General Awareness

NATIONAL AFFAIRS - March 2024

Mar 2024

Jul 17, 2024

Government Reconstitutes NITI Aayog

NITI Aayog was reconstituted with some new ministers in the Modi 3.0 government from the BJP and its allies in the National Democratic Alliance made as ex-officio members or Special Invitees.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will continue to be the chairperson of the NITI Aayog and there are no changes in the post of Vice Chairman and full-time members.
Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan is the new ex officio member, while Minister of Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda and Minister of Heavy Industries HD Kumaraswamy are Special Invitees.

BRIC-THSTI Hosts SYNCHN 2024 Industry Meet

Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), under the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC), hosted SYNCHN 2024. This event aimed to strengthen academia-industry collaborations in the NCR Biotech Cluster, focusing on advancing biomanufacturing and bio-innovation.
Prof. Vinod K. Paul from NITI Aayog emphasised the government's support for partnerships driving bioinnovation and India's global leadership in biotech.
Representatives from leading biotech firms discussed collaboration benefits and THSTI's role in bridging academia with industry. Breakout sessions facilitated direct interactions between industry leaders and THSTI researchers, enhancing mutual understanding and partnership prospects.
THSTI's state-of-the-art facilities, including a Small Animal Facility and Bioassay Laboratory, support its mission to accelerate biomedical discoveries and facilitate their clinical application within the NCR Biotech Science Cluster.

Himachal Cabinet Approves Plan to Rationalise Provisions of Zero Electricity Bill for Domestic Users

The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet gave its approval to rationalise the provisions for zero electricity bills for domestic consumers by restricting subsidy to 'one family, one meter' and interlinking power connections with ration cards.
The state Cabinet decided to abolish the entire subsidy on electricity bills of the Chief Minister, former CMs, Speakers, Deputy Speakers, Ministers, MPs, MLAs, former Ministers, Chairman of boards and advisors, OSDs, all Class-I and Class-2 employees of the government, corporations, and boards, including IAS, IPS, and other officers, and all income taxpayers.
The Cabinet has also approved the declaration of land acquisition and compensation to the families affected by the expansion of Kangra airport. Furthermore, it was decided to provide the state share of capital costs for the construction of Bulk Drug Park in the Haroli Assembly constituency of Una district and approved the calling of its tender.

All-India Institute of Ayurveda Successfully Hosts 'Saushrutam 2024'

The Department of Shalya Tantra at All-India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) New Delhi successfully organised the Second National Seminar SAUSHRUTAM Shalya Sangoshti on the auspicious occasion of Sushruta Jayanti-2024. Sushruta Jayanti is celebrated every year on July 15 to honour the legendary Sushruta, considered as the father of surgery.
Prof. Sandeep Kumar, Founder Director, AIIMS Bhopal was the Chief Guest for the inauguration ceremony. Padamshri Prof. Manoranjan Sahu, Founder Director AIIA Delhi; Prof. Anurag srivastav, Ex-HoD surgical disciplines, AIIMS New Delhi and Dr MC Misra, former Director AIIMs were the Guest of Honours. AIIA Director Prof. (Dr) Tanuja Nesari; Prof Dr Yogesh Badwe, HoD Shalyatantra welcomed all the dignitaries and briefed about seminar. The event was also blessed by the presence of Dean PG Prof. Anand More and other senior faculty members of AIIA.

Jul 16, 2024

Centre Empowers Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir

The Centre strengthened the authority of the Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Jammu and Kashmir through amendments to the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. The amended rules, effective immediately upon publication in the Official Gazette, significantly enhance the LG's powers, particularly in matters related to transfers, postings of all-India service officers, police, and judicial appointments.
Previously, proposals concerning police, public order, all-India services, and the Anti-Corruption Bureau required the Finance Department's approval before reaching the LG. Under the new rules, such proposals must be submitted directly to the LG through the Chief Secretary of the Union territory, limiting the role of the elected government in critical governance matters.
These amendments come amidst speculation of upcoming assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir. The move suggests a shift towards a governance model where the LG holds significant authority over key administrative and security-related decisions, potentially influencing the Union Territory's political landscape post-election.

