Weekly Current Affairs October 2023 Week 03 - Compressed

Weekly Current Affairs October 2023 Week - 03
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Contents
NATIONAL AFFAIRS ....................................................................................................... 3
STATES AFFAIRS......................................................................................................... 12
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS............................................................................................. 15
REPORTS & INDICES ................................................................................................... 16
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES & PROGRAMMES ....................................................................... 17
BUSINESS & ECONOMY ................................................................................................ 21
BANKING & FINANCE ................................................................................................... 24
RBI IN NEWS.............................................................................................................. 28
AWARDS & RECOGNITION ............................................................................................ 30
BOOKS & AUTHORS ..................................................................................................... 31
PERSON IN NEWS ....................................................................................................... 32
OBITUARIES............................................................................................................... 34
SPORTS ..................................................................................................................... 35
IMPORTANT DAYS ....................................................................................................... 37
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NATIONAL AFFAIRS
1. The 2nd edition of annual Indian Space Conclave (ISC 2023) has been held at Manekshaw
Centre in New Delhi, Delhi. The conclave has been organized by Indian Space Association
(ISpA).
It has been co-hosted by Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-
SPACe), an autonomous agency in the Department of Space (DOS).
Objective: to provide a platform for organizations and stakeholders interested in enhancing
India’s space capabilities and plans.
Guest of Honour: Thierry Matthau, Ambassador of France to India
During the event, A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between ISpA
and the French Aerospace Industry Association (GIFAS) to enhance understanding of
space industry capabilities and exploring business opportunities between France and India.
2. The fourth and final meeting of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors
(FMCBG) under the Indian Presidency has been held in Marrakech, Morocco.
The meeting has been held on the sidelines of the Annual Meetings of the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG).
The meeting has been organised in two sessions covering the global economy, strengthening
Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and crypto assets.
In this meeting, the G20 FMCBGs unanimously adopted the G20 Finance Ministers and
Central Bank Governors Communique.
The FMCBG communique draws guidance from the G20 New Delhi Leaders Declaration
(NDLD) and benefited significantly from the consensus that was reached at the Leaders’
Summit held in September 2023.
The G20 FMCBGs have also adopted a roadmap for regulating crypto assets proposed by
the Financial Stability Board (FSB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The roadmap
focuses on regulations rather than an outright ban to prevent crypto assets from
destabilising the world economy.
G20 (Group of Twenty):

The G20 was founded in 1999 after the Asian financial crisis as a forum for the Finance
Ministers and Central Bank Governors to discuss global economic and financial issues. It
plays an important role in shaping and strengthening global architecture and governance on
all major international economic issues.
It comprises 19 countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany,
India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa,
Türkiye, United Kingdom and United States), the European Union, and the African Union.

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3. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the third edition of Global Maritime
India Summit 2023 in Mumbai, Maharashtra via video conferencing. The summit provides
an excellent platform for attracting investment in the country's maritime sector.
The three-day summit has discussed key issues of the maritime sector including ports of the
future; decarbonisation; coastal shipping and inland water transportation; shipbuilding;
repair and recycling; finance, insurance & arbitration; maritime clusters; innovation &
technology; maritime safety and security; and maritime tourism, among others.
During the summit, PM Narendra Modi has unveiled the ‘Amrit Kaal Vision 2047’, a strategic
blueprint for the Indian maritime blue economy. These initiatives aim to enhance port
facilities, promote sustainable practices, and encourage international collaboration in the
maritime sector.
He has dedicated to the nation and laid the foundation stone for projects worth more than
Rs.23,000 crores that are aligned with the ‘Amrit Kaal Vision 2047’ for the Indian maritime
blue economy.
He has laid the foundation stone of Tuna Tekra all-weather deep draft terminal, to be
built at a cost of more than Rs.4,500 crores at Deendayal Port Authority in Gujarat. This state-
of-the-art greenfield terminal will be developed in PPP mode.
He has also dedicated more than 300 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) worth
more than 7 lakh crore for global and national partnerships in the maritime sector.
Note: The first Maritime India summit was held in 2016 in Mumbai while the Second
Maritime Summit was held virtually in 2021.
4. Indian Air Force (IAF) has successfully test-fired its Surface-to-Surface version of the
BrahMos missile in the vicinity of the Eastern Seaboard Archipelago. The test mission has
accomplished all the predefined objectives.
Previously, BrahMos Missile Regiment of Indian Army tested a land-attack variant of the
extended-range BrahMos supersonic cruise missile (BrahMos ER) from the Andaman and
Nicobar Islands.
BrahMos ER:
The BrahMos ER is developed by BrahMos Aerospace. It is a Joint Venture between India
(DRDO) and Russia (NPO Mash) for the development, production, and marketing of the
supersonic cruise missile.
It operates on the "Fire and Forgets" principle i.e. it does not require further guidance after
launch.
It can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft or from land platforms.
BrahMos ER is an improved variant of the basic BrahMos missile, with a range of around 450
to 500 kilometres, compared to 290 kilometres for the baseline version.
BrahMos is named for the rivers Brahmaputra and Moskva.

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5. The Indian Army's 3/5 Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force) team has won a gold medal at the
Cambrian Patrol Competition 2023, International Military Exercise hosted in Wales, United
Kingdom.
The Indian Army also won a gold medal at the same exercise in 2021.
The 67 Punjab Regiment of Pakistan Army has received the silver medal.
Cambrian Patrol Exercise is considered a test of endurance and team spirit and is known as
the Olympics of Military Patrolling.
The competition involved 111 teams, including 38 international ones, completing a
challenging 60 km course in less than 48 hours.
6. The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the Productivity
Linked Bonus (PLB) equivalent to 78 days’ wages for the financial year 2022-23 to all eligible
non-gazetted Railway employees namely Track maintainer, Loco Pilots, Train Managers
(Guards), Station Masters, Supervisors, Technicians, Technician Helpers, Pointsman, Ministerial
Staff and other Group ‘C’ staff.
Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF) personnel
are not covered in this bonus allocation.
The Cabinet has approved the payment of PLB of Rs.1968.87 crore to 11,07,346 railway
employees.
Railways loaded a record cargo of 1,509 million tonnes and carried nearly 6.5 billion
passengers.
Other Cabinet approval:

The Cabinet has approved to release an additional instalment of Dearness Allowance (DA)
to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to pensioners with effect from
1st July 2023 representing an increase of 4% over the existing rate of 42% of the Basic
Pay/Pension, to compensate against price rise.
This increase is based on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission.
The combined impact on the exchequer on account of both Dearness Allowance and
Dearness Relief would be Rs.12,857 crore per annum. This will benefit about 48.67 lakh
Central Government employees and 67.95 lakh pensioners.
7. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the National Standard Body of India, has approved
IS17017 (Part 2 / Sec 7): 2023, India’s first ever indigenously developed AC and DC Combined
Charging connector standard for light electric vehicles (LEVs).
This is also the world’s first-ever combined AC and DC charging connector standard for light
electric vehicles and is designed and engineered in India, which can become the benchmark
globally for LEVs.
The new standard is based on Ather Energy’s charging connector.
NITI Aayog, the Department of Science and Technology, ARAI, EV makers, and the Bureau of
Indian Standards have collaborated to develop a national standard.

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A combined AC and DC charging connector ensures that a hybrid, cost-efficient infrastructure
emerges for all forms of charging, whether fast or slow, for light electric vehicles.
8. The 51st meeting of the Executive Committee (EC) of the National Mission for Clean
Ganga (NMCG) has been held under the chairmanship of G. Asok Kumar, Director General,
National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).
During its 51st meeting, seven projects worth around Rs.285 crore are approved.
Approved projects:
For sewerage management, three projects are sanctioned, two in West Bengal and one in
Uttarakhand. This includes:
• A 13.8 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) with co-treatment of 18.52 KLD septage and
allied works at an estimated cost of Rs.92.83 crore to stop the untreated discharge into
River Jalangi in Krishnanagar Municipal Town of West Bengal.
• The other project pertains to integrated Septage Management for Bansberia Municipality
by creating a 15 KLD capacity Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP).
• Another FSTP of 50 KLD is approved at a total cost of Rs.12.65 crore in Bahadrabad,
Haridwar, Uttarakhand.
9. The EC has also approved the extension of Composite Ecological Task Force (Ganga Task
Force) to continue assisting the rejuvenation of River Ganga.
In addition, one company of Territorial Army to the GTF is also approved for rejuvenation of
River Gomti, a tributary of River Ganga. The total cost of the project is Rs.134.86 crore.
For wetland conservation, a proposal envisaging effective management of Kalewala Jheel in
Muzaffarnagar, Numaiya Dahi Jheel (Kheduva Taal) in Prayagraj and Dahtal Reoti wetland in
Ballia District are also approved.
Another proposal to develop Ganga Vatika Park in Dhalwala, Uttarakhand is also approved.
10. The Paris-based World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has approved India's self-
declaration of freedom from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in specific poultry
compartments on 13th October 2023.
The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying has submitted a self-declaration of

freedom from HPAI in 26 poultry compartments to WOAH. These poultry compartments are
in four states of India, namely Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.
This recognition by WOAH signifies India's commitment to international biosecurity standards
and will contribute to enhancing the export potential of Indian poultry and poultry products,
including meat and eggs.
During the 2022-23 fiscal year, India exported poultry and poultry products to 64 countries,
generating revenue of USD 134 million.

