General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - June 2021

Jun 2021

Jun 02, 2021

India and Australia Look Forward to Convening 2+2 Dialogue Soon

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Australian counterpart Peter Dutton held a telephonic conversation during which they reviewed the progress of various defence cooperation initiatives between the two countries, and resolved to convene a '2+2' ministerial dialogue at the earliest.
Both ministers reviewed the defence cooperation in the backdrop of the current regional situation and expressed satisfaction at the growing military ties between the two countries.
The '2+2 dialogue' between the Foreign and Defence Ministers was instituted as part of an overall goal to expand strategic cooperation between the two countries. India has such a framework for talks with a very few countries including the US and Japan.

IUML Moves SC against Move to Grant citizenship to Minorities

The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has moved the Supreme Court against the Centre's move to grant citizenship to minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh currently residing in 13 districts in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Haryana and Punjab.
In an application filed in the top court, the IUML accused the Centre of going back on the assurance given to the court, which is seized of its petition challenging the validity of the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019. The Centre had said staying the CAA was not necessary as the rules had not been framed, it pointed out.

RDSO Becomes First Standards Body to Join 'One Nation, One Standard' Scheme

Lucknow-based RDSO, which sets standards for the railway sector, has become the first standards body in the country to join the central government's 'One Nation, One Standard' scheme that aims to ensure quality products to Indian consumers.
The Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) has now been recognised as a 'Standard Developing Organisation' by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), which is implementing the scheme.
The partnership will help RDSO, the sole R&D wing of the railways ministry, to realign its standard formulation procedures as per the code of good practices mentioned under the WTO-Technical Barriers to Trade (WTO-TBT).
The recognition will be valid for three years.
The objective of the government's 'One Nation, One Standard' scheme, launched in 2019, is to ensure there is a synergy and no overlap in the standardisation work in the country, thereby building a 'Brand India' identity in the long run.

Dr. Vinay K. Nandicoori Appointed as Director of Cellular and Molecular Biology

Dr. Vinay K Nandicoori was appointed as the new Director of the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad.
Nandicoori is a well-known molecular biologist and has been a scientist at the DBT-National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi.
His research interest extensively spans molecular signalling networks in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the micro-organism that causes TB. His research has found national and international relevance and recognition.

Swapan Dasgupta Renominated to Rajya Sabha

BJP's Swapan Dasgupta, who had resigned from Rajya Sabha to contest West Bengal assembly election, was renominated to the Upper House of the parliament by President Ram Nath Kovind.
Dasgupta will complete the remainder of his term till April 24, 2022, as per the President's order.
The BJP leader contested the state election from Tarakeswar constituency where he lost to TMC's Ramendu Sinharay.
The central government has also nominated noted lawyer Mahesh Jethmalani. Jethmalani has been nominated to Rajya Sabha to fill the seat that has fallen vacant due to the demise of Raghunath Mohapatra for the reminder his term.

Jun 01, 2021

Kuldiep Singh Gets Additional Charge of NIA

CRPF chief Kuldiep Singh has been given the additional charge of the Director-General of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and replaced Y. C. Modi, who retired.
Modi, a 1984-batch IPS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, was appointed chief of the federal anti-terror probe agency in September 2017.
Consequent upon superannuation of Y. C. Modi, DG, NIA, on May 31, 2021, the competent authority has approved that Kuldiep Singh, Director General, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), shall hold additional charge of the post of DG, NIA, till the appointment and joining of the successor or until further orders.

Maharashtra Govt. Extends EWS Quota to Marathas

The Maharashtra government extended benefits under the economically weaker section (EWS) quota to the Maratha community, days after the Supreme Court scrapped a separate reservation in jobs and education for the dominant social group.
A government order (GO) to this effect was issued by the General Administration Department (GAD).
At present, a 10 per cent EWS quota is in force for those sections of the society which are not covered by any kind of reservations. The central law on the EWS quota was enacted more than two years ago to allow reservation for the poor in jobs and education among the general category.
The GAD order said that the Maratha community, which has been classified as a Socially and Economically Backward Class (SEBC), can avail the 10 per cent EWS quota.

Alapan Bandopadhyay Retires as Bengal Chief Secretary

West Bengal Chief Secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay retired from his office and simultaneously appointed Chief Advisor to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in a media briefing announced that she has appointed Alapan Bandopadhyay as her chief advisor for the next three years. Meanwhile, H. K. Dwivedi has been appointed as the Chief Secretary of the state.

CBDT Chairman Mody's Tenure Ends; Mohapatra Given Additional Charge

J. B. Mohapatra, a 1985-batch Indian Revenue Service officer, was given the additional charge as CBDT chairman after the extended tenure of incumbent P. C. Mody ended.
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) frames policy for the Income Tax Department.
As per the order issued by the department of revenue, which is under the Union finance ministry, Jagannath Bidyadhar Mohapatra, member CBDT, shall discharge the duties and responsibilities of the post of chairman, CBDT, in addition to his own duties for a period of three months or till appointment of a regular chairman, whichever is earlier.

EAM Jaishankar to Chair BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is scheduled to chair a meeting of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) Foreign Ministers through video conferencing. In this meeting, the leaders will exchange views on COVID-19 pandemic, global and regional issues of concern, sustainable development, and countering terrorism.
India as the current BRICS Chair will convene the standalone meeting of BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs/ International Relations on June 1, 2021.
Brazil Minister of Foreign Affairs Carlos Alberto Franco Franca, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and South African Foreign Minister Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor are expected to participate in the meeting.

Justice Vikramjit Sen to Head Digital Media Content Regulatory Council

The Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) appointed former Supreme Court judge Justice Vikramjit Sen as the Chairman of its newly formed self-regulatory body Digital Media Content Regulatory Council (DMCRC).
Besides, six other eminent industry members which include filmmaker Nikkhil Advani, writer and director Tigmanshu Dhulia, filmmaker and writer Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, content producer and distributor Banijay Group CEO and founder Deepak Dhar would also be part of the self-regulatory body.
This Council also includes - Sony Pictures General Counsel Ashok Nambisan and Star and Disney India Chief Regional Counsel Mihir Rale.

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