Second Regional Event of 'Hamara Samvidhan Hamara Samman' to be held in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh

The second regional event of the 'Hamara Samvidhan Hamara Samman' campaign, under the aegis of Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice (DISHA), took place in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh on the 16th of July 2024. This event commemorated the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Indian Constitution and India becoming a Republic. The campaign aimed to promote understanding of the Constitution and raise awareness about legal rights. The event saw the launch of the 'Hamara Samvidhan Hamara Samman' portal, which will serve as a knowledge repository, offering citizens easy access to information to foster awareness about the Constitution and legal rights. Additionally, sub-campaigns 'Sabko Nyaya Har Ghar Nyaya', 'Nav Bharat Nav Sankalp', and 'Vidhi Jagriti Abhiyaan' were also be organised.
The 'Hamara Samvidhan Hamara Samman' campaign was inaugurated by the Vice-President of India on January 24, 2024 at the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi. The first regional event was inaugurated by the Honourable Chief Justice of India, Justice D. Y. Chandrachud, in Bikaner, Rajasthan on March 9, 2024.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Inaugurates INS Towers in Mumbai

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the INS Towers at the Indian Newspaper Society (INS) Secretariat in Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Complex. This new facility is set to serve as a modern hub for the newspaper industry in Mumbai, addressing the evolving needs of INS members.
The Prime Minister emphasised the media's potential impact on the nation's future, particularly in the next 25 years as India progresses towards becoming a Viksit Bharat (Developed India).

Jul 15, 2024

India to Host First Global Summit for Media and Entertainment Sector in November

India will host the first World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit in November alongside the International Film Festival of India in Goa, with I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw promising to strengthen the ecosystem for the protection of intellectual property rights in the media and entertainment sector.
Vaishnaw and Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant made the announcement of the first World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) in Goa from November 20-24, 2024 and described it as a visionary initiative by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as India seeks to make a mark in the media and entertainment sector.

Gaurav Gogoi to be Congress' Deputy Leader in Lok Sabha, Kodikunnil Suresh to be Chief Whip

Gaurav Gogoi, the three term Congress MP from Assam's Jorhat will continue to be the party's deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, while senior Kerala MP Kodikkunnil Suresh will continue as the party's chief whip, the party announced.
The Congress' parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi constituted its leadership team for the Lower House ahead of the Budget session beginning on July 22, and has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to inform him of these decisions. She also appointed Virudhunagar MP Manickam Tagore and Kishanganj MP Mohammad Jawed as the party's whips.

Vikram Misri Takes Charge as New Foreign Secretary

Seasoned diplomat Vikram Misri, regarded as an expert on China, assumed charge as India's new foreign secretary.
A 1989-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, Misri succeeded Vinay Kwatra.
Misri assumed charge of the key position at a time India is looking to navigate various foreign policy challenges, including its frosty ties with China following the lingering eastern Ladakh border row.

Jul 14, 2024

India Pitches for Infusing New Energy into BIMSTEC Grouping

India called on the seven-nation BIMSTEC grouping to infuse new energies, resources and a fresh commitment to bolster cooperation among the Bay of Bengal countries. The appeal was made by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar while hosting his counterparts from the BIMSTEC member states at a two-day retreat in the national capital.
Besides India, the BIMSTEC comprises Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan.
"For India, BIMSTEC represents the intersection of its 'Neighbourhood First' outlook, the 'Act East Policy' and the 'SAGAR' vision," said S. Jaishankar.
The BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers had last met in a similar format in Bangkok in July 2023.

Centre Launches 321 Fisheries Projects Worth over Rs. 114 crore in Tamil Nadu

Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh virtually inaugurated 321 projects at the Fisheries Summer Meet held in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.
These initiatives, approved under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), represent a total investment of Rs. 114 crore.
The projects covering 19 states and Union Territories include fish retail kiosks, shrimp hatcheries, brood banks, ornamental fish units, biofloc units, fish feed mills, and fish value-added enterprises.
PMMSY, a flagship programme of the Centre, aims to foster sustainable development in the fisheries sector.