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Note: India is the third-largest producer of eggs and the fifth-largest producer of poultry
meat globally.
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), also known as Bird Flu, was first detected in India in
Maharashtra in February 2006.
Avian influenza refers to disease in birds caused by infection with avian (bird) influenza (flu)
Type A viruses. 4 strains have caused concern i.e., H5N1, H7N9, H5N6, and H5N8.
H1N1 flu, sometimes called swine flu, is a type of influenza A virus.
11. Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, has
introduced the state-of-art latest National Survey Network.
The Survey of India will oversee the operation of this advanced "Continuously Operating
Reference Stations" (CORS) Network throughout the country.
The Survey of India has set up more than 1,000 CORS stations across India.
CORS-based precision services will find applications in various sectors, including agriculture,
mining, construction, transport, and civil aviation, opening new avenues for innovation and
research.
The CORS data will contribute to scientific research in fields such as upper atmosphere
studies, space weather, meteorology, plate motion, seismology, and hydrology.
12. Union Minister for Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra
Pradhan, has launched the IndiaSkills 2023-24 at an event held at Kaushal Bhawan, New
Delhi.
He has also felicitated the winners of the 46th WorldSkills Competition (WSC 2022 Special
Edition- WSC2022SE), which was conducted from September to November 2022 across
Europe, North America, and East Asia comprising over 1,000 competitors from 58 countries in
61 skills.
The competition was hosted by 15 countries in more than 20 cities.
India has participated in 50 skills and secured the 11th position in the WSC2022SE with 2
Silver Medals, 3 Bronze Medals, and 13 Medallions for Excellence.
China has secured the 1st position, followed by South Africa and Chinese Taipei.
WorldSkills Competition:
It is the largest skill competition in the world, held once every two years. It is conducted by
WorldSkills International, which has 86 member countries. These competitions provide both
a benchmark for high performance and an objective way to assess vocational excellence. The
duration of the competition is 4 days spanning 16 to 22 hours.
13. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has notified the Amendments to the Aircraft Rules, 1937 to
promote safety and ease of doing business in aviation regulation.

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These amendments align India’s aviation regulations with the International Civil Aviation
Organization's (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and international best
practices.
Key amendments:
• The validity of Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) and Commercial Pilot License (CPL)
holders' licenses has been extended from 5 years to 10 years.
• The amendment clarified the definition of "light" to include various sources and extended
the government's jurisdiction from 5 kilometers to 5 nautical miles around an
aerodrome.
• Rule 118, pertaining to the validation of foreign licenses, has been removed to align
regulations with the evolving needs of the aviation sector.
• The amendment has introduced flexibility in recency and competency requirements
for Air Traffic Controller License holders, allowing for simulated exercises, emergencies,
and skill assessments.
14. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has
approved the increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for all mandated Rabi Crops
for Marketing Season (RMS) 2024-25.
The increase is in line with the Union Budget 2018-19 announcement of fixing the MSP at a
level of at least 1.5 times of the All-India weighted average Cost of Production.
Minimum Support Prices for all Rabi crops for Marketing Season 2024-25
(Rupees per quintal)
S. No. Crops MSP RMS

2024-25
1 Wheat 2275
2 Barley 1850
3 Gram 5440
4 Lentil 6425
(Masur)
5 Rapeseed 5650
& Mustard
6 Safflower 5800
The increase in Minimum Support Prices (MSP) is based on the price policy recommendations
by the Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices (CACP). MSP is a form of market
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intervention announced by the Government of India at the beginning of the sowing season to
insure farmers against any sharp fall in farm prices.
15. The inaugural India-UK 2+2 Foreign and Defence Dialogue has been held in New Delhi.
Indian delegation has been co-chaired by Piyush Srivastava, Joint Secretary Europe West,
Ministry of External Affairs and Vishwesh Negi, Joint Secretary, International Cooperation,
Ministry of Defence.
The UK delegation has been co-chaired by Ben Mellor, India Director, Indian Ocean
Directorate, FCDO and Lt. General Rob Magowan, Deputy Chief of Defence Staff, Finance and
Military Capability, Ministry of Defence.
Both sides have discussed possibilities for further collaboration particularly in areas of trade
and investment, defence, critical and emerging technologies, civil aviation, health, energy,
culture and strengthening peoples connect.
2+2 dialogue:
It is a format of meeting on the foreign and defense aspects by India and its allies on strategic
and security issues. It involves discussion either at the level of senior officials or ministers.
It enables the partners to better understand and appreciate each other’s strategic concerns
and sensitivities while building a strategic relationship.
Note: India has already established 2+2 dialogues with the US, Australia, Japan, and Russia.
16. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the 141st International Olympic
Committee (IOC) Session at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• India is hosting the IOC session for the second time and after a gap of about 40 years.
• The IOC's 86th session was held in New Delhi in 1983.
The Session provides an opportunity for interaction and knowledge sharing among the
various stakeholders related to sports.
The Session embodies the nation's dedication to fostering global cooperation, celebrating
sporting excellence, and furthering the Olympic ideals of friendship, respect, and excellence.
The session has been attended by President of the International Olympic Committee,
Thomas Bach and other members of IOC, along with prominent Indian sports personalities
and representatives from various sports federations, including the Indian Olympic
Association (IOA).
Note: The IOC session serves as a key meeting of the members of the International Olympic
Committee (IOC). The important decisions regarding the future of Olympic Games are made
at the IOC Sessions.
17. The Indian Navy has recently (in Oct’23) conducted a two-day coastal security exercise called
“Sagar Kavach’' in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry to assess the efficacy and

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robustness of the coastal security mechanism while dealing with asymmetric threat
emanating from the sea.
The exercise has been executed under the aegis of the Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar
who is the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command, FOCINC (East) who
also exercises the authority of Commander-in-Chief, Coastal Defence (East).
About 2,500 personnel from the Indian Navy, coast guard, state and the union territory
administration, marine Police, fisheries, customs, intelligence agencies, lighthouses, ports,
and forest have participated in the exercise.
18. Union External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar has unveiled the bust of Gurudev
Rabindranath Tagore at the International Friendship Park in Bac Ninh province, Vietnam.
He has arrived in Vietnam, for his four-day visit and is welcomed by his counterpart Bui
Thanh Son.
During his visit, he has co-chaired the 18th Joint Commission Meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam.
He has also visited the historical Tran Quoc Pagoda in Hanoi.
Note: Vietnam issued a commemorative postage stamp in honour of Rabindranath Tagore in
1982.
19. Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan has launched a web portal ‘Apna
Chandrayaan’ having activity-based support material such as quiz, puzzles, etc. for school
students on Mission Chandrayaan-3.
This portal has been developed by the National Council of Educational Research and
Training (NCERT) under the aegis of the Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSEL),
Ministry of Education, with the aim of enhancing learning and promoting space exploration
among students.
The portal features activity-based support material such as interactive quizzes, puzzles for
school students in Foundational, Preparatory, Middle, and Secondary level on Mission
Chandrayaan-3.
He has also released 10 special modules on Chandrayaan-3, offering a comprehensive
overview of its various facets - including scientific, technological, and social aspects, as well as
the emotional journey and team spirit of the scientists involved.

20. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has approved India’s first
humanized CD19-targeted Chimeric Antigen Receptor T cell (CAR-T cell) Therapy product
called ‘NexCAR19 (Actalycabtagene autoleucel)’ to treat cancer.
CAR T-cell therapy has been approved for leukaemia (cancers arising from the cells that
produce white blood cells) and lymphomas (arising from the lymphatic system).

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It is developed by Immunoadoptive Cell Therapy (ImmunoACT), an IIT Bombay incubated
company, in collaboration with Tata Memorial Centre (TMC).
CAR T cell therapy is a type of cellular immunotherapy treatment that uses T cells that are
genetically altered in a lab to enable them in locating in destroying cancer cells more
effectively.
T cells are immune cells that attack infection causing pathogens (viruses, bacteria, fungi and
parasites) and harmful cells, like cancer cells.
Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSO):

It is the Central Drug Authority for discharging functions assigned to Central Government
under Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. It works under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
21. The Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy, R. K. Singh, has launched a
brand-new EV-Ready India Dashboard (evreadyindia.org) in New Delhi.
The dashboard is developed by policy and industry experts at think tank OMI Foundation.
The dashboard is a free digital platform focussed on near real-time Electric Vehicle adoption
and forecasts, associated battery demand, charging density, and market growth trends.
The EV-Ready India dashboard has forecast a 45.5% Compounded Annual Growth Rate
(CAGR) in electric vehicles between calendar year (CY) 2022 and CY 2030, increasing from
annual sales of 6,90,550 electric two-wheelers (E2Ws) in 2022 to 1,39,36,691 E2Ws in 2030.
Key Features of the EV-Ready India Dashboard:
• The dashboard presents consolidated sales data for all 34 Vahan states and Union
Territories, and the additional Telangana for the policymakers and industry.
• The dashboard shows forecasts on EV adoption, and associated battery demand till 2030,
allowing both policymakers and industry alike to strategize and execute their clean
mobility goals.
• The dashboard presents state-wise projections, in a first-of-its-kind approach.
• For the end user, i.e., the (potential) buyer of EVs, the dashboard shows financial
benefits of EV ownership, including potential savings on upfront costs, operating and
maintenance costs, etc.
• It also includes a comprehensive repository of all policies and regulations covering all
value chains of the EV ecosystem.
• The dashboard presents a comprehensive overview of charging infrastructure covering
both charging stations and points across the country.
• The dashboard shows the density of charging points with respect to EVs on the road.

