NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. PM
Modi launched Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Urvarak Pariyojana: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan
Urvarak Pariyojana-One Nation One Fertiliser. Under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya
Jan Urvarak Pariyojana, companies must market all subsidized fertilizers under
a single brand, ‘Bharat’.
Prime Minister
Narendra Modi launched the single brand under the scheme during the two-day
event PM Kisan Samman Sammelan 2022. The launch event was felicitated by Union
Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Chemicals & Fertilizers
Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. The event was also joined by more than one crore
farmers who joined virtually.
About One
Nation One Fertiliser: The One Nation One
Fertiliser aims to give farmers quality crop nutrients at low costs under the
‘One Nation, One Fertiliser’. The farmers will be introduced to nano urea to
ease the farming process. Only one nano urea bottle can replace a sackful of
urea. The scheme is introduced to prevent the Criss-cross movement of
Fertilisers brand reduce high freight subsidies. All subsidized soil nutrients
including urea, di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), Muriate of Postas (MoP), and NPK
will be marketed under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Urvarak Pariyojana
scheme and single brand ‘Bharat.
2. $500
Million Accelerator Program to Strengthen Agri Startups to be launched by
Centre: Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar
announced that the central government will launch a Rs 500 crore accelerator
programme to support the productive ideas of agro businesses. On the second day
of the PM Kisan Samman Sammelan, Tomar made numerous significant announcements
regarding big policy efforts for agriculture entrepreneurs.
Key
Points:
a) Narendra Singh Tomar stated that an executive committee made up of
relevant organisations.
b) This will include the Department of Agriculture Research and Education
(DARE), DPIIT, agricultural incubators and knowledge partners, agricultural
universities, research institutes, top investors, and other stakeholders would
be established under the chairmanship of the agriculture secretary.
c) Additionally, a webpage will be established to compile a database of all
farm startups and track their progress.
3. Indian
Railways Announces the Closure of COFMOW: The
Ministry of Railways announced the closure of the Central Organisation for
Modernization of Workshops (COFMOW), New Delhi. It will come in effect from 1st
December 2022. Railway Board confirmed the winding up of the four-decade old
organization that contributed significantly towards the modernization of the
workshop across the railway networks, with the recommendations of the Principal
Economic Advisor, and Ministry of Finance. Key Points:
a) COFMOW was barred from floating or opening of tenders with the immediate
effect of closure.
b) All the sanctioned works against which tender have not been finalised.
c) The workers will be transferred to the respective Zonal Railways or
Production Unit.
d) All non-gazetted posts would be surrendered and the staff
released/repatriated/re-deployed somewhere else.
e) The infrastructure and buildings of the organization will be handed over
to the Railway Board by 30th November 2022.
4. Google
partners with Assam Government to power digitalled learning: In order to help and expedite the Assam government’s objective to
foster digital growth and development in the State, Google inked a Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU). As part of this new initiative, Google will work with
the Assam Government’s Skill, Employment & Entrepreneurship Department
(SEED) to strengthen school digitization efforts with digital tools and
solutions to support teaching and learning, as well as to promote the fundamentals
of online safety and digital citizenship to schoolchildren through the “Be
Internet Awesome” programme. Along with providing scholarships, Google will
work with the Assam Skill Development Mission to offer Google Career
Certificates to young people in Assam (ASDM). Key Points:
a) Using the collaborative technologies of Google for Education, provide
digital education to public schools.
b) With teacher preparation and certification, Google for Education will
support digital learning in schools all over Assam and work with the State to
digitise education.
c) All teachers and students in the State will have access to Google
Workspace for Education – Fundamentals, the company’s digital learning
platform.
d) Primary school kids can safely and independently acquire and develop
their reading abilities with the help of Google’s “Read Along” programme.
5.
