General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - May 2022

May 2022

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.

Feb 12, 2024

ADB and Government of India Sign $200 Million Loan for Brahmaputra River Project

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a $200 million loan to enhance flood and riverbank erosion risk management along the Brahmaputra River in Assam, India. This project aims to build on previous successful initiatives and address the persistent challenges of flooding and erosion in the region.
The signatories to the loan agreement for the Climate Resilient Brahmaputra Integrated Flood and Riverbank Erosion Risk Management Project in Assam were Juhi Mukherjee, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Finance for the Government of India, and Hoe Yun Jeong, Deputy Country Director of ADB's India Resident Mission, for ADB.
As per Juhi Mukherjee, the project interventions will contribute to broader stabilisation of the Brahmaputra River in high-priority flood- and erosion-prone areas and build the state's disaster resilience.

NITI Aayog's Economic Transformation Plans for Mumbai, Surat, Varanasi, and Vizag

The NITI Aayog has prepared a plan for economic transformation of Mumbai, Surat, Varanasi and Vizag and help India become a developed economy by 2047, its CEO BVR Subrahmanyam said.
He also said that the Aayog plans to prepare economic planning of 20-25 more cities, as they are the centre of economic activities.
In 2023, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had held a meeting with NITI Aayog officials during which steps needed to take the GDP of Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) to USD 300 billion by 2030 were discussed.
Subrahmanyam said that the Centre had sought views of the country's youth in December, to drive its vision for making India a developed nation by 2047.

Ashok Chavan Quits Congress in 3rd Maharashtra Exit

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Congress heavyweight Ashok Chavan resigned from the party, in another setback to the opposition alliance INDIA bloc, months ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
This development came days after senior Maharashtra Congress leaders Baba Siddique and Milind Deora quit the grand old party.
Chavan, who served as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra from December 2008 to November 2010, was considered one of the most influential leaders of the Congress in Maharashtra. He is the son of another former Chief Minister, Shankarrao Chavan.
He has held various positions within the party, including General Secretary of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee.

Feb 11, 2024

Agriculture Minister Launches Sarathi Portal for Insurance Products, helpline to Resolve Crop Ins...

Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda launched portal 'SARATHI' that aims to provide a comprehensive suite of insurance products including PMFBY, tailored explicitly for farmers and the rural population of India. To strengthen the grievance redressal mechanism of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), the minister also launched the Krishi Rakshak portal and helpline number 14447 to enable farmers to lodge their concerns.

CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Inaugurates Construction Skill Training Centre in Assam

In a collaborative effort between the Assam government and Larsen & Toubro (L&T), Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated the Construction Skill Training Centre in Assam. This initiative aims to address unemployment by providing comprehensive training opportunities to the youth and enhancing their employability in the construction sector.
The centre is designed to cater to the needs of Assam's youth by offering specialized training programs focused on skill enhancement and modern construction techniques. By equipping the youth with relevant skills, the initiative aims to empower them to secure gainful employment and contribute to the state's economic growth.

Feb 10, 2024

India Energy Week 2024

Building on the success of the 2023 edition, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India Energy Week 2024 was held from February 6 to 9, 2024 in Goa, India.
Held under the patronage of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Government of India, and officially supported by the Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry (FIPI), India Energy Week 2024 was India's largest and only all-encompassing energy exhibition and conference, which brought together the entire energy value chain, and served as a catalyst for India's energy transition goals.

Telangana Govt to Establish Help Desk for Youth in the USA and Abroad

In response to growing safety concerns among Telangana citizens residing abroad and recognising the need for immediate support and assistance for Telangana citizens facing challenges overseas, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy announced the establishment of a dedicated help desk.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy's initiative aims to provide targeted assistance to individuals in locations such as Chicago, where safety concerns have become particularly acute.
This program aims to cater to the diverse requirements of students and young professionals from Telangana who are studying or working abroad. Functioning as a hub for advice, aid, and support, the help desk mirrors the government's unwavering commitment to the well-being of its citizens, regardless of their location.

Feb 09, 2024

PM Modi-led Panel Clears Names for Lokpal Chief, Vigilance Commissioner

Supreme Court judge Ajay Manikrao Khanwilkar was elected as the new chairperson of Lokpal, and Aeratu S. Rajeev, Managing Director (MD) of Bank of Maharashtra, was picked for the post of Vigilance Commissioner (VC) by a committee led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Khanwilkar was confirmed as a permanent judge in the Bombay High Court in April 2002. He served briefly as the chief justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court and was then appointed the chief justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court in November 2013. He was elevated to the Supreme Court in May 2016 and served a six-year term until his retirement in July 2022.
A.S. Rajeev was appointed as the MD and CEO of the Bank of Maharashtra in December 2018. His tenure was to end on December 1, 2023, but he was given an extension until May 31, 2024 in November 2023. Before BoM, he was the Executive Director of Indian Bank and during this time, he was the Director of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).

Ex-Maharashtra Minister Baba Siddique Resigns from Congress after 48 Years

Former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique resigned from the Congress with immediate effect. Baba Siddique had been associated with the Congress for 48 years.
Baba Siddique was the MLA for three consecutive terms in 1999, 2004 and 2009, and had also served as a Minister of State (MoS) for Food & Civil Supplies, Labour and FDA (2004–08). He had also served as a Municipal Corporator earlier for two consecutive terms (1992–1997).
The move came just days after Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders said that Siddique was expected to join the faction of the party led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Siddique's resignation is another setback to Congress in a span of few weeks. In January, senior Congress leader Milind Deora, considered a close friend of Rahul Gandhi, announced his resignation from the grand-old party, bringing an end to his family's 55-year association with Congress. He later joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal Announces Free Bus Travel for Transgender Community

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced a government initiative declaring free bus travel for the transgender community within the national capital. Emphasising the long-standing neglect faced by marginalised groups, Kejriwal underscored the importance of extending equal rights and privileges to all members of society, regardless of gender identity.
Kejriwal outlined the plan for expedited Cabinet approval and swift implementation of the scheme, aimed at providing tangible benefits to the transgender community within a few weeks.
This initiative builds upon the government's commitment to promoting inclusivity and social welfare.

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