General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - January 2022

Jan 2022

Nov 12, 2024

Foreign Secretary Misri Granted Extension

The tenure of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri was extended till July 2026. He was scheduled to retire on November 30. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the extension in service to Misri, a 1989-batch IFS officer. Misri had assumed charge as the Foreign Secretary on July 15. He has held important positions in the past. He has served both in the MEA and the PMO.

India's First Solar Power Storage Plant to Come Up in MP's Morena

India's first solar power storage plant will be set up soon in Madhya Pradesh's Morena. The work for constructing the storage plant, which can supply electricity during the night as well, will begin from next year and the plant will be functional by 2027. The cost of this 600 MW capacity plant, which will be built in an area of around 3,000 hectares in Morean, is expected to be around Rs. 3,500 crore.
This plant is expected to reduce the cost of electricity borne by the government to provide power for the farmers during the Rabi crop season (November to April) in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh respectively.

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Launches State's First Double-Decker Electric Bus

In a significant step toward modernising public transport and promoting eco-friendly travel, Uttar Pradesh's Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, launched the state's first double-decker electric bus at the Aakanksha Haat programme held at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan.
This initiative aims not only to tackle the growing traffic problems in urban areas but also to contribute toward environmental conservation. The launch event, marked by the CM's announcement of discounted fares for women passengers, was met with immense enthusiasm, underlining the state government's commitment to promoting sustainable transportation solutions

Nov 11, 2024

Special Webinar Spotlights Citizen-Centric Services by Panchayati Raj Institutions

As part of the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG)'s National e-Governance Webinar Series (NeGW 2023–24), a Special Webinar on Citizen-Centric Services provided by Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) was held. The webinar was co-chaired by V. Srinivas, Secretary, DARPG, and Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR), who delivered keynote remarks, sharing key insights and outlining the vision for the pivotal role of PRIs in delivering essential services to rural citizens.
This webinar sought to emphasise the crucial role that Panchayats, as the third tier of local self-government, play in rural governance, particularly in ensuring the timely and effective delivery of essential services to rural citizens. The focus was on prioritising citizen-centric interventions to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of services, enhancing the overall governance at the grassroots level.
Panchayati Raj Institutions, operating at the grassroots level, are at the forefront of governance, ensuring that government schemes, welfare programs, and citizen services reach every corner of rural India.

Nov 10, 2024

Harsha Vardhan Agarwal to Take Over as FICCI President from Nov 21

Agarwal is currently serving as the Senior Vice President of FICCI. He will succeed Anish Shah as the President of FICCI.
The FICCI National Executive Committee Meeting (NECM) has officially announced Harsha Vardhan Agarwal as the President-Elect of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), one of India's leading industry bodies. Agarwal, who currently serves as the Senior Vice President of FICCI, is set to assume the role of President on November 21, 2024.
Harsha Vardhan Agarwal is a second-generation leader of Emami Group, a diversified business conglomerate with a valuation of USD 3.1 billion. He is the Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Emami Limited, a key FMCG business under the Emami Group.

Nov 09, 2024

Bengaluru Unveils First Digital Population Clock at ISEC

The Institute for Social and Economic Change's (ISEC) Population Research Centre launched a digital population clock and Census Data Research Workstation to provide real-time estimates of the population of Karnataka and India.
The clock is the first-of-its-kind in the region, jointly set up by ISEC and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India. Using an inbuilt satellite connection for precise timekeeping, the clock will update the estimated population every two seconds for India and every one minute and 10 seconds for Karnataka. The clock is stationed near the institute's main gate.
This initiative was inaugurated by Kal Singh, Director General (Statistics Division), and Rakesh Kumar Maurya, Deputy Director General (DDG, Statistics Division) of the Health Ministry, and Sukhadeo Thorat, Chairman, Board of Governors, ISEC.

