Current Affairs

All government buildings in India to be solarised by 2025

Government offices in India have received a mandate to ensure 100 percent solarisation by 2025 under PM Surya Ghar scheme. All government buildings under the administrative control of the Centre, state and Union Territories will need to to be saturated with rooftop solar and an order in this regard has been issued to all Central ministries on Thursday, said a source. The ministries can either install rooftop solar systems through the CAPEX model or RESCO model but it will be taken up on priority.

Earlier this months, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) had floated operational guidelines for the installation of rooftop solar systems across government buildings under PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.



Telangana Launches Scheme to Provide Rs 1 L Each to Civil Services Aspirants

Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Saturday launched the Rajiv Gandhi Civils Abhayahastam scheme, through which the government will provide Rs 1 lakh to aspirants who clear the preliminary examinations of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The scheme is aimed at helping the youth prepare for the UPSC Mains. Singareni Collieries is providing the financial assistance as part of its Nirmaan programme.

Candidates must belong to the General (EWS), BC, SC, or ST categories to avail of the scheme. They must be permanent residents of Telangana and must have cleared the UPSC prelims. Their family income must be below Rs 8 lakh, and they can avail of the financial support only once in their attempt to clear the civil services exam. Candidates employed in permanent positions in central, state, or government sector organisations are ineligible.

While launching the scheme, Revanth Reddy said, “Unemployed youth suffered a lot in the last 10 years due to paper leaks in TGPSC exam. That is why, our government made it their top priority to address the problems of the unemployed. Appointment orders filling 30,000 posts were given within 3 months of coming to power. We also listened to the grievances of the aspirants and postponed the Group 2 exam. Our first priority is to solve the problems of the unemployed. We will conduct the examinations efficiently in a well-planned manner.”



Rashtriya Raksha University, NSE IX sign MoU for cooperation in economic security

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on Friday between the Gandhinagar-based Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) and the NSE International Exchange (NSE IX) for cooperation in the field of economic and financial security.

The MoU was signed at a function in the presence of National Stock Exchange Chief Executive Officer Ashish Kumar Chauhan, Managing Director and CEO of NSE IX Bala V, Pro-Vice Chancellor of RRU Prof Kalpesh H Wandra and university registrar Shishir Kumar Gupta.

Speaking on the occasion, Wandra highlighted the interconnectedness of economic stability and national security, and emphasized how NSE IX has played a crucial role in bridging this gap.



Nuno Borges wins maiden ATP Tour title after beating Nadal in straight sets

The seventh-seeded Portuguese Nuno Borges eased past tennis royalty Rafael Nadal to win his maiden ATP Tour title at the Nordea Open in Bastad on Sunday.

Nuno beat Rafael Nadal 6-3, 6-2 to clinch victory in the Nordea Open. The seventh-seeded Portuguese displayed a stupendous performance against the 22-time Grand Slam winner, breaking the Spaniard's serve five times to win his maiden tour-level final.

Speaking at the post-match interview, Borges said that it was a 'crazy' moment for him.



The Kerala government's appointment of IAS officer K Vasuki

The BJP in Kerala on Saturday slammed the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government for reportedly giving an IAS officer, K Vasuki, additional charge of matters connected with 'External Cooperation'.

The party also termed it an appointment of a "foreign secretary of the state", while the Chief Secretary, Venu V, said it was nothing new.

The Marxist veteran should not consider the southern state as an independent country, BJP state president K Surendran said as he attacked Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan over the development.



Nobel Prize winner Rigoberta Menchu Tum conferred with Gandhi Mandela Award 2020

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Rigoberta Menchº Tum has been honoured with the Gandhi Mandela Award 2020. This prestigious award was presented to her on the 106th birth anniversary of Nelson Mandela.

According to the Gandhi Mandela Foundation, this award honours individuals who advance peace, harmony, and the principles championed by both Gandhi and Mandela, including community service and social development. The Dalai Lama was honoured with this esteemed award in 2019.

Rigoberta Menchº Tum, a K'iche' Guatemalan human rights activist, feminist, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has dedicated her life to advocating for the rights of Indigenous peoples in Guatemala and advancing Indigenous rights on a global scale. Born on January 9, 1959, into a poor Indian peasant family within the Quiche branch of Maya culture, Rigoberta's early years were characterised by both hardship and resilience.



Union Minister G Kishan Reddy Inaugurates Landslide Forecast System In Kolkata

Union Minister of Mines G Kishan Reddy said the Geological Survey of India, GSI will give forecasts on landslides from Saturday in Darjeeling and Kalimpong in West Bengal and Nilgiri in Tamilnadu. The landslide forecast system will be available all over India by 2030.

The minister inaugurated the landslide forecast system in Kolkata on Friday. The forecast will be generated by the GSI and will be transmitted to the state government, which will then disseminate it to the district administration for spreading the information among the people. Total 36 centres which are land-slide prone will be covered by the landslide forecast system. Mr Reddy also inaugurated a portal and mobile app related to landslides.



UP govt announces formation of State Capital Region on lines of NCR

The Uttar Pradesh government Friday notified the formation of the State Capital Region' (SCR) on the lines of the National Capital Region (NCR).

Governor Anandiben Patel also approved the establishment of Uttar Pradesh State Capital Region Development Authority (UP-SCRDA).

The Housing and Urban Planning Department issued the notification following her approval to the proposals.

The notification said the newly formed Uttar Pradesh State Capital Region includes Lucknow and the adjoining districts of Hardoi, Sitapur, Unnao, Rae Bareli and Barabanki.

According to the notification, a total area of 27,826 square kilometres will be included in the SCR.



Sanjeev Krishan re-elected as chairman of PwC in India for second term

PwC India announced on Friday that Sanjeev Krishan has been re-elected as its chairperson for a second term. Krishan, 53, will hold the post for four years beginning April 1, 2025.

The consultancy said that Krishan would continue to represent it externally and internally. He will also continue to serve on the PwC Global Strategy Council.

Krishan's first term as chairperson started on January 1, 2021. He joined PwC in 1991 as an articled trainee. In 2006, he became a partner and led the firm's Deals, Transactions, and Private Equity business.



Chhangte, Indumathi win top male and female AIFF awards 2024

India and Mumbai City FC winger Lallianzuala Chhangte and national women’s team midfielder Indumathi Kathiresan won the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) male and female Player of the Award respectively here on Friday.

The awards were given at a function organised by the national football federation.

The 27-year-old Chhangte recently extended his contract with Mumbai City FC until the end of the 2026/27 season.