NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Overview of State Visit of Mohamed Muizzu, President of Maldives, to India:

6-10 October 2024
Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, President of the Republic of Maldives, visited India from
6th to 10th October 2024, marking a significant milestone in the relationship
between India and Maldives. This marks his first official visit as President.
• It aimed to solidify India-Maldives relations, aligning with India’s
‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in
the Region) vision.
• They issued a vision document – India and Maldives: A Vision for
Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership – which
outlines the shared interest and mutual aid in areas from defence
infrastructure to surveillance capabilities.
• India and Maldives have decided to constitute a new High-Level Core Group
to oversee the progress in the implementation of this vision document.
• Hanimaadhoo International Airport (HIA) in Haa Dhaalu Atoll, Maldives.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has entered into a Currency Swap Agreement
with the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) under the South Asian
Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Currency Swap Framework for
2024-2027.
• This will provide financing support to the Maldives, enabling access to up to
USD 400 million under the US Dollar/Euro Swap Window and Rs 30 billion
under the Indian Rupee (INR) Swap Window.
Rashtriya Raksha University in Lavad, Gujarat signed a MoU with the National
College of Policing and Law Enforcement in Addu City, Maldives, to enable the
exchange of best practices and expertise to enhance security cooperation.
Upgradation of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, Nagpur: The
PM laid the foundation stone of the upgradation of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar
International Airport, Nagpur, Maharashtra, with an estimated cost of Rs 7,000
crore.
RECENT NEWS: PM launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Yuva Karya Prashikshan Yojana:
Internship Scheme for Unemployed Youth’ with an outlay of Rs 5,600 crore to
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offer skill enhancement and industry exposure internship for unemployed youth
of Maharashtra aged 18 to 30.
WHO declares that India has eliminated Trachoma as a public health problem
in 2024
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that the Government of
India (GoI) has eliminated Trachoma as a public health problem. India received
this honor at the 77th Regional Conference of World Health Organization
(WHO) South East Asia Region held in New Delhi.
• It has become the 3rd country in the South-East Asia Region after Nepal and
Myanmar to secure this milestone.
PM Modi inaugurated ‘Lal Tipara Gaushala’, India’s 1st Modern Gaushala with
Bio-CNG Plant in Gwalior, MP
The Gaushala was established over 2 hectares in collaboration with Indian Oil
Corporation Limited (IOCL).
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan Launched Various Schemes and Laid the
Foundation Stone of 500 Km Long Newly Paved Roads in MP
He also laid the foundation stone of 500 kilometer (km) long newly paved
roads under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
• PMGSY was launched on 25th December, 2000 by the former Prime Minister
(PM) of India, Atal Bihar Vajpayee.
About PMAY: Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) is a flagship scheme of GoI,
launched by PM Narendra Modi on 25th June, 2015. The scheme has two main
components: PMAY-Urban (PMAY-U) and PMAY-Gramin (PMAY-G).
•While addressing the event, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan announced
that along with Ladli Behna, the campaign to make Lakhpati Didi will also run
across the country.
• So far, Rs 100 crore have been allocated for the Lakhpati Didi initiative.
MoL&E Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Chairs 194th Meeting of Employees’
State Insurance Corporation

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Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Ministry of Labour & Employment
(MoL&E), chaired the 194th meeting of the Employees’ State Insurance
Corporation (ESIC) at its headquarters in New Delhi, Delhi.
Extension of Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojna: The unemployment allowance
scheme for insured persons has been extended from 1st July 2024 to 30th June
2026 to provide continued support during job searches.
DAE Inaugurates MACE Observatory: Asia’s Largest and Highest Imaging
Telescope in Ladakh
Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE)
and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), inaugurated the Major
Atmospheric Cherenkov Experiment (MACE) Observatory at Hanle, Ladakh.
It is indigenously built by Mumbai (Maharashtra) based Bhabha Atomic
Research Centre (BARC), with help from Hyderabad Electronics Corporation of
India Limited (ECIL) and other Indian partners.
2 Women Navy Officers are Set To Sail Around The World For 8 Months
Lieutenant Commander (Lt. Cdr) Dilna K. and Lt. Cdr Roopa A., the two women
officers of the Indian Navy (IN) have embarked on a voyage to circumnavigate
the globe in a sailboat, named ‘Navika Sagar Parikrama’ on the Indian Naval
Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini.
• The 2nd edition of Navika Sagar Parikrama expedition was flagged off at the
Ocean Sailing Node, INS Mandovi near Panaji, Goa by Navy Chief Admiral
Dinesh K. Tripathi.
•The voyage covering around 23,000 nautical miles will take around 240 days.
India, Japan, US & Australia hold 28th Malabar Naval Exercise off the Indian
Coast
The 28th edition of the multi-national maritime exercise MALABAR(2024)
commenced off the coast of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh(AP) under the
Eastern Naval Command (ENC). The exercise saw participation from the Indian
Navy (IN), the United States Navy (USN), the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
(JMSDF) and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

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About MALABAR Exercise : The MALABAR Exercise began in 1992 as a bilateral
exercise between India and the United States of America (USA).
MALABAR 2024: The MALABAR -2024 is conducted in two phases, Harbor and
Sea-> The Harbor Phase takes place at Visakhapatnam, The Sea Phase occurs in
the Bay of Bengal.
Highlights of ITU WTSA Hackathon 2024 Phase-2
The Phase-2 of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) World
Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) Hackathon 2024
concluded on October 8, 2024, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Delhi.
• It was organized by the ITU and hosted by the Department of
Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications (MoC) of India under
the theme “AI Bharat 5G/6G Sandbox.“
• For the first time in its 150-year history, the WTSA 2024 will be conducted in
India.
• The WTSA is a key conference held every four years.
Colombia becomes 17th Country to Sign Audio-Visual Co-Production
Agreement with India
India and Colombia signed an Audio-Visual Co-Production Agreement to
enhance collaboration in film production and strengthen cultural ties, and
goodwill between the two nations. With this, Colombia becomes the 17th
country to sign such an agreement with India.
• The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), Government of India
(GoI), has played a pivotal role in promoting these partnerships.
Colombia’s participation in the upcoming 55th International Film Festival of
India (IFFI) in November 2024 in Panaji, Goa and India’s hosting of the World
Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) in February 2025 in New Delhi,
Delhi underscore deepening cultural ties.
About Colombia: Capital – Bogotá Currency – Colombian Peso
Department of Posts & Amazon Signed MoU to Enhance Logistics & e-
commerce in India

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The Department of Posts (DoP) under the Ministry of Communications, and
Amazon Seller Services Private Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) to strengthen the logistics and e-commerce in India.
HAL Received RFP from MoD for 156 Light Combat Helicopters worth Rs 45000
crore
Bengaluru (Karnataka)-based Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has received
Request For Proposal (RFP) from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for procurement
of 156 Light Combat Helicopters (LCHs) Prachand, estimated to cost Rs 45, 000
crore.
• Out of this 156 LCHs, 90 is for the Indian Army (IA) and remaining 66 is for the
Indian Air Force (IAF).
• The LCH Prachand is the first indigenous Multi-Role Combat Helicopter
designed and manufactured by HAL in collaboration with French engine-maker
Safran.
Point to Note: In April 2024, MoD issued a tender to HAL for the procurement of
indigenously developed 97 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mark 1A fighter jets for
Indian Air Force (IAF)with estimated worth of over Rs 65, 000 crore.
Centre Extends DHIS by a Year Till June 2025 to Digitise Patients’ Health Record
The Government of India (GoI) has extended the Digital Health Incentive Scheme
(DHIS) by a year until 30 June 2025 (or till funds for DHIS are available), aiming
to digitise patients’ health records and integrate them with Ayushman Bharat
Digital Health Account (ABHA ID).
About Digital Health Incentive Scheme (DHIS): The NHA has launched the DHIS
in January 2023. NHA has come up with some relaxations like reduced
transaction limits in the existing scheme with effective from 1st April 2023.
PM Gati Shakti NMP Completed 3 Years of Transforming India’s Infrastructure
Landscape
PM Gati Shakti–National Master Plan (NMP) for multi-modal connectivity
successfully completed 3 years of implementation and achieved significant
milestones in transforming the country’s infrastructure landscape.

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• It was launched on 13th October, 2021 by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi
at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi (Delhi).
• It is being implemented by the Logistics division of Ministry of Commerce &
Industry (MoC&I).
• It was launched with the budget outlay of Rs 100 lakh crore.
• It was developed as a Digital Master Planning tool by Bhaskaracharya National
Institute for Space Applications and Geoinformatics (BISAG-N) and was prepared
in dynamic Geographic Information System (GIS) platform.
• According to the World Bank’s “Logistics Performance Index” report released
in 2023, India’s has improved its ranking by 6 places i.e. from 44th spot (in 2018)
to 38th (in 2023).
• The Government of Uttar Pradesh (UP) developed the SMP portal to identify
locations for new schools in underserved areas through the Pahunch portal.
National Logistics Policy: It was launched on 17th September 2022.
MNRE notifies Scheme Guidelines for Rs 500cr ‘Innovative Projects’
component under PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) notified Scheme Guidelines
to implement the Rs 500 crore ‘Innovative Projects’ component under the Prime
Minister (PM)–Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.
• The Scheme Implementation Agency (SIA) for this component is Gurugram
(Haryana) based National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), an autonomous
institute under the MNRE.
About PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana: Launched on February 29, 2024, the
PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana aims to boost solar rooftop capacity and allow
households to generate their own electricity. The scheme has a budget of Rs
75,021 crore and will run until Financial Year 2026-27 (FY27).
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurates India’s 1st Demonstration Facility
for Biopolymers in Pune

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Union Minister of State (Independent charge, IC) Dr. Jitendra Singh, Ministry of
Science and Technology (MoST), virtually inaugurated India’s 1st Demonstration
Facility for Biopolymers at Jejuri, Pune, Maharashtra.
●India ranks 12th globally and 3rd in the Asia-Pacific region in biotechnology.
●India’s bioeconomy surpassed USD 150 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach
USD 300 billion by 2030.
Maharashtra Launches India’s First State-Level Cyber Command Center to
Combat Cybercrime
The Maharashtra State Cyber Department in partnership with Vadodara
(Gujarat) based Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Technology Services Limited (LTTS)
launched India’s first state-level Cyber Command and Control Center (CCC) at
Mahape in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra.
India’s first Memorial for Unsung Heroes of Military Intelligence ‘Satark Park’
Unveiled in Pune
The Indian Army (IA) inaugurated its first memorial, “Satark Park” in Pune
(Maharashtra), dedicated to honouring Military Intelligence (MI) personnel who
lost their lives in service. The memorial is inspired by MI’s motto “Sada Satark”
(always alert).
• The park was inaugurated by Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) Pradeep Kumar
Chahal.
Cabinet Approvals on 16th October 2024
Additional instalment of 3% of DA Government employees & DR to Pensioners
The Union Cabinet has approved a 3% increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) to
Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to pensioners, with
effect from 1st July 2024.
Cabinet approves Rs. 35,000 crore for Continuation of PM-AASHA Schemes
The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of the Pradhan Mantri
Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) to provide fair prices for farmers
and monitor price fluctuations in essential commodities for consumers.