Freedom House: India’s internet freedom improves after 4 years downturn: Following initiatives to close the digital divide in the nation,
India’s internet freedom score increased by two points to 51 in the overall
ranking, according to the US government-funded NGO Freedom House. Reduced
frequency and intensity of nationwide internet outages also contributed to the
score improvement. In terms of internet freedom, India scored 49 in 2021. Key
points:
a) The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media
Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, among other laws allowing the government to censor
online content, have reportedly been challenged in court, leading to restrictions
being placed on some of the government’s powers.
b) The US government-funded NGO discovered that internet freedom had
deteriorated worldwide for the 12th year in a row, with Russia, Myanmar, Sudan,
and Libya experiencing the biggest declines.
c) According to the research, China had the worst internet freedom
conditions in the world for the eighth year in a row, while internet freedom in
the United States somewhat improved for the first time in six years.
6.
Ayodhya Deepotsav to light over 15 lakh diyas, to make World Record: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present during the sixth Deepotsav in
Ayodhya. He carried out a ceremonial coronation of the Lord and inspected the
Ram temple’s building. The big “Deepotsav” celebrations began when the PM
attended the “aarti” on the banks of the Saryu at approximately 6.30 p.m. Over
15 lakh diyas would be lit on the event, breaking its own previous world
record. Ayodhya set a new Guinness World Record for burning the most earthen
lamps, 15.76 lakh, on the banks of the Saryu.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Indus
Waters Treaty: World Bank Appoints Chairman of Court of Arbitration: The World Bank has appointed a “neutral expert” and a chairman of the
Court of Arbitration regarding the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric power
plants, in view of disagreements and differences between India and Pakistan
over the 1960 Indus Water Treaty. Announcing the appointments, the World Bank
said that it is confident that the highly qualified experts appointed as Neutral
Expert and as members of the Court of Arbitration will engage in fair and
careful consideration of their jurisdictional mandate, as they are empowered to
do by the Treaty.
The
Appointees: Michel Lino has been appointed as the Neutral
Expert and Sean Murphy has been appointed as Chairman of the Court of
Arbitration. They will carry out their duties in their individual capacity as
subject matter experts and independently of any other appointments they may
currently hold, the World Bank said in a statement.
2. One
Health Joint Plan of Action: WHO, UNEP, and FAO lay a plan: The One Health Joint Plan of Action would develop a framework and
integrate systems and capability to enable improved collaborative prevention,
prediction, detection, and response to health hazards. This will support
sustainable development while enhancing the health of people, animals, plants,
and the environment. Key Points:
a) A sustainable balance and optimization of the health of people, animals,
plants, and ecosystems are the goals of the comprehensive, unified approach
known as “One Health.”
b) It is the main strategy for solving the numerous health issues that our
civilization is currently confronting, including ecosystem degradation,
problems with the food system, infectious diseases, and antimicrobial
resistance (AMR).
c) The One Health Joint Plan of Action, which was created through a
participatory process, offers a series of initiatives that are meant to improve
coordination, cooperation, communication, and capacity building.
d) These will be equally relevant to all industries involved in solving
health issues.
e) The strategy, which is applicable from 2022 to 2026, aims to lessen the
health issues at the international, regional, and national levels.
3. United
Nations Day: 24th October: United Nations Day, on 24
October, marks the anniversary of the entry into force in 1945 of the UN
Charter. With the ratification of this founding document by the majority of its
signatories, including the five permanent members of the Security Council, the
United Nations officially came into being. In 1945, 50 governments gathered to
draft the UN Charter. They have struggled and accomplished great feats to
uphold peace, protect human rights, and play a key role in bringing
international justice.
The United
Nations Day commemorates the signing of that charter. According to their
official website, the United Nations is “One place where the world’s nations
can gather together, discuss common problems, and find shared solutions.” The
United Nations plays a crucial role in establishing peace between warring
nations and promoting the development of democratic institutions. They have
provided economic support and helped in social development, as well as been
instrumental in protecting human rights.The United Nations Day is a celebration
of these efforts and a day to raise awareness towards the issues still
impacting millions of people around the globe.
