Daily GK Update- 10th Oct, 2023

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. National Post Day is observed on 10th October 2023: Indian Postal Day is celebrated on 10th October every year in India. It is an extended celebration of World Post Day, which is observed on 9th October every year.  Aim: To remember the service of the India Post, which is the most widely functioning government postal service in the world.  It is also celebrated to honor the pivotal role of the national postal service in our lives. India Post was first established in 1854 by Lord Dalhousie.

 

2. Navy hosts Annual Joint HADR Exercise 'Chakravat' 2023: The Annual Joint HADR Exercise (AJHE) is an outcome of Hon’ble PM’s directive promulgated during Combined Commanders’ Conference 2015.  The exercise has been conducted by Indian Army, Indian Navy (IN) and Indian Air Force (IAF) in rotation since 2016.  It is being hosted by the Indian Navy at Goa from 09 to 11 Oct 23. The 2023 edition would synergise efforts at the national level as well as witness participation from eight countries of the Indian Ocean Region.

 

3. Country’s Oldest Think Tank USI To Hold Indian Military Heritage Festival: The country’s oldest think tank, the United Service Institution of India (USI), is organizing the first Indian Military Heritage Festival (IMHF) to address the gap in the “national discourse and cultural calendar.” Aim: To enhance our understanding of the country’s rich military heritage and traditions; contemporary security and strategy concerns; and the push to achieve self-reliance in military capability. It is scheduled to be held on October 21 and 22.

 

4. PM Modi launched Rs 5000 cr projects in Rajasthan: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched multiple projects worth ₹5,000 crore in Rajasthan and asserted that they will lead to further development of the state. Modi laid the foundation stone and inaugurated multiple development projects in sectors like road, rail, aviation, health and higher education. The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of various projects, including a 350-bedded trauma centre and critical care hospital block at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, and seven critical care blocks under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) to be developed across the state. The centre at the AIIMS will be developed at a cost of more than ₹350 crore The facility will bring a holistic approach in the management of trauma and emergency cases by providing multidisciplinary and comprehensive care to patients while critical care blocks across Rajasthan will augment district-level critical care infrastructure. Modi also laid the foundation stone for the development of a state-of-the-art new terminal building at the Jodhpur airport costing Rs 480 crore and inaugurated the IIT Jodhpur campus as well.

 

5. Hyderabad’s new solar-covered cycle track illuminates the city: Hyderabad has inaugurated a 23-km long cycle track with a solar roof, much on the lines of the Daejeon and Sejong bike highways in South Korea, making it India’s first solar-covered cycle track. Named Healthway, it has two lines. The pink line stretches from Nanakramguda to Telangana State Police Academy (TSPA) spanning 8.5 km while the blue line stretches from Narsinghi hub to Kollur spanning 14.5 km. The panels have the potential to generate 16MW of electricity, equivalent to powering 32,000 streetlights or illuminating 800 kilometers of city streets. 16 MW solar power generating track is the second in the world after South Korea’s solar rooftop-covered track. Similar ones are now under construction in Dubai and Switzerland.

 

6. Nokia launches first-of-its-kind 6G Lab in Bengaluru: Nokia has launched a first-of-its-kind 6G Lab in Bengaluru to contribute to the ‘Bharat 6G Vision. The lab is expected to accelerate the development of fundamental technologies and innovative use cases underpinned by 6G technology that will address the future needs of both industry and society. The lab, which will focus research areas around foundational 6G technologies like Network as a Sensor, and Network Exposure and Automation, will function as a platform for collaboration for industry stakeholders and facilitate the testing of innovative solutions while establishing their potential for commercialization.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. North America's first Gandhi Museum opens in Houston: The first free-standing Gandhi Museum in North America, dedicated to the life and legacy of Mahatma Gandhi is open to the public in the US city of Houston ,Texas. Museum in the United States, dedicated to Gandhi, to preserve and promote his ever-lasting legacy of nonviolent conflict resolution. The outer walls of the semi-circle-shaped museum depict various peace activists including Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Betty Williams, and more.

 

2. World Mental Health Day is observed on 10th October 2023: World Mental Health Day is observed on October 10 every year.  Aim: To create awareness about mental illness and to start a discussion on mental health issues like borderline personality disorder, depression, anxiety, etc.  The theme for World Mental Health Day 2023 “Mental health is a universal human right" provides an opportunity for individuals and communities to come together to deal with mental health issues.

