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Current Affairs Study PDF – October 2023
Current Affairs for Competitive Exam
Table of Contents
NATIONAL AFFAIRS ...................................................................................................................................................... 7
CABINET APPROVALS ............................................................................................................................................... 7
PARLIAMENT ............................................................................................................................................................ 15
LAUNCHES & INAUGURATION ............................................................................................................................... 20
FESTIVAL................................................................................................................................................................... 39
OTHER NEWS............................................................................................................................................................ 40
STATE NEWS ................................................................................................................................................................. 51
GOVT SCHEMES ............................................................................................................................................................ 63
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS ......................................................................................................................................... 70
VISITS............................................................................................................................................................................. 74
INDIAN VISITS .......................................................................................................................................................... 74
FOREIGN VISITS ....................................................................................................................................................... 80
BANKING & FINANCE NEWS....................................................................................................................................... 84
BANKING NEWS ....................................................................................................................................................... 84
RBI IN NEWS ............................................................................................................................................................. 84
SEBI ............................................................................................................................................................................ 97
LOANS ISSUED BY BANKS....................................................................................................................................... 99
AGREEMENTS & MoUs SIGNED............................................................................................................................ 101
OTHER BANK NEWS .............................................................................................................................................. 109
FINANCE NEWS....................................................................................................................................................... 116
ECONOMY & BUSINESS NEWS.................................................................................................................................. 123
MoU’s & AGREEMENTS ............................................................................................................................................. 129
COMMITTEES & MEETINGS...................................................................................................................................... 141
SUMMITS, EVENTS & CONFERENCE........................................................................................................................ 150
INDEX ........................................................................................................................................................................... 160
RANKING ................................................................................................................................................................. 160
REPORTS ................................................................................................................................................................. 170
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS ..................................................................................................................................... 180
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS ........................................................................................................................ 208
ACQUISITION & MERGERS ....................................................................................................................................... 231

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ......................................................................................................................................... 237
DEFENCE...................................................................................................................................................................... 245
EXERCISE ................................................................................................................................................................. 245
TESTING .................................................................................................................................................................. 250
OTHER DEFENCE NEWS ........................................................................................................................................ 250
SPORTS ........................................................................................................................................................................ 253
OBITUARY ................................................................................................................................................................... 267
BOOKS & AUTHORS ................................................................................................................................................... 273
IMPORTANT DAYS ..................................................................................................................................................... 276
APPS & WEB PORTAL ............................................................................................................................................... 332
ENVIRONMENT........................................................................................................................................................... 339

NATIONAL AFFAIRS
CABINET APPROVALS
Cabinet Approval on 4th October 2023
On October 4th, 2023, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has given its
approval for multiple initiatives and they are as follows
Cabinet approves Revised Cost of completion of balance works of North Koel Reservoir Project in Bihar
& Jharkhand
i.In a recent development, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has granted its endorsement to a
proposal presented by the Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation.
• This proposal aims to finalize the remaining tasks for the North Koel Reservoir Project, with
an adjusted budget of Rs. 2,430.76 crore.
• The project also features a Right Main Canal (RMC) and Left Main Canal (LMC) originating from the
barrage.
About North Koel Reservoir Project
i.It is an inter-State major irrigation project with command area lying in the two States of Bihar and
Jharkhand.
ii.Upon the successful completion of the remaining tasks, this project is poised to offer additional annual
irrigation to a total of 42,301 hectares in the four drought-prone districts spanning Jharkhand and Bihar.
Cabinet approves setting up of Sammakka Sarakka Central Tribal University
i.Recently, the Union Cabinet has given its approval for introduction in Parliament, a Bill, namely, the Central
Universities (Amendment), Bill, 2023.
• It aims to amend the Central Universities Act, 2009 for setting up of Sammakka Sarakka Central
Tribal University at Mulugu District, Telangana.
ii.There would be provision of funds of Rs. 889.07 crore.
iii.The university would be named after Sammakka-Sarakka – a mother-daughter duo revered among the local
tribal community.
• The community also celebrates ‘Sammakka Sarakka Jathara’ , the most famous tribal festival.
About Central Universities Act, 2009
i.The act aims at establishing and chartering universities dedicated to both teaching and research within
different states, along with addressing related and incidental matters.
Cabinet approves Terms of Reference to Krishna Water Dispute Tribunal-II under Inter State River
Water Disputes (ISRWD) Act, 1956
i.Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved the issue of further Terms of Reference (ToR) to the
existing Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II (KWDT-II).
• It has been issued under section 5(1) of the ISRWD Act for its adjudication between the States of
Telangana and Andhra Pradesh (AP).
About Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II
i.It was constituted by the Central Government on April, 2004 on requests made by the party States under
Section 3 of the ISRWD Act, 1956.
About Inter-State Water Disputes Act ,1956
i.The Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956 empowers the Central government to set up an ad hoc tribunal for
the adjudication of a dispute between two or more states in relation to the waters of an inter-state river or river
valley.
Centre notifies establishment of National Turmeric Board
i.The Centre has notified the establishment of a National Turmeric Board.

ii.It is aimed at increasing awareness about turmeric and potentially developing new markets to bolster
exports.
About National Turmeric Board
i.The Center will appoint a chairperson to lead the Board.
ii.The Chairperson will work alongside members from various government entities, including:
• Ministry of AYUSH, Departments of Pharmaceuticals,
• Ministry Agriculture & Farmers Welfare,
• Ministry of Commerce & Industry, and
• Senior representatives from different states on a rotational basis.
iii.The Board will also encompass chosen national and state research institutions, representatives from both the
turmeric farming and export sectors, and a secretary designated by the Department of Commerce.
Recently related
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has approved the following proposals in
June 2023:
• Approved the third revival package for Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL)
• Approved the increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for all mandated Kharif Crops
• Approved the continuation of the ‘Exploration of Coal and Lignite scheme’
• Approved Metro Connectivity from HUDA City Centre to Cyber City in Gurugram
Cabinet Approval October 2023

In a significant development, the Union Cabinet, presided over by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi,
• Approved an amendment to the Second Schedule of the Mines and Minerals (Development and
Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act) for specifying royalty rates for three critical and strategic minerals:
Lithium, Niobium, and Rare Earth Elements (REEs).
• Approved an establishment of autonomous organization known as “Mera Yuva Bharat” (MY Bharat).
• Cabinet approves Memorandum of Understanding between India and France on cooperation in the field
of Digital Technologies.
• Cabinet approves an MoU between India and Papua New Guinea, Trinidad and Tobago for Digital
Transformation.
Cabinet approves royalty rates for mining of three critical and strategic minerals- Lithium, Niobium and
Rare Earth Elements (REEs)
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, approved an amendment to the Second
Schedule of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act) for specifying royalty
rates for three critical and strategic minerals: Lithium, Niobium, and Rare Earth Elements (REEs).
i.First-time Auction: The recent Union Cabinet approval paves the way for the first-time auction of blocks for
Lithium, Niobium, and REEs in India.
ii.Royalty SpecificationThe Ministry of Mines has also devised a method to calculate the Average Sale Price
(ASP) of these minerals for determining bid parameters.
iii.The MMDR Act’s Second Schedule outlines royalty rates for minerals. Item No.55 states that if rates for
minerals like Lithium, Niobium, and REE aren’t specified, the default royalty is 12% of Average Sale Price (ASP).
This rate is notably higher than other critical minerals and not in line with international competitiveness,
affecting India’s mineral industry.As a result, it has been decided to establish more reasonable royalty rates for
Lithium, Niobium, and REE, as below:
• Lithium: 3% of the London Metal Exchange (LME) price
• Niobium: 3% of the Average Sale Price (for both primary and secondary sources)
• REE: 1% of the Average Sale Price of Rare Earth Oxide
About MMDR Amendment Act, 2023: The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment
Act, 2023, became effective on August 17, 2023. This amendment removed six minerals, including (i) beryl and

beryllium, (ii) lithium, (iii) niobium, (iv) titanium, (v) tantallium, and (vi) zirconium. Lithium and Niobium,
from the list of atomic minerals, allowing private sector concessions through auctions.
• It also mandated the auctioning of mining leases for 24 critical and strategic minerals, as listed in Part D
of the First Schedule of the Act, including Lithium, Niobium, and REEs (excluding Uranium and
Thorium).
• The exploration licence issued for 29 minerals specified in the Seventh Schedule. These include gold,
silver, copper, cobalt, nickel, lead, potash, and rock phosphate.
• Validity of exploration licence: The exploration licence will be issued for five years. A licencee may
request for extension of up to two years by making an application to the state government.
• The government had in July amended the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act to
allow private sector entry in exploration and production of deep-seated and and critical minerals such as
lithium.
Significance of Critical Minerals
i.Critical minerals like Lithium and REEs have become crucial due to India’s dedication to energy transition and
achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
ii.Reducing Imports and Boosting Industry: Encouraging indigenous mining of these critical minerals is
expected to reduce imports and promote the establishment of related industries and infrastructure projects.
iii.Upcoming Auctions: The Central Government is preparing to launch the first tranche of auctions for critical
and strategic minerals, including Lithium, REE, Nickel, Platinum Group of Elements, Potash, Glauconite,
Phosphorite, Graphite, Molybdenum, and more in the near future.
iv.India has been exploring ways to secure supplies of lithium, a critical raw material used to make electric
vehicle batteries, and found its first lithium deposits in February 2023 in the federally controlled region
of Jammu & Kashmir’s Reasi. Niobium is also used in making electric vehicle battery cells.
v.So far, China accounts for 70% supplies of critical minerals globally. India has been exploring ways to secure
lithium supplies.
vi.India is expected to auction the newly found lithium blocks, with estimated reserves of 5.9 million tonnes,
later this 2023.
Cabinet approves establishment of an autonomous body Mera Yuva Bharat
On October 11, 2023, the Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, gave its approval for the
creation of an autonomous organization known as “Mera Yuva Bharat” (MY Bharat). In response to the
changing landscape of rapid communication, social media, digital opportunities, and emerging technologies, the
government is creating an autonomous entity called ‘Mera Yuva Bharat’ (MY Bharat), guided by a ‘whole of
government approach’ to engage and empower the youth.
• The Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) will be launched on 31st October, 2023 on National Unity Day.This
day also remarks the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
• The autonomous body will use technology to enable equitable youth development, contributing to the
growth of a ‘Vikshit Bharat’ across government domains.
Objective:
• MY Bharat aims to become a comprehensive government platform for youth development, with young
people acting as ‘Yuva Setu’ connecting the government and citizens, utilizing their energy for nation-
building.
• The government’s technology-driven platform empowers youth to contribute to India’s development,
aligning with the nation’s goal of becoming a developed country by 2047.
Key Details:
i.MY Bharat, as an autonomous entity, will primarily cater to young individuals aged 15-29, aligning with the
definition of ‘Youth’ in the National Youth Policy. For programs specifically designed for adolescents, the age
group of beneficiaries will be 10-19 years. There are nearly 40 crore youth in the country who are in the age
group of 15-19 years.

ii.Recently, a web portal of the Department of Youth Affairs, yuva.gov.in, hosted a nation-wide programme
‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ in which 50 million young people participated and helped to plant 23 million saplings to
create Amrit Vatikas across the country.
iii.“Mera Yuva Bharat” initiative is supported by a technology platform, which will assist in expanding the
Department of Youth Affairs’ efforts to engage with young people in India.
Cabinet approves Memorandum of Understanding between India and France on cooperation in the field
of Digital Technologies
Union Cabinet has granted approval for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Economy,
Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty of the French Republic. This landmark agreement is set to foster
deeper collaboration in the realm of Digital Technologies.
Key Highlights: The primary objective of this MoU is to facilitate closer cooperation and the exchange of vital
information related to digital technologies.
Significant Impact: This strategic alliance is poised to bolster both Government-to-Government (G2G) and
Business-to-Business (B2B) cooperation within the digital technology sector.
Implementation and Timeline: The collaborative efforts outlined in this MoU will be in effect for a period of
five (5) years.
Background:
India and France share a longstanding strategic partnership in the Indo-European region. This collaboration is
rooted in the 2019 Indo-French Roadmap on Cybersecurity and Digital Technology. India and France are
actively working together in cutting-edge digital fields like supercomputing, cloud computing, artificial
intelligence, and quantum technologies, in line with the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI).
Cabinet approves an MoU between India and Papua New Guinea, Trinidad and Tobago for Digital
Transformation
Union Cabinet of India has approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of
Electronics and Information Technology of the Republic of India and following Ministry of following countries
on cooperation in the field of sharing successful Digital Solutions implemented at Population Scale for Digital
Transformation.
• Ministry of Information and Communications Technology of Papua New Guinea.
• Ministry of Digital Transformation Technology of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
Objective: The primary objective of this MoU is to promote closer cooperation and exchange of experiences
and digital technologies-based solutions for the implementation of digital transformation initiatives in both
countries. This includes sharing India’s successful digital solutions like the “INDIA STACK” with Papua New
Guinea.
Duration: The MoU will be in effect from the date of signature by both parties and will remain in force for a
period of 3 years.
Impact:
• The MoU is likely to enhance bilateral cooperation in digital technologies in the G2G (government-to-
government) and B2B (business-to-business) domains.
• The agreement is expected to enhance bilateral cooperation in the field of Digital Public Infrastructure
(DPI) between the two nations.
Background:
International Collaboration: India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has been
actively collaborating with various countries and multilateral agencies to foster cooperation in the field of
Information and Communication Technology (ICT). These collaborations align with the Indian government’s
initiatives such as Digital India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and Make in India, which aim to digitally empower the
country and create a knowledge-based economy.
Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI): India has demonstrated leadership in implementing Digital Public
Infrastructure (DPI) at a population scale, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. India’s DPIs are built on open

technologies, are interoperable, and encourage industry and community participation to foster innovative and
inclusive solutions.
About Papua New Guinea:
Prime Minister – James Marape
Currency – Papua New Guinean Kina
Capital – Port Moresby
About Republic of Trinidad and Tobago:
Prime Minister – Dr Keith Christopher Rowley
Currency – Trinidad and Tobago dollar
Capital – Port of Spain
Cabinet Approvals on October 25, 2023

On October 25, 2023, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has given its
approval to the following proposals which were detailed by Union Minister, Anurag Singh Thakur, Ministry of
Information and Broadcasting (MIB) during a press conference in New Delhi, Delhi:
i.Inclusion of Jamrani Dam Multipurpose Project of Uttarakhand under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee
Yojana-Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (PMKSY-AIBP)
ii.Nutrient Based Subsidy(NBS) rates for RABI Season, 2023-24 on Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilizers.
iii.Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between India and Japan on Japan-India Semiconductor Supply Chain
Partnership.
CCEA approves inclusion of Jamrani Dam Multipurpose Project of Uttarakhand under PMKSY-AIBP
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by the PM Narendra Modi has approved inclusion
of Jamrani Dam Multipurpose Project of Uttarakhand under PMKSY-AIBP of Department of Water
Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.
In this regard, CCEA has approved a funding of Rs 1,557.18 crore from the Central Government to
Uttarakhand for completion of the project by March, 2028.
The total outlay of the project is estimated at Rs 2,584.10 crore.
What is to be done under the project?
i.Construction of dam near Jamrani village across river Gola, a tributary of river Ram Ganga, Nainital district,
Uttarakhand.
It will feed existing Gola barrage through 40.5 km and 244 km long canal systems (completed in 1981).
ii.Additional irrigation for 57,065 ha (9,458 hectare(ha) in Uttarakhand, 47,607 ha in Uttar Pradesh-UP) in
Nainital, Udham Singh Nagar of districts of Uttarakhand, and Rampur, Bareilly districts of UP.
iii.Constuction of 2 new feeder canals; renovation of 207 km existing canals; and construction of 278 km pucca
field channels will be undertaken under this project.
iv.The project also includes, Hydro power generation of 14 MW (Mega Watt); provision of 42.70 Million Cubic
Meters (MCM) of drinking water to Haldwani and nearby areas (benefiting 10.65 lakh population).
v.Irrigation benefits will shared with UP as per 2017 MoU, however, drinking water and power benefits
exclusively for Uttarakhand.
About PMKSY:
PMKSY was launched in 2015-16 to enhance water access, expand cultivable area, improve water use
efficiency, and promote conservation. The Central Government approved PMKSY implementation 2021-26
(PMKSY 2.0), with Rs 93,068.56 crore outlay (Rs. 37,454 crore central assistance).

PMKSY-AIBP creates irrigation potential through major projects; 53 completed, adding 25.14 lakh hectare
potential. The AIBP component is implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS).
6 projects have been added under PMKSY 2.0 since 2021-22; Jamrani Dam Multipurpose Project is the
7th project to be included in the list.
Cabinet approves NBS rates for RABI Season, 2023-24 on P&K fertilizers
The Union Cabinet approved Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) rates for Rabi Season 2023-24 (October 1, 2023 to
March 31, 2024) on Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilizers, amounting to Rs 22,303 crore.
The decision, made in light of falling international prices.
The subsidies will be provided to fertilizer companies which will further provide affordable fertilizers to
farmers, promoting agricultural sustainability.
Subsidized Rates:
i.Nitrogen (N): Rs. 47.02 per kg
ii.Phosphorus (P): Rs. 20.82 per kg
iii.Potash (K): Rs. 2.38 per kg
iv.Sulfur (S): Rs. 1.89 per kg
Key Points:
i.This decision will rationalizes P&K fertilizer subsidies,
ensuring efficient utilization of government resources.
ii.The subsidy on Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP) will
continue for Rs 4500 per ton.
It will continue to be sold at the old rate of Rs 1,350
per bag.
iii.For the Kharif season, the Central Government approved
Rs 70,000 crore subsidy for urea and Rs 38,000 crore for
DAP and other fertilizers.
iv.In the 2023-24 Union Budget, Rs 1.75 trillion was
allocated for fertilizer subsidies. 55% of this is already spent in the initial five months.
v.Rabi crops, including wheat, barley, mustard, and peas, are sown in winter and harvested in spring.
vi.NBS scheme, effective since April 1, 2010, ensures essential nutrient availability to farmers at subsidized
rates.
Cabinet approves MoC between India and Japan on Japan-India Semiconductor Supply Chain
Partnership
The Union Cabinet also approved a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between India and Japan on Japan-
India Semiconductor Supply Chain Partnership which was signed in July 2023.
It will be effective from July 20, 2023, and will remain in force for 5 years.
It was signed between Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and
the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan.
With this approval, Japan has become the second Quad partner after the United States (US) to sign an
agreement with India for the joint development of the semiconductor ecosystem.
Features of MoU:
i.To enhance India-Japan cooperation in semiconductor supply chain for industrial and digital technology
advancement.
ii.To focuses on strengthening electronics ecosystem collaboration through Government-to-Government (G2G)
and Business-to-Business (B2B) cooperation.

iii.Envisages resilient semiconductor supply chain, utilizing mutual strengths, leading to increased employment
opportunities in IT sector.
Recent Related News:
i.On 12th July 2023, Union Cabinet approved amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development &
Regulation) MMDR Act of 1957, for the commercial mining of 6 critical minerals: lithium, titanium, beryllium,
zirconium, niobium and tantalum.
ii.On 12th July 2023, the union cabinet approved amendments to the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions)
Bill, 2023. The amendments were made to decriminalise minor offences by amending 183 provisions in 42 Acts
which administered by 19 ministers with the aim to promote ease of business and living.
About Japan:
Prime Minister– Fumio Kishida
Capital– Tokyo
Currency-Japanese yen
Cabinet Approvals on 18 Oct 2023

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the following proposals on
18 October, 2023
i.Approves Phase-II of GEC for 13 GW Renewable Energy Project in Ladakh
ii.Approves MSP for Rabi Crops for Marketing Season 2024-25
iii.11.07 Lakh Railway Employees to Receive Rs 1968.87 Crores in PLB.
iv.Release of an additional instalment of DA and DR due from 01.07.2023.
Cabinet Approves Phase-II of GEC for 13 GW Renewable Energy Project in Ladakh
Information & Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur announced that the Cabinet Committee on Economic
Affairs (CCEA) has approved project on Green Energy Corridor (GEC) Phase-II – Inter-State Transmission
System (ISTS) for the 13 GW renewable energy project in Ladakh.
• Scheduled completion by FY 2029-30.
• Estimated total cost: Rs. 20,773.70 crore.
• Central Financial Assistance (CFA) covering 40% of the project cost (Rs. 8,309.48 crore).
Key Points:
i.The Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID) will be responsible for implementing this
project. Cutting-edge technologies, including Voltage Source Converter (VSC) based High Voltage Direct Current
(HVDC) systems and Extra High Voltage Alternating Current (EHVAC) systems, will be deployed.
ii.For power distribution, a transmission line will extend through Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, linking with
the National Grid in Kaithal, Haryana.
• An interconnection will be established to provide reliable power to Ladakh and connect to the Leh-
Alusteng-Srinagar line for Jammu & Kashmir.
• The project involves setting up 713 km of transmission lines, including a 480 km HVDC line, and
two 5 GW capacity HVDC terminals in Pang (Ladakh) and Kaithal (Haryana).
iii.The ongoing Intra-State Transmission System Green Energy Corridor Phase-II (InSTS GEC-II). InSTS GEC-II
is currently in progress in multiple states, focusing on integrating the grid and evacuating power from around
20 GW of renewable energy.
• This initiative is set to be finalized by 2026. InSTS GEC-II aims to add 10,753 circuit kilometers
(ckm) of transmission lines and increase the substation capacity to 27,546 mega volt-amper (MVA).
• The estimated project cost stands at Rs. 12,031.33 crore, with 33% CFA, equivalent to Rs. 3,970.34
crore.

iv.The work involves construction at altitude of up to 4,700 metre abovesea level.
Background and National Goals
i.Announcement of a 7.5 GW Solar Park in Ladakh in 2020.
ii.The central government in early September decided to provide Viability gap funding for battery energy
storage systems.
• The government will spend Rs 3,760 crore as viability gap funding and it will be a 100% central
grant. The viability gap funding is capped at 40% of the total capital cost of the project
iii.Commitment at COP26 summit
• 500 GW non-fossil electricity capacity, half of energy from renewables, 1 billion ton emission
reduction by 2030
• 45% emissions intensity reduction of GDP, and net-zero emissions by 2070.
iv.The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) formulated a plan to set up 13 GW of renewable energy
generation capacity, along with a 12 GWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Pang, Ladakh.
Cabinet approves MSP for Rabi Crops for Marketing Season 2024-25
The Union Cabinet has granted approval for an increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for all mandated
Rabi Crops in the Marketing Season 2024-25.
Key Points:
i.The highest increase in MSP has been sanctioned for lentils (masur) about 7.1% at Rs. 425 per quintal.
ii.This adjustment in MSP is consistent with the Union Budget 2018-19 announcement, which aimed to set the
MSP at a level of at least 1.5 times the All-India weighted average Cost of Production.
MSP for all Rabi crops for Marketing Season 2024-25:
S.No Crops MSP 2023-24 MSP 2024-25 Increase in MSP Margin over cost (%)
1 Wheat 2125 2275 150 102
2 Barley 1735 1850 115 60
3 Gram 5335 5440 105 60
Lentil
4 (Masur) 6000 6425 425 89
Rapeseed
5 & Mustard 5450 5650 200 98
6 Safflower 5650 5800 150 52
iii.The government has initiated various programs such as the National Food Security Mission (NFSM),
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), and the National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm
(NMOOP).
• The government has launched initiatives like the Kisan Rin Portal (KRP), KCC Ghar Ghar Abhiyaan,
and Weather Information Network Data Systems (WINDS) to expand the reach of the Kisan Credit
Card (KCC) Scheme to all farmers across the nation.
Note: i.MSP is the minimum rate at which the grain is purchased by the government procurement agencies.
ii.India has 3 cropping seasons :
• Rabi: Sown during October and November and the produce harvested from January.
• Kharif: Sown during June-July and harvested in October-November.
• Summer: Produced between Rabi and Kharif are Summer crops.
11.07 Lakh Railway Employees to Receive Rs 1968.87 Crores in PLB
The Union Cabinet has granted a Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) equivalent to 78 days’ worth of wages for
the financial year 2022-2023. The Government has approved a total PLB payout of Rs 1968.87 crore to
benefit 11,07,346 railway employees.
• This will be extended to eligible non-gazetted Railway employees, including roles such as Track
Maintainers, Loco Pilots, Train Managers (Guards), Station Masters, Supervisors, Technicians,

Technician Helpers, Pointsmen, Ministerial Staff, and other Group ‘C’ staff (excluding RPF/RPSF
personnel).
• Railway’s performance in FY23 was marked by a record cargo load of 1509 million tonnes and the
transportation of nearly 6.5 billion passengers.
Cabinet approves release of an additional instalment of DA and DR due from 01.07.2023
The Union Cabinet has given its approval to release an additional installment of Dearness Allowance (DA) for
Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) for pensioners, w.e.f. July 1, 2023.
• This installment reflects a 4% increase over the existing rate. With this, the DA will be increased
from 42% to 46% of Basic Pay or Pension. This increase aligns with the established formula based
on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission.
The combined financial implication, will amount to Rs. 12,857 crore annually. This move will directly benefit
approximately 48.67 lakh Central Government employees and 67.95 lakh pensioners.
PARLIAMENT
President Droupadi Murmu Gives Assent to Women’s Reservation Bill 2023
On September 29, 2023, as per the notification issued by the Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal
,President Droupadi Murmu has granted assent to the Women’s Reservation Bill 2023, which mandates
a 33% reservation (one-third of total seats) for women in the Lok Sabha, State Legislative assemblies, and
National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi. This historic decision was officially approved by the President
on September 28, 2023.
• Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairperson, Jagdeep Dhankhar on September 28 signed the
women’s reservation Bill as passed by Parliament before it was presented to President Droupadi
Murmu for her assent.
• Following the President’s assent, this Bill will be recognized as the Constitution (106th
Amendment) Act.
• The Women’s Reservation Bill 2023, officially titled as The Constitution (128th Amendment) Bill,
2023 and commonly referred to as Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, has been introduced in the Indian
Parliament.
• This bill, which aims to enhance gender representation, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 19th
September 2023 during a special parliamentary session.
• The Women’s Reservation Bill cannot be enacted into law until the year 2026.The bill can only
become effective after a process known as “delimitation” is carried out in the country.Delimitation is
necessary to allocate seats in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies in a manner that
reserves a specific percentage (in this case, 33 percent) for women.
Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam
i.During the special session of Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had described the law as “Nari
Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.”
• The Indian Parliament Special Session, 2023 was a Special Session held in the Parliament of India
from 18 to 22 September 2023.
• This special session witnessed the transfer of parliamentary proceedings from the existing premises
to the New Parliament House, the Sansad Bhavan in New Delhi. Notably, this special session of
Parliament did not incorporate Question Hour, Zero Hour, or Private Member Business.
• During this session, the Women’s Reservation Bill was introduced on September 19, 2023, which is
the first bill to be presented in the new parliament building.
ii.The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam Bill, will also apply to seats reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and
Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the Lok Sabha and the State Legislative Assemblies.
• The demand for a separate OBC quota was also raised during the session.

Note: The present Bill does not include provisions for women’s reservation in the Rajya Sabha and State
Legislative Councils. Rajya Sabha presently exhibits a lower representation of women compared to the Lok
Sabha.
Summary of Women’s Reservation Bill, 2023
The Bill introduces major amendments in various articles of constitution by inserting new clauses.
(i) Reservation for Women in NCT of Delhi (New clause in 239AA):
In article 239AA of the Constitution,
• One-third of total Seats shall be reserved for women in the Legislative Assembly of the National
Capital Territory of Delhi.
• About One-third of the seats will be reserved for the Scheduled Castes in the Legislative Assembly
of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, one-third of these seats will be reserved for women.
• One-third of all directly elected seats in the assembly will be reserved for women. This includes
seats reserved for women from Scheduled Castes as well.
(ii) Reservation of seats for women in the House of the People (Lok Sabha).
As per Article 330A, one-third of the total number of seats to be filled by direct election to the House of the
People shall be reserved for women in the Lok Sabha.
• About one-third of the total number of seats shall be reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled
Castes or the Scheduled Tribes.
(iii) Reservation for Women in State Legislative Assemblies:
• The Bill introduces Article 332A, which mandates the reservation of seats for women in every state
Legislative Assembly.
• Additionally, one-third of the seats reserved for SCs and STs must be allocated for women, and one-
third of the total seats filled through direct elections to the Legislative Assemblies shall also be
reserved for women.
(iv) Commencement of Reservation:
• The New article – 334A is introduced, according to which the reservation will be effective after the
census conducted after the commencement of this Bill has been published. Based on the
census, delimitation will be undertaken to reserve seats for women.
• The reservation will be provided for a period of 15 years. However, it shall continue till such
date as determined by a law made by Parliament.
(v) Rotation of Seats: The Bill provided that reserved seats for women may be allotted by rotation to different
constituencies in states or Union Territories.
• In the seats reserved for SCs/STs, the Bill sought to provide one-third of the seats to be reserved
for women on rotational basis.
• Seats reserved for women will be rotated after each delimitation, as determined by a law made by
Parliament.
(vi) The Bill has been introduced with the objective of achieving the goal of becoming ‘Vikasit Bharat’ by
2047 and it would require contribution of all sections of society including women, constituting a half of the
population. Following initiatives are mentioned in the bill:
• Spirit of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas’.
• Women led development, Women’s empowerment, financial independence, education, and health
access for women.
• Ease of Living, measures like Ujjawala Yojana, Swacch Bharat Mission, and Mudra Yojna.
Click here to view the Bill
History of the Women Representation Bill:
i.Historical Roots: The issue of women’s reservation in Indian politics dates to the Indian national
movement. In 1931, leaders like Begum Shah Nawaz and Sarojini Naidu advocated for women’s political
representation through an official memorandum to then British Prime Minister.

ii.National Perspective Plan: In 1988, the National Perspective Plan for Women recommended reservation
for women in politics from the panchayat level to the Parliament.
iii.Constitutional Amendments: The Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992, and the Constitution (74th
Amendment) Act, 1992, introduced articles 243D and 243T, respectively, to provide reservations for
women in Panchayats and Municipalities.
iv.Unsuccessful Attempts: Various bills were introduced to reserve one-third of seats for women in the House
of the People and State Legislative Assemblies. The Constitution (81st Amendment) Bill, 1996, and subsequent
bills in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, and 2003 faced challenges and failed to pass due to lack of consensus among
political parties.
• The Constitution (84th Amendment) Bill, 1998, intended to reserve seats for women in Lok Sabha,
State Assemblies, and Delhi Legislative Assembly. It lapsed with the 12th Lok Sabha dissolution,
referred to the Geeta Mukherjee Committee.
Note: In 2006, Bihar became the first State to provide 50% reservation for women in panchayat bodies. At
present, more than 20 States have 50% reservation for women at the panchayat level.
Statistics of Women Political Representation of India:
i.After implementation of this Act, there should be at least 181 (approximately 33.3% of seats) women
members in the Lower House and 31 women in Rajya Sabha (13%).
• As of the current data, there are 82 women in the Lok Sabha, constituting 15% of its members. In the
Rajya Sabha, there are 24 women, accounting for less than 10% of total seats.
ii.In 20 States & Union Territories (UTs) less than 10% Member of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) are female.
• This includes States such as Gujarat (2%), Maharashtra (8.3%), Andhra Pradesh (8%), Kerala
(7.9%), Tamil Nadu (5.1%), Telangana (5%) and Karnataka (4.5%).
iii.Across party lines, women form just 13.5% of sitting members of the largest party in the Lower House, the
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
• The highest share of women MPs in the Lok Sabha are from the Biju Janata Dal (41.7%) followed by
the Trinamool Congress (40.9%).
• The party-wise analysis of the State Legislative Assemblies shows that the Trinamool Congress in
West Bengal had the highest share of women MLAs (3%) followed by the Congress in Chhattisgarh
(14.7%).
• The Congress in Karnataka (3%), the Bharat Rashtra Samithi in Telangana (4%), and the Dravida
Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu (4.5%) had among the lowest shares.
Women Representation in Parliament of India: A Global Perspective
i.The representation of women in India’s Parliament is among the lowest in the world. When compared
with BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) nations, including the new members, India has the
second-lowest representation of 15%, the second lowest after Iran’s 6%.
• According to recent UN Women data, Rwanda (61%), Cuba (53%), Nicaragua (52%) are the top
three countries in women representation.
• Bangladesh (21%) and Pakistan (20%) as well are ahead of India in case of female representation.
ii.In the World Economy Forum (WEF)’s 2023 Global Gender Gap Report,India ranked 127 out of 146
countries in terms of gender parity.India’s performance in the domain of Political Empowerment, specifically
the percentage of women in parliament, ranked 117th out of 146 countries.
About Delimitation:
i.Delimitation is the process of redrawing electoral boundaries for Lok Sabha and state Assembly
constituencies based on the latest population data.The Delimitation Commission Act, established in 1952,
governs the delimitation process in India.
• The President of India appoints the Delimitation Commission, which collaborates with the Election
Commission of India.
ii.Delimitation aims to ensure that constituency sizes accurately reflect demographic changes and that each
vote carries equal weight.

• Article 82 mandates the Parliament to enact a Delimitation Act after each Census to redefine Lok
Sabha constituencies.
• Article 170 requires states to divide their territorial constituencies based on the Delimitation Act
after every Census.
Note: The census, due in 2021, faced delays due to the Covid pandemic and there is no clarity yet on when it
will be carried out now. Delimitation is considered as a necessary pre-requisite for implementing women’s
reservations, as it determines which one-third of the seats will be reserved for women candidates. This process
can be complex and time-consuming.
About Lok Sabha (House of People/Lower House)
• Speaker: Om Birla (Constituency-Kota), 17th speaker
• Maximum strength of till 2024 is 552.According to the 104th amendment in Constitution of India, it
is 550.
About Rajya Sabha (Council of States/Upper House)
Ex-officio chairperson: Vice President of India- Sh. Jagdeep Dhankhar (14th)
Maximum strength: 250 members, Present strength of Rajya Sabha -245 members
Ministry of I&B Made Significant Revisions to the Cable Television Network Rules of 1994
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) issued a notification amending the Cable Television
Network(CTN) Rules of 1994. Moreover, a new provision has been added, enabling Cable Operators to
share infrastructure with Broadband Service providers.
• This amendment introduces a formal procedure for the renewal of registrations for Multi-
System Operators (MSOs). This significant change updates the rules which previously only
allowed for fresh registrations.
Key Points:
i.Following are the amended rules:
• MSOs will be required to submit their registration or renewal applications online
through Broadcast Seva Portal of MIB.
• Registrations for MSOs will be approved or renewed for a duration of ten years.
• A processing fee of Rs. One lakh will be applicable for the renewal of registration.
• Request for the renewal of registration must be made within seven to two months prior to the
expiration of the current registration.
ii.The Ministry has provided a dedicated helpline number and email address (sodas-moiab[at]gov[dot]in)
for any necessary assistance.
iii.This initiative ensures continuity of services for cable operators without interruptions, enhancing the
sector’s appeal for foreign investment.
What is A “Multi-System Operator (MSO)” ?– It is referring to a cable operator who receives
programming services from a broadcaster or their authorized agents. The MSO then re-transmits these
services or transmits their own programming simultaneously to multiple subscribers. This transmission
can occur either directly or through one or more local cable operators (LCOs). The definition of MSO also
encompasses their authorized distribution agencies, regardless of the terminology used to refer to these
entities.
About Broadcast Seva Portal
Launched By – Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
It is a centralized platform where multiple stakeholders and applicants submits their requests for various
activities issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) in the field of broadcasting.

About Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Union Minister – Anurag Thakur (Lok Sabha – Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh)
Minster of State (MoS) – Dr. L. Murugan
New Drone (Amendment) Rules 2023 by MoCA: Citizens can Become Drone Pilots
The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), under the authority of section 5, sub-section 2 of section 10, and sections
10A, 10B, and 12A of the Aircraft Act, 1934 (22 of 1934), has introduced significant amendments to the Drone
Rules in 2023 for drone pilots. The rule is effective from the 27th of September 2023.
• As per the new Drone (Amendment) Rules 2023, the mandatory requirement of a passport has
been waived to further liberalise, promote and facilitate drone operations across India.
• After the amendment, government-issued proof of identity and address, such as Voter ID, Ration
Card, or Driving License, can now be accepted to apply for a Remote Pilot Certificate if the drone
pilot does not have a passport.
• It aligns with the government of India’s vision to position India as a global drone hub by 2030.
Amendment to Aircraft Rules, 1937: Validity of Pilot License increased from 5 to 10 yrs
On 10th October 2023, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) notified the amendment of the Aircraft Rules,
1937, which will be called as “Aircraft (First Amendment) Rules, 2023”. Under this amendment, following
the revision of Rule 39C, the validity of the Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) and Commercial Pilot
License (CPL) holders has been increased from 5 years to 10 years.
• This aims to reduce administrative burden on pilots and aviation authorities like Directorate
General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), promoting a more streamlined and efficient licensing process.
• The amendment is in line with the government’s efforts to further improve the ease of doing
business in the aviation sector.
Note:
• The licence will be issued to pilots at the time when their licences are up for renewal.
• Previously, the pilot licence renewal period was increased from 2 to 5 years in 2014.
Key Updates on Amendment to Aircraft Rules, 1937:
i.The Amendment to the Aircraft Rules, 1937, emphasizes robust industry consultations, enhancing regulatory
safety, and security measures.
ii.The amendments align India’s aviation regulations with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)’s
Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), ensuring adherence to international best practices.
iii.Certain reforms, already in effect, include Amendment to the Aircraft (Demolition of Obstructions caused by
Buildings and Trees, etc.) Rules, 1994.
Note: By aligning with international aviation norms, these reforms reinforce India’s commitment to
maintaining high standards and competitiveness on the global aviation stage.
Government Authority on Hazardous Lights:
i.The Amendment to Aircraft Rules, 1937 introduces key changes under Rule 66, addressing concerns related to
the display of “false lights” in the vicinity of an aerodrome.
ii.The New Amendment has extended the scope and power for the government to take action against anyone
exhibiting “false lights” like lantern lights, kite lights, and laser lights, in the vicinity of an aerodrome.
• When lights resembling aeronautical signals are flashed around aerodromes, they can be mistaken
for aeronautical ground lights or an aeronautical beacon, posing serious risks to aircraft safety.
iii.The radius of the vicinity around an aerodrome has been increased from 5 kilometers to 5 nautical
miles (around 9.2 km).
• If the misleading lights remain unattended for 24 hours, the government is empowered to enter the
location and extinguish them.

iv.The government or authorised individual may also
report the matter to the police to take action under Section
281 or 283 or both of the Indian Penal Code (IPCs).
Elimination of Foreign Licence Validation:
i.Additionally, Rule 118 regarding Foreign License
validation has been eliminated.
ii.The removal of Rule 118 is aimed at eliminating
redundancy in the regulations.
• The move reflects an adaptation to the changing
demands of the aviation industry.
Enhancing Air Traffic Controller License Requirements:
i.The new amendment includes a clause for liberalising the
recency and competency requirements under Schedule III
for Air Traffic Controller License holders (ATCL).
ii.This amendment allows for increased flexibility,
particularly in scenarios with limited movements or watch
hours.
iii.ATCL holders are now required to complete a minimum of ten hours of simulated exercises, including
handling emergency situations.
• Following the exercises, a skill assessment for their respective rating must be undertaken within ten
consecutive days of commencing these exercises.
Recent related News:
On August 29, 2023, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Government of India and
the Government of New Zealand for an Open Sky Policy, allowing more flights between various cities in the 2
countries.
About Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA):
Union Minister– Jyotiraditya M. Scindia (Rajya Sabha Madhya Pradesh)
Minister of State– General (Retd.) Vijay Kumar Singh (Constituency- Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh)
LAUNCHES & INAUGURATION

276th Annual Day Celebrations of DAD: Defence Minister Launched DAD Digital Initiatives
SARANSH, BISWAS and e-Raksha Awaas
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched several digital initiatives of the Defence Accounts
Department (DAD) during its 276th annual day celebrations at Delhi Cantonment(Cantt), Delhi.
i.The newly launched digital initiatives include,
• An integrated defence finance dashboard for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) ‘SARANSH’ (Summary
of Accounts, Budget and Expenditure for Raksha Mantralaya)
• BISWAS (Bill Information and Work Analysis System),
• e-Raksha Awaas.
ii.The Defence Minister also distributed the Raksha Mantri Awards for Excellence for the year 2023 during
the event.
Note: DAD, the guardian of defence finance, recognises its efforts in enhancing India’s defence capabilities
through transparency and efficiency.
Key People:
General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff; Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, Chief of Air Staff; Admiral R Hari
Kumar, Chief of Naval Staff; Smt Rasika Chaube, Financial Advisor (Defence Services); SG Dastidar, Controller
General of Defence Accounts and other senior officials of MoD were present during the event.

Digital Initiatives:
SARANSH:
i.It aims to provide a more precise and objective representation of defence financial data across India on
payment, accounting, budgeting etc by leveraging advanced data analytics techniques on the different
databases of various Information Technology (IT) systems running in the DAD.
ii.This analytics tool integrates, compiles, sanitises & standardises financial data from multiple
applications/data sources and provides a real-time comprehensive platform with the features of a dashboard:
visualize trends, display metrics, graphs on key performance indicators, reports etc.
iv.‘SARANSH’ will serve as a comprehensive Dashboard for the higher management with at-a-glance visibility of
all the defence expenditures for centralized monitoring and driving towards data-driven decisions for all
defence organizations.
BISWAS:
i.It will serve as a Dashboard for the various Principal Controller of Defence Accounts/Controller of Defence
Accounts (PCsDA/CsDA) and display different infographics for the purpose of monitoring and analysing the
whole process flow of bill management, including reports on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
ii.It provides real-time detailed analysis of bill processing, with interactive visualisations of granular data
flowing through the various office automation systems for a Controller office.
e-Raksha Awaas:
i.It is a centralised and comprehensive software package developed to streamline and optimize the process of
generating timely rent and allied charges for rentable buildings within the Defence Services and facilitating the
prompt remission of rent and allied charges to Government Accounts.
ii.This package serves as a unified online platform for all stakeholders involved in the generation, recovery and
remission of rent and allied charges.
Raksha Mantri Awards for Excellence 2023:
On the occasion, the defence minister gave away the Raksha Mantri Awards for Excellence 2023 to 5 teams for
exhibiting exemplary initiatives in implementing key department projects:
• For adoption of new paradigms of training methodology;
• Implementation of Computer Based Testing (CBT) systems in the conduct of SAS Examinations in
the DAD;
• Implementation of SARANSH Raksha Mantralaya Dashboard;
• Implementation of Dolphin 2.0, a nationwide system for management of pay and allowances for
JCOs/Other Ranks of the Indian Army; and
• For the Development of KPIs for field offices of the Department.
Key Points:
i.Raksha Mantri Awards for Excellence is an award scheme for the DAD. The awards will be in the form of cash
awards presented annually by the Defence Minister on each DAD day on 1 October.
ii.The cash award would be accompanied by a trophy duly embossed with the name of the Awardee(s) a
certificate mentioning the outstanding work done by the individual or group of individuals and a badge for each
individual.
Defence Accounts Department (DAD):
i.On 1 October 1951 Military Accounts Department was re-designated as the Defence Accounts Department
(DAD).
• Controllers of Military Accounts re-designated as Controllers of Defence Accounts.
ii.DAD functions under the administrative control of the MoD and is headed by the Controller General of
Defence Accounts (CGDA)
• SG Dastidar is the current CGDA of DAD.
iii.DAD aims to provide responsive and professional Financial, Audit and Accounting services.

On 13 July 2023, the MoD and the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) to promote the use of millet and healthy eating practices among the Armed Forces and
ensure the availability of safe & nutritious food in New Delhi, Delhi.
About Ministry of Defence (MoD):
Union Minister– Raj Nath Singh (Constituency- Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh)
Minister of State– Ajay Bhatt (Constituency- Nainital-Udhamsingh Nagar, Uttarakhand)
PM Launched Sankalp Saptaah to Improve Governance at Block Level

Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi launched ‘Sankalp Saptaah’, a unique week-long programme for
Aspirational Blocks of India, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, Delhi. He also launched the Aspirational Blocks
Programme (ABP) Portal and inaugurated the exhibition showcased on the occasion.
• ‘Sankalp Saptaah’ is linked to the effective
implementation of the ABP.
• The programme is observed from 3rd October to 9th
October, 2023.
About ABP:
i.The nationwide Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP) was
launched by the PM in January, 2023.
ii.ABP is an initiative to improve governance at the block level to
increase the quality of life of citizens.
iii. ABP is based on the Aspirational District Programme(ADP) which has transformed the lives of about 25
crore people in 112 districts.
• ADP was launched in 2018.
Implementation:
i.500 aspirational blocks from 329 districts is chosen for the implementation of the programme.
ii.To implement ABP and develop effective block development strategies, brainstorming workshops
(chintan shivirs) were held in villages and blocks across the country.
Theme:
Each day of the programme is aligned with specific theme on which all aspirational blocks will work.
i.The theme for the first six days is ‘Sampoorna Swasthya’, ‘Suposhit Pariwaar’, ‘Swachhta’, ‘Krishi’, ‘Shiksha’,
and ‘Samridhi Diwas’ respectively.
ii.The seventh day will be a celebration of the work conducted during the entire week, as ‘Sankalp Saptaah –
Samavesh Samaroh’.
MoCI Unveils Digital System for Automatic Issuance of Exporter Status Certificates
On October 9, 2023, Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MoCI), launched a new
initiative for issuing system-based automatic ‘Status Holder’ certificates under the Foreign Trade
Policy (FTP) 2023.
• The initiative was launched during the meeting with Export Promotion Councils.
Note: At present, there are around 14 Export Promotion Councils under the administrative control of the
Department of Commerce.
What is in the system?
i.The new system eliminates the need for exporters to apply for a Status Certificate from the Directorate
General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).
ii.Export recognition is automated through the IT (Information Technology) system using existing merchandise
export data and risk parameters from Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS).
• This streamlines the process, reduces compliance burden, and promotes ease of doing business.

• Eligible exporters can modify their status online later, ensuring a simplified process without the
need for manual applications or certifications.
Current Scenario:
At present, the exporter is required to file an online application along with an export certificate from a
Chartered Accountant (CA) for grant of Status. The DGFT Regional Offices, issue the certificate in 3 days.
What is Status Holder certification program?
It enhances Indian exporters’ credibility in the international markets and offers benefits such as simplified
procedures under FTP 2023, priority custom clearances, exemption from mandatory document negotiation
through banks, and no need for filing Bank Guarantee for FTP schemes.
Key Points:
i.The new system will recognize 20,000 exporters as Status Holders under FTP 2023, a significant increase
from the previous 12,518.
ii.This is also aligned with the goal of achieving a USD 2 trillion export target by 2030.
DAHD Launched ‘A-HELP’ Programme to Empower Women and Signed MoU with NRLM at
Jharkhand
The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal
Husbandry and Dairying(MoFAHD) launched the ‘A-HELP’ (Accredited Agent for Health and Extension of
Livestock Production) program in Jharkhand.
• The initiative was launched through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between DAHD and
National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) under the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD).
• Badal Patralekh, Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry & Co-operative, Govt. of Jharkhand was
the chief guest of the launch programme.
About A-HELP:
i.Aim: To empower women by engaging them as Accredited Agents who contribute to essential tasks such as
disease control, animal tagging, and livestock insurance.
ii.A-HELP will enhance access to veterinary services at farmers’ doorsteps, empowering ‘Pashu Sakhis’. This
will serve as an integration of women’s empowerment, and fostering socio-economic advancement.
iii.A-HELP will effectively bridge the gap between local veterinary institutions and livestock owners, provide
primary health services, and act as both a Livestock Resource Person and a Primary Service Provider.
iv.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).
MWCD Launched Protocol for Management of Malnutrition in Children for Management

of Malnutrition in Children
Union Minister Smriti Zubin Irani, Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) launched a new
standardised Protocol for Management of Malnutrition in Children (Protocol) during a national
event “Suposhit Bharat – Sashakt Bharat” at Vigyan Bhawan, Delhi, to fight malnutrition in children in India.
• It is the first-ever national protocol for the Management of Malnutrition in Children.
• The Protocol has been jointly prepared by the MoWCD and the Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare (MoHFW).
• This is a part of the efforts of MoWCD to reduce malnutrition through Mission Saksham Anganwadi
and Nutrition 2.0.
Key People:
i.Dr. Munjpara Mahendrabhai Kalubhai, Minister of State (MoS) for MoWCD; Cynthia McCaffrey, United Nations
Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Representative to India; Susan Ferguson, the United Nations(UN) Women
Representative for India; and Payden, Deputy World Health Organisation (WHO) Representative to India were
also present at the event.

ii.Dignitaries and experts form Indian Medical Association (IMA); International Paediatric Association (IPA)
and Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP), World Bank, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) also attended
the event.
• Frontline functionaries including, Child Development Project Officers (CDPOs), Lady Supervisors,
Anganwadi Workers (AWW), and Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers across India also
participated in the event.
About the Protocol:
i.The protocol aims to streamline the care of Severe Acute Malnourished (SAM) and Moderate Acute
Malnutrition (MAM) children, particularly those without medical complications.
• Instead of traditional Nutrition Rehabilitation Centers (NRCs), SAM children will be managed at
Anganwadi Centers (AWC).
ii.It provides comprehensive guidelines to address malnutrition at the Anganwadi level, including decision-
making regarding referral, nutritional management, and follow-up care.
iii.The protocol clearly describes the process of assessing and caring for malnourished children through the
Anganwadi and medical ecosystem.
Note: 1.98% children 0-5 years to be SAM and 4.2% MAM against 19.3% wasting as per National Family Health
Survey (NFHS)-5 (2019-21) for children 0-5 years.
Key Steps for Assessment of the Protocol:
• Growth Monitoring & Screening;
• Appetite Test for SAM children;
• Medical Assessment;
• Decide the level of care;
• Nutritional Management;
• Medical Management;
• Nutrition, Health Education & counseling including Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) practices;
• Home Visit by AWW and Referral;
• Duration of Monitoring; and
• Follow-up Care.
Analysis of the Protocol:
i.The protocol mandates the screening of SAM (who pass the appetite test) and Severely Underweight (SUW)
children by the medical officer of primary health centers within 3 to 5 days of testing.
• SAM is defined as very low weight-for-height/length.
• SUW is defined as very low weight-for-age.
ii.The protocol lists that children who suffer from Bilateral Pitting Oedema and failed appetite tests will be
enrolled in the NRCs.
• Bilateral Pitting Oedema is swelling in both legs characterised by an indentation, or ‘pit’ that
remains when pressure is applied to the swollen area.
iii.The protocol stipulates that infants under 6 months old showing visible signs of being wasted, oedematous,
or too weak to breastfeed require immediate referral to the nearest health facility.
• For SUW infants under 6 months, direct referral to NRCs is recommended in accordance with WHO
guidelines.
Note: Wasting indicates current or acute malnutrition resulting from failure to gain weight or actual weight
loss.
Millets in Nutrition:
The MWCD has initiated efforts to include millets in the Supplementary Nutrition Programme.
• Millets are rich in nutrients and can play a vital role in addressing malnutrition.
The MWCD discontinued its two autonomous bodies, Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK) and Central Social Welfare
Board (CSWB), as well as its internal division namely the Food and Nutrition Board (FNB).

About Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW):
Union Minister– Mansukh Mandaviya (Rajya Sabha Gujarat)
MoS– Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar (Constituency- Dindori, Maharashtra)
MoEF&CC launches Green Credit Program & Ecomark Scheme to Encourage Eco-Friendly
Actions
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) launched 2 new initiatives, Green Credit
Program (GCP) and the Ecomark Scheme to encourage sustainable practices rooted in tradition and
conservation and promote the ideas of ‘LiFE’ – ‘Lifestyle for Environment’ movement.
• These 2 initiatives includes India’s pro-active approach of climate change, sustainability and
promotion of eco-conscious practices.
About Green Credit Program (GCP): Incentivizing Environmental Actions
Green Credit Program (GCP) was notified on 12th October 2023. It is an innovative market-based mechanism
designed to incentivize voluntary environmental actions across diverse sectors, by various stakeholders.
• GCP is independent of the carbon credit provided under the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme, 2023
under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.
• The MoEF&CC have made a set of rules called “Green Credit Rules, 2023” in exercise of the powers
conferred by section 3, section 6 and section 25 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of
1986).
Objectives of GCP:
• To promote positive actions through market based mechanism and generate green credit. These
credits are tradable and can be made available for trading on a domestic market platform.
• The green credit will arise from taking measures by a person of any environment activities referred
to in sub-rule (2) of rule 4.
• This will encourage the industries to meet the obligations under any law and to undertake voluntary
environmental measures referred to in rule 4 by generating or buying green credit.
Administrator:
Dehradun, Uttarakhand-based Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), a Society
registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, is the administrator of the Green Credit Rule 2023.
• The administrator will be responsible for program implementation, management, monitoring, and
operation.
Inter-ministerial Steering Committee:
The Steering Committee constituted by the Central Government will be responsible for the monitoring of the
implementation of the GCP.
• It will comprise of representatives from the Ministries or Departments, experts from the field of
environment, industry associations and other relevant stakeholders.
Technical Committee:
Technical Committee constituted by the Central Government, based on the recommendations of the
Administrator, for each activity to assist the Administrator in implementation of GCP.
Key Points:
i.The ICFRE along with experts will establish or develop
• Green Credit Registry- for the registration and issuance of each Green Credit.
• Trading platform – which will perform functions regarding the trading of green credit, in accordance
with the guidelines made by the Administrator and
• · Knowledge and data platform – for providing transparency on various activities being undertaken
and for reporting sectoral progress under these rules
ii.The activities of the Administrator, designated agency, Registry, trading platform and knowledge and data
platform will be audited within a period of one year at the end of every third financial year by independent
auditors to be appointed by the Central Government on the recommendation of the Steering Committee.

Green Credits:
i.In its initial phase, the GCP focuses on two key activities: water conservation and afforestation.
• Overall, it will cover 8 types of activities viz. tree plantation, water management, sustainable
agriculture, waste management, air pollution reduction, and mangrove conservation and
restoration.
ii.To earn Green Credits, one needs to register the activity at app/website www.moefcc-gcp.in. The
Administrator will verify it, using designated agencies or self-verification for small projects. After verification,
Green Credit certificate will be granted.
iii.The calculation of Green Credit will be based on equivalence of resource requirement, parity of scale, scope,
size, and other relevant parameters to achieve the desired environmental outcome
• Draft methodologies are being prepared for awarding Green Credits which will be notified for
stakeholder consultation.
About Ecomark Scheme: Promoting Eco-Friendly Products
Ecomark Scheme notified on 11th October 2023 succeed the previous rules notified in 1991. It provides
accreditation and labelling for household and consumer products that meet specific environmental criteria
while maintaining quality standards as per Indian norms
• MoEF&CC in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1), clause (ii) of sub-section 2 of
section 3, sub-section (1) of section 6, and sub-section (1) of section 25 of the Environment
(Protection) Act, 1986 notified Ecomark Certification Rules, 2023 for labeling of environment
friendly products.
What is Ecomark Scheme?
The scheme under the Ecomark Certification Rules, 2023, enables labelling of products with minimal
environmental impact, and encouraging consumers and manufacturers to choose eco-friendly options. These
rules ensure products meet environmental standards, focusing on factors like climate change impact, energy
use, waste generation, pollution, and hazardous substances.
• This means Products with the ECO Logo and ISI (Indian Standards Institution) Mark meet specific
environmental and quality criteria set by Indian Standards.
Objectives:
i.To support the principles of LiFE.
ii.To promote resource efficiency & circular economy
iii.To prevent misleading information on environmental aspects of products
Key Points:
i.The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) administers the Ecomark Scheme in partnership with Bureau
of Indian Standards (BIS), which is the national body for standards and certification.
ii.The rules will be administered by the MoEF&CC while the governance of the Ecomark Rules for its effective
implementation will be done by the Steering Committee.
iii.The State Pollution Control Board (SPCB)/ Pollution Control Committee (PCC) shall create awareness about
the Ecomark Rules.
India Announces Definition of Green Hydrogen
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) notified the Green Hydrogen Standard for India which
sets emission limits for hydrogen production to be considered ‘Green,’ indicating it comes from renewable
sources.
• As per this, Green Hydrogen is now defined as ‘having a well-to-gate emission (i.e., including
water treatment, electrolysis, gas purification, drying and compression of hydrogen) of not
more than 2 kg CO2 equivalent / kg H2.’
• The scope of the definition encompasses both electrolysis-based and biomass-based hydrogen
production methods.

Key Points:
i.With this notification, India becomes one of the first few countries in the world to announce a definition of
Green Hydrogen.
ii.The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Ministry of Power will be the Nodal Authority for accreditation of
agencies for the monitoring, verification and certification for Green Hydrogen production projects.
Click Here for Official Notification
i.Justice Sheo Kumar Singh-I was appointed as the acting chairperson of National Green Tribunal (NGT) by
the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) with the effect from July 6, 2023 until
further notice. He succeeded Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel.
ii.On 20th July 2023, NITI Aayog in collaboration with energy and climate think-tank Vasudha Foundation
released the India Climate Energy Dashboard (ICED) 3.0 during the 14th Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) in
Goa. The ICED is the country’s one-stop platform for revamped online data center on energy, electric mobility,
climate and related economic datasets.
About Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS):
Director General– Pramod Kumar Tiwari
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi
Establishment– April 1, 1987
Union MNRE Minister RK Singh launches Dashboard for Data on Adoption and Forecasts of EVs
On October 16, 2023, Union Minister Raj Kumar (RK) Singh for Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
(MNRE), and Ministry of Power launched a new Electric Vehicle (EV)-Ready India
Dashboard (evreadyindia.org) from New Delhi, Delhi.
• It is a free digital platform that focus on near real-time EV adoption and forecasts, associated battery
demand, charging density, and market growth trends by using data and AI (Artificial Intelligence).
Developers:
It has been developed by policy and industry experts at think-tank OMI Foundation based in New Delhi, Delhi.
Key Features of Dashboard:
i.EV-Ready India Dashboard is the only dashboard in India that compiles sales data across all all (34) Vahan
states and Union Territories and Telangana.
ii.It shows forecasts on EV adoption, and associated battery demand till 2030.
iii.Along with pan-India projections, the dashboard presents state-wise projections, a first-of-its-kind approach.
iv.Users can access a list of eligible EV models for subsidies and the subsidy amounts.
v.The dashboard also measures India’s progress towards net zero emissions.
Key Figures by Dashboard as of August 2023:
i.The EV-Ready India dashboard has forecast a 45.5% Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) in EVs
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.
ii.India has avoided more 5.18 million tonnes of CO2 emissions in 2023, equivalent to growing 85.47 million
tree seedlings.
iii.One Public Charge Point caters to 155 EVs which requires immediate improvement.
iv.Chandigarh reports the lowest Public charging supply tarrif at Rs 3.6/kWh which is 73% lower compared to
the national average of Rs 13.74/kWh.
v.Maharashtra and Delhi emerged as the national leaders in public charging station infrastructure at 2531 and
1815 respectively.
vi.Tamil Nadu (TN) emerges as the E2W (Electric two‐wheel vehicles) manufacturing hub of
India, Telangana leads in E3W manufacturing, Maharashtra in E4W manufacturing, Gujarat in battery
manufacturing, and Karnataka in Research & Development (R&D).

Key Points:
i.The platform seeks to address the need for macroeconomic data and analysis on India’s massively growing
electric mobility segment.
ii.A booklet on the dashboard has been released at the event.
iii.A panel discussion around “Data-Driven Decision Making in the EV Sector” was also during the launch event.
i.On 30th June 2023, the Ministry of Power notified the “Carbon Credit Trading Scheme, 2023”, to develop
India’s first domestic regulated carbon credit trading market.
ii.The 8th Mission Innovation Ministerial (MI-8) and 14th Clean Energy Ministerial(CEM-14), hosted by the
Ministry of Power and Department of Science and Technology, took place alongside the 4th Energy Transitions
Working Group (ETWG) meeting under India’s Group 20 (G20) Presidency held in Goa from 19th July 2023 to
22 July, 2023.
About Ministry of Power
Union Minister – Raj Kumar Singh (Constituency – Arrah, Bihar)
Minister of State– Krishan Pal (Constituency- Faridabad, Haryana)
PM Narendra Modi Launched India’s 1st Regional Rapid Transit System in UP

Prime Minister (PM), Narendra Modi inaugurated the 17 Kilometer (Km) priority section of the Delhi-
Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) Corridor at Sahibabad RapidX Station in Ghaziabad,
Uttar Pradesh (UP).
• He also flagged off the ‘Namo Bharat’ RapidX train, connecting Sahibabad to Duhai Depot (UP),
which marks India’s first RRTS. Additionally, 2 stretches of the east-west corridor of Bengaluru
Metro were dedicated to the public.
Note: The entire 82.15 km RRTS corridor is projected to be fully operational by June 2025.
Key People:
Ms Anandiben Patel, Governor of UP; Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of UP were present on the occasion.
Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor:
i.The 17 Km priority section of Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut connects Sahibabad to Duhai Depot.
ii.This route features essential stations at Ghaziabad, Guldhar, and Duhai in UP.
iii.It is being developed at a cost of more than Rs 30,000 crore and aims to reduce the travel time between Delhi
and Meerut to less than an hour.
iv.The corridor is set to pass through key urban centers: Ghaziabad, Muradnagar, and Modinagar in UP.
Bengaluru Metro:
i.The two new metro stretches connect Baiyappanahalli to Krishnarajapura and Kengeri to
Challaghatta(Bangalore Metro Purple Line).
ii.These metro stretches were made operational from 9th October 2023, aimed at enhancing public commuting
convenience on this corridor in Bengaluru (Karnataka).
Plan of RRTS:
i.A total of 8 RRTS corridors are slated for development in the National Capital Region (NCR).
ii.Phase-I prioritises 3 key corridors: Delhi – Ghaziabad (UP) – Meerut (UP), Delhi – Gurugram (Haryana) –
Shahjahanpur-Neemrana-Behror (SNB) (Rajasthan) – Alwar (Rajasthan), and Delhi – Panipat (Haryana).
Key Points:
i.The Namo Bharat train and the screen doors installed on the platforms are Made in India.
ii.The noise levels in the Namo Bharat Train are less than that of helicopters and airplanes.
Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) Project:
i.The RRTS project aligns with the Government of India’s vision to transform regional connectivity through
state-of-the-art transport infrastructure.
ii.RRTS constitutes a new rail-based, semi-high-speed, high-frequency commuter transit system.

• With a design speed of 180 kilometers per hour (Kmph), RRTS is set to redefine the standards of
transportation efficiency.
iii.It represents a transformative regional development initiative, promising improved connectivity and
convenience for commuters.
Benefits of RRTS:
RRTS in India is developed to be a state-of-the-art regional mobility solution, on par with international
standards, because:
• It ensures safe, reliable, and modern intercity commuting.
PM Modi Launched 511 Pramod Mahajan Grameen Kaushalya Vikas Kendras in Maharashtra
Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi virtually launched the 511 Pramod Mahajan Grameen Kaushalya Vikas
Kendras (PMGKVKs) established across 34 rural districts of Maharashtra through video conferencing.
• These PMGKVKs will conduct skill development training programs across various sectors to provide
employment opportunities to rural youth.
Key People:
Eknath Shinde, Chief Minister (CM) of Maharashtra and Deputy Chief Ministers (Dy CMs) of Maharashtra,
Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar were present during the event.
About PMGKVK:
i.Each Kendra will train about 100 youngsters in at least two vocational courses.
ii.The training will be provided by empanelled industry partners and agencies under the National Skill
Development Council (NSDC).
iii.The newly launched skill centers will impart skills like construction, modern farming, media and
entertainment, and electronics among the young people.
iv.The people will also be trained on soft skills such as basic foreign language skills, Artificial
Intelligence (AI) tools for language interpretation.
Skilled Indians:
i.The demand for skilled Indian youth is growing globally, and these Kendras will help to meet that demand.
ii.The skilling of youths is aimed at creating 40 lakh jobs in 16 countries across the globe.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah Launches New Logo, Website, Brochure of NCEL
On October 23, 2023, Union Minister Amit Shah, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) launched the logo, website,
and brochure of the newly established National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL).
The launch was made during the National Symposium on
Cooperative Exports organised by NCEL in New
Delhi, Delhi.
He also distributed membership certificates to NCEL
members.
Other Participants:
Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Ministry of Commerce and
Industry(MoCI) and Union Minister of State (MoS) BL Verma,
Ministry of Cooperation.
About National Cooperative Export Limited (NCEL):
NCEL is an umbrella organization for cooperative sector exports in India.
It was established by the Ministry of Cooperation under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS)
Act 2002 on January 25, 2023.
Key Points:
i.NCEL has an authorized share capital is Rs 2,000 crore, with an initial paid-up share capital of Rs 500 crore.
ii.Its primary goal is to focus on farmers. It will transfer about 50% of its export profits directly into the bank

accounts of member farmers.
iii.So far, NCEL has bagged orders worth Rs 7,000 crore and orders worth Rs 15,000 crore are being negotiated.
iv.NCEL will also work to connect with MoCI, Ministry of External Affairs(MEA) and Indian embassies acorss
the world with the Whole of Government Approach for market linkages.
AIIA’s 6th Foundation Day: New Molecular Biology Lab Launched at AIIA
The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) celebrated its 6th Foundation day on 20th October 2023 at AIIA
campus, New Delhi, Delhi. A new molecular biology lab for advance research at AIIA; a Manuscript Unit and
Center of Excellence (CoE) Dakshya were launched during the event.
AIIA has also signed memorandum of understandings (MoUs) with six institutions.
Key People:
Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of AYUSH(Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and
Homeopathy) graced the event.
Padma Bhushan awardee Vaidya Devendra Triguna President, Governing Body, Rashtriya Ayurveda
Vidyapeeth (RAV), Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush and BK Singh, Joint
Secretary, Ministry of Ayush were the Guest of Honour for the event.
AIIA signed 6 MoUs:
AIIA has signed six Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with well-known six institutions such as
Hindustan Salt Limited, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and the Heartfulness Institute.
The MoUs to were signed with an aim to bring new dimensions in the working culture and generate
systematic evidences
Unveiling of the statue of Padma Vibhushan Vaidya Brihaspati Dev Triguna:
During the event, AYUSH Minister Sarbananda Sonowal unveiled the statue of the Ayurveda practitioner late
Padma Vibhushan Awardee Vaidya Brihaspati Dev Triguna at the Vaidya Brihaspati Dev Triguna Auditorium
in AIIA.
About Vaidya Brihaspati Dev Triguna:
i.He was born into a Vedic Pundit family of Punjab in 1920.
ii.He learned Ayurveda at Rajvaidya Pandit Gokul Chand Ji’s Gurukul (an Ayurvedic teaching institution) in
Ludhiana, Punjab.
iii.He was famous for pulse diagnosis(Nadi vaidyam).
iv.He was the honorary physician to the President of India.
Padma awards:
He received Padma Bhushan award in 1992 and Padma Vibhushan in 2003 in the field of medicine.
Other Highlights:
During his address, AYUSH Minister informed that Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has allotted 12
Acres land for expansion of AIIA. This supports AIIA’s effort to upgrade services for Holistic Healthcare.
Various technical documents, including COVID dairy were released during the event.
Additional Info:
At present there is a Manuscript Unit at National Institute of Ayurveda in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
About All India Institute of Ayurveda(AIIA):
i.It is a Autonomus institution function under the Ministry of Ayush.
ii.It works for the promotion and advancement of the knowledge and practice of Ayurveda.
Director – Tanuja Nesari
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established in – 2017
One Nation, One Election Website Launched during HLC’s second meeting
High-Level Committee (HLC) on One Nation, One Election(ONOE) under the chairmanship of Former
President Ram Nath Kovind held its 2nd meeting in New Delhi, Delhi on 25th October 2023.

The website developed for the “One Nation, One Election” was launched at the meeting. This will act as a
repository of all relevant information on the ONOE proposal.
The website will also act as a platform for interaction and receiving suggestions from all stakeholders.
Decisions taken by the Committee:
Budgetary provision for the HLC for the current FY -2023-24 was approved.
Resignation of Shri Adhir Ranjan Choudhury, Leader of the single largest party in the Lok Sabha from
the membership of HLC was noted.
The committee also informed that letters have been sent to 6 National parties, 33 State parties and 7
Registered unrecognised parties inviting their suggestions on ONOE.
Additional info: The Law Commission of India(LCI), under the Chairmanship of Justice Ritu Raj Awasthimade,
presented the committee with suggestions and viewpoints on the issue of simultaneous elections in India.
What is One Nation, One Election?
The One Nation, One Election is a proposal to hold simultaneous elections to the Lower House of Parliament
(Lok Sabha) and State Assemblies.
HLC:
i.HLC was constituted by the Government of India in September 2023.
ii.The committee was set up to explore the possibility of holding elections to the Lok Sabha and State
Legislative Assemblies at the same time.
iii.HLC has been renamed as ‘High Level Committee on One Nation, One Election’ (‘एक दे श,
एक चुनाव के लिए उच्च स्तरीय सलिलि’).
This is in accordance with the decision taken in the first meeting of HLC which was held on 23rd
September 2023.
Composition:
i.Chairman Former (14th) President of India Ram Nath Kovind.
ii.Niten Chandra, Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs will be the secretary of the committee.
iii.Members:
Amit Shah – Union Minister of Home Affairs and Union Minister of Cooperation
Ghulam Nabi Azad – Former Leader of Opposition(Member of Parliament from Rajya Sabha)
Nand Kishore Singh – Former Chairman of 15th Finance Commission
Subhash C. Kashyap – Former Secretary General of Lok Sabha
Harish Salve – Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court of India
Sanjay Kothari – Former Chief Vigilance Commissioner
Arjun Ram Meghwal, Union Minister of State for Law and Justice (Independent Charge) is the Special Invitee of
the committee.
Indian Oil Corporation Launches India’s 1st Gasoline & Diesel Reference Fuels
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) launched
India’s 1st Reference Gasoline and Diesel Fuels produced by Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL).
With this launch, India joined the elite group of nations with domestic production of ‘Reference’ Petrol
and Diesel and IOCL becomes the 4th refiner in the world to produce ‘reference’ grade petrol and
diesel.
IOCL’s Paradip refinery (Odisha) will produce ‘reference’ grade petrol; IOCL’s Panipat Refinery
(Haryana) will produce ‘reference’ quality diesel.
Note: The production of ‘reference’ fuel is another step towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India).
Key People:
Pankaj Jain, Secretary, MoPNG; and S.M. Vaidya, Chairperson, IOCL were also present at the event.
About IOCL’s Reference fuels:
i.Reference Gasoline fuels will be available in E0, E5, E10, E20, E85, E100 from the Paradip Refinery

ii.Reference diesel fuel will be available in B7 grade from the Panipat refinery.
iii.These indigenous reference fuels have met the Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) specifications and it is
available at better price with reduced lead time.
The fuels have been tested in NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration
Laboratories) accredited refinery laboratories, IndianOil R&D Centre and Intertek (UK and India)
laboratories.
iv.The domestic production of the reference fuels will reduce India’s import dependency and position India’s
energy industry at the forefront of the global stage.
Benefits: The imported reference fuel costs Rs 800-850 a litre. Indigenous production of this fuel will cut down
this cost to around Rs 500 per litre.
What is Reference fuels?
The Reference fuels (gasoline and diesel) are premium high-value products that are used to calibrate and test
vehicles by auto Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEMs) and testing agencies like the International Centre
for Automotive Technology (ICAT) and the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI).
The regular fuel has an octane number of 87, but premium fuel has an octane number of 91. Reference
grade fuel comes with a 97 octane number.
Specifications:
i.For vehicle testing purposes, the fuel has to be of a higher grade than regular or premium petrol and diesel.
ii.The government regulations has listed as set of specifications, from Cetane number to flash point, viscosity,
sulphur and water content, hydrogen purity and acid number, for fuels that are referred to as ‘reference’
petrol/diesel.
Uses of Reference fuels:
These are used to ensure the accuracy and consistency of laboratory tests and engine performance
evaluations.
These reference fuels are used for emission testing of vehicles equipped with spark ignition engines.
On 3rd August 2023, the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) under the Ministry of Finance, upgraded the
status of 2 oil sector Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) namely Oil India Limited (OIL) and ONGC Videsh
Ltd (OVL). The status of OIL and OVL has been upgraded to the status of Maharatna and Navaratna CPSEs
respectively. Earlier OIL was a ‘Navaratna’ CPSE, while OVL was a Category-I ‘Miniratna’ CPSE.
About Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL):
IOCL is a Maharatna Public Sector Enterprise (PSE) under MoPNG. It was incorporated in 1964 by merging
Indian Refineries Limited with Indian Oil Company under the Indian Companies Act, 1956.
Chairman– Shrikant Madhav Vaidya
India’s first Solar Roof Cycling Track Inaugurated in Hyderabad

The 23 kilometer long Healthway Cycling Track, India’s first solar-roofed cycling track, was inaugurated in
Hyderabad, Telangana, by the state municipal administration and Urban Development Minister K. T. Rama Rao.
• The cycling track along the Outer Ring Road is divided into two unique stretches: an 8.5-kilometer
pink line from Nanakramguda to the Telangana State Police Academy and a 14.5-kilometer blue line
from Kollur to Narsingi, which includes five different entry points.
• Around 16,000 solar panels have been installed to generate 16 megawatts (MW) of power, which
can power 32,000 streetlights or illuminate 800 kilometers of city streets.
• The installed solar panels will be used to illuminate the track at night and protect cyclists from the
sun, rain, and other weather conditions.
• This was also the world’s second solar roof-covered cycle track due to its exceptional design.

Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya Inaugurates New Facilities at NIMHANS & unveils New
Logo of Tele-MANAS
Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya,Ministry of Health and Family Welfare(MoHFW) inaugurated new facilities
at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) in Bengaluru, Karnataka and
launched the new logo of Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele MANAS)
• These events happened on the occasion of 31st World Mental Health Day which was observed on
10th October 2023.
New facilities at NIMHANS:
The new facilities at NIMHANS include the Platinum Jubilee Auditorium and Academic facility, the New
Administrative Office complex, and the Centre for Brain and Mind.
About NIMHANS:
i.NIMHANS is a premier medical institute in India for mental health care, education, and research.
ii.NIMHANS came into existence in 1974 by amalgamating Mysore Government Mental Hospital and All India
Institute of Mental Health.
iii.Through the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore Act, 2012, NIMHANS
attained the status of Institutes of National Importance(INI).
About Tele MANAS:
i.Tele manas is a national tele-mental health program which aims to provide mental health to all because it is a
universal human right.
ii.It was announced in Union Budget 2022-23 and launched in October 2022.
iii.It functions under Ministry of Health & Family Welfare(MoH&FW).
iv.Digital technology can be employed to make healthcare more accessible to everyone.
Award:
i.The Union Minister awarded the top three states in India with the highest number of calls to the programme,
ranking them as follows: Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh.
ii.Under smaller states category Telangana, Jharkhand, and Kerala were awarded whereas Assam, Mizoram and
Manipur received awards in the North East category
iii.Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu were awarded in the Union
Territories category.
Why Tele Manas?
i.The National Mental Health Survey, published in 2015-16, revealed that 10% of the population is affected by
mental health problems.
• This highlights the significant impact that mental health has on individuals, society, and the
economy.
ii.The survey was supported by MoH&FW and implemented by NIMHANS.
iii.More than 3.5 lakh people have received councelling through the program.
Union Minister Arjun Munda Inaugurated Aadi Mahotsav in Jharkhand

On 7th October 2023, Union Minister Arjun Munda, Ministry of Tribal Affairs(MoTA) inaugurated “Aadi
Mahotsav” – the National Tribal Festival, organised by Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development
Federation of India Limited (TRIFED), at Jamshedpur, Jharkhand.
• The event will be held from 7th to 16th October 2023 commemorating the celebration of Azadi Ka
Amrit Mahotsav.
Aadi Mahotsav:
i.Aadi Mahotsav is an annual initiative of MoTA to celebrate tribal entrepreneurship, crafts, culture, cuisine,
commerce and traditional art.
ii.It is a crucial platform for showcasing the rich and diverse heritage of India tribes to a national and
international audience.

iii.The 2023 Aadi Mahotsav will showcase the talents of 336 tribal artisans and artists, including members of
Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) and Van Dhan Vikas Kendra (VDVK) beneficiaries.
• The festival will feature 30 stalls from Jharkhand artisans, 11 VDVK stalls, and 5 cuisine stalls. It will
also showcase 68 stalls from artisans from other states, including 15 cuisine stalls.
Key People:
Bidyut Baran Mahato, Member of Parliament (MP) of Lok Sabha(Jamshedpur), Chanakya Chaudhury, Vice
President Corporate Services at Tata Steel and Geetanjali Gupta IAS, Managing Director (MD) of TRIFED were
present during the event.
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Inaugurated 1st Indian Military Heritage Festival 2023
in New Delhi
On 21st October 2023, Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence(MoD), inaugurated the first edition
of Indian Military Heritage Festival (2023) at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The festival, organized by the United Service Institution of India (USI) – Centre for Military History &
Conflict Studies (CMHCS), was held from 21st to 22nd October 2023.
• The 2-day festival celebrated the rich military culture and heritage of India through conversations,
art, dance, drama, story-telling and exhibitions.
• The festival focused on India’s rich military heritage and traditions; Security & Strategy; and
Atmanirbhar Bharat, in the defence and military domains.
Note: The Indian Military Heritage Festival was launched as a key annual event during India’s G-20 presidency
in 2022-2023.
Highlights:
i.During the festival, a MILFEST was organized for military ecosystem as a platform for discussing a
contemporary issues relating to India and the world focusing on Security, Strategy and International Relations.
ii.On the other hand, USI Atmanirbhar Bharat Initiative (ANBI) provided a platform to designers, developers,
manufacturers and security forces to share ideas for indigenization and self-reliance in defence technology.
Key Points:
i.The event brought together wide range of participants, encompassing Indian and international corporations,
public sector enterprises, non-profit groups, think tanks, and wealthy individuals, encouraging the exchange of
ideas and discussions.
ii.It featured military band performances, a Cultural Gala Evening, and an exhibition showcasing key milestones
in India’s military history.
• The exhibition was organized in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Heritage, Ministry of
Culture,
MoD Rajnath Singh launches Army’s Project Udbhav
During the festival, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched the Project Udbhav to promote the
indigenous discourse through the integration of ancient strategic acumen into the military domain.
• Project Udbhav is a joint collaboration of Indian Army (IA) and USI.
• The initiative aims to integrate age-old wisdom with contemporary military pedagogy
Note: The term Udbhav translates to Origin or Genesis, which embodies the Indian Army’s efforts to revisit
the roots of India’s military thoughts.
Key Points:
i.This project is on the lines of efforts by the Central government to encourage “Indianization” in areas
including education, health and science.
ii.It envisgaes to learn statecraft, strategy, diplomacy, and warfare from ancient Indian texts like Chanakya’s
Arthashastra, Kamandaka’s Nitisara, and Thiruvalluvar’s Thirukkural.
iii.It will also highlight prominent military campaigns and leaders like empires of Chandragupta Maurya,
Ashoka, Cholas, Chhatrapati Shivaji and Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
iv.It aims to be the hub for India’s strategic advancements.

v.The project signals a series of in-depth research, discussions, studies, and engagements to delve into and
disseminate the rich, varied and often under-explored treasures of India’s strategic thought and military
history.
Key Participants:
Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS) General Manoj Pande, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal VR
Chaudhari, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) Lt Gen JP
Mathew and Vice Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh were among the dignitaries present at
the event.
i.On 7th July 2023, Rajnath Singh, Union Minister of Defence, launched the National Cadet Corps
(NCC) Integrated Software (NIS), a single window interactive software for Cadets, in New Delhi, Delhi.
ii.On 26th July 2023, the Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), a Mini Ratna Central Public Sector Undertaking
(CPSU), under the Ministry of Defence(MoD), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the BITS
Goa Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship Society (BGIIES, Goa) to drive innovation and progress in the
shipbuilding and defence industry using cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies.
About United Service Institution of India (USI):
USI is the oldest tri-service think tank of India working since 1870, and dedicated to national security and
defense services.
Director General– Major General BK Sharma
Headquarter– New Delhi, Delhi
GMIS 2023: PM Modi Inaugurates the 3rd Edition and Unveils ‘Amrit Kaal Vision 2047
Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the 3rd edition of the Global Maritime India
Summit (GMIS) 2023 held form October 17 to 19, 2023 at the MMRDA Grounds in Mumbai.
During the event, the Prime Minister unveiled “Amrit Kaal Vision
2047—blueprint for Indian Maritime blue economy.” This
visionary blueprint sets the stage for various maritime projects
worth over Rs 23,000 crores.
Hosted by: Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways and draws
participants from over 70 countries.
Organisers
• Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
• Indian Ports Association
• Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)
Key Points:
i.PM Modi laid the foundation for multiple projects, aiming to unlock ₹80 lakh crores of investment for
maritime sector development.
ii.PM Modi underlined the government’s vision of ‘Ports for Prosperity and Ports for Progress.’ He
emphasized the concept of ‘Ports for Productivity‘ and highlighted the efforts to make the logistics sector
more efficient, modernize coastal shipping modes, and strengthen India’s coastal infrastructure through
the SagarMala Project.
iii.PM Modi mentioned the world’s longest river cruise service, international cruise terminals in Mumbai,
Visakhapatnam, and Chennai, and the construction of a National Maritime Heritage Complex in Lothal near
Mumbai.
iv.Union Minister Piyush Goyal acknowledged the efforts to enhance India’s EXIM trade capacity, resulting in
over $450 billion of trade in 2022-23.
v.Sarbananda Sonowal held bilateral meetings with ministers from Italy, Tanzania, and Sri Lanka, focusing on
enhancing maritime cooperation.