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• The total financial outgo will be Rs. 35,000 crore during the 15th Finance
Commission Cycle up to 2025-26.
The revamped PM-AASHA now includes components like:
• Price Support Scheme (PSS) • Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) • Price Deficit
Payment Scheme (PDPS) • Market Intervention Scheme (MIS)
About PM AASHA: PM-AASHA, launched by the Government of India in 2018 is
an umbrella scheme which aims to provide MSP assurance to farmers.
Nodal ministry – Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW).
NABARD Released 2nd All India Rural Financial Inclusion Survey NAFIS for
2021-22
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has
released the results of its 2nd ‘NABARD All India Rural Financial Inclusion
Survey (NAFIS) for 2021-22’, which provides primary data based on a survey of
1 lakh rural households, covering various economic and financial aspects in the
post-COVID period.
• The inaugural NAFIS was conducted by NABARD for the agricultural year (July-
June) 2016-17, and was released in August 2018.
• Uttarakhand (93%) topped among these 11 states in term of savings money
followed by Uttar Pradesh (UP) (84%) and Jharkhand (83%).
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Becomes 14th Maharatna CPSE
The Department of Public Enterprise (DPE) under the Ministry of Finance (MoF)
upgraded the status of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) from “Navratna”
Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSE) to the “Maharatna”. With this, HAL
becomes the 14th “Maharatna” CPSE in India.
• This upgrade is based on the recommendations of the Inter Ministerial
Committee (IMC) chaired by the Finance Secretary, MoF and the Apex
Committee led by the Cabinet Secretary.
• The new status will enhance HAL’s operational autonomy and financial powers
as now; it can make investments up to 15% of its net worth in projects and can

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invest maximum Rs 5,000 crore in foreign ventures without the approval of the
Government of India (GoI).
Note: Oil India Limited (OIL), the 2nd largest National Exploration & Production
(E&P) Company in India, became the 13th Maharatna CPSE in August 2023.
Criteria for Maharatna status to CPSEs:
i.It should be listed on Indian Stock Exchange with a minimum prescribed public
shareholding under Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) regulations.
ii.The company should possess Navratna status.
iii.The CPSEs should have an annual net worth of Rs15,000 crore for 3 years or
average annual turnover of 25,000 crore consecutively for 3 years.
iv.The CPSE should have an average annual net profit after tax of over Rs 5,000
crore consecutively for 3 years.
CCS Gave Approval to Establish New Missile Testing Range in Nagayalanka,
Andhra Pradesh
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) chaired by Prime Minister (PM)
Narendra Modi had given its approval to establish a new missile testing range in
Nagayalanka village, Krishna district in Andhra Pradesh (AP).
• The new missile testing range will be used for test firing of various tactical
missile systems such as: surface-to-air missile systems, anti tank missiles, among
others being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation
(DRDO).
India signs USD 4 bn deal to buy 31 Predator drones from the USA
India signed an agreement worth USD 4 billion with the United States of
America(USA) to acquire 31 MQ 9B Predator high-altitude, long-endurance
drones from the USA based General Atomics, under the foreign military sales
programme.
• The agreement includes 15 Sea Guardian drones for the Indian Navy(IN) and
16 Sky Guardians for the Indian Army(IA) and Indian Air Force (IAF).
Missile testing ranges in India:

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 ✓ At present, most of the tactical missiles are tested from Integrated Test
Range (ITR) which has two complexes: Launch Complex –IV (LC-IV) on
Abdul Kalam Island (previously known as Wheelers island) and Launch
Complex-III (LC-III) located at Balasore, in Chandipur district, Odisha.
✓ In April 2024, DRDO initiated the process of developing a new missile
testing range at Junput village which is 177 kilometer (km) away from
Kolkata, West Bengal (WB).
RECENT NEWS: The National Test House (NTH), North Region (NR), Ghaziabad,
Uttar Pradesh (UP), has been provisionally approved by the Quality Council of
India (QCI) as a Certification Body for Type certification of drones or Unmanned
Aircraft Systems (UAS) under the Certification Scheme for UAS.
ANRF Launches first 2 initiatives: PMECRG and MAHA-EV Mission
The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) has launched its first
two significant initiatives: the Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant
(PMECRG) and the Mission for Advancement in High-Impact Areas – Electric
Vehicle (MAHA-EV) Mission.
MP to Declare Ratapani WLS as 8th Tiger Reserve near Bhopal
The State Wildlife Board (WLB) of Madhya Pradesh (MP) has accorded approval
to declare Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) located near Bhopal, capital city of
MP, as 8th Tiger Reserve (TR) of MP.
Note:
➢ In 2023, Veerangana Durgavati TR was officially declared 7th TR in MP.
➢ The other TRs in MP are Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Satpura, Pench, Panna and
Sanjay-Dubri.
IOCL & Nepal Oil Corporation Sign B2B Framework Agreements to Develop
Petroleum Infrastructure in Nepal
Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) signed a
Business to Business (B2B) Framework Agreement for the development of
petroleum infrastructure in Nepal with a total investment of around Rs.15
billion.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari Addresses 12th CII Bioenergy Summit in Delhi

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Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways(MoRTH),
addressed the 12th Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Bioenergy Summit
held in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The theme of the summit was “Fueling the Future – Securing India’s Green
Growth Goals”.
Nitin Gadkari highlighted that ethanol blending in petrol has increased from
1.53% in 2014 to 15% in 2024, with a target to reach 20% by 2025.
EAM Jaishankar Launches e-Migrate V2.0 Web Portal & Mobile App for Safer
Global Mobility
Union Minister Dr S. Jaishankar, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Union
Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE),
launched the e-Migrate V2.0 web portal and mobile app at Sushma Swaraj
Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi.
• e-Migrate V2.0 is an updated version of the e-Migrate portal, developed
by MEA in 2014.
• With a partnership with the State Bank of India (SBI), the portal allows
digital payment services with no transaction fees.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari Unveils ‘Humsafar Policy’ for Onboarding Service
Providers for Wayside Amenities Along the National Highways
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH)
launched the ‘Humsafar Policy’ in New Delhi (Delhi) to enhance the convenience
of travelling on National Highways (NHs) and accelerate the development of the
Wayside Amenities in presence of Minister of State Ajay Tamta, MoRTH.
GoI & GBA signed agreement to Establish GBA Secretariat in India
The Government of India (GoI) has signed a Host Country Agreement (HCA) with
the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA) to officially establish the GBA Secretariat in
India. The agreement was signed at a ceremony in New Delhi (Delhi).
About Global BioFuels Alliance (GBA): The Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA) was
launched by India during its G20 presidency in 2023, led by the Indian Prime
Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and supported by leaders from Argentina,
Bangladesh, Brazil, Italy, Mauritius, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
and the United States of America (USA).

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Members: The Alliance consists of 27 countries and 12 international
organizations.
MoE Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announces 3 CoEs in AI in Healthcare,
Agriculture and Sustainable Cities
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Education (MoE), announced
the establishment of 3 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Centres of Excellence (CoEs)
focused on Healthcare, Agriculture, and Sustainable Cities during an event held
in New Delhi, Delhi.
The government of India (GoI) has allocated Rs 990 crore for these centres,
which will be implemented over 5 years (FY 2023-24 to FY 2027-28).
IndiaAI mission selects 8 projects to enhance Safe and Trusted AI development
The IndiaAI mission has selected 8 responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) projects
through the Expression of Interest (EoI) floated under the Safe and Trusted AI
Pillar of the IndiaAI mission.
About IndiaAI mission: In March 2024, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime
Minister (PM) Narendra Modi approved IndiaAI mission with budget outlay of Rs
10,371.92 crore (USD 1.25 billion) for over the next 5 years.
Union Minister Piyush Goyal Launched District Master Plan under PM Gati
Shakti for 27 Aspirational Districts
Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I)
launched the District Master Plan (DMP) under PM Gati Shakti National Master
Plan (NMP) for 27 aspirational districts in the country on the occasion of
successful completion of 3 years of PM Gati Shakti NMP (on 13th October, 2024).
About PM Gati Shakti NMP: It was launched on 13th October, 2021 by Prime
Minister (PM) NarendraModi at PragatiMaidan, New Delhi in Delhi, with the
budget outlay of Rs 100 lakh crore.
It was developed as a Digital Master Planning tool by Gujarat-based
Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geoinformatics
(BISAG-N) and was prepared in dynamic Geographic Information System (GIS)
platform wherein data on specific action plan of all ministries/ departments have
been incorporated within a comprehensive database.

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GoI Extended “Samarth” Scheme for Capacity Building in Textiles Sector till
March 2026
The Government of India (GoI) has decided to extend Samarth (Scheme for
Capacity Building in Textiles Sector (SCBTS), a demand-driven and placement
oriented umbrella skilling program of the Ministry of Textiles (MoT) for next two
years i.e. Financial Year 2024-25 (FY25) and FY26, with a budget of Rs 495 crore
to train 3 lakh persons in textile-related skills.
UNFPA Honors India’s Leadership in Maternal Health and Family Planning
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has recognized India’s
extraordinary progress in advancing Maternal Health and Family Planning.
• Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of UNFPA, honored Punya Salila Srivastava,
Secretary, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of
India (GoI), with a plaque and certificate, reaffirming UNFPA’s strong dedication
to partnering with India to improve women’s health and well-being.
MNRE Approves 3 Pilot Projects for Green Hydrogen in Steel Sector
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has approved three pilot
projects under the National Green Hydrogen Mission(NGHM) aimed at utilizing
green hydrogen in steel production. The Government of India(GoI) has allocated
Rs 347 crore to support these projects, which are expected to become
operational within the next three years.
• The NGHM was launched on January 4, 2023, with a budget of Rs 19,744
crore.
“Scam se Bacho” Campaign: GoI and Meta Collaborate to Enhance Cyber Safety
The Government of India(GoI), in collaboration with Meta Platforms Inc., has
launched the “Scam se Bacho“, a national user awareness campaign, in New
Delhi (Delhi) to combat the increasing prevalence of online scams.
Regional Connectivity Scheme- Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik Completed 8 Years
The Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) – UDAN, or “Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik,”
spearheaded by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), celebrated the completion
of 8 years in service to the nation. Union Minister, Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu,
MoCA attended a special event celebrating 8 successful years of RCS-UDAN.
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• 21st October 2024 marks the 8th anniversary of RCS UDAN, which was
launched on 21st October 2016.
• RCS UDAN was a vital component of India’s National Civil Aviation Policy
(NCAP) 2016 launched by MoCA in 2016 with a 10-year vision.
Darbhanga Airport (Civil Enclave): It is located in Bihar
Jharsuguda Airport (AAI Airport): It became operational in March 2019, serving
as the 2nd Airport in Odisha
Pithoragarh Airport: It is located in Uttarakhand
Tezu Airport: It is located in Arunachal Pradesh (AR)
India is the world’s 3rd largest aviation market
Recent Development:
PM Narendra Modi inaugurated 3 new airports namely, Rewa in Madhya
Pradesh (MP), Ambikapur in Chhattisgarh, and Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh
(UP), which are developed under the RCS-UDAN scheme, from Varanasi, UP.
Union Minister K. Rammohan Naidu announced that the GoI has decided to
extend the regional air connectivity scheme UDAN for another 10 years i.e. until
2036.
MoRD Signs MoU with 10 Banks to Empower Rural Women Entrepreneurs
through Financial Support
The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) has signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with nine Public Sector Banks (PSBs)and one Private
Sector Bank under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana National Rural Livelihood
Mission (DAY-NRLM) at the National Conclave on Women led Entrepreneurship
held in New Delhi (Delhi).
• The PSBs involved in the agreement are: Bank of Baroda (BOB), Bank of India
(BOI), Bank of Maharashtra (BOM), Canara Bank (CB), Central Bank of India
(CBI), Indian Bank (IB), Indian Overseas Bank (IOB), Punjab National Bank (PNB)
and United Commercial Bank (UCO). The Private Sector Bank involved in the
agreement is Industrial Development Bank of India Limited (IDBI Bank Ltd).