 

3. India, Tanzania sign MoUs in maritime sector, Navy to share shipping info: India and Tanzania signed multiple MoUs ranging in various sectors including digital transformation, maritime sector and sports aiming to enhance cooperation between the two nations. The Six MoU was signed in the field of:

Sports.

·       Maritime Industry.

·       Cultural Exchange.

·       Setting up an Industrial Park in Tanzania.

·       Sharing successful digital solutions implemented at population scale for digital transformation.

·       sharing White Shipping Information.

 

4. Jitendra Singh addressed the 10th India-Sweden Innovation Day: India and Sweden recently celebrated the ’10th India Sweden Innovation Day’ with a special focus on the theme “Accelerating Green Growth” on October 9, 2023.  Aim: To effectively address pressing global challenges while remaining steadfast in the pursuit of immediate objectives on the path to achieving a net-zero future. The meeting was addressed by Union Minister of State Science Jitendra Singh called for strengthening India-Sweden collaboration.

 

5. Swaminarayan Akshardham, largest Hindu temple outside India inaugurated: The largest Hindu temple outside India, BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham, has been inaugurated in New Jersey, the United States  Swaminarayan Akshardham is spread over 185 acres. Mahant Swami Maharaj conducted the 'Pran Prathistha' ritual at the temple. Akshardham in New Jersey marks the third such cultural complex globally.  The first Akshardham was created in Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat, India, in 1992, followed by Akshardham in New Delhi in 2005

 

6. IAF Chief unveils new Ensign as the force marks 91st anniversary: Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari unveiled the new Indian Air Force ensign on its 91st anniversary at Bamrauli Air Force Station in Prayagraj of UP. The new feature is the addition of the Air Force crest in the top right corner of the ensign, towards the fly side. The occasion was also the first Air Force Day Parade to be commanded by a woman officer, Gp Capt. Shaliza Dhami, who is also the first woman officer of the IAF to command a combat unit.

 

7. India & Saudi Arabia tie up for electrical interconnections, green hydrogen: India and Saudi Arabia have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on securing a green hydrogen supply chain and cooperation on power grid interconnection. The MoU was signed in Riyadh by union minister for power and new & renewable energy RK Singh and the Saudi minister of energy Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud on the sidelines of the MENA Climate Week 2023. This MoU aims to establish a general framework for cooperation between the two countries in the field of electrical interconnection; exchange of electricity during peak times and emergencies; co-development of projects; co-production of green/clean hydrogen and renewable energy; and also establishing secure, reliable and resilient supply chains of materials used in green/clean hydrogen and the renewable energy sector. The MoU comes nearly a month after both countries signed an agreement for cooperation in energy, including in renewable energy, energy efficiency, grid interconnection, strategic petroleum reserves and energy security.

 

8. Israel launches operation ‘Iron Swords’ after Hamas’ surprise attack: The Israel Defence Forces has launched Operation ‘Iron Swords’ in response to Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel. IDF is striking Hamas targets in Gaza. “In response to the barrages of rockets launched by Hamas from Gaza at Israel, the IDF is currently striking Hamas targets in Gaza. The Israeli military is fighting Hamas terrorists in different locations in Southern Israel near the border with the Gaza Strip, including the towns of Kfar Aza, Sderot, Sufa, Nahal Oz, Magen, Be’eri and the Re’im military base. Operation Iron Swords is Israel’s retaliation for a surprise attack by Hamas, a Palestinian Islamist militant organization on Israel.

 

9. 10 October – World Mental Health Day: World Mental Health Day (WMHD) is observed every year on 10 October. The day is dedicated to creating awareness about mental health issues and their preventive measures. The theme of World Mental Health Day 2023 is “Mental health is a universal human right.” According to WHO, “The purpose of this theme is to improve knowledge, raise awareness and drive actions that promote and protect everyone’s mental health as a universal human right. The idea of celebrating a day for mental health awareness was first proposed in 1992 during the World Federation for Mental Health Congress in Cape Town, South Africa. After this proposal got approved, the first ever mental health day was celebrated on 10 October 1992.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Kenyan Kiptum breaks world record to win Chicago Marathon men’s title 2023: Kenya's Kelvin Kiptum blazed his way to smash the world record by clocking a stunning 2:00:35 to win the Chicago Marathon 2023 The timing by World Athletics wiped off 34 seconds from the previous world mark of 2:01:09 set by his fellow countryman Eliud Kipchoge. The Chicago course a World Athletics Platinum Label marathon produced fast times even in the women's field, with Dutch star Sifan Hassan winning the women's title at 2:13:44.