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• By tracking and benchmarking investments across EV value chains such as vehicle
manufacturing, battery technology, battery recycling or urban mining, etc., and research
and development, the dashboard maps the contributions to India’s economic growth and
job creation.
• The dashboard measures India’s journey towards net zero by tracking emissions avoided
due to accelerated EV adoption.
• The dashboard presents news and blogs on EV adoption and data-driven decision-
making.
STATES AFFAIRS
22. The Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda has inaugurated 'Aadi Mahotsav' National
Tribal Festival in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. The festival has been organized by the Tribal
Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED) of the Ministry of
Tribal Affairs from 7 to 16 October 2023.
Aadi Mahotsav, an annual celebration of tribal entrepreneurship, craft, culture, cuisine, and
commerce, serves as a vital platform to display the rich and diverse heritage of tribes from
across the nation.
This year the festival highlights the talents of 336 tribal artisans and artists, including
Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) and Van Dhan Vikas Kendra (VDVK)
beneficiaries.
This event features 30 artisans’ stalls, around 11 VDVKs’ stalls and 5 cuisine stalls from
Jharkhand.
23. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has introduced an upgraded version of its
poverty alleviation scheme called ‘Orunodoi 2.0’. The new scheme has been launched with
the distribution of Orunodoi Cards to additional beneficiaries, marking a significant step in
empowering disadvantaged sections of society.
Orunodoi 2.0 aims to extend the reach of the poverty alleviation program.
Approximately 7.30 lakh new beneficiaries will be included in the program, bringing the total
number of beneficiaries to 26 lakh.
As part of Orunodoi 2.0, 26 lakh women will receive Rs.1250 per month, with the funds being
directly credited to their bank accounts on the 10th of every month.
Note: 'Orunodoi' or Arunodoi Scheme was launched by Assam government on 2nd October
2020.

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24. The Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah, has unveiled the emblem of ‘Karnataka
Sambhrama-50’ to mark the golden jubilee of renaming the Mysore State as Karnataka on
1st November 1973.
To mark 50 years of renaming the government of Karnataka decided to hold year-long

celebrations from 1st November 2023 to 1st November 2024.
The celebration will be titled “Hesarayitu Karnataka, Usiragali Kannada.”
Note: Karnataka observes 1st November as Karnataka Rajyothsava Day.
25. The Government of Punjab has launched the ‘Hope Initiative’ to curb the drug menace in
the state. This is the first of its kind mass movement against drugs which will break the
backbone of this menace.
This is the initiative of Amritsar Police.

Under this Initiative, a three-pronged strategy of pray, pledge and play is being used.
As part of the initiative, Amritsar Police has also organized gully cricket competitions.
26. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has launched the “Location Accessible Multi-modal
Initiative” (LAccMI) scheme in Malkangiri district of Odisha.
LAccMI was announced in the Odisha State budget 2023-24.

The scheme aims to offer reliable and affordable public transit (bus service) throughout
Odisha, with a focus on rural areas.
The project is being implemented in Odisha with a budget of Rs.3718 crore over the next
three years, from 2023-24 to 2025-26.
27. Kongali, also known as Kati Bihu, is an auspicious harvest festival and is annually observed
across the state of Assam with joy and happiness. This year, the festival falls on 18th October
2023. It is observed on the first day of the Kati month in the Assamese calendar and usually
falls during mid-October.
During this festival, people light lamps outside their homes and create pathways with
bamboo to welcome their ancestors. People also worship the Goddess Lakshmi and Tulsi
plant for a good harvest.
Note: People of Assam celebrate three kinds of Bihu - Bhogali Bihu in January, Rongali Bihu in
April, and Kongali Bihu in October.
28. The Indian Army (Siachen Warriors), in collaboration with the Bharat Sanchar Nigam
Limited (BSNL), has established the first-ever BSNL base transceiver station (BTS) on the
world's highest battlefield, Siachen Glacier in Ladakh.
This will provide mobile communication services to soldiers at an altitude of over 15,500 feet.
BTS sends and receives radio signals from mobile devices to a cellular network is known as a
base transceiver station (BTS).

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29. The Mahila Thana (women’s police station) of Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) has become
India’s first women-centric police station to be certified with the International
Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2015 certificate.
With this recognition, the Mahila Police Station aims to enhance public confidence in its
ability to deliver effective policing services and promptly address the concerns of citizens.
The ISO certificate is issued for 3 years.
With this, Mahila Thana has become the 2nd ISO-certified police station in Bhopal. In May
2023, Misrod police station became the first ISO 9001:2015 certified police station of Bhopal.
30. Union Health & Family Welfare Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has unveiled the Nagaland
Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (NIMSR) in Kohima, Nagaland.
NIMSR is the first Medical College in Nagaland after 60 years of statehood.

NIMSR Kohima aims at providing holistic medical education to MBBS students enrolled under
NIMSR, comprehensive hospital based and community outreach health care services to
patients through various Health Care Programs, extra and intramural research facilities.
NIMSR Kohima is affiliated to Nagaland University.
It received the Letter of Permission for admission of 100 MBBS seats (85 seats for the
students of Nagaland and 15 seats for the students of other states) from academic year
2023-2024 from the National Medical Commission (NMC), in April 2023.
31. Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), S Krishnan, has
inaugurated the Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Lab at the National Institute of
Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT), Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh during 26th All
India Director’s Meet of NIELIT.
The state-of-art RPA lab has been built under the Future Skill PRIME Project funded by
MeitY with an objective to upskill/reskill manpower in emerging technology of RPA.
This is the first-of-its-kind lab in Uttar Pradesh under Future Skill PRIME Project, which has
been established to bridge the gap between Industry and Academia.
During the event, NIELIT & DDU Gorakhpur University have signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) to conduct Employment-oriented training in in future skill technology.
Robotic Process Automation (RPA):

RPA, also known as software robotics, uses intelligent automation technologies to perform
repetitive office tasks of human workers. It combines Application Programming Interface
(APIs) and user interface (UI) interactions to integrate and perform repetitive tasks. RPA trains
algorithms using data so that the software can perform tasks in a quicker, and more efficient
way.
Note: Future Skill PRIME Project of MeitY aims to create an up-skilling and reskilling
ecosystem in 10 emerging technologies, such as AI, IOT, block chain etc.

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32. Union Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, along with Tamil Nadu
Public Works Minister EV Velu, has virtually flagged off a new international ferry service
between India and Sri Lanka.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also addressed the event.

• The ferry is named ‘Cheriyapani’.
• The ferry service will be operated between the port town of Nagapattinam in Tamil
Nadu and Kankensanthurai, a resort hub in Jaffna district of northern Sri Lanka.
• The high-speed ferry will cover a distance of about 60 nm (110 km) between
Nagapattinam and KKS in around 3.5 hours, depending on sea conditions.
• The vessel can accommodate up to 150 passengers, apart from a 14-member crew.
• The vessel is operated by the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI).
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
33. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the United States has sent
a spacecraft named ‘Psyche’ on a six-year journey to explore metal-rich asteroid Psyche,
orbiting the Sun between Mars and Jupiter.
Mission Goals of Psyche:

• To understand a previously unexplored building block of planet formation: iron cores.
• For the first time, examine a world made not of rock and ice, but metal.
• To look inside terrestrial planets, including Earth, by directly examining the interior of a
differentiated body, which otherwise could not be seen.
The spacecraft has been launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral,
Florida on a planned journey of 2.2 billion miles (3.5 billion km) through space. The spacecraft
is folded inside the cargo bay of a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.
NASA expects the spacecraft, roughly the size of a small van, to reach the asteroid in August
2029.
34. Egypt has become the first country to achieve “gold tier” status on the path to elimination
of Hepatitis C, as per the World Health Organization (WHO’s) criteria.
This means that Egypt has fulfilled the programmatic requirements that facilitate the
reduction of new hepatitis C infections and deaths to levels that position the country to end
the hepatitis C epidemic.
Egypt has diagnosed 87% of people living with Hepatitis C and provided 93% of those
diagnosed with curative treatment, exceeding the WHO gold tier targets of diagnosing at

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least 80% of people living with hepatitis C and providing treatment to at least 70% of
diagnosed people.
Hepatitis C:
It is a viral infection that affects the liver. It can cause both acute (short term) and chronic
(long term) illness.
Transmission: Reuse or inadequate sterilization of medical equipment, especially syringes
and needles in healthcare settings.
There is no vaccine for hepatitis C, but it can be treated with antiviral medications.
REPORTS & INDICES

35. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has published a report titled ‘Gas 2023 Medium-
Term Market Report‘. As per it, India’s natural gas demand is expected to rise by 4% in 2023
calendar year and will continue to increase at an average annual rate of about 8% till 2026.
This growth will be driven by power, petrochemical and fertiliser sectors.