Key Attendees: Besides Modi and Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal,
the summit was also attended by Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath
Shinde, the two ministers of state in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) — Sripad Naik
and Shantanu Thakur, officials from the MoPSW, and other stakeholders.
GMIS sees Rs 10 Lakh Crore Investments and 360 MoUs, Featuring 34 Deals Valued at Rs 3.24 Lakh
Crore on Day 1
The GMIS 2023 saw the signing of 360 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with investment commitments
totaling ₹8.35 lakh crores. Additionally, there were announcements of investible projects worth ₹1.68 lakh
crores
Govt has said that as many 34 agreements worth Rs 3.24 lakh crore have been signed on the first day of the
three-day GMIS 2023.
i.The rise of ‘smart ports’ will revolutionize logistics through digitization and innovative models.
• These ‘smart ports’ will utilise data, automation, IoT, and advanced analytics for safer, efficient
resource management
ii.Initiatives like ‘Digital India‘ highlight our dedication to unlocking economic growth via digitization.
• Propose a digital centre of excellence (DCoE) for major ports, encouraging collaboration and
cybersecurity focus”.
iii.“Harit Sagar” – the green port guidelines leads us to zero waste discharge, with an emphasis on reduce,
reuse, repurpose, and recycle principles.
iv.Initiatives have been taken towards interconnecting major ports by 2030.
v.Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) and drone-based security reinforces the government’s
commitment to modernizing port operations.
vi.The session further highlighted the integration of 5G technology in the Indian maritime sector.
PM Modi inaugurates 21 projects worth Rs 18,800 crore at GMIS 2023
The summit’s inaugural day witnessed the laying of the foundation stones for 21 projects worth INR18,800
crores.
These projects include:
• The Haridaspur-Paradip Rail Line, a project worth Rs 3,200 crore, aimed at reducing congestion
and benefiting the people of Kendrapara.
• The fifth oil berth at the Marine Oil Terminal in Jawahar Dweep, a project worth Rs 1,046 crore,
designed to improve ship turnaround time and accommodate larger vessels.
• The development of a special economic zone at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority
(JNPA) with a value of Rs 565 crore. With an additional investment of Rs 4,000 crore, the project is
expected to create 57,000 direct jobs.
• A fourth container terminal at the JNPA, costing Rs 3,196 crore, aimed at enhancing container
cargo facilitation and reducing congestion.
• The deepening and optimization of inner harbor facilities, including the development of the Western
Deck at the Paradip Port Authority, with an investment of Rs 3,004 crore.
• The conversion of the ninth berth into a container terminal at the V.O. Chidambaranar Port Trust,
worth Rs 434 crore.
• The rejuvenation of Khidderpore Docks (Dock 1-West) at the Syama Prasad Mukherjee Port
Authority (SMPA), with an investment of Rs 181 crore.
• The construction of a new navigation lock gate at Farakka, West Bengal, undertaken by the Inland
Waterways Authority of India, at a cost of Rs 375 crore.
GMIS records major investment of Rs 2.37 lakh crore on Day 2
On the second day of the GMIS 2023 in Mumbai, a significant investment of ₹2.37 lakh crore was recorded.
i.The day saw the signing of nearly 70 MoUs covering various sectors within the maritime industry.
ii.These included port development, green hydrogen, ammonia, port-led development, business, commerce,
shipbuilding, knowledge sharing, and port connectivity.

iii.One MoU was signed between the India Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI) and A
to Z Exit, exploring cargo transportation possibilities between India’s Northeast region and Bangladesh.
JNPA signs ₹20,000 crore MoU with DP World for Vadhvan Port development
DP World, a global logistics operator, and the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) signed a significant MoU
valued at ₹20,000 crore and is intended for the development of the Vadhvan port, a highly anticipated project
located north of Mumbai along the Arabian coast.
• This port’s strategic location offers proximity to Mumbai and Gujarat, making it an attractive trade
gateway with excellent connectivity to northern and central India through the national railway
network and NH8.
i.The Vadhvan port is considered a massive project and aims to handle nearly 24 million TEUs (twenty-foot
equivalent units), ranking it among the top 10 ports globally.
ii.Building the Vadhvan port presents challenges, particularly due to the construction of a 10.2-kilometer-long
breakwater.
• The project will be a joint effort between JNPA and the Maharashtra Maritime Board, with
respective shareholdings of 74% and 26%.
iii.Additionally, DP World signed MoUs worth over ₹40,000 crore with JM Baxi and International Seaport
Dredging Private Limited of Belgium for the development of other terminals at the Vadhvan port.
• DP World currently operates 5 container terminals in India with a combined capacity of
approximately 6 million TEUs.
iv.PM Modi also laid the foundation stone for the Tuna Tekra all-weather deep draft terminal, a project set
to cost more than Rs 4,500 crore at the Deendayal Port Authority in Gujarat.
• This state-of-the-art greenfield terminal will be developed in PPP mode.
• The terminal will handle next-gen vessels exceeding 18,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) and
will act as a gateway for Indian trade via the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC).
• It will have an annual capacity of 2.19 million TEUs, which will further increase DP World’s
combined capacity in India to 8.19 million TEUs.
Chairman of JNPA: Sanjay Sethi
TCI Group Honored as Maritime Excellence Achiever at GMIS 2023 by Ministry of Ports, Shipping &
Waterways
The Transport Corporation of India Ltd. (TCI Group) was honored with the prestigious Maritime Excellence
Award in the ‘Shipping – Promoting Multimodality‘ category during GMIS 2023, an event presented by the
Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways on October 19, 2023.
• This recognition underscores TCI’s commitment to delivering world-class, end-to-end integrated
logistics and supply chain solutions in the Indian Maritime Industry.
About TCI Group:
TCI Group, with revenues exceeding Rs. 6200 Crores, is India’s leading integrated supply chain and logistics
solutions provider. TCI Group’s product offerings include TCI Freight, TCI Seaways, TCI Supply Chain Solutions,
TCI Chemical Logistics Solutions, TCI Cold Chain Solutions Ltd., TCI CONCOR Multimodal Solutions Pvt. Ltd.,
Transystem Logistics International Pvt. Ltd., TCI Express Ltd, TCI Developers Ltd, TCI Foundation, and TCI
Institute of Logistics.
MD of TCI: Vineet Agarwal
NMPA Inks Seven MoUs Worth Rs 8,347 Crore
The New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA) entered into 7 MoUs with a total value of Rs. 8,347 crores.
MoUs:
i.2 MoUs with Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals (MRPL), totaling 6500 crores
• Rs. 5,000 crore, focusing on port-based infrastructure to support business development.
• Rs. 1,500 crore for the expansion and addition of new capacities to the desalination plant.
ii.4 MoUs totaling Rs. 1,800 crore were exchanged with various stakeholders
• Including Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL)

• Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL)
• Karnataka Maritime Board (KMB)
• Sealord Containers (SCL) under the banner of Port-led Industrialization.
iv.1 MoU with the Public Health Preparedness Clinic (PHPC) to establish tank farms and storage infrastructure
at a cost of Rs. 47 crore.
Chairman of NMPA: Dr. A. V. Ramana
FinMin Nirmala Sitharaman Leads ‘Maritime Financing, Insurance, and Arbitration’ Session
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired a session on ‘Maritime Financing, Insurance, and
Arbitration‘ during the GMIS 2023 in Mumbai.
Key points:
i.FM Sitharaman highlighted India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor as a crucial maritime route to
reach Europe, aimed at reducing logistics costs.
ii.“Marine Cargo Pool” was established with support from IRDAI and domestic insurers, along with the
General Insurance Corporation of India Limited (GIC Re), to support maritime trade.
iii.Arbitration and Indian P&I Entity: This entity would serve several purposes, including reducing India’s
vulnerability to international sanctions, protecting liabilities of ships in coastal and inland waters, and
promoting maritime arbitration in India.
iv.An Expert committee was formed to streamline infrastructure understanding among financing and
regulatory institutions, focusing on categorizing relevant sectors as infrastructure in the Harmonized Master
List (HML).
v.31 projects in 9 major ports were identified for monetization under National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP),
with an estimated capex of Rs 14,483 crore for FY 2022-25.
vi.An alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanism, known as ‘SAROD-Ports’ (Society for Affordable
Redressal of Disputes – Ports), was introduced.
vii.FM Sitharaman highlighted India’s improved ranking in the Global Ranking of International
Shipments from 44th in 2014 to 22nd in 2023.
viii.The establishment of an International Arbitration Centre (IAC) in GIFT City was highlighted, aiming to
provide a faster dispute resolution process.
Related Notes: i.The first Maritime India summit was held in 2016 in Mumbai while the Second Maritime
Summit was held virtually in 2021
ii.With a vast coastline of more than 7,500 km, India is among the largest maritime countries in the world.
iii.95% of India’s foreign trade and 70% its total trade in terms of value takes place through seaways.
iv.India is home to 12 major ports, over 200 other ports, 30 shipyards and a comprehensive hub of diverse
maritime service providers.
About Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways:
Union Minister – Sarbananda Sonowal, (Rajya Sabha Constituency – Assam)
Minister of State (MoS) – Shripad Yesso Naik; Shantanu Thakur
Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurates India’s 1st Nano DAP plant at Kalol in Gandhinagar,
Gujarat
On October 24, 2023, India‘s first Nano Di-Ammonia Phosphate (DAP–Liquid) plant was inaugurated by the
Union Minister Amit Shah, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) at Kalol in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
It was set up by Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) at a cost of Rs 300 crore.
The development of plant is on the lines of Aatmnirbhar Bharat vision of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra
Modi.
Note: This is the second IFFCO plant in Gujarat. In May 2022, PM inaugurated IFFCO’s world’s first Nano Urea
Liquid in Kalol.
Key Points:
i.The plant will produce 42 lakh bottles of green technology Nano DAP.

ii.Each bottle replaces 50 kg bag of traditional DAP for farmers.
The plant will produce 5 crore bottles of Nano dap liquid equivalent to 25 tons of DAP.
iii.Nano DAP priced at Rs 600 per 500 ml, while traditional DAP bag costs around Rs 1300.
iv.With this, there will be significant reduction in DAP imports and lowered logistics costs expected.
What is Nano DAP?
It is a liquid fertilizer that contains nanoparticles of DAP. It’s a product of nanotechnology developed by the
IFFCO. It is a source of nitrogen and phosphorus, which are essential nutrients for crop growth.
It contains 8% nitrogen and 16% phosphorus, compared to 18% nitrogen and 46% phosphorus in
conventional granular bags
Other Inaugurations:
The Union Minister also attended an event in Sanand where he launched various developmental projects worth
Rs 289 crore.
i.These projects included the Sanand Industries Association’s mini Industrial Training Institute (ITI) and fire
station, and Hydrogen Electrolyzer Manufacturing factory
ii.He also laid the foundation stone of the sports complex at SD Arts and BR Commerce College at the cost of Rs
13 crore.
Participants:
Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers(MoC&F), among others were present
during the event.
i.On 2nd July 2023, Amit Shah, Union Minister of Home Affairs and Cooperation, virtually launched the ‘Akshar
River Cruise‘ on Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. This is the first passenger catamaran built in
India under the “Make in India” initiative.
ii.On 17th July 2023, Union Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah launched the ‘Central Registrar of
Cooperative Societies (CRCS) – Sahara Refund Portal’ aimed at aiding over 10 crore depositors of the Sahara
Group in reclaiming their money within 45 days of registration in the portal.
About Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Limited (IFFCO):
Chairman– Dilip Sanghani
Establishment– 1967
FESTIVAL
Kati Bihu Celebrated Across Assam – 18th October 2023
Kati Bihu, also known as Kongali bihu, is the annual Assamese festival celebrated on the first day of
the Kati Month in the Assamese calendar, usually coincides with the mid-October.
• Kati Bihu is celebrated during the time of relocation of the rice sapling which is observed with
great enthusiasm and fervor.
The 2023 Kati Bihu was celebrated on 18th October 2023.
• The 2022 Kati Bihu was celebrated on 18th Octobet 2022 and the 2024 Kati Bihu will be celebrated
on 17th October 2024.
Significance of Kati Bihu:
i.The name Kati Bihu comes from the Assamese word “kati”, which means “to cut.”
ii.The word Kongali also means ‘poor’ which signifies the lack of food during the period and conveys a sense of
simplicity.
iii.To celebrate the Kati Bihu, the people of Assam will light up the lamps outside their homes as well as in
paddy fields in the evening praying for a better crop in the next season.
Assam’s Bihu:
Bihu is a set of 3 important cultural festivals of Assam.

• ‘Magh Bihu’ is celebrated to mark the of harvesting season. Annually celebrated in the month of
Magh (usually falls in the month of January)
• ‘Bohag Bihu’ is celebrated as the sowing festiva. Annually celebrated in the month of Bohag(usually
falls in the month of April).
• ‘Kati Bihu’ is celebrated in the month of ‘Kati’ (falls in the month of October).
About Assam:
Chief Minister – Himanta Biswa Sarma
Governor- Gulab Chand Kataria
Festival – Baishagu, Ambubachi Mela
Stadium – Nehru Stadium, Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium (Sarusajai Stadium)
OTHER NEWS
Israel-Hamas war: India launched ‘Operation Ajay’ to evacuate Indian nationals from Israel
On 11 October 2023, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India (GoI) launched ‘Operation
Ajay’, a repatriation operation, to bring back Indian citizens from Israel amid the ongoing 2023 Israel–Hamas
War.
• This operation aims to assist Indian citizens in Israel who wish to return to India.
Background:
i.2023 Israel-Hamas War is the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant groups led by Hamas
ii.The conflict started on 7th October 2023 when the Gaza-based Hamas militants invaded Israel from the Gaza
Strip.
iii.The operation Ajay was launched after Air India and other airlines suspended all its commercial operations
to and from Israel as the war began on October 7.
Note: According to estimates, around 18,000 Indians (including students and caregivers) are currently residing
in Israel.
Operation Ajay:
i.To facilitate the operation, special charter flights have been organized to transport Indian citizens from Israel
to India.
iii.The Indian Embassy has emailed the first batch of registered Indian citizens, marking the beginning of the
repatriation process. Messages for these subsequent flights will be sent out in due course.
Proactive measures:
i.Prior to launching ‘Operation Ajay,’ MEA established a 24-hour control room to help monitor the situation and
provide information and assistance.
ii.The control rooms will assess the number of Indian nationals in Israel and Palestine, their current location,
and their willingness to move out of those places.
Dedicated Helplines:
i.The Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv (Israel) set up a 24-hour emergency helpline.
ii.India’s Representative Office in Ramallah (Palestine) also set up a 24-hour emergency helpline.
iii.The embassy also reminded Indian nationals in Israel to register with the embassy at the
link: https://indembassyisrael.gov.in/whats?id=dwjwb.
Other Evacuation Processes of India:
Operation Kaveri (2023):
It is a rescue operation launched by the GoI on April 24, 2023, in response to the crisis in Sudan to evacuate
Indian citizens who are stranded in Sudan.
Operation Dost (2023):
i.It was launched to bring back stranded Indian citizens following the massive earthquake that hit Türkiye and
Syria on February 6, 2023.
ii.It was launched to provide necessary support in terms of search and rescue (SAR) efforts as well as medical

assistance.
Operation Ganga (2022):
It is the initiative launched by the GoI to bring back Indians stranded in Ukraine, following the Russian invasion
of Ukraine.
Operation Devi Shakti (2021):
It was carried out by the Indian Air Force (IAF) to bring back Indians safely from Afghanistan after the collapse
of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the fall of Kabul (The capital of the Taliban).
Operation Samudra Setu (2020):
Indian government launched an unprecedented repatriation programme during the COVID-19 pandemic, to
bring back Indian citizens stranded in foreign countries.
• It is considered one of the largest civilian repatriation exercises by any country.
About Israel:
Capital– Jerusalem
Prime Minister– Benjamin Netanyahu
Currency– the new Israeli Shekel (NIS or ILS)
Tripura Became 4th State in India to Introduce E-Cabinet System

Tripura Chief Minister(CM) Manik Saha launched an e-cabinet (electronic cabinet) system at Agartala,
(the capital of) Tripura to promote digital infrastructure development and digitization of government
services and information.
• With this, Tripura has become the 4th state in India (after Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and
Arunachal Pradesh) and 2nd state in northeast to implement the e-cabinet system.
• It is modelled on the e-cabinet system of Uttarakhand.
• The move is aligned with the Digital India initiative.
• The shift will increase transparency, efficiency and accountability of the state government.
About e-cabinet system:
i.The e-cabinet system is a paperless system of conducting cabinet meetings.
ii.All cabinet ministers and bureaucrats will use tablets to access the system, which will contain all the
necessary meeting materials, such as agendas, presentations, and cabinet notes.
iii.Since the process is paperless, this reduces the carbon footprint and environmental degradation.
Bhopal’s Mahila Thana became India’s 1st Women-centric Police Station to get ISO 9001:2015
Certification
The Mahila thana (women’s police station) of Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) became the first women-centric
police station across the entire India to be certified with the International Organization for Standardization
(ISO) 9001:2015 certificate.
• The ISO certificate is issued for 3 years.
• With this certification, 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.
Key People:
Hemlata Sharma, Director of Infinity Certification Services presented the certificate to Harinarayan Chari
Mishra, Commissioner of Police (CP) of Bhopal. Senior police official Anurag Sharma, Additional Commissioner
of Police (ACP), Bhopal was also present on the occasion.
Features of ISO-Certified Bhopal’s Mahila thana:
i.Upgrades were implemented, including the provision of separate rooms and dedicated computer systems for
the investigating officers and staff, minimizing potential risks during meetings and operations.
ii.Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras were installed throughout the premises of the Police station.
iii.The station was redesigned to be more ‘victim friendly’. A swing house has been set up for children and more

than 5 toilets have been built.
iv.A dedicated feeding room was set up to serve the needs of women.
ISO Certification:
It specifies the requirement of an ideal Quality Management System (QMS) and provides a framework for
organizations to improve efficiency, enhance customer satisfaction, and achieve continual improvement.
ISO Certification for Police Station:
i.It will be issued based on the records they are maintaining at the police stations, cleanliness, interiors,
reception office, CCTV camera installation, control room, and public waiting room with basic amenities.
ii.The stations should also meet standards in terms of maintaining strong public relationships with available
resources for implementing strong social policing strategies within their jurisdiction.
What is ISO?
i.ISO is an independent, international organization with a membership of 169 national standards bodies.
ii.It is a non-governmental organization (NGO) established in 1947 and based in Geneva, Switzerland.
The organization issues certificates to businesses after checking their products or services for quality, safety,
and efficiency.
Kerala Becomes the First State to Have Hallmarking Centres in All Districts
Kerala has become the first state in India to have hallmarking centers in all of its 14 districts. This was
achieved after the inauguration of a hallmarking center in Adimali, Idukki district, Kerala.
This will make Kerala a hub of gold business and strengthen its claim to being the most reliable market
in India.
Kerala Gold Business:
i.The gold business in Kerala is worth more than Rs 1 lakh crore
with annual sales of around 250 tonnes.
ii.In Kerala, there are about 12,000 gold merchants and majority
of them are holding Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
registration.
Hallmarking:
i.Hallmarking is a system of certifying the purity of gold and
silver jewellery/artefacts in India.
ii.The hallmarking system is administered by the BIS, which is
the National Standard Body of India established under ‘Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Act 2016’.
iii.The hallmark will contain the purity of the metal, the name of the assaying and hallmarking center, and a
unique identification number.
BIS hallmarking is voluntary for gold jewellery below 2 grams in weight, but it is compulsory for all gold
jewellery above 2 grams in weight.
HUID number:
i.Intoduced in 2021, Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) number is a six digit Alphanumeric code.
ii.HUID will be given to every piece of jewellery at the time of hallmarking and it is unique for every piece of
jewellery.
iii.The jewellery is stamped with the unique number manually at the Assaying & Hallmarking centre.
iv.Consumers can use the HUID to track their jewellery online and verify its purity.
DEA hikes interest rate on 5-year Recurring Deposit Scheme to 6.7% for Q3FY24
The Department of Economic Affairs (DEA-Budget Division), Ministry of Finance, has increased the
interest rate on the 5-year recurring deposit scheme by 20 basis points to 6.7% from 6.5% for the 3rd
quarter (October-December) of 2023-2024 i.e. Q3FY24.
• The rates of other small savings schemes remained unchanged.

Interest Rates on Small Savings Schemes for Q3FY24
Rate of interest from October 1, Rate of interest from July 1, 2023
Instruments 2023 to December 31, 2023 to September 30, 2023
Savings Deposit 4 4
1-Year Post Office Time
Deposits 6.9 6.9
Deposits 7 7
Deposits 7 7
Deposits 7.5 7.5
5-Year Recurring
Deposits 6.7 6.5
National Saving
Certificates (NSC) 7.7 7.7
Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP) 7.5 (will mature in 115 months) 7.5 (will mature in 115 months)
Public Provident Fund
(PPF) Scheme 7.1 7.1
Sukanya Samriddhi
Account Scheme 8 8
Senior Citizens Savings
Scheme 8.2 8.2
Monthly Income Account 7.4 7.4
Key Points:
i.According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data, in FY23, household net financial savings rate hit a
historic low at 5.1% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), down from 7.2% in FY22.
ii.Surging small savings collections in FY24 (48% growth in Q1FY24 compared to 9.9% in Q1FY23)
showing reduced reliance on market borrowings for the Central Government.
About Small Savings Schemes:
i.Small Savings Schemes are savings instruments managed by the government to encourage citizens to
save regularly.
ii.The small savings schemes have three categories- savings deposits, social security schemes, and monthly
income plan.
iii.Interest rates for small savings schemes are notified on a quarterly basis by the government.
The formula to arrive at the interest rates for small savings scheme was given by
the Shyamala Gopinath Committee in January 2023.
CMIE’s Survey: India’s Unemployment Rate Declines to 7.1% in September 2023

According to Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE)’s Consumer Pyramids Household Survey, India’s
unemployment rate fell to a 12-month low of 7.1% in September 2023 from 8.1% in August 2023 despite the
poor monsoon.

i.In rural areas, the overall unemployment rate dropped from 7.11% in August 2023 to 6.20% in September
2023.
• Among rural females, unemployment decreased from 10.07% in August to 8.01% in September.
• Among rural males, unemployment decreased from 6.68% in August to 5.94% in September.
ii.In urban areas, the overall unemployment rate decreased from 10.09% in August to 8.94% in September.
• Among urban females, unemployment decreased from 22.17% in August to 18.57% in September.
• Among urban males, unemployment decreased from 8.31% in August to 7.57% in September.
CMIE is a private think-tank which was established in 1976. It is headquartered in Mumbai,
Maharashtra and Mahesh Vyas is currently serving as its Managing Director(MD).
BIAL sets up South Asia’s 1st Aircraft Recovery Training School in BLR Airport
Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) has established South Asia’s first Aircraft Recovery Training
School (ARTS) on the premises of Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (KIAB/BLR Airport) in
Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• BIAL formed a strategic partnership with KUNZ GmbH Aircraft Equipment, Germany.
• BIAL is the first airport in India to acquire Code F compatible aircraft recovery equipment and
assemble a proficient team of recovery managers.
About Aircraft Recovery Training School (ARTS):
i.ARTS provides aircraft recovery hands-on training, equipped with state-of-the-art Disabled Aircraft
Recovery Equipment (DARE).
ii.The goal of the program is to elevate operational efficiency and prioritize passenger safety.
• The training will equip aviation professionals with the necessary skills and knowledge needed to
respond the challenging situations.
Mumbai Airport is 1st in Asia to Commission ‘Disabled Aircraft Recovery Kit’

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) of Mumbai, Maharashtra, has become the first
airport in Asia to commission a “Disabled Aircraft Recovery Kit” (DARK), to help stranded aircraft.
• DARK can quickly and efficiently recover large commercial and transport aircraft that have become
disabled due to runway excursions or other incidents.
• DARK uses high-pressure lifting bags that are more durable and require fewer people to operate
than conventional low-pressure systems.
• It can recover aircraft up to 390 tonnes in weight, including the world’s largest aircraft, the Boeing
777-300ER.
• The DARK kit is compact and portable, making it easy to transport to crash sites quickly. This is
especially important at CSMIA, which has a single cross-over runway operation.
Note:
A runway excursion is when an aircraft unintentionally leaves the runway during takeoff or landing.
GI Tags Awarded to Eight Products from Arunachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir,
Odisha, and Goa
The Geographical Indications Registry, operating under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Chennai, has
recently awarded geographical indication (GI) tags to a collective of 8 distinct products. Among these, 3
originate from Arunachal Pradesh, 1 from Tamil Nadu, 2 from Jammu and Kashmir, 1 from Odisha, and 1 from
Goa.
GI Tagged products are:
State GI Product Goods
Arunachal Pradesh Arunachal Pradesh Yak Churpi Food Stuffs

Arunachal Pradesh Khaw Tai” (Khamti Rice) Agriculture
Arunachal Pradesh Tangsa Textile Product Textiles
Tamil Nadu Udangudi Panangkarupatti Food Stuffs
Basohli Pashmina Woolen Products Textiles
Jammu and Kashmir (J & K) Udhampur Kaladi Food Stuffs
Odisha Kendrapara Rasabali Food Stuffs
Goa Goa Cashew (Kaju Or Caju) Agriculture
Arunachal gets GI tag for Tawang’s Yak churpi, Khaw Tai (Khamti rice), Tangsa textile
Arunachal Pradesh has achieved a significant milestone by obtaining GI tags for 3 distinct products: Khamti
rice, Yak churpi from Tawang, and Tangsa textile.
Yak Churpi from Tawang:
i.The Indian Council of Agricultural Research-National Research Centre on Yak (ICAR-NRC on Yak) in
Arunachal Pradesh applied for the GI registration of “Yak Churpi” in December 2021.
ii.“Churpi” is a dairy product (Cheese) derived from the milk of the indigenous Arunachali yak
breed, primarily found in the West Kameng and Tawang districts of Arunachal Pradesh.
iii.Yak Churpi is a naturally fermented dairy product made from yak milk and holds significance in the
Himalayan region, including India, Nepal, and Bhutan.
iv.The GI tag for Yak Churpi is expected to boost pastoral production systems and yak rearing activities across
the nation.
Khaw Tai (Khamti Rice):
Khamti rice is a sticky rice variety cultivated in the Namsai district of Arunachal Pradesh.
Tangsa Textile:
Textile products originating from the Tangsa tribe in the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh are
renowned for their unique designs and vibrant colors.
Support from NABARD and ‘Vocal for Local’ Campaign:
• The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has actively supported the
registration of indigenous products from the region for Geographical Indication (GI) as part of the
state government’s “Vocal for Local” campaign.
Udangudi Panangkarupatti from Tamil Nadu:
Udangudi Panangkarupatti
• Udangudi Panangkarupatti, a specific type of palm jaggery or “gur” originating
from Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu.
• The uniqueness of this palm jaggery lies in its traditional production method.
International Popularity
• Udangudi jaggery has gained recognition not only locally but also internationally. It is exported to
countries such as Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Basohli Pashmina and Udhampur’s Kaladi:
Basohli Pashmina Woolen Products
• Basohli Pashmina, a traditional hand-spun Pashmina craft from Kathua district, J&K, obtained the
Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
• It is renowned for its exceptional softness, fineness, and feather-like weight.
Udhampur’s Kaladi Dairy Product:
• Kaladi is a popular Dogra cuisine with its origins in Udhampur district’s Ramnagar.
Sweet Dish ‘Rasabali’ of Odisha’s Kendrapara
Rasabali is a mouthwatering delicacy originating from the 262-year-old Baladevjew temple in Ichhapur, on
the outskirts of Kendrapara town.

• It comprises deep-fried flattened reddish-brown cheese patties soaked in thickened and sweetened
milk.
Historical and Cultural Significance:
• Rasabali is part of the 56 offerings, known as Chhapan Bhog, presented to Lord Jagannath and his
divine siblings at Puri Srimandir.
• Its historical roots trace back to medieval times during the reign of King Anangabhima Deva.
• The sweetmeat was initially prepared only inside the Sri Baladevjew Temple but has now gained
popularity throughout Kendrapara, Odisha.
Goa Cashew (Kaju Or Caju)
i.This recognition is in alignment with the Swayampurna Goa mission, emphasizing self-sufficiency.
ii.The unique identity and taste of Goa cashews result from the overall climatological impact of Goa and
traditional farming practices followed by Goans.
iii.It is the 10th product of the state to get the coveted GI tag.
• Other nine Goan products/produce that previously received GI tag are: Harmal chilli, Khola chilli,
Myndoli banana, Agassaim brinjal, Sat Shiro bhendo, cashew Feni, Goa Khaje, Mancurad mango and
Goan Bebinca.
About GI Tags:
i.A geographical indication (GI) is a name or sign used on products which corresponds to a specific
geographical location or origin (e.g., a town, region, or country)
ii.This tag is issued by the Geographical Indication Registry under the Department for Promotion of Industry
and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
iii.International agreements like the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property (Articles 1 (2)
and 10) and the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement (Articles 22 to 24)
recognize and govern geographical indications.
iv.India, a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods
(Registration & Protection) Act, 1999 w.e.f. September 15, 2003, and is aimed at registering and
safeguarding geographical indications, preserving the heritage and uniqueness of products linked to specific
geographic regions.
Note: Darjeeling Tea was the first Indian product to get a GI tag in the year 2004, the GI tag for Darjeeling Tea
is valid upto October 26 2023.
Ministry of Culture Organizes Curtain Raiser and logo launch event for IAADB
The Ministry of Culture organised curtain raiser event for the inaugural India Art Architecture Design
Biennale (IAADB 2023) at the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi, Delhi.
• The logo of the biennale was also launched during the event.
• The IAADB 2023 is set to be held from 9th to 15th December 2023, at Red Fort, with events
scheduled in Delhi, Mumbai (Maharashtra) and Bengaluru (Karnataka).
Key People:
The Minister of State (MoS) Meenakashi Lekhi, Ministry of Culture addressed the event while Union Minister
Gangapuram Kishan Reddy, Ministry of Culture attended the event through Video Conference.
Aim of Biennale:
To bring traditional grassroots artists and contemporary designers, curators, architects, and thought leaders to
the forefront, transcending age, gender, and genre boundaries
Key Points:
i.IAADB will serve as a precursor to India’s participation in the Venice Biennale 2024, promoting dialogue
among art, architecture, and design professionals.
ii.The Biennale aligns with the vision of the Prime Minister and will mark the launch of the Development of
Cultural Spaces project at the Red Fort, Delhi.

iii.The event will feature exhibitions and panel discussions curated by experts, and will focus on themes like
doors, gardens, temple architecture, modern wonders, indigenous design, and women in architecture.
Railway’s IRCON & RITES Becomes 15th & 16th ‘Navratna CPSE’
The Department of public Enterprise(DPE) under the Ministry of Finance have been granted Navratna status to
two Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) namely Ircon International Limited (IRCON) and RITES
Limited (RITES) under the Ministry of Railways(MoR).
IRCON and RITES Limited:
i.IRCON International Limited is a specialized construction company that covers the entire range of
construction activities and services in the infrastructure sector. It is now the 15th company to be granted
Navratna status.
ii.RITES Limited which is a multidisciplinary engineering and consultancy organization is the 16th Navratna
amongst CPSEs.
• RITES Limited is entering its 50th year of incorporation (2024).
• It is also the first Public sector undertakings (PSU) of Railway followed by IRCON at second.
• Both these companies were listed previously on Miniratna I CPSEs.
About Navratna Scheme:
i.The Navratna scheme was launched in 1997 to identify and support CPSEs with comparative advantages in
becoming global giants.
ii.The boards of Navratna CPSEs have been granted delegated powers in areas such as capital expenditure,
investment in joint ventures (JVs)/subsidiaries, and human resources management.
iii.These CPSEs are given greater autonomy and flexibility in their operations, in order to improve their
performance and competitiveness.
Criteria:
i.The criteria for conferring Navratna status entail that Miniratna Category – I and Schedule ‘A’ CPSEs must
have achieved an ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ rating under the Memorandum of Understanding system in at least
three of the last five years.
ii.Additionally, they should attain a composite score of 60 or higher in six specific performance parameters,
which include:
• Net profit to net worth.
• Manpower cost to total cost of production/services.
• Profit before depreciation, interest, and taxes to capital employed.
• Profit before interest and taxes to turnover.
• Earnings per share.
• Inter-sectoral performance.
iii..The CPSE should have 4 independent Board Directors.
iv.Granting the navratna status enhances financial autonomy to invest up to 1000 crores without any approval
from the central government.
• To establish financial joint ventures and wholly owned subsidiaries in India or abroad with the
stipulation that the equity investment of the CPSE should be limited to the following:-
1. Rs 1000 crore in any one project
2. 15 % of the net worth of the CPSE in one project
3. 30 % of the net worth of the CPSE in all joint ventures/subsidiaries put together.
List of Total Navratna Companies 2023:
S.No Navratna Companies
1 Bharat Electronics Limited
2 Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers Limited
3 Engineers India Limited

4 Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited
5 Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited
6 National Aluminium Company Limited
7 Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
8 Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited
9 NMDC Limited
10 Container Corporation of India Limited
11 Shipping Corporation of India Limited
National Buildings Construction
12
Corporation(NBCC) Limited
13 ONGC Videsh Limited
14 Rail Vikas Nigam Limited
15 Ircon International Limited
16 RITES Limited
About Ircon International Limited (IRCON):
Chairman & Managing Director(CMD – Add.charge) – Brijesh Kumar Gupta
About RITES Limited (RITES):
Chairman & Managing Director(MD) – Rahul Mithal
Headquarters – Gurugram, Haryana
WOAH Approves India’s Self-Declaration of Freedom from HPAI

The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has approved India’s self-declaration of freedom
from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, in certain poultry
compartments (approved farms) in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.
• This recognition by WOAH signifies India’s dedication to international biosecurity standards.
• This recognition is composed to boost India’s poultry industry by enhancing the export potential of
poultry products, such as meat and eggs.
• The self-declaration approved by WOAH coincided with World Egg Day on 13 October 2023.
What is Avian Influenza (AI)?
i.AI is a highly contagious viral disease impacting domestic and wild birds. It can occasionally infect mammals,
including humans.
ii.The many strains of AI viruses can generally be classified into 2 categories according to the severity of the
disease in poultry:
• Low Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (LPAI): Typically causes little or no clinical signs;
• High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI): Can cause severe clinical signs and possible high
mortality rates.
iii.AI outbreaks in poultry can have immediate and severe consequences for the agricultural sector.
i.In India, it was first detected in the state of Maharashtra in February 2006.
ii.Since then, India has experienced annual outbreaks of HPAI in different regions, causing significant economic
losses.
iii.HPAI has been reported in 24 states and Union Territories (UTs). It has necessitated the culling of over 9
million birds to control its spread.
India’s Approach to Controlling HPAI:
i.Follows a “Detect and cull” policy emphasized in the National Action Plan for Prevention, Control, and
Containment of Avian Influenza (revised – 2021).

ii.The comprehensive response includes the humane destruction of infected and exposed animals, eggs, feed,
litter, and contaminated materials.
iii.Measures include movement restrictions for poultry and poultry products, premises disinfection, and clean-
up.
iv.Implementation of a Post-Operative Surveillance Plan (POSP) for effective monitoring.
v.Highlight that vaccination against HPAI is not permitted in India, underlining the significance of other control
measures.
Compartmentalization:
i.It is a strategic technique implemented to ensure the health and safety of poultry and related products.
ii.It involves defining a sub-population of animals with a specified health status within the national territory.
iii.India has proactively embraced compartmentalization to combat the risks of HPAI.
Benefits of Compartmentalization:
• Mitigates risks associated with HPAI.
• Enhances animal health within designated compartments.
• Minimizes the threat of disease spread beyond the compartment.
• Facilitates smoother poultry trade and associated product exchange.
Key Points:
i.India ranks 3rd globally in egg production (129.60 billion) and ranks 5th globally in poultry meat production
(4.47 million tonnes).
ii.During the 2022-23 fiscal year, India exported poultry and poultry products to 64 countries and generated a
revenue of 134 million USD.
iii.The approval of this self-declaration is expected to unlock new global market opportunities for Indian
poultry, contributing to India’s economic growth.
On 28th June 2023, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Organisation for
Animal Health (WOAH), “the Quadripartite organisations”, launched “A One Health Priority Research Agenda
for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)” through a webinar. The Research agenda aims to promote increased
research and investment in AMR.
About World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH):
Director-General– Dr Monique Éloit
Headquarters– Paris, France
Members – 183 Members (As of October 2023)
Founded in 1924 as the Office International des Epizooties (OIE), in May 2003 adopted the common name
World Organisation for Animal Health.
BIS Approves India’s First-ever Indigenous AC & DC Combined Charging Connector Standard
for LEVs
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 Alternating Current (AC) and Direct Current (DC)
Combined Charging connector standard for Light Electric Vehicles (LEVs).
• It is also the world’s 1st charging standard that combines AC and DC charging for small EVs, such as
electric scooters, motorcycles, three-wheelers, and quadricycles, and is designed and engineered in
India.
• The new standard is based on Ather Energy’s charging connector.
Collaboration:
This new standard was developed through a collaborative effort between the National Institution for
Transforming India (NITI) Aayog, the Department of Science and Technology(DST), the Automotive Research
Association of India (ARAI), several EV makers like Ather, Hero, Ola Electric, and BIS.

Objective:
The new standard aims to benefit vehicle owners, manufacturers, and charge point operators by providing a
unified charging system for EVs, especially in urban environments.
Note: Adopting this standard will not only benefit Indian vehicles but LEVs globally as well.
Features and Benefits of the New Standard:
i.This standard addresses a large gap that existed in the market for a standardized connector for an AC and DC
combined charging system for LEVs.
ii.With a common connector for both AC (slow) and DC (fast) charging for LEVs, costs can be reduced while
creating an interoperable network for charging, thus reducing the stress on the infrastructure.
iii.It also allows the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to move away from relying on international
standards and protocols and instead implement a charging system that will propel Indian innovation.
iv.The new charging connectors for LEVs offer a more practical solution compared to expensive electric 4-
wheeler charging connectors.
• The distinctive charging requirements of LEVs make it impractical to adopt a 4-wheeler charging
connector due to their high costs and large size.
IS 17017: Part 2: Sec 7:2023 Standard:
i.EV Conductive Charging System Part 2 Plugs, Socket-Outlets, Vehicle Connectors, and Vehicle Inlets.
ii.Section 7: Dimensional Compatibility and Interchange Ability Requirements for AC, DC, and AC/DC Pin and
Contact-Tube Vehicle Couplers Intended to be used for AC/DC EV Supply Equipment where Protection Relies
on Electrical Separation.
Scope of the New Standard:
i.This standard (Part 2/Sec 7) is applicable to vehicle couplers with pins and Contact-Tubes of standardised
configuration intended for use in EV conductive charging systems which incorporate control means, with rated
operating voltage:
• Up to 120 Volt (V) DC and rated current up to 100 Ampere (A); and
• Up to 240 V AC and rated current up to 32 A.
ii.This standard (Part 2/Sec 7) applies to DC interfaces and combined AC/DC interfaces of vehicle couplers
specified in IS 17017 (Part 2/Sec 1):2020, and intended for use in conductive charging systems for circuits
specified in IS 17017 (Part 31).
ii.This section of IS 17017 (Part 2/Sec 7) applies to the vehicle couplers to be used in an ambient temperature
of between – 25 °C and + 55 °C.
• These vehicle couplers are intended to be connected only to cables with copper or copper-alloy
conductors.
v.Accessories covered by this standard shall be of non-rewireable type only.
Ather Energy:
The company was started by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras (Tamil Nadu) alumni, Tarun
Mehta and Swapnil Jain in 2013.
• It focuses on developing advanced electric two-wheelers for the Indian automotive market.
On August 5, 2023, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with
35 institutions across India for collaboration in standardization and conformity assessment.
About Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS):
Director-General– Pramod Kumar Tiwari
President– Piyush Goyal
(BIS) came into existence, through an act of parliament dated 26 November 1986, on 1 April 1987

STATE NEWS
Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel Inaugurates various Schemes and Infrastructural Projects
Worth Rs 1021.59 Crore
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister (CM) Bhupesh Baghel virtually inaugurates various schemes and
infrastructural projects worth Rs 1021.59 crore.
• The schemes include the installation of a panic button and Global Positioning System (GPS)
services as part of the Nirbhaya project in every passenger vehicle to locate the vehicle once
the panic button is pressed.
• He inaugurated bio-ethanol demonstration plant, Chhattisgarh Niwas, and launched Chief
Minister Construction Workers Pension Assistance Scheme, Automatic Number Plate
Recognition (ANPR) based e-detection system.
Key Points:
i.The Nirbhaya Command and Control Center was established to ensure women’s safety.
• If the panic button is pressed in case of an emergency, the Command Centre will receive
information through Chhattisgarh’s emergency number (Dial 112) and the location of the
vehicle can be found through the GPS system already installed.
New initiatives launched:
i.CM also inaugurated a state-of-the-art bio-ethanol demonstration plant in Godhi, Durg District to
promote biofuel.
• The Chhattisgarh Biofuel Development Authority has prepared the technical design and
drawings of the plant under the guidance of scientists from the Council of Scientific and
Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute
(CSMRI).
ii.The Chief Minister Construction Workers Pension Assistance Scheme was launched. Under this initiative,
the pension amount of Rs 1,500 per month for life will be given to the construction workers who are
registered for ten years and completed 60 years of age.
iii. Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) based electronic-detection (e-detection) system to take
strict measures against vehicles plying without fitness, tax, and proper documents.
• The implementation of the ANPR system will enable automatic fines for vehicles without fitness
and tax when they pass through the roads.
iv.Baghel also inaugurated the Chhattisgarh Niwas in New Delhi, Delhi.
• It was built at a cost of Rs 60.42 crore on a 43,803-square-foot area.
v.He also inaugurated the first tennis academy of Chhattisgarh in Labhandi, Raipur at a cost of Rs 18 crore.
About Chhattisgarh:
Chief Minister – Bhupesh Baghel
Governor – Biswa Bhusan Harichandan
Dance Forms – Saila Dance, Karma, Sua Nacha
Festivals: Bastar Dussehra, Bastar Lokotsav, Fagun Wadai
Tripura Launches “Yuba Tripura, Natun Tripura, Atmanirbhar Tripura” to Encourage Youth
Entrepreneurship
Tripura Chief Minister(CM) Manik Saha launched “Yuba Tripura, Natun Tripura, Atmanirbhar Tripura”, an
initiative of the Tripura Industries Development Corporation Limited (TIDCL) to encourage youth to set up
industrial and business units.

• The initiative is intended to provide exposure and guidance to 100 interested individuals aged 18 to
45 from each of Tripura’s eight districts, encouraging them to embark on their entrepreneurial
paths.
• They will be provided with insights into small, medium, and large-scale industries, followed by a
presentation on government schemes, policies, and incentives by the Industries and Commerce
Department of Tripura government.
• Representatives from NABARD and several lead banks will explain available loan facilities to the
participants.
Highlights of PM Modi’s Visit to Telangana – 1 & 3 October 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Telangana on the 1st and 3rd of October 2023.
• On 1st October 2023, he laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation multiple
developmental projects worth more than Rs 13,500 crore in Mahbubnagar, Telangana.
• On 3rd October 2023, he laid the foundation stone and dedicated various development projects
worth Rs 8000 crores in Nizamabad, Telangana.
PM’s visit to Mahbubnagar, Telangana on 1st October 2023:
The development projects inaugurated during his visit to Telangana on 1st October 2023 include crucial
sectors like road, rail, petroleum and natural gas, and higher education.
Laid foundation stone for road projects related to Nagpur – Vijayawada Economic Corridor:
i.PM Modi laid the foundation stone for the key road projects which are a part of the Nagpur – Vijayawada
Economic Corridor. these projects will be developed at a cost of around Rs 6400 crores.
ii.The projects includes:
• 108 km long ‘four-lane access-controlled Greenfield highway from Warangal to Khammam section of
NH-163G.’
• 90 km long ‘four-lane access-controlled greenfield highway from Khammam to Vijayawada section
of NH-163G.’
iii.The projects will reduce travel distance between Warangal and Khammam by about 14 km; and between
Khammam and Vijayawada by about 27 km.
About Nagpur – Vijayawada Economic Corridor:
i.The Nagpur – Vijayawada Economic Corridor is anticipated to enhance transportation and business prospects
in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
ii.This economic corridor is set to create numerous opportunities for the youth of districts such as
Hanamkonda, Mahabubabad, Warangal, and Khammam by promoting trade, tourism, and industry.
iii.Key economic hubs identified within this corridor, include 8 Special Economic Zones, 5 Mega food parks, 4
fishing seafood clusters, 3 pharma and medical clusters, and 1 textiles cluster.
Dedicated road project related to Hyderabad – Visakhapatnam Corridor developed under Bharatmala
Pariyojana.
PM Modi also dedicated a road project – ‘four laning of 59 km long Suryapet to Khammam section of NH-
365BB.’ built at a cost of approximately Rs 2,460 crore. The project is developed under the Bharatmala
Pariyojana.
• This provides better connectivity to Khammam district and coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh.
Points to note:
i.Many key economic corridors of the country are passing through Telangana. All these will become a medium
to connect the state with the East and West Coast
ii.The Suryapet-Khammam section of the Hyderabad Visakhapatnam corridor will help in reaching the East
Coast. this will also support the reduction of logistics costs of industries and businesses.

About Bharatmala Pariyojana:
Bharatmala Pariyojana is a new umbrella program for the highways sector envisaged by the Ministry of Road
Transport and Highways that focuses on optimizing the efficiency of freight and passenger movement across
the country.
• Under Phase-I of Bharatmala Pariyojana, the implementation of 34,800 km of national highways in 5
years (from 2017 to 2022) was approved at an estimated outlay of Rs. 5,35,000 crore.
Laid Foundation Stone & Dedicated Major Oil & Gas Pipeline Projects:
During the event PM Modi laid the foundation stone and dedicated important oil and gas pipeline projects.
i.He dedicated the ‘Hassan-Cherlapalli LPG Pipeline Project’, connecting Hassan in Karnataka to Cherlapalli
(a suburb of Hyderabad), was developed at a cost of about Rs 2170 crore.
• This Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) pipeline will provides a safe, cost-efficient, and eco-friendly
mode of LPG transportation and distribution in the region.
ii.He also laid the foundation stone for “Multiproduct Petroleum Pipeline” of Bharat Petroleum Corporation
Ltd (BPCL), from Krishnapatnam to Hyderabad (Malkapur).
• The 425-kilometer pipeline will be built at a cost of Rs 1940 crore.
• This will provide a safe, faster, efficient and environmentally friendly mode of petroleum products in
the region.
• This will also create thousands of direct and indirect jobs in Telangana.
iii.PM mentioned about an increase in the number of LPG cylinders from 14 crores in 2014 to 32 crores in 2023
Railway Developments:
i.PM Modi Inaugurated the ‘37 Kms of Jaklair – Krishna New Railway Line’, built at a cost of more than
Rs 500 crore.
• The new rail line section brings areas of the backward district of Narayanpet for the first time onto
the Railway Map.
ii.He virtually flagged off the inaugural Hyderabad (Kacheguda) – Raichur – Hyderabad (Kacheguda) train
service from Krishna station.
• The train service will connect Hyderabad, Rangareddy, Mahabubnagar, and Narayanpet districts in
Telangana with Raichur district in Karnataka.
• The service will provide first-time rail connectivity to several new areas in the backward districts of
Mahabubnagar and Narayanpet, benefiting students, daily commuters, labourers, and the local
handloom industry in the region.
Formation of National Turmeric Board:
He also announced the formation of the National Turmeric Board by the Government of India to benefit
turmeric farmers.
ii.The board will focus on value addition to the supply chain and infrastructure improvement.
Other Highlights:
i.PM also inaugurated five new buildings of the University of Hyderabad. the 5 buildings include,
• School of Economics
• School of Mathematics & Statistics
• School of Management Studies
• Lecture Hall Complex – III
• Sarojini Naidu School of Arts & Communication (Annexe).
Note: The Government of India(GoI) has given Hyderabad University the status of ‘Institution of Eminence’ and
provided special funding.
ii.PM announced that the GoI is going to establish a Central Tribal University in Mulugu district, Telangana.
• The University will be named “Sammakka-Sarakka Central Tribal University” after revered tribal
goddesses Sammakka-Sarakka.
• Around Rs 900 crore will be spent on this university.

PM’s visit to Nizamabad, Telangana on 3rd October 2023:
The development projects inaugurated during his visit to Nizamabad on 3rd October 2023 include crucial
sectors power, rail and health.
Dedication of Telangana Super Thermal Power Project:
PM dedicated the first 800 MW Unit of Phase I of the Telangana Super Thermal Power Project
in Peddapalli district.
• He also announced that the upcoming second unit will raise the plant’s capacity to 4,000 MW.
• PM laid the foundation stone of this project in 2016.
Dedicated Rail Infrastructure Projects:
He also dedicated the new Railway Line connecting Manoharabad and Siddipet; and the electrification project
between Dharmabad – Manoharabad and Mahabubnagar – Kurnool.
• PM also flagged off the Siddipet – Secunderabad – Siddipet train service, benefiting the local rail
commuters in the region.
• The 76 km long Manoharabad-Siddipet rail line will boost the socio-economic development of the
region, especially in the districts of Medak and Siddipet.
• The foundation of this project was laid in 2016.
Note:
India Railways is moving with a target of 100 percent electrification of all the railway lines
Laid Foundation Stone Laying for Critical Care Blocks (CCBs):
PM Modi laid the foundation stone for 20 Critical Care Blocks (CCBs) under the Pradhan Mantri – Ayushman
Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission(PM-ABHIM).
• These CCBs will be built in the districts Adilabad, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Jayashankar Bhupalpally,
Jogulamba Gadwal, Hyderabad, Khammam, Kumuram Bheem Asifabad, Mancherial, Mahabubnagar
(Badepally), Mulugu, Nagarkurnool, Nalgonda, Narayanpet, Nirmal, Rajanna Sircilla, RangaReddy
(Maheshwaram), Suryapet, Peddapalli, Vikarabad and Warangal (Narsampet).
• These CCBs will augment district-level critical care infrastructure across Telangana benefiting the
people of the state.
• the blocks will have complete arrangements for Dedicated Isolation wards, Oxygen Supply and
Infection Prevention and Control.
Key Points:
Ayushman Bharat, the world’s largest health insurance scheme, is being implemented in India.
• In Telangana, more than 70 lakh people got a guarantee of free treatment of up to Rs 5 lakh.
PM Modi also announced that 50 large PSA(Pressure Awing Adsorption) Oxygen plants will be established
during the COVID-19 pandemic.
About Telangana:
Chief Minister– K. Chandrashekar Rao
Governor– Tamilisai Soundararajan
National Parks– Kasu Brahmananda Reddy National Park; Mahaveer Harina Vanasthali National Park;
Mrugavani National Park
MP CM Shivraj Chouhan Inaugurated India’s Largest Pumped Storage Project at Neemuch

Chief Minister(CM) of Madhya Pradesh(MP) Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated India’s largest pumped
storage project in Khemla block of Neemuch district in Madhya Pradesh. The project is being developed
by Greenko Group, India’s largest energy storage company.
• The project has a capacity of 1440 megawatt (MW), with storage for 7.5 hours. It is being expanded
to 1920 MW with 6 hours of storage, which will increase its daily storage capacity to nearly 11
gigawatt hours (GWh).
• The overall investment will be Rs 11,500 crore over the next 3 years. This will generate around
4,800 jobs during construction and 200 jobs after construction.

• The project will be completed within 30 months as against allocated period of 36 months. This will
will be able to integrate more than 7000 MW of renewable capacity.
Note: This is an off stream open loop project which envisages construction of new off stream reservoir as the
upper reservoir and the existing Gandhi Sagar Reservoir as the lower reservoir. The proposed upper
reservoir will be a 5,970-metre-long and a 35-metre-tall Asphalt Face Rockfill Embankment Dam (AFRD).
Rajasthan Govt Announces 3 New Districts Malpura, Sujangarh, and Kuchaman City in
Rajasthan
Rajasthan Chief Minister (CM), Ashok Gehlot, announced the formation of 3 new districts: Malpura,
Sujangarh, and Kuchaman City in Rajasthan during the Gau Seva Sammelan in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
• The decision to establish these new districts was based on both public demand and
recommendations provided by a high-level committee.
• With the addition of the 3 districts, the total number of districts in Rajasthan has now reached 53.
Note: Previously in March 2023, Ashok Gehlot-led Rajasthan government formed 19 new districts and 3 new
divisional headquarters in Rajasthan.
Objective:
i.This move aims to enhance administrative efficiency while law and order will be strengthened.
ii.It brings government services closer to the people of these regions. This move is assured to have a positive
impact on the lives of local citizens.
3 New Districts:
i.Kuchaman City was included in the 19 districts announced in March 2023 named Deedwana-Kuchaman.
• Formerly a part of Nagaur, the region of Deedwana-Kuchaman has been designated as a new district.
• Now Kuchaman City has been established as a separate district.
ii.Sujangarh, currently within Churu district and Malpura, within Tonk district, are also set to become new
districts.
iii.The demarcation and establishment of these new districts will be a collaborative effort between the
Ramlubhaya Committee, which recommended their formation, and the revenue department.
• Ramlubhaya Committee was constituted on 21st March 2022 to study the feasibility of new districts.
On 27th – 28th July 2023, Prime Minister(PM) of India, Narendra Modi was on a two-day visit to Rajasthan and
Gujarat to inaugurate and launch various new initiatives and events.
About Rajasthan:
CM– Ashok Gehlot
Governor– Kalraj Mishra
Airports– Jodhpur Airport and Jaisalmer Airport
Yogi Adityanath Declared Gangetic Dolphin as State Aquatic Animal of UP

Chief Minister(CM) of Uttar Pradesh (UP) Yogi Adityanath has declared the Ganges River Dolphin
(Platanista gangetica) as the state aquatic animal.
About Gangetic Dolphin:
i.Gangetic dolphins live in the Ganga, Yamuna, Chambal, Ghaghra, Rapti, and Gerua rivers in UP.
ii.Gangetic Dolphin are listed as Endangered in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature(IUCN)
Red List.
iii.The Gangetic dolphin is a sensitive species that can tell us about the overall health of the Ganga ecosystem
and the other species that live there.
• It is very vulnerable to changes in water quality and flow.
Meri Ganga Meri Dolphin 2023 campaign:
As part of the Meri Ganga Meri Dolphin (My Ganga, My Dolphin) 2023 , dolphins census is being done in river
Ganga through Global Positioning System (GPS) from near Muzaffarpur Barrage to the entire Narora Barrage.

• The campaign was conceptualised in 2012 by the UP Forest Department and World Wildlife Fund
(WWF)-India to commemorate the 3rd anniversary of this decision.
In 2010, The Ganges River Dolphin was declared as the National Aquatic Animal by the Ministry of
Environment and Forests (Now Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change -MoEF&CC).
MP CM Unveils 108 ft Statue of Adi Shankaracharya at Omkareshwar

Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Chief Minister(CM) of Madhya Pradesh(MP) unveiled a 108-feet-tall statue of 8th-
century Vedic scholar and teacher Adi Guru Shankaracharya, on the Mandhata hillock in Omkareshwar,
Khargone district of MP.
• The statue is called as “Statue of Oneness,” depicts Shankaracharya as a 12-year-old child (when he
attained knowledge); It symbolize peace and unity.
About the statue:
i.Stone sculptor Bhagwan Rampure and painter Vasudev Kamath oversaw the carving of the statue, which is
installed on a 16-foot-tall stone lotus.
ii.The statue is made of 88 per cent Copper, 4 per cent Zinc, and 8 per cent Tin.
iii.The metal casting of the statue was done in Nanchang city of China.
Additional projects:
i.The Statue of Oneness is a project costing about Rs 2,000 crore.
ii.The project will also include
• A museum called Advaita Lok which is dedicated to his life and philosophy of Shankaracharya.
Acharya Shankar International Institute of Advaita Vedanta for the study, research, and propagation of Advaita
philosophy.
TN Govt Announces a New Samadhan Scheme for Traders to Settle Commercial Tax Dues of Rs.
25,000 Crore
Tamil Nadu (TN) government announced a new Tax Arrears Conciliation Scheme (Samadhan scheme) with
waivers and concessions aimed at facilitating the settlement of the pending tax dues of about Rs.25,000 crore,
of which a majority are under the erstwhile Tamil Nadu Value Added Tax (VAT) and other legacy tax
legislations.
• This initiative aims to address and resolve long-standing issues related to pending tax arrears,
disputes, and appeals that have persisted between traders and the State Commercial Tax
Department.
• The scheme will be in force between October 16, 2023, and February 15, 2024.
Payment options:
i.The government has come out with different payment options for five categories of traders, depending on
the size of their dues.
• Below Rs 50,000
• Between Rs 50,000 and Rs 10 lakh
• Between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 1 crore
• Between Rs 1 crore and Rs 10 crore
• Above Rs 10 crore.
ii.As per the scheme, traders whose dues are below Rs 50,000, including taxes, interest, and penalty, are eligible
for a complete waiver, and this is for every assessment year.
• This is the first time in Tamil Nadu that the taxes to be paid by small traders are fully waived.
• A total of 95,502 small traders will benefit from the scheme.
iii.Traders whose dues are between Rs.50,000 and Rs.10 lakh need to pay a flat 20% of their dues in a single
installment.
• Those who have accepted the tax assessment could pay 66% of their dues, 10% interest, and 10%
penalty.

• Traders who have gone on appeal or filed cases can get them settled by paying 33% of their dues,
10% interest, and 10% penalty.
• If they have no tax dues but have penalty and interest dues, they can avail themselves of the scheme
by paying 10% interest and 10% penalty.
iv.The above payment option is also applicable to the category of traders whose dues are in the Rs.10 lakh to
Rs.1 crore range.
• But they are not eligible for the flat rate of payment.
v.There is a different payment option for traders whose dues are between Rs.1 crore and Rs.10 crore.
• Those who have accepted the tax assessment can pay 75% of their dues, a 15% penalty, and 20%
interest.
• Traders who have filed an appeal have been given the option of paying 50% of their dues, 20%
interest, and 15% penalty.
• If the traders had already paid the tax but not the penalty and interest, they could settle it by paying
a 15% penalty and 20% interest.
vi.In the case of traders whose dues are more than Rs.10 crore, they have to pay 90% of their dues, a 15%
penalty, and 30% interest if they have accepted the tax assessment.
Traders who have gone on appeal or filed cases could settle them by paying 60% of their dues, a 15%
penalty, and 30% interest.
If they have no tax dues but have penalty and interest dues, they need to pay only 30% interest and a
15% penalty.
Key Points:
i.In the last 3 categories, traders could pay the mentioned portion of the tax, interest, and fine and move out.
ii.For people who come forward to settle the dues under the scheme, the accrued interest on tax arrears till the
amount is paid will be totally waived.
iii.As Goods and Services Tax (GST) came into force on July 1, 2017, several pre-existing tax acts were all
subsumed under GST. However, the tax arrears, interests, and penalties from the previous taxation system
were pending.
Central Board for Direct Tax (CBDT) under the Department of Revenue in the Ministry of Finance, issued a
notification (No.61/2023) regarding the Income Tax Amendment (Sixteenth Amendment) Rules, 2023, a set of
rules introduced as part of the Finance Act, 2023.
About Tamil Nadu:
Chief Minister– Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin
Governor– Ravindra Narayana Ravi
Airports– Coimbatore International Airport and Chennai International Airport
Himachal Pradesh Cabinet Approves Various Initiatives across Various Sectors

The Himachal Pradesh (HP) Cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister (CM) Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu,
approved ‘Van Mitra’ Scheme, a community based forest conservation scheme.
• The state cabinet has also approved various decisions across different sectors.
• These decisions are aimed at enhancing governance, promoting welfare, and boosting
infrastructure, with a focus on the betterment of Himachal Pradesh and its residents.
Van Mitra Scheme:
i.The ‘Van Mitra’ Scheme initiated by the Forest Department of HP aims to strengthen the participation of local
communities in protection, conservation and development of forest areas.
ii.This scheme will engage one ‘Van Mitra’ in each of the 2061 Forest Beats to enhance local community
involvement in protecting, conserving, and developing forest areas by involving the grass root level institutions.
Note: The cabinet also approved filling up 100 vacant posts of Forest Guards in the Forest department on a
contractual basis.

Significant Approvals:
i.Ropeway System Pilgrims:
The Cabinet gave in-principle approval for establishing a passenger ropeway system from Chintpurni Baba Mai
Dass Bhawan Parking to Chintpurni Temple in district Una, in a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode, with a
cost of Rs. 76.50 crore, facilitating pilgrims.
ii.Shimla Development Plan Amendment:
i.Amendments to the Shimla Development Plan were made, permitting residential construction in the green
belt areas with no trees.
ii.The green belt area lying above the road from Navbhar to Ram Chandra Chowk to Machhiwali Kothi to Christ
Church to Lakkar Bazar to IGMC to Sanjauli Chowk to Navbhar.
iii.HP Town and Country Planning Rules Amendment:
The Cabinet allowed construction at a distance of 5 meters and 7 meters from Nallah and Khad, respectively,
amending HP Town and Country Planning Rules.
Relief Package for Disaster-Affected Families:
The cabinet has also approved a special relief package for disaster-affected families. This special package would
be granted from 24th June 2023 to 30th September 2023.
Details of compensation:
i.The compensation for completely damaged house was increased from Rs.1.30 lakh to Rs 7 lakhs.
ii.The compensation for the partially damaged “kutcha” house, Pucca house, and damaged shops and dabhas
has been increased to Rs 1 lakh.
iii.For the loss of a goat, pig, sheep, or lamb, the compensation would be Rs.6000.
iv.The compensation of Rs.3,615 per bigha for damage to agricultural and horticultural land, meanwhile, would
be increased to Rs.10,000 and for crop loss from Rs.500 per bigha to Rs.4,000.
v.The financial assistance for removing silt from agricultural and horticultural land is to be increased from
Rs.1,384.61 per bigha to Rs. 5000 per bigha.
Increased Honorarium for Jal Shakti Workers:
The honorarium of Jal Rakshaks, Multi-purpose workers, Para fitters, and Para pump operators of Jal Shakti
Vibhag was increased by Rs.500 per month, raising it to Rs.5,000, Rs.4,400, Rs.6,000 and Rs.6,000 respectively.
About Himachal Pradesh
Chief Minister– Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
Governor– Shiv Pratap Shukla
Festivals– Manali Winter Carnival and Lohri or Makar Sakrant (both in the month of January)
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Launched an Emblem to Mark Golden Jubilee of Renaming State

The Chief Minister(CM) of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah, unveiled an emblem of Karnataka Sambrama-50 in a
programme organised by the Department of Kannada in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• The launch of emblem marks the golden jubilee of the renaming of Mysore State as Karnataka in on
1st November, 1973.
Renaming:
The renaming of Mysore State as Karnataka was made by then Chief Minister (CM) D. Devaraj Urs.
Year long Celebration:
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 or Kannada Formation Day

Arunachal Pradesh Cabinet Approves Establishment of STPF for Tiger Reserves
The Arunachal Pradesh(AR) Cabinet under the chairmanship of Chief Minister(CM) Pema Khandu approved
the constitution of the Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) in three Tiger Reserves of AR namely, Namdapha,
Pakke, and Kamlang.
• The STPF is constituted as per the guidelines of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
This decision will result in the creation of 336 regular posts in Arunachal Pradesh.
Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF):
i.STPF is a specialized force tailored to the needs of tiger reserves, comprising one company of 112 personnel
each for 3 tiger reserves. Each company is subdivided into 3 platoons and 18 sections.
ii.The creation of STPF will lead to the protection of Tigers and their habitats, the protection of wildlife habitats,
the assistance in scientific forest management, and the prevention of other illegal activities in these tiger
reserves.
Note: According to the 2022 national tiger census, AR has a total of 9 tigers in the 3 reserves, a decline of 20
tigers from the previous census done in 2018.
Additional info:
i.The Cabinet also approved the Amendment of AR State Industrial and Investment Policy 2020 and the framing
of AR Home Guard Rules 2023 along with others.
ii.The cabinet also approved to provide a monthly honorarium to all the Third Language Teachers of various
tribes who have developed their own scripts. Rs 1000 per month for 10 months in a year will be provided to the
teachers.
About Arunachal Pradesh:
Chief Minister– Pema Khandu
Governor– Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik
Airports– Tezu Airport and Itanagar Airport
MeitY Inaugurated UP’s 1st RPA Lab under FutureSkill PRIME Project in NIELIT Gorakhpur
On 16th October 2023, S Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
(MeitY), inaugurated the Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Lab in National Institute of Electronics and
Information Technology (NIELIT), Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh (UP).
• This is the First-of-its-kind lab in UP was built under the Future Skill PRIME Project funded by
MeitY to bridge the gap between Industry and Academia.
• The lab was inaugurated during the 26th All India Director’s Meet of NIELIT. The meet witnessed
the participation of Directors from 49 NIELIT Centres across the India.
Objective: To upskill/reskill manpower in emerging technology of RPA.
MoU & EoI signed during the event:
• Prof Poonam Tandon, Vice-Chancellor , Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gorakhpur University and Dr M M
Tripathi, Director General, NIELIT signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to organise
employment-oriented courses and training in future skill technology in Gorakhpur region.
Anuj Malik, CEO of Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority (GIDA) shared an Expression of Interest (EOI)
with Dr D K Mishra, Director, NIELIT Gorakhpur, to set up a Skill Centre of NIELIT in GIDA. With this, GIDA
will offer a built-up space and land, free of cost for 5 years and NIELIT wil establish state-of-art facility that will
focus on advancement of technical education, skill development, and employment opportunities in the region.
‘Gadkari’: A Marathi Biopic of Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari

The Marathi film titled ‘Gadkari‘, the biopic of Union Minister Nitin Jairam Gadkari, Ministry of Road
Transport and Highways (MoRTH), is set to release in Cinemas on 27 October 2023. The movie is directed
by Anurag Rajan Bhusari starring Rahul Chopda as Nitin Gadkari.

• The movie, presented by Abhijit Majumdar, is produced by Akshay Anant Deshmukh under the
banner of Akshay Deshmukh Films. The film also features Aishwarya Dorle, and Trupti Kalkar as
lead characters.
• The movie is set to be dubbed in Hindi for a wider release.
• The movie is an in-depth portrayal of Nitin Gadkari’s life as an influential political figure known for
his contributions to road transport and highways across the India.
About Nitin Gadkari:
i.Nitin Gadkari hailing from Nagpur, Maharashtra has served as the Member of Maharashtra Legislative
Council(1989 – 2014) and was later elected to the lok sabha in 2014 and again in 2019.
ii.He has been serving as the Union Minister of MORTH since 2014.
iii.He is often referred to as the “Expressway Man of India” due to his initiation of Mumbai-Pune Expressway
and contributions to the development of road infrastructure.
Kasaragod Becomes 1st District in India to Declare Official Tree, Flower, Bird, Species
The Kasaragod district of Kerala became the first district in India to officially designate its official tree, flower,
bird and species showcasing its rich biodiversity and natural heritage.
• The Kasaragod district panchayat along with the state
Biodiversity Management Committee made the
declaration, and seeks its formalization by the Kerala
State Biodiversity Board.
• The endangered species were declared as district’s
species in order to strengthen the conservation
activities.
Aim behind this declaration:
To safeguard these species, promote their growth, and raise public
awareness
The Officials:
Tree:
The district’s official tree is ‘Kanjiram‘ (Strychnos nux-vomica Linn), named after ‘kasara’, meaning
wormwood, which is the origin of the district’s name.” It is often referred to as poison nut tree, and is used for
medicinal purposes.
Flower:
The district’s flower, ‘Periya Polathali‘ (Malabar river lily), was declared as its official flower. Discovered in
2012, these white and red flowers grow near the red sand hills of Kasargod. The flower is endangered, and
conservation efforts have been started by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Bird:
‘Vellavayaran Kadal Paranthu‘ (White-bellied sea eagle, Haliaeetus leucogaster) is declared as the district’s
bird. It is seen in a 150 kilometre stretch from Mahe to Manjeshwar.
• It is included in schedule one of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
• Schedule I covers endangered species that need rigorous protection. ·
Creature:
“Palappoovan Aamma”, also known as Beeman Aamma (Cantor’s Giant Softshell Turtle), was declared the
district’s creature. Endangered species’ eggs were found in 2019. It has a soft shell, weighs up to 100 kilograms,
and rarely leaves the water.”
It is listed on the Red List of Endangered Freshwater Turtles and relies on estuaries for laying eggs, making its
conservation particularly critical.

About Kerala:
Chief Minister– Pinarayi Vijayan
Governor– Arif Mohammed Khan
Stadium– Regional Sports Centre (Rajiv gandhi indoor stadium), Kollam International Hockey Stadium
Baiga Tribe Becomes the 2nd Tribe to Get Habitat Rights in Chhattisgarh
Baiga, classified as the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), in Chhattisgarh has received
the Habitat rights under the Forest Rights Act(FRA) 2006. With this Baiga has become the 2nd tribal
group after Kamar to get habitat rights in Chhattisgarh.
Note: On August 9, 2023, during the occasion of World Tribal Day,
the Chhattisgarh government granted habitat rights to the Kamar
PVTG in 22 villages of the Magarlod block of the Dhamtari district.
Key Points:
i.The habitat rights has recognised 19 villages/para/tola of Baiga
community in Gaurela block in Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi (GPM).
ii.The villages cover 2,085 families with a population of 6,483
individuals (3272 males and 3210 females).
These villages received the rights in a special event
organised by the district administration of GPM.
iii.The Baiga community, primarily inhabits various districts in Chhattisgarh, such as Rajnandgaon, Kawardha,
Mungeli, GPM, Manendra-Bharatpur-Chirmiri, and Bilaspur.
They also have a presence in the surrounding regions of Madhya Pradesh.
Habitat rights:
Habitat rights are given to PVTGs under section 3(1) (e) [rights including community tenures of habitat and
habitation for primitive tribal groups and pre-agricultural communities] of The Scheduled Tribes and Other
Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 also known as the FRA.
Benefits:
i.Habitat rights recognition is a powerful tool for promoting social justice, preserving cultural heritage, and
fostering sustainable environmental practices.
ii.Recognition of habitat rights empowers communities to uphold their age-old traditions and lifestyle without
external interference.
iii.By enabling the convergence of various government initiatives, habitat rights empower PVTGs to actively
participate in the development and management of their habitats.
Point to note:
According to Section 2(h) of FRA, “Habitat” includes the area comprising the customary habitat and other
habitats in reserved forests and protected forests of primitive tribal groups and pre-agricultural communities,
as well as other forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes.
PVTGs in India:
i.The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) designates specific tribal communities as PVTGs based on certain
criteria.
ii.These groups typically exhibit technological backwardness, limited population growth, low literacy rates, and
subsistence-level economies.
iii.They often inhabit remote, isolated areas in small, scattered hamlets. As of now, 75 PVTGs have been
identified across 18 states and one Union Territory based on the recommendations of the Dhebar Commission
(1960-61).
Out of 75 PVTGs in India, only 3 have habitat rights.
The Bharia PVTG in Madhya Pradesh was the first, followed by the Kamar tribe and the Baiga tribe in
Chhattisgarh.

PVTGS in Chhattisgarh:
i.Chhattisgarh is home to 7 PVTGs (Kamar, Baiga, Pahadi Korba, Abujhmadiya, Birhor, Pando, and Bhujia)
residing across 17 districts out of the total 33.
ii.These groups contribute to the intricate cultural tapestry of the region.
About Chhattisgarh:
Chief Minister– Bhupesh Baghel
Governor– Biswabhusan Harichandan
Wildlife Sanctuaries– Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary and Bhairamgarh Wildlife Sanctuary
UP Govt Set Up URIDA to Implement CM Grids Scheme

The Urban Development Department of the Government of Uttar Pradesh has established an Urban Road
Infrastructure Development Agency (URIDA) which will be responsible for implementing the Chief Minister
Green Road Infrastructure Development Scheme (Urban) (CM Grids Scheme) on the ground.
In October 2023, the UP cabinet approved the CM Grids Scheme worth Rs.500 crore to construct roads
of international standards in all cities.
i.The URIDA office will be established on the premises of the Directorate of Local Bodies, Lucknow, UP.
ii.A general body and an executive committee have also been established under URIDA to monitor the activities
of CM Grids (Urban).
The general body will be Chaired by the Chief Secretary (CS) and the Additional CS or Principal Secretary of the
Urban Development Department will be the Vice Chair.
MoS Rajeev Chandrasekhar Launched Project “Heartland Tripura” to Boost Employment for
Students
Union Minister of State(MoS) Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and
Electronics & Information Technology(IT) launched a project named “Heartland Tripura” to enhance the
employability and skills of the youth of Tripura.
This project was launched in partnership with Deloitte India and the National Institute of Electronics and
Information Technology (NIELIT), Agartala(Tripura)and they signed agreement in the inaugural ceremony.
· NIELIT (Agartala) provide skill development certification courses through the project “Heartland
Tripura which enhances career and personal development opportunities for undergraduate
students in both engineering and non-engineering fields.
· The certification courses offered in cyber security, internal audit, analytics, and softer skills around
business communication, executive presence, and grooming amongst others.
· Deloitte will develop an industry readiness curriculum, drive National Council for Vocational
Education and Training(NCVET)-based certification, provide trainer access through its
professionals, and giude colleges to hold placement fairs.
· The project also intends to identify target organisations for placements and to create an advocacy
network for companies to hire from Tripura colleges.
Karnataka launches ‘HAWK’ centralized wildlife crime management system

The Karnataka Forest Department, along with Wildlife Trust of India(WTI) has launched the Hostile Activity
Watch Kernel (HAWK) system, a specialised software platform to monitor all aspects of forest and wildlife
crime.
The initiative is supported by NTT DATA, an Information technology (IT) services provider, under its
Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) programme.
Background:
i.HAWK has been an official system of the Kerala Forest Department since it was launched in 2019.

ii.In 2022, The implementation of a customised version of HAWK began in Karnataka in collaboration with the
Karnataka forest department’s ICT (Information and Communication Technology) cell.
About HAWK:
i.HAWK is a cloud-based information Management System designed to manage interlinked databases
of wildlife crime, wildlife criminals, and wildlife mortality.
It helps officials to analyse the information and develop actionable intelligence to prevent wildlife
crimes.
It acts as a tool in catching poachers and smugglers slipping past state borders and boosts the forest
department’s legal arm by expediting the process to ensure conviction.
ii.The system connects the entire state forest department in real-time and the access is restricted through
access levels.
Frontline forest staff will be trained to use the system and a dedicated helpdesk will assist them in the
integration process under the supervision of the Chief Wildlife Warden’s office.
iii.The platform will be available on mobile through which forest personnel can monitor the movement of
suspects, vehicles, and live responses and exchange intelligence with their counterparts in the neighbouring
states.
Note:
The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau(WCCB) under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, is in the process of
taking HAWK as the national wildlife crime management system.
About Karnataka:
Chief Minister – Siddaramaiah
Governor – Thaawar Chand Gehlot
Tiger Reserve – Biligiri Ranganathaswamy Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve, Bandipur Tiger Reserve
Festivals – Hampi Festival,Karaga Festival
Indigenous ATMAS inaugurated at Biju Patnaik Airport, Odisha

The Indigenously built state of the art Air Traffic Management Automation System (ATMAS) inaugurated at the
Biju Patnaik International Airport, in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
The ATMAS was jointly developed by Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
The MoU for the development of the indigenous ATMAS was signed during the Wings India 2022 in
Hyderabad, Telangana in 2022.
The ATMAS was jointly inaugurated by Sanjeev Kumar, Chairman of AAI and Bhanu Prakash Srivastava ,
Chairman and Managing Director(CMD) of BEL.
The ATMAS will help to improve the safety, efficiency, and capacity of air traffic management in India.
This will reduce the AAI’s foreign dependency for procurement of Air Navigation Services(ANS) infrastructure
and save foreign exchange outlay
GOVT SCHEMES
CENTRAL GOVT SCHEMES
National Health Authority Organizes ‘Arogya Manthan 2023’ to Celebrate Anniversaries of AB
PM-JAY and ABDM
The National Health Authority (NHA) hosted the two-day Arogya Manthan event on September 25th and 26th,
2023, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The event saw the anniversary celebrations of 5 Years of Ayushman Bharat
Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) and 2 Years of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).

Key Points:
i.The Union Health Minister highlighted the launch of two new initiatives, Aapke Dwar Ayushman (ADA 3.0)
launched by NHA and the ‘Ayushman Bhav’ campaign launched by Hon’ble President of India, Droupadi Murmu
on 13 September 2023.
ii.Key attendees: Union Minister of Health Mansukh Mandaviya, Prof. SP Singh Baghel (Minister of State for
Health and FW), Dr. VK Paul (Member, Niti Aayog), Sudhansh Pant (Secretary, Health and FW), CEO of National
Health Authority (NHA),etc.
iii.First beneficiary of the scheme in the country, 5 years old Karishma was felicitated at Arogya Manthan 2023
by Union Health Minister Dr Mandaviya.
Marking 5 Years of Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY and 2 Years of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission
The event marked significant milestones for two flagship healthcare schemes in India:
i.5 years of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY)
• AB PM-JAY has achieved remarkable success, with over 5 crore hospital admissions, covering
more than 24 crore beneficiaries. It boasts a robust IT infrastructure, seamless processes,
monitoring mechanisms, outreach efforts, and fraud control systems.
• Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya highlighted the achievements of AB PM-JAY, crossing over 5.6
crore hospital admissions worth Rs. 69,000 crore. He also emphasized the role of the schemes in
reducing healthcare expenses for the poor. He also added that many of these hospital admissions
have been availed for life-threatening diseases, whose total cost of treatment would have been 1.5 –
2 times higher if the beneficiaries would have availed the same treatment on their own outside the
ambit of AB PM-JAY.
• The event focused on the central role of women in these healthcare initiatives, with around 48% of
authorized hospital admissions being availed by women while over 141 medical procedures under
PM-JAY are exclusively earmarked for women.
• Females account for approximately 49% of Ayushman card recipients, verified under the PM-JAY IT
platform.
About AB PM-JAY:
• Launched on: 23 September, 2018
• Implementing Agency: National Health Authority (NHA)
• It provides a cover of Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization.
About Ayushman Bharat:
Ayushman Bharat, a flagship scheme of Government of India, was launched as recommended by the National
Health Policy 2017, to achieve the vision of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). This initiative has been designed
to meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Ayushman Bharat adopts a continuum of care approach, comprising of two inter-related components, which
are –
• Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs)
• Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)
ii.2 years of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)
• ABDM, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to create an efficient digital health
ecosystem with active participation from both public and private sectors. It has generated over 45
crore Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) and linked over 30 crore health records.
Note: i.ABHA number is a 14 digit number that will uniquely identify you as a participant in India’s digital
healthcare ecosystem.
ii.ABHA address is a unique identifier (self-declared username) that enables you to share and access your
health records digitally.
About ABDM:
• Launched on: 27 September 2021

• ABDM shall create a seamless online platform “through the provision of a wide-range of data,
information and infrastructure services, duly leveraging open, interoperable, standards-based
digital systems” while ensuring the security, confidentiality and privacy of health-related personal
information.
Top-Performing States/UT for AB PM-JAY and ABDM at Arogya Manthan 2023
Awards were presented to states & Union Territories (UTs) for effective implementation of AB PM-JAY and
ABDM under various categories, including gender equity, service delivery, grievance redressal, and treatments.
Ayushman Utkrishtata Puraskaar (Ayushman Excellence Awards) 2023:
Ayushman Utkristata Puraskaar (AB PM-JAY)
Best Performing State
(Large) Assam
(Small) Nagaland
Highest Ayushman Card Creation (UT) Jammu and Kashmir
(Large) Karnataka
Highest Percentage of utilization in Public Best Performing State
Hospitals (Small) Tripura
(Large) Uttarakhand
(Small) Nagaland
Best claim settlement performance (UT) Lakshadweep
Ayushman Kiosks Deployment and Green
channel implementation Uttar Pradesh
Best initiative for implementation of the scheme Maharashtra
Assam , Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil Nadu,
Best Practices under PM-JAY Uttarakhand
Ayushman Utkristata Puraskaar (ABDM)
Digital health records linked with ABHA per lakh Highest Andhra Pradesh
population (State) 2nd Highest Karnataka
Highest New Delhi
Digital health records linked with ABHA per lakh Visakhapatnam, Eluru distrct,
population (District) 2nd Highest Andhra Pradesh
Highest Uttar Pradesh
Top State/UT in Generation of ABHA Scan and 2nd Highest Karnataka

share tokens 3rd Highest Jammu and Kashmir
About NHA:
• National Health Authority is the successor of National Health Agency, which was functioning as a
registered society since 23rd May, 2018.

•National Health Agency was reconstituted as the National Health Authority on 2nd January 2019
•Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Sudhansh Pant
Overview of Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhuyday Yojana

Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhuyday Yojana (PM- AJAY) is a merged scheme of Centrally Sponsored
Scheme implemented since 2021-2022 with an aim to reduce poverty of the Scheduled Caste (SC) community.
The 3 scheme were,
Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY)
Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan ( SCA to SCSP)
Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana(BJRCY).
The scheme is implemented through the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment under the Ministry of
Social Justice and Empowerment(MoSJ&E).
Background:
Since the objectives and interventions of PMAGY; SCA to SCSP; and BJRCY were similar and these schemes were
implemented by a common implementing agency for the most part, these schemes were merged into a one
scheme named “Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhuyday Yojana (PM- AJAY) (from 2021-2022) for better
convergence of public money and optimal utilisation of resources.
Objectives:
To reduce poverty of the SC communities by generation of additional employment through skill
development, income generating schemes and other initiatives.
To improve socio-economic developmental indicators by ensuring adequate infrastructure and requisite
services in the SC dominated villages.
To increase literacy and encourage enrolment of SCs in schools and higher educational institutions and
offer residential schools in the aspirational districts/ SC dominated blocks.
Three components of PM- AJAY:
i.Development of SC dominated villages into an “Adarsh Gram”.
ii.‘Grants-in-aid’ for District/State-level Projects for socio-economic betterment of SCs. This includes
creation of infrastructure in SC dominated villages
construction of Hostels/Residential schools
Comprehensive Livelihood Projects such as Skill development, related infrastructure development,
financial assistance, etc,.
iii.The construction of hostels in higher educational institutions and schools that are funded by the
Centre/State/UT Governments.
About Adarsh Gram Component (erstwhile scheme of PMAGY)
Objective:
To ensure integrated development of SC majority villages so that there is Adequate infrastructure, All requisite
infrastructure necessary for socio-economic development needs are to be provided under the Scheme.
Improvement in Socio-Economic Indicators.
The identified socio-economic indicators (Monitorable indicators) should be improved to eliminate disparity
between SC and non-SC population.
About Grants-in-aid for District/State-level Projects for Socio-Economic betterment of SCs (erstwhile
scheme SCA to SCSP)
Comprehensive Livelihood Projects: These projects aims to create an entire system for generating
sustainable income or social advancement for SCs. They should preferably combine two or more of the
following components:
Skill Development: skilling courses that meet the standards of the Ministry of Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship (MSDE) including skill development institutions.