 

2. David Warner becomes fastest to 1000 ODI World Cup runs: David Warner became the fastest player is the history of the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup to complete 1000 runs during the match against India at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Warner completed the feat within 19 innings, averaging 62 with three half-centuries and four tons since first being a part of the tournament back in 2011. He was a part of the Australian World Cup-winning unit in 2015 too. The southpaw has a strike rate of 98.12 in ODI World Cups, breaking the joint record held by Sachin Tendulkar and Ab de Villiers in 20 innings. Warner has won the Player of the Match award four times in the ODI World Cup, with the highest score of 178 against Afghanistan at home.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI imposes monetary penalty on five co-operative banks: The Reserve Bank has imposed monetary penalties on five co-operative banks for deficiencies in regulatory compliance. 

These co-operative banks are: 

·       SBPP Co-operative Bank 

·       Sahayadri Sahakari Bank 

·       Rahimatpur Sahakari Bank 

·       Gadhinglaj Urban Co-operative Bank 

·       Kalyan Janata Sahakari Bank 

The RBI imposed a monetary penalty of ₹13 lakh on SBPP Co-operative Bank Limited for non-compliance with directions issued by RBI on ‘Interest Rate on Deposits’.

 

2. BI Foundation and Villgro Join Forces to Support Entrepreneurship: SBI Foundation, under its flagship program, SBIF LEAP (Livelihood and Entrepreneurship Accelerator Program) has announced the Innovators for Bharat initiative to provide support to high-impact incubators. This initiative will offer support to startups working to address pressing development challenges in the country. Under this initiative, the SBI Foundation has recently partnered with Villgro, a social enterprise incubator, for a new program, ‘Innovators For Bharat: Climate Resilient Agricultural Livelihoods’. The program, designed to provide incubation support to 15 high-potential startups, aims to create a significant impact on agricultural livelihoods, reduce agriculture’s climate footprint and enhance the resilience of smallholder farmers to climate change.

 

3. Yes Bank becomes first lender to offer ‘ONDC Network Gift Card’: Yes Bank has taken a significant leap forward in the digital commerce space by introducing the ONDC Network Gift Card. This move makes YES Bank the first bank in the country to issue such a card. In partnership with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), this initiative aims to transform the shopping experience for Indian consumers. The ONDC Network Gift Card is open for sponsorship and utilization by corporate and individual customers, enabling them to extend thoughtful gestures to their customers, employees, or for their loved ones. This card leverages the Rupay network and offers the flexibility to load up to Rs 10,000. The ONDC Network Gift Card is at the forefront of democratizing digital commerce. Unlike traditional gift cards that restrict usage to a specific brand or store, this concept empowers customers to utilize the gift card for purchasing products from any brand and any seller across a wide array of segments. This includes food, fashion, handicrafts, electronics, home essentials, health, and wellbeing. This groundbreaking approach eliminates the limitations that have traditionally been associated with gift cards and offers consumers unparalleled freedom of choice.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Claudia Goldin wins 2023 Nobel Prize in Economics for work on women’s labour market: The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the 2023 Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel to Claudia Goldin “for having advanced our understanding of women’s labour market outcomes.” Goldin is the 55th recipient of the prize and the third woman to receive the award since its inception in 1969. This year’s economic sciences laureate Claudia Goldin showed that female participation in the labor market did not follow an upward trend over a 200-year period, but instead formed a U-shaped curve.” Last year, Ben Bernanke, Douglas Diamond, and Philip Dybvig received the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences. Claudia Goldin, a professor at Harvard is only the third woman to ever be awarded the economics prize — with just two since it was first awarded in 1969 — Elinor Ostrom in 2009 and Esther Duflo in 2019.

Daily GK Update- 9th Oct, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Prime Minister to inaugurate 9th G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 9th G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit, P-20 in New Delhi on 13th October.  The main theme of the P20 this year is Parliament for One Earth, One Family, One Future.  The two-day P-20 Summit will be held at the newly constructed India International Convention and Expo Center, Yashobhoomi, in Dwarka. It aims at bringing a parliamentary dimension to global governance.