Note: United
Nations Headquarters in New York, USA; Secretary-General of the United Nations:
Antonio Guterres
4. World
Development Information Day: 24th October: Every
year the United Nations marks October 24 as World Development Information Day.
This day is observed to create awareness towards the problems surrounding
development in different nations and how to overcome them. The United Nations
(UN) believes that such information and communications technologies also have
the potential to provide solutions to various development challenges and can
also foster various crucial goals, especially in developing countries.
World Development
Information Day History: It was in 1972 when the
United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) established the World Development
Information Day in order to draw the attention of the world toward development
problems and also to strengthen international cooperation. Notably, the date
also coincides with United Nations Day which also falls on 24 October.
5. World
Polio Day: 24th October: World Polio Day 2022 is
observed every year on October 24 to raise awareness about the polio
vaccination and eradication of polio from every corner of the world. The day is
observed to commemorate the progress made by the world towards polio
eradication. The day to raise awareness of the importance of polio vaccination
to protect every child from this devastating disease, and to celebrate the many
parents, professionals and volunteers whose contributions make polio
eradication achievable. This year, the overarching theme of World Polio Day is
“World Polio Day 2022 and Beyond: A healthier future for mothers and children”.
The theme urges the world to acknowledge the progress made in the battle to
eradicate polio in children and the work to provide a healthier future for
mothers.
World
Polio Day History: World Polio Day was established in 1985 by Rotary
International to commemorate the birth of Jonas Salk, who was the lead medical
researcher of the team that developed a vaccine against polio. He developed the
inactivated poliovirus vaccine, which first came into use in 1955. This was
further developed as the oral polio vaccine by Albert Sabin, which came into
use in 1961. Today, the polio vaccines are recommended all over the world,
particularly for children under the age of five, who are the most vulnerable to
the infection.
Note: WHO Head:
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus; WHO Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland; WHO
Founded: 7 April 1948.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1. Magnus
Carlsen wins Meltwater Champions Chess Tour 2022: Magnus Carlsen claimed the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour 2022 title
with a tournament defeating Arjun Erigaisi in the quarter-finals of the 8th and
penultimate event of the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour with a convincing
2.5-1.5 result, Carlsen secured the title of the tour champion and a $50.000
prize on top of his overall winnings (so far) of $192.000. The 31-year-old had
to work in the opening game of his quarter-final match as Erigaisi played some
of his best chess against the champ to go three pawns up and set up a seemingly
easy win.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. LIC
Launched New ‘Dhan Varsha’ Plan: Life Insurance
Company (LIC) has launched the ‘LIC Dhan Varsha’ scheme. The ‘LIC Dhan Varsha
scheme is a non-linked, non-participating, individual, savings life insurance
plan which offers a combination of protection and savings. The savings
insurance plan provides financial support for the family in case of unfortunate
death of the life assured during the policy terms. Key Points:
a) LIC Dhan Varsha scheme provides a guaranteed amount on the date of
maturity for the surviving life assured.
b) The death benefits are payable on the death of the life assured during
the policy term after the date of commencement of risk.
c) On the life-assured surviving date of maturity of the savings insurance
plan, a basic sum assured along with accrued guaranteed additions will be payable.
d) The guaranteed additions will occur at the end of each policy year
throughout the policy term and shall depend on the option chosen.
2.
Deependra Singh Rathore named as Interim CEO of Paytm Payments Bank: Paytm Payments Bank has appointed Deependra Singh Rathore as the interim
Chief Executive Officer (CEO), in addition to his role as Chief Product &
Technology Officer. CEO Satish Gupta is retiring this month. The bank will
announce the new full-time CEO after receiving regulatory approvals. The bank
has also appointed Sunil Chander Sharma, a former IRS officer as Chief
Operating Officer (COO). As the COO, he would oversee the functions of customer
support, retail operations, legal and Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA) and Human
Resources and Administration.
