General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - May 2022

May 2022

Jul 12, 2023

Visitors Conference 2023 Concludes with Focus on National Education Policy

The two-day Visitor's Conference hosted by Rashtrapati Bhavan concluded with a focus on education for sustainable development. More than 150 heads of higher educational institutions (HEIs) such as IITs, NITs, IISERs, NIPERs, and Central Universities, along with Union Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Minister Dharmendra Pradhan were present at the conference, to deliberate on the strengthening and smooth implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Five different groups also deliberated on such broad themes as international cooperation in education as part of G20 efforts, diversity and inclusivity in nation's premier HEIs, and plans of action for Amrit Kaal.
In her concluding remarks, President Droupadi Murmu, the host of the Visitor's Conference, and the Visitor of 162 central institutions of higher learning, stressed on the NEP's importance as a roadmap to transform India's HEIs into global Education Centres.

Third G-20 Culture Working Group Meeting under India's Presidency Concludes at Hampi in Karnataka

The third G-20 Culture Working Group meeting under India's presidency concluded at Hampi in Karnataka. The delegates from G20 member countries, guest countries and international organisations were part of the deliberations.
The meeting bridged different opinions and evolved consensus on four themes proposed under India Presidency. Under the first theme of restitution of cultural property, the Secretary informed that under the UNESCO convention agreement, the countries must return the artefacts to the countries of their origin.
The second theme was harnessing the living heritage that aimed at protecting traditional practices like Ayurveda. The third theme was to promote creative economy and industries and the fourth was promoting digital technology in preserving art forms with cultural value.

SC Sets Aside Extension to ED Chief, Asks Govt. to Choose Successor

In a setback to the Centre, the Supreme Court set aside the extension given to Sanjay Kumar Mishra as the Director of Enforcement Directorate (ED), terming it illegal and an attempt to annul its previous directions on the issue.
The top court, however, allowed Mishra to continue on the post till July 31, 2023 in view of FATF review and to ensure the transition to be smooth in the larger public interest.

Jul 11, 2023

India, Malaysia Amend MoU for Defence Cooperation

India and Malaysia widened the scope of defence cooperation by approving an amendment in the Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation signed between the two nations in 1993.
This amendment will act as an enabler to expand bilateral defence cooperation in the areas of mutual interest, the Ministry of Defence said while describing the bilateral meeting between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his counterpart Dato' Seri Mohamad Hasan in Kuala Lumpur. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to fully implement the Enhanced Strategic Partnership — announced during the visit of PM Modi to Malaysia in 2015.

Jaishankar Files His Rajya Sabha Nomination Papers

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar filed his nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha elections in Gujarat. Accompanied by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and BJP's Gujarat unit president C.R. Paatil, Jaishankar expressed gratitude to PM Narendra Modi, BJP leadership, and the people of Gujarat for another opportunity to represent the state in the Upper House. He highlighted the government's strong stance against terrorism and assured the country's safety under Modi's leadership. Jaishankar praised Gujarat as a model state globally and emphasized its developmental projects. He mentioned progress in relations with neighbouring countries and the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for July 24.

Third World Hindu Conference to be Organized in Bangkok From November 24 to 26

The World Hindu Foundation announced that the third World Hindu Congress (WHC) will be held in Bangkok from in November 24 to 26, 2023. The three-day event, known as Vishwa Hindu Sammelan, will take place at the Convention Center in Bangkok. With the theme "Jayasya Aayatnam Dharmah" meaning "Dharma, the Abode of Victory," the conference will focus on exploring opportunities and addressing challenges faced by the global Hindu community.
The World Hindu Congress is organized by the World Hindu Foundation, with Swami Vigyananand serving as its trustee. Swami Vigyanananda is also the Managing Trustee of the Vishwa Hindu Foundation and the Joint General Secretary of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). The foundation aims to bring together Hindus from around the world and provide a platform for discussing various issues.
The World Hindu Conference in Bangkok represents a significant opportunity for Hindus worldwide to come together, discuss challenges, and explore opportunities for their community. With participants from over 60 countries, the conference will provide a diverse and inclusive platform for networking, idea exchange, and strategic collaboration. By focusing on areas of strategic importance to Hindus, the WHC aims to generate actionable insights and foster collaboration among Hindu leaders, activists, and thinkers. As the conference progresses, it is expected to shape the future course of action for the global Hindu community and strengthen their collective identity.

Jul 10, 2023

India & Panama Sign MoU on Electoral Cooperation

India's Election Commission (ECI) and Panama's Electoral Tribunal (ET) took a significant step towards enhancing their collaboration in the field of election management and administration. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the two institutions in Panama City, establishing an institutional framework for ongoing cooperation.
The ECI delegation, led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, engaged in discussions with Alfredo Juncá Wendehake, the Presiding Magistrate of Panama's Electoral Tribunal, on various aspects of strengthening collaboration and knowledge exchange between the two Election Management Bodies.
This MoU sets the stage for a fruitful exchange of knowledge, expertise, and technological advancements, benefiting not only India and Panama but also contributing to the broader advancement of democratic principles worldwide. The ECI's dedication to engage with its international counterparts underscores India's commitment to promoting democratic values and strengthening the foundations of electoral systems globally.
The signing of this MoU with Panama marks a significant milestone in the ECI's efforts to expand its international cooperation. Under its 'International Cooperation Programme,' the ECI has previously signed MoUs with Mexico, Brazil, and Chile. This latest agreement is the fourth MoU signed by the ECI with an EMB in the Latin Americas region, bringing the total number of MoUs between the ECI and EMBs/international organizations worldwide to 31.

