General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - May 2022

May 2022

Aug 09, 2024

Third Edition of 'Har Ghar Tiranga' Campaign

The third edition of the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign, aimed at fostering patriotism and national pride by encouraging citizens to display the national flag at their homes, will run from August 9 to August 15. This initiative has seen significant public participation in the past two years, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging citizens to continue the tradition.
Launched in 2022 under the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' program, the campaign garnered massive engagement. In its inaugural year, over 23 crore people participated, with around 6 crore selfies shared. The following year saw even greater involvement, with around 10 crore selfies uploaded.

Centre Reshuffles Senior Bureaucrats, Amit Negi Made Additional Secretary

The Centre implemented a significant top-level reshuffle, appointing senior IAS officer Amit Singh Negi as additional secretary in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). Mr. Negi, a 1999-batch IAS officer of the Uttarakhand cadre, is currently the joint secretary in the Department of Expenditure under the Union Ministry of Finance.
Key Appointments
Prime Minister's Office (PMO): Amit Singh Negi appointed as additional secretary.
Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO): Samir Ashwin Vakil appointed as director.
Election Commission of India: Maneesh Garg, Sanjay Kumar, and Ajeet Kumar appointed as deputy election commissioners.
Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT): Manisha Saxena appointed as additional secretary; Mugdha Sinha to take over as director general (tourism).
Union Ministry of Home Affairs: Ashutosh Agnihotri and Niraj Kumar Bansod appointed as additional secretary and joint secretary, respectively.

Aug 08, 2024

India to Build Green Highways with World Bank Aid

The Government of India and the World Bank joined forces to construct the Green National Highway Corridor Project (GNHCP). This project aims to build 781 km of eco-friendly highways across four states (Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh) with a focus on safety and climate resilience.
The World Bank will provide a loan of US $500 million for the project, with a total cost of US $1288.24 million (Rs. 7,662.47 crore).
The GNHCP will showcase the use of green technologies in highway construction, including:
Conservation of natural resources through recycled materials
Utilisation of local and sustainable materials like fly ash and waste plastic
Bio-engineering techniques for slope protection

Central Government Appoints Harish Dudani as Member in Central Electricity Regulatory Commission

Harish Dudani was administered Oath of Office and Secrecy as member in Central Electricity Regulatory Commission by Minister for Power.
The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) was established by the Government of India under the provisions of the Electricity Regulatory Commissions Act, 1998. CERC is the Central Commission for the purposes of the Electricity Act, 2003 which has repealed the ERC Act, 1998. The Commission consists of a Chairperson and three other Members. Additionally, Chairperson, Central Electricity Authority, is the ex-officio Member of the Commission. At present (as in 2024) Jishnu Barua is the Chairperson of the Commission.
Major functions of CERC under the Electricity Act, 2003 are, inter-alia, to regulate the tariff of generating companies owned or controlled by the Central Government, other generating companies having generation and sale of electricity in more than one State. CERC determines tariff for inter-state transmission of electricity also. CERC is mandated to issue of licenses for inter-state transmission and trading. Other functions of CERC include adjudication of disputes to promote competition, efficiency and economy in activities of electricity industry and to promote investment in electricity industry.

Controversial NCW Chief Rekha Sharma Steps Down as Tenure Ends

National Commission for Women (NCW) Chairperson Rekha Sharma stepped down from her post after her tenure came to an end.
Sharma assumed the role of women's commission chief in August 2018. She was given additional charge as the NCW chairperson from September 29, 2017, before officially becoming its chief in 2018.
Notably, Sharma's tenure was at times mired in controversy for allegedly turning a blind eye to the atrocities committed against women, especially in BJP-ruled states.
She faced criticism for her alleged inaction in violence-hit Manipur last year and has been criticised for failing to take action against alleged crimes in other BJP-ruled states or accused members affiliated with the party.

Aug 07, 2024

Haryana's Groundbreaking MSP Policy: A New Era for Farmer Support

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini made a historic announcement that could reshape agricultural policy in India. The state government declared its intention to purchase all crops at the Minimum Support Price (MSP), making Haryana the first state in the country to implement such a comprehensive MSP policy. This bold move comes at a crucial time, just ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, and is seen as a strategic effort to regain political ground following the ruling party's disappointing performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections.
The all-crops MSP procurement policy is expected to have far-reaching effects:
Income Stability: Farmers can now expect a guaranteed minimum price for their produce, regardless of market conditions.
Crop Diversification: With MSP coverage for more crops, farmers may be encouraged to experiment with different crops, potentially leading to more sustainable and varied agricultural practices.
Market Dynamics: The policy could influence market prices and potentially alter supply-demand relationships in the agricultural sector.