About the
Paytm Payments Bank: Paytm Payments Bank (PPBL) is an Indian payments
bank, founded in 2015 and headquartered in Noida. In the same year, it received
the license to run a payments bank from the Reserve Bank of India and was
launched in November 2017. In 2021, the bank received a scheduled bank status
from the RBI.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1. CASHe
tie-up with IRCTC to launch ‘travel now pay later’ facility: AI-driven financial wellness platform, CASHe, announced that it has
partnered with the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), to
provide a “travel now pay later” (TNPL) payment option on its travel app, IRCTC
Rail Connect. This will enable travellers of Indian Railways to book their rail
tickets instantly and pay for it later in pocket-friendly EMIs, ranging from
three to six months. With CASHe’s payment option, booking and paying for rail
tickets on the IRCTC travel app will now be easier and hassle-free for millions
of Indian Railway passengers.
Benefits
of the partnership:
a) The EMI payment option will be available on the IRCTC travel app’s
checkout page for passengers booking their reserved and tatkal tickets. CASHe’s
TNPL EMI payment option offers a seamless user experience by automatically
qualifying all users to avail the TNPL facility without any documentation.
b) The IRCTC travel app has over 90 million downloads and powers over 1.5
million railway ticket bookings per day. This partnership will also
tremendously aid CASHe to reach out to the millions of IRCTC’s customers and
provide them with a never-before and convenient option to travel now and pay
for their rail tickets later in easy EMIs.
c) The travel now and pay later as the segment has seen remarkable growth
and the message from the travellers is clear – they want the choice to pay for
their trips in instalments. With CASHe’s travel now pay later, we will
significantly enhance the payment convenience and flexibility for IRCTC’s
customers at checkout, thereby improving customer experience.”
2. Atanu
Chakraborty appointed as new Chairman of Yubi: Atanu Chakraborty has been appointed as the Independent Chairman of the
Yubi board, as told by the company itself. In addition, Atanu Chakraborty
serves as HDFC Bank’s board chairman at the moment. Atanu Chakraborty served as
the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and a member of the Central
Board of Directors of the Reserve Bank of India, according to a press release
from the Chennai-based debt marketplace.
DEFENCE
1. Indian, US Militaries Conduct
‘Tiger Triumph’ Exercise: The Indian and US militaries carried out a three-day
joint humanitarian assistance exercise in Vishakhapatnam in line with the
growing strategic cooperation between the two countries. The Tiger Triumph
exercise was the second collaboration between the Indian and US Militaries to
coordinate disaster relief in the region. Key Points:
a)
The
first exercise took place over the course of nine days in November 2019 and
featured more than 500 US Marines and sailors. The first exercise included 1200
Indian sailors, soldiers, and Airmen.
b)
This
year, the military exercise involved fifty combined participants, and it
focused on staff planning, with an emphasis on processes for streamlining
diplomatic, operational, and logistical coordination.
c)
Tiger
Triumph marked the third time in 2022 that Indian and US militaries have worked
together in Vishakhapatnam.
2. Nuclear capable Agni Prime
missile successfully tested by India: The Agni Prime New Generation Ballistic
Missile was successfully tested by India on October 21 off the coast of Odisha.
Around 9.45 this morning, a test launch of the ballistic missile took place.
The missile successfully completed the test, covering its full range, and all
of its test goals were achieved.
This was the missile Agni Prime’s third
straight successful flight test. This test has demonstrated the system’s
accuracy and dependability. Agni Prime underwent its first test on June 28,
2021, and it underwent its second test on December 18, 2021.
About Agni Prime missile:
a)
The
Agni Prime, also known as “Agni-P,” is a two-stage canisterized missile from
the Agni class that is nuclear-capable and has a maximum range of 2,000
kilometres.
b)
The
Agni Prime missile has updated guidance and propulsion technologies and weighs
50% less than the Agni 3 missile.
c)
Because
it is canisterized, it may be stored for longer periods of time, launched from
a train or a road, and transported in accordance with operational needs.
d) The “Agni Prime” test’s success highlights India’s efforts to have a self-sufficient defence industry.
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