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About DAY-NRLM: The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods
Mission (DAY-NRLM) was launched in 2011 by the MoRD, aimed at reducing
poverty.
Kotak Brands BKC station as Kotak Bandra-Kurla Complex Metro Station
Kotak Mahindra Group has branded the BKC station of Metro 3 Aqua Line in
Mumbai (Maharashtra) as ‘Kotak Bandra-Kurla Complex metro station’.
India & Oman conducted Naseem Al Bahr, Bilateral Naval Exercise Off Goa’
coast
The Indian Navy(IN) and Royal Navy of Oman(RNO) successfully conducted
‘Naseem Al Bahr’, the Indo Oman bilateral naval exercise off Goa’s coast from
13th to 18th October 2024.
• ‘Naseem Al Bahr’ is also known as “Sea Breeze”.
Participants: Indian Naval Ship (INS) Trikand and Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft
from India and the Royal Navy of Oman Vessel (RNOV) Al Seeb from Oman.
About Oman: Prime Minister (PM)- Haitham bin Tariq Capital- Muscat Currency-
Omani Rial
Dr Jitendra Singh Released “ICMR-India Diabetes ‘INDIAB’, Jammu Related
Data of the 1st of its Kind World’s Largest Survey
Union Minister, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Ministry of Science & Technology (MoST),
released ‘ICMR-India Diabetes ‘INDIAB’, Jammu related data of the ‘first of its
kind’ world’s largest survey to assess the prevalence of Diabetes in India,
including Jammu & Kashmir(J&K), during the event held in Jammu, J&K.
India & Seychelles Sign MoU for Collaboration in Auditing
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) and Office of the Auditor
General Auditing (OAG), Republic of Seychelles have signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) in Victoria, Seychelles to boost training opportunities and
information sharing between their respective Auditor General’s offices.
• The agreement was signed by Girish Chandra Murmu, the Comptroller and
Auditor General (CAG) of India, and Gamini Herath, the Auditor General of the
Republic of Seychelles.

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About Republic of Seychelles: Capital-Victoria Currency-Seychellois Rupee
Ultraviolette launches its 6th UV Space station in Visakhapatnam
Bengaluru(Karnataka) based Ultraviolette Automotive Private Limited has
launched its 6th Ultraviolette (UV) space station in Visakhapatnam, Andhra
Pradesh(AP).
• This facility marks a significant step in UV’s expansion journey, joining the
flagship center in Bengaluru and recent launches in Pune (Maharashtra),
Ahmedabad (Gujarat), Kochi (Kerala), and Hyderabad (Telangana), with plans to
establish a presence in twelve cities by the end of 2024.
PM Modi Inaugurates ITU World Telecommunication Standardization
Assembly 2024 in New Delhi
Narendra Modi, Prime Minister(PM) of India, inaugurated the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU)– World Telecommunication Standardization
Assembly (WTSA) 2024 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Delhi.
• WTSA was hosted in India for the first time in ITU’s history of 150 years. This
also marks the first WTSA hosted in the Asia-Pacific.
WTSA is held every four years and defines the next period of study for ITU-
International Telecommunications Standardization Sector (ITU-T).
8th edition of India Mobile Congress
8th edition of India Mobile Congress (IMC 2024) was held from 15th to 18th
October at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi along with WTSA 2024.
• The theme of the IMC 2024 was- The Future Is Now.
Reliance Jio launches JioBharat V3 and V4 4G feature phones
Reliance Jio has introduced the JioBharat V3 and V4, the next generation of
affordable 4G feature phones at the IMC 2024.
About International Telecommunication Union (ITU): Headquarters – Geneva,
Switzerland
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Launches eShram – One Stop Solution for
Unorganised Workers

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Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Ministry of Labour & Employment
(MoL&E), launched the ‘eShram – One Stop Solution’from New Delhi, Delhi to
enhance easier access to various social security schemes for unorganized
workers.
The eShram portal, originally launched in August 2021 by MoL&E for creation of
National Database of Unorganized Workers (NDUW).
• It has already registered over 30 crore workers, showcasing its vital role in
providing welfare services.
• Unorganized workers aged between 16-59 years can register on this portal.
The platform integrates key welfare initiatives such as: • ONORC: One Nation
One Ration Card • MGNREGA: Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment
Guarantee Act • NSAP: National Social Assistance Programme • NCS: National
Career Service • PM-SYM: Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan .
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman approves Creation of CGM Posts in 5
Nationalized Banks
Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Ministry of Finance (MoF) has approved
the restructuring within nationalized banks by creating and increasing the
number of Chief General Manager (CGM) posts.
The new CGM positions will be introduced in five nationalized banks, namely:
1. Bank of Maharashtra (BoM), Pune, Maharashtra 2. Central Bank of India (CBI),
Mumbai, Maharashtra 3. Indian Overseas Bank (IOB), Chennai, Tamil Nadu 4.
Punjab & Sind Bank (PSB), New Delhi, Delhi 5. UCO Bank, Kolkata, West Bengal.
Nitin Gadkari Unveils Rs 100 Commemorative Coin to mark the Birth Centenary
of HH Mataji Nirmala Devi Ji
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH)
unveiled a Rs 100 commemorative coin to mark the Birth Centenary of HH Mataji
Nirmala Devi Ji at the National Museum in New Delhi, Delhi.
MSDE partners with Meta for AI Assistant in Skill India Mission and 5 Centers
of Excellence in NSTIs
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has partnered
with Meta, parent company of the social network Facebook, to enhance the Skill

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India Mission through the development of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Assistant
and the establishment of five Centers of Excellence (CoEs) focused on Virtual
Reality (VR) and Mixed Reality (MR).
Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia Unveiled BSNL’s new Logo and Launched
7 Customer Centric Services
Union Minister Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia, Ministry of Communications
(MoC) and Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) unveiled
the new logo of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and launched its 7
customer centric services at Bharat Sanchar Bhavan in New Delhi, Delhi.
About BSNL New Logo: The new logo of BSNL signifies strength, trust, and
accessibility. It includes green and white arrows surrounding India which
emphasize the company’s expansive nationwide coverage, while the orange
backdrop symbolizes warmth and inclusivity.
The bold tagline of BSNL, “Connecting Bharat” .
BSNL has launched 7 new initiatives built on 3 key pillars: security, affordability,
and reliability
Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia further informed that out of 1 lakh BSNL 4G
sites, which are planned to be established by mid-2025, many will be upgraded
to 5G connectivity.
International Workshop on Modern Technologies in Survey-Resurvey for Urban
Land Records Held in New Delhi
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD),
virtually inaugurated an International Workshop on “Modern Technologies in
Survey-Resurvey for Urban Land Records” at the Dr. Ambedkar International
Centre (DAIC) in New Delhi, Delhi.
➢ The pilot programme of “National Geospatial Knowledge-Based Land
Survey of Urban Habitations (NAKSHA)” project of the DoLR has been
initiated to create Land Records in Urban Areas. The project is set to be
started in more than 100 cities/towns in all the States/Union Territories
(UTs) and it is expected to be completed in one year.

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SVAMITVA Scheme: The SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with
Improvised Technology in Village Areas) Scheme is a Central Sector initiative
launched by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) in April 2020. This program
aims to provide legal ownership rights to households in rural areas.
Key features of SVAMITVA include providing a ‘Record of Rights’ for property
owners, issuing legal ownership cards, and utilizing advanced drone technology
for accurate mapping of land parcels.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
India Ranked 105th in Global Hunger Index 2024, Placed under “Serious”
Category
According to the 19th edition of ‘Global Hunger Index (GHI 2024): How Gender
Justice Can Advance Climate Resilience and Zero Hunger’, India has been ranked
at 105th position among 127 countries with an overall score of 27.3. India has
improved its ranking by 6 places, from 111th (2023).
• As per the report, India is among 42 countries that have been placed under the
“serious” category for hunger levels.
Nagaland Partners with Wales for 25th Hornbill Festival
The Government of Nagaland has signed Wales, a country which is a part of the
United Kingdom (UK), as one of the Country Partners for the 25th Hornbill
Festival.
INS Talwar Arrives in South Africa to Join IBSAMAR VIII
Indian Naval Ship (INS) Talwar, frontline stealth frigate of Indian Navy (IN)
arrived at Simon’s Town in South Africa (SA) to participate in the 8th edition of
India-Brazil-South Africa Maritime (IBSAMAR VIII), a joint multinational
maritime exercise among the navies of India, Brazil and South Africa.
• This exercise takes place right before the upcoming 2024 BRICS Summit in
Russia.
• The exercise is based on Blue Water Naval Warfare, covering the dimensions
of Surface and Anti-Air Warfare.
India’s Jubilant Ingrevia Joins WEF’s Global Lighthouse Network

1219
Noida, Uttar Pradesh (UP)-based Jubilant Ingrevia Limited, science products and
innovative solutions provider, has become the latest Indian firm to join as the
member of the Global Lighthouse Network (GLN) of the World Economic Forum
(WEF).
• Jubilant Ingrevia is the only Indian firm among the cohort of 2024 welcomed
by the WEF.
• In 2024, A total of 22 innovative manufacturers have joined GLN as members.
Highlights of PM Modi’s visit to Vientiane, Lao PDR from 10-11 October 2024
Narendra Modi, Prime Minister (PM) of India, visited Vientiane, the capital of
Lao People’s Democratic Republic (LPDR or Laos), from 10th to 11th October
2024 at the invitation of Sonexay Siphandone, PM of Lao, to strengthen the
bilateral relations between India and Laos.
During his visit to Laos, PM Modi attended the 21st Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN)-India Summit and the 19th East Asia Summit, hosted by
Laos, the current Chair of ASEAN.
21st ASEAN-India Summit: The ASEAN-India Summit reviewed the progress of
India-ASEAN relations through their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and
how to enhance it in future.
• The member States of ASEAN, founded in 1967, are Indonesia, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam, Laos, Cambodia, Brunei
Darussalam and Myanmar.
To realize the full potential of the ASEAN-India partnership, a new ASEAN-India
Plan of Action (2026 2030) was agreed to be created.
PM Modi announces celebrating 2025 as ASEAN-India Year of Tourism,
allocates USD 5 mn for joint initiatives
India has announced that it will contribute USD 5 million towards the joint
cooperative activities for the development of tourism across the ASEAN region.
• This year also marks 10 years of India’s Act East Policy.
India would contribute an additional USD 5 million to enhance disaster
resilience.