Grants for creating or acquiring assets for beneficiaries/households: Financial assistance towards loans
taken by beneficiaries to create or acquire assets needed for livelihood generation, up to a maximum
of Rs. 50,000 or 50% of the asset cost, whichever is less.
Infrastructure Development: Development of infrastructure related to the project, as well as hostels and
residential schools.
Other Infrastructure: Various other infrastructure development projects in SC majority villages.
Special Provisions:
i.Upto 15% of the total Grants exclusively on viable income generating economic development
schemes/programme for SC Women.
ii.Upto 30% of the total Grants utilized for infrastructure development
iii.Atleast 10% of the total funds for skill development
iv.Promote SC Women Cooperatives engaged in production and marketing of consumer goods and services.
Achievements during FY 2022-2023:
i.Under the Adarsh Gram component, a total of 1260 villages have been declared as Adarsh Gram during the
current FY 2023-24.
ii.A total of 9 new hostels have been sanctioned under the Hostel component of the scheme.
iii.Perspective plan for 7 States have been approved under Grant-in-aid component during the current financial
year.
RCS-UDAN Scheme Successful Completes 6th Year in 2023

The Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) – UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik i.e. let the country’s common man
fly) Scheme which focuses on improving unserved air routes in underserved regions of India, completes 6th
year in 2023.
The RCS-UDAN scheme was launched as part of the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) 2016 by the
Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) on October 21, 2016, with a 10-year vision.
The first RCS-UDAN flight was inaugurated by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on 27th April 2017,
connecting Shimla(Himachal Pradesh) to Delhi.
About the RCS –UDANScheme:
i.The RCS -UDAN Scheme was launched to promote regional air connectivity by making flying affordable for the
common citizens.
ii.It encourages airlines to operate flights on regional and remote routes by enabling policies and extending
incentives from the Central Government and State Governments.
The government also provides financial Viability Gap Funding (VGF) support to airlines operating
on UDAN routes.
Salient features of the scheme:
i.RCS-UDAN is contributing to the growth of the civil aviation industry as four new & successful airlines have
come up in the last 6 years.
The scheme has helped airline operators to start up and develop a sustainable business model.
ii.Promoting tourism: It promotes tourism by connecting destinations such as Khajuraho(Madhya Pradesh),
Deoghar(Jharkhand), Amritsar(Punjab), and Kishangarh (Ajmer – Rajasthan) with bigger cities.
UDAN upsurge Northeast region’s tourism industry by introducing accessibility to Pasighat, Ziro,
Hollongi, and Tezu airports in Arunachal Pradesh.
It boosts air connectivity by operationalizing 75 airports including Eight airports in the Northeast
region.
iii. Boosting air connectivity: Totally 499 UDAN routes have been operationalized as of 17th October 2023.
RCS-UDAN has facilitated the travel of over 1.3 crore passengers so far.
The airports that were operationalized under UDAN such as Darbhanga(Bihar), Hubli(Karnataka),
Kannur(Kerala) and Mysuru(Karnataka) have become sustainable with many non-RCS commercial
flights operating from these airports.

Versions of the Scheme:
i.Since 2016, various versions of the RCS-UDAN Scheme have been launched including UDAN 1.0, UDAN 2.0,
UDAN 3.0, UDAN 4.0, UDAN 5.0, UDAN 5.1, and UDAN 5.2.
ii.UDAN 5.0 was launched in 2023 and is aimed at Category-2 (20-80 seat) and Category-3 (>80 seat) aircraft.
iii.UDAN 5.1 is specifically intended for helicopter routes, broadening the scope of operations for helicopter
operators, improving VGF, and lowering Airfare Caps.
iv.Bidding for the UDAN 5.2 is currently underway in order to improve connectivity to remote and regional
areas of the country, provide last-mile connectivity, and offer impetus to the tourism sector via small aircraft
(20 seats).
STATE GOVT SCHEMES

Assam CM launched Mukhya Mantri Lok Sevak Arogya Yojana for Medical Bill Reimbursement
On 2 October 2023, on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, Assam Chief Minister
(CM) Himanta Biswa Sarma launched the Ayushman Asom: Mukhya Mantri Lok Sevak Arogya Yojana, an
online medical bill reimbursement scheme for the Government of Assam’s employees, pensioners and their
dependents, at the event held in Sankardev Kalakshetra International Auditorium in Guwahati, Assam.
• As part of the event, the CM transferred the first installment of Rs. 9,000 each to the bank accounts
of 1 lakh beneficiaries under the Individual Household Latrine (IHHL) scheme.
Objective:
The primary goal of this scheme is to provide financial health coverage of Rs. 5 Lakhs (per family, per
year) to all the Assam Government employees, pensioners, and their dependents.
About Mukhya Mantri Lok Sevak Arogya Yojana:
i.The scheme promises to reimburse medical bills at rates equivalent to the Central Government Health
Schemes (CGHS) through the online IT portal.
• Payments will be directly credited to the accounts of the claimant employees, eliminating delays and
troubles.
ii.The scheme will progressively introduce a cashless payment option, further simplifying the healthcare
reimbursement process.
iii.Eligible individuals can now have their medical bills reimbursed for treatment at any hospital, a departure
from the earlier requirement to seek treatment exclusively at government-impaneled hospitals for successful
bill processing.
• Paperwork is currently in progress to expand cashless medical treatment benefits.
Some Features and Benefits:
• Mukhya Mantri Lok Sevak Arogya Yojana will take the place of the Assam government’s current
reimbursement methodology.
• Beneficiaries, along with their dependents, may register on their own or at district kiosks.
• There will be kiosks at the Medical College or the Joint Director of Health Services Office.
• Online requests for advance payments are accepted from recipients.
• Hospitals will receive direct advance payments.
• Payments will be made within a predetermined time limit of 90 days.
Eligibility Criteria:
• The scheme is applicable only to the citizens of Assam.
• The applicant must be an Assam State Government employee and also applicable to the pensioners.
• All the family members of the employee are also considered eligible for this scheme.
• Applicants should not be registered in any other government scheme to get this opportunity.
Commencement of the Scheme:
i.Starting from April 1, 2024, government employees can access cashless treatment at medical colleges across
Assam and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS) in Changsari in Assam.

ii.As part of the scheme’s expansion, from October 2, 2024, cashless treatments will be available at leading
hospitals across India.
• The old system of medical reimbursement shall continue to be operational for those employees
unwilling to shift to Mukya Mantri Lok Sewak Arogya Yojana.
About Assam:
Chief Minister– Himanta Biswa Sarma
Governor– Gulab Chand Kataria
Stadiums– Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Cricket Stadium (Outdoor) and Nehru Stadium (Outdoor)
HP CM Launched Sukh Ashraya Yojana for Orphans and Other Vulnerable Sections of Society
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister (CM) Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launched the
‘Mukhyamantri Sukh Ashraya Yojana’ at the Ridge in Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) to provide comprehensive
support to orphans, specially-abled children, destitute women, and elderly individuals in Himachal Pradesh.
• With this scheme, Himachal Pradesh became the first state in India to enact a law aimed at
supporting orphan children and other vulnerable sections of society.
• The Himachal government decided to adopt the orphans, the specially-abled children as the
‘Children of the State’ and work for their upliftment and well-being, including parental care.
Financial Assistance of the scheme:
i.Financial benefits worth Rs 4.68 crore were distributed to eligible children which includes Rs. 15.52 lakh for
fees and other hostel expenses, along with Rs. 11.52 lakh as monthly expenses benefiting 48 orphaned children
for pursuing higher education.
• Apart from this, Rs. 7.02 lakh for fees and Rs. 4.08 lakh for monthly expenses were also distributed
to 17 orphaned children enrolled in a few professional courses.
• Rs 6 lakh was allocated to 3 beneficiaries for the establishment of small and micro-industries.
ii.Financial benefits amounting to Rs. 2.65 crore were transferred to the bank accounts of 1,106 beneficiaries
through foster care and sponsorship.
iii.For the construction of a house, the landless orphaned children will be provided financial assistance of Rs 3
lakh and additionally three biswa of land in the rural areas and two biswa in urban areas.
iv.Monthly financial assistance of Rs 4,000 for approximately 2,700 newly identified orphans (until the age of
27 years) living with relatives.
Other Assistance:
• Provision of apparel allowances, festival grants, and marriage grants.
• Support for higher education and self-employment opportunities.
• 30 meritorious 12th-grade students from Child Care Institutes, who had excelled in 10th class, were
provided laptops, with 268 more to receive them in the second phase.
• The scheme also incorporates an annual 15-day educational tour annually for the orphan children
including stays in three-star hotels, fully funded by the government.
About Himachal Pradesh:
Chief Minister– Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
Governor– Shiv Pratap Shukla
Stadium– Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium (HPCA Stadium- Outdoor) and The Indira Gandhi
Stadium (Outdoor)
Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik launched LAccMI bus service scheme in Malkangiri district
Odisha Chief Minister(CM) Naveen Patnaik launched the Location Accessible Multimodal
Initiative (LAccMI) Yojana in Malkangiri district of Odisha. The LAccMI scheme aims to offer reliable and
affordable public transit (bus service) throughout Odisha, with a focus on rural areas.
• LAccMI is a public transportation system connecting gram panchayats to Bhuvaneshwar, the capital of
Odisha.

Background:
i.LAccMI was one of the new programs announced by the Odisha administration in its 2023–24 budget.
ii.Rs 100 crore was allocated for this initiative to facilitate assured and affordable transportation for the people
across Odisha.
About LAccMI:
i.In the first phase of the scheme, a fleet of 36 buses were launched and more than 1000 buses will be deployed
in a phased manner.
ii.Mission Shakti Self Help Group (SHGs) will be engaged in various operation and maintenance-related
activities within the blocks.
iii.These 36 buses will connect 111 gram panchayats in Malkangiri district, many of which are the remotest of
remote in the country.
iv.Following Malkangiri, the bus service will be extended to Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi and
Gajapati Districts.
v.The tenure of the scheme would be 10 years extendable by 2 years.
Note:
The Odisha government is set to spend around Rs 3178 crores in the first 3 years of the bus operations 2023-24
to 2025-26.
Additional Info:
The government will operate 1,600 buses, of which 1,000 will connect panchayats to blocks and 600 will
connect blocks to districts and state capitals.
CM launched ‘Ama Odisha Nabin Odisha’; Began Disbursing Funds for Panchayat Development
CM launched the “Ama Odisha, Nabin Odisha (Our Odisha, New Odisha)” scheme and began disbursing funds
for panchayat development in Odisha. The scheme aims to boost rural infrastructure and promoting Jagannath
culture across Odisha.
Funding:
i.The State Government of Odisha approved Rs 148.50 crore for 297 gram panchayats coming under six
Assembly constituencies of Keonjhar district and Rs 109 crore for 218 gram panchayats in Bhadrak district.
• As many as 90,723 projects will be taken up using the fund.
ii.The project cost varies between Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 10 lakh.
About The Scheme:
i.Under the scheme, each panchayat will receive Rs 50 lakh to take up projects for protecting places of worship,
upgrading sites of historical significance, and improving rural infrastructure and digital access.
ii.The scheme also includes provisions for promoting Jagannath culture, such as the development of Jagannath
temples and the organization of cultural events.
iii.Each village is expected to receive at least one project, with a budget of up to 10 lakh rupees per project.
Expected Outcomes:
These projects aim to improve internet access, build playgrounds and science parks, create training facilities,
work hubs, and skill centers for rural entrepreneurs, bridge the gap in education infrastructure, and provide
banking and digital infrastructure at the village level.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
WHO recommends R21/Matrix-M, Malaria vaccine by Oxford & Serum Institute
World Health Organization(WHO) has recommended R21/Matrix-M, the new malaria vaccine developed by
Jenner Institute at Oxford University(the United Kingdom -UK) and Serum Institute of India (SII) Private
Limited leveraging Novavax’s adjuvant technology, for the prevention of malaria in children.
• The vaccine was developed with the support of the European and Developing Countries Clinical
Trials Partnership (EDCTP), the Wellcome Trust, and the European Investment Bank (EIB)

• The recommendation follows advice from the WHO: Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on
Immunization (SAGE) and the Malaria Policy Advisory Group (MPAG).
Note:
• The R21 vaccine is the 2nd malaria vaccine recommended by WHO, after the RTS,S/AS01
vaccine(Mosquirix), which received a WHO recommendation in 2021. Mosquirix was manufactured
by GlaxoSmithKline plc.
• The vaccine was recommended after meeting required safety, quality and effectiveness standards.
• R21/Matrix-M™ vaccine marks the culmination of 30 years of malaria vaccine research at the Jenner
Institute.
To date the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine has been licensed for use in Ghana, Nigeria and Burkina Faso.
North America’s First Gandhi Museum Opens in Houston

The Eternal Gandhi Museum Houston(EGMH), North America’s first Gandhi Museum opened in Houston,
Texas, United States of America (USA).
• The ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Museum was held on 2nd October on the occasion of the 154th
birth anniversary of Gandhi While the museum officially opened to the public on 15th August 2023.
• Dr Rajmohan Gandhi(grandson of Mahatma Gandhi), Isaac Newton Farris Jr(nephew of Martin
Luther King), and Consulate General of India(CGI) Houston D Manjunath were the special guests
amongst several at the event.
• The architecture of the 13,000-square-foot museum is inspired by Gandhi’s twenty-four-spoke
Chakra spinning wheel and the statue of Gandhi placed in front of the museum.
• The semi-circular museum’s outside walls depict notable peace activists such as Mahatma Gandhi,
Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr., and Betty Williams.
The exhibits are interactive and interesting, portraying the tale of Gandhi’s life in three parts: “His Journey,”
“Our Journey,” and “My Journey.”
EU Approves World’s 1st Green Bond Standards to Avoid Greenwashing

European Union (EU) lawmakers approved new standards for companies issuing “green” bonds to help
investors by enabling them to distinguish truly sustainable companies from those engaged in greenwashing or
misleading climate-friendly claims. These standards introduce the “European Green Bond” label, representing
a first-of-its-kind global initiative.
• Europe has emerged as a global leader in the issuance of green bonds, representing over 50% of the
total volume in 2021, issuance is still only 3% to 3.5% of the overall bond market.
• Companies aiming to categorise their bonds as “green” must disclose detailed information regarding
the use of bond proceeds. Companies must allocate at least 85% of raised funds to activities aligned
with the EU’s sustainable taxonomy.
• In addition to sustainable allocation, companies must demonstrate how these investments
contribute to their transition to a net-zero carbon emissions economy.
The new standards establish a registration system and supervisory framework for external reviewers of
European green bonds.
Sri Lanka took over as Chair of Indian Ocean Rim Association; India as Vice Chair
On October 11, 2023, Sri Lanka took over as Chair of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) for the
period 2023 to 2025 during the 23rd Council of Ministers’ (COM) meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association
(IORA) held in Colombo, Sri Lanka on 11 October 2023.
• Sri Lanka took over from the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, the current Chair of IORA (2021 to 2023).
• Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Ali Sabry will chair the Council, the highest decision-making body of the
IORA.

India assumed the Vice–Chair role of IORA for 2023–25. India is set to take over the chairship of IORA during
2025-27.
23rd COM Meeting of IORA:
The 23rd COM Meeting of IORA was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka
hosted by the Government of Sri Lanka.
The meeting was held under the theme “Strengthening
Regional Architecture: Reinforcing Indian Ocean Identity”.
Note: The Ministers’ meeting will be preceded by the 24th
Committee of Senior Official (CSO) Meeting on 9-10 October
2023.
India’s participation:
• India participated in the 23rd COM of IORA and 24th CSO meeting of IORA.
• The Indian delegation was led by External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar.
Key Points:
i.During the meeting, discussions were held on ways to cooperate on the six priority areas identified by IORA,
including Trade and Investment, Maritime Safety and Security, Fisheries Management, Disaster Risk
Management and Blue Economy, among others.
ii.The COM will review IORA’s recent activities and outline future cooperation.
iii.The COM adopted the Colombo Communique and the ‘IORA Vision 2030 and Beyond’, among other IORA
related documents.
iv.The COM meeting saw participation of sixteen Ministers including the Foreign Ministers of Bangladesh, India,
Iran, Mauritius, Malaysia and South Africa.
About Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA):
It was formed in 1997 (then called the Indian Ocean Region-Association for Regional Cooperation) in Mauritius.
It comprises 23 countries spanning Africa, West Asia, South Asia, South East Asia, Australia, and Indian Ocean
littoral states.
• The Council of Foreign Ministers, the group’s apex body, meets annually, rotating chairmanship every
two years. Sri Lanka is the current Chair, succeeding Bangladesh, and India serves as Vice-Chair
IORA Members:
i.23 countries: Australia, Bangladesh, the Comoros, France, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia,
the Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania,
Thailand, the UAE and Yemen.
ii.11 dialogue partners: China, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Türkiye, the U.K.
and the U.S.
India, Sri Lanka launch logo celebrating 75 Years of diplomatic ties
India-Sri Lanka launch logo to mark 75th year of diplomatic ties. It was shared by Union Minister
Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Ministry of External Affairs.
• The logo is shaded with hues of the two national flags. It depicts the national emblems and captures the
spirit of partnership, friendship and close ties between the two countries.
Notably, Union Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar visited Sri Lanka on 10-12 October, 2023 which was his
second visit to Sri Lanka in 2023. There he attended COM of IORA, and had bilateral meetings in Colombo.
i.Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe made an official two-day visit to India from 20- 21st July 2023. He
was welcomed by Union Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs V Muraleedharan. This marks
Wickremesinghe’s first trip to India since he was elected president of Sri Lanka in July 2022.
ii.India and Sri Lanka adopted a vision document titled, “Promoting Connectivity, Catalysing Prosperity” that
would strengthen maritime, air, energy and people-to-people connectivity to boost the economic partnership
between India and Sri Lanka.

About Sri Lanka:
Prime Minister– Dinesh Gunawardena
Capital– Colombo (executive and judicial capital); Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (legislative capital)
Currency– Sri Lankan Rupee
CCI Secured its 1st Membership in the International Competition Network’s Steering Group for 2 Years
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) secures membership in the International Competition Network
(ICN) Steering Group at the 22nd Annual Conference of the ICN, hosted by the Spanish National Markets and
Competition Commission (CNMC) in Barcelona, Spain from 18 to 20 October 2023.
This is the 1st time that CCI has become a member of the ICN’s apex body, a Steering Group and the
membership is for 2 years.
With more than 140 member competition agencies, ICN operates under the guidance of its Steering
Group, comprised of 18 esteemed members worldwide.
International Competition Network (ICN):
i.ICN functions as a virtual international organization, comprising global competition authorities.
ii.ICN’s work primarily occurs through project-oriented Working Groups, fostering collaboration through
various mediums such as teleconferences, teleseminars, and webinars.
iii.Through dynamic dialogue, the ICN platform facilitates the convergence towards robust competition policy
principles across the global antitrust community.
Steering Group of ICN:
i.The Steering Group of ICN is composed of representatives of ICN member agencies and the 18 members
Steering Group serve renewable two-year terms.
ii.Steering Group members are confirmed by consensus of ICN Members in odd-numbered years at the ICN
annual conference.
About International Competition Network (ICN):
Founded in– 2001
Chair of ICN Steering Group– Andreas Mundt (President, Germany Federal Cartel Office)
Member Agencies– 143 Members
FATF Removed Cayman Islands from Its ‘Grey List’

According to the review published by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on 27th October 2023, Cayman
Islands was removed from the FATF ‘grey list’ – Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring. Panama, Jordan,
and Albania were also removed from FATF’s Grey list while Bulgaria was added to the list.
FATF is an inter-governmental body that sets anti-money laundering standards.
Points to note:
i.Cayman was added to the grey list in 2021 following the outcome of the jurisdiction’s mutual evaluation. At
the time, the FATF acknowledged that the jurisdiction had met 60 out of 63 recommended actions.
ii.According to the National Securities Depository (NSDL), around 385 Foreign portfolio investors registered in
India are based in the Cayman Islands and 1 is based in Panama.
What is Grey List?
The grey list identifies countries that are actively working with the FATF to address strategic deficiencies in
their regimes to counter money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing.

VISITS
INDIAN VISITS
Highlights of PM Modi’s visit to MP & Rajasthan on 2nd Oct 2023
On 2nd October 2023, Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi visited Madhya Pradesh(MP) and
Rajasthan.
• In Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, He laid the foundation
stone and dedicated various development projects
worth about Rs 7000 crore.
• In Gwalior, MP, He laid the foundation stone and
dedicated multiple development initiatives worth
around Rs 19,260 crores.
Highlights of PM’s visit to MP:
PM dedicated and initiated several key projects with a
combined value of approximately Rs 19,260 crores. These
initiatives include
• Inauguration of the Delhi-Vadodara Expressway.
• Grih Pravesh of more than 2.2 lakh houses constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana
(PMAY) program.
• Laid foundation for Jal Jeevan Mission ventures.
• Laid foundation for 9 health centres under the Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission.
• Dedicated the academic building at Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) Indore, and laid the
foundation for a hostel and other buildings on campus.
• Laid the foundation stone for a Multi-Modal Logistics Park in Indore.
Key People: Chief Minister(CM) of Madhya Pradesh(MP), Shivraj Singh Chauhan; Union Ministers Narendra
Singh Tomar, Dr Virendra Kumar and Jyotiraditya Scindia, Members of Parliament(MP) and Ministers from the
Government of MP were present on the occasion among others.
Dedicates Delhi-Vadodara Expressway
i.The Prime Minister dedicated the Delhi-Vadodara Expressway, developed at a cost of approximately Rs.
11,895 crores. This expressway, which traverses Sohna, Dausa, Lalsot Sawai Madhopur, Kota, Ratlam
Dahod, and Godhra significantly reduces the travel time between Delhi and Vadodara from the previous 18-20
hours to just 10 hours.
• The traditional routes covered over 1,000 kilometers, but this new expressway shortens the
distance to 845 kilometers, greatly enhancing efficiency and convenience for commuters.
• Presently, there are two main routes from Delhi to Vadodara – one via Jaipur, Bhilwara, and Udaipur,
and the other via Laxmangarh, Lalsot, and Kota. The Jaipur-Udaipur route is slightly shorter, taking
around 17 hours.
ii.The Delhi-Vadodara section of the expressway passes through Rajasthan (373 km), Madhya Pradesh (244
km), and Haryana (79 km). Notably, the Sohna-Dausa segment of the Delhi-Mumbai expressway is already
operational.
iii.The Delhi-Vadodara Expressway is an access-controlled 8-lane expressway where vehicles can travel at
speeds of up to 120 kmph, ensuring smooth traffic flow.
iv.This expressway also improves connectivity to several other major cities such as Jaipur, Kota, Chittorgarh,
Indore, Ujjain, Bhopal, and Ahmedabad.
PM Initiates Grih Pravesh for 2.2 Lakh PMAY – Gramin Houses and Dedicates PMAY – Urban Homes
Grih Pravesh of over 2.2 lakh houses built under PMAY – Gramin were initiated by the Prime Minister. He
also dedicate houses constructed under PMAY – Urban at a cost of around Rs 140 crores.

• This is in line with PM’s efforts to ensure that everyone has a house of one’s own.
Lays foundation stone of Jal Jeevan Mission projects
PM Modi laid the foundation stone for the Jal Jeevan Mission projects worth over Rs 1530 crores in Gwalior and
Sheopur districts of MP.
• This aims to provide safe and adequate drinking water to the people, one of the key focus areas of
the government.
• These projects will together benefit over 720 villages of the region.
Lays foundation stone of 9 health centers under Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission
PM Modi laid the foundation stone for 9 new health centers under Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure
Mission. This aims boost the health infrastructure in MP.
• These centres will be developed at a cost of over Rs. 150 crores.
PM Modi Inaugurates Atal Bihari Training Center – India’s 1st High-Tech Training Center for Divyangjan
Sports
On 2nd October 2023, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, PM Modi inaugurated the India’s 1st state-of-
the-art sports training facility for individuals with disabilities, known as the Atal Bihari Training Center for
Divyang Sports, in Gwalior, MP
• This centre is named in honour of the former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
• Aim: To provide equal opportunities in sports, enhance talent, and encourage participation in
various sports disciplines.
Key People: Dr. Virendra Kumar, the Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, was also in attendance at
the inauguration ceremony.
Highlights of PM’s visit to Rajasthan:
PM lays foundation stone and dedicates to nation various development projects worth about Rs 7,000 crore in
Chittorgarh, Rajasthan. The dedicated development projects includes,
i.Mehsana – Bhatinda – Gurdaspur Gas Pipeline:
• Built at a cost of about Rs. 4,500 crores.
ii.Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Plant of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) at Abu Road:
• Capacity: Bottle and distribute 86 lakh cylinders per annum.
• This will also result in net reduction in running of trucks carrying cylinders per annum by around
0.75 million Km, reducing about 0.5 million tons of Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per annum.
iii.Additional Storage at Ajmer Bottling Plant, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd(IOCL);
iv.4-Lane Road on NH-12 (New NH-52) on the Darah-Jhalawar-Teendhar Section:
• The road was constructed at a cost of more than Rs. 1,480 crores.
• This will ease the transportation of mined produce from Kota and Jhalawar districts.
v.PM laid the foundation stone for the construction and widening of the Railway Over Bridge (ROB) from 2 lane
to 4 lande in Sawai Madhopur:
vi.PM Modi also dedicated the following Railway Projects: Doubling of Chittorgarh – Neemuch Railway line, and
Kota – Chittorgarh Electrified Railway line.
• These projects were completed at a cost of more than Rs. 650 crores.
• This will strengthen rail infrastructure in the region and boost the tourism to historic sites in
Rajasthan.
vii.PM also dedicated tourism facilities at Nathdwara under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme.
• A modern ‘tourist interpretation and cultural center’ was developed at Nathdwara to empower the
tourists to experience various facets of the life of Shrinathji.
viii.He also dedicated the permanent campus of Indian Institute of Information Technology(IIIT), Kota
Highlights of PM’s Address in Rajasthan:
i.PM modi highlighted that So far, the government has sent Rs 28 thousand to the accounts of every small
farmer in India through PM Kisan Samman Nidhi.
• In India, there are around 2.5 crore small farmers who grows coarse grains.

ii.He also highlighted that Vishwakarma Yojana benefits Kumhar, Lohar, Suthar, sunar, malakar, darji, dhobi
and cobblers and barbers.
• The government will cover the costs for their training and also hand out Rs 15,000 for modern
equipment.
iii.He also noted that India became the 5th largest economy from 10th place in just 9 years.
About Madhya Pradesh (MP):
Chief Minister– Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Governor– Mangubhai C. Patel
Wildlife Sanctuary– Ralamandal Wildlife Sanctuary; Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary
Tiger Reserve– Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve; Kanha Tiger Reserve
About Rajasthan:
Chief Minister– Ashok Gehlot
Governor– Kalraj Mishra
Wildlife Sanctuary– Sorsan Wildlife Sanctuary; Van Vihar Sanctuary
Airport– Jodhpur Airport; Jaisalmer Airport
Highlights of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Visits to Rajasthan,Madhya Pradesh

PM Modi visited Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and launched multiple development projects on October 5, 2023.
PM Dedicates and Lays Foundation for Rs 5000 Crore Projects in Jodhpur, Rajasthan
On October 5, 2023, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple
projects in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, with a total estimated value of around Rs 5000 crores. These projects span
various sectors, including healthcare, education, transportation,
and infrastructure.
Key projects:
i.The foundation stone was laid Trauma Centre and Critical Care
Hospital Block at AIIMS, Jodhpur. Seven Critical Care Blocks
were initiated under the Pradhan Mantri – Ayushman Bharat
Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) to strengthen
critical care infrastructure across Rajasthan.
• These will be developed at a cost of more than Rs
350 crore.
ii.The PM inaugurated the development of a new state-of-the-art terminal building at Jodhpur Airport. To be
built at a total cost of Rs 480 crore, the New Terminal Building will be developed in an area of about 24,000
sqm.
iii.The Prime Minister dedicated the IIT Jodhpur campus to the nation. Hi-tech medical technology like robotic
surgery will give India new heights in the field of research and industry.
• The state-of-the-art campus has been built at a cost of more than Rs 1135 crore.
iv.The Prime Minister laid foundation stone for multiple road development projects including:Four-laning of:
• Karwar to Dangiyawas Section of Jodhpur Ring Road on NH-125.
• the Pachpadra-Bagundi section of NH-25.
• Construction of bypasses/re-alignments in the Balotra to Sanderao section via Jalore (NH-325).
• These road projects will be built at a cumulative cost of about Rs.1475 crore.
v.This year about Rs 9500 crore budget has been allocated for railways in Rajasthan.
• The Prime Minister inaugurated the doubling of the 145 km long Degana-Rai Ka Bagh rail
line and the 58 km long Degana-Kuchaman City rail line.
• He flagged off the Runicha Express, connecting Jaisalmer to Delhi
• He also flagged off a new heritage train connecting Marwar Junction to Khambli Ghat.

Prime Minister Inaugurates and Lays Foundation for Development Projects Worth Over Rs 12,600
Crore in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, recently visited Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, where he laid the
foundation stone and dedicated several development projects worth more than Rs 12,600 crore.
Key Projects:
i.The Prime Minister performed the ‘bhoomi poojan’ for the ‘Veerangana Rani Durgavati Smarak
aur Udyaan‘ in Jabalpur.To mark the 500th birth anniversary of Veerangana Rani Durgavati, a Rs.500
commemorative coin and postage stamp were released.
• Memorial to be built at a cost of about Rs 100 crore and will be spread over an area of about 21
acres.
• It will showcase a 52-foot-high bronze statue of Rani Durgavati.
• It will also have multiple parks and gardens including a garden for medicinal plants, a Cactus garden
and Rock garden among others.
• Rani Durgavati was the ruling queen of Gondwana in the mid-16th century.
ii.The Prime Minister inaugurated more than 1000 houses constructed under the Light House Project in Indore,
part of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U).
• Built at a cost of about Rs 128 crore under PMAY-U, the project will benefit more than 1000
beneficiary families.
• It employs innovative technology ‘Prefabricated Sandwich Panel System with Pre-engineered
Steel Structural System’.
iii.PM Lays Foundation for Jal Jeevan Mission Projects in Multiple Districts and Dedicates One in Seoni to
provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections, the foundation stone
of multiple Jal Jeevan Mission projects in Mandla, Jabalpur and Dindori districts worth over Rs 2350
crores were laid.
iv.PM inaugurated projects more than Rs 4800 crore for improving the road infrastructure in Madhya Pradesh.
He laid the foundation stone of projects including the upgradation of road
connecting Jharkheda– Berasia – Dholkhedi of NH 346.
v.Dedicates rail projects worth more than Rs 1850 crore :- These include doubling the rail line
connecting Katni – Vijaysota (102 km) and Marwasgram – Singrauli (78.50 km).
vi.PM Dedicates Pipeline Project, Lays Foundation for New Section, and Inaugurates Bottling Plant in
Jabalpur
• The Prime Minister dedicated Vijaipur – Auraiyan– Phulpur Pipeline Project to the nation at a cost
of more than Rs 1750 crore.
• The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of Nagpur Jabalpur section (317 KMs) of
Mumbai Nagpur Jharsuguda Pipeline Project at a cost of more than Rs 1100 crore.
• The Prime Minister also dedicated a new bottling plant at Jabalpur which has been built at a cost
of about Rs 147 crore.
Key Points from PM Modi’s speech:
i.Various government schemes and expenditures were highlighted:
• Rs 3 lakh crore is being spent on providing free ration to crores of families.
• Rs 70,000 crores being spent for free treatment of about 5 crore families of the country under the
Ayushman scheme
• Rs 8 lakh crores to ensure that farmers get cheap urea
• Deposits of more than Rs 2.5 lakh crore in the bank accounts of small farmers under PM Kisan
Samman Nidhi.
• The expenditure of Rs 4 lakh crore to provide permanent houses to poor families.
ii.Khadi products worth over Rs 1.5 crore were sold on Gandhi Jayanti.
About Rajasthan:
Chief Minister – Ashok Gehlot

Governor – Kalraj Mishra
National parks: Ranthambore National Park; Mukundra Hills National Park, Keoladeo National Park
About Madhya Pradesh:
Chief Minister – Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Governor – Mangubhai C. Patel
National parks – Kanha National Park; Bandhavgarh National Park; Madhav National Park
Her Excellency Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania’s State
Visit to India, October 8-10, 2023
President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania visited India at invitation of President Droupadi Murmu from
October 8-10, 2023. The events took place at Kaushal Bhawan,New Moti Bagh in New Delhi,Delhi. She was
accompanied by a high-level delegation including the Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation
Hon. January Makamba (MP).
• She also attended the India-Tanzania Business and Investment Forum on October 10, 2023.
• The two countries inked six agreements providing for cooperation in the digital domain, culture,
sports, maritime industries and white shipping information sharing.
India and Tanzania Sign 6 MoUs
The two leaders elevated the Indo-Tanzania relationship to a ‘Strategic Partnership,’ focusing on areas such as
maritime security, defense cooperation, development partnership, and trade and investment.
MoUs and Agreements exchanged:
Representative from Representative from
S.No. Name of MoU/Agreement Tanzanian side Indian side
Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry
of Electronics and Information Technology of the
Republic of India and the Ministry of Information, H.E. Nape M. Nnauye,
Communication and Information Technology of the Minister for Information,
United Republic of Tanzania on cooperation in the field Communication and Dr. S. Jaishankar,
of sharing successful digital solutions implemented at Information Technology Minister of External
population scale for digital transformation of Tanzania Affairs of India
H.E. Mr. January Y.
Technical Agreement between The Indian Navy of the Makamba,
Republic of India and Tanzania Shipping Agencies Minister for Foreign Dr. S. Jaishankar,
Corporation of the United Republic of Tanzania on Affairs and East African Minister of External
2 Sharing White Shipping Information Cooperation of Tanzania Affairs of India
Cultural Exchange Programme between the H.E. January Y. Makamba,
Government of the Republic of India and the Minister for Foreign Dr. S. Jaishankar,
Government of the United Republic of Tanzania Affairs and East African Minister of External
3 for the Years 2023-2027 Cooperation of Tanzania Affairs of India
H.E. Mr. January Y.
Makamba,
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Minister for Foreign Dr. S. Jaishankar,
National Sports Council of Tanzania and Sports Affairs and East African Minister of External
4 Authority of India on cooperation in the field of sports Cooperation of Tanzania Affairs of India
MoU between Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority under H.E. Prof. Kitila A. Dr. S. Jaishankar,
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways of the Mkumbo, Minister of External
5 Republic of India and Tanzania Investment Centre of Minister of State, Planning Affairs of India

the United Republic of Tanzania for setting up of an and Investment of
Industrial Park in Tanzania Tanzania
Amb. Ms. Anisa K. Shri Binaya Srikanta
MoU between Cochin Shipyard Ltd. of India and Mbega,High Pradhan, High
Marine Services Company Limited (MSCL) of Commissioner of Commissioner of
6 Tanzania on Cooperation in Maritime Industry Tanzania to India India to Tanzania
Five-Year Roadmap for Defense Cooperation:
India and Tanzania have agreed on a five-year plan to enhance bilateral defense cooperation, focusing on areas
such as infrastructure development and collaboration in military equipment and technology.
i.The 2nd Joint Defence Cooperation Committee(JDCC) meeting in Arusha on June 28-29, 2023, yielded a
five-year defense cooperation plan, highlighting expanded collaboration, such as the deployment of the Indian
Military Training Team in Tanzania.
ii.Tanzania also expressed appreciation for the deployment of the Indian Military Training Team (IMTT) at the
Command and Staff College in Duluti.
iii.Two successful Defense Expos in Dar es Salaam on May 31, 2022, and October 2, 2023, with Indian defense
company participation, have sparked enthusiasm for expanding defense industry cooperation.
India and Tanzania Sign MoUs in Maritime and Sports; Indian Navy to Share White Shipping
Information.
India and Tanzania emphasized the need for mutual coordination to address challenges in maritime security,
piracy, and drug trafficking in the Indian Ocean region. They expressed satisfaction with the first-ever India-
Tanzania Joint Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surveillance exercise in July 2023, coinciding with the visit of
the Indian Naval Ship Trishul to Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam.
They also commended the first-ever trilateral maritime exercise involving India, Tanzania, and
Mozambique in the Mozambique Channel during the visit of the Indian Naval Ship Tarkash in October 2022.
India exploring trade in local currencies with Tanzania
India and Tanzania are exploring trade in local currencies as part of their efforts to boost trade and
investment. Both countries consider each other important partners in trade and investment.
i.The Reserve Bank of India has allowed authorized banks to open Special Rupee Vostro Accounts (SRVA) for
correspondent banks of Tanzania to facilitate transactions in local currencies (i.e., Indian Rupee and Tanzanian
Shilling).
ii.The bilateral trade between India and Tanzania stands at USD 6.4 billion of which India’s exports alone
amount to USD 3.9 billion and imports worth USD 2.4 billion in 2022-23, with India being the fifth-largest
investor in Tanzania with about USD 3.7 billion in investments covering a range of sectors.
• Tanzanian side acknowledged that India is amongst its top five investment sources, whereby 630
investment projects worth USD 3.74 billion have been registered and thus creating 60,000 new jobs.
iii.It was specifically noted that Water Projects in 24 towns of Tanzania worth USD 500 Million through a Line
of Credit scheme are presently being implemented.
iv.Both sides recognised that agriculture sector cooperation remains a strong pillar in the relations whereby
98% of product lines from Tanzania are imported tariff-free using India’s Duty Free Tariff Preference (DFTP)
scheme.
• India remains a major destination for Tanzanian cashew nuts, pigeon peas, spices, avocado and
other agricultural commodities.
Other Key Points:
i.India and Tanzania have bolstered bilateral engagement, notably on global and regional matters, including the
Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) ‘s Indo-Pacific Outlook.
• Both countries, linked by history and maritime proximity, hold significant roles in India’s Security
and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) vision. Tanzania’s participation in India’s annual
Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief (HADR) exercises was also welcomed.

ii.The two sides also expressed satisfaction on Lines of Credits (LoCs) extended by India to Tanzania that
amount to over USD 1.1 billion covering fields of drinking water infrastructure, agriculture and defence.
iii.India offers 450 Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) scholarships for capacity building and
70 Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) scholarships for long term programmes in 2023-24.
• The Indian side announced the decision to increase the number of Long term scholarships (ICCR)
from 70-85 for the year 2023-24.
iv.The Indian side offered collaboration in areas of space technologies and digital public infrastructure (DPI)
under India Stack including Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and Digital Unique Identity (Aadhar).
v.Tanzania commended the decision by India to set up 2 ICT Centres at Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology
and at Nelson Mandela African Institute for Science & Technology (NMAIST) in Arusha. Tanzanian side also
express its appreciation to India for upgrading the ICT centre in NM-AIST.
vi.First overseas campus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Zanzibar, with classes for the first batch
starting soon.
vii. 10 ambulances by the Government of India to Tanzania aimed at assisting in the provision of prompt
medical care to patients and support to hospital infrastructure.
viii.Donation of radiation therapy machine, “Bhabhatron II“, essential medicines, an artificial limbs fitment
camp organized in 2019 which benefited 520 Tanzanian patients among others.
xi.Signing of the Cultural Exchange Program for the 2023-27 periods.
• The Indian side extended an invitation to Tanzania to be a partner country in the upcoming
Surajkund Mela to be held in February 2024 in Surajkund, Faridabad, National Capital Region of
Delhi.
x.G20 Leaders welcomed the African Union (AU) as the permanent member of the G20.
Tanzania’s President Hassan Granted Honorary Doctorate by JNU, the First Woman to Receive
This Honour
Samia Suluhu Hassan, the first female President of Tanzania, received an honorary doctorate from
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). The recognition was for her contributions to strengthening India-Tanzania
relations, promoting economic diplomacy, and regional integration.
The honorary doctorate, Honoris Causa, was presented by JNU’s Vice
Chancellor, Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit.
i.President Hassan mentioned her educational experience in India, particularly at the National Institute of Rural
Development and Panchayati Raj in Hyderabad, where she received training under the Indian Technical and
Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program.
• ITEC is a capacity-building programme offered by the Ministry of External Affairs under which
officials and civilians receive training in the defence sector.
ii.She also mentioned that JNU has a Centre for African Studies that began in 1969, which in 2009 became a
specialized centre and the Nelson Mandela Chair, established by the Ministry of External Affairs.
About Tanzania
Capital – Dodoma
Currency – Tanzanian shilling
President – Samia Suluhu Hassan
Prime Minister – Kassim Majaliwa
FOREIGN VISITS
Uttarakhand CM UK Visit from 25-28th September 2023: MoUs worth Rs. 12,500 Crore Signed
for Investment Proposals
Uttarakhand Chief Minister (CM) Pushkar Singh Dhami visited London and Birmingham, the United Kingdom
(UK) from September 26-28, 2023 to invite Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and industrialists for the

upcoming Uttarakhand Global Investor Summit to be held in Dehradun, Uttarakhand in December 2023 to
achieve the goal of a strong Uttarakhand.
• During his visit, the Uttarakhand government signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with
various companies for investment proposals worth more than Rs 12,500 crore.
• He also participated in a roadshow organised for the
Uttarakhand Global Investors’ Summit
in Birmingham (UK) and held a meeting with various
industrialists.
Key Highlights:
i.An action plan was conceptualised to accelerate tourism activities
in Uttarakhand, in a meeting held at the High Commission of India in
London.
• An investment agreement worth Rs. 4,800 crores was
signed with the group involved in various activities in the tourism sector.
ii.A meeting was held with the Lord Mayor of the London Municipal Corporation for technical assistance in
raising funds from the bond market regarding financial arrangements to develop the infrastructure of
Uttarakhand.
iii.A meeting was held with the officials of the German Embassy regarding Germany’s support to Uttarakhand
in terms of technical, education, and skill development.
• Uttarakhand’s skilled workforce may find opportunities to work in Germany.
Uttarakhand CM Dhami Took Part in Roadshow in Birmingham for Global Investors Summit
Uttarakhand CM participated in the Roadshow organized for the Global Investors Summit in Birmingham (UK)
and held discussions with various prospective industrialists of Birmingham.
• The theme of the Global Investor Summit to be organized in Uttarakhand has been kept as “Peace
to Prosperity”.
Note: After London, the Uttarakhand government will also organise roadshows in Singapore and Taiwan.
Key Highlights:
i.More than 250 delegates from fields of education, IT, health, and manufacturing industry participated during
the roadshow.
ii.An event will be organised on October 4 2023 in Delhi, to hold discussions with the investors.
iii.Britain (UK) is the 6th largest number of investors in India, with more than 600 industrial units working
across the country.
Uttarakhand Govt Signs MoU With Ropeway Construction Firm Poma Group In London
The Uttarakhand government signed an MoU worth Rs. 2,000 crore with Poma Group, a French cable car
company for investment in Uttarakhand Global Investor’s Summit in London (UK).
• The MoU was signed by Vinay Shankar Pandey, Secretary (industries) Uttarakhand on behalf of the
Uttarakhand government.
Association of Poma Group:
i.The Poma Group has worked in Uttarakhand, having been associated with the Auli ropeway in the Chamoli
district of Uttarakhand.
ii.The Poma Group is also providing technical support in the Dehradun-Mussoorie ropeway & Yamunotri
ropeway projects in Uttarakhand.
iii.Alongside technical support for the ropeway, the Poma Group plans to establish a Center of Excellence in
many other religious and tourist places in Uttarakhand including Haridwar.
Benefits of ropeway:
• Ropeway will provide convenience to the tourists in Uttarakhand.
• Ropeways are environmentally friendly, reducing the carbon footprint associated with conventional
transportation methods.

• It plays a pivotal role in uplifting the livelihoods of the local population and fostering economic
growth.
Other MoU’s:
The Government of Uttarakhand signed 2 separate MoUs in the presence of CM Pushkar Singh Dhami worth Rs
3800 crore:
• Industrial group Kayan Jet in London (UK) for developing a skiing resort and cable car project in
Uttarakhand and
• Investment MoUs worth Rs 1,000 crore with Usha Breco was signed.
i.Kayan Jet: Kayan Jet signed an investment MoU of Rs 2100 crore for developing a skiing resort and another
MoU of Rs 1700 crore for the cable car project in Uttarakhand.
• The agreement by Kayan Jet aims to develop skiing resort projects in Auli, Dayara Bugyal, and
Munsiyari of Uttarakhand.
ii.Usha Bracco Limited: Along with this, an agreement was signed with Usha Breco Limited, a leader in the
field of ropeway agreed to develop a ropeway in Haridwar and other districts of Uttarakhand.
• It specialises in the construction, operation, and maintenance of ropeways.
Uttarakhand CM Dhami Signs MoUs worth Rs 3,000 Crore with Aager Technology and Fira Barcelona
Investment MoUs worth Rs 3,000 crore were signed by the government of Uttarakhand during Pushkar Singh
Dami’s 4-day visit to the UK. The MoUs were signed with 2 companies during the meeting organised for the
Global Investors Summit in London, UK.
• An MoU worth Rs 2,000 crore was signed with Aager Technology and another for investment worth
Rs 1,000 crore with Fira Barcelona.
Key Points:
i.M/s Agar Technology has agreed to invest in lithium battery plants in Uttarakhand.
• This partnership underscores Uttarakhand’s growing appeal in the renewable energy sector.
ii.Fira Barcelona is a prestigious European group specialising in the convention center and events management.
• Their expertise in organising world-class business fairs enhances Uttarakhand’s global business
prospects.
Additional MoUs:
Additionally, 2 MoUs were signed with Ease My Trip, which agreed to create a state-supported online travel
agency (OTA) and promote Uttarakhand as a prominent global tourism destination.
• This initiative is composed to generate a substantial number of employment opportunities.
Note: For the upcoming Uttarakhand Global Investors Summit, held in Delhi, the Uttarakhand government
secured a Rs 1,000 crore MoU with Mahindra Holidays and Resort India Limited, marking the firm’s “largest
investment in any Indian state”.
• The MoU outlines plans for the establishment of 4 to 5 resorts within Uttarakhand.
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi virtually flagged off Uttarakhand’s 1st semi-high-speed Vande
Bharat Train connecting Dehradun with Delhi.
About Uttarakhand:
Chief Minister– Pushkar Singh Dhami
Governor– Gurmit Singh
Festivals– Magh Mela (January – February) and Nanda Raj Jat (August – September once in every twelve years)
Overview of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to Italy & France

From October 9-12, 2023, India’s Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence(MoD) was on an official
visit to Rome, Italy and Paris, France, the details of which are as follows:

Highlights of Def Min’s Visit to Rome, Italy:
On October 9, 2023, Union Minister Rajnath Singh visited Rome,
Italy. This visit was the first in over 20 years by an Indian Defence
Minister to Italy. He was received by the by the Indian Ambassador
to Italy Dr Neena Malhotra and Italy’s Minister of
Defence Guido Crosetto at Ciampino Airport, Rome. He was also
given Guard of Honour at Villa Madama in Rome.
India-Rome Defence Minister’s Meet
India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a meeting with his
Italian counterpart i.e. Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto in
Rome. During the meet, discussions were held on defence cooperation issues, including training, sharing of
information, maritime exercises and maritime security.
Key Points:
i.Both sides discussed synergy between India and Italy in defense capabilities and explored joint development
opportunities.
ii.India proposed enhancing collaboration between Indian startups and Italian defense firms.
India-Italy signed agreement on Defence cooperation
After the meeting, a defence cooperation agreement was signed between India and Italy to promote bilateral
cooperation in areas such as security and defence policy, Research and Development (R&D), education in
military field, maritime domain awareness, sharing of defence information and industrial cooperation,
including co-development, co-production & setting up of joint ventures (JVs).
Key Points:
i.It should be noted that Italy aims to boost defense collaborations in India after the lifting of a ban on its major
defense manufacturer, Leonardo (formerly Finmeccanica), linked to the AgustaWestland VVIP (Very Very
Important Person) helicopter scandal. The company is actively participating in competitive bids for defense
contracts in India.
ii.The relationship between India and Italy was elevated to strategic partnership in March 2023 during the visit
of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to India.
Note:
On October 10, 2023, he also met CEOs (Chief Executive Officers) and other top industry leaders of 24 Italian
defence companies in Rome to discuss potential opportunities for industrial cooperation.
Tribute to ‘VC Yeshwant Ghadge Sundial Memorial’
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited ‘VC Yeshwant Ghadge Sundial Memorial’ in Montone, Perugia
province of Italy and paid tributes to Naik Yeshwant Ghadge (23) and other Indian soldiers who fought in the
Italian Campaign in World War II.
• This memorial was opened in July 2023.
• The Italian Campaign refers to the two-year campaign (1943-1945) by the Great Britain, the US (United
States) and the Soviet Union to liberate Italy from German occupation.
Key Points:
i.Naik Yeshwant Ghadge was posthumously awarded Victoria Cross (VC), the United Kingdom’s (UK) highest
military decoration, for his heroism in the Italian campaign. He was killed during the fighting in upper Tiber
Valley, Italy on July 1, 1944.
ii.He was born on 16 November 1921 and served in the 5th Mahratta Light Infantry in the British Indian Army
during World War II.
iii.More than 50,000 Indian soldiers took part in the Italian campaign, of whom around 5,700 were killed in
action and are commemorated in various cemeteries across Italy,
• The soldiers were part of the 4th, 8th and 10th Divisions of the British Commonwealth forces that fought
against Germany, Italy and Japan.

Highlights of Def Min’s Visit to Paris, France:
On October 10, 2023, India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Paris, France. He received Guard of
Honour at the French Ministry of Defence.
5th Annual Defence Dialogue:
On October 11, 2023, Union Minister Rajnath Singh conducted the 5th Annual Defence Dialogue with French
Minister of Armed Forces Mr Sebastien Lecornu in Paris.
Key Points:
i.They discussed regional assessment, ongoing military engagements, and emphasized enhancing defense
industrial cooperation.
ii.They also reviewed current defense projects, explored ways to deepen collaboration between defense
industries, and discussed potential partnerships in space, cyber, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) domains.
Other Highlights:
i.Union Minister Rajnath Singh visited the Safran Engine Division’s R&D Centre at Gennevilliers near Paris and
witnessed the latest developments in aero-engine technology.
ii.He also met with the CEOs of the top French defence companies with a focus on their plans for collaboration
with India
• Indian side highlighted the advantages of co-development and co-production in India, including
possibilities of exports to third countries.
iii.He interacted with the Indian community there.
Notes:
i.France, a significant defense ally for India, recently secured major deals, such as manufacturing three
Scorpene class submarines with indigenous Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) at Mazgaon Dockyards in
collaboration with France’s Naval Group.
ii.India is also in advanced talks to acquire 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets from Dassault for its aircraft carrier,
INS (Indian Naval Ship) Vikrant.
i.On 27th March 2023, to mark the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statue that founded the by
International Criminal Court (ICC),the British Embassy in Rome, Italy in collaboration with the Italian Ministry
of Justice and the Netherlands Embassy in Rome, Italy organised a celebratory event.
ii.In view of the uptick in defence industrial collaborations between the two countries, India is setting up a
Technical Office of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) at its Embassy in Paris.
About France:
President– Emmanuel Macron
Capital– Paris
Currency– Euro
BANKING & FINANCE NEWS

BANKING NEWS
RBI IN NEWS
Highlights of RBI’s 4th Bi-monthly Monetary Policy for FY24: LAF Stays at 6.50%, FY24 GDP
Growth Estimated at 6.5%
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced its fourth bi-monthly monetary policy. The RBI Governor
Shaktikanta Das-led Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting on October 4-6, 2023, decided to keep the
rates and stance unchanged.
i.Policy Repo Rate: For the 4th time in a row, the MPC has opted to keep the policy repo rate under the
liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) unchanged at 6.50%.

• The last adjustment to this rate was a 25-basis point increase to 6.50% during the February 2023
meeting.
• RBI Governor pointed out that the full transmission of 250 basis points repo rate reduction is still
pending.
• The MPC’s main goal is to maintain the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate at a targeted level.
The current target is set at 4%, with a tolerance range of +/- 2 percentage points.
RBI’s Policy Rates:
Category Rate
Policy Repo Rate (RR) 6.50%
Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) Rate 6.25%
Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) Rate 6.75%
Bank Rate 6.75%
Fixed Reverse Repo Rate (RRR) 3.35%
Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) 4.50%
Statutory Liquidity Ratio 18%
ii.Real GDP Growth Projections: The MPC provided projections for real gross domestic product (GDP) growth
for the fiscal year 2023-24:
• Overall, real GDP growth for 2023-24 is projected at 6.5%.
• For Q2FY24–6.5%.
• For Q3FY24–6.0%.
• For Q4FY24–5.7%.
• For Q1FY25–6.6%.
iii.The real GDP in the Q1FY24 (April-June) posted a growth rate of 7.8% year-on-year (y-o-y). This strong
growth was attributed to factors such as private consumption and investment demand.
SDF, MSF, and Bank rate remain unchanged at 6.25% , 6.75%, 6.75%, respectively
The MPC also decided that Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) and Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) rates are also
left unchanged at 6.25 per cent and 6.75 per cent, respectively. These rates are essential tools used by the RBI
to regulate the flow of money in the banking system, ensuring stability and influencing borrowing and lending
activities among banks.
• Special Drawing Facility (SDF): This rate signifies the interest rate at which banks can deposit
their excess funds with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). It remains steady at 6.25%.
• Marginal Standing Facility (MSF): MSF is a window for banks to borrow funds from the RBI in
situations where inter-bank liquidity is exhausted. The interest rate for MSF remains unchanged at
6.75%.
• Bank Rate: The Bank Rate is the interest rate at which the RBI lends long-term funds to commercial
banks. This rate is also set at 6.75%.
RBI maintains CPI inflation forecast for FY24 at 5.4%
RBI projects that Inflation is expected to average 5.4% in the fiscal year 2023–2024, which remained
unchanged. Additionally, the target for economic growth remains at 6.5% for the same period.
• CPI stands for Consumer Price Index, is a way to measure how prices of everyday items change over
time. It shows the average cost increase for things people buy regularly, like groceries and services.
Quarterly CPI Inflation Projections for FY23-24:
• Q2FY24: 6.4% (up from 6.2%).
• Q3FY24: 5.6% (revised down from 5.7%).
• Q4FY24: 5.2% .
• Q1FY25: 5.2% .

i.CPI headline inflation jumped by 2.6% points to 7.4% in July, primarily due to a spike in vegetable prices. It
then moderated slightly in August to 6.8%.
ii.Fuel inflation – Increased to 4.3% in August.
iii.Core inflation, which excludes food and fuel
• Softened to 4.9% during July-August 2023.
• Core inflation has decreased by approximately 140 basis points from its highest point in January
2023.
RBI Doubles Gold Loan Limit Urban Cooperative Banks
During the sidelines of meeting, RBI announced to double the gold loan limit under Bullet Repayment
scheme for Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs). Monetary ceiling for gold loans under this scheme increased
from ₹2.00 lakh to ₹4.00 lakh for UCBs that meet Priority Sector Lending (PSL) target and sub targets as on
March 31, 2023.
• A bullet repayment scheme is when a borrower pays both the interest and the principal amount at
the end of the loan tenure, without making any repayments during the loan duration period.
Background:
November 26, 2007: it has been decided to permit Bullet repayment of gold loans up to ₹1.00 lakh as an
additional option.
October 30, 2014: Loan limit increased to ₹2.00 lakh.
October 6, 2023: Loan limit further increased to ₹4.00 laksh for UCBs meeting PSL targets.
ii.Loan Repayment Options
Bullet Repayment: Principal and interest paid in lump sum at the end of the loan tenure.
Equated Monthly Instalment (EMI) Repayment: Fixed monthly payments that include principal and interest.
Extension of PIDF Scheme to December 2025, Inclusion of Vishwakarma Beneficiaries
Reserve Bank Governor Shaktikanta Das announced the extension of the Payments Infrastructure
Development Fund (PIDF) Scheme by 2 years, until December 31, 2025. This extended scheme will now
include beneficiaries of the PM Vishwakarma Scheme, aiming to promote digital transactions at the grassroots
level.
i.The PIDF Scheme was operationalized by the Reserve Bank in January 2021 for a 3-year period.
ii.Objective: Incentivize the deployment of payment acceptance infrastructure, including physical Point of Sale
(PoS) and Quick Response (QR) codes.
iii.Target Areas: Tier-3 to tier-6 centers, northeastern states, and Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and
Ladakh.
iv.Beneficiaries: Initially, focused on Tier-3 to Tier-6 centers and northeastern states.
v.In August 2021, beneficiaries of PM SVANidhi Scheme in Tier-1 and 2 centers were included in the PIDF
scheme.
vi.By end-August 2023, over 2.66 crore new touchpoints have been deployed under the Scheme.
PM Vishwakarma Scheme:
• It was Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2023,aims to support artisans and
craftspeople who work with their hands and tools.
• This initiative offers collateral-free loans up to Rs 3 lakh in two installments: Rs. 1 lakh and Rs. 2
lakh. The loans come with a low interest rate of 5%, and the government provides an 8% subsidy.
• Covers artisans in 18 fields, including carpenters, goldsmiths, blacksmiths, masons, stone sculptors,
barbers, and boatmakers.
RBI to introduce card-on-file tokenization at bank level
RBI proposes to introduce Card-on-File Tokenisation (CoFT) creation facilities directly at the issuer bank
level.Currently, Card-on-File (CoF) tokens can only be created through a merchant’s application or webpage.
Objective: Proposal to introduce CoF token creation facilities directly at the issuer bank level and streamline
token creation and linking for cardholders with various e-commerce applications.

RBI’s Card-on-File Tokenisation (CoFT) Initiative:
Introduced in September 2021 and implementation began on October 1, 2022.Over 56 crore tokens created,
facilitating transactions exceeding ₹5 lakh crore.
What is Tokenisation?
CoFT or tokenisation is a process used to replace card details by a unique token or code. This ensures secure
online transactions without revealing sensitive information such as the card number and card verification value
(CVV).
RBI to consider OMO sales to manage liquidity
RBI may consider Open Market Operations (OMO) sales of government securities as a strategy to manage
liquidity in the financial system.OMO sales will be conducted through auctions and not via Negotiated Dealing
System-Order Matching (NDS-OM) platform.
i.To align liquidity with monetary policy, the Reserve Bank introduced a temporary Incremental Cash Reserve
Ratio (I-CRR) at 10%,which amounted to about Rs 1.1 lakh crore,as a reserve.
• The I-CRR is gradually being phased out, with the final phase scheduled to conclude on October 7,
2023.
ii.High levels of MSF borrowings amid significant funds parked under the SDF indicate uneven liquidity
distribution in the banking system.
• This led to a firming up of the weighted average call rate (WACR), the operating target of monetary
policy, despite short-term rate hardening.
iii.Banks have chosen to place funds in the overnight SDF rather than participating in the main 14-day variable
rate reverse repo (VRRR) operations.
• Banks are encouraged to assess their liquidity needs over the reserve maintenance cycle and
actively participate in 14-day VRRR auctions.
RBI has allowed NBFCs (middle and base layer entities) to Offset Exposure with Credit Risk Transfer
Instruments
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted permission to non-banking financial companies(NFBCs)
categorized as middle layer and base-layer entities to use credit risk mitigation tools. This enables them to
offset their exposure (protect themselves from financial risk) using eligible credit risk transfer instruments.
i.Existing guidelines allow offsetting exposures(practice of balancing or reducing financial risks) with credit
risk transfer instruments for Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFCs) in the Upper Layer (UL).
ii.To harmonize norms, NBFCs in the Middle Layer (ML) and Base Layer (BL) will also be permitted to offset
exposures using eligible credit risk transfer instruments.
Assessment of MPC:
Global Economy:
Global economic growth is slowing, prices remain high, government bond returns are rising, the US dollar is
strengthening, and stock markets are declining. Emerging economies are experiencing currency depreciation
and unpredictable capital flows.
Domestic Economy:
i.In September, southwest monsoon rainfall improved but remained 6% below the long-term average.
ii.Kharif crop cultivation area increased by 0.2% compared to the FY23.
iii.Industrial production rose by 5.7% in July 2023, and core industries expanded by 12.1% in August 2023.
iv.As of September 22, 2023, money supply (M3) expanded by 10.8% year-on-year (y-o-y), and bank credit
grew by 15.3%.
v.As per RBI’s enterprise surveys, manufacturing firms expect higher input cost pressures but marginally lower
growth in selling prices in Q3 compared to the previous quarter.
External Factors:-
i.Inward remittances – Increased by 5.8% year-on-year.
ii.The current account deficit (CAD) for Q1:2023-24 -Decreased to 1.1% of GDP compared to the FY23.

iii.Net foreign direct investment (FDI) moderated to USD 5.8 billion in April-July 2023 from USD 17.3 billion in
the FY23.
iv.External commercial borrowings (ECBs):Net inflows of USD 4.5 billion during April-August 2023, compared
to net outflows of USD 3.2 billion in the FY23. A significant portion of the ECBs was raised for capital
expenditure.
The Monetary Policy Committee
Section 45ZB of the amended RBI Act, 1934, enables the Central Government to establish a 6-
member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) through an official notification in the Official Gazette.
The committee meets at least four times a year to decide on the monetary policy, specifically the repo rate. The
repo rate is the rate at which the RBI lends money to commercial banks. By adjusting this rate, the RBI
influences inflation and economic growth.
ii.The first MPC was formed in 2016.
iii.Present MPC members: Shaktikanta Das; Michael Debabrata Patra; Rajiv Ranjan; Prof. Ashima Goyal; Prof.
Jayanth R. Varma; Dr. Shashanka Bhide
Note: Next meeting of the MPC is scheduled for December 6-8, 2023.
RBI to Apply PCA Supervisory Guidelines to Government-Owned NBFCs Starting October

2024; RBI Instructs BoB to Stop Customer Onboarding on Mobile App
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced that it will apply strict supervisory norms under the Prompt
Corrective Action (PCA) Framework to government-owned Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) starting
from October 2024. This move has significant implications for these government-owned NBFCs.
• Major government-owned NBFCs that will be subject to the PCA Framework include entities like
Power Finance Corporation (PFC), Rural Electrification Corporation (REC), Indian Railway Finance
Corporation (IRFC), and Industrial Finance Corporation of India (IFCI).
i.Application of PCA to Government-Owned NBFCs:
RBI has decided to extend the PCA framework to all deposit taking government NBFCs and non-deposit taking
government NBFCs in middle, upper and top Layers (excluding base layer) with effect from October 1, 2024.
• This extension is based on the audited financials of the NBFC as of March 31, 2024, or subsequent
dates.
ii.Objective – The objective of the PCA Framework is to enable Supervisory intervention at appropriate time
and require the Supervised Entity to initiate and implement remedial measures in a timely manner, so as to
restore its financial health. The PCA Framework is also intended to act as a tool for effective market discipline.
About Prompt Corrective Action (PCA)
Prompt Corrective Action (PCA), is a framework used by RBI to assess the financial health and stability of
banks. The primary goal of PCA guidelines is to ensure that banks maintain sound financial conditions and take
corrective actions when their financial health deteriorates. PCA guidelines are an essential tool for preventing
bank failures and protecting the overall stability of the financial system.
Background of PCA:
i.Initially, the RBI introduced the PCA Framework for scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) in December 2002.
This structured system was inspired by a similar framework used by the US Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation (FDIC) PCA framework.
ii.The regulations within this framework were later revised in April 2017, with a focus on monitoring capital,
asset quality, and leverage.
iii.On November 2, 2021, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) once again revised the Prompt Corrective Action
(PCA) Framework.
iv.On December 14, 2021, RBI extended the PCA Framework for NBFCs
For NBFCs-D and NBFCs-ND (excluding CICs):
• NBFC-D – NBFC Deposit
• NBFC ND – NBFC Non-Deposit

• CIC – Core Investment Companies
Indicator Risk Threshold-1 Risk Threshold-2 Risk Threshold-3
Upto 300 bps below the More than 300 bps but upto
regulatory minimum CRAR 600 bps below regulatory More than 600 bps below
[currently, CRAR <15% but minimum CRAR [currently, regulatory minimum CRAR
CRAR ≥12%] CRAR <12% but ≥9%] [currently, CRAR <9%]
More than 200 bps but upto 400
Upto 200 bps below the bps below the regulatory More than 400 bps below the
regulatory minimum Tier I minimum Tier I Capital Ratio regulatory minimum Tier I
Tier I Capital Capital Ratio [currently, Tier I [currently, Tier I Capital Ratio <8% Capital Ratio [currently, Tier I
Ratio Capital Ratio <10% but ≥8%] but ≥6%] Capital Ratio <6%]
NNPA Ratio
(including
NPIs) >6% but ≤ 9% >9% but ≤12% >12%
For CICs:
Indicator Risk Threshold-1 Risk Threshold-2 Risk Threshold-3
Adjusted Net Upto 600 bps below the More than 600 bps but upto More than 1200 bps below
Worth / Aggregate regulatory minimum 1200bps below regulatory regulatory minimum
Risk Weighted ANW/RWA [currently, minimum ANW/RWA [currently, ANW/RWA [currently,
Assets ANW/RWA <30% but ≥24%] ANW/RWA <24% but ≥18%] ANW/RWA <18%]
Leverage Ratio ≥2.5 times but <3 times ≥ 3 times but <3.5 times ≥3.5 times
NNPA Ratio
(including NPIs) >6% but ≤ 9% >9% but ≤12% >12%
Violation of any risk threshold, as outlined, could lead to the activation of PCA.
Corrective actions are as below:
Mandatory and Discretionary actions
Specifications Mandatory actions Discretionary actions
· Restriction on dividend distribution/remittance of profits; Common menu
· Promoters/shareholders to infuse equity and reduction in · Special Supervisory
leverage; Actions
Risk Threshold · Restriction on issue of guarantees or taking on other contingent · Strategy related
1 liabilities on behalf of group companies (only for CICs) · Governance related
Risk Threshold In addition to mandatory actions of Threshold 1, · Capital related
2 · Restriction on branch expansion · Credit risk related
· Market risk related
· HR related
In addition to mandatory actions of Threshold 1 & 2, · Profitability related
· Appropriate restrictions on capital expenditure, other than for · Operations/Business
Risk Threshold technological upgradation within Board approved limits related
3 · Restrictions/reduction in variable operating costs · Any other.
RBI Instructs Bank of Baroda to Halt Customer Onboarding on Mobile App
The Reserve Bank of India, under section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, has ordered Bank of Baroda
to immediately suspend the process of adding more customers to the ‘bob World’ mobile application.
• This measure is prompted by the identification of “certain material supervisory concerns” during
the customer onboarding process for the ‘bob World’ mobile application. This was aimed at
increasing the registration number of BoB World.

• The bank is also instructed to ensure that existing ‘bob World’ customers experience no disruptions
due to this suspension
• This ban comes after RBI had already imposed a fine of Rs 30 lakh on Bank of Baroda earlier this
year, for deficiencies in regulatory compliance related to Know-Your-Customer (KYC) norms.
About bob World:
i.The bank originally introduced its mobile banking application as the pilot project ‘Baroda M-Connect’ in
2011.
• In 2021, it introduced ‘bob World’ to cater to its customers’ needs.
• The bank’s annual report for FY23 highlights that over the past two years, the bank has consistently
added 10 million new customers to ‘bob World’ annually, a notable achievement in the Indian
banking sector.
ii.The bank has adjusted the interest rates for its Tiranga Plus Deposit Scheme, offering senior citizens an
interest rate of 7.80% p.a. on non-callable deposits under the scheme.
About Bank of Baroda:
Managing Director & CEO – Shri Debadatta Chand
Headquarters– Vadodara, Gujarat,
Establishment – 20 July 1908
Tagline– India’s International Bank
RBI’s Monetary Policy Report: Bank Credit Composition Shows Significant Transformation Over Time
As per the RBI’s monetary policy report,bank lending has changed significantly, with more credit now directed
towards services and retail loans compared to industries.
Comparison of Composition in Bank Outstanding Credit: March 2023 vs. March 2013
Composition of Bank outstanding Credit March 2023 March 2013
Personal/Retail loans 32.10% 18%
Services 28.40% 24%
Industry 26.20% 46%
Agriculture 13.30% 12%
Outlook for Bank Credit (FY24):
• Expected credit growth in the range of 13.0%–13.5% for FY24 (excluding the HDFC-HDFC Bank
merger impact).
• Personal loans segment expected to outperform industry and service segments in FY24.
Higher demand for loans is expected from mining, infrastructure and personal/retail sectors in Q3FY24.
RBI Cancels CoR of Ind Bank Housing Ltd; Imposes Rs 5.39cr penalty on Paytm Payments Bank
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cancelled the Certificate of Registration (CoR) Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN)
based Ind Bank Housing Ltd, a Housing Finance Company (HFC) w.e.f. September 21, 2023.
• In this regard, it cannot transact the business of Housing Finance Institution and a Non-Banking
Financial Institution (NBFC) as defined in National Housing Bank (NHB) Act, 1987 and RBI Act,
1934, respectively.
• This decision has been taken by RBI in exercise of its powers conferred on it under Section 29A (6)
of the NHB Act, 1987.
Note: Set up in 1991, Ind Bank Housing Ltd’s major shareholders were Indian Bank and HUDCO (Housing and
Urban Development Corporation Ltd) with 51% and 25% stake, respectively.
RBI imposes Rs 5.39 crore penalty on Paytm Payments Bank
On October 12, 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed a monetary penalty of Rs
5.39 Crore on Paytm Payments Bank Limited (PPBL) in exercise of its powers conferred under the
provisions of 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.
Reason behind this Penalty:
The penalty was imposed due to non-compliance with certain provisions of,
i.Reserve Bank of India (Know Your Customer (KYC)) Directions, 2016
ii.RBI Guidelines for Licensing of Payments Banks’ read with ‘Enhancement of maximum balance at end of the
day
iii.Cyber security framework in banks’ read with ‘Guidelines on reporting of unusual cyber security incidents
iv.Securing mobile banking applications including UPI ecosystem
Background:
RBI conducted special scrutiny and system audit of PPBL which identified non-compliance, including failure to
identify beneficial owners, lack of payout transaction monitoring, breaching regulatory limits, delayed
reporting of cyber incident, and inadequate cybersecurity measures. Thereafter, bank received a notice to
explain non-compliance and potential penalty imposition.
RBI Starts Wholesale Digital Rupee Pilot in Call Money Market

On October 17, 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) initiated a pilot program for the wholesale segment
namely ‘Digital Rupee-Wholesale (e₹-W)’ of its Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) in the interbank call
money market. Click Here to read about CBDC
• e-rupee call money pilot is the second test of wholesale CBDC, after the government securities
market in November 2022.
• State Bank of India(SBI), Bank of Baroda(BoB), Union Bank of India(UBI), 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.
Key Points:
i.Under the pilot, the entire wholesale segment, including asset tokenization and repo transactions will be
covered.
ii.Initially, eRs (Digital Rupee) will move from bonds to call money to repo, with plans for a final pilot covering
the entire wholesale segment.
iii.Operational processes for the e-rupee pilot remain the same, except settlements will use CBDC instead of
real-time gross settlement used in trades on the Clearing Corp of India Limited (CCIL). .
iv.Settlements will occur on the same day (T+0 mode) under the pilot.
About Call Money Market:
In the call money market, large financial institutions, such as banks, mutual funds, and corporations engage in
short-term borrowing and lending activities among themselves, with interbank rates determined by prevailing
market conditions.
RBI announced results of 2nd edition of its Global Hackathon – HARBINGER 2023
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) introduced second edition of its global hackathon, “HARBINGER 2023 –
Innovation for Transformation”
Theme: Inclusive Digital Services.
• This event was announced on February 14, 2023.
• The hackathon received 154 proposals submitted by teams from both India and 28 participating
teams/entities from countries such as Australia, Canada, Germany, Singapore, Sweden, the United
Kingdom (UK), and the United States of America(USA). The Hackathon ran in three phases.

• The hackathon is hosted on Application Programming Interface Exchange (APIX) platform.
Participants can register for the hackathon and submit their proposals by clicking on the provided
link (https://hackolosseum.apixplatform.com/h1/harbinger2023link)
Sl.
No. Problem Statement Results Solution Description
The solution, DrishtiPay, facilitates effortless
Card/UPI payments for the visually challenged.
With DrishtiPay, a tap of the card or NFC-
Ezetap Mobile enabled phone allows blind users to provide
Solutions Pvt Ltd OTP securely for transacting instead of
(Now acquired struggling to enter PIN. Solution integrates with
by Razorpay), UPI apps, to facilitate UPI payments for visually
Winner India impaired.
The solution empowers visually impaired
individuals to achieve self-sufficiency in
transacting with PoS devices by harnessing the
power of AI. The app utilises the phone’s
camera to analyze randomised keypads on PoS
Innovative, easy-to-use, machines and guides the user to enter their PIN
digital banking services for Joint PoSMirror, India on a braille enabled add-on screen.
differently abled Runners- SL Avatar aims at seamlessly translating speech
1 (Divyaang). up SL Avatar, India and text into sign language and vice versa,
WeavAir solution provides efficient data
collection and analytics to facilitate compliance
by REs, facilitating financial institutions
WeavAir, improve their regulatory reporting and risk
Winner Singapore management.
MUNAFA (Mutilated Notes Adjudication For
All) is an application which on a click of a
RegTech solutions to photo, identifies various pieces of a mutilated
facilitate more efficient note along with their respective sizes, and
compliance for Regulated Runner- compares the same with the Note Refund Rules
2 Entities (REs) up Munafa, India to give user exchangeable value of the note.
Dygnify It is a mobile application on encrypted SMS
Ventures Private rails for CBDC-Retail transactions without
Exploring use Winner Limited, India needing internet.
cases/solutions for Central Crunchfish
Bank Digital Currency - Digital Cash AB Crunchfish along with IDFC First Bank
Retail (CBDC-R) (Sweden) + IDFC showcased ”Digital Cash Telecom” as an easily
transactions, including Runner- First Bank scalable, resilient and secure offline payment
3 transactions in offline mode up (India) product.
Increasing Transactions Per Solution is a token-based architecture based on
Second (TPS)/ throughput two-phase commit protocol. It also uses the
and scalability of Fortis Net Ltd., Raft consensus algorithm and Corporate Digital
4 blockchains.* Winner UK Identity to support linear scalability.
*No runner-up was selected under this problem statement

Abbreviations: NFC – Near Field Communication , OTP – One-Time Password , PIN – Personal Identification
Number , UPI – Unified Payments Interface , POS – Point of Sale , AI – Artificial intelligence , KYC – Know Your
Customer, ESG – Environmental, Social, and Governance.
Prizes in each category-
• Winner: ₹40 lakh
• Runner-up: ₹20 lakh
These innovative solutions enhance accessibility for differently-abled individuals, streamline regulatory
compliance, introduce new CBDC Retail applications, and improve blockchain scalability.
About Harbinger:
RBI initiated its inaugural global hackathon, titled “HARBINGER 2021 – Innovation for Transformation,” with
the theme ‘Smarter Digital Payments’ in 2021.
Eligibility:
• Hackathon is open to all entities, teams, or individuals who are at least 18 years old and can enter
into contractual agreements.
• The proposed product or solution should showcase an element of innovation or a novel application
of technology that benefits the greater good.
Note: A hackathon is a time-bound event where individuals or teams collaborate to rapidly develop software or
hardware projects, often focusing on innovation and problem-solving within a specific theme or challenge.
These events foster creativity and skill development, often with prizes or awards for outstanding solutions.
About Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
Established: 1 April 1935
Governor: Shaktikanta Das
Headquarter: Mumbai, Maharashtra
RBI Allows Retail Investors to Subscribe to FRSBs 2020 (T) via Retail Direct Portal
On October 23, 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in consultation with the Government of India (GoI), has
expanded the range of products offered through RBI Retail Direct portal by allowing retail investors to
subscribe to Floating Rate Savings Bonds , 2020 (Taxable)- FRSB 2020 (T).
• Previously, the retail investors were allowed to invest in central government securities, treasury
bills, state government securities and sovereign gold bonds through this portal.
• The subscription of bonds will be in the form of cash (up to Rs 20,000 only)/drafts/cheques or any
electronic mode.
Point to note:
Prior to this, the FRSB 2020 (T) was only available at designated branches of State Bank of India (SBI),
Nationalised Banks, private banks specified by RBI and other entities authorised by RBI as per the guidelines of
Floating rate bonds released by GoI in June 2020.
• Now, FRSBs can be brought through retail Direct Portal.
About RBI-Retail Direct Scheme:
The Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi launched the scheme on November 12, 2021, allowing
individual investors to open a Retail Direct Gilt (RDG) account with the Reserve Bank of India via an online
portal (https://rbiretaildirect.org.in). This account facilitates investments in government securities in both
primary and secondary markets.
Click Here for Official Details about RBI Retail Direct Scheme
Note: Individuals who are retail investors are permitted to open an RDG account.
What is FRSB 2020 (T)?
i.These are interest bearing, non-tradeable bonds, issued by the GoI, mature after seven years from the issue
date.
ii.FRSB 2020 (T) features a floating interest rate paid semi-annually on January 1st and July 1st. Residents in

India (including joint holdings) can invest, with a minimum of Rs 1000 and its multiples, and are bot open to
NRIs (Non-Resident Indians).
• These bonds are taxable under the Income Tax Act, 1961 and are issued at par.
iii.The interest rate on RBI savings bonds has been increased from 7.35% to 8.05% until June 30, 2023.
• The interest rate on RBI FRSB has a spread of 0.35% over and above the interest rate on the
National Savings Certificate (NSC).
iv.The interest rate on these bonds is reset every 6 months(on January 1 and July 1 every year).
MobiKwik’s Zaakpay gets In-Principle Nod from RBI to Operate as Payment Aggregator
Reserve Bank of India(RBI) has granted in-principle authorization to MobiKwik’s payment gateway
arm Zaakpay to operate as an online payment aggregator (PA).
· This will enable Zaakpay to onboard new merchants onto its platform for processing online
payments and scale the number of merchants associated with the startup.
Background:
i.RBI rejected Mobikwik’s application for PA licence in 2021 and the same was re-applied in October
2022.
ii.In 2021, the application was rejected since Mobikwik fell short of of minimum net worth threshold
of Rs 15 crore.
· In 2021, the net worth of Zaakpaya was at Rs 14.3 Cr, rendering it ineligible for the licence.
RBI Guidelines:
In March 2020, RBI issued Guidelines on Regulation of Payment Aggregators and Payment Gateways
and introduced various measures for payment aggregators operating in India.
Payment Aggregators(PAs): PAs are entities that facilitate e-commerce sites and merchants to
accept various payment instruments from the customers. This eliminates the need for for merchants
to set up their own payment integration system PAs facilitate merchants to connect with acquirers. In
this process they accept payments from customers, pool and transfer them on to the merchants after a
time period.
Payment Gateways(PGs): PGs are entities that provide technology infrastructure to route and
facilitate processing of an online payment transaction without any involvement in handling of funds.
Capital Requirements for PAs:
Existing PAs: PAs should achieve a net-worth of Rs 15 crore by March 31, 2021 and a net-worth of Rs
25 crore by the end of the third financial year(March 31, 2023).
New PAs: PAs shall have a minimum net-worth of Rs 15 crore at the time of application and shall
attain a net-worth of Rs 25 crore by the end of third financial year of grant of authorisation.
Note: The net-worth of Rs 25 crore shall be maintained at all times thereafter.
Onboarding:
i.Only the existing companies, which have received RBI’s in-principle approval, is allowed to onboard
merchants on their platforms.
ii.But, PAs such as Razorpay, PayU, Cashfree, and Paytm are being barred from onboarding new
merchants, despite receiving the in-principle approval.
About MobiKwik:
Founders – Bipin Preet Singh and Upasana Taku
Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Bipin Preet Singh

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Issues New Guidelines NBFC – SBR Master Directions 2023
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recently published a new set of guidelines called the “Master
Direction – Reserve Bank of India [Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC)– Scale Based
Regulation(SBR)] Directions, 2023”.
It replaces the Non-Banking Financial Company–Non-Systemically Important Non-Deposit taking
(Reserve Bank) Directions, 2016, and the Non-Banking Financial Company–Systemically Important
Non-Deposit taking Company and Deposit taking Company (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2016.
· The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) exercises its authority under the RBI Act, 1934 (Act 2 of
1934) and the Factoring Regulation Act, 2011 (Act 12 of 2012).
About the Framework:
Under this regulatory framework, NBFCs are categorized into 4 layers based on their size,
activities, and perceived risk:
i.NBFCs-Base Layer (NBFCs-BL) includes:
· Non-deposit taking NBFCs with assets below Rs 1,000 crore.
· NBFCs engaged in specific activities such as NBFC-Peer to Peer Lending Platform (NBFC-
P2P), NBFC-Account Aggregator (NBFC-AA), Non-Operative Financial Holding Company
(NOFHC), and NBFCs not utilizing public funds and lacking customer interactions.
ii.NBFCs-Middle Layer (NBFCs-ML) includes:
· All deposit-taking NBFCs (NBFCs-D), regardless of their asset size
· Non-deposit taking NBFCs with assets equal to or exceeding Rs 1,000 crore
· NBFCs involved in activities like Standalone Primary Dealer (SPD), Infrastructure Debt
Fund-Non-Banking Financial Company (IDF-NBFC), Core Investment Company (CIC),
Housing Finance Company (HFC), and Non-Banking Financial Company-Infrastructure
Finance Company (NBFC-IFC).
Criteria for deciding NBFC-ML status
When the total assets of an NBFC reach Rs 1,000 crore or more, it will become subject to the
regulatory requirements that apply to the Middle Layer, regardless of its size as reported on the last
balance sheet date.
iii.NBFCs-Upper Layer (NBFCs-UL)
NBFCs that the Reserve Bank identifies as needing stricter regulatory oversight based on specific
parameters and scoring methods.
· The quantitative and qualitative parameters shall have weightage of 70% and 30%
respectively.
Scoring methodology for identification of an NBFC as NBFC-UL shall be based on the set of NBFCs
fulfilling the following criteria:
· Top 50 NBFCs (excluding top ten NBFCs based on asset size, which automatically fall in the
Upper Layer) based on their total exposure including credit equivalent of off-balance sheet
exposure.
· NBFCs designated as NBFC-UL in the previous year.
· NBFCs added to the set by supervisors using supervisory judgment
iv.NBFCs-Top Layer (NBFC-TL)
The Top Layer should remain vacant.
· If the Reserve Bank determines that certain NBFCs in the Upper Layer pose a substantial
systemic risk, they may be moved to the Top Layer from the Upper Layer.