In India, an increase of over 20 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas is expected for
2022-2026 period.
The global gas demand is expected to increase by 1.6% annually from 2022 to 2026, down
from the previous average of 2.5% per year from 2017 to 2021.
The global LNG capacity is expected to expand by 25% between 2022 and 2026,
The United States (US) will retain its position as the world’s largest LNG exporter.
Overall gas demand in Asia Pacific, Europe and North America is forecast to decline by 1%
annually through 2026.
36. A new report titled “The High Cost of Cheap Water,” has been released by the World Wide
Fund for Nature (WWF) on World Food Day (16th October). The report presents the first-ever
annual estimate of the economic value of water and freshwater ecosystems.
Key findings:
• A global water crisis is mounting, posing a threat to USD 58 trillion in economic value
(about 60% of the World’s GDP), food security, and sustainability.
• Water and freshwater ecosystems provide both direct and indirect benefits, with direct
economic benefits amounting to over USD 7 trillion annually.
• The unseen benefits of water ecosystems, such as purifying water, enhancing soil health,
storing carbon, and protecting against extreme weather events, are estimated at around
USD 50 trillion annually.
• The world has lost a third of its wetlands since 1970, and freshwater wildlife populations
have seen an average 83% decline.

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• There is a lack of awareness and understanding of the importance of water resources, the
report refers to it as water blindness.
• The unsustainable agricultural practices, accounting for over 70% of freshwater use, are a
primary threat to rivers and floodplains.
• The excessive fertilizer uses leads to diffuse pollution affecting surface and groundwater.
37. According to the 15th annual Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index (MCGPI 2023),
India has slipped to 45th position out of 47 countries as compared to 41st position out of 44
countries in 2022 and 40th out of 43 countries in 2021.
India’s score has improved marginally from 44.4 in 2022 to 45.9 in 2023.
The Netherlands has topped the index with a score of 85, followed by Iceland (83.5) and
Denmark (81.3).
Argentina has been ranked 47th in the index with a score of 42.3.
Global Pension Index 2023 compares 47 retirement income systems, with the inclusion of
Botswana, Croatia and Kazakhstan, with regard to adequacy, sustainability and integrity.
These 47 retirement income systems represent 64% of the world’s population.
The Index is made up of three sub-indices, including adequacy, sustainability, and integrity, to
measure each retirement income system against more than 50 indicators.
38. In accordance with the latest (October 2023) Economic Outlook Survey released by the
Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the Indian economy is
estimated to grow by 6.3 percent in FY24 with a minimum and maximum growth estimate of
6.0 percent and 6.6 percent, respectively.
The median growth forecast for agriculture has been put at 2.7 percent for 2023-24, industry
and services sector, on the other hand, are anticipated to grow by 5.6 percent and 7.3
percent, respectively, in the current financial year (FY23-24).
CPI-based inflation has a median forecast of 5.5 percent for 2023-24 with a minimum and
maximum range of 5.3 percent and 5.7 percent, respectively.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES & PROGRAMMES

39. The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, has inaugurated
new facilities at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) in
Bangalore, Karnataka and launched the new logo of Tele-MANAS.
The new facilities at NIMHANS include the Platinum Jubilee Auditorium and Academic facility,
New Administrative Office complex, and Centre for Brain and Mind.
He has also awarded the top three states in India certificate of appreciation with memento
for achieving the highest number of calls in the National Tele Mental Health Programme (Tele
MANAS).
• Large states category: Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh

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• Smaller states category: Telangana, Jharkhand, and Kerala
• Northeast states category: Assam, Mizoram and Manipur
• Union Territories category: Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and
Daman and Diu
Tele MANAS:
The Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele MANAS) is a national
tele-mental health program which aims to provide mental health to all because it is a
universal human right.
Nodal ministry: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
It was announced in Union Budget 2022-23 and launched in October 2022.
40. The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) under the Ministry of
Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MoFAHD) has launched the ‘A-HELP’ (Accredited
Agent for Health and Extension of Livestock Production) program in Jharkhand.
DAHD has initiated this remarkable initiative through a Memorandum of Understanding

(MoU) between DAHD and National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) under the Ministry of
Rural Development (MoRD).
A HELP Program:
• It is an initiative of the Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and
the Ministry of Rural Development.
• ‘A-HELP’ are community-based women activists, who assist veterinarians in local
departmental activities help livestock farmers to take loans for entrepreneurship
development, fill out applications, mark the ear tagging of animals and register them in
the INAF portal and help with insurance etc.
• They assist in implementing various schemes and in providing information to the farmers
at the grassroots level.
• They will give vital contributions to preventing various infectious diseases of animals,
artificial insemination under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM), tagging animals and
animal insurance.
A-HELP has already been initiated across 6 states including Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya
Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jharkhand, and one Union Territory (UT) Jammu and Kashmir
(J&K).
41. The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), working under the aegis of the
Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), has tied up with Coca-Cola India
to launch the Super Power Retailer Program under the Skill India Mission.

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The program is being piloted in the state of Odisha.
The program will provide 14 hours of quality retail training through the Skill India Digital
Portal to 1.40 crore retailers of the country.
The initiative focuses on enabling retailers by focusing on building their capacity and
capability in today’s modern retailing sector. It aims to provide training to small and micro
retailers, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to better understand
consumer behaviours and their preferences.
The program will offer industry-specific skills such as customer management, inventory and
stock management, financial management etc.
The program aims to upskill retailers across key states over three years.
National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC):

NSDC was incorporated on July 31, 2008, under section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956. It was
set up by Ministry of Finance as Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. The Government of
India through Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) holds 49% of the
share capital of NSDC, while the private sector has the balance 51% of the share capital.
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Director & Manager: Ved Mani Tiwari
42. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has introduced an
initiative ‘Green Credit Program (GCP)’ ahead of COP28 of UNFCCC (United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change) to be held from 30 November to 12 December
2023 in Dubai, UAE.
GCP is notified under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and reflect the ideas of LiFE
(Lifestyle for Environment) mission to promote sustainable lifestyle and environmental
conservation.
• GCP aims to incentivise environmental positive actions across diverse sectors by various
stakeholders like communities through market-based mechanisms and generate Green
Credit (GC).
• GC is tradable and made available for trading on a domestic market platform.
• In its initial phase, GCP focuses on water conservation and afforestation.
• GCP is independent of the carbon credit programme under Carbon Credit Trading
Scheme, 2023 made under Energy Conservation Act, 2001.
• The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) is responsible for the
implementation, management, monitoring, and operation of GCP.
Sectors identified in GCP: Tree Plantation; Water Conservation; Sustainable Agriculture;

Water Management; Air Pollution Reduction; Mangrove Conservation and Reduction;
Ecomark label development; and Sustainable building & infrastructure.
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43. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has introduced an
initiative ‘Ecomark scheme’ ahead of COP28 of UNFCCC (United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change) to be held from 30 November to 12 December 2023 in Dubai,
UAE.
This scheme is notified under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and reflect the ideas of
LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) mission to promote sustainable lifestyle and environmental
conservation.
• Ecomark Scheme replaces the previous Notification of 1991.
• It provides accreditation and labelling for household and consumer products that meet
specific environmental criteria while maintaining quality standards as per Indian norms.
• It is administered by the Central Pollution Control Board in partnership with the Bureau
of Indian Standards (BIS).
• The scheme aims to raise consumer awareness of environmental issues, encourage eco-
conscious choices, and motivate manufacturers to transition to eco-friendly production.

44. The Department of Land Resources (DOLR), Ministry of Rural Development has signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Remote Sensing Center (NRSC)
to monitor the Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee
Yojana 2.0 (WDC-PMKSY) projects through high-resolution satellite data.
This MoU aims to restore the ecological balance by harnessing, conserving, and developing
degraded natural resources such as soil and water.
Watershed Development refers to the conservation, regeneration and judicious use of all the
natural resources particularly land, water, vegetation, and animals and human development
within the watershed.
A watershed is a geo-hydrological unit draining to a common point by a system of drains.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY):
PMKSY was launched in 2015 by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare to improve
farm productivity and ensure better utilization of the resources in the country. It is a centrally
sponsored scheme.
The scheme components are:
Component: Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP)
Component: Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP)

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• Implemented by: Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga
Rejuvenation (Ministry of Jal Shakti)
Component: Watershed Development

• Implemented by: Department of Land Resources (Ministry of Rural Development):
Component: Per Drop More Crop

• Implemented by: Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (Ministry of Agriculture
& Farmers Welfare)
BUSINESS & ECONOMY

45. Skyroot Aerospace Private Limited, a Hyderabad (Telangana) -based space startup, has
signed two Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with two France-based Space firms
Promethee Earth Intelligence and ConnectSAT.
First MoU:
Skyroot has signed an MoU with Promethee for satellite launch services onboard Vikram
rockets for the Japetus earth observation constellation.
Second MoU:
Skyroot has signed an MoU with ConnectSAT and Expleo to provide launch services for
"OSIRIS", a constellation of African satellites for connectivity and monitoring services,
onboard Skyroot’s Vikram rockets.
As part of the MoU, Expleo provides reconfigurable software for ConnectSAT’s Internet of
Things (IoT) satellite.
Note: Skyroot launched India’s first privately built rocket ‘Vikram-S’ under the mission
“Mission Prarambh” (the beginning) in 2022.
46. REC Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National
Informatics Center Services Inc. (NICSI), Ministry of Electronics and Information
Technology, Government of India for various Information and Communication Technology
(ICT) and Digital Transformation services under National Informatics Centre (NIC).
This MoU will benefit the REC ecosystem by facilitating exploration of latest technology in
emerging areas like IoT, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Analytics, Blockchain,
Cyber Security etc.
Additional Information:
REC Limited is a 'Maharatna' company under the administrative control of the Ministry of
Power, Government of India, and is registered with RBI as non-banking finance company
(NBFC), Public Financial Institution (PFI) and Infrastructure Financing Company (IFC). It was
incorporated in 1969.
• Corporate office: Gurugram, Haryana
• Registered office: New Delhi

