General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - December 2018

Dec 2018

Jan 14, 2021

Mumbai Second most Congested City in the World after Moscow

According to the latest report released by TomTom Traffic index which conducted a study in 416 cities across 57 countries, Mumbai was the second most congested city in the world after Moscow in 2020 in terms of traffic.
Bengaluru and New Delhi - ranked sixth and eighth respectively in the list of most congested cities.
Mumbai's position worsened from the fourth spot in 2019 and 2018. Bengaluru improved its position from fifth to sixth with 51 per cent of congestion compared to 71 per cent in 2019.
According to TomTom data, drivers in Mumbai spend an average of 53 per cent extra travel time because of the traffic congestion. Other global cities that feature among the top 10 include Manila from The Philippines, Bogota from Colombia, Moscow and Novosibirsk from Russia, Kyiv in Ukraine, Lima from Peru, Istanbul from Turkey and Jakarta from Indonesia.

B. S. Yediyurappa Expands Cabinet, 7 New Ministers Take Oath

Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa expanded his cabinet, inducting seven new ministers. This comes after days of hectic parleys and discussions, including with the central leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Those who took oath are: MTB Nagaraj, Umesh Katti, Aravind Limbavali, Murugesh Nirani, R. Shankar, C.P. Yogeeshwara and Angara S.
This was the third expansion of the cabinet since Yediyurappa assumed charge in July last year after the collapse of the Congress-JD(S) government in the wake of revolt by 17 MLAs of the coalition partners.

Dr Ajay Kumar Co-chairs 13th India-Vietnam Defence Security Dialogue

The 13th India-Vietnam Defence Security Dialogue was held in a virtual format. The virtual event was co-chaired by Defence Secretary Dr. Ajay Kumar along with Vietnamese Sr. Lt Gen Nguyen Chi Vinh, Deputy Defence Minister, Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
Defence Secretary and the Deputy Defence Minister expressed satisfaction at the ongoing defence cooperation between the two countries in spite of the limitations imposed by COVID 19.
Both countries exchanged views on the plan of action from the recently concluded Virtual Summit between Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam H.E. Nguyen Xuan Phuc in December 2020.
Both the sides reviewed the progress on various bilateral defence cooperation initiatives and expressed commitment to further elevate engagements between the Armed Forces under the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Both sides agreed that in the recent past our respective countries have made notable strides in Defence Industry and Technology cooperation and look forward to even greater cooperation in this field.

First time in History, Union Budget 2021 to be Paperless

Union Budget 2021, slated to be presented on February 1, is going to be completely paperless in the wake of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. This will be the first time since independence that the budget papers will not be printed. The Centre has received permission for the same from both houses of parliament. The decision has been taken as several people (approximately 100) would be required to stay at the printing press for around a fortnight amid the COVID-19 fear.
The budget papers are usually printed at the ministry's in-house printing press in the North Block. This year's budget may reportedly witness several conventions being broken as the traditional 'Halwa' ceremony, which is a given every year is also not likely to take place, or a low-key function may be held with limited gathering in attendance.

Jan 13, 2021

India-Bangladesh Agree to Enhance Fight against Global Terrorist Groups

India and Bangladesh agreed to enhance the fight against terrorist entities, including global terrorist groups as well as other fugitives, wherever they are present and active.
The first delegation-level virtual police chiefs' dialogue between India and Bangladesh also agreed to establish designated 'nodal points' for timely and effective handling and response to existing as well as emerging security and counter-terrorism challenges.
Both sides reiterated the need for sharing of real time intelligence and feedback through the designated 'nodal points', while appreciating each other's ongoing action against insurgent groups operating in the region.

BJP Gets a Boost in Darjeeling with a Clutch of GJM Leaders Joining It

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) received a shot in the arm in the Darjeeling hills when some leaders of its former partner, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), joined the saffron camp.
The BJP which won the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat in 2009, retained it in 2014 and 2019 with support from local political parties, the most important among which was the undivided GJM led by Bimal Gurung.
The GJM split in 2017 when Gurung, who was charged under anti-terror law by the West Bengal government for the violent Gorkhaland movement, went into hiding. One faction of the party, headed by Binoy Tamang, became an ally of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and it currently runs the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA).

Suriname's President to be Chief Guest at Republic Day 2021

Chandrikapersad Santokhi, Indian-origin President of Suriname, will be the chief guest at India's Republic Day Parade on January 26, 2021. The news comes after UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson cancelled his visit to India.
The Suriname President was earlier the Chief Guest at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention, which was conducted by the Ministry of External Affairs.
Chandrikapersad Santokhi was sworn in as the 9th President of the Republic of Suriname in July 2020 after his party- Progressive Reform Party won the 2020 General Elections by claiming 20 out of the total 51 seats.

Jan 12, 2021

Preeti Pant Panel to Study Adverse Findings of NFHS-5

The Health and Family Welfare Ministry has set up a technical expert group to examine the adverse findings from the National Family Health Survey-5 and recommend programmatic and policy interventions to improve indicators pertaining to malnutrition, stunting, anaemia, and C-section.
The committee is chaired by Joint Secretary Preeti Pant and includes experts from medicine and nutrition. There are also State programme officers from Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
The technical expert group is to meet regularly and share its recommendations as soon as possible.

SC Advises Nagaland Lokayukta to Resign

Nagaland Lokayukta Uma Nath Singh, the state's anti-corruption ombudsman, was advised by the Supreme Court to step down from his position given the spate of controversies the former High Court Chief Justice has been embroiled in.
The state government has sought removal of the Lokayukta, alleging various acts of impropriety and unjustified personal demands by him. Its petition contended that the Lokayukta has continued to work online from Delhi even though the chief secretary did not approve of this.

Jan 11, 2021

Labour Ministry Likely to Give Shape to National Employment Policy by December

The Ministry of Labour and Employment is likely to give a shape to the National Employment Policy (NEP) by December this year following the implementation of four labour codes and completion of four major surveys.
The NEP will draw a broad road map for improving job opportunities in the country, mainly by various initiatives like skill development, bringing investment in employment intensive segments and other policy interventions.
Last year, Parliament passed three labour codes on Industrial Relations, Social Security and Occupational Health Safety & Working Conditions (OSH).
The Code on Wages was approved by Parliament last year and its rules have been firmed up. But the implementation of the rules for Code on Wages was held back because the government wanted to implement all four labour codes in one go. These four codes are likely to be implemented from April 1 this year.

Jan 10, 2021

Election Commission Announces Dates for Legislative Council by-polls

The Election Commission of India announced the dates for by-polls to three seats of the legislative councils in Andhra Pradesh and Bihar. The election body also issued notification for biennial polls for 12 seats of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council.
According to the election commission, these elections will be held on January 28 between 9 am to 4 pm and the counting of votes will take place on the same day at 5 pm. The last date for filing nominations for the polls is January 18.

SC Issues Notices On Plea Against Merger Of 6 BSP MLAs With Cong

The Supreme Court issued notice to Rajasthan assembly Speaker, assembly secretary and the six Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLAs who merged with the Congress in September 2019, over two separate petitions.
The bench of Justices S Abdul Nazeer and KM Joseph was hearing two petitions filed by BSP, and BJP MLA Madan Dilawar against the August 24 last year order passed by the state high court.
The high court had dismissed BSP's petition against the September 18, 2019 order passed by the Assembly Speaker approving the merger.
Senior advocate Satish Chandra Mishra, appearing for BSP, said that the merger of the six MLAs with Congress cannot be recognised as past rulings of the SC have clearly held that for this to be true, there should be a split in the party at the national level. "Only then, one-third of party members can merge with any political party," Mishra said.

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