General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - May 2022

May 2022

Jan 19, 2024

Cabinet Nod for Three Officer-level Posts for 16th Finance Commission

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, approved the creation of three posts for the 16th Finance Commission, which was constituted on December 31, 2023.
The three posts include two posts of joint secretary and one post of economic adviser. The newly created posts are required to assist the Commission in carrying out its functions. All other posts in the Commission were already been created as per the delegated powers.
In November 2023, the government approved the terms of reference (ToRs) for the 16th Commission without revealing the names of its chairman and members. The government then appointed former NITI Aayog vice-chairman Arvind Panagariya as the panel's chairman on December 31, 2023, and bureaucrat Ritvik Ranjanam Pandey was named its secretary.

Farsi as India's New Classical Language

In a noteworthy development aimed at strengthening cultural ties, the Government of India, under the New Education Policy, decided to include Farsi (Persian) as one of the nine classical languages of India. This announcement was made by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar during a two-day visit to Iran, highlighting the cultural, literary, and linguistic connections between Iran and India.
Farsi, also known as Persian, is an Indo-Iranian language belonging to the Iranian branch of the Indo-Iranian languages. It has a rich historical and cultural significance, not only in Iran but also in the broader Persian-speaking world.
Before Farsi's inclusion, India recognised six languages as classical: Tamil (2004), Sanskrit (2005), Kannada (2008), Telugu (2008), Malayalam (2013), and Odia (2014). The criteria for declaring a language as 'Classical' include a recorded history of 1500-2000 years, a valuable heritage of ancient literature, an original literary tradition, and distinctness from modern forms or offshoots.

Jan 18, 2024

Ministry of Home Affairs Revokes FCRA Registration of Centre for Policy Research

The Ministry of Home Affairs in India revoked the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2020, registration of the Centre for Policy Research (CPR) in New Delhi, alleging violations. The leading public policy research institution, spearheaded by Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar's daughter, Yamini Aiyar, faced government scrutiny for purportedly breaching FCRA regulations.
The FCRA license for CPR was initially suspended in February 2023 for 180 days, and subsequently, the suspension was extended for an additional 180 days.
Established in 1973, CPR has been a leading policy think-tank, engaging in advanced and comprehensive research on diverse policy-related matters.

MOSPI Launches New eSakshi App to Track MPLADS Process

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation launched a new app to track the fund flow under the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme-2023.
The new eSakshi app will provide an interface to capture the entire MPLAD scheme cycle, providing convenience and accessibility like never before.
The eSakshi app launch is part of the ministry's ongoing efforts to strengthen the management and efficiency of the MPLADS.

Jan 17, 2024

Congress Appoints Sharmila Andhra Unit President

The Congress appointed Y. S. Sharmila as the president of its Andhra Pradesh unit. She is the daughter of former CM Y. S. Rajasekhar Reddy and sister of current state CM Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Sharmila had joined the Congress on January 4 in the presence of party president Mallikarjun Kharge. She merged with the Congress her YSR Telangana Party, which she had floated on July 8, 2021. Her appointment came a day after incumbent state chief Gidugu Rudra Raju stepped down from the post. He was appointed special invitee to the Congress Working Committee.

Jan 16, 2024

Shaun Marsh Announces Retirement from Professional Cricket

Australia's Shaun Marsh, a renowned name in international and domestic cricket, announced his retirement from all forms of the sport.
He started his career in Western Australia and gained recognition for his skill and dedication. His batting style, characterised by traditional and orthodox techniques, brought him considerable success in different formats of the game.
Marsh's international career with the Australian cricket team was marked by notable performances in Test matches, One Day Internationals (ODIs), and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).

Jan 15, 2024

Milind Deora Quits Congress, Joins Maharashtra CM Shinde-led Shiv Sena

Former Congress Lok Sabha member Milind Deora, who was a key part of Rahul Gandhi's 'young brigade' of the mid-2000s, quit the party and joined Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
Milind, a two-term member of the lower house and a former Union Minister, said that the Congress had "deviated from its ideological and organisational roots, lacking appreciation for honesty and constructive criticism.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Inaugurates the 27th National Youth Festival in Nashik

Nashik, Maharashtra, hosted the prestigious 27th National Youth Festival from January 12 to 16, 2024. This significant event was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The festival coincided with the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, celebrated youthful talent and skills across the nation.
The festival witnessed the presence of notable dignitaries including Union Ministers Anurag Singh Thakur, Bharati Pawar, Nisith Pramanik, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar.
The 27th National Youth Festival aimed to provide a platform for young people to showcase their skills and talents. It celebrated the youth power of India and the commitment to make India a developed nation by 2047, the 100th year of Indian independence. The festival, along with the development projects initiated, signifies a step towards empowering the youth and enhancing the nation's infrastructure.

Mallikarjun Kharge is INDIA Bloc Chief

After a series of meetings and deliberations, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge was named as the chairperson of the Opposition-led INDIA bloc. The development came as leaders of the INDIA bloc held a virtual meeting to review the seat-sharing agenda, participation in "Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra" and other matters related to the alliance.
Meanwhile, leaders present at the meeting also decided to appoint Nitish Kumar as the convener of the bloc. However, Nitish Kumar's party said he was not after any position. The Bihar Chief Minister has reportedly turned down the proposal, saying someone from the Congress should take up the responsibility.

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