Rs. 920 Cr Namami Gange Mission 2.0 Projects in UP and Bihar

In a significant stride towards rejuvenating and conserving the sacred River Ganga, the Government of India has successfully completed and operationalised four major projects under the Namami Gange Mission 2.0 in the first quarter of fiscal year 2024-25. These initiatives located across the mainstream of the river Ganga in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, are pivotal in the ongoing efforts to curb pollution and enhance the ecological health of the Ganga and its tributaries.
These projects built for Rs. 920 crores, will add 145 MLD of sewage treatment capacity, provide better sewer networks, and intercept numerous drains. Designed to meet the stringent discharge standards prescribed by the National Green Tribunal, these initiatives ensure substantial improvements in the water quality of the Ganga and its tributaries.

Aug 06, 2024

India to Host BIMSTEC Business Summit

The Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India in association with Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) is hosting the 1st BIMSTEC Business Summit in New Delhi from on August 6 to 8, 2024.
The first edition of the Business Summit aims to foster greater regional collaboration through robust trade and investment relations among the member countries of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).
The Business Summit was inaugurated by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Minister of Commerce and Industries Piyush Goyal and other leaders delivered key note addresses. Several Ministers of the BIMSTEC Member States from the ambit of Trade, Commerce and Industry, as well as Energy, along with high-ranking Government officials, policy makers, entrepreneurs and industry associations participated in the event.
The BIMSTEC member states Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand are among the countries dependent on the Bay of Bengal.

Nagaland Govt, SBI General Insurance Ink MoU on Disaster Risk Management Solution

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said that his government and SBI General Insurance inked an MoU for Disaster Risk Transfer Parametric Insurance Solution (DRTPS), making Nagaland the first state in the country to implement a disaster risk management insurance solution.
Disaster Risk Transfer Parametric Insurance Solution (DRTPS) will aid in protecting the state's critical infrastructure and reduce economic losses due to a disaster.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed for a period of three years with immediate effect.
The signing of the MoU was held at the Chief Minister's Office here between the officials of SBI General Insurance and the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA).

PM Marks 5 Years of Abrogation of Articles 370 and 35(A)

On the fifth anniversary of the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35(A), Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the decision as a pivotal moment in Indian history, marking the beginning of a new era of progress and prosperity for Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and Ladakh. He emphasised that the abrogation ensured the full implementation of the Indian Constitution in these regions, aiming to enhance security, dignity, and development opportunities for marginalised communities while reducing corruption.
August 5, 2019: The Parliament of India abrogated Articles 370 and 35(A), which previously granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in its reorganisation into two Union Territories—Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

Aug 05, 2024

PM Inaugurates the 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE) at National Agricultural Science Centre (NASC) Complex, New Delhi. Around 1,000 delegates from around 75 countries took part in the conference.
The theme for this year's conference is, 'Transformation Towards Sustainable Agri-Food Systems'.
It aims to tackle the pressing need for sustainable agriculture in the face of global challenges such as climate change, natural resource degradation, rising production costs and conflicts. It aims to strengthen partnerships between research institutes and universities, influence policymaking on both national and global scales, and showcase India's agricultural progress, including advancements in digital agriculture and sustainable agri-food systems.

Former Jharkhand Minister Saryu Roy Joins JD(U)

Former Jharkhand Minister Saryu Roy joined the JD(U), an independent MLA from Jamshedpur East, joined the party in the presence of senior JD(U) leaders and Ministers Shrawan Kumar and Ashok Choudhary, who is also the JD(U)'s in-charge for Jharkhand.
This development followed a meeting between Roy and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, during which the MLA hinted at a potential alignment with JD(U) ahead of the Jharkhand assembly elections later this year (2024).
Roy, a former BJP leader, left the party before the 2019 assembly elections and achieved a notable victory over the then CM Raghubar Das, in whose cabinet he had previously served.
Roy is recognised for his role in exposing the fodder scam that significantly impacted the government of undivided Bihar in the 1990s, led by RJD president Lalu Prasad, who was later convicted.

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