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47. Indian Oil Corporation, the nation's biggest oil firm, will invest Rs.1,660.15 crore as equity
in IndianOil NTPC Green Energy Pvt Ltd, a newly set up joint venture with energy NTPC Ltd,
for setting up renewable power plants.
Indian Oil and NTPC Green Energy Ltd, (a wholly owned subsidiary of NTPC Ltd) had formed a
50:50 joint venture company, IndianOil NTPC Green Energy Pvt Ltd, in June 2023 to set up
renewable energy projects to meet 24X7 power requirements of refineries of the IOC.
48. The Department of Public Enterprise (DPE) under the Ministry of Finance has granted
Navratna status to Ircon International Limited (IRCON) and RITES Limited, both are
Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Railways.
IRCON and RITES Limited have become the 15th and 16th Navratnas, respectively.
'Navratna' status:
Navratna Company has the authority to invest up to Rs.1,000 crore without explicit
government approval.
The status of Navratna is granted based on various parameters, such as:
• CPSEs which are Miniratna I
• Have obtained ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ MoU rating in three of the last five years and
• Having composite score of 60 or above in selected performance indicators.
The status is conferred by the Ministry of Finance.
49. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the following acquisition involving
Hitachi Astemo Limited (HAL), a Japanese public limited company that manufactures auto
parts for automobiles and two-wheeled motor vehicles in India.
• CCI has approved the acquisition of 20% voting rights in HAL by JICC-01 Limited
Partnership, along with certain control rights, board representation, and other rights.
• CCI has approved the acquisition of an additional 6.6% voting stake in HAL by Honda
Motor Company Limited (HMCL). With this, 40% of the voting rights in HAL is held by
HMCL.
• CCI has approved the acquisition of 49% stake in Hitachi Astemo Electric Motor
Systems (HAEMS) by HAL. With this HAL holds the 100% shareholdings of HAEMS.
50. Tata Motors Limited (TML) has entered into share purchase agreements to sell a 9.9% stake
in Tata Technologies Ltd (TTL) for an aggregate consideration of Rs.1,613.7 crore. TPG Rise
Climate is the lead investor for this transaction.
51. ICAR-IARI (Indian Council of Agricultural Research- Indian Agricultural Research Institute) has
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IIT Kanpur to support incubators and
startups.

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The MoU has been signed between Pusa Krishi, ICAR-IARI and Start-up Incubation &
Innovation Centre (SIIC), IIT Kanpur.
Both sides will provide vital support to incubators and startups, fostering their growth and
success.
52. Data Patterns (India) Limited, a vertically integrated Defence and Aerospace electronics
solutions provider, has inked a Licensing and Transfer of Technology (ToT) agreement with
the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) to provide
Data Patterns with miniature SAR Radar capability.
The technology has been developed at the Space Applications Centre (SAC), Indian Space
Research Organisation (ISRO).
The technology is the forerunner of ISRO’s upcoming high-resolution Synthetic Aperture
Radar (SAR) satellite, the NISAR ((NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) and made available
for ToT to the industry by IN-SPACe.
The technology will enable SAR radar development by Data Patterns, complementing the
large portfolio of Radars already available from the company.
53. The Government of India (GoI) has proposed to sell up to 7% stake in Housing and Urban
Development Corporation (HUDCO) via offer for sale (OFS). This includes selling 3.5 percent
of the company, with an option to sell an additional 3.5 percent if the offer is oversubscribed.
The floor price for the sale has been set at Rs.79 apiece.
At the end of the September 2023 quarter, central government held 81.81 percent stake in
HUDCO.
The stake sale will help the government to achieve the minimum public shareholding norm
set out by the capital market regulator, the exchange filing said.
Minimum public shareholding norms require listed companies to maintain a public float of at
least 25 percent.
54. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a contract worth Rs.313.42 crore with Cochin
Shipyard Limited for Mid Life Upgrade and Re-Powering of the Indian Naval Ship (INS)
Beas.
INS Beas will join the active fleet of the Indian Navy with a modernized weapon suite and
upgraded combat capability after completion of Mid Life Upgrade and Re- Powering in 2026.
INS Beas is the first of Brahmaputra Class Frigate to be re-powered from Steam to Diesel
Propulsion.
The project will involve more than 50 MSMEs and will lead to generation of employment for
more than 3500 personnel.
55. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a contract for the construction of one Training
Ship for the Indian Coast Guard with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) at a cost
of Rs.310 crore.

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This is the first dedicated training platform with integral helicopter capabilities.
This will provide basic sea training to 70 Coast Guards and other international under-trainee
officers to prepare on the multi-dimensional maritime aspects of Coast Guard life.
This training ship with advanced and modern high-tech surveillance and monitoring systems
will provide profound and expertise to the Indian Coast Guard cadets on the challenges at
sea.
56. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has
approved the project on Green Energy Corridor (GEC) Phase-II – Inter-State Transmission
System (ISTS) for 13 GW Renewable Energy Project in Ladakh.
The project is targeted to be set up by FY 2029-30 with total estimated cost of Rs.20,773.70
crore and Central Financial Assistance (CFA) @ 40 percent of the project cost i.e. Rs.8,309.48
crore.
Power Grid Corporation of India Limited will be the implementing agency for this project.
The state-of-the-art Voltage Source Converter (VSC) based High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC)
system and Extra High Voltage Alternating Current (EHVAC) systems will be deployed.
The transmission line for evacuating this power will pass through Himachal Pradesh and
Punjab up to Kaithal in Haryana, where it will be integrated with the National Grid.
It will also be connected to Leh-Alusteng-Srinagar line to provide power to Jammu & Kashmir.
This project will set up 713 km transmission lines (including 480 km HVDC line) and 5 GW
capacity of HVDC terminal each at Pang (Ladakh) and Kaithal (Haryana).
The project will contribute to achieving the target of 500 GW of installed electricity capacity
from non-fossil fuels by year 2030.
This project is in addition to InSTS GEC Phase-II, which is already under implementation in the
States of Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar
Pradesh for grid integration and power evacuation of approx. 20 GW of RE power.
BANKING & FINANCE

57. ICICI Bank has introduced 'iFinance', a one-stop solution for viewing savings and current
accounts across multiple banks.
This feature is available on the Bank’s digital platforms, namely the iMobile Pay app, Retail
Internet Banking (RIB), Corporate Internet Banking (CIB), and InstaBIZ, the Bank’s mobile app
for businesses, by leveraging the Account Aggregator ecosystem.
‘iFinance’ gives a dashboard with a single view of all accounts.
The dashboard provides great convenience to consumers by allowing them to exercise more
control over their expenses and monitor their accounts in real-time.
58. The India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has signed an agreement with the Small Industries
Development Bank of India (SIDBI) to promote extension of formal financial services and

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other support services to MSMEs, especially enterprises in rural and remote areas of the
country.
Under this pact, SIDBI provides credit to small businesses, while IPPB provides banking
transaction services.
Both entities will undertake joint programs to upgrade the skills of Dak Sevaks.
Both entities have also announced a hackathon for innovation in financial services in rural
areas and also a Swavalamban Challenge Fund to promote rural livelihood enterprises.
59. The SBI Funds Management Limited (SBIFML) has received approval from the Reserve
Bank of India (RBI) to acquire up to a 9.99% paid-up share capital in IndusInd Bank.
This acquisition will allow the company to also hold 9.99% voting rights in the bank.
The holding of SBIFML in IndusInd Bank should not exceed 9.99 % of the paid-up share
capital or voting rights of the Bank at all times.
The RBI has given SBIFML one year time (till 10th October 2024) to buy the shares of IndusInd
Bank.
SBI Funds Management Limited (SBIFML):

SBIFML is a joint venture between State Bank of India (SBI) and AMUNDI Asset Management
(France), a wholly owned subsidiary of Amundi India Holding. SBI holds 63% stake and
AMUNDI Asset Management holds 37%.
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
• MD & CEO: Shamsher Singh
60. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has joined hands with the Government of West
Bengal to conduct a study on the development of economic corridors in the state.
The ADB will provide technical expertise and funding for the projects.
The study aims at strategizing economic development across the nodes of Andal-Panagarh,
Kharagapur-Goaltore-Salboni and growth centres such as Siliguri, Dankuni and Kalyani with
urban-industrial logistics-skills-energy-social sector convergence.
61. Bharti Group, through its holding company Bharti Life Ventures Private Limited (BLVPL), has
entered into a binding agreement with its joint partner AXA (France) to acquire its 49% stake
in Bharti AXA Life Insurance.
Through this acquisition, BLVPL will own 100% stake in the Bharti AXA Life Insurance.
The transaction is expected to be completed by December 2023.
62. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 181 million loan to build quality
infrastructure and services toward improving urban livability and mobility in the peri-urban
areas of Ahmedabad city in Gujarat.

