General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - May 2022

May 2022

Feb 17, 2024

Hindon Elevated Road Renamed 'Ram Setu'

The 10.3 km Hindon elevated road, connecting Ghaziabad's Raj Nagar Extension with UP Gate near east Delhi, will now be known as Ram Setu, the officials of the Ghaziabad municipal corporation announced, after the executive committee cleared the proposal moved by mayor Sunita Dayal to rename the elevated stretch.
The road also acts as a bypass for vehicles coming from Delhi and moving to western Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
The move to name the elevated road came on the heels of the corporation approving in January a proposal to rename Ghaziabad city with a name that is to be chosen by the state government. That proposal was moved by the Bharatiya Janata Party councillor Sanjay Singh.

DoT Launches 'Sangam: Digital Twin' Initiative for Transformative Infrastructure Planning

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) introduces the 'Sangam: Digital Twin' initiative, calling upon industry leaders, start-ups, MSMEs, academia, and innovators to join hands in reshaping infrastructure planning and design through cutting-edge technologies and collaborative efforts.
DoT's pioneering venture invites Expressions of Interest (EoI) from diverse stakeholders.
Digital Twin technology facilitates virtual replication of physical assets for real-time monitoring and analysis.
Objectives of the Initiative
Two-stage implementation in a major Indian city for creative exploration and practical demonstration
Generating a future blueprint for scalable infrastructure strategies through collaboration

Pashupati Kumar Paras Launches 'SUFALAM' for Food Entrepreneurs

Union Minister of Food Processing Pashupati Kumar Paras inaugurated 'SUFALAM: Start-Up Forum for Aspiring Leaders and Mentors Start-up Conclave 2024' at New Delhi, stressing the importance of such events in promoting networking, sharing knowledge, and aiding start-ups in accessing government schemes.
The event witnessed participation from over 250 industry stakeholders, start-ups, MSMEs, financial institutions, venture capitalists, and academia.
The two days, the event comprised four knowledge sessions, two pitching sessions, and an exhibition.
The knowledge sessions were held in collaboration with various organisations, while the pitching sessions were conducted in partnership with industry giants.
A total of 35 exhibitors from across India participated in the event.

Feb 16, 2024

Indian Actor Kamal Haasan to Contest 2024 Lok Sabha Election

Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan entered the 2024 Lok Sabha election race. Haasan, who is the president of the political party Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), will be contesting the upcoming general election, either from Coimbatore or Chennai.
Haasan's party was allotted the symbol of 'battery torch'. According to reports, the actor's party MNM is likely to join hands with DMK and Congress and contest as part of the INDIA bloc alliance.
Haasan made his foray into the political world in 2018, and his party has been quite active in Coimbatore. In 2021, he contested the assembly election from Coimbatore South but lost to BJP's Vanathi Srinivasan by a slinder margin of 1,50 votes. In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, MNM candidate, Dr R Mahendran fought from the Coimbatore Lok Sabha seat.

Sanjay Kumar Jain Assumes Charge as IRCTC Chairman & MD

Mr. Sanjay Kumar Jain, an Indian Railway Traffic Services (IRTS) Officer of 1990 batch took over the charge of Chairman & Managing Director of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd (IRCTC).
With a distinguished career spanning over three decades, Mr Jain brings to the table a wealth of experience and a proven track record of exemplary leadership in various key positions within the Ministry of Railways and public sector undertakings (PSUs).
His professional trajectory has been marked by significant contributions in pivotal roles such as Principal Chief Commercial Manager at Northern Railway, Group General Manager (North Zone) at IRCTC, and Divisional Railway Manager at Mumbai Central Railway, among others.

Nand Kishore Yadav New Speaker of Bihar Assembly

Veteran BJP leader Nand Kishore Yadav was elected as the Speaker of the Bihar Legislative Assembly. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and leader of opposition Tejashwi Yadav escorted the new speaker to the Chair.
Yadav, a seven-time MLA from Patna Sahib Assembly constituency had filed his nomination for the Speaker's post, a day after his predecessor, Awadh Bihari Choudhary of the RJD, was voted out in a no-confidence motion.
After Choudhary's removal from the Speaker's chair, Deputy Speaker Maheshwar Hazari of JD (U) was conducting the proceedings of the House.
Yadav started his political journey in 1978 when he became the councillor of the Patna Municipal Corporation and deputy mayor of Patna in 1982.