Classification of NBFC under activity based
As the regulatory structure envisages scale based as well as activity-based regulation, the following
prescriptions shall apply in respect of the NBFCs.
i.NBFC-P2P, NBFC-AA, NOFHC, and NBFCs without public funds and customer interaction will
consistently fall within the Base Layer of the regulatory structure.
ii.NBFC-D, CIC, NBFC-IFC, and HFC will be categorized in either the Middle Layer or Upper Layer, as
appropriate, excluding the Base Layer. SPD and IDF-NBFC will always remain in the Middle Layer.
iii.The remaining NBFCs, such as NBFC-Investment and Credit Companies (NBFCICCs), NBFC-Micro
Finance Institutions (NBFC-MFIs), NBFC-Factors, and Mortgage Guarantee Companies (MGCs), may
be positioned in any of the regulatory layers based on scale-related criteria.
iv.Government-owned NBFCs will be positioned in either the Base Layer or Middle Layer, and they
will not be placed in the Upper Layer unless otherwise notified.
Multiple NBFCs in a Group – Classification in Middle Layer
For NBFCs that are owned by a common group of promoters, or if they are part of the same group, the
total assets of all these NBFCs will be combined to determine their Middle Layer classification.
If the combined assets amount to Rs 1,000 crore or more, each individual NBFC within the group will
be categorized as Middle Layer NBFCs.
RBI asks CICs to send alerts to customers when their credit information report is accessed by
lenders
Following the April 2023 Statement on Developmental and Regulatory Policies, the Reserve Bank of
India is mandating Credit Information Companies (CICs) and Credit Institutions (CIs) to enhance
customer service and grievance redress mechanisms, pursuant to Section 11(1) of the Credit
Information Companies (Regulation) Act, 2005:
Notification of Credit Information Report Access and Credit Information Updates:
i.CICs must send SMS/email alerts to customers when their Credit Information Report (CIR) is
accessed by Specified Users (SUs) as defined by CICRA, 2005, if mobile numbers or email addresses
are available.
ii.CIs should send alerts via SMS/email to customers when reporting default or Days Past Due (DPD)
information to CICs, provided mobile numbers or email addresses are available.
iii.A modified Uniform Credit Reporting Format has been introduced to enable these alerts.
Establishment of Nodal Points/Officials by CIs:
i.CIs must designate a dedicated nodal point/contact person for communication with CICs for
addressing customer grievances. Contact details, including email ID and phone/mobile numbers,
should be provided to CICs.
ii.Any changes in the nodal points/officials must be promptly communicated to CICs within 5 calendar
days.
Access to Free Full Credit Report by Individuals:
CICs should provide individuals with easy access to a Free Full Credit Report (FFCR) including their
credit score once a year. This access should be prominently displayed on their website’s homepage.
These directions will be effective 6 months from the date of this circular, and CICs and CIs are
expected to establish the necessary systems and processes to comply with these directions within this
time frame.
· Failure to adhere to these directions may result in penalties under CICRA, 2005.
Note: RBI announced that CICs will soon have to compensate clients for delays in updating or
correcting their credit information by giving them a daily payment of Rs 100.

About Credit Information Companies:
CICs analyze credit data provided by banks and NBFCs, generating credit scores for individuals and
credit rankings for companies, affecting loan accessibility and terms. However, credit scores are not
the sole factor influencing loan approvals.
Four CICs in India:
i.CIBIL (Credit Information Bureau Limited): CIBIL, founded in 2000, is India’s first CIC, serving
over 900 financial institutions by collecting and providing credit reports and scores for individuals,
essential for loan and credit card approvals.
ii.Equifax: Founded in 1899 in Atlanta, Equifax is one of the oldest CICs. It received its ‘Certificate of
Registration’ in India from the RBI in 2010. Equifax has a specialized bureau dedicated to addressing
the needs of Microfinance Institutions.
iii.Experian: Experian CIC was established as a joint venture with several banks and financial
institutions in India in 2006. It was recognized as one of the ‘World’s most innovative companies‘
by Forbes magazine in 2014.
iv.High Mark Credit Information Services: Founded in Mumbai in 2005, CRIF High Mark provides
credit reports to a wide range of borrower segments, including SMEs, commercial borrowers, and
retail borrowers, for a nominal fee.
SEBI
SEBI Extends Demat Account and Mutual Fund Unit Holder Nominations Deadlines Until
December 2023
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) extended the deadline for adding nominees to demat
accounts and submitting PAN and KYC details for physical security holders until December 31, 2023.SEBI
also extended the nomination deadline specifically for mutual fund unit holders until January 1, 2024.
Extension Deadline for Current Demat Account Holders
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has announced an extension of the deadline for
current demat account holders to select their nominees for an additional three months, now ending
on December 31, 2023.
• Sebi’s circular on March 16, 2023, required submission of PAN, nomination, contact, bank, and
signature details for physical securities by September 30, 2023. The deadline has been extended
to December 31, 2023, preventing folio freezing.
• Sebi extended the deadline for Demat account holders to make their ‘choice of
nomination’ until December 31, 2023.
• This extension applies to both new and existing Demat accounts. The goal of this initiative is to
guarantee that the assets held in these accounts are transferred to the rightful beneficiaries in
the event of the account holder’s passing.
• Sebi has directed stock exchanges, depositories, Registrar and Transfer Agents (RTAs), and
listed companies to implement the provisions outlined in its recent circular.
Demat Account
• A Demat account or Dematerialized account, is an electronic account used for holding and
trading financial securities such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, government securities, and
exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in electronic format.
• Demat accounts simplify the process of trading, eliminating the risks associated with physical
certificates, such as theft, loss, or forgery. When an investor buys or sells securities, the changes
are reflected electronically in the Demat account.

Extension Deadline for Mutual Fund Unit Holders
i.SEBI has extended the deadline to another three months for mutual fund account holders to nominate a
beneficiary or opt out until January 1,2024. If investors fail to comply, their folios will be frozen with
effective from January 1,2024. Earlier, the deadline for existing mutual fund holders to provide a choice of
nomination was September 30.
ii.SEBI has directed asset management companies (AMCs) and registrar and transfer agents (RTAs) to
regularly remind investors via email and SMS to fulfil the nomination requirements.
iii.This mandate, introduced on June 15, 2022, required mutual fund holders to submit nomination details
or opt-out declarations starting from August 1, 2022, with multiple deadline extensions since.
About SEBI
Chairman- Madhabi Puri Buch
Headquarters- Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established- constituted as a non-statutory body on April 12, 1988 and it was established as a statutory
body in the 1992.
SEBI Empanels 12 Entities to Provide Digital Forensic Services

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has empanelled 12 entities, including Ernst & Young LLP
(EY), KPMG Assurance and Consulting Services LLP, to provide digital forensic services to its search team for
onsite data acquisition during search and seizure operations.
• This empanelment will be valid for 2 years.
Other empanelled entities:
• Baker Tilly Business Advisory Services,
• Cybermate Forensics & Data Security Solutions,
• Cyint Technologies,
• ECS Info Tech,
• Innefu Labs,
• Mahen Technologies,
• Nangia & Co LLP,
• Netrika Consulting India,
• Pelorus Technologies, and
• Systools Software.
Note: SEBI has been actively cracking down on entities involved in illicit activities, such as a front-running
scam that made use of the messaging app Telegram in 2022.
Background:
In August 2023, the SEBI initiated the empanelment process by inviting applications from service providers
with a strong background in digital forensic services for acquisition, extraction, and analysis of digital evidence
sourced from diverse devices, including mobile phones, computers, tablets, and more.
Services to be provided by the Entities:
i.The empanelled entities will provide onsite and offsite assistance to the search team and onsite data
acquisition during search and seizure operations.
ii.They will also conduct the forensic acquisition or imaging of different digital devices, including laptops, hard
drives, Universal Serial Bus (USB) drives, Compact Discs (CD)/DVDs, and servers.
iii.They will also do onsite acquisition of cloud data from platforms like Gmail, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram,
Telegram, WhatsApp, and any other relevant app or database.
About Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI):
SEBI is the regulatory authority for the capital market.
It was established as a statutory body in 1992 and the provisions of the SEBI India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992) came
into force on January 30, 1992.

Chairperson– Madhabi Puri Buch
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra
LOANS ISSUED BY BANKS

ADB approved USD 181 Million loan to Improve Services in Peri-Urban Areas of Ahmedabad
Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a loan worth USD 181 million to build quality infrastructure and
services in the peri-urban areas of Ahmedabad, Gujarat to control urban sprawl.
Scenario in Ahmedabad:
i.Ahmedabad is expanding horizontally to adjoining areas (peri-urban areas) due to rapid industrial growth.
ii.Since peri-urban areas are unplanned smaller urban local bodies (ULBs), it can’t accomodate the high
population due to urbanisation.
iii.Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) which is responsible for planning of those areas,
identified five growth centers surrounding Ahmedabad city.
• Ahmedabad Peri-urban Livability Improvement Project was created with an aim to provide
basic infrastructure in these growth centres.
Note: Peri-urban areas are the areas surrounding cities and towns. They are characterized by a mix of urban
and rural characteristics.
ADB Funding:
i.Ahmedabad Peri-urban Livability Improvement Project is funded by Asian Development Bank(ADB).
ii.ADB will help the AUDA and urban local bodies improve their ability to use technology for urban planning.
• This will include planning for climate change and disasters, as well as infrastructure that protects
the environment and promotes social safeguards, gender equality, and social inclusion.
Ahmedabad Peri-urban Livability Improvement Project:
i.The project will provide residents of Ahmedabad’s surrounding areas with quality urban infrastructure and
services, by building
• 166 km of water distribution network
• 126 km of climate-resilient stormwater drainage
• 300 km of sewerage systems
• four sewage treatment plants
ii.The project will also improve 10 junctions along the Sardar Patel Ring Road to increase the connectivity of
peri-urban areas to Ahmedabad city.
iii.It will also support land development plans and town planning schemes.
iv.The project will build recycling treated sewage for industrial use through a public–private partnership.
v.Women’s self-help groups(SHG) will be trained on how to operate water supply systems.
Additional Info:
i.The project will help government agencies improve their ability to plan their finances, increase their revenue,
and manage their infrastructure assets.
ii.All the plans and schemes of the project can also be used by other states to improve their urban planning and
development.
ADB Approves USD 175 Million Loan to Upgrade Roads in Madhya Pradesh
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 175 million loan for ‘India : Enhancing Connectivity
and Resilience of the Madhya Pradesh Road Network Project’.
• The project aims to upgrade about 500 kilometers of state highways and major district roads to a
standard two-lane feature in Madhya Pradesh(MP).
About the Project:
i.The project was initially proposed by ADB in September 2023.
ii.The project will build better, safer, and more climate-resistant roads in MP to connect rural areas to growth

centres and industrial corridors.
iii.The project will also incorporate climate- and disaster-resilient design, innovative road safety elements, and
facilities that will respond to the needs of the elderly, women, children, and people with disabilities.
iv.It prepares the road subsector development strategy with the focus on climate change resilience, low-carbon
development, and road safety.
Partnership with MPRDC
i.ADB is partnering with Madhya Pradesh Road Development Corporation Limited (MPRDC), to build the
capacity of MPRDC in climate change adaptation and mitigation, disaster resilience, and road safety.
ii.ADB along with MPRDC, to formulate a gender equality and social inclusion strategy.
• An internship program will be made to attract female students to work in the road sector.
Background:
i.The ADB has been supporting the development of road networks in Madhya Pradesh since 2002.
ii.ADB has so far upgraded more than 9,000 kilometers of state highways and major district roads.
About Asian Development Bank (ADB):
President – Masatsugu Asakawa
Headquarters – Mandaluyong City, Manila, Philippines
Members – 68
ADB Approves USD 400 Million Loan to Enhance Urban Services in India
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved USD 400 million policy-based loan to India to enhance the
infrastructure quality and provide assured public services and efficient governance systems. The loan will be
under Sub-programme 2 of ADB’s Sustainable Urban Development and Service Delivery Programme.
· Subprogram 2 will support investment planning and reform actions at the state and urban local
body (ULB) levels.
It will be implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs(MoH&UA) with guidance from
ADB.
Aim:
The program supports India’s urban reform agenda for improving the quality of urban life by creating
· High-quality urban infrastructure
· Assured public services
· Efficient governance systems
Outcome:
i.These planning processes will make cities more resilient to climate change and disasters, promote nature-
based solutions, improve the urban environment, and make cities more financially sustainable by generating
more revenue.
ii.Cities will be encouraged to become more financially responsible by making changes to how they collect
taxes and spend money. This will make it easier for them to borrow money and invest in the infrastructure they
need.
India’s Endeavour:
i.India cities have the potential to drive economic growth.
ii.India has stressed the importance of making cities livable through inclusive, resilient, and sustainable
infrastructure.
· This is in alignment with ADB Strategy 2030.
iii.Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0, India’s flagship urban
transformation program, aims to provide universal access to water supply and sanitation, and ensure urban
water security by reducing water losses, recycling wastewater for non-potable uses, rejuvenating water bodies,
and maintaining sustainable groundwater levels.

Additional Info:
Subprogram 1, sanctioned in 2021, focused on the formulation of national-level policies and guidelines to
enhance urban services.
Headquarters – Mandaluyong City, Manila, Philippines
Members – 68 Countries
AGREEMENTS & MoUs SIGNED

WDRA Signs MoU with Bank of India to Fund against e-NWRs
Warehousing Development Regulatory Authority (WDRA) signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with
the Bank of India (BoI) to fund against e-NWRs (electronic Negotiable Warehouse Receipt).
• The MoU was signed in the presence of T.K Manoj Kumar, Chairperson, WDRA, Rajneesh Karnatak,
Managing director (MD) cum Chief Executive Officer (CEO), BoI.
• The MoU also aims to provide information to depositors about the benefits, besides doing further
outreach activities to improve agricultural pledge finance in India.
• The MoU aims to facilitate farmers and traders by offering low-interest rate loans, no Additional
collateral, and attractive interest rates.
• Electronic Negotiable Warehouse Receipt (eNWR) is a digital warehousing receipt issued by
registered warehouses regulated and governed by WDRA.
• The farmers were given e-NWRs once they stored their produce in scientific storage godowns
authorised by WDRA and seek loan from e-NWRsbanks against their e-NWR.
Note:
The WDRA is a Statutory Authority under the Department of Food and Public Distribution(DFPD) of the
Ministry of Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution.
SBI Life Insurance & State Bank of Sikkim Sign a Bancassurance Pact to Offer Insurance
Products
Sate Bank of India (SBI) Life Insurance Company Limited signed a bancassurance pact with the State Bank of
Sikkim (SBS) to make insurance solutions accessible to the residents of Sikkim.
• The agreement was signed by P. Wangdi Bhutia, Managing Director, State Bank of Sikkim, and
Jayant Pandey, Regional Director- Bengal region, SBI Life Insurance at the SBS’s headquarters in
Gangtok, Sikkim.
• Bancassurance is an agreement between a bank and an insurance company, through which the
insurer can sell its products to the bank’s customers.
• Through this partnership, the State Bank of Sikkim offers SBI Life’s diverse range of protection,
wealth creation, and savings insurance products to its customers.
Note:
SBI Life Insurance is a joint venture between State Bank of India (SBI) (55.50%) and French financial
institution BNP Paribas Cardif.
NIIF Collaborated with JBIC to Launch India-Japan Fund of Rs 49 Billion

The National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Limited (NIIFL) has entered into a collaboration with the
Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) to launch its first bi-lateral fund called India-Japan
Fund (IJF) of Rs 49 Billion (USD 600 million).
• The Fund was established by NIIF Limited (NIIFL), a collaborative investment platform for
international and Indian investors.

• The fund is anchored by the Government of India and JBIC.
Contribution:
Out of Rs 49 Billion, The Government of India (GoI) will contribute Rs 24 Billion (USD 294 million (49%)) and
JBIC will fund the remaining Rs 25 Billion (USD 306 million (51%)) of the funding target.
• JBIC’s equity participation in the Fund is based on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which
was signed between JBIC and NIIFL in November 2022.
• This MoU aims to promote environmental preservation, low carbon emission strategies, and
increase cooperative relationship between Indian and Japanese companies.
About IJF:
i.The India-Japan Fund (IJF) will focus on investing in environmental sustainability and low-carbon emission
strategies such as renewable energy, e-mobility, waste management and water management projects.
ii.It aims to enhance Japanese investments into India and strengthen collaboration between the two countries
in the area of climate and environment by being a ‘partner of choice’.
Additional Support:
JBIC IG, a joint venture between JBIC and Industrial Growth Platform, Inc.,
will support NIIFL in promoting Japanese investments in India.
• It will also support Indian companies and projects that collaborate with Japanese companies to
enhance the cooperation between Indian and Japanese companies across all sectors.
Additional Info:
i.India reaffirmed its goal of carbon neutrality by 2070 at Conference of Parties (COP)26 in November 2021.
The government has promoted sustainable practices such as renewable energy and electric vehicles.
ii.On the other side, Japanese companies are facing supply chain disruptions and India is drawing attention as a
destination for relocation and investment.
About National Investment And Infrastructure Fund Limited(NIIFL):
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Rajiv Dhar
About Japan Bank for International Cooperation(JBIC):
Managing Director(MD) & Chairman – Tadashi Maeda
Headquarters – Tokyo, Japan
RBIH & Bhashini Collaborated for Linguistic Inclusion in Financial Services

Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) and the Digital India Bhashini Division (DIBD/Bhashini) collaborated
to explore and develop innovative solutions that foster linguistic inclusivity in the financial services sector.
• This partnership aims to extend the reach of digital financial services to users in their native
tongues, ultimately providing seamless banking experiences for everyone.
• This collaboration is with respect to the memorandum of Understanding(MoU) which was signed
during the Global Fintech Fest(GFF) held in Mumbai, Maharashtra in September 2023.
Bhashini:
Bhashini is a Independent Business Division under Digital India Corporation(DIC) under the aegis of Ministry
of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
Aim: To build a National Public Digital Platform for languages to develop services and products for citizens by
leveraging the power of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
Public Tech Platform:
i.As a first step of this initiative, Bhashini plans to launch RBI’s Public Tech Platform for Frictionless Credit in
multiple languages.
• This end-to-end digital credit delivery platform platform will streamline and enhance credit delivery
by financial institutions, making it more accessible to borrowers across the country.

ii.This platform was developed by RBIH as per the announcement made by RBI in August 2023.
Significance:
i.The Voice has the potential to act as a medium for promoting financial inclusivity, economic empowerment,
and enhancing financial literacy.
• BHASHINI, with its language translation and voice processing capabilities, will play a crucial role in
achieving these goals.
ii.Offering financial services in users’ mother tongue can help build confidence in digital financial solutions
Additional Info:
The fintech sector is driven by increased smartphone penetration and reduced data usage costs.
About Digital India Bhashini Division (DIBD/Bhashini):
Bhashini, the National Language Technology Mission (NLTM) was launched in July 2022.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Amitabh Nag
Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH)
The Reserve Bank Innovation Hub is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) set-up to
promote and facilitate innovation across the financial sector.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Rajesh Bansal
Headquarters – Bengaluru, Karnataka
DPIIT & Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya Signed MoU to Advance National Master Plan
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce and
Industry, and the Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV), Gujarat based central university, have signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance Pradhan Mantri Gati Shakti (PMGS) National Master
Plan(NMP).
• The MoU aims to advance India’s infrastructure and logistics sectors.
Signatories:
The MoU was signed by Manoj Choudhary, Vice-Chancellor, GSV; and E Srinivas, Joint Secretary, Logistics
Division, DPIIT in the presence of Piyush Goyal, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry; Ashwini Vaishnaw,
Union Minister for Railways.
• Over 16 Central Ministries, including the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog
and Capacity Building Commission (CBC), came together to sign the MoU.
About the MoU:
Objective: This collaboration aims to integrate three core visions:
• Smarter planning and implementation
• Structured specialized development
• Capacity building.
Key Points:
i.Under this MoU, GSV will be the nodal agency across India to design, develop and deliver courses and
curriculum related to PMGS NMP and National Logistics Policy (NLP) at various centers in different States.
ii.PMGS approach will lead to reduced logistics costs, greater efficiency, and a more competitive business
ecosystem.
iii.GSV is set to collaborate closely with the Logistics Division to conceptualise and establish “knowledge
centers” of PMGS across various states and institutions which will serve as repositories of:
• best practices of PMGSs’ approach,
• best practices in logistics,
• centers of further research and innovation in logistics.
iv.Using the “hub and spoke” model, and leveraging the infrastructure of Central Training Institutes and State
Administrative Training Institutes, GSV will collaborate with the Logistics Division.

v.GSV will work with the Logistics Division and build a repository of experienced resource persons from both
the Public and Private Sectors, specializing in logistics policy and sector.
PM Gati Shakti (PMGS):
i.PMGS was launched formally in October 2021. It is designed as a National Master Plan for Multi-modal
Connectivity
ii.PMGS includes the crucial component of GSV, focusing on skill development and capacity building for logistics
professionals. This initiative promises to bring formalisation to the logistics sector.
PMGS NMP:
i.PMGS NMP is a flagship initiative launched on October 13, 2021, with a focus on developing next-generation
infrastructure and creating a globally competitive logistics ecosystem.
ii.It is a critical tool that also integrates economic and infrastructural planning with socio-economic
development.
Courses of GSV:
GSV offers courses tailored to the needs of the railway, metro, and high-speed rail sectors, aligning education
with industry demands.
• GSV offers 5 railway courses focusing on areas like track technology, rail-wheel interaction,
thermodynamics, signaling systems, etc.
• The university plans to train 15,000 students for assured jobs in the aviation industry. GSV aims to
align Indian skill development with global standards.
National Logistics Policy (NLP):
i.To complement the PMGS NMP, the NLP was launched on 17 September 2022 to enhance soft infrastructure,
improve logistics services, promote digitization, invest in human resource development, and bolster skilling in
the logistics sector.
ii.NLP’s core objective is to create an integrated, seamless, efficient, reliable, green, sustainable, and cost-
effective logistics network across India to drive economic growth and business competitiveness.
• NLP, part of the Comprehensive Logistics Action Plan (CLAP), emphasises creating a Logistics
Human Resources Development & Capacity Building Strategy.
On 20th July 2023, One District One Product (ODOP) program, an initiative under the Department for
Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry partnered with the
Government of Gujarat in New Delhi, Delhi, with the aim to foster the promotion of the indigenous crafts and
artisans of the state.
About Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV):
GSV, formerly known as the National Road Transport Institute (NRTI), India‘s first Railway University and the
world’s third, following Russia and China, which was dedicated to India in December 2018.
GSV was established as a Central University through an Act of Parliament in 2022. Sponsored by the Ministry of
Railways, GSV is mandated to work across railways, shipping, ports, highways, roads, waterways, aviation, etc.
Location– Vadodara, Gujarat.
Axis Bank and Fibe Partner to Launch India’s First Numberless Credit Card
Axis Bank Limited and Social Worth Technologies Private Limited (Fibe) (formerly known as EarlySalary)
have partnered to launch India’s first-ever numberless credit card called Fibe Axis Bank Credit Card.
• The card, powered by Rupay, also allows the customer to link this credit card to Unified Payments
Interface (UPI).
About the card:
i.The Fibe Axis Bank Credit Card offers financial solutions by targeting tech-savvy of Generation Z (people
born between 1996 and 2010) of India.
ii.The card does not have any card number, expiry date, or Card Verification Value (CVV) printed on it.

• This enhances security and privacy of the cardholder by reducing the risk of identity theft and
unauthorized access to customer card details.
• The cardholders can access their card details in Fibe mobile application(App).
Features:
i.The card is also accepted at all offline stores and offers the tap-and-pay feature for added convenience.
ii.Rewards: The numberless credit card offers industry-best rewards, including a flat 3% cashback on online
food delivery, local commute on leading ride-hailing apps, and entertainment on online ticketing platforms.
Customers also get a 1% cashback on all online and offline transactions.
iii.The credit card also offers benefits such as
• Access to four domestic airport lounges per quarter
• Fuel surcharge waiver for fuel spends between Rs. 400 and Rs. 5,000
• The added advantage of Axis Dining Delights, Wednesday Delights, End of Season Sales, and RuPay
portfolio offerings.
About Axis Bank Limited:
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Amitabh Chaudhry
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Tagline – Badhti Ka Naam Zindagi
About Fibe:
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Akshay Mehrotra
Headquarters – Pune, Maharashtra
SIDBI & IPPB inked MoU for Financial Support to MSMEs in Remote Areas
India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has signed an agreement with Small Industries Development Bank of
India (SIDBI) to extend financial and other support services to MSMEs (Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises) in
rural and remote areas.
• SIDBI provides credit to small businesses, while IPPB provides banking transaction services.
• It should be noted that Payments banks are not allowed to provide credit but can partner with other
institutions for distribution.
Signatories:
It was signed by Sivasubramanian Ramann, Chairman and Manaing Director (CMD) SIDBI;
and Jayanthy Venkatramu, MD (Managing Director) & CEO (Chief Executive Officer), IPPB.
Key Points:
i.This partnership will utilize IPPB’s rural reach and SIDBI’s lending and credit risk assessment models to reach
MSMEs.
ii.IPPB will also support SIDBI’s customers in digitizing the payment mechanisms through its merchant
onboarding system and collection solutions like Unified Payments Interface (UPI), QR-based solutions, etc.
iii.They will also undertake joint programs to upgrade the skills of Dak Sevaks.
iv.Both entities also announced a hackathon for innovation in financial services in rural areas and also
a Swavalamban Challenge Fund to promote rural livelihood enterprises.
About India Post Payments Bank (IPPB):
MD & CEO– Jayanthy Venkatramu
Motto – ‘Every customer is important, every transaction is significant and every deposit is valuable, no matter
the value.

NSDC & Coca-Cola India Partners to launch Super Power Retailer Program
On October 15, 2023, the New Delhi, Delhi-based National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), working
under the aegis of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has partnered with Coca-Cola
India to launch the Super Power Retailer Program under the Skill India Mission.
• This will empower the retailer community in the states of Odisha and Uttar Pradesh (UP).
• The program is being piloted in Odisha.
Key People:
The partnership was announced in the presence of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Skill
Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE); Ved Mani Tiwari, CEO (Chief Executive Officer), NSDC;
and Sanket Ray, President, Coca-Cola India & Southwest Asia.
Super Power Retailer Program:
i.Under the partnership, NSDC will also assist Coca-Cola India in expanding the Skill India Digital (SID) program
by developing industry-specific training content, recruiting trainers, and providing necessary training
infrastructure for a seamless learning experience.
ii.Super Power Retailer will empowerSmall and micro retailers with training to expand businesses and enhance
consumer experiences.
iii.under this initiative, around 1.40 crore retailers will get 14 hours of quality retail training via Skill India
Digital (SID) Portal.
• Training includes classroom sessions an app-based Learning Management System (LMS) and digital
modules accessible on mobile devices.
iv.Topics cover business strategies, digital platform usage, and planning implementation.
v.These training modules will be available in multiple languages.
APIPL Partners NPCI to launch EMIs on RuPay Credit Cards

Amazon Pay India Private Limited (APIPL) in partnership with National Payments Corporation of
India (NPCI) has introduced the option of Equated Monthly Instalment(EMI) on RuPay credit cards in
Amazon Pay.
• The service will be available across eight prominent issuing banks.
Background:
i.Great Indian Festival was announced on Amazon.in from 08th October 2023 to 15th October 2023.
• The Great Indian Festival is an annual shopping event that offers products at high discounts across
different categories in Amazon.in
• The theme of 2023 Great Indian Festival is ‘Dibbe khulenge, khulegi khushiyaan’ which means
‘unboxing happiness’.
ii.During the first two days of the offer time, it was observed that
• EMI was the most popular payment method
• One in four orders being placed on installments(EMI)
• Three in four EMI orders being no-cost EMIs.
Tapping the Potential:
i.The launch of EMI facility on RuPay credit cards will grant customers enhanced access to credit.
ii.This will drive affordability and convenience of online shopping for customers across India, particularly
during the festive season.
About Amazon Pay EMI:
i.EMI payments in Amazon.in is facilitated by Amazon Seller Services Private Limited (ASSPL).
ii.No Cost EMI facility is funded by participating sellers and brands.
What is No Cost EMI?
i.No Cost EMI payment option enables customers who make purchases on Amazon.in by paying into equal
installments over the course of the EMI tenure.
ii.There are no additional charges, such as interest, processing fees, or hidden costs.

Additional Info:
Introduced in 2019, Amazon Pay offers a bunch of payment options like Amazon Pay Later, Amazon Pay Wallet,
Amazon Unified Payments Interface (UPI) etc,.
About Amazon Pay India Private Limited (APIPL):
Director – Vikas Bansal
NBBP Launches B2B Services, Partners with Axis Bank

NPCI Bharat BillPay Limited(NBBP) has partnered with Axis Bank to launch its services under the Business-to-
Business (B2B) category to provide businesses value-added services like flexible invoice presentation,
complaint management, Management Information System(MIS), etc.
• NBBP’s B2B Category Payments went live for the first time on e MyJio app for Arzooo, a B2B Retail
Tech platform, with Axis Bank as the Biller Operating Unit (BOU).
First B2B Category Payment:
With the first B2B Category payment,
• MyJio became the 1st app to go live with the B2B Category Payments.
• Arzooo became the first biller in this category with support from Jio Payments Bank.
• Axis Bank became the first BOU enabling B2B payments.
Note: NPCI Bharat BillPay Limited(NBBP) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of National Payments Corporation of
India (NPCI).
NBBP’s service under B2B category:
Under the B2B category, NBBP will onboard sellers as billers and enable their buyers to pay for the goods and
services across NBBP enabled channels and modes.
i.Under this, Bharat BillPay will enable sellers to issue multiple invoices to their buyers and the buyers will
have the flexibility to pay one or more invoices in a single transaction.
ii.Payment Modes & Channels: The platform will offer a wide range of payment modes, such as Unified
Payments Interface (UPI), net banking, cards, wallets, Immediate Payment Service (IMPS), cash, etc., and
multiple payment channels like Mobile app, Website, Agent, Branch etc..
iii.To meet the cash flow requirements of the B2B segment, Bharat BillPay will also allow partial payments in
this category.
Positive impacts:
i.The move aims to digitize and democratise of B2B invoice payments.
ii.Since the process is quick, cost-effective and simpler to adopt, Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises(MSME)
segment will be benefitted.
About Axis Bank Limited:
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Amitabh Chaudhry
Tagline – Badhti Ka Naam Zindagi
About NPCI Bharat BillPay Limited (NBBL):
Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Noopur Chaturvedi
Kotak Mahindra Bank Partners With NeSL to issue e-Bank Guarantees

Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited(KMBL) has entered into a partnership with National E-Governance Services
Limited (NeSL) to issue its inaugural electronic Bank Guarantee (e-BG) through the platform of KMBL.

This partnership will enable KMBL to digitize the entire process of issuing and managing Bank
Guarantees, which will significantly reduce the turnaround time(TAT) and eliminate the need for
paper-based documentation.
NeSL’s Digital Documents Execution (DDE) technology will give real-time access to e-BG.
e-BG:
e-BG is a digital equivalent of a traditional paper-based Bank Guarantee.
It is a guarantee issued by a bank to a beneficiary on behalf of an applicant, promising to pay the beneficiary a
specific amount of money if the applicant fails to fulfill a certain obligation.
Coal Ministry & MNRE Collaborate to Work Jointly to Promote Green Energy
The Ministry of Coal and the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) collaborated to work together for
the promotion of green energy.
MNRE will provide technical, policy, and capacity-building assistance, while the Ministry of Coal will supply
land and capital to construct solar energy, green hydrogen, and other renewable energy projects.
Through this collaboration, the roof-top solar will be installed in all the government buildings and
houses of CPSE employees in Mission Mode.
The de-coaled and surplus land masses will be offered for the setting up of green hydrogen projects by
private investors.
MNRE is set to support the Ministry of Coal and its CPSEs for capacity-building training of engineers,
technicians, and other functionaries through the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE)Gurgaon
(Haryana).
MNRE will provide knowledge partnerships through the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee
(Uttarakhand), the Solar Energy Corporation of India, and its other resource agencies.
Note:
The central public sector Enterprises(CPSEs) of Ministry of Coal have installed 1600 MegaWatt (MW) solar
Energy generation capacity and Work on another 500 MW solar projects is at different stages.CPSEs target to
create a generation capacity of 12GW by 2030.
IndusInd Bank Collaborates with Viamericas to Offer Inward Remittance Services to NRIs in
USA
IndusInd Bank Limited has announced a strategic collaboration with Viamericas Corporation to offer digital
inward remittance services to Non Resident Indians (NRIs) in the United States of America (USA).
This collaboration will enable NRIs to send money to their beneficiaries in India through IndusInd
Bank’s digital remittance platform Indus Fast Remit(IFR).
Working Mechanism:
i.The Indus Fast Remit platform will allow NRIs to send money to India either through auto debit payment
mode (Automated clearing House – ACH) and through the overseas Bank account.
ii.Through IndusInd Bank Vostro relationship, Viamericas Corporation will credit the beneficiary’s account in
India using the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s Rupee Drawing Arrangement (RDA) scheme.
Indus Fast Remit(IFR):
i.Indus Fast Remit is a first-of-its-kind multi-partner digital platform facilitating remittances to India especially
by Non Resident Indians (NRI).
ii.The users of IFR will have the option to choose from multiple Exchange Houses/Money Transfer Companies
offering competitive rates
iii.The remittance service will be offered through the licensed overseas Exchange Houses/Money Transfer
Companies and the amount will be transferred to the beneficiary’s account in India under RDA Scheme.

About IndusInd Bank Limited:
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Sumant Kathpalia
Established in 1994
Tagline – We Make You Feel Richer
About Viamericas Corporation:
Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Paul S. Dwyer
Founders – Paul S. Dwyer, Joseph D. Argilagos Lillian & M. Argilagos
Headquarters – Coral Gables, Florida, USA
OTHER BANK NEWS

ADB Capital Management Reforms Bring $100 Billion Benefits Over Next Decade to Asia-Pacific
Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced the approval of capital management reforms that are set to
release approximately USD($)100 billion in fresh funding capacity over the next decades for financing
projects in Asia-Pacific region.
• People in Asia and the Pacific, especially those who are poor and vulnerable, are facing severe
challenges due to escalating and interconnected crises.An estimated 155 million people, or 3.9%
of the region’s population, lived in extreme poverty as per the report in 2022.
Key Points:
i.This funding is intended to tackle significant Asian challenges, notably climate change.
ii.These reforms were implemented by updating the ADB’s Capital Adequacy Framework (CAF).
iii.These reforms significantly enhance the bank’s capacity for new commitments, allowing it to commit to
projects and initiatives totaling more than USD 36 billion annually.
iv.This represents a substantial increase of approximately USD10 billion, which representing about a
40% rise in the ADB’s capability to fund various projects, initiatives ,infrastructure, and other essential
sectors in the Asia-Pacific region.
v.ADB’s strategic measures enable $360 billion financing for member countries and private clients.
Safeguarding AAA credit rating, they ensure affordable, long-term funding, sustaining developmental
support for member countries.”
Role of ADB’s Capital Adequacy Framework (CAF)
• CAF evaluates assets, liabilities, and risks to ensure the bank maintains enough capital to meet
obligations, even in defaults or asset depreciation and ensuring financial stability.
• ADB reviews its CAF every 3 years to ensure it is benchmarked against best practices and
aligned with the evolution of ADB’s operations.
Additional Information
• Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) such as ADB and World Bank are advised to raise their
yearly expenditures by USD 3 trillion by 2030. This includes USD 1.8 trillion for additional
climate action and USD 1.2 trillion for achieving other sustainable development goals (SDGs).
These suggestions come from a committee led by N.K. Singh and Lawrence Summers, co-
conveners of the G20 expert group on strengthening MDBs.
• In May 2023, ADB established the Innovative Finance Facility for Climate in Asia and the Pacific
(IF-CAP).
About Asian Development Bank:
Headquarters – Manila, Philippines

Establishment – 1966
Members – 68 members (49 from Asian and the Pacific and 19 outside)
ADB Approves USD 200 Million for Flood & Riverbank Erosion Risk Management Project in
Assam
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 200 million loan to strengthen flood and riverbank
erosion risk management along the 650-kilometer (km) long main stem of the Brahmaputra River in Assam,
India.
• The Project activities will be led, managed, and coordinated by the Flood and River Erosion
Management Agency of the Assam Government.
• The Water Resources Department of the Government of Assam will implement the works and the
Assam Agroforestry Development Board will use nature-based solutions.
Objective : The primary goal is to address recurrent flooding and continual riverbank erosion along the
Brahmaputra River.
Partner Agencies: The Brahmaputra Board, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority, and the Assam
Inland Water Transport Development Society will be partner agencies of the project.
Background:
The project builds on the success of the ADB-financed Assam Integrated Flood and Riverbank Erosion Risk
Management Investment Program (2010-2020) and similar investments in Bangladesh.
Project Strategy:
i.The project employs a comprehensive approach, integrating flood and riverbank erosion risk management
with long-term planning.
ii.This strategy ensures a more resilient future. A core focus is to enhance climate and disaster resilience and
food security.
iii.The project empowers women by involving them in disaster-resilient economic activities.
• Approximately 1 million individuals will benefit from this initiative, which will also lead to a 50,000-
hectare increase in crop production.
Commitment of ADB:
i.ADB’s commitment to collaborating with the Assam state government is to transform Assam into a disaster-
resilient region.
ii.This initiative particularly focuses on mitigating the risks posed by the Brahmaputra River, one of the
world’s largest river systems.
iii.The project’s innovative and cost-effective approach combines structural and nonstructural measures to
strengthen Assam’s ability to manage flood and riverbank erosion risks effectively.
iv.ADB’s initiative aims to enhance disaster resilience in Assam, benefiting both the state and its vulnerable
communities.
Benefits:
i.This project will benefit around 1 million people and increase crop production in more than 50000 hectares.
The project will secure living spaces, and support livelihoods, by:
• stabilizing 60 km of banks;
• installing 32 km of pro-siltation measures; and
• building 4 km of climate-resilient flood embankments in 5 high-priority districts (Dibrugarh,
Goalpara, Kamrup Rural, Morigaon, and Tinsukia).
ii.It will also create employment opportunities, and ultimately enhance the navigability of the river.
iii.It will advance the institutional capacity in flood forecasting and warning systems, modern surveys, erosion
and embankment breach modeling, asset management, flood risk mapping, land use planning, and pilot nature-
based solutions, and the graduation approach.

President– Masatsugu Asakawa
Headquarters– Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Established in– 1966
NABARD Raises Rs 1,040.50 Crore in India’s First social Impact Bond

National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) raised Rs 1,040.50 crore by issuing India’s
first ‘AAA’ rated Indian Rupee-denominated Social Bonds at a coupon rate of 7.63%.
• NABARD issued bonds privately to eligible institutional investors, which were listed on the Bombay
Stock Exchange (BSE) on September 29, 2023. The redemption date for the bonds is September 27,
2028 with coupon payments taking place yearly.
• A social bond is a type of financial instrument issued by governments, international organisations,
or corporations to raise funds for projects and initiatives that have a positive social impact on
society.
• Nabard-issued bonds have been rated AAA rating by Credit Rating Information Services of India
Limited(CRISIL) and Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency(ICRA).
• AAA-rated bonds mean the issuers of these bonds have the highest creditworthiness & lowest risk of
default, and are expected to easily meet financial obligations.
Note:
The annual interest paid on a bond is referred to as a coupon payment.
Outlook Group & IDFC FIRST Bank Launched retirement Planning Event “Outlook Money
40After40”
Outlook Group in collaboration with IDFC FIRST Bank launched a retirement planning event “Outlook
Money 40After40” to spread awareness and create conversations around retirement planning.
• “40After40” is a two-day event and expo, which will be held at Jio World Convention Centre in
Mumbai, Maharashtra on 23rd and 24th January, 2024.
• IDFC FIRST Bank will spread the need & importance of retirement planning and addresses the
financial needs of the elderly early.
• The collaboration will also address other concerns of retired people such as health and wellness,
living facilities & travel.
• The collaboration aims to approach the key question of retirement through the various print and
digital platforms. It aims to provide invaluable insights and expert guidance to individuals, helping
them make informed decisions to secure a prosperous retirement.
Indranil Roy is the Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Outlook Group which was established in 1995. Outlook
Money is the only media house which has a dedicated website on retirement.
Axis Bank Launches Its Digital Bank Proposition ‘Open by Axis Bank’
Axis Bank Limited which is headquartered in Mumbai ,Maharashtra has launched its digital banking
proposition called ‘open by Axis Bank’ in its latest advertising campaign ‘Open 2023’
• The Open 2023 campaign highlights the top 15 features of the bank’s digital offerings.
• The launch of ‘open by Axis Bank’ is a fulfilment of Axis bank’s vision to build Axis 2.0 as a digital
bank within the bank to offer a personalized, intuitive, and hassle-free digital banking experience.
About ‘open by Axis Bank’:
i.‘open by Axis Bank’ is a future-ready mobile application that underscores the bank’s pivot towards enhanced
digital offerings.
• It aims to bring all the features in a user-friendly, modern interface for both existing and new
customers.

ii.It is a one-stop solution for all digital banking needs with over 250 banking services at anytime.
iii.It is also the highest rated mobile banking app on the play store amongst top 500 banks globally by market
capitalisation.
About Axis Bank Limited: It was established in 1993 and Amitabh Chaudhry is the current Managing
Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the bank.
YES Bank Becomes the First Lender to Offer ‘ONDC Network Gift Card’
YES Bank Limited had become the first bank in India to issue an ‘Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC)
Network Gift Card’. The card is powered by Rupay Network.
• The card is issued in partnership with the ONDC, a government-backed initiative to democratize
digital commerce in India.
• This network-wide gift card will help companies with corporate gifting and employee engagement,
and it will also allow consumers to shop at thousands of sellers on the network using any ONDC-
compatible buyer app.
• The card can be loaded with up to Rs 10,000.
• OmniCard is the first company to issue ONDC Network Gift Cards(in September 2023); Yes Bank is
second company and first banking institution to issue this card.
• Note – YES Bank has issued its first electronic-Bank Guarantee (e-BG) in collaboration with National
E-Governance Services Limited (NeSL).
About Yes Bank Limited: It was established in 2004 and headquarters in Mumbai, Maharashtra. ‘Experience
Our Expertise’ is the tagline of the bank.
SBI launches Mobile Handheld Device to Provide Banking Services to FI Customers

The State Bank of India (SBI) has launched a “mobile handheld device” for its financial inclusion customers
including senior citizens, differently-abled and the infirm. The device is designed to enhance accessibility and
convenience for customers who live in remote areas or have difficulty visiting SBI branches.
About the device:
i.The device will initially offer five core banking services which account for approximately 75 per cent of the
total transactions that SBI’s CSPs conduct.
• Cash withdrawal
• Cash deposit
• Fund transfer
• Balance inquiry
• Mini statements
ii.The device will be used by Customer Service Point (CSP) agents, who will be able to visit customers’ homes
or workplaces to provide banking services.
About State Bank of India(SBI): It was established in 1955. The bank is headquartered in Mumbai,
Maharashtra.
Federal Bank Extends UPI Services to NRIs to Enhance Seamless Transaction

Kerala based Federal Bank Limited has extended the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) integration for Non-
Residential External (NRE) clients through its mobile banking platform, FedMobile, to enhance banking
convenience for its Non-Residential Indian (NRI) clients.
• With the integration of UPI, NRI clients can now make payments seamlessly using their NRE
accounts in regions where traditional payment methods may be limited.
• The plan has been approved by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) for NRIs from
countries including Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, Canada, Hong Kong, Oman, Qatar, the United
States of America(USA), Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates(UAE), and the United Kingdom(UK).

• Any NRI customer with an Indian mobile number registered in the Bank’s records can also avail of
this facility, further enhancing accessibility.
• With UPI on FedMobile, NRE clients can enjoy a wide range of payment options, including Send
Money, Scan N Pay, UPI Collect, and UPI Mandate approvals, including those for Initial Public
Offering (IPO) Subscription.
The feature will also be available on other UPI applications that support global UPI transactions to offer
flexibility to the users.
ICICI Bank introduces ‘iFinance’, a One-Stop for Viewing Savings and Current Accounts Across
Banks
ICICI Bank Limited has launched a new feature called iFinance, which allows customers-retail and sole
proprietors, to get a consolidated view of their savings and current accounts across banks in a single place.
This facility is also extended to customers of other banks.
• ICICI bank leverages the Account Aggregator(AA) ecosystem to enable users to link their accounts.
• This feature is available on ICICI Bank’s digital platforms, namely iMobile Pay application, Retail
Internet Banking (RIB), Corporate Internet Banking (CIB) and InstaBIZ(Business Banking Mobile
Application).
Features of iFinance:
i.‘iFinance’ provides a single-view dashboard of all accounts.
ii.It offers a facility to get a summary of their income and category wise information of their expenditure.
iii.It allows users to link and de-link accounts on real-time basis
iv.It also provides consolidated account statement(s) of all linked Bank accounts.
Account Aggregator(AA):
i.An Account Aggregator (AA) is a Non-Banking Financial Company
(NBFC) regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
ii.It helps people securely and digitally access and share information from one financial institution they have an
account with to any other regulated financial institution in the AA network.
About ICICI Bank Limited:
Managing Director(MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Sandeep Bakhshi
Tagline – Hum Hai Na Khayal Apka
HDFC Bank Launches ‘XpressWay’ Digital Banking Platform for Banking Products and Services
HDFC Bank has developed ‘XpressWay,’ a digital banking platform that offers a range of financial products
and services, providing customers with a fast and convenient banking experience.
• XpressWay provides a variety of services such as Xpress Personal Loans, Xpress Business Loans,
Xpress Car Loans, Xpress Home Loans, Xpress Loan on Cards, Xpress Credit Card, and Xpress Savings
Accounts.
• These services are intended to provide a rapid seamless, paperless, and self-service experience to its
new and existing customers.
XpressWay is a part of HDFC Bank’s ‘NOW,‘ a brand that covers the bank’s digital products and services.
EIB Delegates Examined Agra, Kanpur and Lucknow Metro Construction

A three-member delegation from the European Investment Bank (EIB) examined Metro rail works in Agra,
Kanpur and Lucknow which is being constructed under Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation(UPMRC).
• EIB had funded these metro rail projects.
• These project are in par with the international quality and safety standards.

Funding in Agra metro:
i.Agra Metro Rail Project is being build at the total cost of EUR 908 million.
ii.The European Investment Bank (EIB) is providing EUR 450 million in funding for this project.
iii.The remaining amount is being contributed by the central and state governments of India.
Funding in Kanpur Metro:
i.EIB will finance the acquisition of rolling stock and the development of two metro rail corridors with elevated
sections, totaling to 32.4 km with 31 stations.
ii.The project was initiated in 2020 by UPMRC.
iii.Out of the total estimated cost of EUR 1354 million EIB will contribute about EUR 650 million.
Note: The above two projects are promoted by Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Limited.
Funding in Lucknow Metro:
i.The Lucknow metro project aims to construct a 23km metro line and purchase of a fleet of about 80 metro
cars in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
ii.The project is of total value EUR 914 million; EIB is contributing EUR 450 million.
iii.Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation Limited is the promoter of the project
About European Investment Bank (EIB): Werner Hoyer is the President of EIB; its headquarters in
Luxembourg
Sberbank Becomes First Russian Bank to Register with SEBI as FPI

Russian State-owned 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 license.
• Foreign portfolio investment (FPI) involves an investor purchasing foreign financial assets to access
equities, bonds, derivatives, mutual funds, and guaranteed investment certificates among others.
• Category I FPI license is only given to government or government related foreign investors or
regulated entities such as banks, sovereign wealth funds, investments trusts, pension funds, asset
management companies.
• With Sberbank’s registration as FPI, the total number of Russia-based FPIs in India increased to five
and the other four are non-banks including Alfa Capital Management, First Asset Management, Igor
Noskov, and Vesvolod Rozanov.
Note:
Moscow-headquartered Sberbank got approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in May 2010 to set up a
branch in India(New Delhi, Delhi) and commenced its banking business in January 2011.
Bank Of Baroda Launches Bob LITE Savings Account

Bank of Baroda(BoB) launched a lifetime zero-balance savings account called the Bob LITE Savings
Account as a part of “BOB Ke Sang Tyohaar Ki Umang” festive campaign.
The Bob LITE Savings Account comes with a lifetime-free RuPay Platinum debit card (subject to
maintaining a quarterly average balance(QAB)).
Eligibility:
The account can be opened by any resident individual, including minors (above 10 years).
QAB:
i.The QAB to be maintained is based in the locality. QAB will be
Rs. 3000 for Metro/Urban areas,
Rs. 2000 for Semi-Urban area
Rs. 1000 for Rural areas
ii.If QAB is not maintained, an Annual fee on the debit card will be applied as per the Bank’s guidelines.
BoB Unveils Festive Campaign:
i.In September 2023, BoB launched the “BOB Ke Sang Tyohaar Ki Umang” festive campaign.
The campaign will run up to 31st December 2023.

ii.As part of the campaign, BoB introduced four savings accounts catering to diverse needs:
BOB LITE Savings Account (No Minimum Balance)
BOB BRO Savings Account: Zero Balance Savings Account for Students (16 to 25 years)
My Family My Bank/BOB Parivar Account: A Comprehensive Family Savings Account
Baroda Non-Resident Indian (NRI) PowerPack Account: A Tailored Account for Non-Resident Indians
iii.BoB also introduced a recurring deposit scheme called the BOB Systematic Deposit Plan (SDP).
iv.BoB has partnered with leading brands across various categories, including Electronics, Consumer Durables,
Travel, Food, Fashion, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Grocery, and Health, to provide exclusive offers and discounts
to its debit and credit cardholders.
This initiative aims to enhance the festive shopping experience while promoting financial prudence.
About Bank of Baroda(BoB):
Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Devdutt Chand
Headquarters – Vadodara, Gujarat (Head office), Mumbai, Maharashtra (Corporate centre)
Tagline – India’s International Bank
RBL Bank launches Zero-Balance Go Savings Account

RBL Bank, formerly known as Ratnakar Bank, has launched the GO Savings Account, a zero-balance
digital banking product. The account has a subscription-based model means it will replace minimum
balance requirement, thus, finishing the hassle of maintaining a minimum balance.
GO Savings Account Features:
· Competitive interest rates of up to 7.5% per annum.
· A premium debit card.
· Vouchers valued at Rs 1500 for premier brands.
· Comprehensive cyber insurance cover, accident and travel insurance up to Rs 1 crore and
free CIBIL report.
Key Points:
i.The subscription fee is Rs 1999 (plus taxes) for the first year, and an annual renewal fee of Rs 599
(+taxes).
ii.The account has a simple account opening process and easy-to-operate features. It caters to
customers of all age groups.
About RBL Bank:
Managing Director & CEO– R Subramaniakumar
Tagline– Apno Ka Bank
AU Small Finance Bank Launches ‘Planet first – AU Green Fixed Deposit’ with 8.5% Interest
Rate
AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB) Limited launched its first Green Fixed Deposit (FD) namely Planet
First – AU Green Fixed Deposit with an interest rate of up to 8.50%. This launch represents bank’s
commitment towards climate action, and also allows customers to contribute to sustainability by
dedicating proceeds to green projects.

· The Green FD was launched on 25th October 2023, last Wednesday of October, which is
celebrated as the Sustainability Day.
Features of Planet First-AU Green Fixed Deposit:
· Interest rate of up to 8.50%
· Minimum investment of Rs. 5,000
· Tenure options from two to five years
· Interest payment options including monthly, quarterly, and cumulative
Key Points:
i.With this launch, customers can secure Green FDs through Video Banking, the AU 0101 App, Net Banking, or
by visiting AU Small Finance Bank branches, both existing and new AU SFB customers.
ii.A green fixed deposit (FD) is an interest-bearing deposit that funds projects with environmental benefits.
Green FDs are also known as environmentally friendly fixed deposits.
iii.The Green Fixed Deposits will enable customers to contribute to sustainability of planet through AU’s green
offering.
FINANCE NEWS
HDFC Pension Launches a First-of-its-kind NPS Preference Index on the Occasion of NPS Diwas
HDFC Pension Management Company Limited has launched a first-of-its-kind ‘National Pension System (NPS)
Preference Index’ on the occasion of 2nd edition of NPS Diwas which was observed on 1st October 2023.
• HDFC Pension also released NPS Preference Index Study which is the industry first spotlight on
NPS.
• HDFC Pension Management Company Limited,a subsidiary of HDFC Life Insurance Company
Limited is one of the Pension Fund Managers (PFM’s) appointed by Pension Fund Regulatory and
Development Authority (PFRDA) in India to manage funds for the National Pension System (NPS).
What is NPS?
i.National Pension System (NPS) is a voluntary, defined-contribution pension scheme.It is a government-
backed retirement savings program designed to provide financial security after retirement.
ii.It was launched in India in 2004.
iii.It is open to all Indian citizens between the ages of 18 and 70.
iv.It is regulated by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).
v.The National Pension System (NPS) in India operates through a unique identification number called
the Permanent Retirement Account Number (PRAN). This PRAN is allocated to every subscriber and is used
for all transactions and communications related to the NPS.
NPS Preference Index Study 2023:
i.The aim of the survey is to assess consumers’ views on retirement and their awareness, interest, and
contemplation of the NPS.This resulting in the framing NPS Preference Index, which can be tracked over time.
• Additionally, the North region exhibits the highest NPS Preference Index (57) in comparison to other
regions, signifying a strong inclination towards NPS among people in the northern part of the
country.
ii.This research has been conducted in association with an independent market researcher Ipsos Research
Private Limited.
iii.The Index is a powerful metric derived from three broad aspects such as
• Familiarity with NPS
• Appeal of NPS
• Consideration for NPS
Findings:
i.The survey results show that the NPS Preference Index is currently 54 out of 100. This means that the NPS is
at moderate level and is equally influenced by the three pillars.

ii.The study indicates that 32years is the ideal age to start retirement
planning as per consumers.
iii.Despite being relatively new, the NPS is a popular financial investment option for retirement planning, with
24% of people owning it.
iv.Tax benefits, peers, and financial advisors encourage people to buy NPS, but educating people about NPS and
its features is essential to increase adoption.
About NPS Diwas:
i.The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) observes National Pension System
Diwas (NPS Diwas) every year on 1st October.
• The day aims to promote pension and retirement planning among the people of India, and make
them financial independence post retirement.
ii.It is a campaign under ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’.
iii.The day was first observed on 1st October 2022.
Additional Info:
This research study was based on the responses od the people in NCCS (New Consumer Classification
System) A households with annual incomes above Rs10 lakhs (or Rs 7 lakhs in Tier III cities) in 12 Indian cities
between August and September 2023.
About HDFC Pension Management Company Limited:
HDFC Pension Management Company Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of HDFC Life Insurance Company
Limited.
Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Sriram Iyer
Fintech Startup slice Becomes SFB After Merger with NESFBL

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the merger of North East Small Finance Bank Limited (NESFBL) and
Bengaluru(Karnataka) based fintech startup slice(previously known as Slicepay).
• Following this merger, slice will become the 1st fintech firm to transform into a Small Finance Bank
(SFB).
• All slice entities, including its Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) licence, have been merged
with the combined banking entity.
Approval from NCLT:
i.The two entities are awaiting final approval from the National Company Law Tribunal(NCLT) for the merger
to be effective.
ii.Once the approval is in, Slice-owner Quadrillion Finance Private Limited and its parent
company Garagepreneurs Internet Private will merge with North East SFB.
About the merger:
i.The merger is expected to create a new-age SFB that leverages Slice’s digital prowess and NESFB’s grassroots
banking foundation to serve a wider audience, including those who lack access to basic banking services.
• The merger will allow Slice to leverage NESFB’s reach in rural and underserved areas to provide
banking services to more people.
ii.It is a sign of the growing convergence between the two sectors and the RBI’s willingness to support
innovation in the financial sector.
iii.The merged entity will be able to offer a more seamless and integrated customer experience by combining
Slice’s digital capabilities with NESFB’s traditional banking services.
iv.This merger is waiting for shareholders’ approval and other regulatory approvals.
About Slice:
Garagepreneurs Internet Private Limited (“GIPL”) is operating through its brand name ‘slice’
Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Rajan Bajaj

About North East Small Finance Bank (NESFB):
North East Small Finance Bank Limited is the wholly owned subsidiary of RGVN (North East) Microfinance
Limited.
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Rupali Kalita
Headquarters – Guwahati, Assam
Star Health Insurance introduces Surrogacy Cover and Oocyte Donor Cover
On October 9, 2023, Star Health and Allied Insurance introduced surrogacy cover and oocyte donor
cover to its women-centric policy namely Star Women Care Insurance Policy at no extra charge for
policyholders.
• This inclusion will address the demand in assisted reproduction treatment, and extending health
insurance coverage to surrogate mothers and oocyte donors.
• The Surrogate Mother & Oocyte Donor Cover is applicable for adults 25 to 35 years. The sum
insured under this is available up to Rs. 1 Crore.
Note:
For the cover to be valid, the intending couple, surrogate mother, and treating hospital should comply with
the Surrogacy Act and Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Act regulations. Additionally, the
Surrogacy and Oocyte donation must be undertaken at approved centres registered with the National ART and
Surrogacy Registry.
Features of Surrogacy Cover and Oocyte Donor Cover:
Surrogacy Cover:
i.Offers inpatient hospitalisation coverage for post-partum delivery complications for 36 months.
ii.Begins from the date of treatment or procedure initiation.
iii.Compensation for Miscarriage due to Accident as per policy terms.
Oocyte Donor Coverage: Covers inpatient hospitalisation costs for assisted reproductive treatment
complications for 12 months.
Newborn Cover:
i.Newborn receives health cover of 25% of sum insured from Day 1.
ii.Increases to 100% from the subsequent year onward.
Star Mother Cover: Covers hospital room rent for insured mothers if child is <12 years old and hospitalized in
ICU.
Additional benefits: Additional benefits include AYUSH Treatment, Rehabilitation and pain management,
Ante-Natal Care (Pregnancy Care), In Utero Fetal Surgery/Repair, Bariatric Surgery, Optional Cover (Lump sum
on diagnosis of Cancer), Coverage for modern treatments, Medical and Tele-Health consultations.
About Star Health and Allied Insurance:
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer– Anand Roy
Headquarters– Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Mahindra Last Mile Mobility Gets Rs.300 Cr from IFC as First Installment of Investment
Mahindra Last Mile Mobility (MLMML), a subsidiary of Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M) received the first
installment of investment of Rs.300 crore from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for its Electric
Vehicle (EV) division. This investment is IFC’s first in an EV maker in India.
• With this transaction, MLMML has ceased to be a wholly owned subsidiary of Mahindra with effect
from 9th October 2023, while it continues to be a subsidiary of the company.

• In March 2023, IFC committed to investing Rs. 600 Crore (in one or more installments) at a
valuation of up to Rs. 6020 Crore, in a new company housing the last mile mobility division of
Mahindra Group.
• This partnership between MLMML and IFC signifies a mutual dedication to sustainable, inclusive,
and clean transport solutions.
• MLMML aims to accelerate the green transition in the automotive industry in support of India’s
climate targets. It will focus on scaling last-mile passenger and cargo transportation solutions.
• MLMML commenced commercial operations in September 2023, pursuant to the closing of the Asset
Transfer Agreement and Business Transfer Agreement with M&M.
Note: IFC is a member of the World Bank Group and is the largest global development institution focused on the
private sector in emerging markets.
Payment Aggregator Paysharp Gets ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Certification

Chennai(Tamil Nadu)-based Paysharp Private Limited(Paysharp), a Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in-principle
licence-approved Payment Aggregator, gets ISO/IEC 27001: 2022 certification, the world’s best-known
standard for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS).
• Paysharp, a fintech startup founded in 2019, is focusing on non-card-based payments like Unified
Payments Interface (UPI) payments. It offers both Business-to-business (B2B) and Business-to-
consumer (B2C) businesses, offering a range of UPI collection solutions.
ISO/IEC 27001 helps organisations become risk-aware and proactively identify and address weaknesses. It
promotes a comprehensive approach to information security.
• ISO/IEC 27001 was jointly published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) in 2005 and then revised in 2013 and
2022.
The ISO/IEC 27001 standard provides companies of any size and from all sectors of activity with guidance for
establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an ISMS.
IRDAI Mandates Insurance Cover For Employees In Employer’s Vehicle

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has mandated all general insurers with
motor insurance business to provide an inbuilt feature in the Third Party policy (TP) to cover to employees
travelling in an employer’s vehicle (including paid driver, if applicable) under IMT. 29 of the Indian Motor
Tariff 2002.
• The compulsory cover of IMT-29 should be provided as an in-built coverage under the Compulsory
Motor Third Party(TP) Liability Section of Private Car Package/ Bundled Policies and under
standalone policies insuring Compulsory Motor Third Party Liability.
• IRDAI also stated that no additional premium will be charged until further directions.
Click here to know more
Background:
i.Madras High Court(Chennai, Tamil Nadu) has directed IRDAI to make
IMT-29 compulsory as an inbuilt coverage for employees while issuing a Private Car policy for employer’s
vehicles.
ii.In accordance to the High Court order, IRDAI has issued the above directions in exercise of the powers
conferred by Section 14(2) of Insurance Act 1938.
About Section 29 of India Motor Tariff (IMT) 2002:
i.The insurer will pay for any damages that the insured is legally liable for under the Fatal Accidents Act,
1855, if an employee (other than a paid driver) is killed or injured while using the insured vehicle(Upon
payment of premium Rs.25/employee).
ii.The compulsory cover of IMT-29 shall be provided as an inbuilt coverage
under the Compulsory Motor Third Party Liability Section of Private Car

Package/ Bundled Policies and under standalone policies insuring
Compulsory Motor Third Party Liability.
Clause 7 of Section 2 of IMT:
i.The employees travelling in or driving the employer’s motor vehicle will be covered under the insurance with
the payment of premium of Rs.50/employee.
• The tenure of the premium is extended till 12months on payment of additional amount
(Rs.50/employee).
ii.The maximum number of employees covered under the insurance equals the maximum licensed seating
capacity of the vehicle.
9th annual Google for India 2023: Google Partners with FACE to Take Down Illegal Loan Apps
from Play Store in India
Google has partnered with the Fintech Association for Consumer Empowerment (FACE) to take down illegal
digital lending apps on Play Store in India.
• This partnership was announced during the 9th annual Google for India (2023) event held on 19th
October 2023 in New Delhi, Delhi.
• FACE is an industry association and self-regulatory organization for digital lenders.
What will be done under the Partnership?
i.Under this partnership, FACE will supply Google with market intelligence to identify and take action against
non-compliant predatory personal loan apps in India hat are non-compliant with Play Store’s policies.
ii.This collaboration supports Google's safety initiative, DigiKavach, aimed at protecting people from online
financial scams.
Highlights of 9th annual Google for India event:
i.During the event, Alphabet Inc. announced plans to manufacture Pixel 8 smartphones in India with sales
starting in 2024.
ii.Google is partnered with Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to enable customers to book metro
tickets directly through the Google Maps app
iii.Google Lens introduced Visual Skin Condition Search, allowing users to find visual matches for skin issues,
after uploading photos.
iv.Google Pay partnered with ePayLater to provide a credit line for merchants
v.It also collaborated with DMI Finance to introduce sachet loans starting at Rs 15,000.
vi.Google Pay expanded its merchant loans with ICICI Bank and personal loans with Axis Bank.
vii.Google enhanced its security measures with Google Play Protect, offering real-time app scan
recommendations for users installing unscanned apps.
viii.Google Cloud partners with ONCD and also plans on helping farmers with an agri tech called Sign Catch,
where, FPOs can now put their catalogues online and reach out to merchants across the country with the help
of ONDC.
• As part of Google For India, Google Cloud also announced it is working with Axis My India to
“democratise information on citizens services” with a super app called the ‘A App’ that uses Google
Cloud’s scalable and secure infrastructure.
About Google:
Parent organization - Alphabet Inc.
Chief Executive Officer - Sundar Pichai
Google India Head - Sanjay Gupta
HDFC ERGO General Insurance launches Optima Secure

HDFC ERGO General Insurance launched Optima Secure, a health insurance policy that offers four times the
coverage at no extra cost. The policy covers medical expenses incurred within India and comes with an optional
global health cover.

• Health insurance is a financial arrangement that provides coverage for medical expenses and
healthcare services.
About Optima Secure:
Eligibility & Policy Option:
i.One can buy this policy until 65 years. Policy covers Insured Persons in the age group of 91 days and above.
ii.Families and individuals can choose coverage from Rs 5 lakhs to RS 2 crore, with different options available.
iii.This policy can be issued upto 3 years.
Key Benefits:
i.Secure Benefit offers additional coverage amount equivalent to 100%/200% of the Base Sum Insure.
ii.Plus Benefit offers additional coverage equivalent to 100% of the Base Sum Insured in 2 years irrespective
of a claim.
iii.Automatic Restore Benefits restores 100% of Base Sum Insured automatically on partial or complete
utilization of Sum Insured.
iv.Protect Benefit pays towards the Non-Medical expenses like gloves, food charges and other consumables
during hospitalization.
v.Global cover provides coverage for hospitalization expenses incurred outside India.
Note: This policy provides comprehensive coverage for both pre and post-hospitalization medical expenses.
(includes expenses incurred 60 days prior to hospital admission and 180 days following discharge from the
hospital).
About HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company Limited:
MD & CEO– Ritesh Kumar
DFC Offers USD 30 Million to Dalmia Polypro Industries to Set up Greenfield Recycling Facility
in Nashik
The United States(U.S.) International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) has offered an External
Commercial Borrowing (ECB) loan of USD 30 million to the Dalmia Polypro Industries Private Ltd to fund
the establishment of greenfield recycling facility in Nashik, Maharashtra.
• The new plant is well-positioned to meet the growing demand for premium recycled plastic,
including food-grade materials, so contributing to the realisation of a circular plastic waste value
chain.
• The facility also set to process 171,000 metric tons of plastic annually the facility will focus on
producing top-notch recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate(rPET), Recycled polypropylene (rPP), and
recycled High-Density Poly Ethylene (HDPE) flakes and granules.
• Dalmia Polypro is one of the major plastic recyclers in India and it was established in 2006.
Note:
DFC, headquartered in Washington DC, the United States of America(USA), is an development bank under the
US Government.
Zerodha Fund House Launches Its Maiden Mutual Fund Schemes

Zerodha Fund House(ZFH), a joint venture between Zerodha Broking Limited and smallcase Technologies
Private Limited, launched its maiden mutual fund schemes Zerodha Nifty LargeMidcap 250 Index Fund and
Zerodha ELSS Tax Saver Nifty LargeMidcap 250 Index Fund.
· Both schemes are open-ended, passive, index-equity mutual fund schemes.
· The New Fund Offering (NFO) opened on 20th October 2023 and will remain open till 3rd
November 2023.
About the Fund Schemes:
i.Both the launched funds are benchmarked against the Nifty LargeMidcap 250 Index total returns index (TRI).
iii.The index fund will replicate the Nifty LargeMidcap 250 Index, while the ELSS scheme will be an open-

ended passive equity-linked savings scheme with a statutory lock-in period of three years.
iv.The tax benefit replicates the Nifty LargeMidcap 250 Index.
· The Equity Linked Savings Scheme (ELSS) provides tax benefits under Section 80 (C) of the Income-
tax Act, 1961.
v.The minimum Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) investment for the index fund is Rs 100, while the minimum
threshold for the ELSS fund has been set at Rs 500.
vi.The schemes will adopt a passive investment strategy.
· It will invest in stocks in proportion to the weightage of the stocks in the Nifty LargeMidcap 250
Index.
Background:
This is the first NFO of the Fund House after receiving approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of
India (SEBI) in August 2023 to launch mutual fund schemes.
What is NFO?
i.NFO is a singular investment solution to invest in the top 250 companies.
ii.NFO provides an equity product with a mix of stability and growth.
Nifty LargeMidcap 250 Index:
i.The Nifty LargeMidcap 250 Index is a stock index that tracks the performance of 250 large and midcap
companies listed on the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE).
ii.The index is weighted evenly between the two segments, with 50% of the weight allocated to each.
iii.The Nifty LargeMidcap 250 Index covers approximately 84% of the total market capitalization, 87% of the
free-float market capitalization, and 69% of the total liquidity of all traded equity stocks on the NSE.
About Zerodha Fund House(ZFH):
Zerodha Fund House is a passive-only Asset Management Company (AMC) which aims to build transparent,
and affordable mutual funds.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Vishal Jain
Escrowpay secures India’s 1st digital Escrow authorization from IFSCA

Escrowpay, a leading digital escrow platform, has secured India‘s 1st digital escrow regulatory
fintech authorisation from International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), Gujarat
International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
· The authorization will provide secured and efficient financial solutions to 70 million Small
and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in India.
· The authorization will also enable Escrowpay to further expand its suite of offerings and
commence cross-border transactions in over 14 world currencies.
· It will also help to make escrow banking more accessible, affordable, and secure for all
users.
What is Escrow?
Escrow is a financial arrangement in which a third party, known as an escrow agent, holds money or
property on behalf of two other parties that are in the process of completing a transaction.
About Escrowpay:
MD– Ashwin Chawwla
Headquarters– Gurugram, Haryana Established in 2015

ECONOMY & BUSINESS NEWS
NSO’s 19th PLFS Quarterly Bulletin: UR in urban areas dips to 6.6% in April-June 2023
On October 9, 2023, the National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
(MoSPI) released its 19th Quarterly Bulletin(QB) of Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for April-June
2023 (Q1FY24).
• As per it, India’s urban unemployment rate (UR) in Current Weekly Status (CWS) terms for persons
aged 15 years and above declined to 6.6% during Q1FY24 from 6.8% during Q4FY23. It was 7.6% in
April-June 2022 (Q1FY23).
• The UR for Q1FY24 is lower than the URs observed in the quarters covered in the pre-pandemic
period.
Assessment:
A total number of 5,639 FSUs- First Stage Unit (UFS- Urban Frame Survey blocks) have been surveyed during
Q1FY24. The number of urban households surveyed was 44,190 and number of persons surveyed was
1,67,916 in urban areas.
Key Figures representing Persons of 15 years and above in Urban Areas in Q1FY24:
i.UR in CWS among male population declined to 5.9% as compared to 7.1 in Q1FY23.
• UR in CWS among females also saw a decline during Q4FY23 to 9.1% from 9.5% in Q1FY23.
ii.At all India level, Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) in CWS increased to 48.8% from 47.5% in April-
June 2022 (Q1FY23).
• For male, it was around 73.5% during this period.
• For female, LFPR increased from 20.9% to 23.2%.
iii.Worker Population Ratio (WPR- in %) in CWS increased to 45.5% from 43.9% in Q1FY23.
• For male, it increased from 68.3% to 69.2% during this period.
• For female, it increased from 18.9% to 21.1%.
Static Info:
About Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS):
National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) launched Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) in April 2017. This serves
the following two purposes:
• To estimate the key employment and unemployment indicators (viz. Worker Population Ratio,
Labour Force Participation Rate, Unemployment Rate) in the short time interval of three months
(quarterly) for the urban areas only in the ‘Current Weekly Status’ (CWS).
• To estimate employment and unemployment indicators in both ‘Usual Status’ (ps+ss) and CWS in
both rural and urban areas annually.
Note: In 2019, The NSSO merged with the Central Statistical Office (CSO) to form the National Statistical Office
(NSO) to strengthen and streamline the processes and bring in more synergy.
Key Definitions:
UR: It is defined as the percentage of unemployed persons among the labour force.
LFPR: It is defined as the percentage of persons in labour force (i.e. working or seeking or available for work) in
the population.
WPR: It is defined as the percentage of employed persons in the population.
CWS: The activity status determined on the basis of a reference period of last 7 days preceding the date of
survey is known as the current weekly status (CWS) of the person.
IMF’s WEO Oct 2023: India’s Growth is projected to be at 6.3% for both 2023 & 2024
According to World Economic Outlook (WEO), October 2023 -Navigating Global Divergences‘ the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast to 6.3% in 2023 from
July 2023 estimate of 6.1% due to 7.8% growth during the June quarter.

• India will also grow at 6.3% in 2024 while remaining the world’s fastest growing major economy in
2023 and 2024.
Key Points:
i.The IMF’s 2023 growth forecast for India is same as the World Bank’s (WB) projection in its India
Development Update(IDU) October 2023.
ii.On the other hand, it is still lower than the 6.5% projection by Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Monetary Policy
Committee.
Global Growth Projection by IMF:
i.Global economic growth will slow to 3% in 2023 from 3.5% in 2022, a fall by 50 basis points.
• It will be 2.9% in 2024.
• The global growth for 2023 and 2024 is below the historical (2000–19) average of 3.8 percent.
ii.Global inflation will decline steadily to 6.9% in 2023 from 8.7% in 2022
• It will be 5.8% in 2024.
• Core inflation will decrease slowly, and in most cases, it will not reach the target until 2025.
iii.Advanced economies are expected to slow to 1.5% in 2023 from 2.6% in 2022.
• They will grow at 1.4% in 2024.
iv.Emerging market and developing economies are projected to decline to 4% in 2023 and 2024 from 4.1% in
2022.
v.The reasons behind the global slowdown are economic activity lags pre-pandemic levels, particularly in
emerging markets, uneven recovery and supply chain disruptions due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the
recent Palestine invasion against Israel risks destabilizing West Asia which is a major global oil production hub.
India’s Fiscal Deficit Rises to Rs 6.42 trillion to Reach 36% of FY24 target
According to Controller General of Accounts(CGA), India’s fiscal deficit for the tenure April to August of the
financial year 2023-24 (FY24) is at Rs 6.42 trillion. This is 36% of the full-year target of Rs 17.87 trillion.
• In the same period of FY2022-23, the fiscal deficit was Rs 5.42 trillion, or 32.6% of the FY23 target
Rs16.61 trillion.
Why is the fiscal deficit higher in FY24?
i.The fiscal deficit widened mainly because the government spent more on capital expenditure (due to lower
tax devolution to state governments) and government’s increase in non-tax revenues.
ii.The government aims to reduce the fiscal deficit to 5.9% of the gross domestic product (GDP) for fiscal year
2024.
Data & Analytics:
i.Capital Expenditure (Capex): Capex during April-August increased to Rs 3.74 trillion from Rs 2.52 trillion in
the same period of FY23.
ii.Total Receipts: Total receipts during April-August amounted to Rs 10.29 trillion, equivalent to 37.9% of the
annual estimate.
• Tax receipts contributed Rs 8.04 trillion, which represents 34.5% of the annual estimate.
iii.Corporate Tax Collections: Corporate tax collections surged by over 15% year-on-year to Rs 2.39 trillion
during this period.
iv.Total Expenditure: The government’s total expenditure for the same period reached Rs 16.72 trillion,
accounting for 37.1% of the annual estimate.
• This was higher than the expenditure of Rs 13.90 trillion during the corresponding period in the
fiscal year 2022-23.
v.Tax Devolution to States: A dip in tax devolution to states in the recent month helped limit the widening of
the fiscal deficit.
• Net tax revenues for August 2023 were Rs 2.2 trillion, significantly higher than Rs 0.3 trillion in
August 2022.

vi.RBI Dividend: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved a dividend transfer of Rs 874.2 billion to the
government for FY23.
• This transfer is expected to mitigate the impact of potential shortfalls in other government revenue
sources and higher expenses.
vii.Revenue Expenditure Breakdown: Of the total revenue expenditure of Rs 12.98 trillion during April-
August, Rs 3.7 trillion went toward interest payments, and Rs 1.81 trillion was allocated for subsidies.
IIFCL Sanctions Loans Worth Rs 8,800 crore to Boost Civil Aviation Infrastructure
India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL) has sanctioned loans worth Rs 8,800 crore for airports
and civil aviation infrastructure development in India.
• The IIFCL has already sanctioned loans of around Rs 4,000 crore.
Note:
IIFCL is a government owned financial institution that caters to the long-term financing needs of India’s
infrastructure sector. This plays a major role in financing airport projects in India.
Funding:
i.IIFCL is one of India’s major airport financiers and has supported airports with a total project outlay of about
Rs 74,000 crore.
ii.IIFCL along with the Government of India will continue to support the development of world-class airport
infrastructure in India under the Public-Private-Partnership(PPP) model.
• It will also explore opportunities to fund greenfield airport projects and Maintenance, Repairs and
Overhaul (MRO) facilities.
Background:
i.The launch of the Ude Desh ka Aam Nagarik’ (UDAN) scheme (in 2017) has boosted the development of the
airport sector.
ii.As a result the number of airports has almost doubled from 74 in 2014 to 148 in 2023, giving a boost to
regional connectivity.
Growing Demand:
i.The passenger handling capacity is expected to increase from the current 350 million per annum to 500
million per annum by the end of the Financial Year2023-24 and 2 billion by 2047.
ii.The growth was driven by the rising trend of air travel among middle-income households, complemented by
infrastructure development at leading airports and supportive government policies.
iii.The airport infrastructure capacity should be increased to meet such a huge growing demand.
Additional Info:
To expand air infrastructure, the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) has envisaged a Capital expenditure
(capex) of Rs 91,000 crore for the civil aviation sector in the five years till FY25.
About India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL):
Managing Director(MD) – Padmanabhan Raja Jaishankar
IOCL Approves Two Joint Ventures to Set up Compressed Biogas Plants

The board of Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), a public sector Enterprise under the Maharatna category
approved joint ventures with EverEnviro Resource Management Pvt Ltd and GPS Renewables Pvt Ltd for
setting up compressed biogas (CBG) plants.
• The two joint ventures will be formed with IOCL or one of its subsidiaries and the two partner
companies will have an equal stake of 50 % each in the newly formed joint ventures.
• This aligns with the government’s plans to establish 5,000 commercial CBG plants by 2024-25 under
the Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transport (SATAT) scheme which was launched in
2018.

• The IOCL board’s decision is subject to approvals from the NITI Aayog, and the Department of
Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM)
Bharti Group to Acquire AXA’s 49% Stake in Bharti AXA Life Insurance
Bharti Group, through its holding company Bharti Life Ventures Private Limited (BLVPL) has entered into a
binding agreement with its Joint Venture(JV) partner AXA to acquire its 49% of 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, subject to regulatory approvals.
Bharti Group into Insurance:
Bharti Group set up the ventures with Paris based ‘AXA’ (a French multinational insurance firm) in 2006 and
held 74% stake in both – Bharti AXA General Insurance and Bharti AXA Life Insurance .
• Presently, Bharti AXA Life Insurance has a 51% stake from Bharti Group and 49% stake from AXA, in
line with the regulatory framework on ownership in the Insurance sector.
Bharti AXA General Insurance:
i.In 2020, Bharti Group and AXA exited the general insurance business by selling Bharti AXA General
Insurance to ICICI Lombard General Insurance Limited.
• Bharti AXA received two shares of ICICI Lombard for every 115 shares of Bharti AXA held by them.
ii.The transaction came into effect on Sept 08, 2021 after receving necessary approvals from The National
Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).
About Bharti AXA Life Insurance:
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– Parag Raja
IOCL to Invest Rs 1,660.15 Crore in IndianOil NTPC Green Energy Pvt Ltd
Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), a state-owned Maharatna company, is set to invest Rs 1,660.15
crore as equity in IndianOil NTPC Green Energy Pvt Ltd for setting up renewable power plants.
• IndianOil NTPC Green Energy Pvt Ltd is a joint venture (JV) company with a 50:50 share between
IOCL and NTPC Green Energy Ltd, (a wholly-owned subsidiary of NTPC Limited) formed in June
2023.
• The new JV was formed to set up renewable energy projects (Solar photovoltaics (PV) wind, any
other renewable energy, energy storage, or any combination of the same) with a minimum
generation of 650 megawatt (MW), to meet 24X7 power requirements of refineries of the IOCL.
• IOCL aims to generate 3 Gigawatt (GW) renewable energy and 0.6 million tonnes of biofuels by
2025. It also plans to generate 35 GW by 2030, and 200 GW by 2050.
FICCI Economic Outlook Survey Predicts Median GDP Growth Rate of 6.3% for FY23-24
According to Economic Outlook Survey released by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce &
Industry (FICCI), India’s annual median Gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate for the financial year 2023-
24 (FY2023-24) is projected at 6.3% with a minimum and maximum growth estimate of 6% and 6.6%,
respectively.
Sectorswise Prediction:
i.The expected growth rate for agriculture and allied activities in FY23-24 is 2.7%, which is lower than the
4.0% growth rate reported in FY22-23.
• This is due to the El Niño effect, which has affected the spatial distribution of rainfall during the
monsoon season.

ii.The industry and services sectors are expected to grow by 5.6% and 7.3%, respectively, in the FY23-24.
Quarterwise Prediction:
i.The expected growth rate will reach as high as 7.8% in first quarter(Q1) of the financial FY23-24.
ii.The growth rate will decrease to 6.1% and 6% for the second and third quarter (Q2 & Q3)respectively.
CPI based inflation forecast:
i.The median forecast for Consumer Price Index (CPI)-based inflation in 2023-24 is 5.5%, with a minimum and
maximum range of 5.3% and 5.7%, respectively.
ii.CPI inflation rate will remain above the Reserve Bank of India(RBI)’s target level of 4±2 for Q3 & Q4 of FY 23-
24
iii.Inflation may have peaked, but prices could still go up. Food prices could be volatile due to high cereal prices
and the cancellation of the Black Sea grain deal. Oil prices are also high, which could contribute to inflation.
Repo Rate:
i.RBI is expected to maintain its policy repo rate at 6.5% until the end of the FY23-24.
ii.A cut in repo rate can be expected only by the end of Q1 or Q2 FY24-25.
Investments:
i.The government’s focus on capital expenditure has attracted private investment and boosted economic
growth.
• However, it will take some time to get a full-fledged momentum in investments.
ii.Any further recovery in private investment is expected to be driven by an increase in consumer spending,
both domestically and internationally.
Note:
Economic Outlook Survey was conducted in the month of September 2023.
India to surpass Japan to Become 2nd Largest Economy in Asia by 2030: S&P Global
According to Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) data of Standard & Poor (S&P) Global Market Intelligence,
India will become Asia’s second-largest economy by 2030 with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of USD 7.3
trillion. India will also become the world’s third-largest economy.
PMI also forecasted that India’s GDP will grow at 6.2-6.3% in the financial year 2023-24 (FY23-24).
Top Economies(of the world):
i.United States of America(USA) is the world’s largest economy with a GDP of USD 25.5 trillion.
ii.This is followed by China, Japan, and Germany in second, third, and fourth respectively (largest economy)
with a GDP of USD 18 Trillion, USD 4.2 trillion, and USD 4 trillion respectively.
Fifth Largest Economy:
i.India overtook the United Kingdom(UK) and became the fifth-largest economy in the world with a GDP of USD
3.5 trillion.
India is also Asia’s third largest economy after China and Japan.
ii.By 2030, India will surpass Japan & Germany and become the third-largest economy in the world and the
second-largest economy of Asia.
Factors in favor of India Economy
FY23-24:
i.The Indian economy has continued to grow strongly in 2023, following two years of rapid growth in 2021 and
2022.
ii.In the first quarter(Q1) of FY23-24, the economy grew at 7.8%.
FDI:
i.The increasing flow of foreign direct investment(FDI) into India over the past decade shows that investors are
optimistic about the country’s long-term growth prospects.
ii.This is due to the fact that Indian demography is dominated by the youth population.
Digital Transformation:
The rapid growth of e-commerce and the shift to fourth-generation (4G) and fifth-generation (5G) smart-phone

technology are expected to accelerate the growth of e-commerce and to change the retail consumer market
landscape.
By 2030, around 1.1 billion Indians will have internet access as compared to 500million users in 2020.
Growth Driver:
i.India’s large and rapidly growing middle class is a major driver of consumer spending, which is fueling
economic growth.
ii.The country’s large domestic market and industrial sector have made it a prime investment destination for
multinational companies in a wide range of sectors, including manufacturing, infrastructure, and services.
NLC incorporated NLC India Green Energy Limited for Renewable Energy Initiatives
Neyveli Lignite Corporation(NLC) India Limited incorporated a wholly owned subsidiary NLC India Green
Energy Limited (NIGEL) to focus on Renewable energy initiatives.
About NIGEL:
i.NIGEL’s logo was unveiled along with the appointment of key managerial positions at the first Board meeting
of the company.
ii.NLC’s green arm NIGEL is expected to establish Renewable energy projects to the capacity of 5 Gigawatt
(GW) by 2030.
NLC already developing Projects to the tune of 2 GW in various parts of India.
iii.As per the Optimal Energy Mix Report 2030 of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), Ministry of Power, the
envisaged BESS (Battery Energy Storage System) on the Grid is about 41.65 GW and this provides an
opportunity for storage system development.
Note:
CMD of NLC Prasanna Kumar Motupalli is also the Chairman of NIGEL.
About NLC India Limited:
Neyveli Lignite Corporation(NLC) India Limited is a Navratna company under the government of India.
Chairman cum Managing Director(CMD)– Prasanna Kumar Motupalli
Headquarters– Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Incorporated in -1956
Paras Aerospace receives 2nd Type Certification from DGCA for its Agri Drone
Mumbai(Maharashtra)-based Paras Aerospace Private Limited, a subsidiary of Paras Defence & Space
Technologies Limited, has received its 2nd Type certification from Directorate General of Civil Aviation
(DGCA) for its agricultural drones – “Paras-Agricopter V2.1”. The certification is issue for MEDIUM Drone
Category.
This will allow Paras Aerospace to honour its existing contracts for “Paras-Agricopter V2.1”.
This will also enable Paras to explore new opportunities in the agricultural drone industry.
Previously in April 2023, Paras Aerospace received a “Type Certificate” from DGCA for its Agri
Drone “Paras-Agricopter”.
Note:
The DGCA Type Certification is issued after a through evaluation and certification process for unmanned
aerial vehicles (UAV). This validates the drone’s quality and design.
This certificate is valid until it is revoked or suspended.

