18th FEBRUARY 2025 ENGLISH TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS PDF TNPSC SHOUTERS
Central Government releases 15th Finance Commission grants for rural local bodies in Punjab, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh
- The Central Government has released 15th Finance Commission grants for the financial year 2024-25 to rural local bodies in Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Chhattisgarh. These grants to Panchayat Raj Institutions/Rural Local Bodies play an important role in strengthening democracy.
- The first installment of Rs. 225.1707 crore has been released for rural local bodies in Punjab. The funds will be disbursed to all the eligible 22 District Panchayats, 146 Block Panchayats, and 13144 Gram Panchayats of the state.
- The 15th Finance Commission grants to rural local bodies in Chhattisgarh have been released in the second installment of Rs. 237.1393 crore for the financial year 2024-25 and the pending balance of Rs. 6.9714 crore in the first installment of the financial year 2024-25.
- The first installment of Rs. 93.9643 crore has been released to rural local bodies in Uttarakhand for the financial year 2024-25. This fund will be provided to 7,769 eligible Gram Panchayats, 995 eligible Block Panchayats and all 13 eligible District Panchayats of the state.
- The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, arrived in India yesterday (Feb. 17) on a 2-day official visit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi received him at the airport. The Qatari King is visiting India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is his second state visit to India. He had previously visited India in March 2015.
- He met President Draupadi Murmu at her residence in Delhi. Later, he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During this meeting, two agreements were signed. Two documents were signed, namely, the revised double taxation resolution and the joint action.
- In addition, five memorandums of understanding were signed, namely, strengthening relations in areas including economic cooperation, cooperation in the field of youth affairs and sports. Accordingly, it has been announced that bilateral trade will reach $ 2.8 billion in the next 5 years.
- Ganesh Kumar has been appointed as the 26th Chief Election Commissioner of India. In Delhi, a committee comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi met and announced the name of Gyaneshwar Kumar.
- Gyanesh Kumar, who will formally take oath tomorrow, will continue in this post till January 26, 2029, it has been reported.
- Gyanesh Kumar, who was the Election Commissioner following the retirement of Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, was appointed as the Chief Election Commissioner on Monday. Following this, Vivek Joshi has been appointed as the Election Commissioner.
- With this, Gyanesh Kumar will act as the Chief Election Commissioner and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi will also act as Election Commissioners.
- Vivek Joshi, a former Chief Secretary of Haryana, has been in central service since 2019. He has previously served as Secretary, Civil Service Commission, Government of India, and Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs.
