in 2020.
Finance and insurance was the top attacked industry in India (60 per cent), followed by manufacturing and professional services.

India Reminds Turkey of UNSC Resolution on Cyprus

In a strong message to Turkey, India reminded Turkey of United Nations Security Council or UNSC resolutions on Cyprus after the latter raked UNSC resolutions on Kashmir.
India's Second Secretary, Permanent Mission of India to the UN, Geneva, Seema Pujani said, "As far as the subject of UN Resolutions is concerned, we would advise Turkey to practise what it preaches by first implementing those UN Resolutions that apply to it."
UNSC's resolution on Cyprus has been a cause of embarrassment to Turkey even as it continues to occupy the northern part of the island nation in the Mediterranean Sea. Turkey in the past, especially after India removed special status for the erstwhile state for Jammu and Kashmir has been supporting Pakistani "cause" at various multilateral organizations especially the UN.

Feb 24, 2021

Kushinagar Becomes Third International Airport in UP

Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced that Uttar Pradesh got its third international airport in the form of Kushinagar. Puri said that this will help boost tourism in the region.
Kushinagar Airport will boost tourism in the region & facilitate travel on Buddhist circuit by providing direct aviation connectivity to the city where Lord Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana.
The airport is located in the vicinity of several Buddhist cultural sites like Sravasti, Kapilvastu and Lumbini. The other two international airports in Uttar Pradesh are Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport of Lucknow and Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport of Varanasi. Another one is being built in Jewar, Greater Noida.

Chhattisgarh: Peace Panel Formed for Dialogue with Maoists and the State

Activists, journalists and social workers constituted a peace committee to initiate dialogue between Maoists and the government with the objective of attaining lasting peace in Maoist-affected regions of Chhattisgarh.
The committee named Concerned Citizens' Committee of Chhattisgarh (4Cs), comprises 11 members who will lead the negotiations with the state and the Maoists, while bringing them on a common platform.
Former Union minister Arvind Netam, former chairperson of the SC/ST Commission Nandkumar Sai, leader of Sarv Adivasi Samaj B Rawte, Communist Party of India (CPI) leader in Bastar, Manish Kunjam, executive president of the Sarv Adiwasi Samaj B.S Rawte, journalists Diwakar Muktibodh, Kamal Shukla, social worker Virendra Pandey, Indu Girish Pankaj, and RD Rao are panel members.
Peace activist Shubhranshu Chaudhary has been made the convenor of the committee.

340-km RRR around Hyderabad to be Longest Bypass in India

The road transport and highways ministry gave 'in principle' nod for the 340 km 'Regional Ring Road' (RRR) around Hyderabad, which will connect all districts of Telangana with the state capital. The RRR, a four-lane access-controlled highway will cost Rs. 16,000 crore. This will be the longest bypass in India.
Announcing the decision at Union minister Nitin Gadkari's home, junior home minister G Kishan Reddy said, "Gadkariji has assured us the road will be built in three years once state acquires land. We are urging state government to take proactive steps to fast-track it for development of Telangana."
In November 2016, the highways' ministry had given 'in principle' nod for declaring the two parts of RRR – northern and southern — as national highway. Monday's decision has now paved the way for land acquisition and preparatory work.
The RRR is to be taken up in two parts. The northern part of 158 km, connecting Sangareddy, Narasapur, Toopran, Gajwel, Yadadri, Pragnapur, Bhongir and Choutuppal will be taken up at a tentative cost of Rs. 7,560 crore. It will be totally funded by the Centre and another Rs. 1,961 crore will be spent for land acquisition. The state government has agreed to bear 50% of the land acquisition and pre-construction cost.

Feb 23, 2021

Haryana Congress to Move No-confidence Motion against BJP-JJP Govt.

- Amid the ongoing farmers' protest against the Central agri laws, Congress leader and former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said that the party has decided to bring a no-confidence motion against the BJP-JJP government in Haryana.
- The Congress leader claimed that two independent MLAs who were supporting the Haryana government, have withdrawn their support.
- The comments came days after Hooda held a march to the Governor's house and demanded a special session of Assembly to move a no-confidence motion against the government.

Narayanaswamy Resigns as Puducherry CM after Losing Majority in Assembly

Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanaswamy submitted his resignation to Lieutenant Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan as his Congress-led government lost the majority ahead of the floor test in the Assembly.
Speaker VP Sivakolundhu announced that the Chief Minister could not prove his majority in the Assembly and adjourned the house sine die. The Treasury benches also raised the issue of voting rights to nominated MLAs.
He alleged that former Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi and the Central government colluded with the Opposition in a bid to topple his government in the Union territory.

Prakash Javadekar Inaugurates Atal Paryavaran Bhavan

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar inaugurated the Atal Paryavaran Bhavan at Lakshadweep. He said that Lakshadweep will undergo a comprehensive development, without compromising its commitment to nature.
He attended high level meetings with Secretaries of various departments in Lakshadweep administration. Tomorrow and day after tomorrow he will take part in various official programmes at Suheli, Kadmat and Bangaram islands. He will also evaluate the major innovative initiatives of the Union Territory's Forest and Environment Department.

Mehbooba Mufti Re-elected PDP President

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti was unanimously re-elected as the president of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for a three-year term. Mufti's name was proposed by senior leader Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura and seconded by Khurshid Alam, a party spokesperson said after the election. Senior leader Surinder Chaudhary was the returning officer for the election.
After getting re-elected, she said, "PDP is born to fight for the rights of people. Let IGP Kashmir do his duty, I will do mine." Reacting to the statement of the IGP Kashmir that political activists are trying to instigate people, Mehbooba said, "I have talked for the people right all the problems people are facing I have to talk about that and if the IGP thinks I am doing against law then let him do his duty, I will do my duty."

BJP Wins Both Seats: Gujarat

BJP nominees Dineshchandra Anavadiya and Rambhai Mokariya were declared elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Gujarat as the opposition Congress did not field candidates for the two vacant seats, one of which was held by its veteran leader Ahmed Patel.
The two seats had fallen vacant following the demise of the sitting MPs belonging to the Congress and the BJP.
One of the seats was held by veteran Congressman Ahmed Patel since 1993 till his death on November 25 last year due to complications related to COVID-19.
The other seat fell vacant as BJP's Abhay Bharadwaj, a first time MP elected to the RS in 2019, too, died in December 1, 2020.

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