 

2. GIC Re appoints Ramaswamy N as Chairman and Managing Director: General Insurance Corporation of India appointed  Ramaswamy N as its new Chairman and Managing Director effective from October 1, 2023 He replaced Devesh Srivastava. Ramaswamy, a veteran in the insurance industry, has diverse experience of over three decades at GIC Re. He began his journey with GIC Re in 1988 as a direct recruit officer. Over the years, he managed a wide spectrum of non-life insurance classes, including Fire, Engineering, Miscellaneous, Motor.

 

3. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Declares Dolphin As State Aquatic Animal: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has declared the Gangetic Dolphin as the state aquatic animal. These dolphins are found in rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, Chambal, Ghaghra, Rapti, and Gerua.  The estimated population of Gangetic dolphins in Uttar Pradesh is estimated at around 2000. Teams of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and Forest Department have been recently counting dolphins with the help of GPS in Garh Ganga at Hapur district of Uttar Pradesh.

 

4. Rajnath Singh launched Navy’s updated indigenous programme Swavalamban 2.0: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has launched the Navy’s updated indigenous programme Swavalamban 2.0 in New Delhi. During the event, also released the fifth Positive Indigenisation list of 98 items at the event. It shows the major step in the Indigenisation process of the Armed forces. These 98 items in this list are a big step in the self-reliance of the Defence sector. He also launched 76 challenges for the industry under 10th Defence India Start-up Challenges & DISC 10 PRIME of Innovations for Defence.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India Re-elected as President of Asia-Pacific Institute: India has been elected president of the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) General Conference (GC) for the third successive term. AIBD, established in 1977 under the auspices of UNESCO, is a unique regional inter-governmental organization. India is one of the founding members of AIBD and Prasar Bharati, India’s public service broadcaster is the representative body of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Govt. of India at AIBD.

 

2. Nokia launches first-of-its-kind 6G Lab in Bengaluru: Nokia launches first-of-its-kind 6G Lab in Bengaluru in contributing to the ‘Bharat 6G Vision. The research areas will include foundational 6G technologies like Network as a Sensor, Network Exposure and Automation. Aim: To position India as a key global contributor to the design, development and implementation of 6G technology It is a platform for future collaboration for industry and academic stakeholders on 6G.

 

3. World Postal Day is celebrated on 9th October: World Post Day is celebrated each year on 9 October, the anniversary of the establishment of the Universal Postal Union in 1874 in the Swiss Capital, Bern. Theme for World Post Day 2023 is "Together for Trust: Collaborating for a safe and connected future." The Posts in many countries use the event to introduce or promote new postal products and services. Post offices play a crucial role in fostering cohesive, inclusive, connected communities.

 

4. Anirban Mukherjee appointed as Global CEO of PayU: Prosus-owned fintech major PayU India’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Anirban Mukherjee has been promoted to the role of global CEO of PayU. He is replacing Laurent Le Moal, who will step back from the operational management of the day-to-day business but will remain with Prosus and PayU in an advisory capacity. In his new role, Anirban will join the Prosus leadership team and report directly to Ervin Tu, Prosus and Naspers Interim CEO. He will be responsible for overall business operations of PayU. This comes just two months after Netherlands-based investment firm Prosus announced that the fintech arm PayU is selling a part of its business.

 

5. 9 October – World Post Day 2023: World Post Day is celebrated every year on October 9. The purpose of World Post Day is to bring awareness to the Post’s role in the everyday lives of people and businesses, as well as its contribution to global social and economic development. Theme 2023 – Together for trust: Collaborating for a safe and connected future The event was declared by the 1969 Universal Postal Congress in Tokyo as a means to mark the anniversary of the Universal Postal Union’s (UPU) creation in 1874. The Universal Postal Union (UPU) paved the way for efficient postal services and it became an agency of the United Nations in 1948. This day was first celebrated in Japan in 1969.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. India ranked at fourth place on scoreboard in Asian Games: India ranked at fourth place on the scoreboard in the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou. The Indian athletes finished their campaign by living up to the commitment of “Iss baar 100 paar" with a record haul of 107 medals comprised of 28 gold, 38 silver, and 41 bronze. 