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Myanmar sent Representatives to ASEAN summit for 1st time in 3 years
19th East Asia Summit (EAS):
The East Asia Summit comprises the 10 ASEAN countries and eight partners –
Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Russia and the United
States. Timor-Leste has the observer status at the EAS.
About Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR): Prime Minister – Sonexay
Siphandone Capital – Vientiane Currency – Laotian Kip
About the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretary–General
– Kao Kim Hourn Headquarters – Jakarta, Indonesia Founded – August 1967
Member States– 10
UNGA Elects 18 new members to Human Rights Council for 2025-2027 Term
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) elected 18 new members to the
United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the term 2025-2027.
The UNHRC consists of 47 member states elected directly by the UNGA.
• African States: 13 members • Asia-Pacific States: 13 members • Eastern
European States: 6 members • Latin American and Caribbean States: 8
members • Western European and other States: 7 members
Each member serves a three-year term and cannot be re-elected for two
consecutive terms.
• The UNHRC membership cycle starts annually on January 1.
About the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC): Headquarters–
Geneva, Switzerland
129mn Indians Lives in Extreme Poverty in 2024: WB Report
The World Bank (WB)’s “Poverty, Prosperity, and Planet Report 2024-Pathways
Out of the Polycrisis” reveals that India has 129 million citizens living in extreme
poverty as they are surviving on less than Rs 180 (USD 2.15) per day.
IRENA’s Report: 2023 was a Record-Breaking Milestone for Solar Power
Generation

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According to the report titled “Renewable Energy and Jobs Annual Review 2024”
released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in collaboration
with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), 347 GigaWatts (GW) of
photovoltaic (PV) capacity were added to power generation globally in 2023.
It is the 11th edition of the report which is released annually by the IRENA and
also the 4th edition developed in partnership with ILO.
Top 5 countries which generated maximum jobs in RE sector: China (7.4 million
jobs), the European Union (EU) (1.8 million); Brazil (1.56 million); the USA and
India both close to 1 million jobs each.
About International Labour Organisation (ILO): Director-General (DG) – Gilbert
Houngbo Headquarters- Geneva, Switzerland
India extends 1st ever Rupee-Denominated LoC, Mauritius gets Rs 487.60cr
The Government of India (GoI) has extended a new Line of Credit (LoC) worth Rs
487.60 crore to the Government of Mauritius for financing of a water pipeline
replacement project. This is India’s first ever rupee-denominated LoC for project
financing to any country under the Indian Development and Economic
Assistance Scheme (IDEAS).
• It will be financed by the State Bank of India (SBI) at concessional terms.
The Rupees denominated LoC is a shift from the traditional dollar-denominated
loans, enhancing the internationalization of the Indian currency.
India Advances in 6G Race, Ranks Among Top 6 in Global Patent Filings
According to various studies, India ranks among the top 6 countries globally in
filing patents related to 6G technology, indicating the potential influence of India
on the 6G standard-setting process.
• This progress made by India is in alignment with the Prime Minister (PM)
Narendra Modi’s vision to make India a front-line contributor in the design,
development and deployment of 6G technology by 2030.
Note: The World Telecommunications Standardisation Assembly (WTSA 2024)
is being held in Delhi from 14th October to 24th October 2024. With this, India
became the 1st country in Asia to host the event.
Islamabad hosted 23rd SCO CHG Meeting focused on trade and economic
agenda
The 23rd Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of
Heads of Government (CHG) was held on 16th October 2024, in Islamabad,

1222
Pakistan under the leadership of the Pakistan Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz
Sharif.
Note: The SCO CHG will be hosted by Russia in 2025.
India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar Addressed 23rd SCO CHG
Union Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA),
Government of India (GoI), addressed the 23rd SCO CHG in Islamabad.
About Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO): SCO was formed on 15th June
2001, in Shanghai, China.
Members– Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia,
Tajikistan and Uzbekistan
Headquarters – Beijing, China
Highlights of President Droupadi Murmu’s visit to Algeria, Mauritania and
Malawi
Droupadi Murmu, President of India, was on three nation tour to Algeria,
Mauritania and Malawi from 13th to 19th October 2024.
President Murmu received Honorary Doctorate in Political Science
President Droupadi Murmu was awarded the Honorary Doctorate in Political
Science by Sidi Abdellah Science and Technology Pole University in Algiers.
India and Mauritania also signed a MoU regarding the India cultural exchange
program for the years 2024-2028.
India is currently the 4th largest trading partner of Malawi.
ICMR Study on BRICS Nations: Cancer Cases and Deaths to Surge between 2022
and 2045 in India
According to the Bengaluru (Karnataka)-based Indian Council of Medical
Research(ICMR)-National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (NCDIR)’s
latest study, cancer cases and deaths are expected to surge between 2022 and
2045 in India and South Africa. • The study has mainly examined cancer cases,
deaths and the impact on the quality of life in the BRICS countries – Brazil,
Russia, India, China and South Africa.

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The study revealed that Russia witnessed the highest number of cancer-related
deaths among men, while South Africa saw the highest number of cancer-
related deaths among women.
IEA and IIT Delhi Signed MoU for Advancing Clean Energy Technologies and
Transitions
The International Energy Agency (IEA) and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)
Delhi have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the role of energy
technology innovation in reducing emissions and leading clean energy
transitions.
Highlights of IEA’s World Energy Outlook 2024
The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) has released its flagship report titled
‘World Energy Outlook (WEO 2024)’. It states that India is on track to become
the third-largest economy in the world by 2028.
The report emphasized that the world is entering the Age of Electricity, with
increased growth in global power demand, especially in China, where solar
power generation could exceed the total electricity demand of the United States
of America (USA) by the early 2030s.
Global electricity demand:Global electricity demand is on track to double by
2050, mainly due to China’s large scale energy transition, according to the
Carbon Tracker’s statement on the IEA’s WEO 2024.
• By 2035, India’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions will amount to 2.5 billion
tonnes.
FATF Revised Grey Listing Criteria to Focus on Nations Posing Great Risk to
Global Financial System
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has revised the criteria for placing
countries on its grey list. The main objective of these changes is to reduce the
burden on Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and to focus on those nations that
pose great risks to the international financial system.
As per the revised criteria, jurisdictions will be prioritized for active review if
they meet the referral criteria and are: • Country which is a member of FATF; •
Country on the World Bank’s High Income Countries (HICs) list (excluding those

1224
with a financial sector of two or fewer banks); • Country that has financial sector
assets more than USD 10 billion (measured by broad money).
About Financial Action Task Force (FATF): Headquarters- Paris, France
149th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly held in Geneva, Switzerland from
13-17 October 2024
The 149th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly was held from 13th to 17th
October 2024 in Geneva, Switzerland. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla headed the
Indian Parliamentary Delegation (IPD) at the IPU Assembly.
Note: The next Assembly will be hosted by Uzbekistan in Tashkent.
Theme: The overall theme of the 149th IPU Assembly was “Harnessing science,
technology and innovation (STI) for a more peaceful and sustainable future”.
Jamaica became the 181st member of the IPU: The IPU welcomed back the
Parliament of Jamaica as its 181st Member Parliament at the 149th IPU
Assembly in Geneva.
About Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU): Secretary General – Martin Chungong
Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland
EFW 2024 Annual Report: Hong Kong Regains Title as World’s Largest Freest
Economy from Singapore & India ranked 84
According to the Vancouver (Canada)-based public policy research organisation
Fraser Institute’s latest report titled “Economic Freedom of the World (EFW)
2024 Annual Report, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), People’s
Republic of China, with ratings of 8.58, has reclaimed title as the world’s largest
freest economy from Singapore, which has been ranked at 2nd position with
overall score of 8.55.
• India has improved its ranking by 3 places, from 87th (In EFW 2023) to 84th (in
EFW 2024).
• Switzerland ranked at 3rd position with an overall score of 8.43, followed by
New Zealand (with ratings of 8.39), the United States of America (USA) (with
ratings of 8.09), ranked at 4th and 5th position respectively.

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India-Specific: India(84th) ranked second highest among BRICS nations i.e. Brazil
(85th), Russia (119th), China (104th) and South Africa (81st).
Egypt Declared ‘Malaria-Free’ by WHO; 2nd Country in 2024
Egypt was officially declared malaria-free by the World Health Organization
(WHO) on October 20, 2024, a significant public health milestone for a country
with more than 100 million inhabitants.
• Egypt became the 2nd country globally to receive this status in 2024, following
Cabo Verde.
• Egypt is the 3rd country to be awarded a malaria-free certification in the WHO
Eastern Mediterranean Region following the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and
Morocco, and the first since 2010.
75th IAC held in Milan, Italy ; ISRO’s Dr. S. Somanath received IAF World Space
Award
The 75th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2024) was held from October
14 to 18, 2024 at the Milano Congress Center (Allianz MiCo), Europe’s largest
conference venue in Milan, Italy.
• The theme of IAC 2024 is “Responsible Space for Sustainability”.
• The significant highlights of the congress included the the awarding of the IAF
World Space Award 2024 to ISRO Chairman Dr. S. Somanath, launch of ESA’s
Moonlight Programme for lunar communication, and the unveiling of the
AxEMU spacesuit by Axiom Space and Prada.
Note: The IAC 2025 will be held in Sydney, Australia from September 29 to
October 3, 2025.
Dr. S. Somanath, Secretary of the Department of Space (DoS) and Chairman of
the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), received the IAF World Space
Award 2024 for the remarkable success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission.
Lunar Communications and Navigation Services (LCNS): The European Space
Agency (ESA) has launched the Lunar Communications and Navigation Services
(LCNS) programme or the Moonlight program at the IAC 2024, aimed at
establishing Europe’s first-ever satellite constellation for telecommunication and
navigation services on the Moon.

1226
About International Astronautical Federation (IAF): Headquarters – Paris,
France
USA, Japan & South Korea Partners to Support Digital Infrastructure in India
The United States of America (USA), Japan and South Korea have signed the
Digital Infrastructure Growth Initiative for India Framework (DiGi Framework) to
strengthen the digital infrastructure development in India.
• The framework was signed between US International Development Finance
Corporation (DFC), the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), and the
Export-Import Bank of Korea (Korea Eximbank–KEXIM) at the DFC headquarters
in Washington D.C., the USA.