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• The Ahmedabad Peri-urban Livability Improvement Project will construct 166 kilometres
(km) of water distribution network, 126 km of climate-resilient stormwater drainage, 300
km of sewerage systems, and four sewage treatment plants, providing residents of
Ahmedabad’s surrounding areas with quality urban infrastructure and services.
• The project is also supporting 10 junction improvements along the existing Sardar Patel
Ring Road to improve connectivity of peri-urban areas to Ahmedabad city.
63. Tiger Logistics (India) Ltd has joined hands with ICICI Bank to help exporters and
importers to track shipment, get information on freight rates and ease documentation
process.
This partnership will facilitate integrated banking and end-to-end logistics for exporters and
importers.
This partnership will integrate the ICICI Trade Emerge platform with Tiger Logistics’
proprietary digital freight booking and management platform FreightJar.
64. Bank of India has collaborated with REC Limited, a Maharatna company, to co-finance
Rs.30,000 crore worth of projects in the power, infrastructure, and logistics sectors over the
next 5 years.
REC Limited provides long-term loans and other finance to the power sector. The firm had a
loan book of Rs.4.54 lakh crore as of the June 2023.
65. BLS E-Services Limited, a subsidiary of BLS International Services Limited, has announced a
significant milestone in its mission to expand financial access across India. The company has
entered into a Master Business Correspondent Agreement with Kotak Mahindra Bank to
redefine the financial landscape and foster inclusive growth.
The agreement has been signed for an initial period of 3 years, with the possibility of
extension for an additional year.
This holistic approach to financial inclusion will be initially launched at 1000 strategically
selected locations across Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka, fostering
economic empowerment and growth in these regions.
66. Sberbank has become the first Russian bank to register with the Securities and Exchange
Board of India (SEBI) as a foreign portfolio investor (FPI) for a Category I FPI licence.
FPIs with category I licence have to follow less lenient beneficial ownership disclosures, can
subscribe to overseas derivative instruments which have Indian stocks as underlying and also
enjoy certain taxation benefits.
Category I FPI registration is only granted to government or government related foreign
investors or regulated entities such as banks, sovereign wealth funds, investment trusts,
pension funds, asset management companies.

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Till now, Alfa Capital Management, First Asset Management, Igor Noskov, and Vesvolod
Rozanov have been granted FPI registrations.
Note: Sberbank received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in May 2010 to set up
a branch in India and commenced its banking business from January 2011.
67. Cashfree Payments, a firm specialising in API banking solutions, has collaborated with
Global Trade Plaza, a global B2B marketplace, to simplify cross-border payments for Indian
exporters.
The collaboration aims to facilitate international trade promotion by allowing Indian

exporters to collect payments in over 15 foreign currencies.
The funds received will be converted into Indian Rupees and transferred to local Indian bank
accounts within 48 hours.
The exporters will also receive auto-generated foreign inward remittances advice (e-FIRA).
68. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has updated Anti-Money Laundering
guidelines. The development comes after the government amended the Prevention of Money
Laundering (Maintenance of Records) (PMLA) Rules in September 2023.
New guidelines:
• The partners holding a 10 percent stake in a firm will come under the definition of
beneficial owners. Earlier, the requirement was 15 percent.
• The Principal Officer would act as a central reference point in facilitating reporting of
suspicious transactions to the authorities.
• Names, designation, and addresses of ‘Principal Officer’ shall be intimated to Financial
Intelligence Unit – India (FIU-IND).
Financial Intelligence Unit – India (FIU-IND):

FIU-IND is responsible for coordinating efforts of intelligence, investigation and enforcement
agencies in efforts against money laundering and terror financing.
It comes under the Ministry of Finance.
69. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has released new
guidelines for 'Bima Vahaks (BV)'. The guidelines aims to establish women centric
distribution channel that focuses on enhancing insurance inclusion and awareness in every
village.
It also aims to improve the accessibility and availability of insurance in every nook and corner
of the country.
The new guidelines is a part of IRDAI’s strategy to achieve its ‘Insurance for All goal’.
New guidelines:

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• As per the new guidelines, every insurer shall endeavour to engage individual Bima
Vahaks and/or corporate Bima Vahaks with the focus to progressively achieve coverage of
every Gram Panchayat. Bima Vahaks shall be deployed in each Gram Panchayat before 31
December 2024.
• There is no restriction on the number of insurers a Bima Vahak is allowed to work with.
• A Bima Vahak would be legal persons registered in accordance with the respective laws
and engaged by an insurer. An individual Bima Vahak could be any individual appointed
by an insurer or appointed by a corporate Bima Vahak.
• The Bima Vahaks, both corporate and individual, will be authorised to undertake activities
like the collection of proposal information and know-your-customer (KYC) documents and
coordinate claims-related services.
• Every insurer would have to make available optional modes for payment of premiums by
prospects or policyholders.
RBI IN NEWS
70. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cancelled the Certificate of Registration (CoR) of Tamil
Nadu-based Ind Bank Housing Limited, a Housing Finance Company (HFC) with effect from
21st September 2023.
This decision has been taken by RBI in exercise of its powers conferred on it under Section
29A (6) of the National Housing Bank (NHB) Act 1987.
With this, Ind Bank Housing Limited cannot transact the business of Housing Finance
Institution and a Non-Banking Financial Institution (NBFC) as defined in NHB Act, 1987 and
RBI Act 1934, respectively.
71. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a monetary penalty of Rs.5.39 crore on Paytm
Payments Bank for non-compliance with certain provisions of the RBI’s Know Your
Customer (KYC) Directions, 2016.
RBI has also found non-compliance with certain provisions related to ‘RBI Guidelines for
Licensing of Payments Banks’, ‘Cyber security framework in banks’ and ‘Securing mobile
banking applications including UPI ecosystem’.
This decision has been taken by RBI in exercise of its powers conferred on it under Section
47A (1) (c) read with Section 46 (4) (i) of the Banking Regulation (BR) Act 1949.
This penalty will not affect any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its
customers.

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72. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed the introduction of Card-On-File
Tokenisation (CoFT) facility at the issuer-bank level. This means that credit/debit card
users will be able to generate card tokens on their bank’s website or app.
At present, a CoFT token can only be created through merchant’s application or webpage.
The new step aims to eliminate the duplication of tokenization process at each app along
with increased transaction security, resulting in reduced card-data-related frauds.
CoFT was launched by RBI in 2021 and is being implemented from 1st October 2022.
Card Tokenisation:
It is a data security measure that involves substituting a customer’s credit card details with a
non-sensitive equivalent, known as a token. It replaces the 16-digit credit or debit card
number with a unique token. It allows secure online purchases without exposing sensitive
details like card number, card verification value (CVV), etc.
Tokenisation is predominantly used in card transactions to enhance security by preventing
hackers from accessing sensitive card details.
73. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a penalty of Rs.12.19 crore on ICICI Bank and
Rs.3.95 crore on Kotak Mahindra Bank for non-compliance of certain regulatory norms.
The penalty on ICICI Bank has been imposed for contravention of norms related to ‘Loans
and Advances-Statutory and Other restrictions’ and ‘Frauds classification and reporting by
commercial banks and select Fls’.
The penalty on Kotak Mahindra Bank has been imposed for contravention of directions
related to “Managing Risks and Code of Conduct in Outsourcing of Financial Services by
banks”, “Recovery Agents engaged by Banks”, “Customer Service in Banks”, and “Loans and
Advances – Statutory and Other Restrictions”.
This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers vested in RBI conferred under the
provisions of Section 47A (1)(c) read with Sections 46 (4)(i) of the Banking Regulation Act,
1949.
74. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has launched a pilot program for the wholesale segment of
its Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) in the interbank call money market.
The nine banks, including four public sector banks and five private sector banks, are
participating in the e-rupee call money pilot program.
The operational process for the e-rupee pilot remains the same, except for the settlement,
which will now be carried out using the CBDC instead of the real-time gross settlement
(RTGS) used in trades on the Clearing Corp of India Limited (CCIL).
The settlements will be in T+0 mode, indicating that trades will be settled on the same day.
State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Union Bank of India, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Kotak
Mahindra Bank, Yes Bank, IDFC First Bank and HSBC were part of the wholesale CBDC in
government securities pilot program.
Most participating banks remain the same from the wholesale e-rupee pilot for the
government securities market with Federal Bank replacing HSBC in the call money pilot.
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Additional Information:
The introduction of CBDC was announced in the Union Budget 2022-23 by Finance Minister
Nirmala Sitharaman.
The RBI rolled out a pilot in the retail version of the CBDC on December 1, 2022, and the
wholesale version of the CBDC on November 1, 2022, to settle secondary market
transactions in government securities.
The e-rupee is in the form of a digital token that represents legal tender.
The e-rupee in wholesale and retail circulation stood at Rs.16.39 crore at the end of 2022-23,
according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Handbook of Statistics on the Indian Economy
2022-23.
The denomination of the e-rupee most in circulation is Rs.500, followed by Rs.200 and Rs.100,
data showed.
75. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed monetary penalties on RBL Bank, Union Bank,
and Bajaj Finance due to violation of certain norms in October 2023.
RBL Bank has been fined Rs.64,00,000 for its failure to obtain an annual declaration in Form
B from one of its major shareholders within the stipulated time frame of one month after the
close of the financial years ending on March 31, 2018, March 31, 2019, and March 31, 2020.
The bank has also neglected to provide certificates to RBI confirming the 'fit and proper'
status of one of its major shareholders by the end of September in these respective financial
years.
Union Bank of India has incurred a penalty of Rs.1 crore for its failure to comply with
specific directions. The bank had sanctioned a term loan to a corporation without conducting
necessary due diligence on the viability and bankability of the projects.
Bajaj Finance has been imposed a penalty of Rs.8,50,000 due to the company's non-
compliance with the 'Monitoring of Frauds in NBFCs Directions, 2016,' a set of guidelines
issued by the RBI.
AWARDS & RECOGNITION

76. General Manoj Pande, the Chief of Army Staff, has presented the prestigious 'President's
Colours' to the Third Battalion of the Naga Regiment during the Colour presentation
parade held at Kumaon Regimental Centre, Ranikhet in Uttarakhand.
The President’s Colour has been received by Col Lalit Chandra Kandpal, the Commanding
Officer of the 3rd Battalion of the Naga Regiment.
The Naga Regiment’s 3rd battalion was created on 1st October 2009 in Haldwani, situated in
the Kumaon Hills, which were home to the Kumaon and Naga regiments.
The first battalion of Naga Regiment was raised in Ranikhet in 1970.