Other Winners:

·       Ranked 1st scored by  People's Republic of China with 383 medals

·       Ranked 2nd scored by Japan with 188 medals

·       Ranked 3rd scored by  Republic of Korea with 190 medals

 

2. David Warner becomes fastest to 1000 ODI World Cup runs : David Warner became the fastest player in the history of the ICC Men's ODI World Cup to complete 1000 runs during the match against India in Chennai He completed the feat within 19 innings, averaging 62 with three half-centuries and four tons since first being a part of the tournament back in 2011 He was a part of the Australian World Cup-winning unit in 2015 He is one of the best white-ball batters of all time surpassin Sachin  and AB de Villiers' record of 20 innings

 

3. Ojas Deotale is Nagpur’s First Asian Games Gold Medalist: India’s first world champion in an individual archery event, Ojas Pravin Deotale, is now Nagpur’s first sportsperson to win an Asian Games medal after he created history by clinching a gold in the mixed team compound event at Hangzhou. The 21-year-old city boy paired up with Jyothi Vennam Surekha and surprised archery powerhouse South Korea to win the first archery gold for India in the 19th edition of the Games. In the gold-medal match of the mixed-team event, the Indian duo of Ojas and Jyothi defeated Korean duo of Chaewon So and Jaehoon Joo 159-158. Indian archer Ojas Deotale, hailing from Nagpur, clinched the gold medal in the men’s individual compound archery event.

 

4. Aditi Swami bags bronze in compound archery women’s individual event: India’s Aditi Swami has won the bronze medal in the women’s individual compound archery event at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Aditi, who is the reigning world champion, defeated Ratih Zilizati Fadhly of Indonesia 146-140 in the bronze medal playoff. The 17-year-old from Maharashtra had lost 146-149 to Jyothi Surekha Vennam, 10 years senior to her, in an all-Indian semifinal. This is Aditi’s second medal at her first-ever appearance at the continental event. The teenager, along with Jyothi and Parneet Kaur, defeated Chinese Taipei 230-229 to clinch the women’s team gold medal.

 

5. India won Asian Games cricket gold without having to bat: India was crowned Asian Games men’s cricket champions without needing to bat in an anti-climactic finish. India was declared winners of the final under an Asian Games-specific rule where the higher ranked team takes the honours if the match cannot be finished, in this case due to rain. Afghanistan made 112-5 under the floodlights in Hangzhou before the wet weather arrived after 18.2 overs. Despite the damp ending, it completed a golden double for India after they beat Sri Lanka by 19 runs to be crowned women’s champions last week. Twenty20 cricket has been played at the Asian Games twice before, at Guangzhou 2010 and Incheon 2014, with Bangladesh and then Sri Lanka crowned men’s winners. Afghanistan was runners-up both times, but India did not take part.

 

 

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Fintech unicorn slice merges with North East Small Finance Bank: Fintech credit and payments start-up Slice and Guwahati-based North East Small Finance Bank (NESFB) have announced a merger between the two entities. The banking regulator, the Reserve Bank of India has approved the deal and will see slice becoming an SFB, a first-of-its-kind development in the fintech and banking space. The Bengaluru-based slice was last valued at around $1.8 billion during its previous fundraising in 2022.

 

2. Indian Navy & SBI launches unique NAV-eCash card for online transactions: The Indian Navy and the State Bank of India launched ‘Nav-eCash’ card, a unique e-cash card that can work in both online and offline mode. The Indian Navy initiated its first step as an idea by one of thier officers, Captain Vasu Dheeraj, towards a cashless and digital Indian Navy in 2020  By developing a business model and proof of concept with a startup for offline transactions at the high seas based upon a dual chip card system.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Prof. Dr. Joyeeta Gupta receives Spinoza Prize for Climate Change: Indian-origin professor Dr Joyeeta Gupta has received the Spinoza Prize, the highest distinction in Dutch science for her work in the field of climate change at a ceremony in the Netherlands. The prize was presented to her by the Netherlands’ minister for Education, Science, and Culture, Robert Dijkgraaf at The Hague. The Dutch Research Council (NWO) prize is worth 1.5 million euros which Gupta intends to spend on scientific research and activities related to knowledge utilization. Joyeeta Gupta is a Dutch environmental scientist who is professor of Environment and Development in the Global South at the University of Amsterdam.