BANKING & FINANCE

SEBI Changes Nomination Rules for Demat Account, Mutual Fund Investments
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has changed the nomination
rules between Mutual Funds (MF) and Demat Accounts allowing the holders of
both instruments to include up to 10 nominees.
World Bank Approves Rs 15,000 Crore Loan for Amaravati Development
The World Bank (WB), in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB),
has approved an in principle loan of Rs 15,000 crore to Andhra Pradesh (AP) for
developing Amaravati as its capital city.
The loan features a 15-year moratorium on repayment.
Highlights of RBI’s 4th Bi-monthly MPC Meeting 2024 : RBI Keeps Repo Rate
Unchanged at 6.5%; Retains 7.2% GDP Growth for FY25
The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) met from
7th October to 9th October 2024 and released its fourth Bi-Monthly Monetary
Policy of Financial Year 2024-25 (FY25) which continues to expect India’s real
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to grow at 7.2% in FY25. The October FY25
meeting was RBI’s 51st MPC meeting.
Note: The government reconstituted the MPC in October 2024 by appointing
economists Ram Singh, Saugata Bhattacharya and Nagesh Kumar to the six-
member rate-setting panel for four years.

1227
India’s Current Account Deficit(CAD) widened to 1.1% of GDP inQ1FY25.
RBI increases UPI 123Pay transaction limit (from Rs. 5000) to Rs.10,000 and UPI
Lite wallet limit (from Rs. 2000) to Rs.5,000
UPI 123Pay was created by the RBI and the National Payments Corporation of
India (NPCI) and launched in 2022. This facility is now available in 12 languages.
The RBI also increased the per transaction limit of UPI Lite to Rs.1000 from
Rs.500.
RBI to create Climate Risk Information Repository for lenders .
RBI launches name verification for NEFT, RTGS transfer.
RBI Mandates Full CIC Membership for ARCs
• As per the extant norms, ARCs had to be a member of at least one CIC.
RBI Enhances Digital Payment Accessibility for Disabled.
RBI Grants White-Label ATM Licence to Mumbai-based EPS Company
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted a White Label Automated Teller
Machine (ATM) License (WLA) after a gap of 10 years to Mumbai-based
Electronic Payment and Services Limited (EPS), a privately-owned ATM
outsourcing company.
• With this, EPS has become the 5th company to receive a license to operate
WLAs in India.
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Note: White-Label ATMs are those ATMs, owned and managed only by non-bank
entities for instance: Non Banking Financial Company (NBFC) and customers of
any bank can use them.
TCPSL (Tata Communications Payment Solutions Limited) established India’s 1st
WLA by the name of “Indicash” in Chandrapada, a small village in Thane district,
Maharashtra.
ICICI Bank and MakeMyTip Launched co-branded Premium Credit Card
Mumbai( Maharashtra) based ICICI Bank Limited has partnered with
MakeMyTrip (MMT), a leading Travel company, to launch a premium co-branded
credit card named “MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card” specially curated for the
aspirational travellers of India.
Google partners with Aditya Birla Finance & Muthoot Finance to offer personal
& gold loans.
NBBL introduces national pension system on the Bharat Connect platform
NPCI Bharat BillPay Limited (NBBL), a wholly owned subsidiary of the National
Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has partnered with the Pension Fund
Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) to integrate the National
Pension System (NPS) as a biller category on the Bharat Connect platform
(formerly known as Bharat Bill Payment System-BBPS).
Indian and South Korean Bonds to Join FTSE Russell Government Indexes in
2025
London (the United Kingdom, UK)-based index provider Financial Times Stock
Exchange(FTSE) Russell announced that the Indian and the South Korean
government bonds are set to join FTSE Russell Government Indexes in 2025 to
attract billions of dollars of foreign investment into their local bond markets.
• FTSE Russell is the 3rd index provider to include Indian bonds in its emerging
market (from September 2025) following the successful inclusion of Indian
bonds in JP Morgan’s Government Bond Index-Emerging Markets (GBI-EM)
index, in June 2024 and Bloomberg Index Services’ Emerging Market Local
Currency (EMLC) starting from 31st January, 2025.
Important Terms:

1229
FTSE WGBI: It is a broad benchmark providing coverage of the global sovereign
fixed income market. It measures the performance of fixed-rate, local currency,
investment-grade sovereign bonds from more than 20 countries, denominated
in different currencies.
FTSE EMGBI: It provides a broad benchmark for portfolio managers looking for a
measure of sovereign emerging markets.It measures the performance of local
currency government bonds from 16 countries.
Jio Payments Bank Secures Mutual Fund Distribution License from AMFI
Jio Payments Bank Limited, a subsidiary of Jio Financial Services, has obtained a
Category 1 Execution-Only Platform (EOP) license from the Association of
Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) for Mutual Fund (MF) distribution.
• This license enables the bank to distribute direct MF plans and receive
transaction fees capped at Rs 2 per transaction.
• Currently, there are 15 Category 1 EOPs registered with AMFI.
SEBI Extends Digital Relaxation for AGMs Until September 2025
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) extended the relaxation given
to listed companies from sending physical copies of financial statements to
shareholders for Annual General Meetings (AGMs) by one more year till 30th
September 2025.
IFC to Finance USD 105 million to Brookfield’s 550 MW Solar Project in Bikaner,
Rajasthan
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group,
has committed USD 105 million to part finance a 550 Megawatt peak (MWp)
solar power project in Bikaner,Rajasthan, which is being developed by Brookfield
Asset Management Ltd (BAM), a leading global investment firm based in Canada.
This marks IFC’s first investment in Asia and the Pacific using a hybrid offtake
structure, selling solar power to the Commercial and Industrial (C&I) consumers
under corporate Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and the merchant markets.
About International Finance Corporation (IFC): Headquarters– Washington,
D.C., the United States of America (USA)

1230
RBI Cancels Licence of Purvanchal Co-operative Bank, UP
Indian Navy & Bajaj Allianz Life Signed MoU for the Welfare of Naval Civilian
Personnel
The Indian Navy (IN) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with
Pune (Maharashtra) based Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company Limited
(BALIC), a private life insurance company, marking a significant initiative to
enhance the welfare of its civilian personnel.
• This initiative aligns with the IN’s declaration of the 2024 as ‘Year of Naval
Civilians.
IREDA Received DIPAM Approval to Set Up Subsidiary to Handle Retail, B2B biz
in Renewable Energy Segment
State-owned Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited(IREDA),
under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE, has received the in-
principal approval from the Department of Investment and Public Asset
Management (DIPAM), Ministry of Finance (MoF), to set up a wholly-owned
subsidiary to undertake retail and Business-to-Business (B2B) business in the
Renewable Energy (RE)sector.
ADB approves USD 42mn loan for coastal protection ecosystem in Maharashtra
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a loan of USD 42 million to
enhance coastal and riverbank protection ecosystems in Maharashtra, boosting
the resilience of local communities and their natural environments.
Tata AMC Launches India’s 1st Index Fund Based on Nifty Capital Markets Index
Tata Asset Management Company (AMC) has launched the “Tata Nifty Capital
Markets Index Fund”, the India’s 1st index fund to invest in companies from the
Nifty Capital Markets Index to track the performance of selected companies from
the Nifty 500 Index.
India & UAE to Interlink UPI & AANI for Seamless Cross-Border Transactions
The Government of India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are working on
interlinking India’s Unified Payment Interface (UPI) with UAE’s instant payments
platform AANI to enable seamless cross-border transactions between the two
countries.

1231
WHO Secured USD 1 billion for 2025-28, with USD 700 million in New Funding
The World Health Organisation (WHO) announced that it has secured USD 1
billion in pledges for its next budget i.e. for 2025-28, of which nearly USD 700
million pledges was made in terms of new funding commitments from various
European nations, foundations and organisations and the remaining USD 300
million was from the previous commitments made by the European Union (EU)
and African Union (AU).
• The announcement was made during the WHO Investment Round Signature
Event which was co-hosted by Germany, France, and Norway, held at the World
Health Summit in Berlin, Germany.
Note: The World Health Summit 2024, a leading global health conference and
network, was held from 13th October to 14th October, 2024 in Germany under
the theme: “Building Trust for a Healthier World”.
Germany emerged as the major contributor to WHO’s funding among all
European nations and has pledged nearly USD 400 million for a period of 4
years.
About World Health Organisation (WHO): Director General (DG)- Dr. Tedros
Adhanom Ghebreyesus Headquarters- Geneva, Switzerland Established – 1948
RBI Approved the Merger of Tata Capital & Tata Motors Finance
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the merger of Tata Motors Finance
Limited (TMFL) with Tata Capital Limited (TCL), creating India’s 12th largest Non-
Banking Finance Company (NBFC).
LIC Reduces 1st-year Agent Payout to 28% after Surrender Value Revision
Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has reduced the first-year agent
commission from 35% to 28% including a bonus after revising its surrender value
norms and decreased from 25% to 20% without bonus.
➢ The new surrender norms came into effect from 1st October 2024.
India Pledged USD 300 million to WHO; USD 250 Million will be spent on CoE
for Traditional Medicine India, the 6th largest global contributor to the World
Health Organization (WHO), pledged over USD 300 million to support the WHO’s
core programmes from 2025 to 2028.

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• Around USD 250 million will be dedicated to the establishment of the Centre
of Excellence (CoE) for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
Countries in the WHO’s South-East Asia Region have collectively committed over
USD 345 million, with additional pledges expected from Indonesia and Bhutan.
Worldline Report: UPI Transactions Volume Surged 52% to 78.97 billion in 1H
of 2024
According to the Worldline’s report titled “India Digital Payments Report for 1H
2024”, UPI (Unified Payments Interface) has maintained its dominant position
with the total number of transactions grew by 52% Year-on-Year (YoY) in 1st Half
of 2024(1H 2024: from Jan to June), has increased from 51.9 billion (in 1H 2023)
to 78.97 billion (in 1H 2024).
The top 5 States and Union Territories (UT) with the highest number of
transactions at physical touch points in 2024 were Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil
Nadu, Karnataka and Delhi.
SLCM partners with PNB & Bandhan Bank to Offer Management Solutions
New Delhi (Delhi) based Sohan Lal Commodity Management Limited (SLCM)
has partnered with New Delhi based Punjab National Bank (PNB) and Kolkata
(West Bengal, WB) based Bandhan Bank Limited to provide ‘Unified Collateral
Management Solutions’ aimed at enhancing the agricultural sector.
Assam Govt, ADB Join Hands to Restore Wetlands with Rs 796 Crore Project
The Assam government, in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank
(ADB), has initiated a project ‘Sustainable Wetland and Integrated Fisheries
Transformation (SWIFT) with a budget of Rs 796.88 crore to restore 129
wetlands, known locally as beels, covering an area of 3,800 hectares.
• From the total outlay, 80% funding from ADB and 20% from the State
Government.
Ujjivan Small Finance Bank receives RBI approval for foreign exchange services
Bangalore (Karnataka) based Ujjivan Small Finance Bank Limited (Ujjivan SFB)
received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for foreign exchange
services, enabling it to offer a range of foreign exchange (forex) products and
services.