This Indian City is the First One in the World to Ban Non-vegetarian Food

Situated in the Bhavnagar district of the Indian state of Gujarat, the city of Palitana emerged as the first city in the world to declare non-vegetarian food as illegal.
The historic decision to ban non-veg foods was taken after the sale and consumption of meat as well as the butchering of animals for meat was declared illegal and punishable by law in the city of Palitana. The city is a famous pilgrimage site for Jains.
The decision was taken after nearly 200 Jain monks held protests demanding that nearly 250 butcher shops in the city be closed.
Palitana, which is located in Gujarat, is one of the holiest pilgrimage sites for Jains. The place, which is located around Shatrunjaya Hills, is also known as the Jain Temple Town.
There are more than 800 temples in the city, the most famous among them is Adinath Temple.

Sikkim Govt. Declares Second, Fourth Saturdays Holiday for Employees

The Sikkim government declared the second and fourth Saturdays of every month as a holiday for its employees.
In a circular issued by the Department of Personnel, the state government said it would give additional time to the employees to rest.
The government also asked its employees to strictly comply with the working hours, from 10 am to 4.30 pm.
Half-day casual leave would be deducted if an employee is found to have reported after 10.30 am or left the place of duty before 4.30 pm without valid official reasons, the circular said.

Jul 13, 2024

The 7th India-Japan Medical Product Regulatory Symposium Held at New Delhi

The 7th India-Japan Medical Product Regulatory Symposium, organised by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, was successfully held at the FICCI Convention Hall in July 2024. The event was conducted in accordance with the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between India and Japan, aimed at fostering collaboration in medical product regulations.
The symposium brought together approximately 200 delegates from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, and the Ministry of Health, Law and Welfare, Japan. Regulatory authorities from CDSCO, India, and PMDA, Japan, along with industry representatives from the Pharmaceutical Sector, Medical Devices Sector, and Biologicals-Biosimilar sector, actively participated in constructive discussions.
The MoC, originally signed in December 2015 between CDSCO and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) and the Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) of Japan, underscores mutual cooperation in medical products regulations until December 2025. These Regulatory Symposiums are held alternatively in India and Japan, serving as crucial platforms for exchanging insights and enhancing regulatory practices.
The symposium featured insightful presentations by Indian and Japanese Drug Regulatory Authorities, followed by in-depth discussions on emerging topics in Pharma, Medical Devices, and Regenerative Medicines. These deliberations were pivotal in updating industry stakeholders on the latest regulatory initiatives in both countries.

Arunachal Re-constitutes Six Regional Committees to Examine Status of Border Dispute with Assam

The Arunachal Pradesh government re-constituted six regional committees to examine and exercise the present status of border dispute with Assam.
As per a notification issued by the Home and inter-state border affairs department, the Terms of Reference for the regional committees, as established, will continue to be governed by the provisions set forth in the original notification issued on June 1, 2022.
The remaining six districts of the state where border dispute with Assam still persists as people from both states have not agreed to demarcation of villages along the inter-state border includes, Pakke Kessang, Papum Pare, Kamle, Lower Siang, Lower Dibang Valley and Longding districts, respectively.

Punjab, Haryana among Top 5 States in Niti Aayog's Index

Uttarakhand and Kerala jointly claimed the top position in the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) India Index for 2023-24, which was released by government think tank Niti Aayog. Himachal Pradesh (77), Punjab (76) and Haryana (72) were ranked fourth, fifth and 13th, respectively in the SDG index.
The top two states scored 79 points, compared to the overall national SDG score of 71. Among the union territories, Chandigarh and Jammu and Kashmir were the top two performers with a score of 77 and 74, respectively. Ladakh with a score of 65 stood at the bottom of the table among UTs.
Bihar, with a score of 57, stood at the bottom of the table among states.
According to the Niti Aayog's SDG India Index 2023-24, India's overall SDG score increased to 71 in 2023-24, compared to 66 in 2020-21, supported by significant progress on eliminating poverty, providing decent work, economic growth, climate action and life on land.

India, Austria Agree to 'Sustainable' Economic and Tech Partnership

India and Austria agreed to a future-oriented "bilateral sustainable economic and technology partnership" after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer met in Vienna.
The two leaders, who met held official talks, recognised that the two countries have the potential to significantly upgrade their bilateral partnership to a higher level.
This was the Prime Minister's first visit to Austria and that of an Indian Prime Minister after 41 years. This year (2024) marks the 75th year of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

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