General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - May 2022

May 2022

May 05, 2023

Himachal Cabinet Approves Monthly Incentive for Women of Spiti

The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet, presided over by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu, decided to provide Rs. 1,500 per month as Indira Gandhi Mahila Samman Nidhi to all eligible women of the Spiti Valley, including Buddhist nuns, of above 18 years.
It was decided to constitute a Cabinet sub-committee comprising Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri as Chairman and Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar and Rural Development Minister Anirudh Singh as members to formulate a White Paper on state's financial position.
The cabinet also gave its nod to introduce e-stamping for the collection of stamp duty to promote ease-of-doing business. It decided to stop printing of physical stamp papers with immediate effect and to authorise stamp vendors as authorised collection centres.

Karnataka Ranked the Most 'Innovative' State by the National Manufacturing Innovation Survey

A survey conducted by the government's Department of Science and Technology in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) on the level of innovation in manufacturing in India found that the state of Karnataka is not only the most innovative in its manufacturing sector but also has the highest number of companies in manufacturing that carry out innovations.
The National Manufacturing Innovation Survey (NMIS) 2021-22, also found that innovation in manufacturing is the lowest in the North-eastern states (excluding Assam), followed by Bihar.
According to the report, which carried out its survey across over 8,000 firms in 28 states and 6 Union Territories (UTs), covering manufacturing and related service sector and MSMEs, found that there is a need to increase innovation in manufacturing. It stated that an increase in innovation carried out by firms has resulted in higher sales for them.
Karnataka was followed by Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Haryana as high innovation states. Uttarakhand has the highest score among the hill states, while Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu has the highest score among the UTs.

May 04, 2023

Union Minister Nityanand Rai Inaugurates Key Land Port

Union Minister Nityanand Rai inaugurated the newly constructed land port at Meghalaya's Dawki town, which is expected to boost trade and commerce between India and Bangladesh.
Rai, the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong and the High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh.
The 23-acre port at Dawki was approved by the Centre in 2016.

Second G-20 Disaster Working Group Meet to be Held in Mumbai

The second meeting of the G-20 Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group will be held in Mumbai from May 23 to 25.
More than 120 members will attend this meeting and on the sidelines of this meeting, representatives of the Working Group will visit BMC headquarters too.
This visit will cover inspection of the control room of the Disaster Management Department and a heritage-walk of the historic municipal building.
The work done by Mumbai in the last few years in the field of disaster management has been recognised not only at the national level but also at the global level.
The scheduled meeting of Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group of the G-20 Council is an opportunity to highlight this achievement to the world.
A total of three Working Group Meetings of the G-20 Council are being held in Mumbai in the month of May.

Manipur CM Launches Facial Recognition System for Inner Line Permits

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh launched the Facial Recognition System (FRS) for Inner Line Permit (ILP) system and flagged off two camera-mounted mobile FRS vehicles.
As per Singh, the newly-launched system will help in the effective checking of ILP holders whose validity has expired and in better management of the system.
After seeking approval from the Union Home Ministry, a reputed international firm was engaged for the installation of the FRS.

May 03, 2023

India and Israel Sign MoU on Industrial Research and Development Cooperation

India and Israel signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Industrial Research and Development Cooperation with focus on several key technology areas. These are aerospace, electronics instrumentation, civil, infrastructure and engineering, environment, mining, chemicals, and petrochemicals and agriculture. The Multi-Sectoral Agreement was signed between Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, CSIR and Directorate of Defense Research and Development, Ministry of Defense of Israel in New Delhi.
According to Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh, this agreement will open a new phase in India-Israel partnership in areas like innovation, technology, and start-ups.

Science 20 Engagement Group Meeting under India's G20 Presidency

Science 20, during the opening session of the Thematic Conference on Universal Holistic Health in Bangaram Island, Lakshadweep, India emphasized the significance of respecting and acknowledging cultural diversity in promoting universal holistic health.
Co-chair of Science 20 and President of Indian National Science Academy, Prof. Ashutosh Kumar Sharma, underscored the importance of incorporating traditional healing practices into modern healthcare systems in upholding cultural identity and values, aside from health and well-being.
Forty-eight delegates from G-20 countries participated in the two-day meet.

Delhi Pips Mumbai as Most Forgetful City in Uber Lost and Found Index

Delhi is India's "most forgetful city" in terms of people leaving behind their belongings in Uber vehicles, said the ride hailing company.
According to Uber's Lost and Found Index 2023, Mumbai ended its two-year run at the top and came second. Hyderabad came third and Bengaluru, the most forgetful city in 2019, was ranked fourth.
Over the last year, phones, bags, wallets and clothing top the list of items left behind in Uber vehicles. That list was followed by utility items such water bottles, keys, and accessories such as spectacles and jewellery.

NITI Aayog Releases "Best Practices in Social Sector: A Compendium, 2023"

NITI Aayog released the "Best Practices in Social Sector: A Compendium, 2023" in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme. To commemorate 75 years of India's independence and highlight and laud the efforts of Union Ministries and State Governments, this compendium includes 75 case studies cutting across 14 key social sectors.
The case studies have been sourced from all States and Union Territories and 30 Ministries and Departments of the Government of India. The aim of this exercise has been to synthesise lessons for the future to expand, enhance and improve life at the grassroots level.
According to Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog Suman Bery, this publication is an opportunity for peer-to-peer learning among states, to applaud the efforts of innovations taking place in the States and to adopt practices that are best suited to the context. He added that this document should be made a living document and should be an active tool for innovation and scale-up.