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• USFB received the ‘Authorised Dealer Category 1 licence’ granted under
Section 10(1) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999 enabling
the bank to offer a wider range of foreign exchange services and transactions.
RBI approves Piramal Payment Services to launch ‘Piramal Pay’ Prepaid
Payment Instrument
Piramal Payment Services Limited (PPSL), a subsidiary of Piramal Capital &
Housing Finance Ltd (Piramal Finance), has received approval from the Reserve
Bank of India (RBI) to set up a Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI) service called
‘Piramal Pay’.
Citigroup Partners with Mastercard for Cross-Border Debit Payments
Citigroup Inc.,an American multinational investment bank and financial service,
has partnered with Mastercard Inc.,an American multinational payment card
service, to enable 24/7 cross-border payments through debit cards.
IOB launches ‘IOB-Mahila Shaksham scheme’ to Empower Women
Entrepreneurs
Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) has launched the ‘IOB -Mahila Shaksham Scheme’
aimed at empowering individual women Self Help Group (SHG) members for
entrepreneurial activity.
About Indian Overseas Bank (IOB): Headquarters– Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN)
Tagline– Good People to Grow with
RBI Revised Access Criteria to its NDS-OM Electronic Trading Platform
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has expanded direct access to its Negotiated
Dealing System-Order Matching (NDS-OM) electronic trading platform to a wider
range of Regulated Entities (REs) such as Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), Local Area
Banks (LABs), Non-Banking Finance Companies (NBFCs), including Housing
Finance Companies (HFCs), among others.
Recent Related News: The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), Government of
India (GoI) in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) notified the
National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) as a
Public Financial Institution (PFI) under the Section 2 of the Companies Act, 2013.
IRDAI Extended the Implementation deadline of IFRS 17 to FY27

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 The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has
extended the timeline for the implementation of International Financial
Reporting Standard (IFRS 17) regulations by the Financial Year 2026-27 (FY27).
This move will give ample time to both bank-sponsored and non-bank sponsored
insurance companies for implementation of IFRS 17 regulations.
• Earlier, IRDAI had fixed a timeline of FY25 for the implementation of IFRS 17
regulations in the insurance sector.

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

NITI Aayog Raised Asset Monetisation Target for FY25 to Rs 1.9 trillion
The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) has raised the Asset
Monetisation (AM) target for Financial Year 2024-25 (FY25) by Rs 23,000 crore
to Rs 1.9 trillion. This move will bring closer to achieve the overall target of Rs 6
trillion set under the National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP) for a period of 4
years i.e. from FY22 to FY25.
The idea of AM was first suggested by a committee led by economist Vijay
Kelkar in 2012.
Fitch Ratings Raised India’s GDP Growth Projection to 7.2% for FY25
Global rating agency Fitch Ratings released its report titled “Global Economic
Outlook (GEO) for June 2024”, has raised its projection for India’s Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) growth by 20 basis points (bps) from 7% (projected in March
2024) to 7.2% for fiscal year FY25 (2024-25).
• But, India’s GDP growth for FY26 (2025-26) and FY27 (2026-27) will remain
unchanged at 6.5% and 6.2% respectively.
India becomes fourth country to cross $700 billion in foreign reserves
According to the Reserve Bank of India(RBI)’s data, India’s foreign exchange
reserves surpassed $700 billion for the first time ever in September 2024. This
milestone makes India, the fourth country in the world , alongside China, Japan,
and Switzerland, to reach this level of reserves.
➢ The foreign exchange reserves increased by USD 12.59 billion to hit an all-
time high of USD 704.885 billion in the week ended September 27, 2024.

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Adani Group & Google partnered to boost clean energy in India
Ahmedabad (Gujarat) based Adani Group and the United States of America
(USA) based Google have announced a partnership to enhance the sustainability
efforts and contribute to the growth of clean energy in India.
➢ Under this partnership, Adani will supply renewable energy from a new
solar-wind hybrid project, part of the world’s largest renewable energy
plant located in Khavda, Gujarat.
SKYBER Partners with Sibia to Sell India-Made UAVs in the MEA Region
SKYBER Aerospace Private Limited, an advanced air mobility firm, has
announced a strategic partnership with Dubai (The United Arab Emirates-UAE)-
based Sibia Technologies, to market and sell made-in India Unmanned Aerial
Vehicles (UAVs) across the Middle East and Africa (MEA).
• With an expected market size of USD 5.3 billion by 2029.
Significant consumers are expected from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.
RITES signs MoU with Etihad Rail for Rail Infrastructure Development Projects
in UAE
Gurugram(Haryana) based RITES Limited, formerly known as Rail India Technical
and Economic Service Limited, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
with Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
National Rail Network, to explore collaboration and leverage capabilities in the
development of railways and associated infrastructure services in the UAE and
the wider region.
RBI Census: USA Continues to be Largest Source of FDI in India
According to the annual Census on Foreign Liabilities and Assets of Indian Direct
Investment Entities for 2023-24 from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the United
States of America (USA) continued to be the largest source of Foreign Direct
Investment (FDI) in India, followed by Mauritius, Singapore and the United
Kingdom (UK).
IMF Retained India’s GDP Forecast at 7% for FY25; 6.5% for FY26

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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) released its latest report titled ‘October
2024 World Economic Outlook (WEO): Policy Pivot, Rising Threats’, It has
retained India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast at 7% and 6.5%
for Financial Year 2024-25 (FY25) and FY26, respectively.
IMF Report: Global Public Debt Expected to Exceed USD 100 Trillion in 2024
According to the IMF’s latest report titled “Fiscal Monitor: Putting a Lid on Public
Debt”, global public debt is expected to exceed USD 100 trillion, which is 93% of
global GDP, in 2024 and will approach 100% of global GDP by 2030.
China and the United States of America (USA) are the main drivers for increasing
global public debt.
About International Monetary Fund (IMF): Managing Director (MD)– Kristalina
Georgieva Headquarters- Washington DC, the United States of America (USA)
Established – 1944 Member nations-190
InCorp Global Becomes First Firm at GIFT IFSC to Receive BATF Licence Approval
Singapore based InCorp Global Pte Limited, a corporate solutions and
professional services provider, has become the first firm at the Gujarat
International Finance Tec-City (GIFT) International Financial Services Centre
(IFSC) to obtain a BATF (Bookkeeping, Accounting, Taxation, and Financial Crime
Compliance) licence.
PFC, BEML ink pact to finance, execute infrastructure projects in defense, rail
transportation
Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) and Power Finance Corporation (PFC) have
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to finance and implement
critical infrastructure projects, particularly in the areas of defense, rail
transportation and infrastructure development.
Mintoak & Axis Bank Partnered to Enable SMEs with Merchant Payments &
Business Solutions
Mumbai (Maharashtra) based Mintoak Innovations Private Limited (Mintoak ), a
merchant software-as-a service (SaaS) platform, has partnered with Mumbai
based Axis Bank Limited to make payment solutions more seamless for Small and
Medium-sized Enterprises(SMEs).
Shaktikanta Das receives A+ grade in Central Bank Report Cards 2024
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Shaktikanta Das, the Governor of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) received an ‘A+’
grade in Central Bank Report Cards 2024 for the second consecutive year during
an event in Washington D.C., the United States of America (USA).
• Denmark’s Christian Kettel Thomsen, and Switzerland’s Thomas Jordan have
also been ranked under the ‘A+’ category of central bankers.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Japanese NGO Nihon Hidankyo Won the Nobel Peace Prize 2024
Japanese Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots
movement of Hibakusha- the atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and
Nagasaki, has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2024 by the Norwegian
Nobel Committee in Oslo, Norway.
• Prize Amount: 11 million Swedish Kronor.
Fortune Released the 2024 100 Most Powerful Women in Business ; Topped by
Mary Barra
Mary Barra, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the United States of America (USA)-
based General Motors (GM) has topped the 2024 MPW in Business list and has
featured on the list for the 13th time.
The list include some of the prominent Indian women business leaders like:
Isha Ambani, Non-Executive Director, Reliance Retail; Roshni Nadar, Chairperson
of HCL Technologies; Sandhya Devanathan, Vice President and Managing
Director (MD) of Meta India, Arundhati Bhattacharya, former Chairman of the
State Bank of India (SBI) and chairperson and CEO of Salesforce India.
Daron Acemoglu; Simon Johnson; & James A. Robinson won the Sveriges
Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences 2024
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has honoured Turkish-American
economist, Daron Acemoglu; British American economist, Simon Johnson; and
British economist and political scientist, James A. Robinson with the Sveriges
Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2024 on 14th
October 2024.

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Sister Rosita Milesi, Brazilian Nun and 4 Other Women Won UNHCR’s Nansen
Refugee Award for their Life Changing work with Migrants
Sister Rosita Milesi (79), Brazilian nun, lawyer and social worker was honoured
with the 2024 United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Nansen
Refugee Award’s Global Laureate for championing the rights and dignity of
refugees and migrants of different nationalities in Brazil for nearly four decades.
Mukesh Ambani Tops Forbes’ India’s 100 Richest 2024 List; Gautam Adani
Ranked 2nd
Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Reliance Industries
Limited (RIL), has retained the top spot on Forbes India’s 100 Richest 2024 List
with an estimated net worth of USD 119.5 billion across diversified assets, up by
USD 27.5 billion compared to USD 92 billion in 2023.
• Gautam Adani, Chairman of Adani Group, was ranked 2nd on the list with an
estimated net worth of USD 116 billion.
• He is followed by Savitri Jindal, the matriarch of the OP Jindal Group, jumped
by 1 place to 3rd position on the list.
Siddesh Sakore, Indian Farmer from Maharashtra Named Land Hero by UNCCD
Siddesh Sakore, a farmer from Kendur village, Maharashtra (India) and founder
of AGRO RANGERS has been named as the ‘Land Hero’ by the United Nations
Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) on the occasion of World Day to
Combat Desertification and Drought (WDCCD) i.e. on 17th June 2024.
• Theme of 2024 WDCCD is, “United for Land : Our Legacy. Our Future”.
• The programme in its 1st year aims to give training to youth negotiators from
over 30 countries ahead of the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the
UNCCD which is scheduled to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in December
2024.
About United Nations (UN) Convention to Combat Desertification (UCCD):
Headquarters – Bonn, Germany
Ashokan Charuvil From Kerala Wins The 2024 Vayalar Award For
‘Kattoorkadavu’

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The Vayalar Ramavarma Memorial Trust has conferred the 48th Vayalar
Ramavarma Memorial Literary Award (2024) to Ashokan Charuvil, an Indian
short writer in Malayalam-language, for his novel ‘Kattoorkadavu’.
The award includes a cash prize of 1 lakh rupees.
President of India Droupadi Murmu Conferred 5th National Water Awards for
Year 2023; Odisha Won the Best State Award
The President of India Droupadi Murmu has conferred the 5th National Water
Awards (NWAs) for the year 2023 on 38 winners including joint winners across 9
different categories such as: Best Village Panchayat, Best Urban Local Body
(ULB), Best Industry, Best Water User Association, Best Institution (other than
school or college), and Best Civil Society.

