General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - December 2018

Dec 2018

Jul 18, 2020

MHRD Launches First Online NISHTHA Programme

Union HRD (Human Resource Development) Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and Minister of State (MoS) for HRD Sanjay Dhotre jointly launched the first online National Initiative for School Heads and Teachers Holistic Advancement (NISHTHA) programme for 1,200 key resources persons (KRPs) of Andhra Pradesh (AP), virtually from New Delhi.
Originally NISHTHA was launched in face-to-face mode in August 2019, but COVID-19 pandemic lockdown has affected the conduct of this programme, therefore, NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) has customised NISHTHA for an online mode through the DIKSHA and NISHTHA portals.
NISHTHA is organised at the elementary stage under Samagra Shiksha, a Centrally sponsored flagship programme of Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) to improve learning outcomes and holistic development of children.
NISHTHA is the world's largest teachers' training programme of its kind. 33 states and union territories launched this programme in collaboration under Samagra Shiksha.

India Speeds Up Connectivity Projects with Maldives, Bhutan and Bangladesh

India is working fast on regional connectivity projects in South Asian countries of Maldives, Bhutan and Bangladesh with the focus of generating employment and faster movement of people and goods.
The Maldives will see the expansion of Hanimaadhoo Airport under the Indian line of credit. The Line of Credit was announced during President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's State visit to India in Dec 2018 which was the first foreign visit of the leader after the election victory that year.
When it comes to Bhutan, a new trade route was opened from West Bengal's Jaigaon to Ahlay, Pasakha in Bhutan. The new land route for movement of industrial raw materials and goods destined for Pasakha Industrial Estate in Bhutan is expected to not only boost bilateral trade & commerce but also lead to decongestion of vehicular traffic along the Jaigaon-Phuentsholing route.
Minister of State for Shipping Mansukh Mandaviya Digitally flagged off the first trial container ship from Kolkata to Agartala through Chattogram Port of Bangladesh. The new route will reduce time and logistics cost for cargo movement and connect North-East India to Bangladeshi ports.

Jul 17, 2020

Bihar Assembly Polls: EC Limits Postal Ballot Facility

The EC said that the option of postal ballots would be available to electors over 80 years of age, persons with disabilities, essential service workers and those infected with COVID-19 or suspected to be.
The Election Commission said the postal ballot facility for electors above the age of 65 in the Bihar Assembly elections, which would have been the first time it would have been used since the Centre had notified it on June 19, would not be implemented.
The EC took the decision for the Assembly and the by-elections that are due soon due to logistical challenges. It had instructed Bihar authorities to limit the number of electors to 1,000 per polling station due to the pandemic, for which 34,000 additional stations are being set up.

Telangana Police Launch 'CybHER' Campaign to Tackle Cybercrime

Telangana Police launched a month-long virtual awareness campaign 'CybHER' in the wake of cybercrime against the women and children in the state.
Swati Lakra, Additional DGP incharge of women safety including 'SHE Teams' and 'Bharosa' for Telangana, told ANI, "Women Safety Wing, Telangana Police has launched 'CybHER' campaign today, to make cyberspace safe for women and children."
SHE teams are constituted to handle eve-teasing cases and 'Bharosa' is the centre for assisting women to deal with legal matters and to provide shelter to victims of trafficking.
This virtual awareness campaign covers a multitude of themes pertaining to cyber safety and aims to create awareness and offer proactive measures.
This campaign was launched by Telangana DGP Mahender Reddy, IPS and we are partnering with the legal aid cell of Symbiosis Law College.

Jul 16, 2020

Anji Khad Bridge: Indian Railways' 1st Cable-stayed Rail Bridge

According to Minister of Railways, Piyush Vedprakash Goyal, India's first cable-stayed Indian Railways bridge namely "Anji Khad Bridge" being developed by Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL), a Government of India undertaking, is all set to connect Katra and Reasi in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). The cable-stayed railway bridge is a part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, which passes through the Young Himalayas.
The USBRL project also involves the Chenab River Bridge. The Chenab Bridge once completed, will become the world's highest rail bridge.
The total length of the Anji Khad Bridge is 473.25 metres.

Congress Dissolves District, Block Committees in Rajasthan

The Congress dissolved its all district and block committees in Rajasthan in a bid to revamp the state unit of the party. Announcing the decision, AICC general secretary in-charge for the Rajasthan Congress Avinash Pande said that new committees will be formed soon.
The decision came in the wake of Sachin Pilot's sacking as the Deputy Chief Minister and the state Congress Chief. The move is considered a step forward in removing all Pilot's men holding party positions at the grassroots level.