MoU’s & AGREEMENTS
India, Argentina sign Social Security Agreement for Professionals
On September 29, 2023, a Social Security Agreement (SSA) was signed between India and Argentina to
ensure professionals and workers retain benefits and contributions made toward social security,
promoting easier mobility between countries.
Signatories:
SSA was signed by Dinesh Bhatia, India’s Ambassador to Argentina; and Santiago Cafiero, Argentina’s
Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship in the presence of Raquel Kismer de
Olmos, Argentine Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security.
Key Points:
i.This SSA covers Indian laws on old age, survivor’s pension and permanent, total disability pension for
employed persons, and includes Argentina’s contributory benefits under their Social Security System.
ii.The agreement grants temporary overseas workers and their families full rights to contributory benefits
such as cash allowance for retirement or pension, rent, subsidy or lump sum payments, without reduction,
modification, or suspension.
iii.It establishes the legal framework regulating insurance period i.e., period of services credited with
contributions, contributory benefits and export thereof, in respect of detached workers, including crew
members of airlines and ships.
iv.It sets the legal framework for insurance period, contributory benefits, and export rights for detached
workers, including airline and ship crew members detached workers, i.e., employees working in another
country on a temporary basis.
About Argentina:
President– Alberto Angel Fernandez
Capital– Buenos Aires
Currency– Argentine Peso
India-UAE Sign MoU in 7 Areas, with Emphasis on Space Technology, Renewable Energy, and AI
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and India have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during
the 11th India-UAE high-level joint task force on investments in Abu Dhabi, the capital of United Arab
Emirates (UAE). The agreement was signed by UAE’s Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Dr.
Sultan Al Jaber, and India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, with the presence
of Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Managing Director of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA).
• India and the UAE have signed an MoU in seven areas
such as supply chain resilience, renewable energy and
energy efficiency, health and life sciences, space
systems, AI, Industry 4.0 and advanced technologies,
as well as standardisation and metrology.
• These MoUs align with the UAE-India Comprehensive
Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which aims
to strengthen the UAE’s role as a trade and logistics
hub.
Key highlights of MoU:
i.Supply Chain Resilience:
• Both countries will work together to identify opportunities to supply raw materials and share best
practices to incentivize industrial growth.

• This includes various aspects such as energy, land availability, capital expenditure (CAPEX),
operating expenditure (OPEX), technology adoption, and labor management.
ii.Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
• MoU will focus on advancing energy storage technologies, Smart Grid, Internet of Things (IoT)
deployment, and research and development in renewable energy and energy efficiency.
iii.Health and Life Sciences: The partnership aims to develop pharmaceuticals, leverage biotechnology, and
engage in research and development in the field of healthcare.
iv.Space Systems:
• The countries will enhance their space industries by collaborating on the development, launch, and
use of small satellites for communication and Earth observation.
• This includes space exploration and the licensing of space-related materials.
v.Artificial Intelligence (AI): Both nations will work on advancing machine learning and data analytics
capabilities across priority sectors.
vi.Industry 4.0 and Advanced Technologies:
• The parties will strive to work together in implementing Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR)
technologies within industries, including the establishment of smart factories and advanced
manufacturing processes.
• MoU will encompass the deployment of Industry 4.0 technologies, real-time data processing,
autonomous robotics, and additive manufacturing in key industries.
vii.Standardization, Metrology, Conformity Assessment, Accreditation, and Halal Certification: The two
countries will exchange information on procedures, guidelines, and regulated products. They will also aim to
harmonize standards with international requirements and mutually recognize conformity assessment results.
Note: The MoU will last for 3 years, with automatic renewal for an equal period unless one of the Parties gives a
written notice to terminate it at least 6 months before the expiration date.
India’s NPCI and UAE’s AEP Sign Agreement for RuPay DCS
On October 5, 2023, NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) and Al Etihad Payments (AEP) entered into
an agreement to implement a Domestic Card Scheme (DCS) in the UAE. This partnership is set to revolutionize
e-commerce, digital payments, and financial inclusion in the UAE, leveraging India’s expertise in secure
payment systems and its widely acclaimed RuPay card network.
• NIPL: a wholly-owned subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)
• AEP: an indirect subsidiary of the Central Bank of UAE (CBUAE)
Objectives:
• To seamlessly integrate India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and the UAE’s Instant Payments
Platform (IPP).
• To interlink the card switches of both nations, specifically the RuPay switch from India and
UAESWITCH from the UAE.
• The DCS solution offered by NIPL comprises the RuPay stack along with supplementary services,
including fraud monitoring and analytics.
• NIPL will play a role in assisting AEP in crafting the operational regulations for their domestic card
scheme.
UAESWITCH: The CBUAE introduced UAESWITCH in 1996 to connect the ATM networks of all banks in the
UAE.
RuPay: RuPay is a secure, domestically developed card payment network by NPCI that Offers debit, credit, and
prepaid card options.
11th High-Level Joint Task Force Meeting:
The 11th High-Level Joint Task Force Meeting between the UAE and India focused on reviewing the progress
made on the CEPA and discussed various aspects of bilateral economic cooperation.

Key Points:
i.CEPA Implementation: Started in May 2022 and aimed to enhance bilateral ties by reducing tariffs, removing
trade barriers, and fostering investment and partnerships.
• It has helped reduce tariffs on more than 80% of product lines.
• The two countries are working towards achieving a target of $100 billion in non-oil trade by
2030.
The Joint Task Force discussed plans for the ADIA to establish a presence in Gujarat International Finance Tec-
City (GIFT City) and invited other Sovereign Wealth Funds in the UAE to do the same in India.
Note: The Joint Task Force was established in 2013 as a key forum to promote trade, investment and economic
ties between the UAE and India.
Other Global Partnerships:-
i.In 2022, NPCI signed a MoU with France’s secure online payment system, Lyra.
ii.In 2023, UPI inked an agreement with Singapore’s PayNow
About UAE
President – Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Prime Minister – Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Capital – Abu Dhabi
Currency – UAE dirham
WHO and WADA Signs MoU to Collaborate on Clean, Drug-free Sport

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and World Health Organisation (WHO) have recently inked a four-
year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that enables experts from both global organizations to work
together and exchange information concerning areas where the realms of anti-doping and public health
intersect.
• The MoU was signed in Geneva, Switzerland, between WADA president Witold Banka and WHO
Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus.
Decoding the MoU:
i.The agreement will run until 1 October 2027 and provides a framework of cooperation between WHO and
WADA to further their goals.
ii.The Goals of the MOU include:
• Addressing and evaluating health risks associated with the usage of psychoactive substances and
related disorders, with a particular emphasis on doping substances and their use within the athlete
community.
• Promoting awareness and advocating for the integrity of clean sports and the prevention of
substance misuse on a global scale.
• Enhancing awareness through educational initiatives, facilitated by goodwill ambassadors and
influencers, to foster positive change.
• Collaborating on issues related to substandard and counterfeit medical products, including the
identification of emerging psychoactive substances by sharing information, offering mutual support,
and engaging with sports federations.
• Reporting instances of abuse and misuse of counterfeit and substandard medical products within
the realm of sports.Top of Form
iii.The MOU also aligns with both organizations’ common objective of achieving the United Nations Sustainable
Goal 3: Ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages. The goal carries its roots from
United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Additional info:
The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) was set up in India as a registered society under the Societies
Registration Act of 1890 on November 24, 2005 with a mandate for dope-free sports in India.

About WHO:
It is the United Nations agency that connects nations, partners and people to promote health, keep the world
safe and serve the vulnerable
Director General – Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Established – 1948
Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland
Member states – 194
About WADA:
It is an international independent agency to lead a collaborative worldwide movement for doping-free sport.
President – Witold Bańka
Established –1999
Headquarters – Montreal, Canada
India Signs Two MoUs on Ocean Sciences, Medical Product Regulation with Dominican Republic
India and Dominican Republic have signed two Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) in ocean sciences and
medical product regulation.
The 2 MoUs were signed between,
• Central Drug Control Organization of India (CDSCO) and the General Directorate of Medicines, Food,
and Health Products of the Dominican Republic (DIGEMAPS).
• The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, National Institute of Oceanography of India (CSIR–
NIO) and the National Authority for Maritime Affairs of the Dominican Republic (ANAMAR).
Note:
The MoUs were signed during a high level political dialogue between Raquel Pena Rodriguez, the Vice
President of the Dominican Republic, and India’s Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The meeting was a part of the 3 day official visit of Raquel Peña Rodríguez to India from 3rd to 5th
October 2023.
• This is the 1st ever visit by the Vice President of the Dominican Republic to India.
Key Points:
i.Under the bilateral cooperation MoU on ocean science, India and Dominican Republic have agreed to work
towards exploring solution to the problem of the massive proliferation of the sargassum seaweed afflicting the
Caribbean beaches, affecting the livelihood of coastal populations and the tourist industry.
ii.The Dominican Republic is set to support the presence of Indian pharmaceutical companies in its territory
and India aims to partner in healthcare sector, including the supply of generic drugs.
iii.This partnership aims to improve healthcare access for both countries.
About the meeting:
i.They discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in various fields, such as trade, pharmaceuticals, Information
and Communications Technology (ICT), agriculture, food processing, space, higher education, capacity building,
Ayurveda, and yoga.
Note:
India and Dominican Republic are set to celebrate the 25th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic
relations in 2024. The diplomatic relations between both the countries were established in May 1999.
Other Political dialogues:
i.India and the Dominican Republic are planning to work in the arena of renewable energy, including under the
International Solar Alliance (ISA).
• The Dominican Republic is in the process of expediting the ratification of the ISA Framework
Agreement.
ii.Additionally, the two countries are poised to deepen their engagement in the Coalition for Disaster Resilient
Infrastructure (CDRI), with India as co-chair and the Dominican Republic representing Small Island Developing
States on the Executive Committee for 2022-2024.

iii.Dominican Republic has expressed interest in establishing an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) within its
borders.
About Dominican Republic:
President – Luis Abinader
Capital – Santo Domingo
Currency – Dominican Peso
ARAI & IIT Guwahati Signs MoU to Set Up Digital Twin Center for Emerging Automotive Systems
The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with
the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati(Assam) for establishing a Common Engineering Facility
Center (CEFC) titled “Digital Twin Center for Emerging Automotive Systems” in the Hub and Spoke model.
• This CEFC was established under the Capital Goods Scheme Phase II of the Ministry of Heavy
Industries (MHI) by ARAI in collaboration with industry partner Micelio Mobility Private Limited.
Note: ARAI, the leading automotive R&D organization in India is an autonomous body under the aegis of the
MHI.
About CEFC – Digital Twin Center for Emerging Automotive Systems:
The CEFC will enable “Smart Advanced Manufacturing and Rapid Transformation Hub
(SAMARTH) Udyog Bharat 4.0,” to benefit the industry, particularly Micro, Small, and Medium
Enterprises (MSMEs) and startups, by creating digital twins for the different systems across industries.
• This will support the MSMEs and startups to experiment, experience, upskill and find solutions using
this domain for their needs.
Hub and Spoke:
Hub: Pune(Maharashtra)
Spoke1: Bengaluru(Karnataka)
Spoke 2: IIT Guwahati(Assam)
Components:
i.Digitization of data and environment for effective tuning of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI &
ML) models
ii.Digitization of data for system development & training
• Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) Farm
iii.Digitization of systems for control development & validation
iv.Digitization of the material development and manufacturing process
v.Material development and characterization without the need for physical prototyping.
Benefits:
i.These facilities can be utilized across Industries for developing technologies, experimentation, design and
simulation, and validation.
ii.The CEFC will also be utilized for the development of new materials, material characterization, and
manufacturing process simulation in different areas ranging from Metals, composites, additive manufacturing,
etc.
Outcomes:
i.Creation of Digital Twin decreases the overall development time for systems development
ii.Validation of Systems can happen even before the prototype is ready.
iii.Front-loading digitization in the development cycle for different application areas.
iv.Experience Centres for technology absorption, do-it-yourself, handling, and experimenting.
Benefits of the Collaborative organisation:
i.Spoke 2 at IIT Guwahati will serve the needs of the industry in the North-East region in the areas of advanced
Digital Twin systems for their indigenous technology developments.
• These facilities will support the across capital goods like Engineering, Automotive, Drones, Solar,
and aerospace among others.

ii.ARAI will also be setting up digital connectivity with the HUB and Spoke 1 for access to AI and ML tools as
well as the Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) software with Spoke 2 at IIT Guwahati.
Note:
i.IIT Guwahati will give space, infrastructure, and utilities required for the equipment and will in turn get
access to the systems for their educational and research activities.
ii.A general-purpose Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) system would be installed at IIT Guwahati to enable digital
twin creation for systems development of control systems and validation.
iii.The systems are aimed at creating Synergies between the industry ecosystem (MSME of HUB and Start-Up of
Spoke) and the academia through IITs by leveraging the knowledge available at IITs.
SAMARTH Udyog Bharat 4.0
SAMARTH Udyog Bharat 4.0 is an Industry 4.0 initiative of the Ministry of Heavy Industry & Public Enterprises,
under its scheme on Enhancement of Competitiveness in the Indian Capital Goods Sector.
• It is to facilitate and create an ecosystem for the propagation of an Industry 4.0 set of technologies in
every Indian manufacturing by 2025.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has joined hands with IITs (Indian Institute of
Technologies) to promote research and development of nanoelectronics.
About Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI):
Chairman & Director– Dr. Reji Mathai
Headquarters– Pune, Maharashtra
IOC & Reliance Foundation Signed Agreement for OVEP in India

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) with the Olympic Museum along with Reliance Foundation signed
a new cooperation agreement to expand and promote the Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP) in
India.
• The agreement was signed by IOC President Thomas Bach and Nita Ambani, IOC Member in India
and Reliance Foundation Founder Chairperson, during a visit to the Reliance Foundation Young
Champs (RFYC) football academy in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
About the partnership:
i.Through the agreement, Reliance Foundation have joined as an OVEP implementation partner.
ii.The programme will be first implemented in the Mumbai and later it will expand to rest of Maharashtra.
iii.Through this partnership, both the organistion uses sports as a medium to inculcate values such as respect,
friendship, fair play, and solidarity young people.
Three key areas:
i.Grade-specific activities in select schools: These activities will promote Olympism and the Olympic values,
and help them develop positive behaviors.
ii.Sessions with athletes: Athletes will interact with students virtually and in person to promote physical
activity and discuss the Olympic values.
iii.Interactive games, quizzes, and workshops: These sporting and educational events will raise awareness
of the Olympic values.
About OVEP:
i.The Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP) is a series of learning resources that have been created by
the International Olympic Committee.
• The program aims to increase access to sport and bring the health and societal benefits of physical
activity to communities across the globe.
ii.OVEP is an initiative led by the Olympic Museum that advances the IOC’s Olympism365 strategy.
iii.OVEP was launched in India in 2022 in partnership with the Abhinav Bindra Foundation in Odisha.
• It is one of the first major IOC projects to be implemented in India.

iv.The goal of OVEP in India is to promote the Olympic values of excellence, respect, and friendship among
young people.
• OVEP brings both sports and education together.
v.OVEP in India is currently being implemented in over 350 schools in Odisha and Assam, and it has reached
over 250,000 students.
About Reliance Foundation:
Founder & Chairperson – Nita Ambani
Headquarters – Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established in 2010
About International Olympic Committee (IOC):
The International Olympic Committee is the guardian of the Olympic Games and the leader of the Olympic
Movement.
President – Thomas Bach
Headquarters – Lausanne, Switzerland
ASDM of Assam Govt & Indian Army signed MoU for upskilling of ex-servicemen
Assam Skill Development Mission (ASDM) under the Skill, Employment & Entrepreneurship Department,
Government of Assam and the Indian Army (Headquarters 51 Sub Area) have signed a Memorandum of
Understanding(MoU) for upskilling ex-servicemen and their dependents.
• This MoU between the Indian Army and ASDM will empower ex-servicemen and their dependents to
get remunerative employment and self-employment.
Key People:
The MoU was signed in the presence of Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chief Minister (CM) of Assam and general officer
commanding-in-chief (GOC-in-C). of Eastern Command, Lieutenant General Rana Pratap Kalita.
Note: ASDM started in 2017 with an aim to build capacity among 1.50 lakhs unemployed youths in a year. It is
registered under Society Act in 2015.
CM unveiled statue of Lachit Borphukan & Swahid Smarak:
Assam CM also unveiled a statue of Lachit Borphukan, a medieval-era Ahom army commander, and a Swahid
Smarak (Martyr’s Column) at Bir Lachit Borphukan Park inside Narengi Military Station in Guwahati, Assam.
• These 2 structures were conceptualised by Major General (Retd.) R.K. Jha, former General Officer
Commanding of 51 Sub Area of the Indian Army in Narengi.
• These structures were funded by the government of Assam.
Note:
CM also announced that a 150-feet-tall statue of Lachit will be installed at Bir Lachit Barphukan Maidam in
Hollongapar, Jorhat, Assam.
About Assam:
Chief Minister – Himanta Biswa Sarma
Governor – Gulab Chand Kataria
Festival – Magh Bihu, Me-Dum-Me-Phi
Statdium – Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Cricket Stadium (Assam Cricket Association Stadium), Nehru Stadium
About Indian Army:
Chief of the Army Staff – General Manoj Pande
Skyroot Signs Two MoUs with French Space Firms to Launch Satellites
Skyroot Aerospace Private Limited, a Hyderabad (Telangana) -based space startup, has signed two memoranda
of understanding (MoUs) with two France-based Space firms Promethee Earth Intelligence and ConnectSAT.

• The satellites of the French space firms are set to be launched on Vikram-I of the Skyroot.
About the MoU with Promethee:
i.Skyroot signed an MoU with Promethee to launch its Japetus earth observation constellation onboard
Skyroot’s Vikram rockets.
• The MoU was signed by Olivier Piepsz, Co-Founder and CEO of Prométhée, and Co-Founders of
Skyroot Aerospace, Pawan Chandana and Bharath Daka.
• Skyroot’s Vikram launch vehicles were an ideal choice due to the specific orbital requirements
required by 50% of Prométhée’s satellites.
About the MoU with ConnectSAT:
i.Skyroot signed a trilateral MoU with ConnectSAT and Expleo to launch ConnectSAT’s OSIRIS satellite
constellation onboard Skyroot’s Vikram rockets.
• As part of the MoU, Expleo provides reconfigurable software for ConnectSAT’s Internet of Things
(IoT) satellite.
• The OSIRIS satellite constellation is built for various social applications and monitoring and
surveillance solutions.
• The trilateral MoU was signed by Abdoulahi Ben Moussa Dia, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of
ConnectSAT, Frédérique Rebout, Director Alliances and Partners at Expleo, and Co-Founders of
Skyroot Aerospace, Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka.
About Skyroot Vikram series rockets:
i.Skyroot launched India’s first privately-built rocket ‘Vikram-S’ under the mission “Mission Prarambh” (the
beginning) in 2022.
• Vikram-S is a single-stage solid-fuelled sub-orbital rocket capable of carrying an 80 kg payload.
• Vikram rocket was named after Vikram Sarabhai, founder of the Indian Space Program.
ii.Vikram series rockets are modular Space launch vehicles especially crafted for carrying small satellites and
developed using advanced technologies including 3D printing, and carbon composite bodies.
• About Vikram-I: The Vikram-I rocket is capable of carrying a load of up to 480 Kilograms (kg) into
500 Kilometre (km) the Low Earth orbit (LEO) and a load of 290 kg into a 500 km Sun Synchronous
Polar Orbit (SSPO).
• About Vikram-II: The Vikram-II is capable of carrying a load of up to 595 kg into 500 km of the LEO
and a load of 400 kg into a 500 km SSPO.
• About Vikram-III: The Vikram-III is capable of carrying a load of up to 815 kg into 500 km of the
LEO and a load of 560 kg to 500 km SSPO.
About Skyroot Aerospace Private Limited:
Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– Pawan Kumar Chandana
Headquarters– Hyderabad, Telangana
SAC ISRO Signed MoU with NavTech for Optical Wireless Communication Using LiFi Technology
The Ahmedabad (Gujarat) based Space Applications Centre (SAC), under Indian Space Research Organization
(ISRO), has signed a 3-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ahmedabad-based Nav Wireless
Technologies Pvt Ltd (NavTech), a leading pioneer in Light Fidelity (LiFi) technology, to use light-based high-
speed communication for satellite communication in space.
• The partnership was recommended by the Department of Telecommunications under the Ministry of
Communication.
• NavTech is the 1st company in India to provide the LiFi technology to SAC (ISRO).
LiFi Technology:
i.It operates by transmitting data through a spectrum of light beams, making it suitable for both indoor and
outdoor environments offering ultra-fast data connections.

ii.It proves particularly beneficial in urban areas with crowded radio spectrums and rural regions lacking fiber
optic networks.
About the partnership:
i.SAC, a major center of ISRO in partnership with NavTech aims to facilitate high-speed secure quantum key
communication from base stations to satellites in space and terrestrial communication.
ii.Using the LiFi technology, SAC/ISRO will facilitate Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and Pointing Acquisition
and Tracking (PAT) in satellite-to-satellite communications during ISRO’s upcoming space exploration
missions.
iii.This collaboration represents a significant shift in space communication technology, leveraging optical
wireless technologies over traditional Radio Frequency (RF) systems.
• Space agencies have already started using optical wireless technologies instead of RF for space
communication.
NavTech’s LiFi for 5G and Rural Connectivity in India:
i.By positioning itself as the sole registered entity in India committed to LiFi research, NavTech has solidified its
role as a leading authority in the field.
ii.NavTech has demonstrated the most practical solution for the seamless integration of 5G services and the
effective implementation of BharatNet rural connectivity, utilising the potential of Optical Wireless
Communications (OWC).
About Space Applications Centre (SAC):
Director– Nilesh M. Desai
Headquarters– Ahmedabad, Gujarat
REC Signs MoU with NICSI for ICT and Digital Transformation Services
The REC Limited (formerly Rural Electrification Corporation Limited) has signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with National Informatics Centre Services Inc. (NICSI) for various Information and
Communications Technology (ICT) and Digital Transformation Services.
• This MoU will support the REC ecosystem by fostering the development of cutting-edge technologies in
areas like the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Analytics,
Blockchain, and Cyber Security.
• The collaboration with NICSI will allow REC to provide end-to-end NIC/NICSI Software product
deployment, hosting, core roll-out, technical support, security, services, and system administration.
Note:
REC, a ‘Maharatna’ company under the Ministry of Power is a Non-Banking Financial Corporation (NBFC)
focusing on Power Sector Financing and Development across India.
NICSI comes under the National Informatics Centre (NIC) of the Ministry of Electronics & Information
Technology
MoD Signs Contract with Cochin Shipyard for the Upgradation of INS Beas
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a contract with Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL)(Kochi, Kerala) for
mid-life upgrade and re-powering of the advanced guided missile frigate Indian Naval Ship (INS) Beas (F37) at
a cost of Rs 313.42 crore.
i. About the Contract: INS Beas is the first Brahmaputra Class Frigate to be re-powered from steam to
diesel propulsion.
• After completing mid-life upgrade and re-powering in 2026, INS Beas will join the Indian Navy’s
active fleet with a modernised weapon suite and enhanced combat capability.
ii.About INS Beas: INS Beas was the third Ship of the Brahmaputra Class guided missile frigate which was
commissioned into the Indian Navy in 2005, and it was originally built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and
Engineers (GRSE)Ltd in Kolkata(West Bengal).

• It can reach speeds of more than 30 knots and go more than 4,500 nautical miles without refuelling.
MoD Signs with MDL to construct the first ICG Training Ship
The Ministry of Defence(MoD) has signed a contract for the construction of one Training Ship for the Indian
Coast Guard (ICG) with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL), Mumbai(Maharashtra) at a cost of Rs 310 crore
under the Buy Indian -Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured (IDDM) category in New Delhi,
Delhi.
Facilities: This is the first ICG’s dedicated training platform with integral helicopter capabilities and modern
high-tech surveillance and monitoring systems.
Benefits: The training ship is set to provide basic sea training to 70 Coast Guard and other international under-
trainee officers and prepare them for the multi-dimensional maritime aspects of Coast Guard life.
• It will provide insight and expertise to the ICG cadets on the challenges they may face at sea while
ensuring the security of coastline and offshore assets.
Note:
“Buy-IDDM” has been introduced in Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2016 to promote the indigenous
design and development of defence equipment.
About Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL):
Chairman & Managing Director(CMD) – Madhu S Nair
Headquarters – Cochin, Kerala
Incorporated in– 1972
About Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL):
Chairman & Managing Director(CMD) – Sanjeev Singhal
Incorporated as a Private Company in – 1934
IICA and NICF signed MoU to Synergise Professional Capabilities

The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) and National Institute of Communication Finance (NICF) have
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote the exchange of knowledge and resource between
these institutions for conducting research, training capacity building and advocacy.
About MoU:
i.The MoU covers a wide range of topics, including finance, restructuring, turnaround, competition law,
corporate law, corporate governance, Insolvency and Bankruptcy law, leadership, organisational effectiveness,
telecommunication policies, and spectrum auction.
ii.The collaboration also aims to develop the skills and knowledge of Indian Posts and Telecom Accounts and
Finance Service (IP&TAFS) officers.
About Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA):
i.IICA is an autonomous institution established by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA).
ii.It was registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
Director General & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Praveen Kumar
About National Institute of Communication Finance (NICF):
i.NICF is high level training institute which offers training to Indian Posts and Telecom Accounts and Finance
Service (IP&TAFS) officers.
ii.It works under Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications.
Director General(DG)- Awadhesh Kumar

DOLR & NRSC Signed MoU to Monitor WDC-PMKSY 2.0
The Department of Land Resources (DOLR) and the National Remote Sensing Center (NRSC) have signed an
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to monitor Watershed Development Component of Pradhan
Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC-PMKSY 2.0) using geo-spatial applications.
• The event also winessed the launch of mobile application DRISHTI 2.0 and web-portal SRISHTI 2.0
for WDC-PMKSY 2.0.
About MoU:
i.NRSC will provide DOLR with
• High-resolution satellite data for all the WDC 2.0 projects (across India)
• Customized software tools on Bhuvan for monitoring, online image comparison and visualization
of project reports
• Customized Bhuvan web page Srishti for WDC-PMKSY 2.0
• Customized mobile application Drishti for field data collection and data transfer to Bhuvan
Note: WDC-PMKSY is one of the first schemes to harness the potential of space and remote sensing technology
Additional info: DOLR comes under Ministry of Rural Development(MoRD) and NRSC is one of the primary
centres of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Department of Space (DOS)
IBM & MeitY Signed 3 MoUs to Advance AI, Semiconductor & Quantum Innovation in India
IBM(International Business Machines Corporation) signed 3 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with 3
entities under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to advance and accelerate
innovation in Artificial intelligence (AI), Semiconductor, and quantum technology in India.
• The 3 MoUs were signed with IndiaAI – Digital India Corporation, India Semiconductor Mission
(ISM), and Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC).
Key People:
Union Minister of State(Mos) Rajeev Chandrasekhar, MeitY, and Sandip Patel, Managing Director, IBM India &
South Asia, were present at the MoU signing ceremony.
IBM MoU with IndiaAI – Digital India Corporation:
i.IBM and IndiaAI – Digital India Corporation collaborate to establish a world-class national AI Innovation
Platform (AIIP) for India.
ii.To promote India’s scientific, economic, and human-capital development in AI technology, the platform will
focus on AI skilling, ecosystem development, and integrating sophisticated foundation models and generative
AI capabilities.
iii.AIIP gains access to IBM’s Watsonx platform key features, such as the ability to use models in language, code,
and geospatial science, with the intention of training models for more domains as needed.
About IndiaAI:
IndiaAI under the Digital India Corporation(DIC) is a knowledge portal, research organisation and an
ecosystem building initiative.
• It stands to unite and promote collaborations with various entities in India’s AI ecosystem.
• The portal offers the latest and up-to-date information and analysis on AI as news and article
IBM MoU with ISM:
i.IBM is set to become India Semiconductor Mission’s (ISM) knowledge partner for a semiconductor research
center.
ii.IBM will share its experience with ISM on intellectual property, tools, initiatives, and skills development for
promoting innovation in semiconductor technologies such as logic, advanced packaging and heterogeneous
integration, and advanced chip design technologies.
About ISM:
ISM was established in 2021 under the Digital India Corporation aims to build a vibrant semiconductor and
display ecosystem to enable India’s emergence as a global hub for electronics manufacturing and design.

IBM MoU with C-DAC:
Through this MoU, IBM and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) are set to work
together to advance India’s National Quantum Mission in the following ways.
• Building expertise in computing technology
• Developing applications in areas of national interest
• Creating a skilled quantum workforce
• Supporting the development of industries, startups, and Research and development (R&D)
About C-DAC:
C-DAC is the premier R&D organization of the MeitY for carrying out R&D in Information technology (IT),
Electronics, and associated areas.
About IBM:
IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. It is known for its hardware
and software products, including computers, servers, storage systems, and networking equipment.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Arvind Krishna
Headquarters – Armonk, New York, United States of America(USA)
AP’s Indian Red Cross Society signs MoU with NCC to Enroll NCC students as YRC Volunteer
The Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS), Andhra Pradesh(AP), has signed a first of its kind Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with the National Cadet Corps (NCC) to enroll NCC students as Youth Red Cross(YRC)
Volunteers in Andhra Pradesh(AP).
Signatories: V.M. Reddy, Air Commodore and Deputy Director General of NCC (AP and Telangana) and
A.K. Parida, General Secretary of Indian Red Cross Society, A.P. State branch, signed an MoU
in Andhra Loyola College (ALC) at Vijayawada(AP).
Under this MoU, the IRSC AP will instruct NCC cadets in first aid, CPR, and disaster relief. NCC Cadets
will be encouraged to donate blood in times of need and to participate in environmental activities to
combat climate change.
As a YRC Volunteer, NCC students will extend services during emergencies in AP.
IAF Signs Contract with Indian Manufacturer for Procurement of Automatic Weather Stations
The Indian Air Force(IAF)has signed a contract with an Indian manufacturer for the procurement of
automatic weather stations at 82 IAF locations.
· This technology advancement will significantly improve aerospace safety by providing real-time
weather updates throughout flight operations and training.
· This procurement is especially crucial for India’s strategic positions, including Daulat Beg
Oldie(Ladakh), the highest airstrip at 16,700 feet, as well as Fukche and Nyoma in Ladakh, which
have been approved for conversion into fully operational fighter bases.
· This procurement will also help several advanced landing grounds (ALGS) in Ladakh, including
Tuting, Vijaynagar, Walong, Ziro, and Tawang, as well as various high-altitude helipads.
Note:
The measurement of meteorological characteristics such as ambient temperature, wind speed, wind
direction, humidity, and atmospheric pressure is critical for safe aircraft and helicopter landings and
takeoffs.
India’s HAL, France’s Safran ink MoU to Manufacture Commercial Engine Parts
On October 27, 2023, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Hindustan Aeronautics
Limited (HAL) and Safran Aircraft Engines, a French aerospace engine manufacturer, to develop industrial
cooperation in ring forging manufacturing for commercial engines.
Note: HAL is a Navaratna Status Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Defence(MoD).

Signatories:
It was signed by Mihir Kanti Mishra, CEO (Bangalore Complex) of HAL, and Dominique Dupuy, Senior Vice-
President (Purchasing) of Safran Aircraft Engines during a ceremony at Bengaluru, Karnataka.
What will be done under the MoU?
HAL will produce LEAP (Leading Edge Aviation Propulsion) engine forgings at its foundry and forge facility in
Bengaluru.
LEAP powers the Airbus A320 Neo family and Boeing 737 Max.
Key Points:
i.An Industrial Cooperation Contract was also signed by Anil Kumar VN, GM (F&F) of HAL, and Jean Michel,
Strategy Director and India Development for Safran Military Division to further strengthen this strategic
partnership.
ii.Safran already has three production facilities in India (between Hyderabad, Telangana and Bengaluru), which
will be completed by a fourth site at Hyderabad dedicated to the LEAP MRO activities by 2025.
The Helicopter Engine MRO (HE-MRO) facility being developed in Goa jointly with HAL will be
5th Safran facility in India. This will become operational by 2025.
About Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL):
Chairman and Managing Director (Additional Charge)– CB Ananthakrishnan
Headquarters– Bengaluru, Karnataka
About Safran Aircraft Engines:
CEO– Jean-Paul Alary
COMMITTEES & MEETINGS

78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly September 18-26, 2023
The 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) was held at the United Nations (UN)
Headquarters in New York City, USA, from September 18 to September 26, 2023. The world leaders, Heads
of State and Governments, foreign ministers, diplomats, and representatives from member states, often called
as the ‘Oscars of Diplomacy‘, attended the annual high-level week.
• The theme for this event was “Rebuilding trust and
reigniting global solidarity: Accelerating action on
the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development
Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress and
sustainability for all. “
Note: The 77th UNGA session was scheduled for September
13-27, 2022, and its theme was ‘A Watershed Moment:
Transformative Solutions to Interlocking Challenges’.
United Nations General Assembly High Level Meetings:
During the high-level week, a series of high-level summits
were organized.
(i) General Debate: Every year since the 10th UNGA in 1955, Brazil has been the first to address the
delegation, followed by the United States.
(ii) SDG Summit to review the progress of the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs).The summit was convened by President of the UN General Assembly Dennis Francis.
Global SDGs: Adopted by world leaders in September 2015
• Total 17 goals, 169 targets

(iii) High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development
(iv) Climate Ambition Summit
(v) High-level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response
(vi) Preparatory Ministerial Meeting for the Summit of the Future
(vii) High-level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage
(viii) High-level Meeting on the Fight against Tuberculosis-The second high-level meeting on the fight
against tuberculosis was commenced on 22 September 2023.
• Theme, “Advancing science, finance and innovation, and their benefits, to urgently end the global
tuberculosis epidemic, in particular, by ensuring equitable access to prevention, testing, treatment
and care.”
India’s participation at UNGA 78
India played a leading role at UNGA 78 and it focused on South-South cooperation, multilateralism, and
sustainable development. EAM S. Jaishankar represented the Indian delegation at the high-level week of the
session.
Highlights of S. Jaishankar’s 9-day meet to USA:
Jaishankar went on a nine-day visit to the US and attended the annual session of UNGA in New York. During his
visit, the Minister also addressed the 4th World Culture Festival organized by the Art of Living.Dr. Jaishankar’s
addressed a High-Level session of the 78th UNGA on September 26,2023. Some major initiatives & issues
discussed included:
• Support for the UNGA’s theme, G20 Presidency, Voice of the Global South, African Union
Membership as a permanent member of the G20.
• Need for reform in international organizations, such as the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
• G20 Outcomes, action plans for sustainable development, principles of LiFE (Lifestyle for
Environment), and the significance of digital public infrastructure (DPI).
• India’s active participation in international alliances, including the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue
(Quad) consisting of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States, as well as its role
in BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), was highlighted.
• India’s commitment to global good through initiatives like Vaccine Maitri during the COVID-19
pandemic .
• India hosted the creation of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). The forging of
the Global Biofuels Alliance was another notable development.
Click here to Read EAM’s speech
India, US, Israel & UAE launch new I2U2 website & private enterprise partnership on UNGA sidelines
On the sidelines of the 78th UNGA session, the I2U2 Group, consisting of India, the United States of America
(USA), Israel, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), launched a Private Enterprise Partnership to increase
awareness of its initiative in business communities and fund projects aligning with its objectives. The four-
nation grouping also launched its website to strengthen cooperation between the member countries and
partnerships across the globe.
Key Points:
i.The launch announcement was made during the I2U2 Sherpas meeting (personal representative of a head of
state or head of government who prepares an international summit) in New York by India’s Ministry of
External Affairs Secretary (Economic Relations), Dammu Ravi, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director-
General Ronen Levi, UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, and US Department of
State Under Secretary Jose W. Fernandez.
ii.The public-private partnership aims to enhance awareness of the I2U2 Initiative’s potential, focusing on 7 key
sectors: water, energy, transportation, technology, space, health, and food security.
iii.I2U2 Group announced a joint space venture aimed at creating a space-based tool for policymakers,
institutions, and entrepreneurs on September 23, 2023.This venture aims to revolutionize satellite technology

and infrastructure, opening door to a new era of collaborative exploration and innovation.
About I2U2 Group (West Asian Quad): Established: October 18, 2021
India, Japan agrees to strengthen economic cooperation including high-speed railway project
During UNGA Summit held in New York, EAM S. Jaishankar and Japanese counterpart Yōko Kamikawa, on
September 22, 2023, reaffirmed their commitment to enhance economic cooperation. This includes a
commitment to make significant strides in advancing the high-speed railway project, a key flagship initiative
jointly undertaken by India and Japan.
• Both ministers affirmed that maintaining and strengthening a free and open international
order based on the rule of law is critical and that Japan and India would strengthen their responses
to issues in the international community.
• Both delegates pledged to strengthen their collaborative efforts in addressing global issues. The two
countries also signed several other agreements, including on defence, trade, and investment.
• The two ministers also shared views on “Japan-India Special Strategic and Global Partnership”.
UN India on LOI with Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation
On the sidelines of 78th UNGA, The United Nations – India (UN India) signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with
the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to collaborate on various initiatives, which includes food security,
global health, climate change and initiating a new partnership to enhance Indian South-South Cooperation.
• The initiative was announced at an event titled “India-UN for the Global South-Delivering for
Development” in New York on 23 September in the presence of the EAM Dr. S Jaishankar.
Key Points:
i.This partnership is major initiative under “India-UN Capacity Building Initiative” a joint capacity building
initiative for the Global South, launched on 23rd September 2023.
• This partnership signifies a significant step towards addressing global health, poverty, and
inequality.
• Through this partnership India’s Technical and Economic Cooperation platform will be utilized to
share its valuable development insights and best practices on a global scale
ii. This commitment was formalized through a Joint Declaration of Intent between the UN Resident Coordinator
in India (Shombi Sharp) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Plan to Establish a New United Nations Youth Office
The 78th session of the General Assembly, following the adoption of General Assembly Resolution 76/306,
marked a significant milestone with the establishment of a new United Nations Youth Office. This office will be
headed by a soon-to-be-appointed Assistant Secretary-General for Youth.
Global Sustainable Development Report 2023
The 2023 Global Sustainable Development Report(GSDR), “Times of Crisis, Times of Change: Science for
Accelerating Transformations to Sustainable Development”, is the second edition.It will be published every
four years.
• The 2019 GSDR , The Future is Now: Science for Achieving Sustainable Development, was the first
report prepared by an Independent Group of Scientists appointed by the United Nations Secretary-
General.
Key Points:-
This report provides a comprehensive assessment of global progress towards achieving the United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and tracks key indicators related to sustainability.
• The report serves as a vital resource for policymakers, researchers, and civil society organizations,
guiding efforts to achieve the SDGs by 2030.
• The Global Sustainable Development Report 2023, released at UNGA 78, warned that the world is
off track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The report called for urgent action
to address the challenges of climate change, poverty, and inequality.
About United Nations General Assembly
It is the main policy-making organ of the Organization and is one of the six principal organs of the United

Nations.
President – Dennis Francis (Trinida & Tobago)
51st meeting of the Executive Committee of NMCG Approves 7 Projects worth Rs 285 Crore
The Executive Committee (EC) of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) during its 51st
meeting approved 7 projects worth around Rs. 285 crore. The meeting was held on 12th October 2023 under
the chairmanship of G. Asok Kumar, Director General (DG) of NMCG.
Note: The 50th meeting of the EC of NMCG was held on 31 July 2023 through hybrid mode.
Key People:
The meeting was attended by S.P. Vashishtha, Executive Director (ED) (Admin.), NMCG; Bhaskar Dasgupta, ED
(Finance), NMCG; D.P. Mathuria, ED (Technical), NMCG; Naveen Srivastava, Deputy DG, NMCG and Ms.
Richa Misra, Joint Secretary and Financial Advisor, Department of Water Resources, River Development and
Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Approved Projects:
For sewerage management:
The committee has approved 3 projects for sewerage management: 2 in West Bengal and 1 in Uttarakhand.
West Bengal:
The project in West Bengal includes, a 13.8 Minimal Liquid Discharge (MLD) Sewage Treatment Plant (STP)
with co-treatment of 18.52 Kilo Litres per Day (KLD) septage and associated works at an estimated cost of Rs
92.83 crore.
• The project aims to prevent the untreated discharge into River Jalangi in Krishnanagar Municipal Town
of West Bengal.
The other project aims to integrated Septage Management for Bansberia Municipality by creating a 15 KLD
capacity Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP).
Uttarakhand:
For Uttarakhand, an FSTP of 50 KLD was approved in Bahadrabad, Haridwar at a total cost of Rs. 12.65 crore.
Ganga Task Force (GTF):
The EC also approved the extension of the Composite Ecological Task Force (Ganga Task Force (GTF)) to
continue assisting in the rejuvenation of River Ganga.
• The EC also approved one company of Territorial Army to GTF to facilitate the rejuvenation of River
Gomti, a vital tributary of the Ganga.
• The total cost of the project is Rs 134.86 crore.
Note: The GTF would carry out activities such as afforestation, patrolling of sensitive river areas for
biodiversity protection, patrolling along river banks by boats and on foot, and so on.
For wetland conservation:
EC also approved the proposal expecting for the effective management of 3 wetlands in Uttar Pradesh (UP)
namely Kalewala Jheel in Muzaffarnagar, Numaiya Dahi Jheel (Kheduva Taal) in Prayagraj, and Dahtal Reoti
wetland (DRW) in Ballia District.
• These proposals aim to integrate biological diversity and ecosystem service values in river basin
conservation and developmental planning of these important wetlands.
• The project includes maintaining hydrological connectivity with the wetland catchment, promoting good
agricultural practices, and maintaining the naturalness of shorelines, among others.
• It also enhances awareness of wetlands biodiversity and ecosystem services amongst stakeholders and
promotes local stakeholder participation in wetlands management.
Other Approvals:
i.The EC also extended the project “Fish stock enhancement including Hilsa and livelihood improvement for
sustainable fisheries and conservation in River Ganga” implemneted by Indian Council of Agricultural Research
(ICAR)-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI) under Namami Gange Programme.

• Following the success of the project in the past years, the project has been expanded at an estimated cost
of Rs. 31.38 crore.
• The project aims to enhance fish conservation in Ganga river basin and to improve the livelihood of
fishermen.
• The project includes captive breeding and stock enhancement of commercially essential indigenous and
iconic fish species like Indian Major Carps (IMC), Hilsa, and Mahseer species across of Ganga Basin.
• The project also focuses on community sensitisation for the conservation of aquatic biodiversity and the
livelihood improvement of fishers.
ii.The EC also approved the proposal to develop Ganga Vatika Park in Dhalwala, Uttarakhand.
National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG):
i.NMCG is the implementation wing of the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA).
ii.It is a registered society originally formed by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change
(MoEFCC) on 12th August 2011 under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
iii.As per the 306th amendment in the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961, both NGRBA
and NMCG were allocated to the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation
(MoWR, RD&GR).
The Rural WASH Partners’ Forum (RWPF), a platform of the Department of Drinking Water &
Sanitation (DDWS) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, celebrated its 1st anniversary during a two-day National
Conference on Rural WASH Partners’ Forum at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi.
About Ministry of Jal Shakti:
The Ministry of Jal Shakti has been formed by merging the MoWR, RD&GR, and the Ministry of Drinking Water
and Sanitation in 2019.
Union Minister– Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (Constituency- Jodhpur, Rajasthan)
Minister of States– Prahlad Singh Patel (Constituency- Damoh, Madhya Pradesh); Bishweswar Tudu
(Constituency- Mayurbhanj, Odisha)
4th G20 FMCBG Meeting held in Marrakech, Morocco, October 12-13, 2023
The fourth and last gathering of G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) during India’s
presidency occurred in Marrakech, Morocco, from October 12 to 13, 2023.Over 370 attendees, including
Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors from G20 member countries, Invitee Countries, and Heads of
International Organizations, participated in the event.
• This meeting coincided with the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and
the World Bank Group (WBG).
• The current meeting is being followed by previous meetings that took place in
Bengaluru(Karnataka), Washington DC(United States of America), and Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• The FMCBG meeting was preceded by the Fourth G20 Finance and Central Bank Deputies (FCBD)
meeting on 11 October 2023 in Marrakesh, Morocco.
• The meeting was organized into 2 sessions covering global economy topics, reinforcing Multilateral
Development Banks, and discussions on crypto assets.
G20 FMCBGs adopt Communiqué at fourth and final G20 FMCBG meeting under Indian G20 Presidency
During this gathering, the G20 FMCBGs collectively approved the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank
Governors Communique. The FMCBG communique draws its direction from the G20 New Delhi Leaders
Declaration (NDLD) and has benefited substantially from the consensus achieved at the Leaders’ Summit.
Key Points:
i.The communique reflects the outcomes of the various G20 Finance Track workstreams completed after the
July FMCBG meeting and the G20 New Delhi Summit.
ii.During India’s G20 Presidency, 4 African countries were invited to participate in G20 Summit, and India
actively advocated for the African Union’s permanent membership within the G20.

iii.India’s G20 Presidency achieved significant progress within the G20 Finance Track, with a focus on various
areas such as:
• Strengthening Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to address 21st-century global challenges.
• Advancing financial inclusion and productivity improvements through digital public infrastructure.
• Addressing issues related to crypto assets.
• Managing vulnerabilities in global debt.
• Financing the cities of the future.
• Enhancing tax transparency and capacity-building, with progress on the two-pillar solution for
addressing tax challenges in the digital economy.
• Mobilizing climate finance and supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
iv.FMCBG stressed the need for precise monetary, fiscal, financial, and structural policies to boost economic
growth, reduce inequalities, and maintain macroeconomic and financial stability.
v.Progress was made in addressing debt crises in vulnerable countries, and the work of the G20 International
Financial Architecture Working Group on the debt agenda was appreciated.
• The Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable was introduced as a platform for discussing this issue.
vi.G20 ministers and Governors called on the Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion to continue its work
in advancing financial inclusion for individuals and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
• Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) was another key focus, showcasing its potential for financial
inclusion and productivity gains.
vii. An implementation mechanism for the G20 Sustainable Finance Technical Assistance Action Plan was
introduced to scale up efforts in sustainable finance, especially in emerging markets and SMEs.
G20 FMCBG Communique Embraces G20 IEG Report on MDB Strengthening
Volume 2 of the IEG’s Report, presented during this meeting following Volume 1 in July 2023, has been well-
received. The efforts of the G20 Independent Expert Group (IEG) in crafting Volume 2 of their Report are
greatly appreciated.
i.Discussions also emphasized the high priority of enhancing Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to
address the challenges of the 21st century, with a focus on addressing the development needs of low and
middle-income countries.
ii.The FMCBGs have called for further discussions on the IEG recommendations to strengthen MDBs by their
meeting in April 2024. India and Brazil will be taking the lead in implementing these recommendations during
Brazil’s 2024 Presidency.
iii.The FMCBGs have urged the consideration of three key building blocks:
• Private capital mobilization.
• Strengthening financial capacity through capital adequacy framework recommendations and capital
increase.
• The promotion of MDB collaboration as a system.
iv.The FMCBGs stress the importance of ambitious implementation of the G20 Independent Review of MDBs
Capital Adequacy Frameworks, while ensuring long-term financial sustainability.
v.Implementing the recommendations proposed by the Capital Adequacy Framework (CAF) promises to
enhance the leverage effect of potential capital increases.
• Decisions regarding the necessity and timing of capital increases, in addition to CAF measures, will
be made by the governing bodies of each MDB.
G20 FMCBGs Adopt G20 Roadmap for Crypto Assets
FMCBG adopted a roadmap proposed in the Synthesis Paper, designating it as the G20 Roadmap on Crypto
Assets. This roadmap aims to mobilize additional resources and concessional finance to enhance the World
Bank’s capacity to assist low and middle-income countries in addressing global challenges.
i.The communique emphasizes the importance of this roadmap in achieving macroeconomic and financial
stability and implementing a comprehensive policy framework for crypto assets, considering the impact on
Emerging Markets and Developing Economies (EMDEs).

• It appreciates the collaborative efforts of the IMF and Financial Stability Board (FSB) in compiling
the IMF-FSB Synthesis Paper.
ii.Furthermore, the G20 expresses its support for the global adoption of Financial Action Task Force (FATF)
standards related to crypto assets to enhance the regulatory landscape and address challenges in the crypto
asset space.
Note: The meeting concluded with the transfer of the G20 Presidency to Brazil at the end of India’s 1-year
tenure with a focus on enhancing global economic cooperation for robust, sustainable, balanced, and inclusive
growth.
India holds the Presidency of the G20 from 1 December 2022 to 30 November 2023.
About G20
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.
The G20 is an international forum consisting of 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), European Union, and the African Union (AU).
• In September 2023, at the 18th G20 Summit, Indian PM Narendra Modi announced that the African
Union has been included as a member of the G20, making it the 21st member.
“Ghar-Ghar KCC Abhiyaan”: An Initiative to Ensure Kisan Credit Card Access for Fish Farmers
The Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying (MoFAH&D)
conducted a National level meeting on ‘Ghar-Ghar Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Abhiyaan’, which means ‘Door to
Door KCC Campaign’ for fisheries on 19th October 2023 in New Delhi, Delhi.
• Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary(Department of Fisheries) chaired the meeting which was attended by
the senior officers from various States and Union Territories, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Scheduled Commercial Banks,
State Level Bankers Committees (SLBCs) and Regional Rural Banks (RRBs).
• The ‘Ghar-Ghar KCC Abhiyaan’ initiative aims to ensure KCC Access for Fish Farmers including
fishermen and fish vendors to achieve universal financial inclusion and to avail KCC facilities for all
eligible fish farmers.
• Under the KCC Scheme, 1,59,903 new KKCs were issued for fish farmers with a credit worth of Rs
1746.16 Crore.
Note:
KCC scheme was introduced in 1998 to avail loan facilities to the farmers for their cultivation and other needs.
52nd GST Council Meeting: Ministry of Finance Notifies 18% GST on Corporate Guarantee
On 26th October 2023, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) under the Ministry of
Finance issued a notification stating that GST (Goods and Services Tax) will be levied on guarantees
provided by corporations to their subsidiaries prospectively. The corporate guarantee would be
taxable from the date of the notification.
· As per the notification, GST at 18% will be levied on 1% of the total amount guaranteed by
the parent company or the actual consideration, whichever is higher.
Background:
This modification was recommended during the 52nd GST Council Meeting, chaired by Union
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, held on 7th October 2023 in New Delhi, Delhi.
In the exercise of the powers conferred by section 164 of the CGST Act 2017 (12 of 2017), the
government has amended the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Rules, 2017, which will be now
called “CGST (fourth amendment) Rules, 2023”.

Recommendations related to corporate guarantee:
i.To clarify that when no consideration is paid by the company to the director in any form for
providing personal guarantee to the bank/financial institutes on their behalf, the open market value of
the transaction will be treated as zero and hence, no tax to be payable in respect of such supply of
services.
ii.To insert sub-rule (2) in Rule 28 of CGST Rules, 2017, to provide for taxable value of supply of
corporate guarantee provided between related parties as 1% of the amount of such guarantee offered,
or the actual consideration, whichever is higher.
· The value of the supply of service of corporate guarantee will be governed by the proposed
sub-rule (2) of rule 28 of CGST Rules, 2017, irrespective of whether full ITC is available
to the recipient of services or not.
Key Recommendations made during the 52nd GST Council Meeting:
A.Recommendations relating to GST rates on goods and services
i.Changes in GST rates of Goods
a.GST rates on “Food preparation of millet flour in powder form, containing at least 70% millets by
weight” under Harmonized System (HS) Code 1901 have been prescribed as:
· 0% when sold in non-pre-packaged and unlabelled form.
· 5% when sold in pre-packaged and labelled form.
b.The zari thread or yarn made out of metallised polyester film /plastic film, falling under HS 5605,
are covered by the entry for imitation zari thread or yarn attracting a 5% GST rate. No refund will be
allowed on polyester film (metallised) /plastic film on account of inversion.
c.Foreign going vessels are liable to pay 5% IGST on the value of the vessel if it converts to coastal run.
ii.Other Changes relating to Goods
· Reduction of GST on molasses from 28% to 5%. This will help to increase liquidity with
mills. Further, It will help to reduce the cost of manufacturing of cattle feed.
· GST Council has decided to exclude Extra Neutral Alcohol (ENA) from GST. ENA is primarily
used for manufacturing alcoholic liquor for human consumption.
· A separate tariff HS code has been created at the 8-digit level in the Customs Tariff Act to
cover rectified spirit for industrial use. The GST rate will be amended to create an entry for
ENA for industrial use attracting 18% GST.
iii.Changes in GST rates of services
· Entries at Sl. No. 3 and 3A of notification No. 12/2017-CTR dated 28.06.2017 exempts pure
and composite services provided to Central/State/UT governments and local authorities in
relation to any function entrusted to Panchayat/ Municipality under Article 243G and 243W
of the Constitution of India. The GST Council has recommended to retain the existing
exemption entries with no change.
· Further, the GST Council has also recommended exempting services of water supply, public
health, sanitation conservancy, solid waste management and slum improvement and
upgradation supplied to Governmental Authorities.
iv.Other Changes Relating to Services
· The GST on Job work services for processing of barley into malt has been reduced to from
18% to 5%.
· District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT) set up by the State Governments across India in
the mineral mining areas will be considered as Government Authorities. Thus, DMFT will

now be eligible for the same exemptions from GST as available to any other Governmental
Authority.
· Supply of all goods and services by Indian Railways shall be taxed under the Forward
Charge Mechanism to enable them to avail ITC.
· GST Council has recommended that bus operators supplying transportation services
through Electronic Commerce Operators (ECOs) may be excluded from the purview of
section 9(5) of CGST Act (2017).
B.Measures for facilitation of Trade
i.Amnesty Scheme for filing of appeals against demand orders
· The GST Council has recommended providing an amnesty scheme through which appeals
can file against demand order in cases where appeal could not be filed within allowable
time period.
· Appeals against such cases will now be filed until January 31, 2024, by paying 12.5% of the
disputed tax with at least 20% being debited from their Electronic Cash Ledger.
ii.Provision for automatic restoration of provisionally attached property
· Amendment will be made in sub rule (2) of CGST Rules 2017 which will facilitate release of
provisionally attached properties after the expiry of period of 1 year.
iv.Clarification on various issues related to Place of Supply
· A circular will be issued to clarify the place of supply in respect of the following supply of
services.
i.Supply of service of transportation of goods.
ii.Supply of advertising services.
iii.Supply of the co-location services.
v.Clarification on Export-related Services
· A circular will be issued to clarify the admissibility of export remittance received in the
Special INR Vostro Account as permitted by RBI.
vi.Supplies to Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Units/ Developer for authorized operations
· Amendments will be made to allow the suppliers to Special Economic Zone (SEZ)
developers/ Unit for authorized operations to make the supply of goods or services to them
on payment of integrated tax, with a refund route.
· Certain commodities will be exempted from the notification – Pan Masala, Tobacco, Guthka,
etc.,
C.Other Measures Related to Law and Procedures
i.Appointment of President & Member of Proposed GST Appellate Tribunals:
The Council has recommended aligning provisions of the CGST Act, 2017 with the Tribunal Reforms
Act, 2021 regarding the appointment of the President and Members of the proposed GST Appellate
Tribunals.
The council has recommended the amendment in section 110 of the CGST Act, 2017 to provide
· An advocate with 10 years experience in litigation under indirect tax laws in the Appellate
Tribunal, Central Excise and Service Tax Tribunal, State VAT(value-added tax) Tribunals,
High Court or Supreme Court to be eligible for the appointment as judicial member.
· Minimum Age required for appointment as President and Member will be 50 years.
· President and Member shall have tenure up to a maximum age of 70 and 67 years
respectively.

ii.Law amendment with respect to Input Service Distributor(ISD):
· During the 50th Meeting, the GST Council recommended that the ISD procedure as in
Section 20 of the CGST Act, 2017 be made mandatory prospectively for the distribution of
ITC in respect of input services procured by Head Office (HO) from a third party.
· The Council has now recommended amendments in Section 2(61) and Section 20 of the
CGST Act, 2017 as well as an amendment in Rule 39 of CGST Rules, 2017 in respect of the
same.
About Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC):
CBIC works under the jurisdiction of the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.
i.CBIC is a statutory body established under the Central Boards of Revenue Act, 1963.
ii.In 1964, the Central Board of Revenue was split into the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and the Central
Board of Excise and Customs(CBEC).
iii.With the enactment of Finance Act, 2018, CBEC was renamed as Central Board of Indirect Taxes and
Customs (CBIC).
Chairman – Sanjay Kumar Agarwal
About Ministry of Finance:
Union Minister– Nirmala Sitharaman(Rajya Sabha- Karnataka)
Minister of State(MoS)– Pankaj Chaudhary(Constituency- Maharajganj,Uttar Pradesh); Bhagwat Kishanrao
Karad(Rajya Sabha- Maharashtra)
SUMMITS, EVENTS & CONFERENCE

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Launched Bharatiya Bhasha Utsav and Technology &
Bharatiya Bhasha Summit
On 30th September 2023, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the Ministry of Education(MoE) and the
Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), launched the Bharatiya Bhasha Utsav and
inaugurated the two-day Technology & Bharatiya Bhasha summit in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The 2-day summit, held from 30th September to 1st October 2023, was organised as a part of the
75-day Bharatiya Bhasha Utsav that commenced on 28 September 2023 and will conclude on 11
December 2023.
• An exhibition was also set up to showcase Bharatiya Bhasha technology products, and their
applications by the industries, government organizations, and start-ups.
Note: Significant book by various officials were presented to dignitaries symbolizing the rich literary heritage
of Bharatiya languages and students of Kendriya Vidyalaya shared their experiences in 22 different languages.
Organisers:
The summit was organised by the MoE, MSDE, and their constituent institutions such as the Central Institute of
Indian Languages (CIIL), University Grants Commission (UGC), National Educational Technology
Forum (NETF), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), National Centre for Vocational & Technical
Education (NCVTE), National Council for Teachers Education (NCTE), Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti (BBS) and
others.
About the Summit:
The Summit aims to enable a seamless transition from the current education ecosystem to one rooted in
Bharatiya languages, in line with the National Education Policy(NEP) 2020 vision and paves the way for a
technologically driven future in Bharatiya language education.
Thematic Sessions:
The Summit encompassed 3 thematic sessions:

1. Technology FOR Bharatiya Languages;
2. Technology IN Bharatiya Languages, and
3. Technology THROUGH Bharatiya Languages.
These themes will emphasise the integration of technology in promoting Bharatiya Bhasha (according to NEP-
2020).
Note: Technology’s role in teaching-learning of Bharatiya languages, the use of Machine Learning, and language
modeling for speech recognition, and Unicode standardization for Bharatiya language scripts were also
discussed under the theme of Technology FOR Bharatiya Languages.
Roadmap in the Summit:
During the two-day summit, a road map for achieving the vision of education in Bharatiya Languages was
prepared for implementation by all stakeholders in the field of education.
• The active participation from stakeholders across various sectors, including academia, students,
research scholars, edutech and infotech industry professionals, technical experts, media
representatives, and freelancers.
Bharatiya Bhasha Divas:
i.The Government of India has proposed to celebrate the birthday of renowned Tamil poet and freedom
fighter Mahakavi Subramania Bharati as Bharatiya Bhasha Divas on 11 December.
• 11th December (1882) commemorates the birth anniversary of Subramania Bharati.
Highlights of the Summit:
iThe integration of technology offers an opportunity to contextualize and preserve India’s knowledge system.
ii.The summit aims to promote discussions on language for technology, language in technology, and language
through technology, paving the way for a robust ecosystem for Indian languages.
• One-third of the world’s coders hail from India. This underscores India’s prowess in technology and
innovation on the global stage.
iii.NEP 2020’s inclusion of Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) recognizes the fundamental significance
of language development in education.
iv.Students were emphasised to grasp technology, particularly regenerative Artificial Intelligence (AI), as a
powerful tool to break down language barriers and enhance learning experiences.
v.Discussions were held on agendas like “Leverage Technology for Bharatiya Languages”, “Operating Systems
and Software Localization”, “Search Engine Localization” and more.
Recent related news:
On the occasion of World Youth Skills Day 2023 (15th July 2023), Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of Skill
Development and Entrepreneurship(MSDE) launched a free online training programme on Artificial
Intelligence (AI), “AI for India 2.0“.
About Ministry of Education (MoE):
Union Minister– Dharmendra Pradhan (Rajya Sabha Madhya Pradesh)
Ministers of State– Annpurna Devi (Constituency- Kodarma,Jharkhand); Dr. Subhas Sarkar (Constituency-
Bankura, West Bengal); Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh (Constituency- Inner Manipur, Manipur)
Highlights of 9th G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit hosted by Parliament of India

The 9th Group20 (G20) Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit (P20) was held at the India International Convention
and Expo Centre(IICC) – Yashobhoomi at Dwarka, New Delhi, Delhi from 13th to 14th October 2023.
• This was the first P20 summit hosted by India in cooperation with the Inter-Parliamentary Union
(IPU) under the broader framework of India’s G20 Presidency.
• The P20 Summit was inaugurated by Narendra Modi, Prime Minister(PM) of India at IICC on 13th
October 2023.
Note:
• The summit was preceded by the Parliamentary Forum on Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) on 12
October 2023 to deliberate upon initiatives towards a greener and sustainable future.

• The 10th P20 Summit will be hosted by the Parliament of Brazil in 2024 under the G20 Presidency
of Brazil.
Theme:
The theme of the forum was ‘Parliaments for One Earth, One
Family, One Future’.
• The theme was inspired from the ancient Indian
philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ which
means ‘The World is one Family’
Participants:
i.The summit witnessed the participation of Speakers of
Parliaments of G20 members and invitee countries.
• A total of 37 Speakers/Chairpersons and Deputy
Speakers / Deputy Chairpersons and leaders of delegations from 29 countries participated in the
summit.
• In addition to this, 436 delegates, including 48 Members of Parliament(MP) also participated in the
summit.
ii.For the 1st time, the Pan-African Parliament participated in the P20 summit after the inclusion of Pan African
Union as a member of the G20.
Note: It is noted that the 9th P20 Summit witnessed the highest participation ever.
Highlights of the P20 Summit:
i.P20 summit reflects India’s commitment to democratic values, international cooperation and joint
parliamentary efforts.
ii.P20 serves as a platform for parliamentarians to exchange ideas and approaches in the promotion of
sustainable living.
• It also increases the awareness of the LiFE movement and its overarching objectives.
iii.The Summit hosted four high-level sessions.
• Agenda 2030 for SDGs: Showcasing Achievements, Accelerating Progress
• Sustainable Energy Transitions: Gateways to a Green Future
• Mainstreaming Gender Equality: From Women’s Empowerment to Women-Led Development
• Transformation in Peoples’ Lives through Public Digital Platforms.
iv.An exhibition ‘Mother of Democracy’ was organized to highlight India’s ancient and participatory
democratic traditions.
P20 Summit Unanimously Adopts Joint Statement
On the first day of the 9th P20 Summit (13th October 2023), the Presiding officers unanimously adopted a Joint
Statement under the Chairmanship of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. This also exemplifies the spirit of
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.
Key Points:
i.The joint statement reaffirms the commitment to jointly work to make effective and meaningful parliamentary
contribution to the G20 process.
ii.The statement also states that the Parliaments will commit to promote international peace, prosperity, and
harmony, including supporting the peaceful resolution of conflicts and disputes.
iii.The joint declaration also spoke about Artificial Intelligence(AI), enhancement of skills across the globe,
adoption of the Women’s Reservation Bill 2023 by the Parliament of India, etc among others
About LiFE:
i.In 2022, the PM Modi, and United Nations(UN) Secretary General (SG) Antonio Guterres launched
the Mission LiFE (Lifestyle For Environment) at the Statue of Unity, Ekta Nagar, Kevadia, Gujarat.
ii.LiFE is a comprehensive approach to environmental protection that empowers every person to reduce, reuse,
and recycle.
iii.The mission is a 5-year program (2022-2027).

• Its objective is to mobilize global citizens to take individual and collective action for protecting and
preserving the environment in the period 2022 to 2027.
The two-day 18th G20 (Group of 20) Leaders’ Summit, under India’s presidency, happened in Bharat
Mandapam International Exhibition and Convention Centre, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from September 9th to
10th, 2023. This is the first ever G20 Summit being hosted by India.
About Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU):
The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is the global organization of national parliaments. It facilitates
parliaments and parliamentarians to promote peace, democracy, and sustainable development around the
world.
President – Duarte Pacheco
Members – 179 Members and 14 Associate Members
Swavlamban 2023: 2nd edition of Indian Navy’s NIIO Seminar held in New Delhi
On 4th October 2023, Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence(MoD), launched Swavlamban
2023 (Swavlamban 2.0), the 2nd edition of the Indian Navy’s Naval Innovation and Indigenisation
Organisation (NIIO) seminar, in New Delhi, Delhi. The 2-day seminar was held from 4th to 5th October
2023.
• During the seminar 5th Positive Indigenisation List (5th PIL) of the Department of Military Affairs
(DMA), MoD comprising 98 items was released.
• defence minister launched the 76 challenges for the industry under the 10th Defence India Start-up
Challenges (DISC 10) and DISC 10 PRIME of Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX).
• He also launched the Indian Navy’s updated Indigenisation Roadmap ‘Swavlamban 2.0’
Note: Swavlamban, the first edition of the NIIO Seminar was held in July 2022.
Fifth Positive Indigenisation List
The Fifth Positive Indigenisation List was prepared by DMA after several rounds of consultations with all
stakeholders.
These items will be procured from indigenous sources as per provisions given in Defence Acquisition
Procedure (DAP) 2020 in the staggered timeline.
• This list focuses on the import substitution of components of major systems besides important
platforms, weapon systems & sensors and munitions which are being developed and likely to
translate into firm orders in the next 5 to 10 years.
• The items in the list will offer visibility and opportunity to the domestic industry to understand the
trend and futuristic needs of the Armed Forces and create required Research and development
(R&D) and manufacturing capacity within India.
PIL:
i.PIL is one of the most important transformative reforms in pursuit of indigenisation.
ii.Previously, DMA had promulgated 4 PLIs comprising 411 military items.
iii.Seperately, the Department of Defence Production (DDP) has notified 4 PIL consisting of a total of 4,666
items, including Line Replacement Units/Sub-systems/Spares & Components for Defence Public Sector
Undertakings (DPSUs).
iDEX DISC 10 & DISC 10 PRIME Challenges
i.Defense Minister launched 76 challenges for the industry under DISC 10 & DISC 10 PRIME of Innovations
for Defence Excellence (iDEX) to celebrate the 76th year of India’s independence.
ii.These challenges encompass problem statements from the three Services, the Indian Coast Guard, DPSUs,
Border Roads Organisation(BRO), and Mission DefSpace.
iii.Additionally, 5 challenges were introduced under the iDEX for Fauji (i4F) scheme.

2 INDUS X Challenges:
During the seminar, the Defence Minister also launched Two India-United States Defence Acceleration
Ecosystem (INDUS X) challenges under ‘INDUS-X Mutual Promotion of Advanced Collaborative Technologies’
(IMPACT) finalised by iDEX and the United States Department of Defense (US DoD).
• Eric Garcetti, US Ambassador to India, was also present at the launch.
additional info:
INDUS X was launched during an event jointly organised by iDEX and US DoD in Washington DC, USA in June
2023.
• The event was hosted by hosted by US-India Business Council (USIBC).
• The event aimed to expand the strategic technology partnership and defence industrial cooperation
between the start-up ecosystems, businesses and academic institutes of India and the USA.
Other Highlights of the Seminar:
i.During the seminar, the defence Minister launched ‘INVenT’ (iDEX-Navy Venture for Technology), an
initiative to support and promote innovative solutions within the defence sector.
• The NIIO and the Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO) have signed an agreement to collaborate
on facilitating Venture Capital investments into the defence ecosystem via the iDEX Innovators Hub
(iIH).
ii.The defence minister also launched the SBI NAVeCash Card, an innovative dual-chip debit card designed for
seamless transactions.
• The card was jointly developed by the State Bank of India (SBI) and the Indian Navy.
• This can be used in online mode as well as in offline mode while at sea with no direct connectivity
with the bank.
• the card was tested onboard Indian Naval ships and is now ready for launch pan-Navy.
Indian Navy displays indigenously built navigation system, anti-swarm drone
The Indian Navy has developed an indigenous navigation system and an anti-swarm drone. The Dronaam
counter-drone system was displayed at the Swavlamban 2023 exhibition.
• The new navigation system and anti-swarm drone can form a wall of iron balls around the warships
against any drone attack
• The 30 mm ammunition is capable of building walls around its own warships as this ammunition
has 300 steel balls, on detonation these spread and create a wall of balls and destroy the drones.
HAL hands over first LCA Tejas twin-seater aircraft to IAF
The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has recently handed over the first twin-seater Light Combat Aircraft
(LCA) Tejas to the Indian Air Force, in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• The LCA Tejas Twin Seater is a lightweight, all-weather multi-role 4.5 generation aircraft.
• It is designed to support the training requirements of the IAF and augment itself to the role of a
fighter in case of necessity.
Note:
• The Union Cabinet in 2021 approved the procurement of 83 LCA Tejas Mk-1A fighter aircraft at a
cost of Rs 45,696 crore.
• 7 more LCA twin-seater aircraft will be delivered in 2024.
Exhibition:
Products developed under the SPRINT (Supporting Pole-vaulting in R&D through iDEX, NIIO and TDAC)
initiative was showcased during the exhibition organised as a part of the seminar.
• SPRINT was launched during the first Swavlamban with an aim to develop at least 75
technologies/products to celebrate 75 years of India’s Independence as a part of the ‘Azadi ka Amrit
Mahotsav’.
Indian Navy unveils cutting-edge autonomous weaponized boat swarms and underwater vessels
The Indian navy unveiled the Autonomous Weaponized Boat Swarms and the Autonomous Vessel
Underwater (AUV) during the Swavlamban 2.0.

• The Indian Navy has entered into an agreement with Sagar Defence Engineering Pvt. Ltd for the
development of Autonomous Weaponized Boat Swarms.
• This was the 50th contract awarded under the ‘SPRINT’ program.
ii.These swarm boats are equipped with various types of weaponry and sensors, capable of remote or
autonomous operation.
iii.On the other hand, these AUV’s possess swarming capabilities, enabling multiple missions with low capital
and operational expenses.
• These Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) have the versatility to be employed in a variety
of missions.
• These missions encompass Mine Counter Measures (MCM), anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW),
acquiring hydrographic and oceanographic data, as well as fulfilling homeland security roles.
About Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO)
i.It was launched in 2020 by the Ministry of Defence to fulfil its requirements relating to technology.
ii.It aims to foster innovation and indigenisation for self-reliance in defence in keeping with the vision of
Atmanirbhar Bharat.
ii.It also aims to put in place dedicated structures for the end-users to interact with academia and industry.
About Ministry of Defence
Union Minister – Rajnath Singh (Constituency – Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh)
Minister of State (MoS) – Ajay Bhatt (Constituency – Nainital–Udhamsingh Nagar, Uttarakhand).
Indian Space Conclave 2023 held in Delhi; ISpA & France’s GIFAS Inked MoU to Boost Space
Industry
From October 9 to 11, 2023, the 2nd edition of annual Indian Space Conclave (ISC 2023) was held at
Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi, Delhi. The conclave was organized by Indian Space Association (ISpA).
• It was co-hosted by Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), an
autonomous agency in the Department of Space (DOS).
About ISC 2023:
Theme of the Conclave: The theme of ISC 2023 is ‘Bhumandal se Brahaman Tak’ (From Earth to the Entire
Universe)’.
Aim of Conclave: To provide a platform for organizations and stakeholders interested in enhancing India’s
space capabilities and plans
Country of Honour: France was the special guest at the Indian Space Conclave 2023.
Participants: It brought together different Government, Private Industry and Academia stakeholders.
Notable Figures:
Chief Guest: Minister of State (MoS) Dr Jitendra Singh, Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) (9th
October 2023); Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) (11th October
2023)
Guest of Honour: Thierry Mathou, Ambassador of France to India
ISpA & GIFAS signed MoU to Boost Space Industry Capabilities in France & India
On the first day of ISC 2023, ISpA and GIFAS (Groupement des Industries Françaises Aéronautiques et
Spatiales) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the Indo-French Space Synergy plenary
session.
• ISpA is an apex non-profit industry body, set up exclusively for the successful collaborative
development of the Private Space Industry in India.
• GIFAS is a French Aerospace Industries Association.
Aim of the MoU: To enhance the understanding of space industry capabilities and increase awareness of
business opportunities in France and India

Key Points:
i.This collaboration fosters sustainable growth , promote innovation, and advocate the adoption of new
technologies in the space industries of both India and France. .
ii.It will strengthen Indo-French space relationship, expands memberships, and encourages international
connections.
iii.It acilitates academic and educational exchanges, including training, addressing growing global interest in
the space sector.
iv.The key delegates for this session included Thierry Mathou, Ambassador-Designate of France to
India; Marc Serres, CEO (Chief Executive Officer), Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA); Astronaut Thomas Pesquet
from European Space Agency (ESA), among others.
v.It was announced that in 2024, a delegation of French space and aerospace sectors will visit India in October
for roadshow and networking event.
Note: The first bilateral agreement in space cooperation between France and India was signed in 1964.
Deloitte, Nasscom & ISpA Launched “Exploring opportunities for Indian downstream spacetech” report
During ISC 2023, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP (Deloitte) in collaboration with NASSCOM (National
Association of Software and Service Companies) , and ISpA launched a report titled ‘Exploring opportunities
for Indian downstream spacetech‘ stating Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) as a booster to India’s spacetech
sector and positioning it as a global leader.
What is in the report?
i.It provides a comprehensive view of the India’s space sector, focusing on integrating space technology into
real-world applications by considering both commercial opportunities and national security implications.
ii.The report listed out three core satellite applications areas – Remote Sensing/Earth Observation; Positioning,
Navigation and Timing (PNT); and Satellite Communication (SATCOM) and identified more than 200 use cases.
• Earth observation applications include agriculture uses like crop insurance, yield monitoring,
disaster management, and biodiversity conservation.
• SATCOM-as-a-service enables applications in in-flight and remote area connectivity, DTH
broadcasting, telehealth, and tele-education.
iii.It delves into 25 strategic uses within these areas, predicting their significant impact on space technology
growth and innovation in the next 5 years.
Exhibition:
After a conclave, a three-day exhibition featuring 24 exhibitors from leading space startups and academic
institutions showcased their products and offerings was inaugurated by Thierry Mathou, and Governor
Shekhar Dutt, SM (Retd), Former Defence Secretary, and Governor of Chhattisgarh.
i.India and the United States of America (US) jointly launched a call for proposals on “Critical and Emerging
Technology: Quantum Technologies and Artificial Intelligence for Transforming Lives“. The program was
designed by the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) and the Secretariat for USISTEF.
ii.The 117th and final launch of Ariane 5, a 53 metre tall, three-stage launcher was
successfully blasted off from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana toward geostationary orbit to
deliver two military communications satellites namely Syracuse 4B for the France and the Heinrich Hertz
(H2Sat) for the German Governments.
About Indian Space Association (ISpA):
Director General– Lt Gen Anil Kumar Bhatt (Retd)

Bharat Tex 2024: India to host the World’s Largest Textiles Event in Feb 2024 in New Delhi
India is set to host “Bharat Tex 2024”, the world’s largest Textile event from 26th to 29th February 2024 at
Bharat Mandapam & Yashobhoomi in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The event will be organised by a Consortium of
Textile Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) with the
support of the Ministry of Textiles.
• This expo is the embodiment of India’s 5F vision –
Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign.
Consotriym of Textile EPCs:
Consortium of 12 Textile (EPCs) includes Apparel Export
Promotion Council (AEPC), Cotton Textiles Export Promotion
Council (TEXPROCIL), Synthetic & Rayon Textiles Export
Promotion Council (SRTEPC), Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), Wool & Woolen Export
Promotion Council (W&WEPC), Wool Industry Export Promotion Council (WOOLTEXPRO), Indian Silk Export
Promotion Council (ISEPC), Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC), Power loom Development & Export
Promotion Council (PDEXCIL), Handloom Export Promotion Council (HEPC), Jute Products Development
Export Promotion Council (JPDEPC).
Curtain raiser event of Bharat Tex 2023:
On 21st October 2023, Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Ministry of Textiles presided over the curtain raiser event
of Bharat Tex 2023 at Vanijya Bhavan in New Delhi, Delhi.
• During the event, he launched the fair logo, website and video of Bharat Tex 2023 .
• The Bharat Tex 2024 is expected to be the world’s biggest textile event with exhibitors and buyers
from over 40 countries.
Overview Bharat Tex 2024:
i.Bharat Tex 2024 is envisaged to be a comprehensive showcase of the entire textile industry value chain, from
India’s rich cultural heritage and textile traditions to the latest technological innovations.
ii.This will be consolidated and unique platform to showcase India’s textile value chain, emphasizing fashion,
traditional crafts, and sustainability initiatives.
iii.The event will feature around 3,500 exhibitors spread across 2,00,000 square meters gross area, knowledge
sessions, conferences, Chief Executive Officer (CEO roundtables as well as Business-to-business (B2B) &
Government to government (G2G) meetings.
iv.The event will also feature Designer and brand exhibitions, fashion shows, sustainability workshops, expert
talks.
Notes:
i.India’s textile industry is expected to reach a market size of USD 250 billion by 2030.
ii.India has a 5% share of the global trade in textiles and apparel.
iii.The export of cotton Textiles was USD 11.1 Billion with 30% share during 2022-23.
Union Minister Piyush Goyal Launches Website of Kasturi Cotton Bharat
On October 21, 2023, the Union Textiles Minister Piyush Goyal launched the Kasturi Cotton Bharat
website (https://kasturicotton.texprocil.org/), a digital platform for necessary information and updates on this
initiative.
• It guides ginners in registering for Kasturi Cotton Bharat Brand, and explains processes making
branded Indian cotton distinct.
About Kasturi Cotton Bharat:
i.It is a joint initiative by the ministry of textiles, the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), Trade Bodies and
Industry.
• It focuses on self-regulation, handling branding, traceability, and certification of Indian cotton.
• It aims to boost competitiveness in the global market and establish a sustainable ecosystem for all
stakeholders.