Former Indian Spinner Neetu David along with AB de Villers, Alastair Cook
Inducted into ICC Hall of Fame
Former Indian spinner Neetu Lawrence David, along with South Africa’s
legendary cricketer Abraham Benjamin de Villiers and former England Cricket
team Captain Sir Alastair Nathan Cook were inducted into the International
Cricket Council (ICC)’s Hall of Fame as the Class of 2024.
About International Cricket Council (ICC): Chairman- Greg Barclay Chief
Headquarters- Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

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 APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
RBI approves the appointment of Partha Pratim Sengupta as Next MD & CEO
of Bandhan Bank
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the appointment of Partha Pratim
Sengupta, as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of
Bandhan Bank Limited for 3 years.
About Bandhan Bank Limited: Headquarters– Kolkata, West Bengal(WB) Tagline–
Aapka Bhala Sabki Bhalai
MS Dhoni as Brand Ambassador & raised his stake in Garuda Aerospace drone
startup
Former Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh (MS) Dhoni has been roped as
the Brand Ambassador of Chennai (Tamil Nadu, TN) based Garuda Aerospace,
one of India’s leading drone startups, and raised his stake in the drone startup.
Note: The vision of Garuda Aerospace is to make India a Drone Hub by 2030.
British Actor Theo James Appointed as UNHCR’s Global Goodwill Ambassador
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Refugee
Agency, has named British actor, producer, and model Theo James (Birth Name:
Theodore Peter James Kinnaird Taptiklis) as its new Global Goodwill Ambassador.
About United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR):
Headquarters– Genève, Switzerland
Nayab Singh Saini took Oath as Haryana CM for Second Term
Nayab Singh Saini took oath as the Chief Minister (CM) of Haryana at the
swearing in ceremony in Panchkula, Haryana. This marks his 2nd tenure as CM
of Haryana.
Paramesh Sivamani Takes Over as 26th Director General of ICG
Paramesh Sivamani has took over as the 26th Director General (DG) of the Indian
Coast Guard (ICG).
Prabowo Subianto Sworn in as 8th President of Indonesia

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Former general Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo (73) of Great Indonesia
Movement Party (Gerindra Party) was appointed as the 8th President of
Indonesia (2024-2029).
BOBCARD has named cricketer Shreyanka Patil as its brand ambassador
BOBCARD LIMITED, a subsidiary of Bank of Baroda (BoB), has chosen Indian
cricketer Shreyanka Patil as its brand ambassador.
ACC Extended Tenure of Registrar General Mritunjay Kumar Narayan;
Appointed Praveen Vashista as Special Secretary, MHA
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the extension
of Mritunjay Kumar Narayan’s tenure as Registrar General beyond 6th December
2024, for a period up to 4th August 2026.
ACC appointed Praveen Vashista as Special Secretary, MHA: ACC has also
appointed Senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Praveen Vashista, as Special
Secretary (Internal Security) in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
TV Narendran Elected as Chairman of Worldsteel; Becomes 2nd Indian to Hold
the Post
Thachat Viswanath (TV) Narendran, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and
Managing Director (MD) of Tata Steel, was elected as the chairman of the World
Steel Association (Worldsteel) for the term 2024-25.
Headquarters– Brussels, Belgium
IRFC appoints Manoj Kumar Dubey as CMD and CEO
Manoj Kumar Dubey has been appointed as the Chairman & Managing Director
(CMD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Indian Railway Finance
Corporation (IRFC) with effect from October 10, 2024 for 5 years.
UK’s Tom Fletcher Appointed as Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian
Affairs & Emergency Relief Coordinator
United Nations (UN) Secretary-General (SG) António Guterres appointed Tom
Fletcher of the United Kingdom (UK) as Under-Secretary-General for
Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

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Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar appointed as 9th Chairperson of NCW; Dr. Archana
Majumdar named its Member
Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar has been appointed as the 9th Chairperson of the
National Commission for Women (NCW) with immediate effect.
• Dr. Archana Majumdar has been designated as a member of the commission
for a three-year term.
General Luong Cuong elected as the New President of Vietnam
Vietnam’s National Assembly elected General Luong Cuong(67-year-old) as the
14th president of Vietnam, during a session held in Hanoi, Vietnam.
About Vietnam: President– Luong Cuong Prime Minister– Pham Minh Chinh
Capital– Hanoi Currency-Vietnamese dong
Indian Neuroscientist Shubha Tole Appointed as President-Elect in IBRO
Indian neuroscientist Shubha Tole has been appointed as the president-elect of
the International Brain Research Organisation (IBRO), marking her as the first
scientist from a developing country to attain this prestigious position. She will
replace Tracy Bale.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

PSLV-37 Upper Stage Makes Safe Re-Entry after 8 Years in Earth’s Atmosphere
The successful re-entry of Indian Space Research Organization’s (ISRO) upper
stage of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle C-37 (PSLV C-37) into Earth’s
atmosphere was made on October 6, 2024.
• This marks a significant milestone in ISRO’s efforts and aim to achieve a Debris
Free Space Mission (DFSM) by 2030 through ongoing proactive measures.
• PSLV-C37, launched on 15th February 2017, set a record by deploying 104
satellites.
HAL delivers first AL-31FP aero engine to IAF for Su-30MKI aircraft
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) handed over the first AL-31FP Aero Engine
manufactured under a 240-engine contract to the Indian Air Force (IAF) at
Koraput, Odisha.

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• The MoD signed a Rs.26,000 crore contract with HAL for 240 AL-31FP Aero
Engines for Su 30MKI aircraft in September 2024 and these engines would be
delivered in 8 years.
GRSE Delivered INS Nirdeshak, Second of Four Survey Vessels to the Indian
Navy
Kolkata (West Bengal, WB)-based Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers
(GRSE) Limited delivered Indian Naval Ship (INS) Nirdeshak (Yard 3026), the
second of four Survey Vessel Large (SVL) ships, to the Indian Navy (IN).
In December 2023, GRSE Limited had delivered (INS) Sandhayak (Yard 3025), the
1st of four SVL ships, to the IN.
Other two SVL ships are: Ikshak (Yard 3027), and Sanshodhak (Yard 3028).
USA approves 53 MK-54 torpedoes to India for Enhanced Navy Capabilities
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the Government of the United
States of America (USA), has approved the sale of 53 MK-54 lightweight
torpedoes All-Up Rounds (AURs) to India. These torpedoes are valued at
approximately USD 175 million (Rs 14.7 billion).
• The torpedoes are intended for use with India’s MH-60R Seahawk helicopters
to enhance naval capabilities.
The MK 54 torpedo is an advanced lightweight weapon developed by Raytheon
Integrated Defense Systems in collaboration with the US Navy.
Indian Army unveils its first upgraded T-90 ‘Bhishma’ Tank
The Indian Army (IA) unveiled its first upgraded T-90 ‘Bhishma’ tank, marking a
significant move toward enhancing the operational capabilities of its armored
units. The rollout ceremony was attended by the Chief of the Army Staff(CoAS)
of the IA, Upendra Dwivedi.
The T-90 tanks, manufactured under a license agreement with Russia, are
produced at the Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) in Avadi, near Chennai, Tamil
Nadu(TN).The next round of testing for the upgraded T-90 ‘Bhishma’ tank will
include missile firing. ●The Defence Research and Development Organisation
(DRDO) plans to complete various trials by January 2025.

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The T-90 is expected to be ready for induction into active service by 2027.
Small rocky planet ‘Barnard b’ detected by ESO’s VLT
Astronomers have discovered an exoplanet orbiting Barnard’s star, a red dwarf
star, the closest single star to our Sun using the European Southern
Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (ESO’s VLT).
MRU Installs GNSS Receiver In Partnership with ISRO
Manav Rachna University (MRU) has become the first University in Delhi,
National Capital Region (NCR) to install a ‘Global Navigation Satellite System
(GNSS) receiver’ and Space Weather Laboratory at its campus in collaboration
with the National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL) Indian Space
Research Organization (ISRO).
Ukraine Launches Unmanned Systems Forces; World’s 1st Stand-alone Military
Branch for Drone System
The Armed Forces of Ukraine officially launched “Unmanned Systems Forces
(USF)”, a new stand-alone military branch aimed at supporting and developing
units of unmanned systems. With this, Ukraine has become the 1st country in
the world to establish a military branch dedicated to drone systems.
The Former Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,
Colonel Vadym Sukharevsky, has been appointed as the 1st Commander of the
USF.
INS Samarthak: 1st ship of L&T’s Multi-Purpose Vessel Launched in Chennai
Larsen & Toubro (L&T) launched the first of class Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV)
Yard No. 18001 named Indian Naval Ship (INS) Samarthak, built for the Indian
Navy (IN), from L&T Kattupalli Shipyard near Chennai, Tamil Nadu(TN).
➢ It is designed to use uncrewed autonomous vehicles (UAVs).
NASA’s Spacecraft Europa Clipper Blasts off to Find out if Jupiter Moon Can
Support Life
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched its Europa
Clipper spacecraft under the Europa mission to study Jupiter and its moon
Europa, one of Jupiter’s 95 known moons.

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• The spacecraft aboard a Space Exploration Technologies Corporation
(SpaceX)’s Falcon Heavy rocket and was lifted off from Launch Complex 39A at
NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida, the United States of America (USA).
• This marks NASA’s 1st mission dedicated to studying an ocean world beyond
Earth.
• NASA’s Europa mission is part of its Artemis program, which aims to send
astronauts back to the Moon and eventually to Mars. The cost of the mission is
USD 5.2 billion.
Europa Clipper is the largest spacecraft ever built by NASA.
Recent Related News: The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced to
launch its new mission named Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety
(Ramses), by early 2028 to study the asteroid Apophis as this asteroid is
expected to pass Earth on 13th April, 2029.
Indian Army Launches Multi-Target Detonation Device “Agniastra” in Gangtok
Indian Army (IA)’s Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), General Upendra Dwivedi
launched the “Agniastra,” a multi-target portable detonation device (WEDC),
during the Army Commanders Conference (ACC) held in Gangtok, Sikkim.
2024 Army Commanders Conference (ACC):
➢ 2024 Army Commanders Conference (ACC) is the first ACC hosted outside
of Delhi. This reflects the strategic importance of Sikkim.
➢ The 2024 ACC is a two-phase event. The first phase was held from 10th to
11th October 2024, in Gangtok and the 2nd phase is scheduled to be held
from 28th to 29th October 2024 in Delhi.
Google made AI-led collaborations for India’s Health, Sustainability, &
Agriculture Sectors
Google made a series of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-led collaborations aimed at
enhancing India’s healthcare, sustainability, and agriculture sectors. This
initiative was unveiled during a roundtable event in Bengaluru, Karnataka,
coinciding with the fifth anniversary of Google’s Research Lab in the city.
ISRO Gears up for ‘Space Handshake’ SPADEX; Private Firm Delivers two
Satellites