Simanchala Dash Gets Extension as Principal Special Director, Enforcement Directorate

Senior revenue service officer Simanchala Dash was given one-year extension as Principal Special Director, Enforcement Directorate.
Dash is an Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax) officer of 1988 batch.
Dash, former Private Secretary to then Finance Minister (late) Arun Jaitley, was in March 2018 appointed as the Principal Special Director, a newly created post then.
His appointment was for two years in the Central probe agency, tasked with investigating money laundering among other related offences.
Sanjay Kumar Mishra, IRS (Income Tax) officer of 1984 batch, is the chief of the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Jul 15, 2020

Number of Malnourished Falls by 60 mn: UN

According to a UN report, the number of undernourished people in India has declined by 60 million, from 21.7 per cent of the population in 2004-06 to 14 per cent in 2017-19.
As per the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report, there were less stunted children, but more obese adults in India.
The report said the number of undernourished people in India declined from 249.4 million in 2004-06 to 189.2 million in 2017–19.
The two sub-regions showing reductions in undernourishment — eastern and southern Asia — are dominated by the two largest economies of the continent — China and India.
Despite different conditions, histories and rates of progress, the reduction in hunger in both countries stems from long-term economic growth, reduced inequality and improved access to basic goods and services.

UNICEF, India Joins Hands with FICCI to Initiate "#Reimagine Campaign"

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) India joined hands with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry's (FICCI) to initiate UNICEF's "#Reimagine Campaign" for the support of most vulnerable populations and children during the ongoing COVID-19 response and its aftermath in India. Their action plan will be based on the document that is being developed jointly by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and UNICEF for governments and businesses on the measures they can take to support the post-pandemic recovery.
Ogilvy, a New York (United States) based advertising agency is offering free of charge support in developing the creative narrative for the campaign.
FICCI-Socio Economic Development Foundation (SEDF) will reach out to its membership base to garner support for the campaign and leverage its resources like cash and core assets to mobilise funds.
The partnership will also help to avoid potential long-term damage to business operations and employment pipelines, and their most important resource, their personnel, their children and their families.

Guidelines to States, UTs Regarding Education of Migrant Workers' Children

The HRD Ministry issued guidelines to states and union territories regarding education of migrant workers' children who have returned home during the COVID-19 pandemic, asking them to ensure that their names are not struck off the school rolls.
According to the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), the states have been asked to prepare a database of children who have left the local area for their homes in other states or other parts of the same state. Such children should be noted in the database as migrated or temporarily unavailable.
The ministry has suggested the state government may direct all schools to give admission to any child who has recently returned to village without asking for any other documents, except for some identity proof.

Sachin Pilot Sacked as Rajasthan Deputy CM, State Congress President

The Congress sacked Sachin Pilot as the Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister and the state party chief. Along with Pilot, two other Rajasthan ministers who had revolted against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and supported Pilot have also been fired from the cabinet.
The decision to sack Pilot was announced by Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjeawal during a press conference. The Congress decided to show the door to Tonk MLA after he skipped a second meeting of Congress Legislative Party in Jaipur.
Former president of Sikar Congress Govind Singh Dotasra was appointed as the new chief of Rajasthan Congress. Dotasra is also a Minister of State in CM Gehlot's cabinet. Young MLA Ganesh Gogra has been appointed as the new president of Youth Congress.

Jul 14, 2020

NITI Aayog Presents India's 2nd Voluntary National Review at UN's High-Level Political Forum

NITI Aayog presented India's second Voluntary National Review (VNR) at the United Nations High-level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development, 2020.
The HLPF is the foremost international platform for follow-up and review of progress on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Dr. Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog, presented the VNR. The India VNR 2020 report titled 'Decade of Action: Taking SDGs from Global to Local' was released by NITI Aayog officials – Dr. Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman, Dr. V. K. Paul, Member, Amitabh Kant, CEO, and Sanyukta Samaddar, Adviser (SDGs).
At the HLPF this year, which is being hosted virtually in the aftermath of the COVID-19, 47 Member States are set to present their VNRs between July 10-16, 2020.
Under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the UN, the HLPF meets in July for eight days every year.
India presented its VNR along with other second time presenters like Bangladesh, Georgia, Kenya, Morocco, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, and Uganda.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan Allocates portfolios to New Ministers

Madhya Pradesh (MP) Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan allocated portfolios among 28 new ministers, who were inducted in the cabinet earlier this month , and five others inducted earlier, with senior BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia's imprint being visible in the exercise.
The current strength of the Chouhan cabinet is 34, including the CM, while one ministerial berth is still vacant. In the first cabinet expansion exercise carried out on April 21, almost a month after Chouhan assumed office for a fourth term, five ministers were inducted including two Scindia loyalists, Tulsiram Silavat and Govind Singh Rajput. The others inducted were Narottam Mishra, Kamal Patel and Meena Singh.

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