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President’s Colour:
It is also called ‘Nishan’. It is the highest honour that can be bestowed upon any military unit
of India. It is an emblem that is worn by all unit officers on the left-hand sleeve of their
uniform.
Indian Navy was the first Indian Armed Force, to be awarded the President’s Colour by then
President Dr Rajendra Prasad on 27th May 1951.
77. Guidance, the nodal agency for investment promotion under the Department of Industries,
Investment Promotion and Commerce, government of Tamil Nadu, has received the United
Nations Promotion Award 2023 for excellence in scaling up energy transition investments
at the 8th World Investment Forum held at Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Guidance is South Asia's only Investment Promotion Agency to get the U.N. Award in 2023.
The award has been given for facilitating the First Solar investment project with a fully vertical
integrated photovoltaic thin film solar module manufacturing facility, notably through green
incentives and higher training incentives for women. This project will facilitate access to low-
cost solar panels and contribute to more sustainable cities in India.
World Investment Forum:

The biennial World Investment Forum is organised by the United Nations Conference on
Trade and Development (UNCTAD) since 2008. It monitors the mainstreaming of sustainable
development goals by Investment Promotion Agencies and conducts regular surveys.
78. American actor and producer Michael Douglas will be bestowed with the Satyajit Ray
Lifetime Achievement Award at the 54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) to be
held in Goa from 20th to 28th November 2023.
Michael Douglas is best known for his roles in “Wall Street (1987)", "Basic Instinct (1992)”,
“Falling Down (1993)”, "The American President (1995)", “Traffic (2000)” and “Behind the
Candelabra (2013).”
He has also produced a number of critically acclaimed films, such as “One Flew Over the
Cuckoo's Nest (1975)”, “The China Syndrome (1979)”, and “The Game (1999)”.
He was awarded the honorary Palm D'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2023.
Note: The Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award, instituted in the 30th International Film
Festival of India (IFFI) in 1999, is presented to individuals whose exceptional contributions
have significantly enriched and elevated the world of cinema.
BOOKS & AUTHORS

79. Tamil Nadu IT Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan has released a book on ChatGPT for the use of
professionals in various fields. The book titled “The Professionals Handbook to ChatGPT” is
authored by Pattabhi Ram V and Dungar Chand U Jain.

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The book covers 27 work areas and is a handy tool for finance professionals. It is published
by ReadWrite Productions.
ChatGPT:
It is an artificial intelligence-powered language model. It is developed by the USA-based Open
AI. It was launched in November 2022. It uses natural language processing to create
humanlike conversational dialogues.
80. BlueKraft Digital Foundation has launched a book on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's
monthly radio programme Mann ki Baat. The book has been titled 'Igniting Collective
Goodness: Mann Ki Baat @ 100'.
This is the third book in the series, all of which capture the journey to a distinct milestone of
Mann Ki Baat.
The first book was published following the culmination of 26 episodes and was released in
May 2017 by the then-President of India.
The book is published by Westland Publications Limited.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Mann Ki Baat, a popular program on All India Radio, was
started on October 3, 2014. The 30-minute program completed 100 episodes on April 30,
2023.
PERSON IN NEWS
81. Former businessman Christopher Luxon from the conservative party has been elected as
the 42nd Prime Minister of New Zealand.
In the recently concluded elections, he has won 50 seats and its preferred coalition partner,
ACT New Zealand, won 11, securing a majority of one seat in the 121-seat parliament.
He will succeed outgoing Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, who succeeded Jacinda Ardern in
January 2023.
Previously, he held senior roles at global consumer goods firm Unilever and delivered
consistent profits running Air New Zealand from 2012 to 2019.
82. The Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry has appointed Amardeep Singh Bhatia,
additional secretary in the Commerce and Industry ministry, as the new Chairman of Tea
Board.
His appointment will be effective from 12th October 2023 as an additional charge for a period
of six months.
He will hold the charge till such time the post is filled up on a regular basis or until further
orders.
Saurav Pahari will remain the deputy chairman of the Tea Board.

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83. Daniel Noboa, a businessman and a member of National Democratic Action, has won the
2023 General Election of Ecuador defeating Luisa Gonzalez of the Citizen Revolution
Movement.
With this victory, Daniel Noboa becomes the youngest ever President elect of Eucador.
He will succeed the outgoing President Guillermo Lasso on 25th November 2023.
84. Chairman & Managing Director, National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), Dr Meenesh
Shah, has been elected to the Board of International Dairy Federation (IDF) during the
General Assembly of IDF.
He is the Member Secretary of the Indian National Committee and also a member of the
Standing Committee on Dairy Policy and Economics.
85. Justice Siddharth Mridul has been appointed as the new Chief Justice of the Manipur
High Court. The Supreme Court collegium headed by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud
had on July 2023 recommended the appointment of Delhi High Court judge Justice Siddharth
Mridul as the chief justice of the Manipur High Court, amid the ethnic turmoil in the border
state.
Justice MV Muralidaran, who is presently the Acting Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court,
has been transferred to Calcutta High Court.
86. Arindam Bagchi, presently Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, has been
appointed as India’s permanent representative to the United Nations (UN) and other
international organisations in Geneva.
He is a 1995-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer.

He will succeed the incumbent Indian envoy to the UN in Geneva, Indra Mani Pandey, who
assumed the role in July 2020.
87. The President of India Droupadi Murmu has appointed former Jharkhand Chief Minister and
BJP national vice-president Raghubar Das as the new Governor of Odisha. He has been
appointed in place of Ganeshi Lal.
He is the 26th Governor of Odisha.

He was the first non-tribal Chief Minister of Jharkhand from 2014 to 2019.
His appointment will take effect from the date he assumes the charge of the office.
Note: The Governor of a State is appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and
seal under Article 155.
88. The President of India Droupadi Murmu has appointed Indra Sena Reddy Nallu, a national
secretary of the BJP, and a former MLA in Andhra Pradesh, as the new Governor of Tripura.
He has been appointed in place of Satyadeo Narain Arya.

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His appointment will take effect from the date he assumes the charge of the office.
Note: The Governor of a State is appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and
seal under Article 155.
OBITUARIES
89. The poster girl of Kerala's adult literacy programme, Karthyayani Amma, has passed away
in Alappuzha, Kerala. She was born in 1922 in Cheppad, Haripad in the state of Kerala.
At the age of 96, she topped the Aksharalaksham ("Million Letter") literacy examination
of the Kerala State Literacy Mission securing the highest mark (98/100).
She was the oldest person to take the test in her district.
She became a Commonwealth of Learning Goodwill Ambassador in 2019.
She was honoured with the Nari Shakti Puraskar award, the highest civilian award for a
woman, by the Government of India in 2020.
90. Dahyabhai Karunashankar Shastri, a renowned Indian Sanskrit scholar and founder of
Brahmarshi Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya, Nadiad (Gujarat), has passed away at the age of 98 in
Nadiad, Gujarat. He was born on 26th February 1926 in Mehsana, Gujarat.
He was a distinguished Sanskrit scholar in India, holding titles like Vyakaranacharya,

Sahitacharya, and Hindi Visharad.
Padma Shri: 2016
91. Louise Gluck, a renowned poet who won a Nobel Prize for Literature in 2020, has passed
away at the age of 80 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the USA. She was born on 22nd April 1943
in New York City, the USA.
Notable works: “The Triumph of Achilles (1985)”, and “The Wild Iris (1992)”
Awards:
• Pulitzer Prize for Poetry (1993)
• Bollingen Prize (2001)
• U.S. Poet Laureate (2003–2004)
• National Book Award (2014)
• National Humanities Medal (2015)
• Nobel Prize in Literature (2020)
In her lifetime, she published 12 collections of poetry and several volumes of essays.
She became the 16th woman to win a Nobel Prize for Literature.

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92. Indian bureaucrat, politician, and writer, Dr Manohar Singh Gill, has passed away in New
Delhi at the age of 87. He was born on 14 June 1936 in undivided Punjab. He was a 1958
batch of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of Punjab cadre.
He served as the 11th Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India from 1996 to 2001
succeeding T. N. Seshan.
His major achievement was the introduction of Electronic Voting machines which curbed
malpractices to a large extent. He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan (2000) for his work in
this post.
He also served as the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports from 2008 till 2011 and as the
Minister of Statistics and Programme Implementation in 2011.
At the 300-year anniversary of the Khalsa, he was awarded the "Nishan-e-Khalsa".
Books authored by him: ‘Himalayan Wonder: Travels in Lahaul and Spiti’ (1972) and ‘Tales from
the Hills: Lahaul's Enduring Myths and Legends’ (2014).
93. Nobel Peace Prize winner, Martti Ahtisaari, has passed away in Helsinki, Finland at the age
of 86. He was born on June 23, 1937, in the eastern town of Viipuri, which is now in Russia.
He served as the 10th President of Finland between 1994 and 2000.