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 The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has acquired two 400kg
satellites that are part of an important upcoming mission known as Space
Docking Experiment (SPADEX).
About the Space handshake: The satellites which will be travelling at around
28,000 kmph will precisely align themselves in a manner where they can perform
a space handshake and dock (mechanically attach themselves) to form a single
orbiting unit.
• SPADEX is important for the country as it is going to establish an Indian space
station from 2028 onwards.
James Webb telescope discovers Carbon Dioxide, Hydrogen Peroxide on Pluto’s
moon Charon
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) James Webb Space
Telescope (JWST) detected Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2)
on the surface of Charon, Pluto’s largest moon.
Indian Navy Launched 4th Nuclear-Powered Submarine ‘S4*’ in
Visakhapatnam, AP
The Indian Navy (IN) has launched its 4th nuclear-powered ballistic missile
submarine (also known as Ship, Submersible, Ballistic, Nuclear, SSBN) under the
code name “S4*” at the Ship Building Centre (SBC) in Visakhapatnam, Andhra
Pradesh (AP). This marks a significant milestone in India’s efforts to enhance its
naval capabilities and maintain strategic stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
• The launch of S4* follows the commissioning of Indian Naval Ship (INS)
Arighaat (2nd SSBN) by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on 29th August,
2024, while INS Aridhaman(3rd SSBN) is expected to be commissioned in 2025.
About S4*SSBN: i.It is equipped with K-4 ballistic missiles that have a target
range of 3,500 kilometers (kms) and can be launched through vertical systems,
compared to 1st SSBN, INS Arihant which carries K-15 nuclear missiles with a
range of 750 kms.
Note: India’s 1st leased nuclear attack submarine, INS Chakra was referred as S1,
which further lead to the naming of subsequent indigenous SSBNs: INS Arihant
(S2), INS Arighaat (S3), and INS Aridhaman (S4). The formal name of S4* is yet to
be announced.
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Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated a Very Low Frequency (VLF)
Naval Station in the Damagundam forest area of Vikarabad district, Telangana.
ICG Launched Two Fast Patrol Vessels ‘Adamya’ & ‘Akshar’ Built by GSL
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) launched two domestic Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs),
named ‘Adamya’ and ‘Akshar’, built by the Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL).
The FPVs state-of-the-art FPVs are a part of the contract signed between ICG and
GSL for 8 FPVs to be built at a cost of Rs 473 crore.

ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

LIC Increases Stake in BoM from 4.05% to 7.10% through QIP
Mumbai (Maharashtra) based Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) increased
its shareholding in the Pune (Maharashtra) based Bank of Maharashtra (BOM)
from 4.05% to 7.10%, after being allotted 25.96 crore shares as part of the bank’s
Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP) Process.
GoI sold 5% Stake worth Rs 2,026cr in Cochin Shipyard Limited
The Government of India (GoI) divested 5% of its stake in Cochin Shipyard
Limited (CSL), through an Offer for Sale (OFS) priced at Rs 1,540 per share. The
total value of the stake is estimated to be around Rs 2,026 crore.
CCI Approved Proposed Acquisition of 24.9% Shareholding in FGIICL and
25.18% in FGILICL by Central Bank of India
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the proposed
acquisition of 24.9% shareholding in Future Generali India Insurance Company
Limited (FGIICL), a general insurance company and 25.18% shareholding in
Future Generali India Life Insurance Company Limited (FGILICL) by Central Bank
of India, a scheduled commercial bank.
Bharti Airtel received CCI’s nod to raise stake in Indus Towers to Buy Back of
Shares of Indus Towers
The CCI has approved the proposal of Bharti Airtel Limited (Bharti Airtel) to
increase its stake in Indus Towers Limited (Indus Towers), passive telecom
infrastructure provider, to 50.005% (from previous shareholding of 48.95%)
pursuant to buy back of shares by Indus Towers.

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About Competition Commission of India (CCI): It is a statutory body constituted
under Competition Act, 2002. Chairman- Ravneet Kaur Headquarters- New
Delhi, Delhi Established- 2003.

SPORTS
Indian Olympian Gymnast Dipa Karmakar Announces Retirement
Dipa Karmakar, India’s first female gymnastics Olympian, announced her
retirement from professional competition at the age of 31.
ITTF-Asian Table Tennis Championships 2024 held in Kazakhstan: India Finished
7th with 3 Bronze
Indian Table Tennis contingents won 3 bronze medals and finished 7th on the
Medal tally of the 27th edition of International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF)
Asian Table Tennis Championships (2024).
The 2024 championship was held from 7th to 13th October 2024 at the Beeline
Arena in Astana, Kazakhstan.
• Japan topped the Medal tally with 8 medals (3 Gold, 2 Silver and 3 Bronze)
followed by China with 5 medals (2 Gold; 2 Silver and 1 Bronze) and North Korea
with 3 medals (1 Gold, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze).
About International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF): Headquarters– Lausanne,
Switzerland.
India is set to host the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup in 2025
The Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI), in association with the International Kho
Kho Federation, announced that India is set to host the inaugural Kho Kho World
Cup in 2025.
Sumit Nagal Finishes as Runner-Up at ATP Challenger 125 Perugia
Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal finished as runner-up in the Men’s Singles at
the Internazionali di Tennis Città di Perugia 2024 (ATP Challenger 125 Perugia), a
part of Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Challenger Tour 2024, held in
Perugia, Italy.

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• Italy’s Luciano Darderi won the Men’s Singles title by defeating Sumit Nagal
in the finals.
ISSF World Cup Final 2024 held in New Delhi: India Finished 9th with 4 Medals
India finished 9th on the medal tally of the International Shooting Sport
Federation (ISSF) World Cup Final Rifle / Pistol / Shotgun 2024 with 4 medals (2
Silver and 2 Bronze).

ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024: New Zealand won its maiden title by
defeating South Africa
New Zealand’s Women’s Cricket team won their first–ever International Cricket
Council (ICC) Women’s Twenty20 (T20) World Cup title, by defeating South
Africa’s Women’s cricket team by 32 runs in the finals of the ICC Women’s T20
Cricket World Cup 2024 held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, The
United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The 10th edition of the tournament will be hosted by England in 2026.
India’s Arjun Erigaisi won the WR Chess Masters Cup 2024
Indian Chess Grandmaster (GM) Arjun Erigaisi won the Wadim Rosenstein (WR)
Chess Masters Cup 2024 by defeating French GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in an
Armageddon tiebreaker.

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•WR Chess Masters Cup 2024, organised by entrepreneur Wadim Rosenstein,
was held from 14th to 18th October 2024, at the Langham Hotel, London, United
Kingdom (UK).
Arjun Erigaisi becomes 2nd Indian after Viswanathan Anand to reach 2800 Elo
rating
Arjun playing for his club, Team Alkaloid, defeated Russian GM Dmitry Andreikin
in the 5th round of the European Chess Club Cup and crossed the 2800 Elo rating.
• He now has a live rating of 2802.1. With this Arjun became the 2nd Indian after
GM Viswanathan Anand and the 16th player in the world to achieve over 2800
elo ratings.
Formula 1: Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc won the 2024 United States Grand Prix
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc (Monaco) won the title at the Formula 1(F1) United
States (US) Grand Prix (GP) 2024 held on 20th October 2024 in the Circuit of The
Americas in Austin, Texas, The United States of America (USA).
Formula 1: Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz won the Mexico City Grand Prix.

STATE NEWS
Bihar gets green light for second tiger reserve in Kaimur
The central government (CG) has approved the establishment of Bihar’s second
tiger reserve in the Kaimur district. The National Tiger Conservation Authority
(NTCA) and a technical committee granted their approval during its 12th
meeting.
Assam Secretariat Becomes India’s 1st Eco-friendly State Govt Headquarters
The Assam secretariat became India’s first green (eco-friendly) state
government headquarters with the inauguration of a 2.5 Megawatt (MW) solar
power project on the campus of Janata Bhawan in Dispur, Guwahati, Assam.
UP CM Yogi Adityanath Unveiled Multi-Coloured Logo & App for Mahakumbh
2025
Uttar Pradesh (UP) Chief Minister (CM) Yogi Adityanath unveiled the new multi-
coloured logo for Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 in Prayagraj (earlier Allahabad), UP.

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During the event, the CM launched the website and application (app) for Kumbh
Mela 2025.
Motto- “Sarvasiddhipradah Kumbhah
Ustad Allauddin Khan Festival celebrated in Maihar, MP
Ustad Allauddin Khan Festival (also known as Allauddin Khan Sangeet Samaroh)
celebrated in Maihar, Madhya Pradesh (MP) is dedicated to the legendary
musician Ustad Allauddin Khan. 2024 is the Golden Jubilee year of this music
festival.
MoEFCC Declares Namdapha National Park and Kamlang Wildlife Sanctuary in
Arunachal Pradesh as ESZ
The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC)
designated Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve and Kamlang Wildlife
Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve located in Changlang and Lohit of Arunachal
Pradesh (AR) respectively, as Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZ).
Karnataka Launches ‘Shiksha Copilot’: AI Assistant for Empowering Teachers
with Technology
The Government of Karnataka has introduced ‘Shiksha Copilot’, a new Artificial
Intelligence (AI)-powered digital assistant designed to help teachers create
lesson plans and improve student learning outcomes. It was launched by Madhu
Bangarappa, Minister of School Education and Literacy, Karnataka.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

Former Indian Wrestler Sakshi Malik Unveils Memoir Titled ‘Witness’
Sakshi Malik, former Indian freestyle wrestler, and Olympic bronze medalist, has
unveiled her memoir titled “Witness” co-authored by journalist Jonathan
Selvaraj, offering readers an intimate glimpse into her life, struggles, triumphs,
and an unwavering refection on her journey, both in and out of the wrestling
ring.
M.K. Ranjitsinh launches New Book titled ‘Mountain Mammals of the World’
Dr. M.K. Ranjitsinh, a prominent wildlife conservationist, has launched his fourth

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book titled ‘Mountain Mammals of the World’, published by Penguin Random
House.
PM Narendra Modi launched “Bharatvakya”, a Biography of Classical Musician
Bharat Balvalli
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi launched the book titled ‘Bharatvakya’, the
biography of renowned classical musician Dr. Bharat Balvalli written by Pravin
Vitthal Tarde, an eminent actor and screenwriter.

OBITUARY
Former Director of AIIMS and Padma Bhushan Awardee Dr P. Venugopal
Passed Away
Padma Bhushan Awardee Dr. Panangipalli Venugopal, a prominent cardiac
surgeon and the Former Director of All India Institute of Medical Sciences
(AIIMS), passed away at the age of 82 in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The government of India honoured him with Padma Bhushan in 1998 for his
contribution to the field of Medicine.
Former First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond, Passed Away
Former leader of Scottish National Party (SNP) Alex Salmond, who served as the
First Minister of Scotland from 2007 to 2014, passed away at the age of 69 in
Ohrid, North Macedonia.

IMPORTANT DAYS
World Space Week 2024 – 4th to 10th October |The theme of World Space
Week 2024 is “Space and Climatic Change”.
National Postal Week 2024 – October 7 to 11
‘Karmayogi Saptah’ – National Learning Week – 19th to 25th October 2024
The National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB) – Mission
Karmayogi was approved by the Government of India (GoI) on 2nd September
2020. The 6 key pillars of Mission Karmayogi are: Policy Framework, Institutional
Framework, Competency Framework, Digital Learning Framework (iGOT-
Karmayogi), the electronic Human Resource Management System (e-HRMS) and
the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.

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