General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - December 2018

Dec 2018

Jul 15, 2025

Sarbananda Sonowal Inaugurates the Second Edition of the BIMSTEC Ports Conclave

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the second edition of the BIMSTEC Ports Conclave in Visakhapatnam, outlining a bold and collaborative vision to transform the Bay of Bengal into a vibrant hub of global trade, cruise tourism, and sustainable development.
The two-day conclave, attended by representatives from all seven BIMSTEC nations—Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand—brought together policymakers, port authorities, maritime experts, private stakeholders, and academics to chart a shared maritime future for the region.
Sonowal described the BIMSTEC Ports Conclave as a springboard for unlocking the potential of the Blue Economy.
The conclave builds upon the momentum of the first BIMSTEC Ports Conclave and aims to operationalise the BIMSTEC Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation (AMTC), which India was the first to ratify.
A major announcement at the event was the establishment of a BIMSTEC Sustainable Maritime Transport Centre in Powai, Mumbai. This centre, to be set up under the Indian Ocean Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Maritime Transport (IOCE-SMarT), will be key to operationalising the AMTC agreement.

Centre Appoints Dr. Abhijat Sheth as New NMC Chief

The Central Government appointed Dr. Abhijat Sheth as the new Chairperson of the National Medical Commission (NMC). The move came at a time when the medical regulator is under scrutiny following a corruption probe involving several officials. Dr Sheth takes over from Dr. B. N. Gangadhar, who resigned earlier but stayed in office due to a lack of suitable replacements.
The National Medical Commission (NMC) is the top body that regulates medical education in India. Its role is very important in ensuring quality and fairness in how doctors are trained and medical colleges operate.

President Appoints New Governors for Haryana, Goa and is L-G for Ladakh

The President of India appointed new Governors for the states of Haryana and Goa, along with a new Lieutenant Governor of Union Territory of Ladakh.
President Droupadi Murmu accepted the resignation of Brig. BD Mishra (Retd.) as the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member Kavinder Gupta was appointed as the new Lt Governor of Ladakh replacing Mishra.
Ashim Kumar Ghosh and Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju have been appointed as the new Governors of Haryana and Goa, respectively.
Professor Ghosh is an academic and political thinker, who succeeded Bandaru Dattatreya in Haryana.
Raju is a veteran politician and has served as the Union Minister for Civil Aviation. He succeeded P. S. Sreedharan Pillai in Goa.

Jul 14, 2025

MoS Pankaj Chaudhary Inaugurates Trade Facilitation Conference 2025

Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary inaugurated the Trade Facilitation Conference 2025 in New Delhi. The event, held under the theme "Scientific Excellence for Seamless Trade," aimed to strengthen India's trade processes through efficient testing and compliance systems. This was the first-ever conference of its kind, bringing together over 400 participants.
The Trade Facilitation Conference 2025 was organised by the Central Revenues Control Laboratory (CRCL) and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC). The main focus of the conference was to explore how scientific testing, compliance standards, and modern laboratories can help make India's trade faster, safer, and easier.

Four Picked for Rajya Sabha

Legal luminary Ujwal Nikam, Kerala RSS and BJP leader C. Sadanandan Master, distinguished diplomat Harsh Vardhan Shringla and historian Meenakshi Jain were nominated to the Rajya Sabha by President Droupadi Murmu.
The choice of nominees reflects the BJP-led NDA government's messaging to poll-bound Kerala and West Bengal as well as a reward for ideological commitment, reclamation of indigenous narratives and nationalistic pursuits. These nominations fill all 12 Rajya Sabha seats in the category where the President nominates individuals with domain expertise.

Assam CM inaugurates Nation's First ever Aqua Tech Park

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated India's first water technology park named 'Aqua Tech Park' established through collaborative efforts at Bagibari Sonapur.
The 'Aqua Tech Park' is set up by Kolong-Kapili in association with NABARD, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA), Fishery Department and Selco Foundation.
The park showcases advanced technologies in aquaponics, biofloc system, modern fish production, ornamental fish breeding and other innovative areas.

Jul 12, 2025

Uttarakhand Launches Operation Kalanemi against Fake Saints

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced the launch of 'Operation Kalanemi', a police operation to take strict action against people pretending to be saints. These fake spiritual leaders are accused of cheating the public and harming the image of Sanatana Dharma. The move is aimed at protecting religious harmony and stopping fraud in the name of faith.

Jul 11, 2025

First Namibia Visit by Indian PM in Nearly Three Decades

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Namibia, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the African nation in nearly three decades.
Namibia's rich reserves of uranium, copper, cobalt, rare earth minerals and its recent oil discoveries are drawing renewed global attention. The country is the world's fourth-largest producer of uranium oxide, which fuels the nuclear industry, and also produces zinc and gem-quality diamonds. With growing global demand for clean energy and battery storage, Namibia's potential to develop new mining projects for cobalt, lithium, and rare earth elements has gained fresh relevance.

Jul 10, 2025

The 11th Maize Summit

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan opened the 11th India Maize Summit in New Delhi, organised by FICCI and the Indian Institute of Maize Research (IIMR). He shared the government's new vision for a "Maize Revolution" to improve farmers' income, boost maize production, and support sustainable farming. The event highlighted key programs and partnerships shaping India's maize sector.

Commemorative Stamp Released to Mark 125th Birth Anniversary of Syama Prasad Mookerjee

The Department of Posts, Government of India, released a commemorative postage stamp to mark the 125^th birth anniversary of Syama Prasad Mookerjee, a prominent educationist, statesman, and founder of Bharatiya Jana Sangh. The unveiling ceremony was held at the Siri Fort Auditorium in the national capital.
Organised by the Ministry of Culture, the event paid tribute to Mookerjee's legacy through cultural performances, exhibitions, and a theatrical presentation. The stamp was formally released by Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology Jitendra Singh.

Union Minister Pradhan Inaugurates Agritech Innovation Hub in Meerut

In a move to revolutionise agriculture through innovation and digital technology, Union Minister for Education, Dharmendra Pradhan, along with Minister of State for Education and Skill Development, Jayant Chaudhary, inaugurated the Uttar Pradesh Agritech Innovation Hub and the Agritech Start-up and Technology Showcase at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology (SVPUAT), Meerut.
This initiative is envisioned as a collaborative platform that connects farmers, technologists, start-ups, and academia, aiming to deliver sustainable, region-specific agricultural solutions.

PM Modi Concludes Five-Nation Tour

On July 2, Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on an eight-day, five-nation tour across two continents, covering Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia. During his tour, his focus areas included defence, rare earth minerals, cooperation on counter-terrorism, and South-South cooperation.

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