Points to note:
i.The Kasturi Cotton Bharat brand of cotton was announced by the Ministry of Textile on the eve of World
Cotton Day 2023(7th October 2023).
ii.With this, the Indian cotton has been endowed with a brand and a logo that symbolises Whiteness, Softness,
Purity, Lustre, and Indianness.
iii.All the ginners across India have been empowered to produce Kasturi Cotton Bharat brand as per stipulated
protocol.
i.On 13th July 2023, the Ministry of Textile, Government of India (GoI) signed an Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with the Gujarat Government for setting up Pradhan Mantri Mega Integrated Textile
Regions and Apparel (PM MITRA) Park in Vansi village, Jalalpore Taluka in Navsari District, Gujarat.
ii.On 25th July 2023, the President of India Droupadi Murmu inaugurated ‘Sutra-kala Darpan’, a Textile
Collection of Rashtrapati Bhavan, featuring antique textiles that document the building’s illustrious legacy.
About Cotton Corporation of India (CCI):
It is a Mini Ratna Company under Ministry of Textiles.
Chairman & Managing Director– Lalit Kumar Gupta
MENA Climate Week 2023: Saudi Arabia Hosts Climate Event ahead of COP28 in Dubai
Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Climate Week 2023, took place from 8-12 October in Riyadh, Saudi
Arabia. It is the 2nd of four Regional Climate Weeks held in 2023 and the event hosted by the
government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. MENA Climate Week is particularly significant as it precedes
COP28, the UN Climate Change Conference scheduled to take place in Dubai on November 2023.
MENA Climate Week was divided into 4 key areas of focus to address climate change
• Energy systems and industry
• Cities, urban and rural settlements, infrastructure, and transport
• Land, ocean, food, and water
• Societies, health, livelihoods, and economies.
It is organized by key international organizations, including the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP), and the World Bank. It receives support from other partners like
the Islamic Development Bank, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the United Nations
Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), and the League of Arab States.
Objective: To address challenges, and opportunities related to climate change, with the insights gathered
contributing to the climate ‘stocktake’ at COP28 in November.
The MENA Climate Week features discussions related to the Global Stocktake (GST) of the Paris Agreement,
2015, which aims to mitigate global warming.
• Many countries had identified rising temperatures as a pressing problem and had committed to
taking measures to limit the effects of global warming to a maximum of 1.5°C between 2030 and
2050.
• September 2023 was the warmest on record globally, with an average surface air temperature of
16.38°C.
• The first GST started in Glasgow in 2021 and will conclude at the climate change conference in
Dubai, UAE (at COP 28).
India, Saudi Arabia sign MoU in the fields of Electrical Interconnections, Green and Clean Hydrogen and
Supply Chains
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Saudi Arabia during the MENA Climate
Week in Riyadh covers several key areas of energy cooperation.

i.Electrical Interconnections: Establishment of connections between the electrical grids of the 2 countries.
This can facilitate the exchange of electricity during peak times and emergencies, ensuring a more reliable and
resilient energy supply.
ii.Green/Clean Hydrogen Production: This form of hydrogen is produced using renewable energy sources
and is considered an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional hydrogen production methods.
• India has launched National Green Hydrogen Mission and has approved an initial outlay of USD
2.3 billion for this Mission.
• India having almost 17% of world population and being the world’s fifth largest economy, is taking
significant steps to reduce emission intensity of its GDP by 45% by the year 2030 and aims to
achieve Net Zero emissions by 2070.
iii.Supply Chain Development: The agreement emphasizes the establishment of secure, reliable, and resilient
supply chains for materials used in the green/clean hydrogen and renewable energy sectors.
• Both countries have committed to conducting B2B (business-to-business) summits and regular
interactions.
India and Saudi Arabia decide to promote investment in New & Renewable Energy
India and Saudi Arabia have reached an agreement to encourage investments in each other’s countries,
specifically in new and renewable energy sector. During his visit, Union Power and New & Renewable
Energy Minister Shri. R.K. Singh engaged in bilateral discussions with Saudi Minister of Investment H.E.
Khalid Al-Falih.
Key Points:
i.INVEST India provided an overview of potential investment opportunities in India’s power sector,
highlighting areas like renewable energy generation projects, energy storage, electricity transmission, and
green hydrogen.
ii.During the visit, Shri R. K. Singh also visited the Sudair Solar Power Plant in Riyadh, which is the largest
solar plant in Saudi Arabia and is set by an Indian company (L&T).
iii.R.K. Singh participated in a High-Level Ministerial Panel on “Advancing the Energy Transition in the
MENA region: Advancing inclusivity and circularity for just and equitable energy transitions.
PIF, SEC launch new Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Company
The Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia and the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) announced the
launch of the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Company. PIF owned a 75% stake in the Company, while SEC
held the remaining 25% stake.
i.The company aimed to deliver best-in-class electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging infrastructure across Saudi
Arabia.
• It had plans to establish a presence in more than 1,000 locations and install over 5,000 fast
chargers by 2030 in cities across Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Awwal Bank is a ‘national champion’ at MENA Climate Week
Saudi Awwal Bank (SAB ) is one of the National champions for MENA Climate Week 2023. SAB is proud to
contribute to the event, aligning with the nation’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and
sustainability objectives.
SAB’s sponsorship aligns with their commitment to support Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. Additionally, SAB has
taken on the role of the official sustainable banking partner at the 13th edition of the Saudi Green Building
Forum, which was held in Riyadh from Oct 9-10.
About Saudi Awwal Bank:
• CEO: Tony Cripps
• Established: Jan 21, 1978
• Headquarters:Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
World’s First Global Solutions Hub (GSH) Launched at MENA Climate Week in Saudi Arabia
The Sustainable Tourism Global Center (STGC), based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has launched the world’s
first Global Solutions Hub at MENA Climate Week. This hub is dedicated to promoting sustainable tourism

worldwide and aims to provide the tools and best practice case studies required to accelerate the travel and
tourism sector’s transition to net-zero emissions while protecting the environment.
i.GSH unveiled 3 critical toolkits covering
• Solar thermal heaters,
• Emissions reduction through sustainable food choices,
• Cost savings associated with solar panels.
The hub plans to release a total of 25 toolkits over the next 3 years.
ii.STGC is partnering with various organizations, including the International Chamber of Commerce, the UN
Global Compact, the World Travel and Tourism Council, Skift, and others, to reach and engage stakeholders
in destination countries.
Note: Saudi Arabia was ranked 2nd, globally, in terms of tourist arrivals during the first seven months of 2023
according to data from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
Note :STGC Head: Gloria Guevara Manzo
Saudi Arabia Announces Domestic Greenhouse Gas Credit Initiative
Saudi Arabia has introduced a new initiative to enable companies to purchase credits to offset their greenhouse
gas emissions. The initiative, called the Greenhouse Gas Crediting and Offsetting Mechanism (GCOM), is set
to be launched in early 2024. This is announced by Clean Development Mechanism Designated National
Authority (CDMDNA).
i.This move is in line with the Gulf kingdom’s aim to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060.
• Saudi Arabia announced its target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2060 in 2021 and aimed to
generate 50% of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030.
About Saudi Arabia:
• Capital: Riyadh
• Currency: Saudi riyal
• Crown Prince and Prime Minister: Mohammed bin Salman
About four Regional Climate Weeks of 2023:
i.Africa Climate Week (ACW 2023), Nairobi, 4-8 September. Hosted by the government of Kenya.
ii.Middle East and North Africa Climate Week (MENACW 2023), Riyadh, 8-12 October, and hosted by the
government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
iii.Latin America and the Caribbean Climate Week (LACCW 2023), Panama City, 23-27 October, hosted by the
government of Panama.
iv.Asia-Pacific Climate Week (APCW 2023), Johor Bahru, 13-17 November 2023, hosted by the government of
Malaysia.
INDEX
RANKING
India retains 40th rank in Global Innovation Index 2023: Innovation in the face of uncertainty
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), an agency of the United Nations, published
the 16th edition of the Global Innovation Index (2023). India retains 40th rank among 132 economies.
While Switzerland secured the top spot in the rankings, with Sweden and the United States of America
(USA) following closely.
• Notably, India has made significant progress, climbing 26 places from its 2013 ranking when it
stood at 66th place. India was at 81st place in 2015.
• NITI Aayog, in partnership with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and WIPO, has hosted
the virtual India Launch of Global Innovation Index (GII) on September 29, 2023.

• Published annually, It reveals the ranking of this year’s most innovative economies in the world
amongst 132 economies and localizes the top 100
science and technology innovation clusters.
Key points:
i.Apart from India, only four other middle-income economies
are among the top 40, namely, China (12th), Malaysia (36th),
Bulgaria (38th), and Türkiye (39th).
ii.India was also highlighted as the top innovation economy
among the lower-middle-income countries, followed by Viet
Nam and Ukraine.
iii.India, the Republic of Moldova, and Viet Nam continue to set records by being innovation
overperformers for a 13th consecutive year.
iv.For the 13th year in a row, Switzerland is the most innovative economy in 2023 followed by Sweden,
the United States, the United Kingdom and Singapore.
v.This year, Sweden has overtaken the United States and has climbed to second position. Singapore has
entered the top five, and has taken the leading position among South East Asia, East Asia and Oceania
(SEAO) region economies.
Top 5 countries:
Ranking Country Score
1 Switzerland 67.6
2 Sweden 64.2
3 United States 63.5
4 United Kingdom (UK) 62.4
5 Singapore 61.5
40 India 38.1
The lowest-ranked countries in the Global Innovation Index 2023 are: 128th Guinea (Score 13.3), 129th
Mali (Score 12.9), 130th Burundi (Score 12.5), 131th Niger (Score 12.4), and 132nd Angola (Score 10.3)
India’s position in different categories:
• India emerges as the number 1 among 37 lower-middle-income group economies and the
number one innovation performer among the 10 economies in Central and Southern Asia.
• India ranks highest in the Market Sophistication (input pillar) and Knowledge and Technology
Outputs (output pillar) categories. It ranks amongst the top 10 in the Infrastructure and
Institutions pillars (input pillars).
• India secures the top spot in the “Domestic market scale, bn PPP$” indicator. Furthermore, India
is ranked in the top 10 in six additional indicators: “ICT Services exports, % total trade,”
“Venture capital received, value, % GDP,” “Finance for startups and scaleups,” “Domestic
industry diversification,” “Unicorn valuation, % GDP,” and “Intangible asset intensity, top 15,
%.”
• India records 34% of total tertiary graduates in science and engineering in 2021, ranking 11th
in this indicator.
• India’s finance for startups and scaleups earns it 9th position in this category, while the Venture
Capital Performance, though slightly lower than 2022, secures the 6th position.
• India demonstrates growth in domestic industry diversification, reflecting a 0.46% increase
from the prior year, and ranks 10th in this indicator.

• India shows a substantial growth in patents by origin, ranking 28th globally. Additionally, it
achieved the 20th rank in the citable documents H-index in 2022.
• High-tech manufacturing contributed to 34.23% of the total manufacturing output in 2019, with
India ranking 35th in this category.
• India achieved an impressive 8th position in intangible asset intensity, and maintains a Global
Brand Value of 210.907 billion USD in 2023, ranking 31st globally.
• India’s cultural and creative services exports soared in 2021, up by a substantial 21.4% from the
prior year, securing the 18th position in this thriving sector.
• India’s unicorn valuation stands at 5.04% of GDP in 2023, securing the 9th position in this
indicator.
• India ranks 35th in innovation outputs, marking an improvement from the previous year.
• In human capital and research, it stood at 48th; in business sophistication, it ranked 57th; and it
secured the 22nd spot in knowledge and technology outputs.
• Strong indicators include information and communication technology (ICT) services exports
(5th), and global corporate research and development (R&D) investors (13th)
Unicorn Presence:
i.Five economies host 80% of the world’s unicorns: USA (54%), China (14%), India (6%), UK (4%), and
Germany (2%).
ii.Out of a total unicorn valuation of USD 3.8 trillion in 2023, US unicorns accounted for USD 2 trillion,
followed by China with USD 736 billion and India with USD 193 billion.
NITI Aayog has been working diligently to optimise national efforts for bringing policy-led innovation in
various areas such as electric vehicles, biotechnology, nanotechnology, space, alternative energy sources.
Global Innovation Tracker 2023
The Global Innovation Tracker captures key trends in innovation investments, measures the pace of
technological progress and adoption, as well as the resulting socioeconomic impact.
According to this year’s Global Innovation Tracker, new breakthrough technologies continue to provide
novel opportunities but the societal impact of innovation remains low.
The top Science and Technology Clusters in the world in 2023
• Also referred to as “Science and Technology hubs”, S&T clusters are the areas in the world
where the highest density of inventors and scientific authors are located.
• Tokyo–Yokohama (Japan) continues to lead, followed by Shenzhen–Hong Kong–
Guangzhou (China and Hong Kong, China), Seoul (Republic of Korea) and then China’s Beijing
and Shanghai–Suzhou clusters.
• China now has the largest number of clusters in the world, overtaking the United States.
Click Here for Official GII 2023
About GII:
Initiated in 2007, GII is published annually by WIPO, in partnership with the Portulans Institute and with
the support of our Corporate Network partners: the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the Brazilian
National Confederation of Industry (CNI), Ecopetrol (Colombia), and the Turkish Exporters Assembly
(TİM).
About World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO):
It is the global forum for intellectual property (IP) services, policy, information and cooperation
with 193 member states (as of 30 September 2023).
Director General– Daren Tang
Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland

Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index: India is ranked 47th; UAE tops
According to Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index (August 2023 edition) India is ranked 47th among 145 countries
with median download speed of 50.21 Mbps(Megabits per second). India has moved up 72 places, from 119th
place in 2022 to the 47th position in 2023.
• The list is topped by United Arab Emirates (UAE) with the median download speeds of 210.89
Mbps. Qatar and Kuwait stands at second and third rank with the download speed of 192.71Mbps
and 153.86Mbps respectively.
Rank Country Median Download Speed (in Mbps)
1 United Arab Emirates(UAE) 210.89
2 Qatar 192.71
3 Kuwait 153.86
4 Norway 134.45
5 Denmark 124
47 India 50.21
The bottom five countries are – Venezuela(141st), Yemen(142nd), Sudan(143rd), Afghanistan(144th) and
Cuba(145th).
A long jump:
i.India’s massive growth in the ranking is due to the roll out of 5th Generation (5G) internet led by telecom
operators Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel across India in October 2022.
• The median download speeds improved from 13.87 MegaBits Per Second (Mbps) in September 2022
to 50.21 Mbps in August 2023 reflecting a 3.59 times increase.
ii.In addition to faster speeds, 5G has also led to higher customer satisfaction. Net Promoter
Scores (NPS) indicate that 5G users consistently rate their network operators more positively compared to 4G
users.
iii.As of August 2023, median 5G download speeds exceeded 240 Mbps across all telecom areas.
• Kolkata stands with highest median download speed of 385.50 Mbps.
A comparison:
India is standing ahead of its neighouring countries as well as some G20 countries.
• Indonesia(95th), Bangladesh(118), Sri Lanka(126), and Pakistan(127), Mexico (90th), Turkey
(68th), the UK (62nd), Japan (58th), Brazil (50th place), and South Africa (48th place).
Jammu and Kashmir:
In October 2022, download speeds varied from 10.37 Mbps in North East to 21.49 Mbps in Jammu and Kashmir.
However, by August 2023, speeds improved, with all regions exceeding 28 Mbps.
• The North East reached 28.02 Mbps, while Jammu and Kashmir has the fastest mobile median
download speeds in the country with 150.95 Mbps (surpassing Bihar (73.00 Mbps) and Kolkata
(66.47 Mbps)).
Note:
i.The maximum download speed of Jio and Airtel is 1882.61Mbps and 1735.91 Mbps respectively.
Ranking Under ‘Fixed Broadband Speeds’ Category
In ‘fixed broadband speeds’ category of the index India attained 86th rank with the download speed of
54.17Mbps.
• With the download speed of 254.65 Mbps Singapore tops the category followed by Hong Kong
(243.59 Mbps) and Chile (240.43 Mbps)
Additional Info:
i.The telecom service providers offer 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) services to complement their existing 5G
offerings.
• 5G FWA has already been very successful in the United States, South Africa, and the Philippines.

ii.Bharti Airtel launched ‘Airtel Xstream AirFiber’ & Jio launched ‘JioAirFiber,’ which is part of 5G FWA
According to the 17th edition of the Global Peace Index 2023 released by international think-tank, the Institute
for Economics & Peace (IEP), India has ranked at 126th position by climbing nine positions from 2022. The list
is topped by Iceland.
About Ookla:
Ookla is a global leader in connectivity intelligence owned by Ziff Davis Inc.
Co-Founder – Doug Suttles
Headquarters – Seattle, Washington, United States of America(USA)
360 One Wealth Hurun India Rich List 2023: Mukesh Ambani Tops
“360 One Wealth Hurun India Rich List 2023”, the 12th–anniversary edition of Hurun India Rich List released
in association with 360 One Wealth, is topped by Mukesh Ambani(66), Chairman of Reliance Industries
limited(RIL).
• Mukesh Ambani has regained the title as India’s
richest man with a wealth of Rs 8,08,700 crore.
• Gautam Adani(61), Chairman of the Adani Group, is
ranked 2nd with a wealth of Rs 474800 crore. In
2022 Adani topped the list, he was ahead of Ambani
by a wealth gap of Rs 3 lakh crore.
• With a wealth of Rs 2,78,500 crore, Cyrus
Poonawalla (82) retained the third position in the
list.
Key Points:
i.The list featured 1,319 individuals from 138 different cities with Rs 1,000 crore, a surge by 219 i.e. a rise of
76% over five years. This is the first time that the 1300 mark was broke.
ii.India has added 38 billionaires to its rich list, taking the total tally to 259.
Top 5 in the 360 One Wealth Hurun India Rich List 2023
Rank Individual Company Wealth Estimate (Rs/INR)
1 Mukesh Ambani RIL 8,08,700 crore
2 Gautam Adani Adani Group 4,74,800 crore
3 Cyrus Poonawalla Serum Institute of India 2,78,500 crore
4 Shiv Nadar HCL Technologies 2,28,900 crore
5 Gopichand Hinduja Hinduja Group 1,76,500 crore
Highlights:
i.Manish Kejriwal of Kedaara Capital becomes the first Indian private equity fund manager on the list with
Rs 3,000 crore net worth.
ii.The youngest on the list is 20-year-old Zepto Founder Kaivalya Vohra.
iii.At the age of 94, Mahendra Ratilal Mehta, founder of Precision Wires India Company, debuted on the 360
One Wealth Hurun India Rich List 2023.
iv.With 133 entrepreneurs, the pharmaceutical sector contributed the most individuals to India Rich List
2023.
• It is followed by chemicals & petrochemicals (110) and industrial products (94).
v.With 328 individuals, Mumbai, Maharashtra tops 360 One Wealth Hurun India Rich List 2023, followed
by New Delhi, Delhi (199) and Bengaluru, Karnataka (100).

Radha Vembu Richest self-made woman in India:
Radha Vembu(50), product manager of Zoho, overtakes Falguni Nayar (60) of Nykaa to become the richest
self-made Indian woman with a net worth of Rs 36,000 crore.
• She is ranked 40th on the list while Falguni Nayar ranked 86th with a net worth of Rs 22,500 crore.
• Co-founder of Confluent, a streaming data technology company, Neha Narkhede aged 38 is
the youngest self-made woman entrepreneur in the list.
Ratan Tata Becomes “Most Followed Entrepreneur”:
According to the 360 One Wealth Hurun India Rich List 2023, with 12.6 million followers on
Twitter, Ratan Tata (84) is the most followed entrepreneur on the Indian social media.
• Anand Mahindra is the 2nd most followed entrepreneur with 10.8 million followers.
• Acharya Balkrishna, chairman of Patanjali Ayurved is 3rd with 6.6 million followers and Sundar
Pichai, chief executive officer of Alphabet Inc and Google is 4th with 5.3 million followers.
Key Points:
i.The cumulative wealth of 360 One Wealth Hurun India Rich Listers grows to Rs 109 lakh crore, a rise of 8.5%
from 2022. It is more than the combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Singapore, United Arab Emirates
(UAE), and Saudi Arabia.
ii.The list also introduces 278 new entrants, with a total wealth of Rs 7,28,200 crore.
• 67% of new faces this year are self-made.
iii.The list features 84 startup founders, with a cumulative wealth of Rs 4,23,600 crore and an average age of
41.
iv.There are 12 individuals with worth Rs 1 lakh crore or more.
v.A record 871 entrepreneurs or 66% are self-made in the list, up from 735 in 2022.
vi.The average age of the list is 63 while the average age of women in the list is 62.
vii.With an increase in wealth of 321%, Gauri Shankar Agarwala & family of CMR Green Technologies is the
biggest gainer in the list followed by Mahabir Prasad Jalan & family (287%) of Ramkrishna Forgings Ltd.
• Cyrus S Poonawalla and Shiv Nadar are the biggest gainers in terms of absolute wealth.
viii.14 professional managers made it to the list.
• With INR 15,800 crore, CEO of Arista Networks Jayshree Ullal, 62, is the richest among the
professional managers.
xi.Ramesh Kunhikannan’s Kaynes Technology made a stock market debut with a wealth of Rs 8,200 crore.
About Hurun India:
Managing Director and Chief Researcher– Anas Rahman Junaid

Global Hunger Index 2023: India slips Four places, Ranked 111 out of 125 countries
India ranks 111th out of the 125 countries with a score of 28.7 in Global Hunger Index(GHI) 2023. India
slipped 4 positions as compared to previous GHI ranking.
• In 2022, India ranked 107 out of 121 countries. In 2021,
it was placed at 101 out of 116 countries.
Top performers:
In GHI 2023, 20 countries with 2023 GHI scores of less than 5 are
not assigned individual ranks, They are collectively ranked 1–20.
These 20 countries are:
• Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Chile, China, Croatia,
Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania,
Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania,
Serbia, Slovakia, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates(UAE), and Uruguay.
About GHI:
i. GHI is a peer-reviewed annual report, designed to comprehensively measure and track hunger at the global,
regional, and country levels.
• It is jointly published by the international humanitarian organisation Concern Worldwide and
Germany-based Wel thungerhilfe with the aim to trigger action to reduce hunger around the world.
• It was first published in 2006.
Methodology of the Assessment:
i.The GHI score is based on a formula which combines four indicators that together capture the multi-
dimensional nature of hunger which includes
• Undernourishment: It is the share of the population whose caloric intake is insufficient.
• Child stunting: It is the share of children under the age of five who have low height for their age,
reflecting chronic undernutrition.
• Child wasting: It is the share of children under the age of five who have low weight for their height,
reflecting acute undernutrition.
• Child mortality: It is the share of children who pass away before turning five, which partly reflects
the fatal mix of poor nutrition and unsafe environments.
ii.The GHI scores are on a 100-point scale, where 0 is the best score (no hunger) and 100 is the worst(high level
of hunger).
iii.The share of indicators in the GHI scores is Undernourishment(1/3), Child stunting (1/6), Child wasting
(1/6), and Child mortality (1/3).
iv.The data used for the indicators have been sourced from various UN (United Nations) and other multilateral
agencies, including United Nations Children’s Fund(UNICEF),Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program,
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Note:
The 2000, 2008, and 2015 GHI scores are the only data used for valid comparisons over time.
GHI 2023 Ranking:
i.As per the GHI Severity of Hunger Scale, the country’s score in the range of 20.0–34.9 indicates that has a
serious level of hunger. So with a score of 28.7, India has a level of hunger that is serious.
ii.The GHI 2023 shows that 9 countries are in the ‘alarming’ category, 34 countries are in the ‘serious’ category,
37 countries are in the ‘moderate’ category and 50 countries in the ‘low’ category.
India’s Scenario:
i.India’s Performance in the Four Indicators:
• child wasting: India has the highest child wasting rate of 18.7 percent in the world, which reflects
acute undernutrition.
• Undernourishment: India showed improvement in the Undernourishment score from 18.3 in 2000
to 16.6 in 2023.

• Child Stunting and Mortality: India reduced its child mortality rate from 9.2 in 2000 to 3.1 in
2023.while India made a huge improvement in child stunning rate from 51.0 in 2000 to 35.5 in
2023.
ii.India’s score in GHI was on the improving path between 2000 and 2015, with its score improving from 38.4
in 2000 to 35.5 in 2008 and 29.2 in 2015.
• But over the past eight years between 2015 and 2023, India has advanced on the GHI score by only
0.5 points from 29.2 to 28.7.
iii.The ranks of India’s neighbouring countries are Pakistan (102th), Bangladesh (81st), Nepal (69th), and Sri
Lanka (60th).
Global Scenario:
i.The global score of GHI 2023 is 18.3 which is 0.8 less compared to 19.1 in 2015 and the global hunger level is
considered as ‘moderate’
ii.The global share of undernourished people has risen from 7.5% in 2017 to 9.2% (About 735 million) in
2022.
iii.Afghanistan (114), Haiti(115) and 12 sub-Saharan countries perform worse than India on the GHI 2023.
Region Wise Scenario:
i.South Asia and Africa South of the Sahara are the world regions with the highest hunger levels, with GHI
scores of 27.0 each, indicating serious hunger.
• Africa South of the Sahara has the highest level of undernourishment of 21.7 percent compared to
other regions and also has the highest child mortality rate of 7.4 percent.
ii.West Asia and North Africa is the region with the third-highest hunger level with a score of 11.9 indicating a
“moderate” hunger level.
iii.Europe and Central Asia region have the lowest 2023 GHI score of 6.0 with an indication that the hunger
level is ‘low’.
iv.East and Southeast Asia, dominated by populous China, has the second-lowest 2023 GHI score of 8.3.
v.The Latin America and the Caribbean is the only region whose GHI scores have increased from 8.0 in 2015 to
8.6 in 2023.
i.The world hunger day is annually observed across the globe on 28th May to create awareness about the
significance of ending hunger. The theme of the World Hunger Day 2023 observed on 28th May 2023 is
‘Celebrating sustainable solutions to hunger and poverty”.
Forbes’ India’s 100 Richest 2023: Mukesh Ambani Top the List with USD 92 Billion
Mukesh Ambani, the Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries Ltd. topped the Forbes India’s
100 Richest 2023 List with USD 92 Billion. Mukesh Ambani regains the ‘Richest Indian’ title after he slipped to
second spot in 2022.
• With a net worth of USD 68 Billion, Gautam Adani of Adani Enterprises slipped to the second rank
from the first in 2022 and Shiv Nadar of HCL Technologies ranked 3rd with a net worth of USD 29.3
Billion.
• Savitri Jindal of the O.P. Jindal Group is India’s richest woman with a net worth of USD 24 billion.
She ranked 4th in the list with net worth of USD 24 Billion.
• Nikhil Kamath, co-founder of the trading platform Zerodha, is the youngest billionaire at the age of
37. He ranked at 40th position along with his Brother Nithin(44 years old) with a net worth of USD
5.5 Billion.
Top 10 Richest Indians:
Net worth Net worth
Rank Name (in USD Billion) (in Rupees) Company
1 Mukesh Ambani 92 Rs 7,65,348.00 crore Reliance Industries

2 Gautam Adani 68 Rs 5,65,692.00 crore Adani Enterprises
3 Shiv Nadar 29.3 Rs 2,43,746.70 crore HCL Technologies
4 Savitri Jindal 24 Rs 1,99,656.00 crore O.P. Jindal Group
5 Radhakishan Damani 23 Rs 1,91,337.00 crore Avenue Supermarts
6 Cyrus Poonawalla 20.7 Rs 1,72,203.30 Serum Institute of India
7 Hinduja Family 20 Rs 1,66,380.00 crore Ashok Leyland
8 Dilip Shanghvi 19 Rs 1,58,061.00 crore Sun Pharmaceutical Industries
9 Kumar Birla 17.5 Rs 1,45,582.50 crore Aditya Birla Group
10 Shapoor Mistry & Family 16.9 Rs 1,40,591.10 crore Shapoorji Pallonji Group
Keypoints:
i. The combined wealth of India’s top 100 richest individuals in 2023 stands at USD799 billion which is less
compared to the USD 800 Billion in 2022.
ii.The minimum net worth to enter the list has reached an all-time high of USD 2.3 billion.
iii. Totally 9 women were featured in Forbes India’s 100 richest list in 2023.
• Savitri Jindal (4th)
• Rekha Jhunjhunwala(28th)-stock market investor
• Vinod Gupta (30th) ranked along with her son Anil Rai Gupta of Havells India
• Renuka Jagtiani(44th) of Landmark Group
• Leena Tewari(45th) of USV India
• Mallika Srinivasan(83rd) of TAFE-Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited
• Anu Aga(87th) of Thermax
• Falguni Nayar(88th) of Nykaa
• Kiran Mazumdar Shaw(92nd) of Biocon
New Entrants:
The three new billionaires entered the Forbes India Rich List in 2023 and it includes
• The Dani family of Asian Paints at 22nd rank with USD 8 Billion.
• Renuka Jagtiani, chairwoman of Landmark Group, a Dubai-headquartered retailing giant, ranked
44th with USD 4.8 Billion.
• KP Ramasamy, founder and chairman of KPR Mill is ranked 100th with USD 2.3 Billion.
NTPC Featured in Forbes “World’s Best Employers 2023” List:
NTPC Limited, formerly known as National Thermal Power Corporation ranked 261st out of the top 700
companies in the Forbes “World’s Best Employers 2023” list and it is the only Indian Public Sector
Undertaking (PSU) featured in the list.
• NTPC is India’s largest power utility company with an installed capacity of 73,824 Megawatt (MW)
and plans to become a 130 Gigawatt (GW) company by 2032.
• It was Established in 1975.
World’s Best Employers 2023:
Rank Name Country
1 Samsung Electronics South Korea
2 Microsoft United States
3 Alphabet United States
261 NTPC Limited India
Forbes World’s Best Employers List 2023

About Forbes World’s Best Employers List:
i.Forbes partnered with market research firm Statista for the seventh annual list of the World’s Best
Employers.
ii.The list identifies companies that offer exciting work and a positive environment.
i.76 entries from India are featured among the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Class of 2023. The Indian winners
include Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra(25), Co-founders of
Genrobotic Innovations(Kerala) Arun George(29); Vimal Govind MK(28); Rashid Karimbanakkal(28); Nikhil
NP(29), and Elwinder Singh(29), cofounder of Connect and Heal.
ii.“360 One Wealth Hurun India Rich List 2023”, the 12th–anniversary edition of Hurun India Rich List
released in association with 360 One Wealth, is topped by Mukesh Ambani(66), Chairman of Reliance
Industries limited(RIL).Mukesh Ambani has regained the title as India’s richest man with a wealth of Rs
8,08,700 crore.
About Forbes:
Forbes is a global media company, focusing on business, investing, technology, entrepreneurship, leadership,
and lifestyle.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)- Mike Federle
Headquarters- New Jersey, the United States of America (USA)
Founded in – 1917
Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index 2023: India ranked 45th out of 47; Netherland tops
According to the 15th annual Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index (MCGPI 2023), India is ranked 45th
out of 47countries. The overall index value of India increased from 44.5 in 2022 to 45.9 in 2023. India was
ranked 41st out of 44 in 2022.
• The 2023 Index is topped by the Netherlands with overall index value of 85.0, followed by Iceland
(83.5) and Denmark (81.3).
• With the lowest index value of 42.3, Argentina is ranked 47th in MCGPI 2023.
• The MCGPI 2023 compares 47 retirement income systems across the globe and covers 64% of the
world’s population.
About MCGPI:
i.The MCGPI measures retirement income systems around the world and highlights some shortcomings in each
system, and suggests possible areas of reform that would provide more adequate and sustainable retirement
benefits.
ii.The Global Pension Index is a collaborative research project of the following institution
• CFA Institute of United States (US)- Global association of investment professionals.
• Monash Centre for Financial Studies (MCFS), part of Monash Business School at Monash
University (Australia)
• Mercer – A global leader in redefining the world of work and reshaping retirement and investment
outcomes
Sub Indices:
The Global Pension Index uses the weighted average of the sub-indices of adequacy,
sustainability and integrity to measure each retirement system against more than 50 indicators.
Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index 2023:
Rank Country Index Value
1 Netherlands 85
2 Iceland 83.5
3 Denmark 81.3

45 India 45.9
47(last) Argentina 42.3
Key Points:
i.The MCGPI 2023 includes three new retirement income systems including Botswana, Croatia, and Kazakhstan.
ii.Several Asian systems, including China, Korea, Singapore, and Japan, have undertaken reforms to improve
their scores in the last five years.
• Singapore is ranked 7th out of 47 in the MCGPI 2023 and retained
its top spot among asian countries.
• Hong Kong SAR (21st) and Japan (30th) have secured the 2nd and 3rd spot in Asia.
iii.The study also highlighted that dropping birth rates have put strain on various economies and pension
systems in the long run, lowering the sustainability scores of countries such as Italy and Spain.
iv.Comparison with respect to sub-indices Values:
• The retirement income systems with the highest values across the sub-indices were Portugal for
adequacy (86.7), Iceland for sustainability (83.8), and Finland for integrity (90.9).
• The retirement income systems with the lowest values across the sub-indices were South Korea for
adequacy (39.0), Austria for sustainability (22.6), and the Philippines for integrity (25.7).
• India’s sub-indices values were adequacy (41.9), sustainability (43.0), and integrity (56.5).
India’s Assessment in the Report:
i.The report further stated that India’s retirement income system comprises the following
• Earnings-related employee pension scheme
• DC (defined contribution) employee provident fund (EPFO)
• supplementary employer-managed pension schemes that are largely DC in nature
ii.According to the report, India’s pension system is slowly but firmly improving, with further potential for
improvement.
i.HDFC Pension Management Company Limited has launched a first-of-its-kind ‘National Pension System
(NPS) Preference Index’ on the occasion of 2nd edition of NPS Diwas which was observed on 1st October
2023.
ii.The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has formed 3 committees to frame draft schemes for
pension, provident fund and insurance under EPFO, in line with the provisions of the Code on Social Security
2020.
About Mercer:
Chief Executive Officer(CEO)– Martine Ferland
Headquarters– New York, United States
REPORTS
WB’s India Development Update Oct 2023 Retains India’s FY24 GDP growth at 6.3%
According to India Development Update(IDU) October 2023 released by World Bank(WB), India’s Gross
Domestic Products (GDP) growth for the Financial Year 2023-24 (FY23/24) is retained at 6.3% and for
FY24/25 the growth rate will be at 6.4%.
• India was one of the fastest-growing major economies in FY22/23 at the rate of 7.2%. India’s growth
rate was the 2nd highest among G20 countries.
• The expected moderation is due to the challenging external conditions and reduced pent-up
demand.
• However, service sector activity is projected to remain strong with growth of 7.4%, and investment
growth is expected to stay robust at 8.9%.

About India Development Update(IDU):
i.The India Development Update (IDU) is a companion to the South Asia Development Update (SADU)
ii.IDU is a flagship biannual report of the World Bank on Indian economy.
• The report examines economic trends and prospects in the South Asia region and analyzes policy
challenges faced by countries.
Factors Driving Resilience:
i.India is proving to be resilient in the face of global economic challenges.
• Several factors such as robust domestic demand, strong public infrastructure investment, and a
strengthening financial sector are cited as key drivers of resilient .
ii.The Bank credit growth also increased (15.8% in the first quarter of FY23-24 compared with 13.3% in the
first quarter of FY22-23) indicating a positive trend in the financial sector.
Challenges:
i.The report acknowledges that India faces challenges due to adverse global conditions like high global interest
rates, geopolitical tensions, and sluggish global demand.
ii.As a result, global economic growth is also set to slow down over the medium term against a background of
these combined factors.
Fiscal Outlook:
i.Fiscal consolidation is expected to continue in FY23/24, with the central government fiscal deficit projected to
decline from 6.4% to 5.9% of GDP.
ii.Public debt is expected to stabilize at 83% of GDP.
iii.The current account deficit is expected to narrow to 1.4% of GDP, and it will be adequately financed by
foreign investment flows and supported by large foreign reserves.
India’s Inflation Forecast to 5.9% for FY24
The report states that India’s headline inflation is expected to average 5.9% in FY23/24. IDU April 2023
projected India’s headline inflation to decline to an average of 5.2% in FY23/24.
• Bad weather has caused inflation to increase, with headline inflation reaching 7.8% in July 2023 due
to higher food prices.
• However, inflation is expected to come down gradually as food prices normalize and the
government takes steps to increase the supply of essential goods.
About SADU Oct 2023:
The October 2023 edition of the SADU, titled Toward Faster, Cleaner Growth, shows that South Asia is
growing faster than any other developing country region in the world, but slower than its pre-pandemic pace.
• The report also includes short- and long-term policy recommendations for countries in the region to
manage fiscal risks and accelerate growth, such as by boosting private sector investment and seizing
opportunities created by the global energy transition.
As per the data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Program
Implementation (MOSPI), India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew one year high to 7.8% in the April-June
quarter of 2023-2024 (Q1FY24), compared to a growth of 6.1% in the January-March quarter of FY23
(Q4FY23).
About World Bank (WB):
President (WB Group)– Ajay Banga
Establishment – 1944
Headquarters – Washington D.C, United States (US)
Members – 189 member states

India’s Natural Gas Demand to rise 4% in 2023: IEA Report
The International Energy Agency (IEA) released its ‘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.
Key Points:
i.India’s primary gas supply rising by 2% in the first eight months of 2023.
ii.After a sharp 6% drop in 2022, India’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports rose by 8% in the first eight
months of 2023 compared to the same in 2022.
iii.In India, an increase of over 20 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas is expected for 2022-2026 period.
iv.Spot LNG prices fell below USD15 per metric million British thermal unit (MMBTU) threshold since June
2023 which led to increased demand from the industry and power sector.
v.In April 2023, India commissioned the Dhamra LNG terminal, increasing its total regasification capacity by
10%.
• Regasification is the process of converting the LNG back to its gaseous state by heating it, after
which it is transported through pipelines.
Global Scenario:
i.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.
ii.Global LNG capacity is expected to expand by 25% between 2022 and 2026,
iii.United States (US) will retain position as the world’s largest LNG exporter.
iv.Overall gas demand Asia Pacific, Europe and North America is forecast to decline by 1% annually through to
2026.
About International Energy Agency (IEA):
Executive Director– Dr Fatih Birol
Unemployment rate at 6-year low of 3.2% in 2022-23: 6th NSSO Annual PLFS
On October 9, 2023, the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme
Implementation (MoSPI) released the 6th Annual Report ‘Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) [July, 2022 –
June, 2023]’ stating Unemployment rate (UR) at 6-year low of 3.2% in 2022-23 under the Usual Status (ps+ss).
It was 6% in 2017-18.
• The UR in Current Weekly Status (CWS) decreased to 5.1% in 2022-23. It was 8.7% in 2017-18.
• The UR under the Usual Status during the one-year period declined for the 5th consecutive year
since it was launched in April 2017 while under CWS it decreased for the 3rd consecutive year since
April 2017.
Assessment:
i.The 6th annual report by NSSO is based on the PLFS conducted during July 2022-June 2023.
ii.Out of the total number of 12,800 FSUs (First Stage Units), 12,714 FSUs (6,982 villages and 5,732 urban
blocks) have been surveyed during July 2022 – June 2023.
iii.The number of households surveyed was 1,01,655 (55,844 in rural areas and 45,811 in urban areas).
iv.The number of persons surveyed was 4,19,512 (2,43,971 in rural areas and 1,75,541 in urban areas).
Key Notes:
i.In Usual Status (ps+ss), employment is determined on the basis of the reference period of 365 days preceding
the date of the survey.
• PS stands for Principal activity status.
• SS stands for Subsidiary economic activity status.

ii.In Employment Status, it is determined on the basis of a reference period of seven days, which is known as
the Current Weekly Status (CWS) of the person.
Estimates of key Labour Market Indicators in Usual Status (ps+ss) during PLFS July 2022-June 2023
(2022-23) for Persons of age 15 years and above
i.At all India level, UR decreased to 3.2% in 2022-23 from 4.1% in 2021-22
• In rural areas, it decreased to 2.4 % from 3.2% in 2021-22.
• In urban areas, it decreased to 5.4 % from 6.3% in 2021-22.
• UR for male in India decreased to 3.3% from 4.4% in 2021-22.
• UR for female in India decreased to 2.9 % from 3.3% in 2021-22.
ii.At all India level, Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) increased to 57.9% in 2022-23 from 55.2% in
2021-22.
• In rural areas, it increased to 60.8% from 57.5% in 2021-22.
• In urban areas, it increased to 50.4% from 49.7% in 2021-22.
• LFPR for male in India increased to 78.5% from 77.2% in 2021-22.
• LFPR for female in India increased to 37% from 32.8% in 2021-22.
iii.At all India level, Worker Population Ratio (WPR) increased to 56% from 52.9% in 2021-22.
• WPR for male in India increased to 76% from 73.8% in 2021-22.
• WPR for female in India increased to 35.9% from 31.7% in 2021-22.
Estimates of key Labour Market Indicators in CWS during PLFS 2022-23 for Persons of age 15 years and
above
i.At all India level, UR decreased to 5.1% in 2022-23 from 6.6% in 2021-22
• In rural areas, it decreased to 4.4% from 6% in 2021-22.
• In urban areas, it decreased to 7% from 8.3% in 2021-22.
• UR for male in India decreased to 5.1% from 6.9% in 2021-22.
• UR for female in India decreased to 5.1% from 5.8% in 2021-22.
ii.At all India level, Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) increased to 54.6% in 2022-23 from 51.7% in
2021-22.
• In rural areas, it increased to 56.7% from 53% in 2021-22.
• LFPR for male in India increased to 77.4% from 75.9% in 2021-22.
• LFPR for female in India increased to 31.6% from 27.2% in 2021-22.
iii.At all India level, Worker Population Ratio (WPR) increased to 51.8% from 48.3% in 2021-22.
• In urban areas, it increased to 46% from 44.6% in 2021-22.
• WPR for male in India increased to 73.5% from 70.7% in 2021-22.
• WPR for female in India increased to 30% from 25.6% in 2021-22.
About Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS):
NSSO launched PLFS in April 2017to serve the following two purposes:
• To brought out quarterly estimates of labour force indicators namely UR, WPR, LFPR, distribution
of workers by broad status in employment, and industry of work in CWS within a short duration of
3 months.
• To annually estimate employment and unemployment indicators in rural and urban areas
using Usual Status and CWS.
Note: In 2019, The NSSO merged with the Central Statistical Office (CSO) to form the National Statistical Office
(NSO) to strengthen and streamline the processes and bring in more synergy.
Key Definitions:
UR: It is defined as the percentage of unemployed persons among the labour force.

LFPR: It is defined as the percentage of persons in labour force (i.e. working or seeking or available for work)
in the population.
WPR: It is defined as the percentage of employed persons in the population.
CWS: The activity status determined on the basis of a reference period of last 7 days preceding the date
of survey is known as the current weekly status (CWS) of the person.
i.MoSPI Standing Committee on Economic Statistics (SCES), tasked with examining economic indicators, will be
replaced by a Standing Committee on Statistics(SCoS), to review the framework and results of surveys
conducted for the National Statistical Office (NSO).
ii.MoSPI released its report titled ‘Women and Men in India 2022’ which is 24th in a series. As per it, an average
Indian woman, aged between 15 and 29 spends 5.5 hours doing unpaid labour. A man in that age group spends
about 50 minutes a day doing work that yields no money.
About Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI):
Minister of State (Independent Charge)– Rao Inderjit Singh (Constituency- Gurugram, Haryana)
Secretary– DR. G P Samanta
FAO’s 1st Global Estimation of Impact of Disasters on Agriculture: USD 3.8 Trillion Worth Crops
& Livestock Lost Over 30 years
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) released a report titled ‘The Impact of Disasters
on Agriculture and Food Security 2023-Avoiding and reducing losses through investment in resilience‘ which is
the first–ever global estimation of the impact of disasters on agricultural production focused on crops and
livestock.
• As per the report, the Global aggregated losses for the past 30 years (1991-2021) due to disasters
events amounts to USD 3.8 trillion, corresponding to about USD 123 billion per year.
• This value is equivalent to 5% of global agricultural Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and nearly
300 million tonnes of accumulated losses per year, or the real GDP of Brazil in year 2022.
• The disaster events include floods, droughts, insect infestations, storms, disease and war.
Who prepared the Report?
The report has been prepared and jointly produced by the Statistics Division (ESS) and the Office of
Emergencies and Resilience (OER) of FAO.
Highlights:
i.Between 1991-2021, lower and lower-middle-income countries lost 10% to 15% of their agricultural GDP due
to disasters. Small Island Developing States (SIDS) lost nearly 7% of their agricultural GDP.
ii.Major agricultural products faced increasing losses.
• Cereals lost an average of 69 million tons yearly, equal to France’s entire cereal production in 2021.
• Fruits, vegetables, and sugar crops each lost about 40 million tons yearly. For fruits and vegetables,
the loss is equivalent to Japan and Vietnam’s entire production of fruits and vegetables in 2021.
• Meats, dairy, and eggs faced a yearly loss of 16 million tons, which corresponds to the production in
Mexico and India in 2021.
iii.India’s ban on non-basmati rice exports led to historic low rice availability, causing global prices to rise
significantly.
iv.Losses in Asia represented 4% of agricultural added value, while in Africa, it was nearly 8%.
v.High-income, lower-middle-income, and upper-middle-income countries experienced higher absolute losses.
• However, low-income countries, especially SIDS, suffered the most significant losses in agricultural
added value.
3 Priorities for Action:
The report outlines three key priorities for action
i.Improve data on disaster impacts in agriculture across all sectors: crops, livestock, fisheries, aquaculture, and
forestry.

ii.Developing and mainstreaming multi-hazard disaster risk reduction strategies into policies and programs at
all levels.
iii.Invest in resilience to reduce disaster risk, boost agricultural production, and enhance livelihoods.
Key Points:
i.The figure on losses could be higher if systematic data on losses in fisheries, aquaculture, and forestry were
available.
ii.Disaster frequency has risen significantly, increasing from 100 events per year in the 1970s to about 400 per
year globally in the past 20 years.
iii.In extreme cases, disasters lead to rural population displacement and migration.
On 28th June 2023, FAO, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Health Organization
(WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) , “the Quadripartite organisations”, launched “A
One Health Priority Research Agenda for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)” through a webinar. The Research
agenda aims to promote increased research and investment in AMR.
About United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO):
Director-General– QU Dongyu
Headquarters– Rome, Italy
75% of Beneficiaries of PM SVANidhi Scheme Come from Non-General Category with OBCs
Accounting for 44%, says SBI Report
According to the State Bank of India (SBI) research paper titled “PM SVANidhi: Strengthening the Country’s
Social Fabric by Empowering Grassroot Market Mavericks” 75% of the beneficiaries of the PM SVANidhi
scheme are from the non-general category.
The research was carried out by Soumya Kanti Ghosh, the Group Chief Economic Advisor of SBI.
Sectional Benefits:
The report says that 75% of beneficiaries come from non-general categories with
44% of the beneficiaries belong to the Other Backward Class(OBC) category.
22% of the total disbursement of the scheme benefitted people from Scheduled Castes(SC) and
Scheduled Tribes(ST).
It is to be noted that out of the total beneficiaries, 43% were women.
About PM SVANidhi:
i.Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi(PM SVANidh), is a micro-credit scheme launched by the
Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) in 2020
ii.The scheme aims to provide working capital loans to street vendors.
iii.About 70 lakh loans (with a value of Rs 9,100 crore) were disbursed under the scheme.
iv.The scheme offers an interest subsidy of 7% per annum on timely/early repayment of the loan.
Persistency Ratio:
i.The report says that 68% of people repay the first loan (of Rs 10,000) and take the second loan (of Rs 20,000.)
75% of people repay the second loan (of Rs 20000) and take the third loan (of Rs 50,000)
ii.This increased persistency ratio (2nd loan/1 st loan repaid) indicates the need and popularity of PM
SVANidhi Scheme.
Other Highlights:
i.The average amount of money spent by PM SVANidhi account holders using their debit cards increased by
50%( to Rs 80,000) in the financial year 2022-23 as compared to the financial year 2020-21.
The average spending per annum increased by Rs 28,000.
ii.65%(roughly Two-thirds) of the borrowers under the scheme are in the age group of 26-45.
iii.On average, 63% of people under age 25 and over age 60 spend more money after they receive a loan.

iv.The SVANidhi loan given to Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) beneficiaries increased their average
spending at merchant outlets.
v.5.9 lakh borrowers of this scheme are from 6 megacities; Varanasi topped the list.
OECD’s International Migration Outlook 2023: India Remains Top Country of Origin for New
Migrants to OECD Nations in 2021
According to the “International Migration Outlook: 2023” published by the Organisation for Economic Co-
operation and Development (OECD), for the 2nd consecutive year, India has retained its position as the top
country of origin for new migrants to the member countries of OECD in 2021.
More than 407,000 people (excluding students) have migrated from India to OECD countries in 2021.
This accounts to around 7.5% of the total migration flow. This was 86% higher than 220,000
Indians in 2020.
China is ranked 2nd with 227,000 new migrants followed by Romania (215,000); Ukraine (189,000);
and Germany(119,000).
Note: OECD is a group of 38 countries, most of which are high-income and ranked very high on the Human
Development Index (HDI).
International Migration Outlook 2023:
i.The 2023 report constitutes the 47th report of the OECD’s Continuous Reporting System on Migration.
The 2023 edition analyses the recent developments in migration movements and the labour market
inclusion of immigrants in OECD countries.
ii.This also monitors recent policy shifts in migration governance and integration in OECD countries.
iii.This edition features special chapters on the labour market integration of migrant mothers and fertility
patterns among migrant populations in OECD countries.
Migration Flows to OECD Countries:
i.The report shows that OECD countries witnessed a remarkable 26% rise in permanent migration, reaching 6.1
million in 2022, the highest since 2005.
Notably, 15 out of 38 OECD countries recorded their highest levels of permanent migration in 15 years,
owing partly to rising labour migration addressing skill shortages.
ii.The OECD saw a remarkable rise in asylum applications, over 2 million in 2022, nearly doubling the 2021
figures and exceeding the previous record of 1.7 million in 2015.
This was largely driven by increased applications in the United States of America (USA) and Europe.
iii.The aftermath of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine resulted in millions of Ukrainian refugees in OECD
countries.
Germany and Poland accommodated the most significant numbers.
While Estonia, the Czech Republic, and Lithuania housed the highest proportions relative to their
populations.
Labour Market Outcomes for Migrants:
i.The OECD witnessed a substantial rise in migrant employment in 2022, with the employment rate reaching
72.3%, nearly on par with native-born populations.
The increase in labour migration is closely linked to skill shortages across OECD nations, prompting
policy adjustments in countries like Australia, Germany, and Spain.
ii.The 2023 report focuses on the unique challenges faced by immigrant women, revealing that the gender gap
in migrant employment is often twice as large as that among native-born populations.
iii.Immigrant mothers face even greater employment disparities compared to childless immigrant women and
their native-born counterparts, with an average 20% difference in employment rates.
Addressing gender disparities in migrant integration could bring an additional 5.8 million immigrant
women into the workforce, underscoring the significance of gender-inclusive policies.

Report Analysis:
Nationality:
i.Out of 407,000 Indian migrants to OECD countries, 133,000 individuals were granted nationality, marking the
highest acquisition rate globally.
These acquisitions took place in USA(56,000) followed by Australia (24,000) and Canada (21,000).
In 2021, approximately 1.3 lakh Indians acquired citizenship in an OECD member country, compared to
around 1.5 lakh in 2019.
ii.Mexico and Syria were subsequent in nationality acquisitions after India.
Immigration:
i.In 2022, Canada welcomed a record 375,000 new immigrants, marking a 174% increase from 2021.
Top countries of origin for new Canadians: India (60,000), the Philippines (42,000), and Syria (20,000).
ii.The USA saw the second-largest absolute increase in immigration, granting citizenship to 970,000 people in
2022, the highest level since 2008.
International Student Population:
i.Over 60% of OECD’s international students in 2021 originated from Asia, notably from China and India.
Since 2014, the proportion of international students from Europe has declined.
While the proportion of Asian students in European OECD countries increased from 30% to 36%.
ii.China (885,000), India (424,000), and Vietnam (133,000) are the leading countries of origin for international
students in OECD countries, with India’s representation more than doubling since 2014.
iii.Notably, Canada remained the top destination, followed by Latvia, Australia, Germany, New Zealand, the
United Kingdom (UK), and the USA for Indian students pursuing education in OECD countries.
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Economic Outlook, has
marginally increased India’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth forecast for 2023-24 (FY24) to 6%, from its
earlier projection of 5.9%.
About Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD):
Secretary-General– Mathias Cormann
Established on– 30 September 1961
Cirium’s Monthly Report: Bengaluru’s KIA tops as World’s Most Punctual Airport
According to ‘The On-Time Performance Monthly Reports – Airports for September 2023’ published by
aviation analytics firm Cirium, Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru (Karnataka) has
secured the top position as the world’s most punctual Airport for the past 3 consecutive months(July, August,
and September 2023).
• KIA maintained an on-time departure experience for passengers, with 87.51% punctuality in July,
89.66% in August, and 88.51% in September.
• As per the report, on-time departure ranking measures the percentage of flights that departed
within 15 minutes of the scheduled time.
• Cirium conducts an extensive evaluation of flight data for global airports. Airports are classified
based on seat capacity, gate departure coverage of 80% or more, and flight volume.
The classifications include Global Airport (25 – 40 million passengers), Large Airport (25 – 40 million
passengers), Medium Airport (15 – 25 million passengers), and Small Airport (5 – 15 million passengers).
IEA’s World Energy Outlook 2023: Major Energy Changes by 2030

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has released a report, World Energy Outlook 2023, which
presents a vision of substantial changes in global energy system by 2030. The report highlights India’s
growing electricity demand, with annual growth of around 5%, making it third-largest electricity

consumer globally by 2050, after China and the United States. China is the largest electricity consumer
in the world.
i.The WEO-2023 presents three scenarios for the future of global energy:
· Stated Policies Scenario (STEPS): This scenario assumes that governments implement the
energy policies that have already been announced.
· Accelerated Policy Scenario (APS): This scenario assumes that governments implement
more ambitious energy policies in order to achieve climate and other goals.
· Net Zero Emissions by 2050 (NZE): This scenario assumes that global energy-related CO2
emissions reach net zero by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement.
ii.The report emphasizes that, based on current government policies, global temperatures are still
expected to rise by 2.4°C, well above the target set in the Paris Agreement of limiting global warming
to 1.5°C.It outlines 5 key pillars to align the world with the 1.5°C target
· Tripling global renewable capacity,
· Doubling the rate of energy efficiency improvements,
· Reducing methane emissions from fossil fuel operations by 75%,
· Establishing innovative financing mechanisms to triple clean energy investments in
emerging economies
· Implementing measures for an orderly decline in fossil fuel use.
Fossil fuels is expected to peak by 2025
Global use of fossil fuels is expected to peak by 2025, 2 years earlier than previously anticipated.Fossil
Fuels such as Coal, oil, natural gas and bioenergy are each projected to peak before 2030, driven by
the rapid growth of low-carbon technologies.Fossil fuels account for close to 80% of total energy
supply in 2023.
Investment in Clean Energy:
i.Global investment in clean energy is nearly double that of fossil fuels, and this trend is expected to
continue, with clean energy outspending fossil fuels by 2.5 times in 2030.
· IEA suggests that investment needs to nearly triple by the end of the decade to align with
the net-zero emissions target outlined in the “APS.” In India is projected to more than
double by 2030 compared to 2022 levels, reaching around USD 60 billion.
1. Clean energy technologies, focussing on solar photovoltaics (PV) and wind, electric vehicles
(EVs), heat pumps, hydrogen and carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS).
iii.Renewables Surge: The report anticipates that the share of renewables in the global electricity mix
will reach 50% by 2030, a substantial increase from the current 30%.
· Additionally, the report suggests that the growth of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity has the
potential to outpace current expectations.
· While renewables are projected to contribute 80% of new power generation capacity by
2030, with solar accounting for over half of this expansion, the report posits that the world’s
manufacturing capacity for solar panels could exceed 1,200 gigawatts (GW) by the end of
the decade, with a deployment of 500 GW in 2030.
· However, by deploying 800 GW of new solar PV capacity by 2030, coal-fired power
generation in China could see a further 20% reduction compared to scenarios based on
existing policy settings. Moreover, coal and natural gas generation in regions like Latin
America, Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East would decrease by a quarter.
· The report anticipates a reduction in natural gas market pressures by 2025 due to the
implementation of new liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects.

18 per cent electricity generated in India to be solar by 2030: IEA
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has predicted that 18% of the electricity generated in India
will be from solar sources by 2030, which set to be 6% increase in 2023. This is a significant increase,
and it reflects the growing importance of solar energy in India’s energy mix.
· According to the report, India is set to become the world’s third-largest solar power
generator by 2030, behind China and the United States.
· The report also states that India is on track to achieve its target of installing 500 gigawatts
(GW) of renewable energy capacity by 2030.
· India has set a target of achieving 500 GW of installed capacity from non-fossil fuels
including around 270 GW of solar capacity, by 2030.
· In the Stated Policies Scenario (STEPS), India dominates in energy demand growth,
surpassing Southeast Asia and Africa.
IEA Forecasts India’s CO2 Emission Drop by 2050, Expects AC Electricity Demand to Outpace
Africa
i.The IEA’s World Energy Outlook-2023 report predicts a 30% reduction in CO2 emissions from
India’s industry and a 25% reduction in CO2 emissions per kilometer driven by passenger cars by
2030.
· This leads to a significant reduction in India’s annual CO2 emissions, which fall by over 40%
from current levels by 2050, even as the country’s GDP quadruples over the same period.
ii.India’s demand for electricity to power household air conditioners is expected to increase nine-fold
by 2050, surpassing the total power consumption of the entire African continent in 2023, according to
the IEA.
· The IEA noted that electricity consumption for cooling increased by 21% between 2019 and
2022. Presently, nearly 10% of India’s electricity demand is attributed to cooling
requirements.
· However, in the “APS,” electricity demand for air conditioners is nearly 15% lower in 2050
compared to the STEPS” due to the increased use of energy-efficient air conditioners and
thermal insulation in buildings.
· In the “STEPS,” demand for oil and natural gas is anticipated to increase by almost 70%
between 2022 and 2050, and coal demand is expected to rise by 10%, even as solar PV gains
ground in electricity generation. As a result, India’s annual CO2 emissions are projected to
increase by nearly 30% by 2050, which represents one of the largest emissions increases
globally.
· Under the Stated Policies Scenario (STEPS), India’s energy supply is estimated to rise from
42 exajoules (EJ) in 2022 to 53.7 EJ in 2030 and 73 EJ in 2050.
IEA’s Upbeat Outlook: Electric Cars to Surge 10-fold by 2030
Based on current policy settings, Electric cars is expected to increase globally by almost 10 times by
2030, highlighting the rapid adoption of electric vehicles on a global scale.
· The IEA expects to see 20% more electric vehicles on the road by 2030 than previously
forecasted.
· It notes that electric cars are becoming increasingly prevalent, with 1 in 5 cars sold in 2023
being electric.

IEA Foresees India’s Solar Module Manufacturing Capacity Surpassing 70 GW by 2027
IEA predicts that India’s capacity may exceed 70 gigawatts (GW) annually by 2027. India is committed
to expanding its production capacity to meet domestic energy needs and potentially export solar
modules.
i.Currently, India holds a 3% share of the global solar PV market and is making substantial progress
toward its 2030 goal of sourcing half of its electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources well ahead
of the end of the decade.
ii.India’s Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, which allocates approximately USD 2.5 billion to
boost solar PV module manufacturing, is poised for significant growth in domestic production
capacity.
· The IEA’s report suggests that if the new solar PV module manufacturing capacity under the
PLI program comes fully online by 2026, it would exceed India’s needs not only in the
STEPS but also in the APS.
· In FY22, India imported solar PV modules worth USD3.4 billion.
iii.The global solar manufacturing landscape is highly concentrated, with just 5 countries responsible
for over 90% of global capacity.
· China leads the way, capable of producing over 500 GW of solar modules annually,
equivalent to 80% of global manufacturing capacity.
· Other key players include Vietnam (5% of the global market), India (3%), Malaysia (3%),
and Thailand (2%). The next tier of solar manufacturers, including the United States, South
Korea, Cambodia, Turkey, and Chinese Taipei, each contributes around 1% to the global
total, similar to the European Union’s share.
About World Energy Outlook:
The annual World Energy Outlook (WEO) is the IEA flagship publication on global energy projections
and analysis.
· The first WEO was published in 1977 and it has been an annual publication since 1998.
· This Outlook assesses the evolving nature of energy security fifty years after the foundation
of the IEA.
About IEA:
Headquarters: Paris, France
Established: November 1974
Executive Director: Fatih Birol
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman Wins Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2023
Katalin Karikó of Hungary and Drew Weissman of the United States of America(USA) were jointly awarded
the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2023 by the Royal Swedish Academy of Science.
• The Nobel Prize is awarded for their discovery concerning nucleoside base modifications that
enabled the development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19.
• The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine is awarded at the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska
Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

Winners of Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2023:
Nobel
laureates Awarded For
Katalin Karikó
Drew Discoveries concerning nucleoside base modifications that enabled the development of
Weissman effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19
Note:
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded 114 times
to 227 Medicine laureates. this includes 13 women laureates.
Youngest laureate: Frederick Banting, who received the Nobel
Prize in 1923 at the age of 32, remains the youngest Nobel laureate
for Physiology/Medicine.
Oldest laureate: Peyton Rous, who received the Nobel prize in
1966 at the age of 87, remains the oldest Nobel laureate for
Physiology/Medicine.
About Katalin Karikó:
i.Biochemist Katalin Karikó is currently working as a professor at the University of Szeged in Hungary as well
as an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania (USA).
• Katalin Karikó served as the Senior Vice President of RNA Protein Replacement Therapies at
Biopharmaceutical New Technologies, or BioNTech from 2013 to 2022.
ii.Katalin Karikó is the 13th woman to win the Nobel Prize in medicine or physiology.
About Drew Weissman:

i.Immunologist Drew Weissman is currently working as the professor at the University of Pennsylvania (USA).
ii.Presently,Weissman’s team is working on using RNA to develop a single-injection gene therapy to overcome
the defect that causes sickle cell anemia
Note:
Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman won the Lasker Award in the clinical category in 2021 from the Lasker
Foundation which recognises contributions to the medical sciences.
Working of mRNA vaccines:
i.Definition of mRNA: mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) is a single stranded RNA involved in protein
synthesis and made from a DNA template during the process of transcription.
• mRNA carries codes from the DNA in the nucleus to the sites of protein synthesis in the cytoplasm
(the ribosomes).
ii.Working of mRNA vaccines: The mRNA vaccines deliver genetic instructions to cells to recreate the spike
protein of the coronavirus, in order to trigger effective antibodies when they encounter the virus.

Obstacles in the way to make mRNA vaccines:
i.The initial obstacle to making the mRNA vaccine was that when they injected into living cells, resulting in a
massive inflammatory response found in animal experiments.
ii.In 2005, Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman published a paper that investigated the impact of nucleoside
modification and its effect on the immune system.
• However there is an obstacle to delivering mRNA vaccines into the living cells.
iii.In 2015, Karikó and Weissman found a new way to deliver the particles safely and effectively to their target
cells, using a fatty coating called “lipid nanoparticles.”
• These discoveries paved the way for the development of the Pfizer/ BioNTech and Moderna Covid-
19 vaccines
About the Noble Prize:
i.The Nobel Prize is an international award given by the Nobel Foundation in Stockholm, Sweden, and based on
the will of Alfred Nobel, Swedish inventor and entrepreneur.
• The first Nobel Prize was awarded in 1901 in the field of Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or
Medicine and Literature in Stockholm, Sweden, and the Peace Prize in Kristiania (now Oslo),
Norway.
• The winners of the Nobel Prize were called Nobel Prize laureates.
ii.About Alfred Nobel: Alfred Nobel, the founder of the Nobel Prizes was born on October 21, 1833, in
Stockholm, Sweden.
• Alfred Nobel invented “dynamite” in 1866 and also invented a detonator or blasting cap that could
be set off by lighting a fuse.
iii. Sveriges Riksbank (Sweden’s central bank) Prize was established in 1968 in Memory of Alfred Nobel for
Economic Sciences.
• It also has been awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences following the same principles as
for the Nobel Prizes.
Key Points:
i.The Nobel Prizes and the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel were
awarded to 989 individuals and organisations 615 times between 1901 and 2022.
• Since 1901, the Nobel Prizes have been awarded to Nobel laureates during ceremonies on December
10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death.
ii. Prize Money: Recipients of the Nobel Prize are presented with a Nobel Prize diploma(certificate), a gold
medal, and a cash award. The Nobel Prize amount for 2023 is set at Swedish kronor (SEK) 11 million per full
Nobel Prize. Click here view the official link
Anne L’Huillier, Pierre Agostini, and Ferenc Krausz Wins the Nobel Prize in Physics 2023
Anne L’Huillier of France, Pierre Agostini of France, and Ferenc Krausz of Hungary were awarded the 2023
Nobel Prize in Physics “for experimental methods that generate attosecond pulses of light for the study of
electron dynamics in matter.”
• The Nobel Prize in Physics is awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Stockholm,
Sweden.
• Anne L’Huillier is the fifth woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Physics.
Winners of the Nobel Prize in Physics 2023:
Nobel
laureates Awarded For
Anne
L’Huillier
Pierre For experimental methods that generate attosecond pulses of light for the study of electron
Agostini dynamics in matter

Ferenc Krausz
Click here to view official link
Prize Money: Recipients of the Nobel Prize are presented with a Nobel Prize diploma(certificate), a gold medal,
and a cash award. The Nobel Prize amount for 2023 is set at Swedish kronor (SEK) 11 million per full Nobel
Prize.
About the laureates:
i.Anne L’Huillier: Anne L’Huillier was born in 1958 in Paris, France.
• Anne L’Huillier currently working as a Professor at Lund
University, Sweden.
ii.Pierre Agostini: Pierre Agostini was born in 1941 in Tunis,
Tunisia.
• Pierre Agostini currently working as a Professor at The
Ohio State University, Columbus, the United States of
America(USA).
iii.Ferenc Krausz: Ferenc Krauszwas was born in 1962 in Mór,
Hungary.
• Ferenc Krausz Ferenc Krausz currently working as a Director at Max Planck Institut of Quantum
Optics, Garching (Germany), and a Professor at Ludwig-Maximilians- Universität München,
Germany.
Problems with finding electron dynamics:
i.Atoms move in the order of femtoseconds(10^-15 seconds), which can be studied with the very shortest
pulses produced by a laser.
ii.Electrons are the negatively charged particle that moves around the nucleus of an atom.
• Electrons move in the order of attosecond (10^-18 Second).
• For an understanding, the time scale between the attosecond to one second is equal to one second to
the age of the universe.
• The movement of electrons can be found by light pulses with a duration of a few attoseconds.
Note:
To measure the faster events, the measurement must be done more quickly than the time taken by the event. In
order to capture the movements of an electron that moves in attoseconds, we must use a measurement system
in attoseconds time scale.
Pathway for the creation of attosecond pulses:
i.Anne L’Huillier Findings:In 1987, Anne L’Huillier and her colleagues did an experiment of passing an
infrared laser beam through a noble gas that produces overtones.
• Each overtone is a light wave with a given number of cycles for each cycle in the laser light.
• Anne L’Huillier’s discoveries laid the foundation for subsequent breakthroughs.

ii.Pierre Agostini Findings: Pierre Agostini and his research group in France successfully created and
investigated a pulse train of 250-attosecond light pulses in 2001.
iii.Ferenc Krausz Findings: Ferenc Krausz and his team in Austria developed a technique to separate an
individual 650-attosecond pulse from a pulse train.
• With the 650-attosecond pulse, it is possible to track and study a process by which electrons were
away from their atoms.
The chronology of the discoveries made it possible to access the attosecond world.
Facts on the Nobel Prize in Physics:
i.The Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded 117 times to 225 laureates between 1901-2023.
• As John Bardeen was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics twice, 224 individuals have been awarded
the Nobel Prize in Physics since 1901.
ii.Youngest physics laureate: William Lawrence Bragg was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1915 at the
age of 25 jointly with his father William Henry Bragg
iii.Oldest physics laureate: Arthur Ashkin was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2018 at the age of 96,
remains the youngest Nobel laureate for physics.
ivFemale physics laureate:
• Five women were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics out of 224 individuals since 1901.
v.Multiple physics laureates:
• John Bardeen was the only person awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics twice in 1956 and 1972.
vi.Family Nobel Prize laureates in physics:
• Marie Curie and her husband Pierre Curie were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903.
The following father and son duo was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics
• Niels Bohr(1922) and Aage Niels Bohr (1975).
• Manne Siegbahn(1924) and Kai M. Siegbahn (1981).
• J. J. Thomson (1906) and George Paget Thomson (1937).
Sir William Henry Bragg and William Lawrence Bragg(1915).
Alexey Ivanovich Ekimov, Louis Eugene Brus, and Moungi Gabriel Bawendi Wins Nobel Prize in
Chemistry 2023
Alexey Ivanovich Ekimov of Russia, Louis Eugene Brus of the United States of America (USA),
and Moungi Gabriel Bawendi of the USA were awarded the 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry “for the discovery
and synthesis of quantum dots”.
• The Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Stockholm,
Sweden.
Winners of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2023:
Nobel laureates Awarded For
Alexei Ekimov
Louis Brus
Moungi Bawendi “For the discovery and synthesis of quantum dots”
Click here to view the official link
Prize Money: Recipients of the Nobel Prize are presented with a Nobel Prize diploma(certificate), a gold medal,
and a cash award. The Nobel Prize amount for 2023 is set at Swedish kronor (SEK) 11 million per full Nobel
Prize.
About the laureates:
i.Alexei I. Ekimov: Alexei I. Ekimov was born in 1945 in the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).
• He served as Chief Scientist at Nanocrystals Technology Incorporation, New York, NY, USA.
ii.Louis E. Brus: Louis E. Brus was born in 1943 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

• He currently working as a Professor at Columbia University, New York, USA.
iii. Moungi G. Bawendi: Moungi G. Bawendi was born in 1961 in
Paris, France.
• He currently working as a Professor at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT),
Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
About the Quantum dots:
i.Quantum dots are semiconducting nanoscale crystals in
nanometer size, their main property is that depending upon their
size they change their colours.
• Quantum dots absorb light and then emit it at another wavelength depending upon the size of the
particle.
Chronology of the development of Quantum dots:
i.Alexei I. Ekimov Findings: In the early 1980s, Alexei Ekimov developed size-dependent quantum effects in
coloured glass.
• His experiment created colour from nanoparticles of copper chloride, which demonstrated that the
particle size affected the colour of the glass through quantum effects.
ii.Louis E. Brus Findings: Louis Brus was the world’s first scientist to prove size-dependent quantum effects in
particles floating freely in a fluid.
iii. Moungi G. Bawendi Findings: Moungi Bawendi found the production method for the synthesis of high-
quality quantum dots which makes them to be utilised in practical applications.
Applications of Quantum dots:
i.Quantum dots are used in illuminating computer monitors and television screens based on Quantum-
dot Light-Emitting Diodes(QLED) technology.
• In QLED screens, blue light is generated using the energy-efficient diodes that were recognised with
the Nobel Prize in Physics 2014.
• Quantum dots have the ability to change blue light into red or green which makes possible to
produce the three primary colours of light needed in a television screen.
ii.They are also used in LED lamps, and biochemists and doctors use them to map biological tissue.
iii.In future, quantum dots will used to develop flexible electronics, miniscule sensors, slimmer solar cells and
perhaps encrypted quantum communication.
Facts on the Nobel Prize in Chemistry:
i.The Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded 115 times since 1901.
ii.Number of chemistry laureates: The Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to 194 laureates from
1901 to 2023.
• As Frederick Sanger and Barry Sharpless have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry twice,
there are 192 individuals have been awarded since 1901.
iii.Youngest chemistry laureate: Frédéric Joliot was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1935 at the age
of 35, Jointly with his wife Irène Joliot-Curie.
iv.Oldest chemistry laureate: John B. Goodenough was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 2019 at the
age of 97, also the oldest laureate to be awarded in all Nobel prize categories.
v.Female chemistry laureates: Totally 8 women were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry out of 192
individuals.
• Only 2 of these 8 women, Marie Curie and Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin, were awarded unshared
chemistry prizes.
vi.Multiple Nobel Prize laureates in chemistry
• Frederick Sanger of United Kingdom in 1958 and 1980.
• Barry Sharpless of USA in 2001 and 2022.

Note:
Linus Pauling was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1954 and for Peace in 1962. He was also the only
person who has been awarded two unshared Nobel Prizes.
vii.Family Nobel Prize laureates in chemistry:
Irène Joliot-Curie, daughter of Marie Curie and Pierre Curie was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1935
jointly with her husband, Frédéric Joliot.
Points to Note:
British-American Venkatraman Ramakrishnan was the only Indian-origin scientist to win the Nobel Prize in
chemistry in 2009, along with Thomas A. Steitz (USA) and Ada E. Yonath (Israel) “for studies of the structure
and function of the ribosome”.
Click here to view about Nobel Prize in Physics
Jon Olav Fosse Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature 2023

Jon Olav Fosse of Norway was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature 2023 “for his innovative plays and
prose which give voice to the unsayable”. Fosse is the 4th Norwegian writer to win the Nobel Prize in
Literature.
• The Nobel Prize in Literature is awarded by the Royal
Swedish Academy of Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden.
Note:The other Norwegian winners of Nobel Prize in Literature
are Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson (1903), Knut Hamsun(1920) and
Sigrid Undset(1928).
Click here to view the official link
Prize Money: Recipients of the Nobel Prize are presented with a
Nobel Prize diploma(certificate), a gold medal, and a cash award.
The Nobel Prize amount for 2023 is set at Swedish kronor (SEK)
11 million per full Nobel Prize.
About Jon Olav Fosse:
i.Jon Olav Fosse was born in 1959 in Haugesund, Norway.
• He is one of the most widely performed contemporary playwrights (someone who writes plays) in
the world.
ii.Fosse writes in Nynorsk, one of the two official written versions of the Norwegian language, the other being
Bokmaal.
• Fosse was the first Nynorsk writer in nearly a century to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Noted Literature Works:
i.Jon Olav Fosse is the author of 40 plays, novels, short stories, children’s books, poetry, and essays.
• His writing style is distinguished by simple, minimal, and searing dialogue.
ii.Fosse’s first novel, “Red, Black,” was published in 1983, and his debut play, ‘Og aldri skal vi skiljast’ (And We’ll
Never Be Parted), was performed in 1994.
iii.Fosse’s most celebrated works is the prose known as “The Septology” (a collection of 7 parts).
• This was published in 3 volumes from 2019-2021 under the titles “The Other Name: Septology I-II”,
“I Is Another: Septology III-V” and “A New Name: Septology VI-VII”.
• “A New Name” was shortlisted for the International Booker Prize in 2022.
iv.His other major prose works include “Melancholia” I and II (1995-1996); “Morning and
Evening,”“Wakefulness;” and “Olav’s Dreams.”
• Fosse’s works has been translated into more than 50 languages and his plays have been staged more
than 1,000 times around the world.
v.In 2010, Fosse won the International Ibsen Award, the world’s most prestigious theatre award founded by
the Norwegian government.

Facts on the Nobel Prize in Literature:
i.The Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded 116 times to 120 individuals since 1901.
ii.Youngest literature laureate:Joseph Rudyard Kipling was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907
at the age of 41, Kipling is best known for “The Jungle Book” and remains the youngest Nobel laureate for
Literature
iii.Oldest literature laureate: Doris Lessing was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2007 at the age of
88 and remains the oldest Nobel laureate for Literature.
iv.Female Nobel Prize laureates in literature:
• Since 1901, 17 women have received the Nobel Prize in Literature.
• Selma Lagerlöf (1858-1940), a Swedish author, was the first woman to receive the award in 1909.
• Annie Ernaux of France was the latest woman to win the award in 2022.
Note:
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom(UK) won the Nobel
Prize in Literature in 1953.
Indian Nobel Prize laureates in literature:
In 1913, Rabindranath Tagore, a renowned Indian poet, musician, and painter, became the first Indian and the
first Asian to win the Nobel Prize. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature 1913.
Click here to know about Nobel Prize in Medicine 2023
Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi Conferred with Mother Teresa Memorial Award for Social
Justice 2023
Narges Mohammadi, Iranian women’s rights campaigner and the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, will be
conferred with the Harmony Foundation’s Mother Teresa Memorial Award for Social Justice 2023.
• The announcement was by Abraham Mathai, the
founder-chairman of Harmony Foundation, a
Mumbai(Maharashtra)-based Non-governmental
Organisation NGO.
• This award recognise Narges’s unwavering courage in
risking her life as a fearless defender and advocate of
human rights against the fundamentalist regime of
Iran, truly embodying humanity in action.
• The 19th Mother Teresa Memorial Award for Social
Justice Award (2023) Ceremony is scheduled for November 26, 2023, in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Note: Narges Mohammadi is currently serving a 10-year, 9-month jail sentence in Evin Prison in Tehran (Iran)
on various charges, including actions against national security and propaganda against the state.
About Narges Mohammadi:
i.She from Iran is a woman Human Rights Defender (HRD), and Deputy Director and spokesperson of the
Defenders of Human Rights Centre (DHRC) in Iran.
ii.She began her activism in the 1990s as a young physics student and was first arrested in 2011 for her work
with imprisoned activists and their families.
iii.She has fought against the oppression of women in Iran for 30 years and opposes the death penalty in a
country that reports most state executions.
iv.She has been imprisoned 13 times and convicted 5 times. In total, she has been sentenced to 31 years in
prison and 154 lashes by the Iranian regime.
v.She has also authored a book titled “White Torture: Interviews with Iranian Women Prisoners” in 2022.
Awards:
i.In 2023, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and
her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all.

• She became the 19th woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize and the 2nd Iranian woman after human
rights activist Shirin Ebadi, who won in 2003.
ii.In 2023, she was also awarded the Olof Palme Prize, the PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award, and the
UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize.
About Mother Teresa Memorial Awards for Social Justice:
i.It was instituted in 2005 and is a platform to acknowledge and recognize the extraordinary work of
individuals or organizations who aim to promote peace, harmony, and social justice.
ii.It is presented to celebrate and commemorate the memory and legacy of Mother Teresa.
iii.This is the only award endorsed by Sister Mary Prema Pierick, who served as the Superior General of the
Missionaries of Charity (MC), Kolkata (West Bengal) from 2009 to 2022. MC was was started by Mother Teresa
in 1950.
Iran’s Narges Mohammadi awarded Nobel Peace Prize 2023

On October 6, 2023, Nobel Peace Prize 2023 was awarded to 51-year-old Narges Mohammadi from Iran “for
her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all”.
• With this win, she became the 2nd Iranian
woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize after
Shirin Ebadi (also the first Muslim woman) who won
the award in 2003.
• Notably, Narges Mohammadi is currently serving a
10-year, 9-month jail sentence in Evin Prison in
Tehran on various charges, including spreading
propaganda against the state.
The winner was announced by the chair of the Norwegian Nobel
Committee 2023, Berit Reiss-Andersen.
Click here for official announcement
Prize Money: Prize Money: Recipients of the Nobel Prize are presented with a Nobel Prize diploma(certificate),
a gold medal, and a cash award. The Nobel Prize amount for 2023 is set at Swedish kronor (SEK) 11
million (approximately USD 993,000) per full Nobel Prize.
About Narges Mohammadi:
i.Narges Mohammadi, hailing from Zanjan, Iran, is an engineer, physicist and a prominent human rights activist.
ii.She has fought against the oppression of women in Iran for 30 years and opposes the death penalty in a
country that reports most state executions.
iii.She is the deputy director of the Defenders of Human Rights Center (DHRC) and an advocate for Iranian
women’s rights.
iv.She has been arrested 13 times, convicted five times, and sentenced to a total of 31 years in prison and 154
lashes by the Iranian regime.
v.In 2011 and 2015, she was arrested and held in Zanjan Central Prison, released in 2020 after a reduced
sentence.
vi.She received the 2018 Andrei Sakharov Prize for upholding human rights as a scientist.
vii.In 2023, she was awarded the Olof Palme Prize, PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award, and
UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize.
viii.She authored ‘White Torture: Inside Iran’s Prisons for Women,’ published by OneWorld Publications in
2022.
Key Points:
i.NobelPeace Prize 2023 also recognizes the hundreds of thousands of people who have demonstrated against
the theocratic regime’s policies of discrimination and oppression targeting women.

ii.In 2022, the Nobel Peace Prize was jointly awarded to Belarusian human rights advocate Ales Bialiatski, the
Russian human rights organisation Memorial, and the Ukrainian human rights organisation Centre for Civil
Liberties.
Facts on the Nobel Peace Prize:
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards administered by the Nobel Foundation in Stockholm. The
Nobel Peace Prize is given for promoting peace, reducing standing armies, and fostering fraternity between
nations.
• From 1901 to 2023, the Peace Prize has been awarded 104 times to 141 laureates, including 111
individuals and 30 organisations.
• It was not awarded on 19 occasions: in 1914-1916, 1918, 1923, 1924, 1928, 1932, 1939-1943, 1948,
1955-1956, 1966-1967 and 1972.
• The Norwegian Nobel Committee, consisting of five members, decides and awards the Peace Prize in
Oslo, Norway.
Youngest laureate: Malala Yousafzai was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 at the age of 17. She
shared the award with Kailash Satyarthi of India.
Oldest laureate: Joseph Rotblat was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1995 at the age of 87. He shared the
award with Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs.
Female laureates: Of the 111 individuals awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, 19 are women. The first time a Nobel
Peace Prize was awarded to a woman was in 1905, to Bertha von Suttner.
Notes:
i.Mother Teresa won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 “for her work for bringing help to suffering humanity”. She
was born in Uskup, Ottoman Empire(now Skopje, North Macedonia) and got her Indian citizenship in 1948.
• She became the first Indian to win Nobel Peace Prize and the first Indian Woman to win a Nobel
Prize.
ii.Kailash Satyarthi won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 “for the struggle against the suppression of children and
young people and the right of all children to education”.
• He is the first India born Nobel Peace Laureate.
i.British children’s writer and performance poet, Michael Rosen(77 years old), has been awarded the PEN
Pinter Prize 2023. He will receive the award in a ceremony co-hosted by the British Library on 11 October
2023.
ii.4 Indian Americans, Jayshree Ullal, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Arista Networks,
Neerja Sethi, co-Founder of Syntel, Neha Narkhede, co-founder of Confluent, and Indra Nooyi, former chair and
CEO of PepsiCo, were featured on the 2023 America’s Richest Self-Made Women, 9th edition of Forbes’ annual
ranking of the United States of America (USA)’s most successful women entrepreneurs, executives and
entertainers.
About Iran:
Capital– Tehran
Currency– Iranian Rial
President– Ebrahim Raisi
Nobel Prize in Economics 2023: Professor Claudia Goldin 3rd Woman to Won the Award
Professor Claudia Goldin of Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, the United States of America
(USA) won the 2023 Nobel Economics Prize, formally known as the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic
Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, for her research contributions to the understanding of women’s roles
and outcomes in the labour market.
• The Prize in Economic Sciences is awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Stockholm,
Sweden, it shares the same principles as the Nobel Prizes, which have been awarded since 1901.
• Claudia Goldin is the 55th recipient of the Economic Science Prize since its inception in 1969.