Daily GK Update- 8th Oct, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Indian Airforce Day 2023 is celebrated on 8th October: Indian Air Force Day is celebrated every year on 8th October and this year marks its 91st anniversary of this day.  The theme of 2023 is  'IAF - Airpower Beyond Boundaries'.  It is also the fourth largest airforce in all over the world after the United States, China and Russia.  It will be celebrated in the holiest place of the Hindu religion in Prayagraj. The legendary Russian origin MIG-21 jets Will take part in The Indian Air Force day parade for the last time.

 

2. Arjun Munda inaugurates National Tribal Festival ‘Aadi Mahotsav’: Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda inaugurated the 10-day-long tribal festival Aadi Mahotsav in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand.  It is being organized from 7th – 16th October 2023. Aim: To provide an opportunity to meet the artisans, learn about their way of life and get acquainted with the tribal culture It is a celebration of the contribution of our tribal ancestors, the culture of various unique tribal communities, their lifestyle and the tribals themselves

 

3. Three indigenous products from Arunachal Pradesh receive (GI) tag: Three indigenous products from Arunachal Pradesh  Yak Churpi, Khamti rice and Tangsa textile have been granted the prestigious Geographical Indication tag by the GI Registry About GI Tag Products: Yak Churpi: Churpi is a cheese product prepared from the milk of Arunachali yak Tangsa textile: Textile products of the Tangsa tribe of Changlang district are famous for their exotic designs and colors Khamti rice: It is a variety of sticky rice produced in Namsai district

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. World Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Days is celebrated on October 8^th: World Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day is celebrated on October 8th to explore and leverage the boundless possibilities of hydrogen as a source of green and sustainable energy.  Aim: To promote awareness and understanding of hydrogen as a clean and sustainable energy source, along with the versatile technology of fuel cells.  Objective: To acknowledge the potential of hydrogen and fuel cells in addressing the pressing challenges of climate change.

 

2. India and Saudi Arabia sign MoU in Electrical Interconnections: India and Saudi Arabia signed a MoU in Riyadh in the fields of Electrical Interconnections, Green / Clean Hydrogen, and Supply Chains.  Aim: To establish a general framework for cooperation between the two countries in the field of electrical interconnection. It was also decided between the two energy ministers that B2B Business Summits and regular B2B interactions between the two countries will be conducted to establish complete supply and value chains

 

3. PATA and India to jointly promote Travel for LiFE in Asia-Pacific region: Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has committed to work with India to expand the Travel for LiFE initiative across the Asia Pacific region. Ministry of Tourism will set up a PATA desk to strengthen engagement with PATA on Travel for LiFE and other areas of cooperation in tourism sector.  Travel for LiFE embodies the spirit of the Pro Planet People and functions on the basic principles of “Lifestyle of the planet, for the planet and by the planet”. 

 

4. NASA To Launch Psyche Mission To Study An Asteroid: The American space agency, NASA would send a high-tech spacecraft called Psyche to an asteroid of the same name, 16 Psyche.  It will be a first-of-its-kind mission to study a metal-rich asteroid,  Aim: To help scientists learn more about the formation of rocky bodies in our solar system. The launch of the mission will take place on Thursday (Oct 12) when NASA’s Psyche spacecraft will take off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida and travel 2.2 billion miles.

 

5. Europe's first fully private rocket launch takes place from Spain: Spain's company PLD Space launched the Miura-1 rocket marking Europe's first fully private rocket launch.  Miura-1, a recoverable rocket was launched from a site in southwest Spain.  The launch is being viewed as a boost to Europe's stalled space ambitions. The Miura-1 rocket has been named after a breed of fighting bull. The rocket is as tall as a three-storey building. It has a 100-kg (220-pound) cargo capacity.

 

6. 6 October – World Smile Day: World Smile Day is an annual celebration observed on the first Friday of October. This year it falls on October 6. World Smile Day aims to promote goodwill and positivity by smiling at others and performing acts of kindness while serving as a reminder of the power of a simple smile to brighten someone’s day and improve the world around us. Theme 2023 – Radiate Joy The first World Smile Day celebration was held in Worcester, MA in 1999 as a way to encourage people to do acts of kindness and spread happiness by simply smiling, and has continued each year since then.

 

7. 7 October – World Cotton Day: World Cotton Day is observed every year on October 7. The day’s celebrations promote fair trade and help developing nations engage in all aspects of the cotton industry to improve their economies. Theme 2023 – Making cotton fair and sustainable for all, from farm to fashion The first World Cotton Day was suggested by the World Trade Organization (WTO) on 7 October 2019, with support from Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Mali, known as the Cotton Four or C4 countries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Indian women Kabaddi team won gold in Asian Games 2023: The Indian women's kabaddi team won gold by defeating Chinese Taipei in the final at the 19th edition of the Asian Games in Hangzhou. 