May 02, 2023

India Becomes Europe's Largest Supplier of Refined Fuels

A report by analytics firm Kpler showed that India became Europe's largest supplier of refined fuels while simultaneously buying record amounts of Russian crude.
The reliance of Europe on Indian crude oil products has surged. This increase can be linked with the ban on Russian oil.
The data also showed that Europe's refined fuel imports from India are set to surge above 360,000 barrels a day, edging just ahead of those of Saudi Arabia.

BJP Promises to Implement Uniform Civil Code, NRC in Poll-bound Karnataka

The ruling BJP promised to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Karnataka, in its election manifesto for the May 10 Assembly polls.
The party also promised to create a special wing in the state called 'Karnataka State Wing against Religious Fundamentalism and Terror (K-SWIFT).
The BJP said it would provide three free cooking gas cylinders to all BPL families—one each during the months of 'Yugadi', 'Ganesh Chaturthi' and 'Deepavali'.
According to Nadda, the BJP manifesto is centred around six 'As'.
These Six-As are Anna (food security), Akshara (quality education), Arogya (affordable health), Aadaya (assured income), Abhaya (social security) and Abhivruddhi (Development).
The BJP said it will launch a scheme called 'Onake Obavva Samajika Nyaya Nidhi' through which it will provide a matching deposit up to Rs. 10,000 on five-year fixed deposits made under the scheme for women of SC/ST households.

Sharad Pawar Steps Down as NCP Chief

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar announced that he is stepping down as the party chief. However, he will not be retiring from active politics. Speaking at a book launch of his autobiography at the Yashwantrao Chavan Pratisthan in Mumbai, Pawar said that "After a long period of public life from May 1, 1960, to May 1, 2023, it is necessary to take a step back". He added that "it is time for a new generation to guide the party."
Pawar also recommended forming a committee of NCP members to decide on the election of the vacancy of the President's post. He also suggested leaders for the committee which includes Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, K.K. Sharma, P.C. Chacko, Ajit Pawar, Jayant Patil, Supriya Sule, Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Walse Patil, Anil Deshmukh, Rajesh Tope, Jitendra Awhad, Hasan Mushrif, Dhananjay Munde, Jaydev Gaikwad, among others.
Pawar helmed the party since its inception in 1999.

May 01, 2023

Road Transport and Highways Sector has Maximum Number of Delayed Projects

The road transport and highways sector has the maximum number of delayed projects at 402, followed by railways at 115 and the petroleum industry at 86, showed a government report.
In the road transport and highways sector, 402 out of 749 projects are delayed. For Railways, out of 173 projects, 115 are delayed, while in the petroleum sector, 86 out of 145 projects are running behind schedule, as per the latest report on infrastructure projects for March 2023.
The Infrastructure and Project Monitoring Division (IPMD) is mandated to monitor central sector infrastructure projects costing Rs. 150 crore and above based on the information provided on the Online Computerised Monitoring System (OCMS) by the project implementing agencies.
The IPMD comes under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. The report showed that the Muneerabad-Mahaboobnagar rail project is the most delayed. It is delayed by 276 months.

Dhankhar to Attend Charles Coronation Event in May

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar will represent the country at the coronation of King Charles III in London, his office confirmed.
The ceremony will be held on May 6 at the Westminster Abbey, with 2,000 guests in attendance, including several heads of states and ruling monarchs.
Dhankhar's participation at the coronation comes seven decades after the last such ceremony was held in the UK – that of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, wherein former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had represented India. In September 2022, President Droupadi Murmu visited London to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II on behalf of the Indian government, following her demise at the age of 96.

First ever OBC Survey Gets Underway in Odisha

The Odisha government began its first-ever survey of social and educational conditions of people belonging to 208 backward castes with a questionnaire on the kind of houses they live in, their livelihoods, access to infrastructure, hospitals, schools, markets, colleges, etc.
The survey came against the backdrop of the demands for a caste census across the country. Bihar earlier initiated its own caste census in January 2023.
The survey in Odisha will be conducted until May 27, 2023. It aims to find out the social and educational status of backward classes. It is crucial for focused planning for their socio-economic development. The survey data would help the Odisha government plan for the OBC [Other Backward Classes] better.

K. Mohanty is New Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission

Renowned physicist and Director of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) Ajit Kumar Mohanty was appointed as the chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission and the secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy. Mohanty succeeded K. N. Vyas to the posts that oversee India's nuclear programme and forays into harnessing atomic power for civilian needs.
Mohanty was appointed as the BARC director in March 2019.
In 1983, he joined the Nuclear Physics Division of the BARC after graduating from the 26th batch of the BARC Training School. He obtained his doctorate from the Mumbai University.
The Atomic Energy Commission of India is the governing body of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India. The DAE is under the direct charge of the Prime Minister.
The Indian Atomic Energy Commission was set up on 3 August 1948.
The functions of the Atomic Energy Commission are: (i) to organise research in atomic science in the country (ii) to train atomic scientists in the country (iii) to promote nuclear research in commission's own laboratories in India (iv) to undertake prospecting of atomic minerals in India and to extract such minerals for use on industrial scale.

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