• She is the 3rd woman to receive the award after Elinor Ostrom (USA) in 2009 and Esther Duflo
(French-American) in 2019. She is also the first
woman to win the prize solo.
Note:
• In 2009, Elinor Ostrom became the 1st woman to win
the Economics prize. She shared the award with
Oliver E Williamson. Esther Duflo shared the 2019
award with her husband Abhijit Banerjee, and Michael
Kremer.
Click to view the Official Link
Prize Value:
i.The recipients of the Nobel Prize 2023 are presented with a Nobel Prize diploma (Certificate), a Gold Medal,
and a Cash award.
ii.The prize amount for 2023 is set at Swedish kronor (SEK) 11 million per full prize, which is approximately
USD 1 million.
Medal:
The medal in economic sciences was designed by Swedish artist and sculptor Gunvor Svensson-Lundqvist and
shows the North Star emblem of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
• Since 2012, the medals has been manufactured by Svenska Medalj in Eskilstuna (Sweden).
About Claudia Goldin:
i.Claudia Goldin was born in 1946 in New York, USA. She provided the first comprehensive account of women’s
earnings and labour market participation throughout history.
ii.She is currently the Henry Lee Professor of Economics at Harvard University and was the director of the
National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) Development of the American Economy (DAE) program from
1989 to 2017.
iii.She is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Philosophical Society.
iv.She is a fellow of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, the American Academy of Arts and
Sciences, the Society of Labor Economists (SOLE), the Econometric Society, and the Cliometric Society.
v.In 1990, she became the first woman to be tenured at Harvard’s economics department.
Noted Books:
i.She is the author and editor of several books, including:
• Corruption and Reform: Lessons from America’s Economic History (with E. Glaeser; Chicago 2006);
• Women Working Longer: Increased Employment at Older Ages (with L. Katz; Chicago 2018); and
• Career & Family: Women’s Century-Long Journey toward Equity (Princeton University Press, 2021).
ii.Her book The Race between Education and Technology (with L. Katz; Belknap Press, 2008, 2010) was the
winner of the 2008 R.R. Hawkins Award for the most outstanding scholarly work in all disciplines of the arts
and sciences.
Awards:
i.She received the 2019 BBVA Frontiers in Knowledge award and the 2020 Nemmers award, both in economics.
ii.In 2009, SOLE awarded her the Mincer Prize for lifetime contributions to the field of labor economics.
About Nobel Prize in Economics:
i.This Prize was established by the Sveriges Riksbank (Sweden’s central bank) in 1968, on the tercentenary of
the bank.
ii.It was established in memory of Alfred Nobel, founder of the Nobel Prize.
iii.The Economics Prize is different from the original prizes in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine,
literature, and peace, which were established by the will of Alfred Nobel, who died in 1896 and was first
awarded in 1901.
• It was established much later through a donation from the Swedish central bank in 1968, and
detractors have thus dubbed it “a false Nobel.”

iv.The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences was given the task of selecting the Economic Sciences laureates. It
has been awarded annually since 1969.
• It has been awarded 55 times to 93 laureates between 1969 and 2023.
Key Facts:
i.Youngest economic sciences laureate: Esther Duflo won the award in 2019 at the age of 46 years.
ii.Oldest economic sciences laureate: Leonid Hurwicz (Russian-born American) won the award in 2007 at
the age of 90 years.
iii.26 prizes in Economic Sciences have been given to one laureate only; 20 prizes have been shared by 2
laureates; and 9 prizes have been shared between 3 laureates.
Indian Nobel Economic Prize Laureates:
i.Amartya Sen, an Indian citizen was awarded the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of
Alfred Nobel in 1998.
ii.Abhijit Banerjee, an Indian-born American economist won the award in 2019. He shared the award with
Esther Duflo and Michael Kremer.
Sudha Murty Becomes 1st Woman to Get Global Indian Award

The renowned author and philanthropist Sudha Murty, chairperson of the Infosys Foundation, became
the first woman to be honoured the Global Indian Award by the Canada India Foundation(CIF) at Indo-
Canadian gala event held in Toronto, Canada.
• The award is presented to her by Indian High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma.
About CIF Global Indian Award:
i.The CIF Global Indian Award is the most prestigious Indo-Canadian event
given to an outstanding individual who has helped India become a global economic and political power.
ii.The award winner receives USD 50,000 to donate to a charity of their choice.
iii.The award is the first of its kind to be given outside of India.
Noted recipients of CIF Global Indian Award:
Anil Agarwal, Chairman of Vedanta Group (2022); N.R.Narayana Murthy (2014); and Sam Pitroda, Chairman of
National Knowledge Commission (first recipient – 2008).
About Sudha Murty:
i.Sudha Murty was born on 19th August 1951 in Shiggaon, Haveri in Karnataka.
ii.She is married to N. R.Narayana Murthy who is the co-founder of Infosys.
iii.Murty is best known for her philanthropy activity; She is an active member of public health care initiatives of
the Gates Foundation.
Honours and Achievements:
i.The government of India honoured her with Padma Shri (the 4th highest civilian award) in 2006 and Padma
Bhushan (the third highest civilian award) in 2023 for Social Work.
ii.She was the first female engineer to be hired by TATA Engineering and Locomotive Company (TELCO).
iii.She also received the R.K. Narayana’s Award for Literature in 2006.
Books Authored:
i.She had authored many books such as: ‘Mother I Never Knew: Two Novellas’, ‘Magic of the Lost Temple’, ‘How
I Taught My Grandmother to Read: And Other Stories’ etc,.
ii.Her kannada novel ‘Dollar Bahu’ was adapted as a televised dramatic series and her story ‘Runa’ was
adapted as a Marathi film ‘Pitruroon’.
Additional Info:
Established in 2007, Canada India Foundation (CIF) is a Canadian, not-for-profit, nonpartisan, non-
governmental organization.
It strengthens bilateral relations between Canada and India.

President of India Presents National Service Scheme Awards for the Year 2021-2022
On 29 September 2023, the President of India, Droupadi Murmu presented the National Service
Scheme Awards for the year 2021-2022 at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, Delhi. The award was
given to 52 persons to recognize their outstanding
contributions towards voluntary community social services.
• The awards included 3 categories namely
Universities/+ 2 Council (2 Awards); NSS units and
their Programme Officers (10 NSS Units + 10
Programme Officers); and NSS volunteers (30
Awards).
Key People:
Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur, Ministry of Youth Affairs
and Sports (MoYAS), and Nisith Pramanik, Minister of State (MoS), MoYAS also attended the award
ceremony.
NSS Awards:
i.MoYAS, Government of India (GoI) instituted the NSS Awards during 1992-93.
ii.The awards are conferred by the ministry annually in 3 categories to recognize voluntary services to
promote NSS in India.
Winners under Programme coordinator/Officer category:
No. Name Institution
Dr. Ramvir Singh
1 Chauhan Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Agra (Uttar Pradesh)
2 Dr. Mitali Kathkatia Dakshin Kamrup Girls’ College, Mirza (Assam)
3 Dr. Ranjana Sharma Post Graduate Govt. College for Girls, Chandigarh
Government Degree College, Dharamshala, Kangra (Himachal
4 Dr. Malkiat Singh Pradesh)
5 Dr. Raghavendra R Seshadripuram Degree College, Mysuru (Karnataka)
6 Dr. S. Lekshmi Sanatana Dharma College, Alappuzha (Kerala)
Institute for Excellence in Higher Education, Bhopal (Madhya
7 Dr. Indira Barman Pradesh)
8 Dr. Pawan Ramesh Naik Kewalramji Harde Mahavidyalaya, Chamorshi (Maharashtra)
9 Joseph Vanlalhuraia Sailo Synod Higher Secondary School, Aizawl (Mizoram)
10 Dr. Renu Bisht Bhartiya Shaheed Sainik Vidhyalaya, Nainital (Uttarakhand)
11 Babita Prasad Surya Sen Mahavidyalaya, Siliguri (West Bengal)
Value of Awards:
Number of
Award Category awards Value
First Award:
Rs.5 Lakhs (for NSS Programme Development) with a
Trophy to the University/ +2 Council.
A Certificate and a Silver Medal to the Programme
University/ +2 Council 2 Coordinator.

Second Award:
Rs.3 Lakhs (for NSS Programme Development) with a
Trophy to the University/ +2 Council.
A Certificate and a Silver Medal to the Programme
Coordinator.
For NSS Units: Rs.2 Lakhs for each unit (For NSS
Programme Development), with a Trophy
NSS Units and For Officer: Rs. 1.5 Lakhs to each with a Certificate and a
Programme Officers (10 + 10) Silver Medal.
Rs 1 lakh to each Volunteer, with a Certificate and a Silver
NSS Volunteers 30 Medal.
National Service Scheme (NSS):
i.NSS is a Central Sector Scheme of MoYAS, GoI, launched in 1969. The ideological orientation of the NSS is
inspired by the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi.
Objective: The primary objective is to develop the personality and character of the student/youth
through voluntary community service.
ii.It provides opportunities to the student youth of 11th & 12th Class of schools at:
• +2 Board level and student youth of Technical Institutions; Graduate & Post Graduate at colleges
and University level of India to take part in various Government led community service
activities & programmes.
Note: Currently, there are over 39 lakh NSS volunteers in India.
On July 24, 2023, the President of India Droupadi Murmu conferred the National Geoscience Awards- 2022
(NGA) of the Ministry of Mines on 22 Geoscientists during an event organized at Rashtrapati Bhavan
Cultural Centre in New Delhi, Delhi.
About National Service Scheme (NSS):
Director– Pankaj Kumar Singh
Launched on– 24th September, 1969
The Motto or watchword of the NSS: “NOT ME BUT YOU”.
2023 SASTRA Ramanujan Prize awarded to Mathematician Ruixiang Zhang

The Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy (SASTRA) Ramanujan Prize for
2023 will be awarded to Ruixiang Zhang of China, Assistant Professor at the University of California,
Berkeley, the United States of America(USA) for his contribution to Mathematics from analytic number
theory, combinatorics, Euclidean harmonic analysis to geometry.
• The Prize will be conferred at the International
Conference on Number Theory, which will be held
from 20 to 22 December 2023 at SASTRA University
in Kumbakonam(birthplace of Ramanujan) of
Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu.
About Ruixiang Zhang:
i.In 2022, he was awarded Sloan Research Fellowship, one of
the most prestigious honors given to early-career scientific

researchers for 2022-24.
ii.His work has appeared in Inventiones Mathematicae in 2019.
iii.In 2008, he received a gold medal at the 49th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), held in
Madrid, Spain.
iv.He contributed to solving two long-standing problems in restriction theory:
• Carleson’s problem on pointwise convergence of solutions to the Schr¨odinger equation.
• The two-dimensional case of Sogge’s local smoothing conjecture for wave equations.
About SASTRA Ramanujan Prize:
i.The SASTRA Ramanujan Prize, instituted by the SASTRA University in 2005 with a cash prize of USD
10,000.
ii.The first SASTRA Ramanujan Prizes were awarded jointly to Professors Manjul Bhargava (Princeton
University) and Kannan Soundararajan (University of Michigan) in 2005.
The criteria for the awardees:
The award is given annually to a mathematician not exceeding the age of 32 for outstanding contributions
in an area of Mathematics.
• The age limit has been set at 32 because Indian mathematical genius Srinivasa Ramanujan
achieved so much in his brief life of 32 years.
SASTRA Ramanujan Prize Committee:
The 2023 SASTRA Ramanujan Prize Committee comprised
• Krishnaswami Alladi -Chair (University of Florida, USA),
• Don Blasius (University of California, Los Angeles, USA)
• Sergei Konyagin (Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russia)
• Jonathan Pila (Oxford University, United Kingdom)
• Bjorn Poonen (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA)
• Zeev Rudnick (Tel Aviv University, Israel), and
• Wadim Zudilin (Radboud University, The Netherlands)
Additional info:
National Mathematics Day is annually celebrated across India on December 22 to mark the birth
anniversary of renowned Indian Mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan.
International Olympic Committee Announced the Winners of the Inaugural IOC Climate Action
Awards
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced the winners of the inaugural IOC Climate Action
Awards, which recognise athletes, International Federations (IFs), and National Olympic Committees
(NOCs) for their efforts to combat climate change.
• IOC Climate Action Awards 2023 were awarded
under 3 categories: sustainable travel, innovation,
and athlete advocacy.
About IOC Climate Action Awards:
The IOC Climate Action Awards was introduced in November
2022, with the goal of highlighting how sport can play an
essential part in addressing the climate issue.
• More than 70 applications were received from
across the Olympic Movement.
• The 2023 awards are supported by Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partners Airbnb,
Deloitte and Procter & Gamble (P&G).

Winners of 2023 IOC Climate Action Awards:
Sustainable Travel Award:
The Airbnb supported Climate Action x Sustainable Travel Award acknowledges effective initiatives and
campaigns to travel more sustainably within the sports calendar.
Category Winner Reason for Award
Marcus Mepstead
Fencing, United
Athlete Kingdom (UK) for developing an annual travel plan that reduces emissions.
World Sailing
World Governing for prioritising reducing organisational travel and new policies
body for the sport of encouraging employees to use public transportation to minimise
IF sailing emissions.
for promoting sustainable transportation as part of its strategy,
which included the use of electric and hybrid vehicles from
Spanish Olympic Worldwide Olympic Partner Toyota, as well as public transport for
NOC Committee domestic travel.
Innovation Award:
The Deloitte supported Climate Action x Innovation Award recognises the unique and innovative ideas
presented by athletes, IFs, and NOCs to help promote climate action.
Category Winner Reason for Award
For implementing a number of waste-reduction measures as a member
Paloma Schmidt of the organising committee of the International Laser Class Association
Athlete (Sailing, Peru) (ILCA) European Championships in Andora, Italy
For launching “The Bag that Builds” in collaboration with the South
African Rugby Union and the Centre for Regenerative Design &
Collaboration (CRDC).
World Rugby i.The innovative concept includes collecting waste generated by fans,
Global governing athletes and operational workers during the Rugby World Cup Sevens
body for rugby 2022 for conversion into an eco-aggregate used for the construction of
IF union social homes in South Africa.
Colombian For creating a pilot effort to regulate, reduce, and advocate for carbon
Olympic emissions during the 2021 National Sea and Beach Games in Tol
NOC Committee (Coveas), Colombia.
Athlete Advocacy Award:
P&G supported Climate Action x Athlete Advocacy Award recognises athletes who actively engage
individuals and communities in the campaign against climate change.
Winner: Ben Blankenship, a middle-distance athlete from the United States of America (USA).
• He was recongnised for his work in promoting sustainability through the Endless Mileage
Project, which plants trees for every American miler who breaks 4 minutes (men) or 4:30
minutes (women) in the event and redistributes used sports clothing and equipment to local
schools.

i.International Olympic Day is annually celebrated across the world on 23rd June for the celebration of
sport, health, and being together.The theme for International Olympic Day 2023 is ‘Let’s Move’ which
emphasises daily physical activity to people around the world.
ii.The Indian team won 202 medals (including 76 Gold, 75 Silver, 51 Bronze) in Special Olympics World
Games Berlin 2023 held in Berlin, Germany from 17th June 2023 to 25th June 2023.
About International Olympic Committee:
The International Olympic Committee is the administrator of the Olympic Games and the driving force
behind the Olympic Movement.
President – Thomas Bach
Army Chief Presents the President’s Colours to 3rd Battalion of Naga Regiment
General Manoj Pande, the Chief of Army Staff presented the ‘President’s Colours’(represented by a flag) to the
3rd Battalion of the Naga Regiment during the Colour presentation parade held at Kumaon Regimental Centre,
Ranikhet, Uttarakhand. It was received by Col Lalit Chandra Kandpal, the Commanding Officer of the 3rd
Battalion of the Naga Regiment.
• The President’s Colour, also called ‘Nishan’, is bestowed upon a military unit in recognition of
exceptional service rendered to the country, both in peace and in war.
• The Naga regiment’s 3rd battalion was created on October 1, 2009, in Haldwani, situated in the Kumaon
Hills, which were home to the Kumaon and Naga regiments.
• The first battalion of the Naga Regiment was raised in Ranikhet in 1970.
• The Naga regiment’s 3rd battalion has received one Vishisht Seva Medal, 11 COAS (chief of Army Staff)
commendation cards, 12 VCOAS (vice-head of Army Staff) commendation cards, 37 GOC-in-C
commendation cards, and one force commander (UN Mission) commendation card since its formation.
Note:
Indian Navy was the first Indian Armed Force, to be awarded the President’s Colour by then President Dr
Rajendra Prasad on 27 May 1951.
RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das receives award for A+ ranking in Global Finance’s Central
Banker Report Cards 2023
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das was awarded the “Best Central Bank Award 2023” for
being ranked ‘A+’ in the Global Finance Central Banker Report Cards 2023. The award was presented
during the 30th annual World’s Best Banks Awards ceremony held at Marakesh, Morocco.
• Shaktikanta Das was rated as A+ in Global Finance’s Central Banker Report Cards 2023.
Other A+ rated governors:
Thomas J. Jordan, the Governor of Swiss National Bank (SNB) and Nguyen Thi Hong, the Governor of State
Bank of Vietnam(SBV) were also rated A+ in Central Banker Report Cards 2023.
Central Banker Report Cards:
i.The Central Banker Report Cards is an annual publication by Global Finance magazine that grades the central
bank governors of 101 key countries, territories, and districts.
ii.The grades are based on a scale from A to F, with A representing excellent performance and F representing
outright failure.
iii.The grades are based on the central bank governors’ success in inflation control, economic growth goals,
currency stability, and interest rate management.
iv.The Central Banker Report Cards recognize central bank governors who have developed and implemented

original, creative, and tenacious strategies that have outperformed their peers.
Global Finance was founded in 1987 and headquartered in New York, United States of America(USA).
American Actor Michael Douglas to receive Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award: 54th IFFI
at Goa
American actor and producer Michael Douglas will be honoured 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.
• The announcement was made by Union
Minister Anurag Singh Thakur, Ministry of
Information and Broadcasting (MIB).
About Michael Douglas:
i.Michael Douglas is best known for his roles in films like ‘Wall
Street,’ ‘Fatal Attraction,’ ‘Wonder Boys’ and ‘Behind the
Candelabra.’.
ii.He has also produced a several films like “One Flew Over the
Cuckoo’s Nest” (1975), “The China Syndrome” (1979), and “The
Game” (1999).
Awards:
i.He has received several awards including 2 Academy Awards(Oscars) and a Primetime Emmy Award.
• He won the Academy Award 1988 and a Golden Globe 1988 for his role in Wall Street.
• As the producer of the Movie ‘One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest’, he won Academy Award 1975.
• He won The Emmy Award: Outstanding Lead Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie for ‘Behind the
Candelabra’ in 2013.
ii.He also received Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award in the year 2004.
iii.Michael Douglas received the Honorary Palme d’Or at the 76th Festival de Cannes on May 2023
UN Messenger of Peace
i.In 1998, Michael Douglas was appointed as United Nations (UN) Messenger of Peace by UN Secretary-
General Kofi Annan for his commitment on nuclear abolition and the prevention of small arms proliferation.
• He also play a crucial role in advancing Sustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG 16).
ii.As UN Messenger of Peace, he hosted the documentary “What’s Going On?” filmed in Sierra Leone (a
country in West Africa). It is a part of a UN/Showtime ten-part series.
About the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award:
i.The Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to individuals for their outstanding contribution to
the growth and development of World cinema.
ii.It was instituted in 1999 at the 30th IFFI which was held in Hyderabad (Telangana).
iii.Spanish film Director Carlos Saura was awarded with Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement award in 53rd IFFI
in 2022.
• Other noted recipients of the award includes Martin Scorsese(IFFI 52), Wong Kar-wai(IFFI 45),
Krzysztof Zanussi (IFFI 43), Dilip Kumar(IFFI 38) and Bernardo Bertolucci(IFFI 30).
Note: IFFI is the only film festival in South Asia to be accredited by the International Federation of Film
Producers’ Associations (FIAPF) in Competitive Feature Films Category.
MSDE Dharmendra Pradhan Launched IndiaSkills 2023-24 & Felicitates World Skills 2022
Winners
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) launched
the IndiaSkills 2023-24, India’s most significant National Skill Competition program.

• He also felicitated the winners of the 46th WorldSkills Competition (WSC 2022 Special
Edition – WSC2022SE), which was held between
7th September and 26th November 2022 across 15
countries.
• India secured 11th position in the WSC2022SE,
with 2 Silver Medals, 3 Bronze Medals, and 13
Medallions for Excellence. In 2019, India held
the 13th position.
IndiaSkills:
i.IndiaSkills, India’s biggest skill competition, is the precursor to
the WSC.
• Participants who excel in IndiaSkills at the national level will take part in the 47th WSC, the global
competition, which is set to take place from 10 to 15 September 2024 in Lyon, France.
ii.The candidates can enroll themselves for IndiaSkills on the Skill India Digital (SID) platform starting from
17th October 2023.
iii.This will discover skilled individuals in the remotest corners of India and provides a platform for these
talented youths to showcase their skills.
Skill India Digital (SID):
i.It is a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) aimed at synergising and transforming the skills, education,
employment, and entrepreneurship ecosystem of India.
ii.It will act as a bridge between the employees and employers and allow educational institutes to
create/modify curricula as per industry demands.
India Skills Competition 2023-24:
i.The launch of the India Skills Competition 2023-24 meets the aspiration of young India by promoting global
standards of skills, providing competitiveness, and encouraging innovation.
ii.The competition will be held in more than 15 sectors including automotive, electronics, green jobs, and
manufacturing with competitors competing in trades like Autobody Repair, Additive Manufacturing, Water
Technology, etc.
WorldSkills Competitions 2022 Special Edition:
i.WSC2022SE was the official replacement for WorldSkills Shanghai 2022, cancelled in May 2022 due to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
ii.WSC2022SE was held across 26 cities in 15 countreis Europe, North America, and East Asia. The venues
includes Austria, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finaland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg,
Sweden, Switzerland, The United Kingdom, and The United States of America.
iii.Around 1,000 Competitors from 56 Member countries and regions competed in 62 skill competitions.
iv.China secured the 1st position followed by South Korea in the 2nd and Chinese Taipei in the 3rd position
in the WorldSkills 2022 Special Edition.
WorldSkills Competitions:
i.Founded in 1950, WorldSkills serves as the global hub for skills excellence and development, the Competition
takes place every 2 years in a Member Country.
ii.It fosters a collaborative environment for youth, industries, and educators, facilitating competitive
opportunities and skill development.
iii.From traditional trades to cutting-edge technology careers, WorldSkills offers a diverse range of skill sets
across various sectors.
iv.With 85 member countries and regions, WorldSkills collaborates with youth, educators, governments, and
industries, preparing today’s workforce for the demands of the future.
WorldSkills India: It is led by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under MSDE and has been
actively representing India in WorldSkills International competitions since 2011.

India in WSC2022 Special Edition:
i.Indian Competitors, who represented India at WSC2022SE, were selected via IndiaSkills Competition 2021. A
total of 165 talented individuals were trained for the WSC.
ii.India showcased 56 competitors and 50 experts in 50 different skills on the global platform. 19% of the
Indian competitors were female.
iii.Team India also participated in 6 new future skills listed under Industry 4.0, Robot System Integration,
Additive Manufacturing, Renewable Energy, Mobile Applications Development, and Digital Construction.
List of Indian Winners at WSC2022SE:
S.No Name Skill Medal
1 Praveen Kumar Giri Water Technology Silver
Patisserie and
2 Nandita Saxena confectionary Silver
3 Likith Kumar Yemmedoddi Prakash Prototype Modelling Bronze
Karthik Gowda Seehalli Nagaraju and Akhilesh
4 Narasimhamurthy Mechatronics Bronze
5 Anushree Srinivasan Hotel Reception Bronze
Graphic design Medallion for
6 Steven Harris Ramdev technology Excellence
Medallion for
7 Prathem Sharma Bakery Excellence
Medallion for
8 Abhinav Verma 3D Digital game Art Excellence
Information network Medallion for
9 Vaisakh Poomangalathil cabling Excellence
Medallion for
10 Advaith Arun Jeena Web technologies Excellence
Medallion for
11 Subhasis Paul Jewellery Excellence
Medallion for
12 Sonu Lather Autobody Repair Excellence
Muhammed Faisal Poolakunnan Medallion for
13 Muhammed Siyad Palayi Mobile Robotics Excellence
Medallion for
14 Saraswathy Puthucode Venkiteswaran Health and Social Care Excellence
Medallion for
15 Divejya Fashion Technology Excellence
Medallion for
16 Charmi Sen Hairdressing Excellence
Medallion for
17 Subrat Patel Restaurant Services Excellence
Medallion for
18 Mohammad Salman Abdul Hafiz Automobile Technology Excellence

On 8th August 2023, MSDE launched ‘Transforming lives, building futures: Skill development and
entrepreneurship in North-East’, a special skill development program to create a robust skill-centric and
industry-ready ecosystem in North-Eastern Region (NER).
About Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship:
Union Minister– Dharmendra Pradhan (Rajya Sabha Madhya Pradesh)
Minister of State– Rajeev Chandrasekhar (Rajya Sabha- Karnataka)
Mahsa Amini & Iranian women protest movement Won the 2023 Sakharov Prize of European
Parliament
On October 19, 2023, Roberta Metsola, President of European Parliament named Jina Mahsa
Amini and Iranian women protest movement as the winners of Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 2023
(Sakharov Prize), the European Union’s (EU) top human rights prize.
• The prize will be given at a ceremony in European
Parliament’s hemicycle in Strasbourg, France on
December 13, 2023.
Note:
• Mahsa Amini and the women of Iran were
nominated by the European People’s Party.
• The Socialists and Democrats and Renew
Europe also nominated Mahsa Amini and the
Woman, Life, Freedom Movement as representatives
of the fight for women’s rights in Iran.
About Jina Amini & The Women of Iran:
i.Jina Mahsa Amini, the 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian woman, was arrested for allegedly violating Iran’s
mandatory hijab (headscarf ) law in September 2022. She died 3 days after arrest.
ii.Her death under suspicious circumstances led to the massive women led protests in Iran.
iii.The women are protesting under the slogan ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ i.e. Iranian Women Protest Movement
against the hijab law and other discriminatory laws.
About Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought:
i.It was established in 1988 by the European Parliament, honors individuals and groups defending human
rights.
ii.The award is named after Soviet physicist and political dissident and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Andrei
Sakharov.
iii.The award carries a cash prize of 50,000 Euro.
• In 2022, it was presented to the People of Ukraine represented by their President (Volodymyr
Zelenskyy), elected leaders and civil society.
The first prize in 1988 was awarded jointly to South African Nelson Mandela and Russian Anatoly
Marchenko.
Gujarat’s Dhordo featured among UNWTO’s Best Tourism Villages 2023; MP’s Madla selected
for Upgrade Programme
On October 19, 2023, the Dhordo village in Kutch district of Gujarat, India named in the 3rd edition of Best
Tourism Villages 2023 list released by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). While,
Madla village from Madhya Pradesh’s Panna district has been picked for the UNWTO’s Best Tourism Villages
Upgrade Programme
• The announcement was made during the UNWTO General Assembly in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Participation:
54 villages from all regions were named in this list from
almost 260 applications. 20 villages have joined the Upgrade
Programme, and now, 74 villages are now part of the UNWTO
Best Tourism Villages Network.
About Dhordo Village:
It is well-known for hosting the annual Rann Utsav, a vibrant
cultural festival showcasing the region’s traditional art,
music, and crafts spanning 500,000 sq. mt. This festival was
conceptualized by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi,
offers a visit to the Great Rann of Kutch, the white desert area
on the India-Pakistan border.
About Best Tourism Villages Awards by UNWTO:
Launched in 2021, the Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO is part of the UNWTO Tourism for Rural
Development Programme which fosters development and inclusion in rural areas, combat depopulation,
advance innovation and value chain integration through tourism and sustainable practices.
• The award recognizes outstanding rural tourism destinations with accredited cultural and natural
assets.
• The “Best Tourism Villages Network” acts as a platform for sharing experiences.
Click Here for full list of Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO 2023
Army Commanders’ Conference 2023: Udhampur Military Station Bags ‘Best Green Military
Station’ Award
Udhampur Military Station in the Indian Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) bagged the ‘Best
Green Military Station‘ award. The award recognises the station’s environmental efforts and highlights the
commitment of the Indian Army to strive for excellence.
• The award was presented by the Chief of Army
Staff (COAS), General Manoj Pande, during the
2nd edition of Army Commanders’ Conference
(ACC 2023) held from 16th to 20th October 2023
in New Delhi, Delhi.
Note: ACC is an institutional platform for deliberations at the
conceptual level, facilitating important policy decisions for the
Indian Army.
Other Awards:
i.During the award ceremony, the Dehradun Military
Station (Uttarakhand) was acknowledge for securing the title of the “Second Best.”
ii.The Bikaner Military Station (Rajasthan) was honoured with the “Best Transformative Station” trophy.
iii.The 671 Army Aviation Squadron Reconnaissance and Observation (R&O) was honoured with the COAS
Flight Safety Trophy’ for the year 2022-23.
• The award recognised their determined commitment to maintaining the highest standards of flight
safety and proficiency.
• This award highlights the supreme importance of safety and proficiency within the Army Aviation
Corps (AAC), the youngest Corps of the Indian Army.
Note: The award cermony offers a significant platform to validate and acknowledge extraordinary efforts
within the Indian Army
Army Commanders’ Conference 2023:
Army Commanders’ Conference 2023 served as a platform for high-ranking military officials to engage in
strategic discussions that lead to significant policy decisions for the Indian Army.

• The conference was held in hybrid format. The first day featured virutal meetings among army
commanders and the following days featured in-person discussions.
Key People:
i.Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence(MoD) participated in the conference on October 18, 2023.
ii.Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Pande, and Chief of the Air
Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari also addressed the event.
8th WIF: ICAI Receives ISAR Honours 2023 from UNCTAD; TN’s Guidance wins UN Promotion
Award
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has been awarded the ISAR Honours 2023, 6th edition
of ISAR Honours, by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) working group on
International Standards for Accounting and Reporting (ISAR).
• The award was presented during the 8th World
Investment Forum (WIF) held from October 16-20,
2023 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on
the theme ‘Investing in Sustainable
Development’.
• The award acknowledged ICAI’s initiative of
Sustainability Reporting Standards Board (SRSB)
which received the highest score in 2023 ISAR
HONORS session among 70 initiatives from around
the world.
Note: ISAR Honours ceremony 2023 celebrates the 6th anniversary since its launch in 2018.
About World Investment Forum (WIF):
It is a biennial Forum, organised by UNCTAD since 2008 to monitor the mainstreaming of SDGs by IPAs and
conducts regular surveys.
• The 7th World Investment Forum was held virtually from 18th to 22nd October 2021 due to COVID-
19 pandemic. It was originally planned to take place in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Highlight:
ICAI also received UNCTAD ISAR Chair for the 40th session, a second consecutive session for ICAI, during WIF.
• CA. (Dr.) Sanjeev Kumar Singhal, Central Council Member from ICAI chaired the UNCTAD ISAR
session.
Key Initiatives by ICAI:
i.In 2022, ICAI formed a Section 8 Company , ‘The Institute of Social Auditors of India (ISAI)’, to fostering
proficient, ethical and world-class social auditors, at par with the expectations of the stakeholders.
ii.ICAI also issued 16 audit standards on social audits across 16 thematic focus areas, making India the first
country in the world to have social impact assessment standards.
About ISAR Honours:
UNCTAD launched the pilot edition of ISAR Honours on 24 October 2018. This aims to support efforts on
enhancing the quality and comparability of companies’ reporting on their contribution to the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development.
Objective: To raise awareness and facilitate dissemination of national and international best practices on
sustainability and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) reporting as an integral of annual reporting by
companies.
About ISAR:
ISAR is a Standing Intergovernmental Working Group of Experts on International Standards of Accounting and
Reporting created by Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 1983 and coordinated by UNCTAD.
TN’s Guidance wins UN Promotion Award
Guidance the Investment Promotion Agency (IPA under the Department of Industries, Investment Promotion

and Commerce, Government of Tamil Nadu (TN), was honored with the 2023 United
Nations (UN) Promotion Award for Excellence in Scaling Up Energy Transition Investments during the 8th
WIF.
• The award acknowledges Guidance’s innovative efforts in attracting investments and promoting
partnerships for energy transition.
• V Vishnu, Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Guidance, received the
award from Rebeca Grynspan, Director General of UNCTAD.
Note: Guidance is South Asia’s only IPA to get the UN Award in 2023.
Key Points:
i.Guidance was reconsigned for facilitating the 1st 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.
ii.This project facilitate access to low-cost solar panels and contribute to more sustainable cities in India.
UN Investment Promotion Awards 2023:
i.The 2023 edition of the UN Investment Promotion Awards recognizes the work of IPAs in attracting
investment for climate action, along with innovative approaches to investment promotion, finance, and
partnerships.
ii.A total of 10 IPAs and Special Economic Zones (SEZ) won the award.
• Apart from India, it was grabbed by Brazil, China, Egypt, France, Namibia, The Republic of Korea,
South Africa, Türkiye, and UAE.
CJI Chandrachud receives Harvard Law School’s ‘2022 Award for Global Leadership’
The Chief Justice of India(CJI) Dhananjay Yeshwant(DY) Chandrachud has been felicitated with the
‘2022 Center on the Legal Profession(CLP) Award for Global Leadership’ by The Harvard Law School
Center of Harvard University, Massachusetts, United States of America(USA).
• He was announced as the recipient of the award in
December 2022.
• He was awarded in recognition of his lifetime service
to the legal profession in India and around the world.
About the award:
i.The Center on the Legal Profession Award for Global
Leadership is the highest professional distinction of Harvard
Law School.
ii.Dana Remus who is the Former White House Counsel is
announced as the recipient of the award for the year 2023.
About D Y Chandrachud:
i.D Y Chandrachud was appointed as 50th CJI in 2022 with a tenure of 2years(till November 2024).
ii.Prior to be appointed as CJI, he was serving as a Judge of the Supreme Court(SC) of India (from 2016).
iii.From 2013 to 2016 he was Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court.
iv.He was Additional Solicitor General of India from 1998 to 2000; In 2000, he was appointed as a Judge in
Mumbai High Court.
v.He is the son of 16th CJI(1978-85) Yeshwant Vishnu(YV) Chandrachud.
About CJI:
i.Article 124(1) of the Constitution of India states that there shall be a Supreme Court of India consisting of a
Chief Justice of India.
ii.Article 126 of the constitution deals with the appointment of an acting CJI.
iii.The CJI is appointed by the President of India under clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution of India.

US Presidnet Biden honoured Indo-American Scientists Ashok Gadgil & Subra Suresh with
National Medal
On October 24, 2023, Joe Biden (Joseph Robinette Biden Jr.) President of the United States of America
honoured the 21 innovators, including 2 Indo American scientists: Subra Suresh and Ashok Gadgil, with
National Medal of Science (9) and National Medal of Technology and Innovation (12), the USA’s highest Award
for Science and Technology.
Subra Suresh, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Brown University, was honoured with National
Medal of Science.
Ashok Gadgil, University of California, Berkeley, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory(LBNL), was
honoured with National Medal of Technology and Innovation.
The award ceremony was held at the East Room of the White House in Washington DC, USA.
About Subra Suresh:
Subra Suresh, hailing from in Mumbai, Maharashtra, is a Indian-born American bioengineer, materials scientist,
and academic.
He was honoured for his pioneering research across
engineering, physical sciences and life sciences, and
particularly for advancing the study of material science
and its application to other disciplines.
Key Achievements:
i.Joined Brown University faculty in 1983, becoming the youngest
member of the engineering faculty.
ii.His Research focuses on the intersection of engineering,
physical sciences, life sciences, and medicine.
iii.He also served as MIT’s Dean of Engineering from 2007 to
2010.
iv.He served as the director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) from 2010 to 2013. He was the 1st
Asian-born American to lead the NSF. He was nominated to the post by then US-President Barack Obama.
About Ashok Gadgil:
Ashok Gadgi, born in Mumbai, Maharashtra, is a retired Senior Faculty Scientist at LBNL widely known
as “humanitarian inventor”.
He was honoured for providing life-sustaining resources to communities around the world. His
technologies are innovative and inexpensive to improve access to clean water, energy efficiency, and
sanitation in developing countries.
About Awards:
i.The National Medal of Science, established in 1959 by Congress and administered by the U.S. National Science
Foundation, is the highest scientific honor in the US.
It is awarded by the President of the US to individuals who have made exceptional contributions in
various fields viz. biology, computer sciences, education sciences, engineering, geosciences,
mathematical and physical sciences, and social, behavioral, and economic sciences, to serve the
Nation.
This 2023 ceremony marks the first time the award has been given since 2016.
ii.The National Medal of Technology and Innovation, established by Congress in 1985 and administered by the
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, recognizes visionary, creative American innovators for outstanding
contributions to the promotion of technology for the improvement of the economic, environmental, and social
well-being of the US.
It the highest award for technological achievement in the US.
Click Here for full list of Recipients

i.On 18th July 2023, India and the United States of America (US) jointly launched a call for proposals on “Critical
and Emerging Technology: Quantum Technologies and Artificial Intelligence for Transforming Lives“. The
program was designed by the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) and the Secretariat for
USISTEF.
ii.The United States of America (USA) and India conducted “Operation Broader Sword”, a bilateral multi-agency
enforcement initiative, to identify illicit and illegal medical products shipped using the International Mail
System.
About United States (US):
President– Joe Biden
Capital– Washington, D.C(District of Columbia)
Currency– US Dollar
Dr. Jitendra Singh Awards ‘Anubhav’ Prizes in 2023 and Speaks at Pre-Retirement Counselling
(PRC) Workshop and All India Pension Adalat
The Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoP&PW) hosted the Anubhav Awards 2023
Ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on October 23.
Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized various administrative initiatives that
have been put in place, ensuring the timely disbursement of
pensionary benefits to retiring employees.
i.These initiatives include:
Pre-Retirement Counselling workshops
Anubhav Awards
Pension Adalat
ii.One remarkable aspect is the ‘Whole of Government‘ approach,
which remained robust even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
iii.The Bhavishya portal has evolved and now incorporates technology to ensure timely delivery of Pension
Payment Orders to retirees.
iv.In a move to streamline and modernize, the government has repealed over 1,500 redundant laws since 2014
and introduced provisions like self-attestation.
This aligns with the philosophy of “Minimum Government-Maximum Governance,” with the goal of
bringing Ease of Living to the common citizen.
Anubhav Awards 2023:
After evaluation, 4 individuals from 8 different ministries, departments, and organizations were honored with
Anubhav Awards, and 9 jury certificates were also awarded for the first time to foster broader participation.
Award recipients received medals, certificates, and a cash prize of Rs. 10,000, while jury certificate
This initiative, which was initiated by the Prime Minister, has been remarkably successful in promoting the
sharing of experiences and ideas, resulting in the publication of 1,901 Anubhav write-ups, the highest number
to date since its launch in March 2015.
Highest of these submissions came from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
Presented by: Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions.
S.No. Anubhav Awards
1 Sh. Mohammad Jamshed, IRTS Member (Traffic), Ministry of Railways
2 Sh. Yogender Chaudhary, IRS (IT) Chief Commissioner Income Tax CBDT
3 Sh. P. Damodar Bhat Sr. Superintendent, RMS, Department of Posts
4 Sh. Bhola Ram Thakur Assistant Director (OL), DRDO
S.No. Jury Certificate Winners

1 Dr. Reny Mammen Roy Scientist-E DRDO
2 Sh. Shashi Kumar Valiathan Director Central Secretariat Service
3 Sh. Cyriac VM Administrative Officer, Department of Space
4 Sh. Sagaya Das DRTC, Technical Officer DRDO
5 Sh. P. Arumugam Chief officer superintendent, Ministry of Railways
6 Sh. Moorthy L Chief commercial inspector, Ministry of Railways
7 Sh. Mohanan N Loco Pilot (Goods)/Mech., Ministry of Railways
8 Sh. Lakhinana Kesava Rao Sub inspector/Exe, CISF, MHA
9 Sh. Mukul Barua Head Constable GD, CRPF, MHA
Anubhav portal:
The Anubhav Portal was introduced in March 2015.
Aim: to provide retiring and retired government employees with an online platform for sharing their valuable
experiences and suggestions.
Currently, it has garnered participation from 96 registered ministries, departments, and organizations,
resulting in the publication of over 10,000 write-ups.
Dr. Jitendra Singh presided over the All-India Pension Adalat
i.A mechanism designed for the swift resolution of long-standing pension disputes.
ii.Out of the 45 cases presented, an impressive 30 were successfully resolved during this session.
iii.DoP&PW has conducted a total of 8 Pension Adalats to date, leading to the resolution of 71% of the
24,671 grievances addressed in these sessions by various Ministries, Departments, and Organizations.
Key participants: Shri SN Mathur, the Additional Secretary of DoPPW, Shri Atul Kumar Goel, MD & CEO of PNB,
and Shri Debadatta Chanda, MD & CEO of Bank of Baroda.
Dr. Jitendra Singh Initiates National DLC Portal for Nationwide DLC Campaign 2.0
During the event, Dr. Jitendra Singh launched the National Digital Life Certificate (DLC) Portal for the Nation-
wide DLC Campaign 2.0. This significant initiative, led by the Secretary of the DoP&PW, Shri V. Srinivas, was
announced.
The campaign, scheduled for November 2023, aims to facilitate the submission of life certificates for 70
lakh Central Government pensioners. To achieve this goal, DLC camps will be set up in 500
locations across 100 cities, and 17 banks will collaborate in this effort.
About DLC:
Digital Life Certificate for the Pensioners Scheme of the Government of India known as Jeevan Pramaan.
The Jeevan Pramaan initiative is a biometric-enabled digital service designed for pensioners from various
government organizations, including the Central and State Government.
It aims to simplify the process of obtaining a life certificate, eliminating the need for pensioners to
physically visit the disbursing agency or the certification authority, thus reducing logistical
challenges.
Obtaining a digital life certificate is now hassle-free and can be done through various Jeevan
Pramaan Centers, which are operated by CSCs, banks, government offices, or by using the client
application on a PC, mobile, or tablet.
Integration of Pensioners’ Portals with Punjab National Bank (PNB) and Bank of Baroda
Punjab National Bank (PNB) and Bank of Baroda have seamlessly integrated their pension portals into the
Integrated Pensioners’ Portal, a significant development.
This initiative was launched by Dr. Jitendra Singh on October 18, 2022, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.
The consolidation extends to Pension Disbursing Bank websites, and the merging of the Pension Seva
Portals of SBI and Canara Bank with the Bhavishya portal has been successfully accomplished. Dr.

Jitendra Singh, in collaboration with Punjab National Bank and Bank of Baroda, spearheaded the
launch of the Integrated Pensioners’ Portal.
About Integrated Pensioners’ Portals:
i.This Integrated Pensioners’ Portal combines several stand-alone portals of the DoP&PW, such as BHAVISHYA,
CPENGRAMS, ANUBHAV, SANKALP, ANUDAAN, and others, along with the pension portals of various banks.
The primary aim is to offer a range of services through a single, user-friendly platform.
ii.State Bank of India holds the distinction of being the first pension disbursing bank to efficiently integrate
its Pension Seva Portal with BHAVISHYA.
UST Won Mahatma Awards 2023 for CSR Excellence in Community Initiatives
UST, a leading digital transformation solutions company, has been recognized by the 2023 Mahatma
Awards for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Excellence in Community Initiatives, for sustainable and
impactful contributions to CSR in areas such as education, health, livelihood, environment, and disaster relief.
The Mahatma Awards serve to highlight individuals and
organisations addressing complex global challenges
including poverty, hunger, education, climate
change, and healthcare accessibility.
The Mahatma Award 2023 consolidates UST’s profound
commitment to community welfare and global
impact.
Note: This is the 2nd time that UST won the Mahatma Award
for CSR Excellence in Community Initiatives. UST also won the
Mahatma Award 2022 for the same category.
CSR Initiatives of UST:
i.UST’s impactful CSR initiative, the Adopt-a-School program, has significantly influenced the lives of more
than 32,000 students across India and Mexico.
UST supports over 104 schools, emphasizing the importance of accessible and quality education.
ii.UST’s humanitarian steps extend to medical aid for individuals with disabilities, and habitat restoration
projects in Kerala.
iii.A noteworthy conservation and sustainable livelihood project that cultivated 75,000 medicinal saplings in
2022, benefiting farmers in diverse Indian regions.
iv.Demonstrating its global standards, UST pledged USD 100,000 to aid victims of the conflict in Ukraine.
v.In a display of social responsibility, UST’s Bengaluru (Karnataka) CSR team acted promptly during the
devastating 2023 floods.
About Mahatma Awards:
i.Mahatma Awards were founded and instituted by social entrepreneur and philanthropist Amit Sachdeva, also
known as ‘The CSR Man of India’ and are supported by Aditya Birla Group.
ii.It acknowledges and celebrates global leaders dedicated to fostering positive social change.
iii.Since its inception in 2017, the Mahatma Awards has honored the most accomplished social and community
initiatives within the private and public sectors, from sustainability to philanthropy to shared value to CSR.
iv.The Mahatma Awards were presented annually on 2nd October, which is the birth anniversary of Mahatma
Gandhi.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
Captain Bana Singh PVC Nominated as Ambassador for ‘War Against Waste’ in J&K
The Directorate of Rural Sanitation, Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir(J&K) has nominated Param Vir
Chakra(PVC) Awardee Captain Bana Singh as the ambassador for the “War Against Waste”, initiative to takle
sanitation challenges in rural areas of J&K.
• The “War Against Waste” campaign attempts to
resolve waste management and environmental
conservation challenges in rural J&K.
• Captain Bana Singh’s participation in the cause will
create awareness, encourage sustainable practices,
and inspire local populations to actively participate in
waste reduction and the preservation of J&K’s
scenery.
• Charandeep Singh, Director of Rural Sanitation of J&K
announced the nomination of ambassador at Captain
Bana Singh Stadium, R. S. Pura, Jammu during the Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS 2023) campaign.
About Captain Bana Singh:
i.Captain Bana Singh served in the 8th Jammu & Kashmir Light Infantry (JAK LI).
• He played a key role in ‘Operation Rajiv’ in which Indian armed forces’ recaptured ‘Quaid Post’ in
Siachen Glacier at an altitude of 21,000 feet, from Pakistani soldiers in June 1987.
• The recaptured post was renamed as the ‘Bana Top’ in his honour.
ii.He was awarded India’s highest wartime gallantry medal “Param Vir Chakra” in 1988.
About Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS 2023):
i.The Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS 2023) campaign was celebrated from 15th September to 2nd October 2023
under the joint aegis of the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) and the Ministry of Housing
and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
• The theme of SHS-2023 is ‘Garbage Free India’ with a focus on visual cleanliness and the welfare of
SafaiMitras(sanitation Workers).
ii.The campaign aims to mass movement through community participation to reinforce the concept of
Sanitation as everyone’s business.
iii.It also was part of Swachh Bharat Diwas (2nd October) with nationwide participation.
About Jammu and Kashmir(J&K):
Lieutenant Governor – Manoj Sinha
Dance Forms – Wuegi-Nachun, Bacha Nagma, Bhand Jashan
Festivals – Hemis Festival, Sindhu Darshan Festival, Amarnath Yatra
Mohamed Muizzu Elected as the President of Maldives

Mohamed Muizzu of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) was elected as the New President of Maldives.
He is set to be sworn in on 17th November 2023.
• He defeated the incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (2018 to 2023) of the Maldivian
Democratic Party (MDP) by securing 54% of the votes.
About Mohamed Muizzu:
i.The 45-year-old Mohamed Muizzu is currently serving as the mayor of the capital Male since 2021, and he is
the first mayor of Male to be elected by the people.
ii.He had served as the minister of housing and environment from 2012 to 2018 under then-Maldives president
Abdulla Yameen.

• During his tenure as minister, he oversaw the building of the China-Maldives friendship bridge that
connects the capital Male’, the international airport on
Hulhule, and man-made Hulhumale Island.
iii.He had also served as the Governor of the Maldives for the Asian
Infrastructure Development Bank (AIDB).
About the 2023 Election:
i.The candidate need to secures the necessary 50% to win in the
Presidential elections in Maldives.
• In the 1st round, Mohamed Muizzu secured 46 % while
Ibrahim Solih secured 39%, none of them cross the
threshold mark of 50%.
• In the 2nd round, Mohamed Muizzu led with the 53 % of the polled while Ibrahim Solih secured
only 46%.
About Maldives:
The Maldives is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, comprised of 1192 islands that stretch along a length of
871 kilometers.
President – Mohamed Muizzu
Capital – Male
Currency – Maldivian Rufiyaa
Shanth Kumar Elected as PTI Chairman; Praveen Someshwar as Vice-Chairman

K.N. Shanth Kumar of Deccan Herald was elected as the Chairman of the Press Trust of India (PTI) for the one-
year term and Praveen Someshwar, the Chief Executive Officer of Hindustan Times, was elected as the Vice-
Chairman.
• Shanth Kumar succeds Aveek Kumar Sarkar, who had served as Chairman of PTI for 2 consecutive
terms (2020 – 2023). Shanth Kumar has previously held the Chairmanship of PTI from 2013 to
2014.
• The election took place at a meeting of PTI’s Board of Directors following their Annual General
Meeting at the headquarters of PTI in New Delhi, Delhi.
About K.N. Shanth Kumar: K.N. Shanth Kumar has been editor and director with The Printers (Mysore) since
1983.
• The Printers (Mysore) are the publishers of Deccan Herald and Prajavani newspapers and related
publications.
• He was also the Chairman of the Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) and a member of the Indian
Newspaper Society (INS) Executive Committee for more than 20 years.
About Praveen Someshwar: Someshwar also led PepsiCo’s business in the food and beverage sector across
Asia.
Note:
PTI is India’s largest and oldest private news agency which was registered in 1947 and started functioning in
1949.
ACC Extends Amit Agrawal’s Tenure as UIDAI CEO for 1 Year

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the extension of Amit Agrawal‘s tenure as
the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) for a period of one
year starting from November 2, 2023 up to November 2, 2024, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
• Amit Agrawal assumed charge as the CEO of UIDAI in June 2023 following the retirement
of Saurabh Garg.

• At present, Amit Agrawal also serves as the Chairman of the National Digital Communications Policy
Committee.
About Amit Agarwal:
i.Prior to joining UIDAI as CEO, he served as an Additional Secretary
in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
ii.He has also served as an Additional Secretary and Joint Secretary
in the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance.
iii.He served as the Finance Secretary and the Secretary in charge of
the Departments of Commercial Tax and Technical Education in the
Chhattisgarh Government among other roles.
iv.He also served as a Director on the Board of the Bank of Baroda(BoB) and United India Insurance Company
Ltd(UIIC).
v.Previously he has also served as,
• Director in the Prime Minister’s Office;
• Adviser and Director in the Office of Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council (EAC);
• Officer on Special Duty with the Chairman of the National Innovation Council;
• Head of various State Government departments and agencies; and
• Head of District-level Local Governments.
• He has earlier served on the Boards of various companies, including Indian Bank, and ICICI Bank.
• He is an officer of the 1993 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) from the Chhattisgarh cadre.
About Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI):
It is a statutory authority, to create Unique Identification (UID) Numbers named Aadhaar to all citizens of India.
It was established under the provisions of the Aadhaar Act, 2016 (“Aadhaar Act 2016”) on 12 July 2016 by the
Government of India, under the MeitY.
Chairperson (Part-time)– Neelkanth Mishra
CEO– Amit Agrawal
Founded on– 28 January 2009
ACC Reappoints Nitin Gupta as Chairman of CBDT

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the re-appointment of Nitin Gupta as the
chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) for a tenure of 9-month with effect from 1st October
2023.
• He was re-appointment on a contract basis till 30th
June 2024, or until further orders, whichever is earlier,
in relaxation of the recruitment rules, on usual terms
and conditions applicable to re-employed central
government officers.
About Nitin Gupta:
i.Nitin Gupta is a 1986-batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer
of the Income-Tax department.
ii.In June 2022, he was appointed as the Chairperson of CBDT
following the superannuation of Sangeeta Singh, a 1986-batch IRS officer.
• His 1st tenure as Chairperson of CBDT was from 27th June 2022 to 30th September 2023.
iii.Earlier to that, he was a Member of CBDT handling the charge of Investigation.
iv.He also served as a Director General of Competition Commission Of India(CCI) from 2015-18.
About Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT):
The Central Board of Direct Taxes is a statutory authority functioning under the Central Board of Revenue Act,
1963.

Chairperson – Nitin Gupta
Sachin Tendulkar Named as ‘Global Ambassador’ for ICC ODI World Cup 2023
Former Indian cricket Player Sachin Tendulkar was named as the ‘Global Ambassador’ for the International
Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s Cricket One Day International (ODI) World Cup 2023.
• Sachin unveils the World Cup trophy before the inaugural
match between England and New Zealand on 5th October
2023.
• Sachin has played six ODI World Cups including 1989,
1992, 1996, 2003, 2007, and 2011.
Other ambassadors of ICC ODI World Cup 2023:
It includes Suresh Raina(India), Mithali Raj (India), Vivian
Richards(West Indies), AB de Villiers( South Africa), Eoin
Morgan(England), Aaron Finch(Australia), Muttiah Muralitharan(Sri
Lanka), Ross Taylor(New Zealand) and Mohammad Hafeez(Pakistan).
About ICC Men’s World Cup 2023:
i.The 13th edition of the Men’s ODI World Cup is set to be held from 5th October to 19th November 2023,
comprised 48 matches across 10 venues in India.
• Both the inagural and final matches set to be held in Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
ii.Mascot: ICC announces two mascots including ‘Blaze‘(female mascot- Bowler) and ‘Tonk’ (male mascot –
Batsmen).
iii. India won the men’s world cup twice, including in 1983 and 2011..
• Sachin Tendulkar was also part of the 2011 ODI World Cup-winning team.
About Sachin Tendulkar:
i.He represented India for 24 years, scoring 15,921 runs in Tests and 18,426 runs in one-day
internationals (ODI). He holds the record for most runs in international cricket with 34357 runs.
ii.He is the recipient of Bharat Ratna (2014), Padma Vibhushan(2008), Padma Shri(1999) for his achievement
in sports. He has also received the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (1997) and Arjuna Award(1994) for cricket.
iii.‘Playing it my Way’ co-authored by Boria Majumdar and Sachin is the official autobiography of Sachin.
About International Cricket Council (ICC):
Chairman – Greg Barclay
Headquarters – Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
MyGov chief Akash Tripathi to take additional charge as CEO of India Semiconductor Mission
Akash Tripathi, chief executive officer (CEO) of India’s citizen engagement platform MyGov, is set to become
the CEO of India Semiconductor Mission(ISM) as additional charge from 9th October 2023.
• Akash Tripathi will succeed Amitesh Kumar Sinha whose tenure ends on 4th October 2023.
• Akash Tripathi, a 1998 batch IAS officer from Madhya Pradesh cadre has been CEO of MyGov since
October 2022.
• Akash Tripathi was also MeitY’s nodal officer for social media content takedowns under Section 69
of the IT Act.
ISM was established in 2021 with a financial commitment of USD 10 billion (Rs. 76,000 crores) under the
Digital India Corporation of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology(MeitY)
• ISM acts as the nodal agency for the Semiconductor Fab Scheme and Display Fab Scheme.

The ISM evaluates proposals for manufacturing semiconductors in India and chooses candidates who are
eligible for subsidies.
PayU India CEO Anirban Mukherjee promoted as Global CEO of PayU GPO
Anirban Mukherjee has been promoted as the global Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PayU Global Payment
Organisation (GPO), a payments and fintech business of Prosu. Currently, he is a part of the PayU global
leadership team and serves as the CEO of PayU India.
• He replaces Laurent Le Moal, the incumbent global CEO
of PayU GPO, who steps back from the operational
management of the day-to-day business. Le Moal will
remain with Prosus and PayU in an advisory capacity.
Roles & Responsibilities:
In his new position, Anirban Mukherjee will be responsible for
PayU’s business operations. He will join the Prosus leadership
team and report directly to Ervin Tu, Prosus and Naspers Interim
CEO.
• The development comes 2 months after the Netherlands-based Prosus sold PayU’s GPO business to
Israeli company Rapyd headquartered in London (United Kingdom-UK) for USD 610 million.
Note:
• PayU is one of India’s leading Payment Gateways.
• Prosus is a global consumer internet group and one of the largest technology investors in the world.
Prosus is majority-owned by Johannesburg (South Africa) multi-national Naspers.
About Anirban Mukherjee:
i.Anirban Mukherjee has been serving as the CEO of PayU India since 2019.
ii.With over two decades of experience, Anirban Mukherjee has a deep understanding of global payments,
credit, and digital banking. His expertise spans the United States of America (USA), India, and the broader Asia-
Pacific region (APAC).
iii.He was a part of Jio’s leadership team, where he played a pivotal role in driving payments, merchant
services, and digital financial services.
• At Jio, he served as the Co-CEO of Reliance Payments Solution Ltd.
iv.Prior to Jio, he worked with Standard Chartered Bank in India and APAC, as well as senior executive
leadership with CapitalOne in the USA.
About PayU India:
CEO– Anirban Mukherjee
Headquarters– Gurugram, Haryana
Founded in– 2014
ACC Extends SBI Chairman Dinesh Khara’s Tenure till August 2024 & MD Ashwini Tewari’s
Tenure by 2-year
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet(ACC) has extended the tenure of the Chairman of the State Bank
of India (SBI) Dinesh Kumar Khara till 28th August 2024 or till he attains the age of 63 years, or until further
orders, whichever is earlier.
• He has been serving as the chairman of SBI since 7th October 2020. His 3 year tenure ended on 6th
October 2023.
ACC has also extended the tenure of Ashwini Kumar Tewari as the Managing Director(MD) of SBI for 2 years
beyond January 27, 2024.
Note: Currently, the retirement age for the SBI chairman is capped at 63. Khara will turn 63 in August 2024.

About Dinesh Kumar Khara:
i.Dinesh Khara joined SBI as a Probationary Officer (PO) in
1984 and has over 36 years of experience in all facets of Banking.
ii.He held several key positions in SBI such as; MD (Global
Banking & Subsidiaries); MD (Associates & Subsidiaries); MD &
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) (SBI Mutual Funds); and Chief
General Manager – Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) Circle.
iii.Prior to being appointed as MD of SBI, he served as the
MD&CEO of SBI Funds Management Pvt. Limited (SBIMF).
Additionally, he supervises the businesses of Non-Banking
subsidiaries of SBI.
iv.He has worked in SBI’s Chicago (the United States of America – USA) office and was associated with the
overseas acquisition of Indian Ocean International Bank Mauritius (now SBI Mauritius) during his stint in the
Overseas Expansion wing of International Banking Group.
About Ashwini Kumar Tewari:
i.Ashwini Kumar Tewari started his career in SBI in 1991 as a Probationary Officer.
ii.He serves as a Whole Time Director of SBI handling the portfolio of Risk, Compliance, and Stressed Assets
since June 2022.
iii.Earlier he was the MD, handling International Banking, Information Technology, and Non-Banking
Subsidiaries of SBI.
iv.Prior to becoming MD at SBI, he served as MD and CEO of SBI Cards and Payment Services Ltd.
v.He was the Country Head of the US Operations of the SBI from April 2017 to July 2020. Prior to that, he was
the Regional Head and General Manager, of East Asia, for SBI.
About State Bank of India (SBI):
Chairman– Dinesh Kumar Khara
MDs– Challa Sreenivasulu Setty, Alok Kumar Choudhary, Ashwini Kumar Tewari
Founded on 1 July, 1955
Ramaswamy N appointed as CMD of General Insurance Corporation of India

Ministry of Finance has appointed Ramaswamy Narayanan as Chairman and Managing Director(MD) to
General Insurance Corporation of India Limited (GIC Re) with effect from 1st October, 2023 and up to the date
of of his superannuation (i.e. 30th September 2025) or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
• He succeeds Devesh Srivastava, who retired from the post on 30th September 2023. He has been
serving as CMD since December 2019.
• Prior to this appointment he was serving as the General Manager of GIC Re.
• He was appointed based on the recommendation of Financial Services Institution Bureau (FSIB) to
Ministry of Finance in June 2023.
About Ramaswamy Narayanan:
i.Ramaswamy Narayanan joined GIC as a direct recruit officer in 1988.
ii.He has also been as CEO of GIC Re in United Kingdom branch.
• He played a key role in the establishment of the Lloyds syndicate of GIC (GIC 1947).
iii.He was involved in implementing the ambitious “Project Parivartan”.
About GIC Re: It was incorporated in 1972 and its headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

India re-elected as President of AIBD General Conference for 3rd term
India has been re-elected as President of the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development
(AIBD) General Conference (GC) for the 3rd successive term. Previously India served as President of AIBD GC
in 2018-2021 and 2021 to 2023.
• India is set to lead the international organisation and will leverage itself as the broadcasting and
media hub across the Asia Pacific.
• Mayank Kumar Agrawal, Director General, Doordarshan is the president of AIBD GC.
AIBD GC and Associated Meetings 2023:
i.The AIBD GC and its Associated Meetings is the annual official gathering of AIBD.
• The GC is open to member countries, affiliates, partners, observers, and leading broadcasters by
invitation only.
ii.The 48th Annual Gathering / 21st AIBD General Conference and Associated Meetings 2023, was held at
Balaclava, Mauritius from 2nd to 4th October 2023.
iii.It was chaired by its President Gaurav Dwivedi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Prasar Bharati, India’s
public service broadcaster.
• The two-day Conference was mandated to achieve a vibrant and united electronic media
environment in the Asia-Pacific region through policy and resource development.
Note: India has hosted the Governing Council Meetings (GC) in 1978, 1985, 2003, and 2022.
AIBD and its Members:
i.AIBD is a regional inter-governmental organisation servicing countries of the UN Economic and Social
Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP) in the field of electronic media development.
• It was established under the auspices of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO).
ii.The AIBD currently has 26 Full Members (countries), represented by 43 organisations, and 50 Affiliate
Members (organisations) with a total membership of 93 representing 46 countries and regions and over 50
partners in Asia, Pacific, Europe, Africa, Arab States, and North America.
iii.The 26 full members of AIBD are the governments of the respective countries. The full member countries are
represented by their broadcasting authorities and broadcasters.
India in AIBD:
i.India is one of the founding members of AIBD.
ii.Prasar Bharati, India’s public service broadcaster, represents the Ministry of Information and
Broadcasting(MIB), Government of India, at the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development.
• The elevation of India and Prasar Bharati in international broadcasting not only elevates their status
but also paves the way for strategic advancements.
About Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD):
Secretary to the GC & Director (AIBD)– Ms Philomena Gnanapragasam (ex-officio)
Headquarters– Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Established in-1977
Supreme Court Appoints Sign-Language Interpreter to Help Hearing-Impaired Lawyers

Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud announced the appointment that the Supreme Court of India has
allowed the appointment of a sign-language interpreter. This will ensure that hearing-impaired lawyers and
litigants, can fully comprehend and participate in judicial proceedings.
• On 22 September 2023, the CJI presided over a bench heard with the hearing-impaired lawyer Sarah
Sunny through sign-language interpreter Saurav Roy Chowdhury in a case related to the rights of
persons with disabilities (PwD).
• Sarah Sunny had earlier filed an application before the Supreme Court Registry requesting a court-
appointed Indian Sign Language (ISL) interpreter to assist her.

• In 2022, the CJI constituted a Supreme Court committee on accessibility dedicated to addressing the
challenges faced by specially-abled individuals.
Note:
• Bengaluru(Karnataka)-based Sara Sunny, India’s first lawyer with hearing and speech impairments,
argued her case before the Supreme Court with the assistance of a court-appointed interpreter.
Sara Sunny became the second deaf advocate in India. The first deaf advocate enrolled with the Bar Council of
Delhi is Saudamini Pethe of Mumbai(Maharashtra).
ACC appointed 12 Executive Directors for various PSBs

On October 7, 2023, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra
Modi, approved the appointment of 12 Chief General Managers (CGMs) and General Managers (GMs) as
Executive Directors (EDs) of various Public Sector Banks (PSBs).
Note:
i.In July 2023, the Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) had recommended 16 candidates for the
position of EDs in PSBs.
ii.India currently has 12 PSB: Bank of Baroda (BOB), Bank of India (BOI), Bank of Maharashtra (BOM), Canara
Bank, Central Bank of India, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank(IOB), Punjab & Sind Bank, PNB, State Bank of
India (SBI), UCO Bank, and Union Bank of India (UBI)
List of officials promoted from CGM or GM to ED:
S. Appointment
No. Appointee Previous Post ED (New Post) Period
1 Sanjay Rudra GM of BOM UBI –
Vijaykumar Nivrutti
2 Kamble GM of BOM UCO Bank 3 years
3 Bhavendra Kumar CGM of Canara Bank Canara Bank 3 years
CGM of Punjab National Bank
4 Bibhu Prasad Mahapatra (PNB) PNB
Punjab & Sind
5 Ravi Mehra GM of Punjab & Sind Bank Bank 3 years
6 Rajiv Mishra CGM of UBI BOI 3 years
7 Brajesh Kumar Singh CGM of BOB Indian Bank 3 years
8 Shiv Bajrang Singh CGM BOI Indian Bank 3 years
9 Rohit Rishi CGM of Indian Bank BOM 3 years
10 Lal Singh CGM at Union Bank BOB 3 years
Central Bank of
11 Mahendra Dohare CGM PNB India 3 years
12 Dhanaraj T CGM Indian Bank IOB 3 years
Points to note:
i.Lal Singh, CGM of Union Bank of India (UBI) has been appointed as the ED of Bank of Baroda (BoB) for a
period of 3 years with effect from the date of assumption of office.
• It is noted that he shall be eligible for an extension of the term of office, after a review of his
performance, till attaining the age of superannuation (i.e., 31.01.2027), or until further orders.
ii.Brajesh Kumar Singh, CGM of BoB has been appointed as the ED of Indian Bank a period of 3 years with
effective form March 2024.

iii.Rohit Rishi, CGM of Indian Bank has been appointed as ED of Bank of Maharashtra (BOM) for a period of 3
years with effective form November 2023.
iv.Brajesh Kumar Singh, CGM of BoB and Shiv Bajrang Singh
CGM of Bank of India were appointed as the Executive
Directors of Indian Bank.
v.Sanjay Rudra, who previously served as the GM at Bank of
Maharashtra (BoM), has been designated as the ED at Union
Bank of India.
vi.Vijaykumar N Kamble, another GM from Bank of
Maharashtra, will assume the role of ED at UCO Bank.
i.ACC approved the re-appointment of Tushar Mehta as Solicitor General of India (SGI) with effect from 1st July
2023 for a period of three years or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
ii.Government of India(GoI) extended the tenure of Brajendra Navnit as Ambassador
and Permanent Representative of India to the World Trade Organization (WTO) by 9 months beyond 28th June
2023 and upto 31st March 2024 or until further orders.
RBI Constitutes Working Group on ECL Framework

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has constituted a 9 member external Working Group chaired by Prof. R.
Narayanaswamy to suggest Expected Credit Loss (ECL) framework for provisioning by banks.
• R Narayanaswamy is a retired Indian accountant and former Professor of Indian Institute of
Management (IIM) Bangalore, Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Members of the Working Group:
• Sanjay Kallapur – Professor in Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad, Telangana.
• Rajosik Banerjee – Partner and Head, Financial Risk Management at Klynveld Peat Marwick
Goerdeler (KPMG).
• S Srinivasa Rao – Chief Manager of State Bank of India(SBI).
• Rajendra Khandelwal – General Manager of ICICI Bank.
• Susanta Baishya- Executive Vice President (Wholesale Credit) of HDFC Bank.
• Adish Yadav – Deputy General Manager at Canara Bank.
• Pravinkumar Taparia – General Manager of Saraswat Co-operative Bank.
• Sridharan N – Chief Financial Officer(CFO) at Equitas Small Finance Bank.
Terms of Reference for the Working Group:
i.Describe the key principles required to considered by the banks while designing the credit risk models to
assess ECL.
ii.Recommend the factors that should be considered to determine credit risk based on the guidance provided in
International Financial Reporting Standard 9 – Financial Instruments (IFRS 9) and principles laid out by Basel
Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS).
iii.Suggest methodology to undertake external independent validation of the models.
iv.Recommend prudential floors for provisioning based on comprehensive data analysis.
Background:
i.RBI released a discussion paper in January 2023 proposing a new framework for provisioning for credit risk,
called ‘Discussion Paper on Expected Loss (EL)-based Approach for loan loss provisioning by banks’
ii.It states that banks will have to set aside provisions based on their assessment of the expected losses on their
loans, rather than waiting until the loans actually default.
iii.The RBI has received comments on the discussion paper from various stakeholders, and is now setting up a
working group to get independent inputs on some of the technical aspects of the ECL framework.

Note:
• Expected Credit Loss (ECL): It is a measure of the potential losses that a financial institution
expects to incur on its loans and other financial assets over their lifetime.
• ECL Framework: The ECL framework is a forward-looking approach to provisioning for credit risk,
which is already implemented under International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and US
Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB).
RBI Appoints Muneesh Kapur as New Executive Director
RBI has appointed Muneesh Kapur as Executive Director (ED) with effect from October 3, 2023.
• As executive director, Muneesh Kapur will monitor the Department of Economic and Policy
Research.
• Prior to his appointment as ED, he was serving as Adviser-in-Charge of Monetary Policy Department
and secretary to the Monetary Policy Committee(MPC).
He also served as an adviser to the executive director of the International Monetary Fund(IMF) during 2012-
15.
Nandini Azad Re-elected to Board of International Raiffeisen Union

Nandini Azad, President of the Indian Co-operative Network for Women (ICNW) and the Working Women’s
Forum (WWF) (India), has been re-elected as a member of the International Raiffeisen Union (IRU) Board for
the 2nd term.
• In 2018, she was elected to the IRU Board becoming the first Indian and first woman to be appointed
to the post.
• At Present, she is also serving as the Chairperson of the International Cooperative Alliance(ICA) –
Asia Pacific(AP) Committee on Women.
Other Noted appointment:
i.Guy Hoffmann from Banque Raiffeisen Luxembourg has been elected as the new IRU President,
succeeding Franky Depickere from Cera.
ii.National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI) President Dileepbhai Sanghani has been re-elected unopposed
as the director on the board of IRU.
Note:
• ICNW, established in 1981, is the 1st women’s cooperative in South India for, by, and of poor
women. It is active in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.
IRU, founded in 1968, is a prestigious worldwide association of national cooperative organisations. IRU
headquartered in Bonn, Germany has 50 members in 33 countries.
HDFC AMC’s Navneet Munot elected as Chairman of AMFI; Anthony Heredia elected as Vice
Chairman
Navneet Munot, Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of HDFC Asset Management Co. Ltd
(AMC), has been elected as the Chairman of Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI).
He will take charge as chairman on 16th October 2023, succeeding A Balasubramanian, MD & CEO of Aditya
Birla Sun Life Asset Management Co. Ltd.
Note:
• The election took place at the 28th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of AMFI in September 2023.
• AMFI is a nodal association of mutual funds across India.
Anthony Heredia Elected Vice Chairman of AMFI:
Anthony Heredia, MD, and CEO of Mahindra Manulife Mutual Fund, was elected as Vice Chairman of AMFI.
• He will take charge on 16th October 2023, succeeding Radhika Gupta, MD & CEO of Edelweiss Asset
Management Ltd.

About Navneet Munot:
i.He has been serving as MD and CEO of HDFC AMC since 2021
and has over 3 decades of experience in the financial service.
ii.Previously, he served as Executive director and Chief
Investment officer(CIO) of SBI Funds management Private
Limited. He also served as the Director on the board of SBI
Pension Funds (P) Limited.
iii.He was the Executive Director and Head ( multi-strategy
boutique) at Morgan Stanley Investment Management briefly for a
year in 2007.
iv.He has also served as the Chief Investment Officer – Fixed
Income and Hybrid Funds at Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund.
v.He is also the chairman of the Indian Association of Investment Professionals(IAIP).
About Anthony Heredia:
i.Anthony Heredia has been serving as MD and CEO of Mahindra Manulife Mutual Fund since 2022 and has over
26 years of experience in the investment management industry.
ii.He served as the MD of Morgan Stanley Investment Management, CEO & Whole Time Director of Baroda Asset
Management India Limited.
iii.He has also served as the CEO of Bank of India Investment Managers Private Limited (formerly BOI Star
Investment Managers Private Limited/ BOI Axa Investment Managers Pvt. Ltd).
About Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI):
CEOs– N. S. Venkatesh and Balkrishna Kini
Incorporated on– August 22, 1995
AMFI is the association of all the AMCs of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) registered mutual
funds in India. As of now, all the 44 AMCs that are registered with SEBI, are its members.
Kumar Sangakkara Appointed as New Chair of MCC’s World Cricket Committee

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 will succeed former England captain Mike Gatting, who has held the post since 2017.
• Kumar Sangakkara is currently the Director of Cricket and the Head Coach of the Rajasthan Royals in
the Indian Premier League (IPL).
• He was awarded Honorary Life Membership of the Club, in 2011. In the same year, he joined MCC’s
World Cricket committee and remains an active member.
• He was appointed to represent the WCC on the MCC Committee in 2022.
• He served as the President of the MCC from 2019-21; He became the 1st non-British President of
MCC.
Former England Cricketer Mark Charles Jefford Nicholas will serve as the new President of MCC. He was
elected to MCC membership in 1981.
About MCC:
• MCC’s World Cricket Committee, established in April 2006, is an independent body comprised of
current and former international cricketers and umpires from across the globe.
WCC includes other exceptional cricketers such as Sourav Chandidas Ganguly (India), Heather Clare
Knight(England), Justin Lee Langer(Australia), Eoin Joseph Gerard Morgan(England & Ireland) and Graeme
Craig Smith(South Africa).

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar Resigned as Director of Pune District Central Cooperative
Bank
Ajit Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister (Dy CM) of Maharashtra, has resigned as a Director of the Pune District
Central Cooperative Bank Ltd (PDCC) citing increase in workload after becoming Dy CM of Maharashtra.
• Digambar Durgade, the President of PDCC has accepted Ajit Pawar’s resignation. Ajit Pawar has
been a director of PDCC for 32 years since 1991.
• He served as one of the directors on the board of 19 directors of PDCC.
In July 2023, he was sworn in as the 9th Dy CM of Maharashtra for an unprecedented 5th time (November
2010-September 2012; October 2012-September 2014; November 23-26, 2019; December 2019-June 2022;
June 2023-present).
• He is currently heading the Ministries of Finance and Planning as a cabinet-level Minister in the
Maharashtra Govt.
In July 2023, Ajit Pawar split from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Sharad Pawar and joined the
Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) government.
Daniel Noboa Becomes Youngest President Elect of Ecuador

Daniel Noboa, a 35-year-old businessman and a member of National Democratic Action, won the 2023 General
Election of Ecuador defeating Luisa González of the Citizen Revolution Movement.
• With this victory, Daniel Noboa becomes the
Youngest ever President elect of Ecuador.
• Daniel Noboa is scheduled to be sworn in on 25
November 2023 succeeding the outgoing President
Guillermo Lasso.
• He will serve out the term of Guillermo Lasso, which
will end in May 2025.
Background:
i.Normally, the presidential terms in Ecuador is 4 years long.
ii.The outgoing President Guillermo Lasso(President since
2021) dissolved the National Assembly by decree in May 2023, during an impeachment trial and prompted an
early election.
Note:
• The President is directly elected by absolute majority vote in up to two rounds. The President may
serve up to two 4-year terms.
• All 137 members of the National Assembly are directly elected and serve 4-year terms.
About Daniel Noboa:
i.Daniel Noboa is the son of Ecuador’s richest man, banana tycoon, Alvaro Noboa, who himself unsuccessfully
stood for elections multiple times.
ii.He entered politics in 2021, when he was elected to the National Assembly of Ecuador as a representative of
Santa Elena province for the United Ecuadorian movement.
iii.He was positioned as a member of the National Assembly of Ecuador from 2021 to 2023 and chaired its
Economic Development Commission.
iv.Before entering politics, he established himself as a businessman, founding his own company at the age of 18,
DNA Entertainment Group, an event organising company.
v.He also served as the Shipping Director and commercial and logistics director of Noboa Corporation between
2010 and 2018.

About Ecuador:
Capital– Quito
President– Guillermo Lasso
Currency– United States Dollar (US Dollar)
Christopher Luxon Elected as the 42nd PM of New Zealand

Christopher Luxon has been elected as the 42nd Prime Minister(PM) of New Zealand. He belongs to (and the
leader of) central-right National Party of New Zealand.
• He will succeed Labour Party’s Chris Hipkins who was appointed the 41st PM of New Zealand in
January 2023.
About Christopher Luxon:
i.Christopher Luxon was born on 19th July, 1970 in Christchurch,
New Zealand.
ii.He joined Air New Zealand as a Group General Manager in
2011 and promoted to the post of Cheif Executive Officer(CEO) in
2013.
iii.In 2008 to 2011, he has been CEO of Unilever(Canada).
About the Election:
i.New Zealanders went to the polls on October 14, 2023, to elect
the 54th Parliament.
• There are six parliamentary parties represented in the Parliament by 121(MPs).
• These members represent 65 general electorate seats, 7 Māori electorate seats, and 49 party list
seats.
ii.The official results will be released on November 3, 2023,once overseas and special votes(20% of the total
votes) have been counted.
iii.As of now, The National Party has won 50 seats and its ally, ACT party(headed by David Seymour), have won
11.
• With a one-seat majority in the New Zealand Parliament, National Party(along with ACT) will form
the government.
iv.The Labour Party has only won 34 seats.
About New Zealand:
Prime Minister – Chris Hipkins
Capital – Wellington
Currency – New Zealand Dollar
Mohammed Shami Appointed as Brand Ambassador of Puma India

Puma India has roped in Indian right-arm fast bowler fast bowler Mohammed Shami Ahmed as its brand
ambassador.
• As part of this partnership, Shami will promote Puma’s shoes, clothing, and accessories through
various activities and campaigns.
About Mohammed Shami Ahmed:
i.Shami made his international debut in a One Day International (ODI) against Pakistan in January 2013,
bowling four maiden overs.
ii.In December 2021, he became the third fastest Indian pacer with the least number of deliveries to take 200
Test wickets.
iii.He holds the record of most consecutive four wickets in an innings in One Day Internationals.
iv.He plays domestically for Bengal and, in the Indian Premier League, for Gujarat Titans.

Noted Ambassadors of Puma:
• Cricketer Virat Kohli (India)
• Sprinter Usain Bolt (Jamaica)
• Footballers Neymar Jr(Brazil) and Sunil Chhetri(India)
• Boxer MC Mary Kom(India)
• Cricketers Harmanpreet Kaur(India) and Harleen Deol (India)
Para-shooter Avani Lekhara (India)
MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi Appointed Permanent Representative of India to UN in

Geneva
Arindam Bagchi, Additional Secretary [External Publicity(XP)] and Spokesperson of the Ministry of
External Affairs (MEA) has been appointed the next Ambassador/Permanent Representative of India to the
United Nations (UN) and other international organisations in Geneva, Switzerland.
• Arindam Bagchi is set to take over the post from Indra
Mani Pandey, the incumbent Indian envoy to the UN
in Geneva. Pandey has been holding the position since
September 2020. and is now set to return to New
Delhi, Delhi after a three-year term.
About Arindam Bagchi:
i.He is a 1995-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) official, who
took over as spokesperson of MEA in March 2021.
ii.As MEA spokesperson, He has handled key issues and
developmnets like eastern Ladakh border row (2020-2021), India’s COVID-19 response (2019), and New
Delhi’s G20 Presidency (2023).
iii.Earlier, he served as Ambassador to Croatia from 2018 to 2020 and Deputy High Commissioner to Sri Lanka.
iv.He was working as MEA’s Joint Secretary (North) at the MEA headquarters in Delhi.
v.He also served at the Prime Minister’s Office(PMO) as a Director as well as at India’s Permanent Mission at the
UN in New York, the United States of America(USA).
Permanent Mission of India in Geneva:
The Permanent Mission of India in Geneva has three separate wings
• Permanent Mission of India to the UN and Other International Organizations in Geneva – headed by
Arindam Bagchi.
• Permanent Mission of India to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva – headed by Dr. Anupam
Ray.
• Permanent Mission of India to the World Trade Organization(WTO) in Geneva – headed by
Brajendra Navnit.
Justice Siddharth Mridul Appointed Chief Justice of Manipur High Court

Delhi High Court judge Siddharth Mridul was appointed Chief Justice (CJ) of Manipur High Court by the
union government based on the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium in July 2023.
• Justice Siddharth Mridul is set to replace Justice Muralidharan who has been serving as the Acting
Chief Justice(ACJ) of the Manipur High Court since February 2023.
• Justice Siddharth Mridul was appointed as the additional Judge of the High Court of Delhi in March
2008 and He has been serving as Delhi HC Judge since May 2009.
• The position of Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court vacant since February 2023 after Justice P.V.
Sanjay Kumar was appointed as the Judge of the Supreme Court.