Centre Brings GSTN Under PMLA

The Centre issued a notification to include the Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) under the ambit of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). With this, the GSTN is among those entities that have been mandated to share information with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) under the PMLA Act. These changes were made under Section 66 of the PMLA, which provides for disclosure of information.
As per this notification, the FIU and the ED will also share information with the GSTN if they find that any GST assessee is involved in suspicious forex transactions. GST offences such as taking fake input tax credits, fake invoices, etc. will also be covered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) is an information technology system which manages the GST portal. The government is aided by private players in its efforts to monitor domestic financial activity with the GSTN.

National Water Mission Inks Pact with Indian Plumbing Association

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Bureau of Water Use Efficiency (BWUE), National Water Mission (NWM), Ministry of Jal Shakti and Indian Plumbing Association (IPA) for a Water Positive India by awareness creation & promotion of rain water harvesting structures, low flow fixtures & sanitary ware, treatment of grey & black water, water audit of built environment. The MoU was signed by Archana Varma, Additional Secretary & Mission Director, on behalf of National Water Mission, Ministry of Jal Shakti and Gurmit Singh Arora, National President, Indian Plumbing Association based in Okhla, New Delhi.

Jul 09, 2023

Four-member GoM to Study UCC Issues

The government constituted a four-member group of ministers (GoM) to study issues related to the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). The GoM comprises Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju, Smriti Irani, Arjun Ram Meghwal and G. Kishan Reddy. While Rijiju was tasked with studying issues related to tribal societies and their customs, Women and Child Development Minister Irani will look at women-related issues. Law Minister Meghwal will give an overall legal perspective to the debatable issues while Reddy will peruse matters concerning north-eastern states.

In A First, Haryana Announces Monthly Pension for Unmarried People, Widowers

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced that unmarried people in the age group of 45 to 60 years will now get a monthly pension of Rs. 2,750, provided that their annual income is less than Rs. 1.80 lakh.
He also announced that widowers in the age group of 40 to 60 will get a monthly pension of Rs. 2,750, provided their annual income is less than Rs. 3 lakh.

Punjab Regiment to Represent Indian Army at Bastille Day Parade in France

Punjab Regiment was selected to represent the Indian Army at the Bastille Day celebrations in France this year (2023). The parade will include a 269 member tri-services contingent of the Indian Armed Forces marching alongside their French counterparts.
The Punjab Regiment contingent comprises three officers, four junior commissioned officers and 69 other ranks, led by Captain Aman Jagtap. The Indian Navy contingent is being led by Commander Vrat Baghel and the Indian Air Force contingent by Squadron Leader Sindhu Reddy.
The tri-service team also includes a 38-member band from the Rajputana Rifles, the senior-most Rifle Regiment of the Army. In addition, four IAF Rafale fighter jets will also form part of the fly past during the parade.

Jul 08, 2023

India, Singapore Extend MoU to Co-operate on Public Administration

The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, and the Public Service Division, of the Republic of Singapore signed a protocol document, extending for five years the current memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the field of personnel management and public administration till 2028.
The MoU was signed by V. Srinivas, secretary on behalf of DARPG, and Simon Wong, High Commissioner of Singapore to India.
The MoU aims at strengthening the partnership between the two countries through various forms of cooperation between both countries' public service.
The cooperation in areas such as administrative reforms & public sector transformation, public service delivery, leadership, and talent development, e-governance, capacity building, and training form part of the areas to be covered under the activities of MoU.

U20 Engagement Group of G20 Meet for the Mayoral Summit

U20 Engagement Group of G20 met on July 7-8 for the Mayoral Summit, which was attended by over 500 participants including mayors, Deputy Mayors, city officials and knowledge partners. Delegates and participants from 57 cities across the world and 35 cities from India gathered in the twin cities of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, Guharat.
This sixth cycle of Urban 20, was an Engagement Group under the G20. By facilitating discussions among cities from the G20 countries, the U20 established a platform for cities to collectively inform G20 negotiations with respect to urban priorities.
Besides the inaugural session and the handover of the U20 Communiqué by the Mayors to the G20 leaders, a number of thematic sessions and spotlight events were included in the two-day schedule. In this endeavour, Ahmedabad was supported by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) as the nodal ministry, the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), the Technical Secretariat of U20, and the U20 Conveners, C40 Cities and UCLG (United Cities and Local Governments).
This meeting was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Bhupendrabhai Patel. Thematic sessions on the six U20 priority areas was organised during the summit. The U20 priority areas echoed the emphasis G20 is laying on environmental responsibility, climate finance, and cities of the future.
The six priorities under U20 were namely- 'encouraging environmentally responsible behaviours', 'accelerating climate finance', 'ensuring water security', 'promoting local culture and economy', 'reinventing frameworks for urban governance and planning', and 'catalyzing digital urban futures.'

World Food India-2023: Roundtable interaction in New Delhi

Ministry of Food Processing Industries organised Roundtable with Heads of Foreign Missions in India to discuss overseas participation in the World Food India (WFI) 2023, at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi. The second edition of 'World Food India 2023' is being organised by the Ministry from November 3-5, 2023 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi to showcase Indian Food Processing Sector seeking collaborations and investments from global Stakeholders. The event is being organised as part of International Year of Millets 2023 activities and will have Millets (Shree Anna), organic produce and indigenous processed food as some of the focus areas.
The interaction was co-chaired by Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Anita Praveen, and Special Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Prabhat Kumar. It was attended by Ambassadors, High Commissioners, Charge d' Affaires and other senior representatives from wide spectrum of countries. In all, 47 countries were represented in the interaction. Senior officers from Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Department of Commerce, APEDA, MPEDA and other Commodity Boards, apart from organizations associated with organizing the event (FICCI, Invest India & EY) participated in the deliberations.

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