Feb 15, 2024

Tamil Nadu Assembly Passes Resolutions against Delimitation, 'One Nation One Election'

The legislative assembly in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu passed two resolutions, one against the proposed delimitation exercise, the other against the proposed 'One Nation One Election' system. The resolutions found overwhelming support with even Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) having to voice support.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin termed the delimitation exercise a 'punishment' for states with smaller population.
The One Nation One Election is out-and-out impractical, and it is against the basic feature of the Constitution. It is fully opposed to the Constitutional guarantee of independent, free and fair polls, said CM Stalin.

Assam Designates Kaji Nemu as the Official State Fruit

Assam, the state government officially declared kaji nemu (Citrus limon), a variety of lemon unique to the region, as the 'State Fruit'. The announcement was made by State Agriculture Minister Atul Bora, following a Cabinet meeting, underscoring the fruit's cultural, traditional, and nutritional significance to the state and its people.
The decision to declare kaji nemu as the State Fruit comes as a strategic move to spotlight this agricultural jewel on the global stage. Assam has a dedicated community of farmers specialising in the cultivation of kaji nemu, with its demand steadily rising, especially in West Asian markets. The fruit's ability to be produced throughout the year, peaking in two seasons, adds to its appeal and potential for boosting local economy and self-dependency in agricultural production.
The declaration of kaji nemu as the State Fruit is part of Assam's tradition of recognising its natural heritage through state symbols. In February 2016, the Assam government declared the one-horned rhino as the State Animal, the white-winged wood duck as the State Bird, the hollong as the State Tree, and the foxtail orchid as the State Flower. These symbols play a crucial role in conservation efforts and in raising awareness about the state's rich biodiversity.

'Watan Ko Jano' Programme

250 specially abled children of Jammu and Kashmir visited Delhi and Agra under 'Watan Ko Jano Programme organised by Social Welfare Department of the Government of Jammu & Kashmir in coordination with Ministry of Home Affairs.
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Government of Jammu and Kashmir have been conducting Youth Exchange programme with the objective to give an exposure of the social and cultural diversity of our country to the youth and children of Jammu and Kashmir.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and guidance of Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, MHA is committed to such initiatives for development and progress of the youth and children of Jammu & Kashmir.
Under the initiative of Watan Ko Jano, children of terrorism affected families and/or weaker sections of society in Jammu and Kashmir identified by Jammu and Kashmir Rehabilitation Council are taken for exposure trip.

Feb 14, 2024

Rajya Sabha Polls: BJP Renominates Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw from Odisha, L. Murugan from MP

The BJP named Union ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and L. Murugan as its Rajya Sabha candidates from Odisha and Madhya Pradesh, respectively.
If elected, a near certainty, it will be the second Rajya Sabha term for the two leaders from these states.
Railway Minister Vaishnaw is likely to get elected with the support of the state's ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD), as was the case during the former IAS officer's election for the first term in 2019.
From Madhya Pradesh, the BJP named three more candidates besides Murugan, the MoS in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, for the five vacancies from the state.

Feb 13, 2024

Nitish Kumar Wins Trust Vote for NDA Government

Two weeks after rejoining the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's government won the trust vote in a floor test (129-0) in the Bihar Assembly. Earlier during the Assembly proceedings, the Speaker of the House and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Awadh Bihari Choudhary was voted out by a 125 to 112 vote share.
Last month (January 2024), Nitish took the oath as Bihar's chief minister for the ninth time after dumping the Mahagathbandhan and the INDIA bloc to create a new government with the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) support.

India to Replace Military Personnel with Technical Staff in Maldives

India announced the replacement of military personnel operating aviation platforms in the Maldives with competent Indian technical personnel. This decision came after negotiations between Indian and Maldivian authorities, with the latter expressing a clear demand for the withdrawal of Indian troops.
This move aims to maintain operational expertise while addressing the Maldives' request for the withdrawal of Indian troops.

Sikkim Becomes First North-eastern State to Restore Old Pension System for Government Employees

Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang of Sikkim announced the revival of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for state government employees hired on or after April 1, 2006, during the State Level Temporary Employees' Convention. This made Sikkim the first north-eastern state to restore Old Pension System for Government Employees.
Under the provisions of the Sikkim Services Pension Rules, 1990, employees appointed on or before March 31, 1990, would benefit from the reinstatement of the OPS.
This revival marks a crucial step towards ensuring the financial security of state government employees, particularly in light of the upcoming state assembly elections.
As part of broader welfare measures, the government has introduced amendments to policies regarding the regularisation of temporary employees.
These amendments aim to enhance inclusivity and job security, particularly for those with benchmark disabilities.
The revised policies offer opportunities for regularisation to employees serving continuously for two years or more in specific posts, reflecting the government's commitment to inclusivity and stability.

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