Govt Reconstitutes Central Apprenticeship Council

In a move to enhance apprenticeship programs across India, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) restructured the Central Apprenticeship Council (CAC), tasked with reforming existing rules and promoting industry adoption of on-the-job training. This reconstituted council, with a three-year mandate, is designed to bolster apprenticeship opportunities and encourage workforce development.
The new CAC includes 54 members, representing industry associations, PSUs, state governments, and independent experts. This is an increase from the previous 46 members when the council was last constituted in March 2019. Notable among the expanded membership are six PSUs, including Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), South Eastern Coalfields, Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited, and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Major private-sector employers like TATA Group, Maruti Suzuki, Reliance Industries, Toyota, and the Indian Banks Association are also represented.
According to the MSDE notification, MSDE Minister Jayant Chaudhary will chair the new council, with Rajya Sabha MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney serving as the vice-chairman—a shift from the previous structure, where the Union Minister of State for MSDE held the vice-chairman position.

Hurun India Philanthropy List 2024, Check Top 10 Philanthropists

With a donation of Rs. 2,153 crore, HCL Technologies founder Shiv Nadar and family retained their position as the top donor in India on the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2024. Their donations were primarily directed in the area of education. Following them among the top five donors are Mukesh Ambani and family, the Bajaj family, Kumar Mangalam Birla and family, and Gautam Adani and family. Together, these philanthropists contributed roughly 53 per cent, roughly Rs. 4,625 crore, of total contributions in India this year (2024).
The report, compiled by Hurun Research, also showed an increase in high-value donations, with 18 philanthropists donating over Rs. 100 crore each - up from only two in 2018.

Nov 08, 2024

Bihar's Sultanganj Station Gets New Name Ajgaibinath Dham

Sultanganj railway station in Bihar's Bhagalpur district is set to be renamed in honour of the revered Hindu shrine, Ajgaibinath Dham. The announcement was made by Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader, Samrat Choudhary. He revealed that the proposal to rename the station was approved by the municipal council of Bhagalpur.
The renaming of the railway station aims to enhance the importance of the shrine and promote tourism in the region.

MEA Confirms India as Headquarters for Biofuel Alliance

In a significant development for the renewable energy sector, India officially signed the Host Country Agreement (HCA) with the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA), paving the way for the establishment of the Alliance's Secretariat in India. The agreement was signed by Dammu Ravi, Secretary (Economic Relations) from the Ministry of External Affairs, and Pankaj Jain, Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, who is also the Interim Director General of the GBA.
The agreement enables the GBA to set up its Secretariat in India, staffed by a mix of Indian and international personnel.
This establishment will facilitate the GBA in achieving its goals related to biofuel promotion and development.
The GBA was launched on September 9, 2023, during India's G20 Presidency, initiated by the Indian Prime Minister and leaders from eight other countries.
Founding members include Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Italy, Mauritius, Singapore, the UAE, and the USA.

First Integrated Check Post along India-Bhutan Opens in Assam

The first Integrated Check Post (ICP) along the India-Bhutan border was inaugurated at Darranga in Assam.
Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya inaugurated the ICP in presence of Prime Minister of Bhutan Dasho Tshering Tobgay.
ICP Darranga, sprawling across 14.5 acres and located about 700 metres from the India-Bhutan border, is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities including an office complex, parking areas, loading and unloading zones, a weighbridge, a warehouse, and residential quarters for officials.

$200 Million Deal Signed to Enhance Uttarakhand's Green Mobility and Urban Infrastructure

The Indian government signed a $200 million loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to enhance urban infrastructure and improve essential services in Uttarakhand. The initiative aims to modernise water supply systems, sanitation, urban mobility, and other key public amenities, thereby fostering sustainable development in the state.
During the loan agreement signing, Juhi Mukherjee, Joint Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs, noted that the project aligns with India's urban development agenda and supports Uttarakhand's efforts to enhance urban services, aiming to improve livability and sustainability in cities.

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