He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2008 for his important efforts, on several
continents and over more than three decades, to resolve international conflicts.
He helped reach peace accords related to Serbia’s withdrawal from Kosovo in the late 1990s,
Namibia’s bid for independence in the 1980s, and autonomy for Aceh province in Indonesia
in 2005.
94. Ghulam Nabi Khayal, an Indian poet and essayist from Jammu & Kashmir, has passed away
at the age of 84 in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir. He was born on 4th March 1939 in Srinagar,
Jammu & Kashmir.
He authored 30 books in Kashmiri, Urdu and English.

He was the winner of Sahitya Akademi Award in 1975 but he returned the award as a sign of
protest. He became the first Kashmiri to return the literary award as a sign of protest in the
valley.
Major works: “Chinar Rang”, “Kashmir, The Burning of a Paradise”, “Iqbal aur Tehreek-e-
Azadi-e-Kashmir”, “Fikr-e-Khayal”, etc.
SPORTS
95. The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has appointed former Sri Lankan Cricket Captain Kumar
Chokshanada Sangakkara as the new Chair of MCC’s World Cricket Committee (WCC). He
is the current Director of Cricket of the Rajasthan Royals and the Head Coach of their IPL
team.

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He will succeed former England captain Mike Gatting, who has held the post since 2017.
Earlier, he served as the President of the MCC from 2019-21.
Former England Cricketer Mark Charles Jefford Nicholas will serve as the new President of
MCC.
World Cricket Committee (WCC):

WCC was established by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in April 2006. It is an
independent body comprised of current and former international cricketers and umpires
from across the globe. It meets twice yearly to discuss the prevalent issues in the game. It
acts as a complementary body to ICC and its constituent nations.
96. A 17-year-old Grandmaster Raunak Sadhwani (Nagpur, Maharashtra) has won the FIDE
World Junior Rapid Chess Championship 2023 in the open section held in Sardinia, Italy.
• He scored 8.5 over 11 rounds to win the Championship ahead of Arseniy Nesterov of
Russia, who scored 8.
• He is the ninth youngest player in history and the fourth youngest Indian to be awarded
the title.
• It is noteworthy that Raunak Sadhwani became a grandmaster at the age of 13.
In the girl section, Govhar Beydullayeva of Azerbaijan has won the FIDE World Junior Rapid
Chess Championship 2023 with a score of 9.
97. Puma India has signed Indian cricket fast bowler Mohammed Shami as its brand
ambassador. He will endorse Puma's footwear, apparel, and accessories through various
activities and campaigns.
Puma has also created a new bowling spike with a mid-sole designed to support fast bowlers.
Puma has already onboarded Virat Kohli, Usain Bolt, Neymar Jr, Sunil Chhetri, MC Mary Kom,
Harmanpreet Kaur, Harleen Deol, and Avani Lekhara as its brand ambassadors.
98. Five sports are included in the 2028 Los Angeles Games after gaining the approval of the
International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Each host city, under IOC rules, can request the inclusion of several sports for their edition of
the Games.
Baseball/ softball, cricket, flag football, lacrosse and squash have been officially included
as additional sports on the programme for the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028.
Flag football and squash will be making their Olympic debut in Los Angeles 2028, while,
baseball and softball, cricket and lacrosse will make a comeback to the event.
Cricket has been played in the Olympics only once before, in Paris in 1900, when England
defeated France.
Lacrosse was included on the programme at St Louis 1904 and London 1908.

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IMPORTANT DAYS
99. The Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the organization under the Ministry of Power,
Government of India, which provides technical and policy support to the government and to
all other stakeholders in the power sector, has observed its 50th Foundation Day on October
15, 2023.
On the occasion, the union Power minister R.K. Singh has released a compendium compiled
by Central Electricity Authority, on Electricity Rules notified by Ministry of Power under
Electricity Act, 2003.
Central Electricity Authority (CEA):
CEA is a Statutory Body constituted under erstwhile Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 (replaced by
Electricity Act, 2003).
Composition: Not more than fourteen Members (including its Chairperson) of whom not
more than eight shall be full-time Members to be appointed by Central Government.
Headquarters: New Delhi
Chairman: Ghanshyam Prasad
100. National Security Guard (NSG) annually celebrate its Raising Day on 16th October to mark
the establishment of NSG (also known as Black Cats) on 16th October 1984.
The year 2023 marks the observance of 39th Raising Day of National Security Guard (NSG).
National Security Guard (NSG):
The National Security Guard (NSG) is a counter-terrorism unit of India under the Ministry of
Home Affairs. It was founded on 16 October 1984, following Operation Blue Star, for
combating terrorist activities and protect states against internal disturbances. It was formally
established through under the National Security Guard Act, 1986.
• Headquarters: New Delhi
101. World Food Day is observed annually on 16th October to highlight the millions of people
worldwide who cannot afford a healthy diet and the need for regular access to nutritious
food. The day is observed to commemorate the date of the founding of the United Nations
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 1945. The day was first observed in 1981.
Theme 2023: ‘Water is life, water is food. Leave no one behind’
102. International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is observed annually on 17th October
to spread awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and destitution around the world,
particularly in developing countries.

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The year 2023 marks the 31st anniversary of the declaration by the United Nations General
Assembly, in its resolution 47/196 of 22 December 1992, to observe 17 October as the
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. The day was first observed in 1987.
Theme 2023: “Decent Work and Social Protection: Putting dignity in practice for all”
103. World Osteoporosis Day is observed annually on 20th October to create and raise global
awareness of the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and metabolic bone
disease. The day is organized by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF). The day
was first observed in 1996.
Theme 2023: "Build Better Bones"
104. National Police Commemoration Day, also known as Police Martyrs Day, is observed
annually on 21st October to remember and honour the brave policemen who have laid down
their lives in the line of duty.
The day also commemorates the day in 1959, when twenty Indian soldiers were attacked by
Chinese troops in the Hot Springs area of Ladakh, in which ten Indian policemen lost their
lives and seven were imprisoned.
105. International Stuttering Awareness Day is observed annually on 22nd October to create
and raise public awareness of the millions of people who have a speech disorder of stuttering
or stammering. The day was first observed in 1998.
Stuttering is a communication disorder which involves disruptions or disfluencies in a

person’s speech.
Theme 2023: “One Size Does NOT Fit All”
Important Day Date/Month Theme for 2023 Remark
World Food Day 16th October Water is life, water The day was first
is food. Leave no observed in 1981.
one behind
International Day for the 17th October Decent Work and
Eradication of Poverty Social Protection:
Putting dignity in
practice for all
World Trauma Day 17th October The day was created
in New Delhi in
2011.

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Global Dignity Day Third
Wednesday
of October
(18th October
2023)
Bone & Joint Action 12 to 20th
th
Week October
World Osteoporosis Day 20th October Build Better Bones
International Chefs Day 20th October
World Statistics Day 20th October
National Solidarity Day 20th October
National Police 21st October
Commemoration Day
Global Iodine Deficiency 21st October
Disorders Prevention
Day
International Stuttering 22nd October One Size Does NOT
Awareness Day Fit All

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Weekly Current Affairs October 2023 Week - 03

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G20 (Group of Twenty):

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Other Cabinet approval:

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River Jalangi in Krishnanagar Municipal Town of West Bengal.

by creating a 15 KLD capacity Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP).

• Another FSTP of 50 KLD is approved at a total cost of Rs.12.65 crore in Bahadrabad,

The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying has submitted a self-declaration of

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holders' licenses has been extended from 5 years to 10 years.

the government's jurisdiction from 5 kilometers to 5 nautical miles around an

regulations with the evolving needs of the aviation sector.

• The amendment has introduced flexibility in recency and competency requirements

and skill assessments.

S. No. Crops MSP RMS

• The IOC's 86th session was held in New Delhi in 1983.

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Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSO):

• The dashboard presents state-wise projections, in a first-of-its-kind approach.

benefits of EV ownership, including potential savings on upfront costs, operating and

maintenance costs, etc.

value chains of the EV ecosystem.

• The dashboard presents a comprehensive overview of charging infrastructure covering

both charging stations and points across the country.

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due to accelerated EV adoption.

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To mark 50 years of renaming the government of Karnataka decided to hold year-long

Note: Karnataka observes 1st November as Karnataka Rajyothsava Day.

This is the initiative of Amritsar Police.

LAccMI was announced in the Odisha State budget 2023-24.

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NIMSR is the first Medical College in Nagaland after 60 years of statehood.

Robotic Process Automation (RPA):

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also addressed the event.

Nagapattinam and KKS in around 3.5 hours, depending on sea conditions.

• The vessel is operated by the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI).

Mission Goals of Psyche:

differentiated body, which otherwise could not be seen.

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REPORTS & INDICES

This growth will be driven by power, petrochemical and fertiliser sectors.

(about 60% of the World’s GDP), food security, and sustainability.

economic benefits amounting to over USD 7 trillion annually.

USD 50 trillion annually.

have seen an average 83% decline.

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report refers to it as water blindness.

primary threat to rivers and floodplains.

GOVERNMENT SCHEMES & PROGRAMMES