Other Winners:

·       The Indian men's team also defeated Iran to bag another gold.

·       In badminton, Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy clinched a historic gold by winning the mixed doubles final.

·       The Indian men's cricket team was awarded gold against Afghanistan. 

·       In hockey, the Indian women's team defeated Japan and won a bronze medal

 

2. Indian men’s football team wins SAFF Under-19 Championship: In Football, India won the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Under-19 Championship after defeating Pakistan 3 0 in a dominating display in the finals at the Dashrath Rangasala Stadium in Kathmandu. Manglenthang Kipgen and Gwgwmsar Goyary scored for India. The first half ended goalless courtesy of an excellent defensive display by the Green Shirts but they could not keep up the same intensity throughout as India opened their account in the 64th minute. The game went in India’s favour as they were up by three goals.

 

3. Indian men’s hockey team Clinches Gold at Asian Games 2023: Indian men’s hockey team dished out a clinical performance to reclaim the Asian Games gold medal after a nine year wait as they thumped Japan 5-1 in the final in Hangzhou. India sealed their place in next year’s Paris Olympics courtesy of the win, claiming their fourth Asiad gold after 1966, 1998, and 2014. Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh scored twice in the final, converting two penalty corners after Manpreet Singh had given India the lead with a bullet reverse strike in the second quarter. India led 2-0 at half-time, and Amit Rohidas converted another penalty corner to triple India’s lead. This victory marks the Indian men’s hockey team’s fourth gold medal at the Asian Games, following triumphs in 1966, 1988, and 2014 editions.

 

4. Indian team wins gold in men’s 4x400m relay in Asian Games 2023: The Indian quartet won the gold medal in the men’s 4x400m relay at the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou. The team comprising of Amoj Jacob, Muhammed Anas Yahiya, Rajesh Ramesh and Muhammad Ajmal Variyathodi finished with a time of 3:01.58. While Qatar finished second, it was the Sri Lankans who took home a bronze after finishing third. India qualified for the finals by clocking the fastest time of 3:03.81 minutes in the heat 1 ahead of Qatar, Japan, and Iraq. India also holds the Area Record in the event achieved by the same quartet at the recently concluded Athletics World Champions in Belgium. The team clocked 2:59.05 minutes to qualify for the finals behind the eventual champion USA in that event.

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. ADB Approves $200 Million Loan to Strengthen Flood and Riverbank Erosion: The Asian Development Bank has approved a $200 million loan to strengthen flood and riverbank erosion risk management in Assam. The project builds on the success and lessons from the ADB-financed Assam Integrated Flood and Riverbank Erosion Risk Management Investment Program (2010–2020). Aim: To empower women through disaster-resilient economic activities, the project will benefit about 1 million people and increase crop production by over 50,000 hectares.

 

2. Ramaswamy N appointed as CMD of GIC Re: Ramaswamy N has been appointed as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re). This appointment follows the decision by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. Ramaswamy, a veteran in the insurance industry, has diverse experience of over three decades at GIC Re. He began his journey with GIC Re in 1988 as a direct recruit officer. Over the years, he managed a wide spectrum of non-life insurance classes, including Fire, Engineering, Miscellaneous, Motor, Liability, Aviation, Marine, and Agriculture.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Narges Mohammadi awarded Nobel Peace Prize 2023: The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2023 to Narges Mohammadi for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all. Her brave struggle has come with tremendous personal costs. Altogether, the regime has arrested her 13 times, convicted her five times, and sentenced her to a total of 31 years in prison and 154 lashes. In September 2022 a young Kurdish woman, Mahsa Jina Amini, was killed while in the custody of the Iranian morality police. Her killing triggered the largest political demonstrations against Iran’s theocratic regime since it came to power in 1979. Under the slogan “Woman – Life – Freedom”, hundreds of thousands of Iranians took part in peaceful protests against the authorities’ brutality and oppression of women. The regime cracked down hard on the protests: more than 500 demonstrators were killed. Thousands were injured, including many who were blinded by rubber bullets fired by the police. At least 20,000 people were arrested and held in regime custody.