President Appoints Raghubar Das as Governor of Odisha & Indra Sena Reddy Nallu as Governor
of Tripura
Droupadi Murmu, President of India, has appointed former Chief Minister(CM) of Jharkhand, Raghubar Das(68
years old), as the 26th Governor of Odisha and Telangana Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Indra Sena
Reddy Nallu(73) as 20th Governor of Tripura with effect from the date they assume charge.
• Raghubar Das will succeed Ganeshi Lal who has been
serving as the Governor of Odisha since 2018.
• Indra Sena Reddy Nallu will succeed Satyadeo Narain
Arya who has been serving as the Governor of Tripura
since 2021.
About Appointment of Governor:
i.Article 153 of the Constitution of India mandates the presence of
a Governor in each state.
ii.Under article 155 of the Constitution, the President of India
appoints the Governor on the advice of the Central Government, which is headed by the Prime Minister.
iii.The Governor is appointed for a term of five years.
iv.To be eligible for appointment as Governor, a person must be an Indian citizen and have completed the age
of 35 years(Article 157).
Note: Raghubar Das is currently serving as the national vice-president of the BJP.
About Raghubar Das:
i.Raghubar Das was part of the Janata Party in 1977 and later joined the BJP as a founding member in 1980.
ii.In 1995, He was elected as the member of Bihar Legislative Assembly from Jamshedpur East.
iii.After the creation of Jharkhand in 2000, (Jharkhand was created our of Bihar through Bihar Reorganisation
Act, 2000), he served as the member of Jharkhand Assembly till 2019.
iv.He served as the 6th Chief Minister of Jharkhand from 2014 to 2019.
• He was the 1st non-tribal CM of Jharkhand and the 1st CM of Jharkhand to complete a full term in
power.
About Indra Sena Reddy Nallu:
i.He has served the Member of Legislative Assembly(MLA) Andhra Pradesh 3 times in 1983 and 1985 from
Malakpet in Hyderabad and was re-elected in 1999.
ii.He has served as BJP president in the combined State of Andhra Pradesh from 2003 to 2007 and as the
national secretary of the party BJP in 2014
On 12th August 2023, the President of India Droupadi Murmu gave assent to four bills including the Digital
Personal Data Protection Bill 2023, the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill 2023, the Jan
Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill 2023, and the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi
(Amendment) Bill 2023.
About Odisha:
Chief Minister – Naveen Patnaik
Dance forms – Ghumura Dance, Ranapa Dance
River – Vansadhara, Indervati
About Tripura
Chief Minister – Manik Saha
Airport – Khowai Airport
Festival – Garia Puja, Ashokastami Festival

Ashok Vaswani Appointed as New MD & CEO of Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the appointment of Ashok Vaswani as the next Managing
Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (KMB) for a period
of 3 years. The appointment is with effect from the date of taking charge, which shall not be later than January
1, 2024.
• Ashok Vaswani will replace Uday Kotak who stepped
down from the post in September 2023. He resigned 4
months ahead of the end of his current tenure, which is
December 31, 2023.
• Ashok Vaswani will succeed Dipak Gupta, the Joint MD
of KMB, who is serving as the interim MD & CEO of
KMB until December 31, 2023.
• Ashok Vaswani is currently the president of Pagaya
Technologies Ltd, the United States of America (US)-
Israel Artificial intelligence (AI) fintech firm.
Note:
• Uday Kotak served as the MD and CEO of the bank since its inception in 2003. In March 2023, the
bank’s board approved appointing Uday Kotak as the non-executive non-independent director for 5
years.
• This will be the first time that KMB will be led by an outsider (Ashok Vaswani) in its 20 or so years
of operation.
About Ashok Vaswani:
i.Ashok Vaswanihas more than 3 decades of experience in the banking sector.
iiPrior to Pagaya, he was member of the Barclays Group Executive Team and he has also served as the CEO of
consumer banking & payments and Barclays Bank UK.
iii.Prior to Barclays, he was a partner with a J P Morgan Chase-funded private equity firm, Brysam Global
Partners.
iv.He spent 20 years with Citigroup and his last position at Citigroup was CEO, Asia Pacific, Global Consumer
Bank based out of Singapore.
• He was also a member of the Citigroup Operating Committee, the Citigroup Management Committee,
and the Global Consumer Planning Group.
• In addition, he served as a Director on the Board of Asia Pacific VISA International.
vi.He is a member of the Board of the London Stock Exchange Group and the SP Jain Institute of Global
Management, UK.
He has also served on the Advisory Board of Insead, Singapore as well as a Founder Director of Lend-a-Hand.
About Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (KMB):
MD and CEO– Dipak Gupta (Interim)
Sanjay Kumar Jain appointed as CMD of IRCTC

Sanjay Kumar Jain has been appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the Indian Railway
Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC).
• His appointment has been approved after the recommendation of Serach-Cum-Selection
Committee (SCSC).
• The post was vacant since January 2021 after the retirement of Mahendra Pratap Maal.
• From June 2023, Seema Kumar who is the Additional Member (Tourism & Catering) is acting as CMD
(Additional Charge).

About Sanjay Kumar Jain:
i.Sanjay Kumar Jain is an Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) officer of 1990 batch (IRTS: 1990)
ii.He is currently serving as the Principal Chief Commercial Manager in Norther Railway.
iii.Previously, he served as Joint Secretary to Department of Public Enterprises under Ministry of Finance.
About Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC): It is established in 1999 &
Headquartered in New Delhi, Delhi
HP Appoints Former Apple Executive Ipsita Dasgupta as SVP & MD for India
HP Inc. (known as Hewlett-Packard Company), has appointed former Apple executive Ipsita Dasgupta as
senior vice president(SVP) and Managing Director (MD) of HP’s India market.
• She will take over the new position with effect from 30th October
2023 succeeding Gurpreet Singh Brar, who has been serving as the Interim MD since November
2022.
• As the SVP and MD, she will be responsible for all the aspects of HP’s strategy and Profit and Loss
(P&L) in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
• She will be reporting to David McQuarrie, Chief Commercial Officer(CCO) of HP.
About Ipsita Dasgupta:
i.Prior to joining HP, Ipsita served as the senior director of marketing for Apple Services based at
headquarters in Cupertino, California, United States of America.
ii.She has also worked as President of corporate strategy & incubated business at Star India, a Walt Disney
company; and CCO for South Asia and Greater China at General Electric Company.
India Cricketer MS Dhoni Appointed as Brand Ambassador of Lay’s

Mahendra Singh Dhoni (MS Dhoni), Former captain of the Indian Cricket Team, has been appointed as the
brand ambassador of PepsiCo India’s potato chips brand Lay’s.
As the brand ambassador, he will feature on the ‘No Lay’s, No
Game’ campaign of Lay’s and promote the match-viewing
experience with Lay’s chips.
The ‘No Lay’s No Game’ is a global campaign associated with
football icons Thierry Henry(France) and Lionel
Messi(Argentina).
Note: Recently MS Dhoni was appointed as the brand ambassador
of JioMart, the e-commerce platform of Reliance Retail, a retail
initiative of Reliance Industries Limited(RIL).
Swarup Mohanty Appointed VC of Mirae AMC; 1st Non-Korean VC of Mirae Asset Financial Group
South Korea-based Mirae Asset Financial Group has appointed Swarup Anand Mohanty as the Vice Chairman
(VC) of Mirae Asset Investment Managers (India) Private Limited (Mirae AMC) with effect form 24th October
2023.
· Prior to the appointment he was serving as the Director and Key Personnel of AMC. he has been
serving as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the AMC since 2016.
· With this, Mohanty becomes the first Non-Korean person to be appointed as the VC within Mirae
Asset Financial Group.
· The appointment is a part of the major management reshuffle of Mirae Asset Financial Group.
About Swarup Anand Mohanty:
i.He has over 2 decades of experience in the field of financial services including more than 17 years of
experience in Asset Management Sales. He is overall responsible for the India AMC.
ii.He joined AMC as head-Sales in July 2011 and was appointed as Associate Directors on the Board of Mirae

Asset Global Investments (India) Private Limited (“MAGI India”) in 2016.
iii..Previously, he worked as National Sales Head – Retail, India at Religare Asset Management Co. Ltd.
iv.He also held pivotal roles in renowned organisations like Birla Sunlife Asset Management Co. Ltd, and
Franklin Templeton Asset Management (India) Pvt. Ltd, and Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Company Ltd.
Points to note:
i.As a part of the management reshuffle, key founding members like Choi Hyun-man (the Co-founder of Mirae
Asset Financial Group), Mirae Asset Securities CEO and Chairman; Cho Woong-gi, Vice Chairman of Mirae Asset
Securities; and Choi Kyeong-joo, Vice Chairman of Mirae Asset Global Investments have stepped down from
their positions.
ii.Lee Jun-yong, President of Mirae Asset Global Investments; Kim Jae-sik, President and CEO of Mirae Asset
Life Insurance; Kim Mi-seob, Heo Sun-ho, and Rhee Jung-ho, Presidents of Mirae Asset Securities President;
were appointed as VC within their respective subsidiaries.
Additional info:
· Mirae Asset Financial Group is one of Asia’s leading independent financial services companies.
· The AMC is the Asset Management Company of Mirae Asset Mutual Fund (MAMF) India.
· The AMC is the subsidiary of Mirae Asset Global Investments, which in turn is the asset management
arm of the Mirae Asset Financial Group.
About Mirae Asset Investment Managers (India) Pvt. Ltd (Mirae AMC):
Vice Chairman & CEO– Swarup Anand Mohanty
Started Operations in 2008
Robert Fico formally appointed as PM of Slovakia

On 25th October 2023, the Zuzana Čaputová, President of Slovakia, formally appointed Robert Fico as the
Prime Minister (PM) of Slovakia. He will succeed Ľudovít Ódor who has been serving as the Interim PM of
Slovakia since 15 May 2023 after the resignation of Eduard Heger as PM.
· This is the 3rd time Robert Fico will serve as the PM of
Slovakia, after having served from 2006 to 2010 and
from 2012 to 2018.
· He is the head of the current ruling pro-Russian party
Slovak Social Democracy (SMER-SD).
Key Points:
i.Notably, his appointment was made after his SMER-SD won the
30th September 2023 election and formed a coalition with the
centre-left HLAS (Voice) party and the ultranationalist Slovak
National Party (SNS).
ii.The party won 42 seats in the 150-seat Parliament.
iii.He pledged in his election campaign to end military support for Ukraine and criticized sanctions on Russia.
About Slovakia:
President– Zuzana Čaputová
Capital– Bratislava
Currency– The Euro
Amitava Mukherjee gets Tenure Extension as NMDC CMD

The Ministry of Steel has extended the tenure of Amitava Mukherjee, Chairman-cum-Managing Director
(CMD) of the National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) for a further period of 1 year with effect
from 20th November 2023 up to 19th November 2024 or till the appointment of a regular incumbent or
until further orders.

· He is the Director (Finance) of NMDC who has been holding additional charge as the CMD since
March 2023.
· This is the 2nd extension given to Mukherjee on his additional charge. Earlier the Government
extended his tenure in July 2023 till November 19, 2023.
This decision follows the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on October 18 approving a Ministry of
Steel’s proposal for his extension.
Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, Ruler of Johor, Elected as 17th King of Malaysia
His Royal Highness (HRH) Sultan Ibrahim ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, the Ruler of the
southern Malaysian state of Johor, was elected as the 17th King of Malaysia, also known as Yang di-
Pertuan Agong (YDPA) XVII, for a term of 5 years, which will begin on 31st January 2024.
· He was elected by the Conference of Rulers
during its 263rd (Special) meeting held at the
National Palace(Istana Negara) in Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia.
· He will replace incumbent Sovereign Al-Sultan
Abdullah ibni Sultan Ahmad Shah, Ruler of
Pahang state, who has been serving as the 16th
King since 2019. His tenure is set to end on 30th
January 2024.
Significance:
For the first time in over 3 decades, the Ruler of Johor has been appointed as the YDPA.
· The last YDPA from Johar was the late former Johor Ruler, Sultan Iskandar Sultan Ismail,
Father of Sultan Ibrahim. He served as YDPA of Malaysia from 1984 to 1989.
Other Appointment:
Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, will be appointed deputy king, for 5 years from
31 January 2024.
Malaysia’s Rotational Monarchy:
i.Under Malaysia’s rotational monarchy, the position of king, also known as Yang di-Pertuan Agong,
and his deputy are shifted among the rulers of nine of its 13 states.
ii.The King of Malaysia is elected by the Conference of Rulers, which consist of 9 hereditary ethnic
Malay royals(sultans of 9 of its 13 states)
iii.This system was adopted after the independence from British rule in 1957.
Note:
The Johor royal family dates from the early 16th century and has its own private army.
About Sultan Ibrahim ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar:
i.Born on 22 November 1958, Sultan Ibrahim is of Malay-British descent and he is the eldest son of
the late Sultan Iskandar Sultan Ismail.
ii.He enlisted and trained as a Royal Malaysian Navy officer for 3 months at the RMN base in Lumut
(Malaysia), making him a fully trained army, navy, and air force officer.
iii.He served the State government in various offices among them the State Secretariat, the Treasury,
Land Office, Town and Country Planning Department, etc.
iv.His reign as Sultan of Johor began on 23 January 2010, following the demise of his father.
v.He created history by gaining the Class 26 Train Driver’s License upon completing the 86-tonne
locomotive round using a turn table device.

· He also received acknowledgment from the Malaysia Book of Records (MBOR) as the first
Malay Ruler to officially drive a train.
About Malaysia:
Capital– Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
Prime Minister– Anwar Ibrahim
Currency– Malaysian Ringgit (MYR)
Govt Appoints BCG to Craft ‘Vision 2047’ Document

The government of India has appointed the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), a global consulting
firm, to help prepare the Vision 2047 document, outlining India’s medium-term objectives for
becoming a developed economy in the next 25 years. The document will emphasise strategic
measures to elevate India to a middle-income country.
· The Vision 2047 document will emphasise leveraging India’s expertise in the industry,
services, agriculture, trade, and human capital, along with a focus on enhancing governance
systems and public goods accessibility.
· Ensuring inclusive economic growth will be a pivotal component of this Vision 2047
document. The government, think tanks, and various external agencies are actively involved
in shaping the vision document implementation.
· The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog is taking the lead in consolidating
these diverse suggestions and inputs.
3 Indian Technology Experts Named in the 39-member UN High-level Advisory Body on AI

On 26 October 2023, the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General (SG) António Guterres revealed the
formation of a 39-member High-Level Multistakeholder Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in
New York, the United States of America (USA).
The list featured 3 Indian technology experts namely Amandeep Singh Gill, UN SG’s Envoy on
Technology(since 2022); Nazneen Rajani, Lead Researcher at Hugging Face; and Sharad Sharma,
Co-founder of iSPIRT Foundation.
The Board will support the international community’s efforts to govern AI and its members’ list
comprises experts from the government, private sector, research community, civil society, and
academia.
About New AI Advisory Board:
i.The AI Advisory Body aims to
address critical issues concerning AI on a global scale.
establish a global scientific consensus on AI risks and promote AI for Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs).
ii.Emphasising inclusivity, the UN will leverage its unique convening power as a universal and inclusive forum
on critical challenges.
iii.It will help bridge other existing and emerging initiatives on AI governance and issue preliminary
recommendations by the end of 2023, with final recommendations by summer 2024, ahead of the Summit of
the Future.
Click here for the Full List of members of the new AI Advisory Board.
About Amandeep Singh Gill:
i.Before his current role, he served as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the International Digital Health and
Artificial Intelligence Research Collaborative (I-DAIR) project, based in Graduate Institute of International and
Development Studies, Geneva (Switzerland).

ii.He also served as the Executive Director and Co-Lead of the UN’s SG’s High-Level Panel on Digital
Cooperation from 2018-2019.
iii.He served as India’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament in
Geneva from 2016-2018.
About Nazneen Rajani:
i.Serving as the Research Lead, she specialise in AI Safety and Alignment, notably utilising Reinforcement
Learning with Human Feedback (RLHF).
ii.She is recognized as an expert and thought leader in Large Language Models (LLMs) robustness and
evaluation.
About Sharad Sharma:
i.He co-founded iSPIRT Foundation, a non-profit technology think tank that has conceptualised India Stack,
Health Stack, and other digital public goods.
ii.He was also the co-founder of Teltier Technologies, a wireless infrastructure startup now part of CISCO.
iii.He was also instrumental in the success of India’s first IP-focused fund, the India Innovation Fund.
iv.He is a member of the National Startup Advisory Council, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)’s
Financial and Regulatory Technology Committee.
v.He Chairs the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA)’s Expert Committee on Asset
Tokenization and the Taskforce on the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in the ThinkTank20 (T20) Group of
Twenty (G20).
Role of the Advisory Body:
i.The Advisory Body operates independently, guided by UN Charter values, and emphasizes inclusivity in its
approach.
ii.With time sensitivity in mind, it aims to deliver preliminary recommendations in AI governance, risk
assessment, and leveraging AI for SDGs.
iii.Its recommendations will contribute to the negotiations surrounding the proposed Global Digital Compact,
aligning with preparations for the upcoming Summit of the Future.
iv.Gender-balanced and diverse across regions and generations, the members representing various sectors will
bring multifaceted insights to the initiative.
On 22nd August 2023, Former President of India, Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated India’s first Artificial
Intelligence (AI) School at Santhigiri Vidyabhavan in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
About United Nations (UN):
Secretary-General– António Guterres
Headquarters– New York City, United States of America (USA)
Established on– 24 October 1945.
Actor Rajkummar Rao Named as ‘National Icon’ for Election Commission of India
Bollywood Actor Rajkummar Rao was named as the ‘National Icon’ for voter awareness and education by the
Election Commission of India(ECI).
Rajkummar Rao and ECI entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a period of 3 years at
the event held in New Delhi, Delhi, in the presence of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Rajiv
Kumar, and Election Commissioners Anup Chandra Pandey and Arun Goel.
About this Partnership:
i.This collaboration aims to use Rajkummar Rao’s impact and popularity to inspire citizens, especially youth,
across the country to actively engage in the voting process.
ii.Through this collaboration, Rajkummar Rao will promote voter awareness in various TV talk shows/
programs and digital campaigns about the importance of voting and strengthening the roots of democracy by
fostering a more engaged and informed electorate.

iii. ECI collaborates with renowned Indians from various fields and designates them as ECI’s national icons to
inspire voters to join in the celebration of democracy.
Former Indian cricketer and Bharat Ratna awardee
Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar as the National Icon in
August 2023.
Actor Pankaj Tripathi was named as the National Icon in
2022.
Singer Jasbir Jassi and diversity and inclusion consultant
Dr. Niru Kumar were named as the National Icons in
2020.
During the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, Mahendra Singh
Dhoni, Aamir Khan and Mary Kom were the ECI National Icons.
About Rajkummar Rao:
i.Rajkummar Rao made his acting debut with the anthology film Love Sex Aur Dhokha (2010).
Rajkummar Rao acted as an election officer in ‘Newton’ movie which was released in 2017.
Rajkummar Rao is noted for his acting in movies like Shahid (2012), Trapped (2016), Stree (2018),
Badhaai Do (2022), Monica, and O My Darling (2022).
He is the brand ambassador of the brands including Cashify, Syska Group and ‘The New Shop’.
ii.He won the best actor award in the 2014 National Flim Awards for acting in ‘Shahid’ movie which was a real
life story of Shahid Azmi, slain lawyer and human rights activist from Mumbai, Maharashtra
State of India.He shared the best actor award with Suraj Venjaramoodu for Malayalam film “Perariyathavar”.
Worldsteel elects Nucor’s Leon Topalian as Chairman & TATA Steel’s T V Narendran as Vice
Chairman
Leon J. Topalian, President and Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Nucor Corporation (the United States of
America-USA), was elected as the 45th Chairman of the World Steel Association(worldsteel), the
international industry association for the iron and steel sector.
India’s Thachat Viswanath(TV) Narendran, CEO &
Managing Director(MD) of Tata Steel Limited and Choi
Jeong-Woo, CEO of POSCO Holdings were elected as the
Vice Chairman of Worldsteel.
Choi Jeong-Woo served as the 44th Chairman of the
WorldSteel.
Other Elected Office Bearers:
Timoteo Di Maulo, CEO of Aperam S.A. (Belgian-French
Company), as the Chairman of worldstainless.
Note: worldstainless is a not-for-profit research and development association which was founded in 1996 as
the International Stainless Steel Forum. worldstainless is not a separate legal entity. Worldsteel provides
administrative support to worldstainless.
Key Points:
Leon J. Topalian, TV Narendran and Choi Jeong-Woo were also elected as the members of the 2023-
2024 Executive Committee
The board members of Worldsteel has also elected the executive board of directors for the period 2023-
2024. The executives of the board of Worldsteel will hold office for 1 year.
About TV Narendran:
i.Narendran served as the Vice President – Safety, Flat Products & Long Products Divisions of Tata Steel from
2010 till his appointmnet as MD of Tata Steel in November 2013.
ii.He is also a member on the Board of Tata Steel and he is the Chairman of Tata Steel Europe.
iii.He is also a member of the Council of Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.

iv.He was the co-chair of the Mining & Metals Governors Council of the World Economic Forum(WEF) from
2016 to 2018.
v.He served as the President of the Indian Institute of Metals from 2021 to 2022 and as President of the
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) from 2021 to 2022.
About World Steel Association(worldsteel):
Worldsteel was founded as the International Iron and Steel Institute on 10 July 1967 and renamed as
Worldsteel in 2008.
This represents steel producers, national and regional steel industry associations, and steel research institutes.
Its Members represent around 85% of global steel production.
Director General– Edwin Basson
Headquarters– Brussels, Belgium
Indian Cricketer MS Dhoni Roped in as brand Ambassador of SBI

State Bank of India (SBI) has roped in former Indian Cricketer and former Captain of Indian Men’s cricket team
Mahendra Singh Dhoni (MS Dhoni) as its official brand ambassador.
Key Points:
i.Under this partnership, Dhoni will play a major role in the
marketing and promotional campaigns of SBI.
ii.This partnership of SBI aims to reiterate its commitment to serve
the nation and its customers with trust, integrity and dedication.
Note: Other noted brands endorsed by Dhoni include, PepsiCo
India’s Lay’s; Reliance Industries
Limited(RIL)’s JioMart; Oreo, India Cements, Dream11, Garuda
aerospace, TVS Motors, Reebok, etc.
About Mahendra Singh Dhoni:
i.MS Dhoni made his international debut in 2004 and captained the Indian national cricket team in limited-
overs formats from 2007 to 2017 and in Test cricket from 2008 to 2014.
ii.He is also playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the franchise, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) from 2008
to 2015 and from 2018 to 2023.
iii.He announced his retirement from International cricket on 15 August 2020.
Records:
i.Dhoni captained India in 332 matches and has recorded 178 wins and 120 defeats as captain of India.
ii.MS Dhoni is 1st and only captain in international cricket to win all three major International Cricket Council
(ICC) trophies (Twenty20 International (T20I) World Cup 2007, One Day International (ODI) World Cup 2011
and ICC Champions Trophy 2013.
Awards:
Padma Shri in 2009 and Padma Bhushan in 2018 for sports.
He is the 2nd cricketer to be awarded Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (now Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna) in
2007 after Sachin Tendulkar in 1997–1998.
About State Bank of India (SBI):
Chairman– Dinesh Kumar Khara
Managing Director (MD)– Ashwini Kumar Tewari
Established in 1955
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Tagline – The Banker to Every Indian

Indian Film actor Katrina Kaif Roped in as Brand Ambassador of Rado
Katrina Kaif, a British-Indian actress, who works in Hindi-language films, was appointed as the Global Brand
Ambassador for Rado, a Switzerland-based luxury watch manufacturer.
She is featured in Rado’s campaign emphasizing its dedication to crafting timepieces that combine timeless
materials with enduring style.
Points to note:
She is the founder of “Kay Beauty”, India’s 1st celebrity-owned beauty company.
Other noted brands endorsed by Katrina include Japanese casual wear brand Uniqlo’s
Note:
Indian Actor Hrithik Roshan has been one of the global brand ambassadors of Rado since 2011.
Rado was established in 1917 and came to India in 1995.
ACQUISITION & MERGERS

IFC Received RBI’s Approval for Acquiring 9.7% stake in Federal Bank
International Finance Corporation(IFC) has received approval from Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to acquire
upto 9.7% of the paid-up share capital or voting rights of the in Federal Bank Limited (subject to the
conditions specified therein).
• The approval has been granted by RBI with reference to the application made by IFC.
Key Points:
i.In July 2023, the Federal Bank raised Rs 959 crore from IFC through a preferential issue of shares.
ii.IFC currently holds a 1.34% of the paid-up share capital or voting rights in the bank.
Followed Regulations:
The approval granted by RBI is subject to the compliance with the relevant provisions of the
• Banking Regulation(BR) Act, 1949.
• RBI’s Master Direction and Guidelines on Acquisition and Holding of Shares or Voting Rights in
Banking Companies dated January 16, 2023 (as amended from time to time).
• Foreign Exchange Management Act(FEMA) 1999.
• Regulation 30 of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) (Listing Obligations and
Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015.
• Any other guidelines, regulations and statutes as applicable.
About International Finance Corporation(IFC):
IFC is one of the members of the World Bank Group(WBG). It is the largest global development institution
focused exclusively on the private sector in developing countries.
Managing Director – Makhtar Diop
Headquarters – Washington DC, United States of America(USA)
About Federal Bank Limited:
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Shyam Srinivasan
Headquarters – Aluva, Kerala
Established in 1931
Tagline – Your Perfect Banking Partner
Air India Completes Acquisition of its 1st A350-900 Aircraft through GIFT City
On September 29, 2023, Tata Group owned Air India successfully acquired India’s first Airbus A350-900
aircraft by way of finance lease transaction with HSBC through AI Fleet Services Limited (AIFS), a 100%

subsidiary of Air India, and a Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) International Financial
Services Centre (IFSC)-registered finance company.
• Air India is the India’s first scheduled carrier to have acquired an aircraft from an entity
registered in GIFT City.
• It is also its first financing transaction from its orders for 470 aircraft that were made earlier in
2023.
Key Points:
i.Air India has placed orders for six A350-900 planes and five of them are scheduled for delivery through
March 2024.
• Apart from these, it orders 470 new aircraft include 34 A350-1000s, 20 Boeing 787
Dreamliners, 10 Boeing 777Xs, 140 A320 neos, 70 A321 neos and 190 Boeing 737MAXs.
ii.Air India had signed purchase agreements to acquire these aircraft with Airbus and Boeing on the
sidelines of Paris Air Show held in June 2023.
Note:
Tata Sons acquired a 100% stake in loss-making Air India in January 2022 through its fully owned
subsidiary, Talace Private Limited.
About International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA):
IT has been established on April 27, 2020 under the International Financial Services Centres Authority Act,
2019.
Chairperson– K. Rajaraman
Headquarters– Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), Gandhinagar, Gujarat
CCI Approvals on 3rd October 2023

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the following acquisitions on 3rd October 2023,
• Acquisition of certain stake of Lenskart Solutions Private Limited by Kedaara Capital Fund III LLP
• Acquisition of majority stake in Indira IVF by Zonnebaars and amalgamation of Spaceway Wellness
into Indira IVF
• Acquisition of 100% shareholding of Lanco Amarkantak Power Limited by PFC Projects Limited,
REC Limited, SJVN Limited and Damodar Valley Corporation
Acquisition of Lanco Amarkantak Power Limited by PPL, REC, SJVN and DVC
CCI has approved the proposed acquisition of 100% shareholding of Lanco Amarkantak Power Limited by PFC
Projects Limited, REC Limited, SJVN Limited and Damodar Valley Corporation.
Acquires:
i.PFC Projects Limited(PPL) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Power Finance Corporation Limited (PFC), a
central public sector undertaking (CPSU) under the Ministry of Power.
ii.REC Limited (formerly Rural Electrification Corporation Limited) ) is a Navratna company under the Ministry
of Power. It is a subsidiary of PFC.
• It is a non-banking financial company (NBFC) categorized as an infrastructure finance company by
the Reserve Bank of India(RBI).
iii.SJVN Limited (formerly known as Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam) is a miniratna Schedule A public sector
undertaking(PSU). It is a joint venture of the government of India and the government of Himachal Pradesh.
iv.DVC is a statutory corporation set up under the Damodar Valley Corporation Act, 1948.
Target: LAPL is an unlisted public limited company engaged in power generation in India.
Acquisition of a 1.74% stake in Lenskart Solutions Private Limited by Kedaara Capital Fund III LLP
CCI has approved the acquisition of approximately 1.74% of the issued share capital on a fully diluted basis of
Lenskart Solutions Private Limited (Target) by Kedaara Capital Fund III LLP(Acquirer).
Key Notes:
i.Acquirer is a private equity fund, registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India as a Category II

Alternative Investment Fund.
ii.Target is a private limited company incorporated in India.
Acquisition of majority stake in Indira IVF by Zonnebaars & amalgamation of Spaceway Wellness into
Indira IVF
CCI approved the acquisition of the majority shareholding of Indira IVF Hospital Private Limited (Indira IVF)
by Zonnebaars Netherlands B.V. (Zonnebaars) and the amalgamation of Spaceway Wellness Private Limited
(Spaceway) with and into Indira IVF.
Points to note:
i.Indira IVF is India’s largest fertility chain expert with 115+ centres across India. it is engaged in the provision
of fertility and in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment.
• Spaceway is one of the promoters of Indira IVF.
ii.Zonnebaars is a part of the EQT group of investment funds. EQT is a Swedish global investment organization.
SBIFML Fund Gets RBI Approval to Acquire Upto 9.99% Stake in IndusInd Bank
SBI Funds Management Limited (SBIFML) has received the Reserve Bank of India(RBI)‘s approval to acquire
up to a 9.99% paid-up share capital in IndusInd Bank Limited.
• This acquisition will allow the company to also hold 9.99% voting rights in the bank.
• The approval has been granted with reference to the application made by SBIFML to RBI.
Condition in acquisition:
i.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.
ii.The RBI has given SBIFML one year time (till 10th October, 2024) to buy the shares of IndusInd Bank.
Compliance:
The approval granted by RBI is subject to compliance with
• Relevant provisions of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949
• RBI’s master direction and guidelines on the acquisition and holding of shares or voting rights in
banking companies dated January 16, 2023
• Provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act(FEMA), 1999
• Regulations issued by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
About SBI Funds Management Limited (SBIFML):
SBIFML is a joint venture between State Bank of India(SBI) and AMUNDI Asset Management through a wholly
owned subsidiary Amundi India Holding.
SBI holds 63% stake and AMUNDI Asset Management holds 37%.
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Shamsher Singh
About IndusInd Bank Limited(Ltd):
CCI Approved Acquisitions Involving Hitachi Astemo Ltd

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.
• HAL was formed in 2021 by the merger of four Hitachi Automotive companies.

Acquisitions in HAL by JICC-01 :
CCI approved the acquisition of 20% voting rights in HAL by JICC-01 Limited Partnership, along with certain
control rights, board representation, and other rights.
• The JICC-01 Limited Partnership, managed by JICC G.K., is a a wholly owned subsidiary of JIC Capital,
Ltd.
• JIC Capital is a wholly owned subsidiary of Japan Investment Corporation (JIC).
• JIC was founded in 2018, is a sovereign wealth fund of the Government of Japan.
Acquisitions in HAL by HMCL:
CCI 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.
• HMCL is a Japanese public limited company that manufactures and sells automobiles, two-wheelers,
power products, and auto parts in India.
Acquisitions of HAL in HAEMS:
CCI approved the acquisition of 49% stake in Hitachi Astemo Electric Motor Systems (HAEMS) by HAL. With
this HAL holds the 100% shareholdings of HAEMS.
• HAEMS is a Japanese company that develops, manufactures, and sells motors for electric vehicles.
CCI approves merger of IDFC Ltd with IDFC FIRST Bank

Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the Scheme of Amalgamation of IDFC
Limited(IDFCL) with IDFC FIRST Bank.
• The approval was granted under the Green Channel Route, which is a fast-track route for mergers
and acquisitions that are unlikely to have any adverse impact on competition..
• IDFCL is a development finance institution(DFI) and the parent company of IDFC FIRST Bank.
Provision:
The merger was granted according to Section 6(2) of the Competition Act, 2002 read with Regulations 5 and SA
of the Competition Commission of India (Procedure in regard to the transactions of business relating to
combinations) Regulations, 2011.
The amalgamation will be completed within FY23-24. IDFC FIRST Bank Limited was established in 2018 and
headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Kotak Mahindra Bank Gets RBI Nod for Acquisition of Sonata Finance
Kotak Mahindra Bank (KMB) got approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to acquire 100% of the issued
and paid up capital in Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) based Sonata Finance Private Limited (SFPL) for Rs 537 crore.
• Sonata Finance will act as a wholly-owned business correspondent (BC) subsidiary of KMB after the
completion of the transaction.
• Sonata Finance, established in 2006, is a Microfinance company registered as Non-Banking Finance
Company(NBFC)-Microfinance institutions(MFI) (Non-Deposit taking).
• Sonata Finance has a network of 502 branches across India.
Note:
KMB entered the MFI business in 2016 with the acquisition of Karnataka-focused BSS Microfinance for Rs 139.2
crore.
CCI Approves Rebalancing of Cross-shareholding Between Renault and Nissan

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the re-balancing of the existing cross-
shareholdings between Renault S.A. (Renault) and Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. (Nissan)(Rebalancing).

· This also relates to the changes to the shareholding of 2 of their joint ventures(JV) Renault
Nissan Automotive India Private Limited (RNAIPL) and Renault Nissan Technology &
Business Centre India Private Limited (RNTBCI) in India.
Note:
· RNAIPL is dedicated to manufacturing and assembly of passenger vehicles and offers
related services exclusively to Renault and Nissan.
· RNTBCI is a captive automotive technology and business center supporting Renault and
Nissan’s Research and Development (R&D), engineering, and so on.
Details of the Re-balancing:
i.As part of the Rebalancing, Nissan will maintain a 15% share in Renault through Nissan Finance Co.
Ltd. (NFC).
ii.Renault will transfer 28.4% of its Nissan shares to a trust estate administered by a trustee governed
by French law. The entrusted shares will be voted neutrally, with few exceptions.
iii.Renault will continue to benefit fully from the economic rights of the entrusted shares until their
eventual sale.
iv.Following this re-balancing, Renault and Nissan will have a cross-shareholding of 15% of the total
issued share capital and freely exercisable voting rights in each other.
Nissan: Nissan and its affiliates in India focus on the sale of passenger vehicles and automotive parts,
conducted through Nissan Motor India Private Limited (NMIPL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nissan.
Renault: Renault and its affiliate entities in India, sell automobiles and parts through its wholly-
owned subsidiary Renault India Private Limited (RIPL).
About Competition Commission of India (CCI):
Chairperson– Ravneet Kaur
Yes Bank Reinstate Its Stake in JC Flowers ARC to 9.9%

YES Bank Limited had acquired additional shares of J.C. Flowers Asset Reconstruction Private Limited
(“JC Flowers ARC”) to reinstate its equity share capital proportion to 9.9% in accordance with share
subscription and purchase agreement.
· This represents the acquisition of 24,643,558 equity shares of JC Flowers ARC at Rs 29.68
per share.
Background:
i.In September 2022, Yes Bank signed a share subscription and purchase agreement with JCF ARC LLC
and JC Flowers ARC along with a shareholders agreement with CF ARC LLC, JC Flowers ARC, and Emso
Asset Management.
ii.Yes Bank aimed to acquire a total of 19.9% of the equity share capital in JC Flowers ARC with
initial acquisition of 9.9% shareholding and subsequent acquisition of additional shareholding of
10.00%.
iii.In November 2022, Yes Bank acquired 9.9% equity share in JC Flowers ARC, which fell to 5.01% as
a result of certain corporate actions in JC Flowers ARC.
· Yes Bank had become a minority shareholder in JC Flowers ARC and participated in the
business of asset reconstruction.
Corporate Actions:
Corporate actions are events that bring material change to a company’s securities or to its

shareholders. They can be either voluntary or mandatory.
RBI’s approval:
i.Prior Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approval is required for the acquisition of 10% or more
shareholding in ARC by a banking company.
ii.Prior approval should be obtained by ARC for including any entity as a sponsor of the ARC.
About Yes Bank Limited:
Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer – Prashant Kumar Headquarters – Mumbai,
Maharashtra
Tagline – Experience Our Expertise
About J.C. Flowers Asset Reconstruction Private Limited (“JC Flowers ARC”):
i.JC Flowers ARC is incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 and existing under the Companies
Act, 2013
ii.It is registered as an asset reconstruction company(ARC) under section 3 of the Securitisation and
Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002.
RECPDCL Hands Over a Project Specific SPV to Power Grid Corporation

REC Power Development and Consultancy Limited (RECPDCL) handed over the project-specific SPV
(Special Purpose Vehicle) formed for the construction of ‘Ramgarh II Transmission Limited’
transmission project, to Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL).
Rajesh Kumar, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of RECPDCL handed over the SPV to Pankaj Pandey,
Executive Director of PGCIL.
· RECPDCL is a wholly owned subsidiary of REC Limited (formerly Rural Electrification
Corporation Limited).
· So far, RECPDCL has successfully handed over 54 transmission projects costing around Rs.
75,000 crore.
About the SPV:
i.The SPV involved in the implementation of a 765/400kV(kilovolt) & 2×500 MVA(Mega Volt Amp) 400/220 kV
pooling station at Ramgarh along with 765kV Direct Current(DC) line (Ramgarh PS to Bhadla-3 PS) in
Rajasthan.
ii.The project is set to be completed in 18 months. This will help in evacuation of renewable energy from
Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) in Rajasthan.
iii.This project is in line with the government’s target of achieving 500 GW(gigawatt) of installed electricity
capacity from non-fossil fuel (Renewable Energy + Nuclear) sources by 2030.
Key Points:
Ministry of Power notified that RECPDCL has selected the PGCIL as Transmission Service Provider through
the Tariff Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB) in line with Standard Bidding Documents and Guidelines.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Amazon Launched First Test Satellites for Project Kuiper Satellite System
Amazon.com, Inc.(AMZN.O) has launched the first two prototype satellites KuiperSat-1 and KuiperSat-2 to
low Earth orbit (LEO) at the height of 500 kilometers (311 miles) as part of “Protoflight” mission of Project
Kuiper.
• The satellite was launched by United Launch
Alliance’s (ULA) Atlas V rocket from Space
Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force
Station, Florida, United States of America (USA).
About Project Kuiper:
i.Project Kuiper satellite system is a network of satellites in
LEO. The Kuiper System will operate at altitudes between 590
and 630 kilometers (roughly 367 to 391 miles).
ii.The project aims to provide fast and affordable internet to
more than 10 million of underserved communities around the
world.
• To make it feasible, Amazon planned to launch 3,236 satellites that make up a satellite
constellation to LEO.
• To reduce the overlap of the satellites, each one of them will operate within 9 kilometers of their
assigned altitude.
iii.To launch the satellite Amazon has signed contracts with three commercial space companies namely
Arianespace, Blue Origin, and United Launch Alliance.
• These space companies will carry satellite to the space with the launch of up to 83 rockets.
iv.The half of the planned satellites must be operational by 2026, and all of them must be operational by 2029.
v.This project is competing with SpaceX’s Starlink project.
Agreements to launch satellites:
• 38 launches on ULA’s Vulcan Centaur rocket (will be launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force
Station in Florida, USA).
• 18 launches on Arianespace’s Ariane 6 rocket (will be launched from Guiana Space Center in French
Guiana, France)
• 12 launches on Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket(will be launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force
Station in Florida, USA), with options for 15 additional launches.
This is the largest commercial procurement of space launch services in history.
About Amazon.com, Inc.:
President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Andy Jassy
Headquarters – Seattle, Washington, United States of America(USA)
European’s First Private Rocket MIURA 1 SN1 was Launched by PLD Space
The first private suborbital European rocket MIURA 1 SN1 was launched by Spanish space company PLD
Space.
• The reusable rocket was launched from El Arenosillo Experimentation Centre (CEDEA) of Spanish
National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA) in Huelva, Spain.
MIURA1 SN1:
i.The rocket is of 12.5meters in length with a propellent system of Kerosene and Cryogenic liquid

oxygen(KeroLOX)
ii.The rocket has TEPREL-B Liquid Bi-propellant
engine developed by PLD Space.
• In 2021, it became the first KeroLOX rocket engine
developed in Europe for space flights.
iii.The rocket had a Nominal payload mass of 100 kilograms.
iv.The Miura-1 rocket has been named after a breed of fighting
bull.
Aim:
i.The first flight of the MIURA 1 SN1 technology demonstrator
aims to collect data about the flight performance of the rocket
and its systems,
ii.These data will be used to validate the design and technology of the MIURA 5 orbital launch vehicle which is
planned to be launched in 2025.
iii.The rocket also aims to conduct scientific research under microgravity conditions.
About the launch:
The launch also tested a technological device from the German Centre for Applied Space Technology and
Microgravity (ZARM) under microgravity conditions.
Significance:
i.With this launch, Spain has now joined the elite club of nations that can launch rockets into space.
ii.Spain has become the tenth country to reach space. Other nine countries are Russia, the United States of
America(USA), France, Japan, China, India, Israel, Iran and North Korea.
Additional info:
Europe had relied on Ariane 5 (Europe’s largest rocket) for heavy payloads, Russia’s Soyuz rocket for medium
payloads, and Italy’s Vega rocket for small payloads.
• In July 2023, Ariane 5 was retired after its final launch from Kourou, French Guiana. Ariane 6’s
entry is also delayed.
About PLD Space:
Raúl Verdú & Raúl Torres are the Co-Founders of PLD Space.
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Raúl Torres
Headquarters – Elche, Spain
NASA’s Psyche Spacecraft was Launched to Study Metal Asteroid ‘Psyche’

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has launched a Psyche Spacecraft to an
interplanetary transfer orbit by using SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39a (LC-39a) at
NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, United States of America (USA) on 13th October 2023.
• After escaping Earth’s gravity, Psyche Spacecraft will
use solar electric propulsion to accomplish its six-year
journey to the asteroid called ‘Psyche’ which is
orbiting the Sun between Mars and Jupiter. .
About Psyche Mission:
i.This is NASA’s first mission to study an asteroid that has more
metal than rock or ice. .
ii.NASA selected the Psyche mission on January 2017, as one of
two missions for its Discovery Program.
• The Discovery Program is a series of relatively low-
cost missions to explore the solar system.

iii.The mission is led by Arizona State University of USA.
iv.The Psyche mission will also test a new communication technology called Deep Space Optical
Communication (DSOC).
• DSOC uses lasers to encode data in photons, which are then transmitted between a spacecraft in
deep space and Earth.
• DSOC will test optical, or laser, communications beyond the Moon.
About Psyche spacecraft:
i.The Psyche spacecraft is built by Maxar Technologies Inc. of USA.
ii.The spacecraft will travel to the asteroid using solar-electric (low-thrust) propulsion, following a Mars flyby
and gravity-assist.
iii.It will reach the asteroid by 2029.
iv.After arriving, the spacecraft will map the asteroid and study its properties.
Equipments:
i.Psyche’s most of the telecommunications systems are manufactured by Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) of
NASA.
ii.The spacecraft is equipped with
• Four antennas(for communication with earth),
• Multispectral imager with a pair of identical cameras and telescopic lenses (to take the picture
of the surface of the asteroid).
iii.To study the chemical elements of asteroid’s surface material, it is provided with gamma-ray and neutron
spectrometer.
iv.Magnetometer will look for evidence of an ancient magnetic field at asteroid Psyche.
About Psyche asteroid:
i.Psyche is a giant metal rich asteroid, discovered by Italian astronomer Annibale de Gasparis in 1852.
• It’s named after the goddess of the soul in ancient Greek mythology, depicted as a butterfly-winged
female figure.
ii.It is an irregular, potato-like shaped asteroid located at the distance ranging from 235 million to 309
million miles (378 million to 497 million kilometers) from the Sun.
• The asteroid dimension is 173 miles (280 kilometers) width and 144 miles (232 kilometers) long.
iii.It is made up of a mixture of rock and metal, with metal composing 30% to 60% of its volume.
iv.Psyche is also called as 16 Psyche, as it was the 16th asteroid to be discovered.
Why Psyche is important?
i.Psyche is made up of a lot of metal from the core of a planetesimal, which is one of the small building blocks of
our solar system.
ii.It is believed that Psyche is likely a survivor of many violent collisions that were common when the solar
system was forming.
iii.So, exploring Psyche will give insights into the early history of our solar system and the formation of planets.
iv.The mission aims to find whether Psyche is remnant core material, how old it is, whether it formed in
conditions similar to the Earth’s core, and what its surface is like.
KCP Delivers Integrated AirDrop Test – Crew Module Structure to ISRO for Gaganyaan Mission
The Chennai-based KCP Heavy Engineering (KCP HE) hands over the first Integrated Air Drop Test -Crew
Module (IADT-CM) structure to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for the purpose of assessing
technology readiness for the Gaganyaan spacecraft.
• ISRO designed the IADT-CM structure, which was built in Thiruvotriyur, Chennai, by KCP-Heavy
Engineering Unit for heavy casting, machining, and fabrication.
• This was the first IADT-CM out of two orders by ISRO to KCP while the second IADT-CM is set to be
delivered by March 2024.
• The IADT-CM weighs 3,120 kg, has a diameter of 3.1 metres, and a height of 2.6 metres.

• It accommodates major subsystems like parachute systems, pyros, avionics, and buoyance
augmentation systems.
• The IADT-CM system will be tested using an Indian Air Force helicopter at an altitude of 3.6 to 4
kilometres to assess the performance of the deceleration system (parachute and pyro’s).
Note:
ISRO’s Gaganyaan Mission intends deploying a crew of two to three members into a 400-kilometer orbit for a
three-day mission and safely returning them to Earth by facilitating a landing in Indian sea waters.
Japan Becomes 1st Country Ever To Fire Electromagnetic Railgun

The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), along with the Acquisition Technology & Logistics Agency
(ATLA), which comes under the Ministry of Defense of Japan, has successfully test-fired a medium-caliber
maritime electromagnetic railgun from an offshore platform.
• With this, Japan became the first country in the
world to successfully test-fire a maritime railgun
from an offshore platform.
What is a Railgun?
i.A railgun is a type of weapon that uses electromagnetic force
to launch high-speed projectiles (at about Mach 7).
ii.The projectiles do not contain explosives, but instead rely on
their mass, speed, and kinetic energy to inflict damage.
iii.Railguns could be used to target a wide range of aerial
threats at sea, including hypersonic cruise missiles and
hypersonic ballistic missiles.
iv.Railguns are stealthy to some extent (due to their small bullets).
About Japan Railgun:
i.It is a medium-sized electromagnetic railgun.
ii.It can shoot a 320g (or 0.7lb) 40mm steel rounds bullet at a speed of around 2,230 m/s (Mach 6.5).
iii.These railguns will be inducted into Japan’s defense system in the second half of 2020s(after 2025) after
conducting several rounds of testing.
iv.These railguns can fire interceptors as well at the desired speeds.
Japan railgun development:
i.ALTA’s Ground Systems Research Centre (GSRC) started a 16mm railgun project in 1990.
ii.By 2016, ATLA initiated a project to create a railgun prototype with anti-air and anti-missile capabilities.
iii.A small-caliber research railgun, together with relevant support and testing tools was developed by ALTA in
2018.
Note:The tested railgun by ATLA is a more extensive railgun with better capabilities than initially envisioned.
Additional Info:
Japan is increasing its military capabilities, which include plans to accelerate the procurement of Tomahawk
cruise missiles, develop its own long-range missiles, and acquire the ability to strike enemy military bases.
About Japan:
Prime Minister– Fumio Kishida
Capital– Tokyo
Currency– Japanese Yen (JPY)
ISRO Launches the Gaganyaan Mission Test

On 21st October 2023, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched Gaganyaan’s first
flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra
Pradesh(AP).

Mission Definition:
“In-flight Abort Demonstration of Crew Escape System (CES)” at
Mach number 1.2 with the newly developed Test Vehicle followed
by Crew Module(CM) separation & safe recovery.
Mission Objective:
• Test all the systems of the Test Vehicle to make sure they
are working properly.
• Test the CES to make sure it can safely separate the Crew
Module from the Test Vehicle in the event of an
emergency.
• Test the CM’s ability to fly and land safely at higher altitudes.
Working:
i.The flight simulated the abort condition during the ascent trajectory corresponding to a Mach number of 1.2
encountered in the Gaganyaan mission.
ii.At an height of about 17 km, the CES and CM got separated from the test vehicle.
iii.The CES then autonomously deployed the parachutes and slow the CM down to a safe landing in the sea,
about 10 km from the coast of Sriharikota.
About TV-D1:
i.Test Vehicle Demonstration 1(TV-D1) is a low cost liquid propelled single stage rocket which is developed
specifically for test missions.
ii.TV-D1 uses a modified VIKAS(VIKram Ambalal Sarabhai) engine with CM and CES mounted at its fore end.
iii.Navigation of the rocket is taken care by Mini Advanced inertial navigation system (INS) augmented by
Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (NavIC)/ Global Positioning System (GPS)
About Crew Escape System (CES):
i.The Crew Escape System (CES) is a system that can be used to safely evacuate the crew of a spacecraft in the
event of an emergency.
ii.It consists of five types of quick-acting solid motors, which are used to generate the thrust needed to separate
the spacecraft from the launch vehicle and propel it to a safe distance.
iii.The five types of motors are:
• Crew Escape System Jettisoning Motor (CJM)
• High-altitude Escape Motor (HEM)
• Low-altitude Escape Motor (LEM)
• Low-altitude Pitch Motor (LPM)
• High-altitude Pitch Motor (HPM)
About Crew Module(CM):
i.The Crew Module (CM) is the part of a spacecraft that houses the crew and their life support systems.
ii.The chamber’s pressure will be maintained at the pressure of earth surface.
iii.The Crew Module contains all the systems needed to descend the module and safely bringing it back to
Earth.
• This includes parachutes, recovery aids, and pyrotechnic devices.
IAF Test Fired Long Ranged BrahMos Missile
Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully tested the air launch version of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile.
• The missile was launched from a Sukhoi Su-
30 Modernizirovannyi Kommercheskiy Indiski (MKI) fighter jet in an airbase in Bay of Bengal.
• This is a long range version of supersonic weapon system with a range of about 1500km.
• The BrahMos missile can be launched from a range of platforms, including fighter jets, submarines,
ships, and land-based systems.

• It is developed by BrahMos Aerospace which is a joint venture between Russia’s NPO
Mashinostroyeniya (NPO Mash) and India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation
(DRDO).
On 2nd September 2023, the Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) launched Aditya-L1(Lagrange Point 1),
India’s 1st observatory-class space-based solar mission, launched by PSLV-C57 (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle)
rocket from the Second Launch Pad (SLP), Satish Dhawan Space Centre – SDSC (formerly Sriharikota Range –
SHAR) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh(AP).
About the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO):
Chairman– S. Somanath
Headquarters– Bengaluru, Karnataka
Pakistan Successfully Conducts Training Launch of Ghauri Weapon System

Pakistan Army successfully conducted a training launch of the Ghauri Weapon System, a medium-range,
road-mobile, ballistic missile system indigenously developed by Pakistan, to test the operational and technical
readiness of Army Strategic Forces Command (ASFC).
The launch was witnessed by Lieutenant General
Muhammad Shahbaz Khan Commander ASFC, senior
officers from the strategic forces, scientists, and
engineers of the strategic organisation.
Note: Previously on 18th October 2023, Pakistan successfully
conducted the flight test of Ababeel Weapon System, the
ballistic missile system, in Islamabad, Pakistan.
About Ghauri Weapon System:
i.It is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear
warheads and has a reported range of approximately 1,300 to
1,500 kilometers.
ii.The missile system aims to strengthen deterrence and enhance strategic stability in the region through “the
operationalization of Full Spectrum Deterrence in the overall construct of Credible Minimum Deterrence”.
iii.The test aimed to revalidate the design and technical parameters of the system including the advanced post-
separation attitude correction system for anti- ballistic missile defense (BMD) and an advanced terminal and
mid-course navigation system.
Additional info:
i.Recently, the United States of America (US) imposed sanctions on 3 Chinese companies for supplying missile-
related items to Pakistan’s ballistic missile program.
ii.China remains a key ally of Pakistan and the main supplier of military equipment to Islamabad’s military
modernisation programme.
About Pakistan:
Capital– Islamabad
President– Arif Alvi
Prime Minister– Anwaarul Haq Kakar (Interim)
Currency– The Pakistani rupee (PKR)
MeitY Launches Indigenous Portable DC Charger to Boost Electric Vehicle Adoption

On October 20, 2023, S Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY),
launched the indigenous(Made in India) technology of “2KW DC Portable Charger” designed to meet the new
safety standard IEC 60950-11.

• It envisages boosting electric vehicle (EV) adoption in India by encouraging the development of
indigenous technology.
• This development will also aid in MeitY’s objective to
accelerate EV adoption and reduce dependence on
imported chargers.
Developers:
It was developed by the Centre of Excellence (CoE) at Indian
Institute Of Technology(IIT) Madras Research Park in Chennai,
Tamil Nadu (TN) in collaboration with Flowtrik Technologies.
• It is funded by MeitY.
IEC 60950:
i.IEC 60950 is a safety standard for information technology equipment (ITE) that is published by the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
ii.It specifies safety requirements including electrical, mechanical, and thermal aspects, as well as protection
against fire, radiation, and chemicals.
Features of Portable DC Charger:
i.Optional provisions for communicating with batteries for adaptive charging
ii.Hooks for Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity, enabling real-time tracking of charging-related parameters
iii.Providing over 95% efficiency and the ability to function in temperatures up to 50 degree Celsius.
China Launches Shenzhou-17 Manned Spacecraft to Its Space Station

China’s Chinese Manned Space Agency (CMSA) has launched its 30th flight mission Shenzhou 17 (also known
as “Divine Vessel”) along with three astronauts to the Tiangong Space Station.
The spacecraft lifted off atop a Long March-2F Y17 carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch
Center in northwest China.
This is the sixth manned mission of China to its space station since 2021.
About the Astronauts:
i.The crew is led by former air force pilot Tang Hongbo (48).
He is making his second spaceflight.
He belongs to China’s second batch of astronauts in
2010.
ii.The other two members of the crew: Tang Shengjie (33)
and Jiang Xinlin (35), are both travelling to space for the first
time.
They joined the China’s 3rd batch of astronauts.
iii.The crew is the youngest-ever crew of Chinese astronauts
to visit the Tiangong Space Station.
About Shenzhou 17 mission:
i.Shenzhou 16 crew will hand over control to the incoming Shenzhou 17 astronauts.
ii.The mission will last for six months, during which time the astronauts will conduct experiments and
technology tests.
iii.The astronauts will also conduct Tiangong’s first extravehicular experimental maintenance work.
Shenzhou 16:
i.Shenzhou 16 was the fifth manned mission to China’s Tiangong space station.
ii.The crew consisted of Jing Haipeng (commander), Zhu Yangzhu, and Gui Haichao.
iii.It launched on May 30, 2023, and will return to Earth on October 31, 2023.
Tiangong Space Station:
i.The Tiangong space station is a Chinese space station being built in low Earth orbit between 340 and 450
kilometers above the earth.

ii.In 2021, Shenzhou 12 was the first crew to visit the space station.
iii.Chinese will be the working language of this space station.
About People’s Republic of China:
President – Xi Jinping
Capital – Beijing
Currency – Renminbi (Yuan)
Skyroot Aerospace Unveils Vikram-I Orbital Space Launch Vehicle

Skyroot Aerospace Private Limited unveiled ‘Vikram-I’ orbital space launch vehicle at the newly inaugurated
its headquarters ‘The MAX-Q Campus’ located at the GMR Aerospace and Industrial Park in South Hyderabad,
Telangana.
The event was attend by Union Minister of State(MoS) Jitendra Singh, Ministry of Science & Technology
(MoST) who also unveiled simulation of Vikram 1.
The Vikram-I rocket is capable of carrying a load of up to 480 Kilograms (kg) into 500 Kilometre (km)
the Low Earth orbit (LEO) and a load of 290 kg into a 500 km Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO).
Vikram 1 is the all-carbon-fibre bodied rocket that can place multiple satellites in orbit and features 3D
printed liquid engines.
Note:
Vikram-I is set ot launch in 2024 by Skyroot Aerospace Private Limited which was established in 2018 by
Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka(Co-Founders).
Sporanaerobium hydrogeniformans: An Anaerobic, Hydrogen-Producing Bacterium Found in

Aravali Hot Spring, Maharashtra
Scientists under the Bioenergy Group at the Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) in Maharashtra,
identified a New Genus of anaerobic lignocellulose-degrading bacteria called Sporanaerobium
hydrogeniformans in the hot spring of Aravali, located in Ratnagiri district (Maharashtra). This
bacteria has a remarkable ability to produce hydrogen gas as a byproduct of its metabolic processes.
· The hydrogen generated by this bacteria could be a source of clean and Renewable Energy.
The findings are published in the journal Archives of Microbiology.
· Sporanaerobium hydrogeniformans is part of the Lachnospiraceae family, renowned for
its polysaccharide degradation capabilities to synthesise free or complicated hydrolytic
enzymes.
· Sporanaerobium hydrogeniformans is crucial for breaking down cellulose and xylan, the
key components of lignocellulosic agricultural waste.
· A collection of thermostable hydrolytic enzymes reported in Sporanaerobium
hydrogeniformans makes the bacterium significant for use in industry.
· The researchers also discovered that the bacteria can grow optimally at high temperatures
of 45–50°C and an alkaline pH of 8.0.
Note:
· Unlike most bacteria, this strain can simultaneously utilize hexose and pentose sugars. This
unique characteristic positions the bacterium as a vital asset in the industrial production of
biofuels.
· ARI is an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology.

25T BP Tug ‘Mahabali’ launched at Shoft Shipyard Pvt Ltd in Gujarat
On 28th October 2023, Commodore Sunil Kaushik, Warship Production Superintendent(WPS) (Mumbai)
launched the 25T Bollard Pull (BP) Tug, ‘Yard 305 – Mahabali’, at M/s Shoft Shipyard Private Limited (SSPL)
in Bharuch, Gujarat.
These Tugs are built under the classification rules of Indian Register of Shipping (IRS).
These tugs will improve the operational commitments of Indian Navy(IN) by facilitating assistance to
Naval ships and submarines during berthing and un-berthing, turning and manoeuvring in confined
waters.
This will also provide afloat firefighting assistance to ships and will have capability to conduct limited
Search and Rescue Operations.
Background:
i.In November 2021, the IN concluded the contract for construction of three 25 Ton Bollard Pull Tugs with
SSPL, Thane, Maharashtra at a cost of Rs 84.75 crore.
ii.The keel for all three 25T Bollard Pull Tugs (Yard 305 – Mahabali, Yard 306 – Baljeet & Yard 307 – Bajrang)
were laid in June 2022 at SSPL Bharuch, Gujarat.
iii.This is in line with “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” (Made in India) initiative of the Government of India.
Ericsson Sets up 6G R&D Centre in Chennai, TN

Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, commonly known as Ericsson, Swedish telecommunication company, has
announced setting up a 6G Research and Development(R&D) centre in Chennai, Tamil Nadu(TN)
Ericsson is also looking to partner with premier engineering institutes in India for 6G-related research.
This 6G R&D centre in India will be the 3rd such centre of Ericsson. The other 2 are in Sweden and the
United States of America (USA).
At Present, Ericsson has R&D centres at Chennai, Bengaluru(Karnataka) and Gurugram(Haryana).
Ericsson was started by Lars Magnus Ericsson in 1876 and it has been present in India since 1903.
Note: On 5th October 2023, Nokia established a 6G Lab at its Global R&D center in Bengaluru.
DEFENCE
EXERCISE
India-Bangladesh holds Joint Military Exercise SAMPRITI-XI 2023
Exercise SAMPRITI-XI 2023, an annual joint military exercise between India and Bangladesh is held in Umroi,
Meghalaya, for 14 days from 3rd October to 16th October 2023
• This is the 11th edition of the Exercise, which
strengthens India-Bangladesh defence cooperation
by promoting stronger bilateral connections, cultural
understanding, and reciprocal benefits from shared
experiences.
• It emphasizes the necessity of improving
interoperability between the armies, as well as
sharing tactical drills and encouraging best practises.
Note:
• The 1st edition of Exercise SAMPRITI was held in
Jorhat, Assam in 2009.
• The 10th edition of Exercise was conducted at Jashore Military Station in Bangladesh in 2022.
About the Ex SAMPRITI-XI:
i.Ex SAMPRITI-XI will include a Command Post Exercise (CPX), a Field Training Exercise (FTX), and a Validation

Exercise based on the conduct of Sub-Conventional Operations as per Chapter VII of the UN mandate.
ii.Command Post Exercise (CPX): 20 Officers from each contingent focusing on decision-making after
thorough deliberations.
iii.Field Training Exercise (FTX): grassroots-level operations will be validated including a series of joint
tactical drills for counter-terrorist operations such as hostage rescue, crowd control measures, and use of
helicopters.
The Validation Exercise will be conducted on 14th and 15th October 2023 in Darranga Field Firing Range,
Assam.
Participants:
i.From India: The Indian contingent led by Brigadier S K Anand, Commander of the Mountain Brigade.
• Indian contingent mainly comprises troops from a battalion of the RAJPUT Regiment.
ii.From Bangladesh: The Bangladesh contingent led by Brigadier General Mohammed Mafizul Islam Rashed,
Commander of 52 Bangladesh Infantry Brigade.
• The 27 Bangladesh Infantry Regiment is the lead unit from the Bangladesh contingent.
• A total of 170 personnel from Bangladesh participated in this exercise.
iii.The Exercise will witness the participation of 350 personnel from both sides and the participants are set to
witness the prowess of the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ Equipment Display.
About Bangladesh:
Prime Minister (PM)– Sheikh Hasina
Capital – Dhaka
Currency – Bangladeshi Taka
Indian Navy Conducts Annual Joint HADR Exercise CHAKRAVAT 2023

The 2023 edition of the Annual Joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Exercise (AJHE)
– “CHAKRAVAT 2023” was conducted by the Indian Navy (IN) at Goa from 09th to 11th October 2023.
• AJHE is the result of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s
preference conveyed during the Combined
Commanders’ Conference in 2015.
• To address the challenges posed by climate change in
the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), the Indian armed
forces conduct HADR operations as part of
India’s Security And Growth for All in the Region
(SAGAR) initiative.
• This exercise evolved the Indian armed force’s
assistance in disaster times as a collaborative
government approach that enhanced India’s preparedness and response to natural disasters.
Note:
i.The first edition of the exercise was held in 2015 and it has been conducted by the Indian Army, Indian Navy
(IN), and Indian Air Force (IAF) in rotation since 2016.
ii.The last edition of the exercise ‘Samanvay 2022’ conducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) was held in Agra,
Uttar Pradesh.
Participants:
i.AJHE witnessed the participation of the Indian Armed Forces, various national agencies, and eight countries
from the IOR.
ii.The national agencies that participated were
• National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF),
National Institute for Disaster Management (NIDM), Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force,
Coast Guard, Indian Metrological Department (IMD), National Remote Sensing Agencies (NRSA).

• State Disaster Management Agency (SDMA) and State Fire Services, Goa, District Disaster
Management Agency (DDMA) of North and South, Goa, Indian National Centre for Ocean
Information Services (INCOIS).
• Central Water Commission (CWC), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and
representatives from the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
iii. The eight countries in the IOR that participated includes Mauritius, Comoros, Seychelles, Tanzania, Sri
Lanka, Mozambique, Madagascar, and Maldives.
About CHAKRAVAT-2023:
i.The CHAKRAVAT-2023 includes a seminar, a Table-Top Exercise, and a Multi-Agency Capability
Demonstration.
ii.The exercise had discussions on emergent topics namely,
• Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction
• Practical Solution, Disaster Response in IOR
• A Collaborative Approach, and NGO Collaboration in Disaster Reduction and Response
About the Logo of CHAKRAVAT-2023:
The CHAKRAVAT-2023 logo shows crests and logos of all participating agencies, as well as flags of all nations
engaged, indicating that HADR will rely on collaborative and integrated action by all agencies.
East Coast Sagar Kavach 02-23: Coastal Security Exercise held in AP, TN & Puducherry
East Coast Sagar Kavach 02-23, a two-day comprehensive Coastal Security Exercise was conducted in Andhra
Pradesh(AP), Tamil Nadu(TN) and Puducherry(PY) from 11-12 October 2023 to assess the efficacy and
robustness of the coastal security system in responds to unconventional threats from the sea.
• About 2500 personnel including from Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, State and Union Territory
Administration, Marine Police, Fisheries, Customs, International Agencies, Light Houses, Ports
Forest etc were engaged in the exercise.
• The Joint Operations Centre (East) in Visakhapatnam(AP) is the nodal hub to monitor all coastal
security operations and exercises in area of operations.
• The exercise was executed under Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-
Chief (FOC-in-C), Eastern Naval Command(ENC), He is also the Commander-in-Chief, Coastal
Defence (East).
• Indian Navy ships, Coast Guard assets, and other coastal security agencies were deployed to increase
surveillance in the area.
Enhanced security measures were put in place, and Dornier aircraft and helicopters from Visakhapatnam,
Chennai(Tamil Nadu), and Ramnathapuram(Tamil Nadu) conducted extensive aerial surveillance.
Indian Navy conducts Security Exercise ‘Prasthan‘ in AP’s Kakinada

The Security Exercise Prasthan 2023 was carried out by Commodore Rajneesh Sharma Naval Officer-in-Charge
(NOIC), under the aegis of Eastern Naval Command, Indian Navy (IN) in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh (AP).
• The exercise was conducted on the Rig ship Platinum Explorer of ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas
Corporation) and RG Fixed Oil Platform of Vedanta Ltd.
Aim of Exercise:
Rehearsing responses in handling contingencies and checking the efficacy of security mechanisms at Offshore
Development Area (ODA)
Participation:
It involved around 2,500 personnel and IN comprised of INS (Indian Naval Ship) Kora, INS Tihayu, four
Immediate Support Vessels, Marine Commandoes, Explosive Ordinance Disposal Team and Helicopters. ICG
Ship Kanaklata Barua also participated in the exercise.

Key Points:
i.The Exercise Prasthan is held every 6 months under the aegis
of IN and involves the participation of all stakeholders in the
maritime domain to ensure offshore security.
• Earlier it was held in April 2023 in the offshore
development area off Mumbai, Maharashtra.
ii.In another event, ICG Region East, following its motto 'We
Protect,' took preventive measures during an event, warning AP
fishermen about an approaching low-pressure area, ensuring
their safety at sea.
IN to host Mega Military Wargame ‘Milan’ in Feb 2024
IN is all set to host nine-day mega naval exercise namely 'Milan' from February 19 to 27, 2024 in the Arabian
Sea, It will see the see participation of over 50 countries including United States (US), Japan, Australia, France,
Bangladesh, South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia will participate in this exercise.
• It's India's largest-ever military wargame, including major maneuvers, advanced air defense, anti-
submarine, and anti-surface drills.
• It is a biennial multilateral naval exercise which was initiated by the Indian Navy in 1995.
• Started with 'Look East Policy,' the exercise grew with 'Act East Policy' and 'Security and Growth for All
in the Region (SAGAR) initiative'.
• MILAN 22 was conducted at/ off Visakhapatnam from 25 Feb - 04 Mar 22 and witnessed participation
from 39 countries
i.IN along with Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF)conducts the 7th edition of the
bilateral Japan-India Maritime Exercise 2023 (JIMEX 23) in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh from July 5 to 10,
2023. This edition marks the 11th anniversary of JIMEX, since its inception in 2012.
ii.The 7th edition of IN – the United States of America (USA) Navy (USN) Salvage and the
Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) exercise, SALVEX was conducted from June 26 to July 6 2023 in Kochi,
Kerala to strengthen US and Indian divers’ capability in diving and salvage techniques.
About Indian Navy (IN):
Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS)- Admiral Radhakrishnan Hari Kumar
Headquarters- Integrated Defence Headquarters, Ministry of Defence, New Delhi, Delhi
Exercise Harimau Shakti 2023: India-Malaysia Joint Army Exercise begins in Meghalaya
On October 23, 2023, Exercise Harimau Shakti 2023, the two-week Indo-Malaysia joint military exercise
between the Indian Army (IA) and the Malaysian Army, commenced at the Umroi cantonment, located in
Ri Bhoi district of the northeastern state of Meghalaya. The exercise is scheduled till November 5, 2023.
About Harimau Shakti:
i.Harimau Shakti, the Indo-Malaysia joint exercise, has been
conducted annually since 2012 to foster the bilateral relations
between the two nations.
ii.The last edition of the exercise, Harimau Shakti 2022, was
conducted in Pulai, Kluang, Malaysia in November 2022.
Harimau Shakti 2023:
Aim:
• To strengthen military ties between India and Malaysia
• To enhance military capability for the conduct of Multi
Domain Operations in a sub-conventional scenario
Participants:
It engaged approximately 120 personnel from both sides.

i.India is represented by a Battalion of the Rajput Regiment.
ii.The Malaysian contingent is made up of troops from the 5th Royal Battalion of the Malaysian Army.
Key Points:
i.The exercise focused on high degree of Physical fitness, Tactical drills, and Sharing best practices.
ii.It included Helicopters and drones, Evacuation and casualty management simulations, Logistics planning,
Battalion-level survival drills
iii.Both sides will rehearse the employment of joint forces in jungle/semi-urban/urban environments, along
with casualty management and evacuation drills.
iv.There will be logistics management and practice survival training at the Battalion level.
v.The Exercise will culminate with a 48-hour long validation exercise in a semi-urban area.
About Malaysia:
Prime Minister– Anwar Ibrahim
Capital– Kuala Lumpur
Currency– Malaysian Ringgit
India-EU’s First Joint Naval Exercise Held in Gulf of Guinea

India and the European Union(EU) conducted their first joint naval exercise in the Gulf of Guinea on
24th October 2023. The exercise was designed to uphold the United Nations Convention on the Law
of the Sea (UNCLOS).
· The exercise took place after the third meeting
of the EU-India Maritime Security Dialogue,
which was held in Brussels on October 5, 2023.
Participated Ships:
i.The exercise involved the Indian Navy’s Offshore Patrol
Vessel Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sumedha
ii.Ships of 3 EU member states(Italy, France and Spain)
also participated the exercise. They are:
· Italian Ship Foscari – Italian Navy
· French Ship(FS) Ventôse – French Navy
· Spanish Ship Tornado – Spanish Navy.
Activities Carried Out:
i.The exercise included a variety of activities, including tactical maneuvers, boarding exercises, and
flying exercises using the helicopters embarked on FS Ventôse and INS Sumedha and the transfer of
personnel between ships.
ii.It was designed to reinforce naval maritime security cooperation in support of the region.
iii.These activities showcase the shared commitment of India and the EU to supporting coastal States
and the Yaoundé Architecture in ensuring maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.
What is Yaoundé Architecture?
i.The Yaoundé Architecture is a regional framework for maritime security cooperation to prevent and
prosecute illicit activities in the Gulf of Guinea.
ii.It was established in 2013 by
· Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
· Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS)
· Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC)
iii.The Yaoundé Architecture comprises the Interregional Coordination Centre (ICC), which acts as the
coordination and information-sharing hub.

· ICC connects the Regional Maritime Security Centre for Central Africa (CRESMAC) and the
Regional Maritime Security Centre for West Africa (CRESMAO).
Additional Info:
A knowledge sharing session on the joint experience at sea to improve operational know-how was
held in Accra, Ghana.
· This helped to strengthen ties between Ghanaian officials and representatives from India,
the EU, and EU member states.
About Ghana:
President – Nana Akufo-Addo
Capital – Accra
Currency – Ghanaian Cedi
TESTING
IAF & Army successfully test fired BrahMos Missile
Indian Air Force(IAF) successfuly test fired its Surface to Surface version of the BrahMos missile in the vicinity
of the Eastern Seaboard Archipelago. The test mission 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.
• The missile is not yet in service with the Indian Army, and its induction will depend on the results of
further testing.
About BrahMos ER:
i.The BrahMos ER is developed by BrahMos Aerospace
• It is a joint venture between Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya (NPO Mash) and India’s Defence
Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
ii.BrahMos ER is an improved variant of the basic BrahMos missile, with a range of around 450 to 500
kilometers, compared to 290 kilometers for the baseline version.
OTHER DEFENCE NEWS

IAF inducts 1st of 6 Dornier Do-228 aircraft Manufactured by HAL
The Indian Air Force (IAF) inducted the first of six new Dornier Do-228, 19 seater aircraft, manufactured
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), a Public Sector Undertaking(PSU) under the Ministry of
Defence(MoD).
About Dornier Do-228:
i.In March 2023, the MoD signed an agreement with HAL to manufacture these aircraft with a budget of Rs
667 crore.
ii.Dornier Do-228 aircraft has enhanced fuel efficiency engines, five-bladed composite propellers,
advanced avionics, and a modern glass cockpit.
Uses:
i.The Dornier-228 aircraft is a multifunctional, lightweight transport aircraft which can perform functions
from utility and commuter transport to maritime surveillance.
ii.IAF uses the aircraft for Route Transport Role and communication tasks. This also plays a vital role
in training transport pilots.
Indian Army Establishes first-ever BSNL BTS on World’s Highest Battlefield Siachen Glacier
The Indian Army (Siachen Warriors) in collaboration with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has installed
the first-ever BSNL Base Transceiver Station (BTS) on the world’s highest battlefield, ‘Siachen Glacier’ in
Ladakh.

• The tower was inaugurated on 6th October 2023 and will provide mobile communication services to
soldiers at an altitude of over 15,500 feet.
• A radio transceiver that links mobile devices to a cellular network is known as a base transceiver
station(BTS).
• BTS sends and receives radio signals from mobile devices before converting them to digital signals that
are subsequently directed to other network devices or the Internet.
• The Indian Army also conducted demining operations in three areas(Phobrang, Yourgo, and Lukung
village) along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Leh district of Ladakh and destroyed 175 mines.
3/5 Gorkha Rifles of Indian Army wins Gold in Cambrian Patrol 2023 Military Exercise in UK
The 3/5 Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force) team clinched a gold medal for the Indian Army (IA) at the Cambrian
Patrol Competition 2023, an International Military Exercise organzied in Wales, United Kingdom (UK) from
October 6, 2023 to October 15, 2023.
• 67 Punjab Regiment of Pakistan Army received silver medal
• Soldiers from 1st Battalion Irish Guards (British Army ) and the 13th Demi-Brigade of the French
Foreign Legion (France)have become the first joint effort between a British Army and international
team to complete and win Bronze in the exercise.
Cambrian Patrol 2023 Military Exercise:
Cambrian Patrol 2023 Military Exercise was hosted by Headquarters 160th (Welsh) Brigade on behalf of
Commander Field Army of UK Army.
• The Cambrian Patrol Exercise is often dubbed the ‘Olympics of Military Patrolling’ as it is
considered the ultimate test of human endurance and team spirit.
• It is a mission focused and scenario-based exercise.
Participants:
The 2023 exercise saw a participation of 111 teams, encompassing 38 international contingents.
Key Points:
i.The exercise was made up of eight phases, each of 48 hrs, over 10 days. Each team was challenged to cover
approximately 60 kms (average climb and descent is over 1000m) carrying no more than 32 kgs per person.
ii.In 2021 also IA secured a gold medal in the same competition. It was grabbed by 4/5 Gorkha Rifles (Frontier
Force).
Yard 12706 (Imphal): Third Stealth Destroyer of Project 15B delivered to the Indian Navy
Yard 12706 (Imphal), the third Stealth Destroyer of Project 15B Class Guided Missile Destroyer build at
the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) was delivered to the Indian Navy(IN).
• The ship was designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship
Design Bureau (WDB).
Key People:
The acceptance document was signed by Sanjeev Singhal,
Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of MDL and Rear Admiral
Sanjay Sadhu, Chief Staff Officer(CSO) (Technical) Western
Naval Command (WNC).
• The document was signed in the presence of
Commanding Officer (Designate) Captain K K
Choudhury, MDL Directors, Warship Overseeing Team, Mumbai(WOT – MB) and Navy
personnel.
About Yard 12706 (Imphal):
i.The INS Imphal’s keel was laid on 19 May, 2017 and it was launched into water on 20 April, 2019. The
time taken for Imphal’s construction and testing is the shortest for any indigenous destroyer.

ii.Imphal, constructed using Indigenous Steel DMR 249A, is one of the largest Destroyers constructed in
India, with an overall length of 164 meters and displacement of over 7500 Tons.
iii.Imphal has approximately 75% indigenous content.
Arms:
i.The ship is armed with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors
• ‘Barak-8’ Medium Range Surface to Air Missiles
• Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missiles supplied by Bharat Electronics Limited(BEL), Bengaluru,
Karnataka
• BrahMos Surface-to-Surface Missiles by BrahMos Aerospace, New Delhi, Delhi
• Indigenous Torpedo Tube Launchers by Larsen & Toubro(L&T), Mumbai Maharashta,
• Anti-Submarine Indigenous Rocket Launchers by L&T
• 76mm Super Rapid Gun Mount Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited(BHEL), Haridwar,
Uttarakhand.
ii.It is also fitted with indigenously developed anti-submarine weapons and sensors, including the hull-
mounted sonar Humsa NG, heavyweight torpedo tube launchers, and ASW rocket launchers.
Note: Among the P15B ships, Imphal is the first ship to be fitted with upgraded Brahmos missiles having
dual role capability of Long Range and Land Attack.
• It is capable of achieving speeds in excess of 30 knots (56 km/h).
Automation:
The ship is highly automated, along with digital networks such as the
• Gigabyte Ethernet-based Ship Data Network (GESDN)
• Combat Management System (CMS)
• Automatic Power Management System (APMS)
• Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS)
Project 15B:
i.The contract for four ships of Project 15B was signed on January 28, 2011, a follow-on of the Kolkata
class (Project 15A) destroyers.
• All these ships are being built at MDL.
ii.With an indigenous content of 72%, the P15B Class Destroyers surpass their predecessors, the P15A
(59%) and P15 (42%) Class Destroyers
iii.The four ships of the Project are named after major cities from all four corners of the country, such as
Visakhapatnam(Andra Pradesh), Mormugao(Goa), Imphal(Manipur) and Surat(Gujarat).
On 10th July 2023, Spain’s shipbuilder Navantia and engineering major Larsen & Toubro Ltd (L&T), India
signed an ‘Teaming Agreement'(TA) in Delhi to jointly bid for a Rs. 43,000-crore (4.8 billion euros) project
to build 6 advanced diesel-electric submarines for the Indian Navy.
About Indian Navy:
Chief of Naval Staff (CNS)– Admiral Radhakrishnan Hari Kumar
Founded– January 26, 1950
Special Forces Training School at HP Gets Indian Army’s 1st Vertical Wind Tunnel
General Manoj Pande, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), virtually inaugurated the Indian Army’s 1st Vertical
Wind Tunnel (VWT) at the Special Forces Training School (SFTS) at Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh (HP) to train
the special forces and refine the Combat Freefall (CFF) skills of armed forces personnel.

The state-of-the-art wind tunnel provides a controlled environment for military trainees. It enhances
the Combat Free Fall (CFF) skills of armed forces personnel.
The facility simulates real-life free-fall conditions,
allowing trainees to experience various CFF scenarios.
Significance:
This marks a significant step in modernizing the Indian Army’s
training infrastructure.
The installation of VWT is a part of the Indian army’s effort to
infuse technology into the training methodologies.
Vertical Wind Tunnel (VWT):
i.A Vertical Wind Tunnel (VWT) is a wind tunnel that moves air
up in a vertical column. These tunnels are often used for
aerodynamic research and modern human flight.
ii.Wind tunnels that are built specifically for humans to fly in are often referred to as skydiving simulators,
indoor skydiving tunnels, or simply wind tunnels.
iii.These tunnels employ powerful fans to generate wind speeds, allowing participants to float effortlessly,
mimicking the sensation of a skydive.
iv.Beyond recreation, VWT serves as a training ground for skydivers, enabling them to practice maneuvers in a
controlled environment.
v.Generating specific air columns at defined velocities, the VWT replicates diverse Controlled Free Fall (CFF)
scenarios.
Benefits:
Incorporated into the CFF training curriculum at SFTS, the VWT yields multiple advantages. They are:
i.The system simulates varied freefall scenarios which is crucial in assessing individual reactions to numerous
situations in an airborne operating environment.
ii.Reducing potential instability during airtime and parachute deployment aids trainees in getting used to free-
fall conditions.
iii.The VWT is beneficial for beginners and a valuable resource for delivering advanced training to seasoned
free-fallers and CFF instructors.
SPORTS
India Finishes Fourth in the Hangzhou Asian Games 2022 with 107 Medals
India finished Fourth in the medal tally of the Hangzhou Asian Games 2022 with 107 medals (28 gold, 38 silver
and 41 bronze).
• The 19th edition of the Asian Games marks India’s record for the highest medal tally so far,
surpassing the previous record medal tally of 70 medals (16 gold, 23 silver, and 31 bronze) at the
Jakarta Asian Games 2018.
Medal Tally:
Position Country Gold Silver Bronze Total
1 People’s Republic of China 201 111 71 383
2 Japan 52 67 69 188
3 Republic of Korea 42 59 89 190
4 India 28 38 41 107
5 Uzbekistan 22 18 31 71

Indian Gold Medal Winners:
No. Athlete/Team Event
1 Ojas Pravin Deotale Archery (Men’s Individual)
2 Jyothi Surekha Vennam Archery (Women’s Individual)
3 Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Parneet Kaur, Aditi Swami Archery (Women’s Compound Team)
4 Abhishek Verma, Ojas Pravin Deotale, Prathamesh Jawkar Archery (Men’s Compound Team)
5 Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Ojas Pravin Deotale Archery (Mixed Team)
Athletics (Men’s 3000m
6 Avinash Sable Steeplechase)
Rajesh Ramesh, Muhammed Ajmal Variyathodi, Amoj Jacob,
7 Muhammed Anas Yahiya Athletics (Men’s 4x400m Relay)
8 Neeraj Chopra Athletics (Men’s Javelin Throw)
9 Tajinderpal Singh Toor Athletics (Men’s Shot Put)
10 Parul Chaudhary Athletics (Women’s 5000m)
11 Annu Rani Athletics (Women’s Javelin Throw)
12 Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty Badminton (Men’s Doubles)
13 Men’s Team Cricket
14 Women’s Team Cricket
Hriday Vipul Chheda, Divyakriti Singh, Anush Agarwalla, Sudipti
15 Hajela Equestrian (Dressage Team)
16 Men’s Team Hockey
17 Men’s Team Kabaddi
18 Women’s Team Kabaddi
Shooting (10m Air Pistol Men’s
19 Arjun Singh Cheema, Sarabjot Singh, Shiva Narwal Team)
Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Divyansh Singh Panwar,
20 Rudrankkash Balasaheb Patil Shooting (10m Air Rifle Men’s Team)
Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Swapnil Suresh Kusale, Akhil Shooting (50m Rifle 3 Positions
21 Sheoran Men’s Team)
22 Zoravar Singh Sandhu, Kynan Darius Chenai, Prithviraj Tondaiman Shooting (Trap Men’s Team)
23 Palak Shooting (10m Air Pistol Women)
Shooting (25m Pistol Women’s
24 Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh, Rhythm Sangwan Team)
Shooting (50m Rifle 3 Positions
25 Sift Kaur Samra Women)
Abhay Singh, Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu, Saurav Ghosal, Mahesh
26 Mangaonkar Squash (Men’s Team)
27 Dipika Pallikal Karthik, Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu Squash (Mixed Doubles)
28 Rohan Bopanna, Rutuja Bhosale Tennis (Mixed Doubles)

India’s Highest medal haul in disciplines:
i.India won the highest number of medals in
the Shooting event with 22 medals (7 Gold, 9 Silver, and 6
Bronze).
• It was followed by Athletics 29 medals (6 Gold,14
Silver, and 9 Bronze) and Archery 9 medals (5
Gold, 2 Silver, and 2 Bronze).
Indians Get Paris 2024 Olympic Quotas:
Through the Hangzhou Asian Games 2022, 74 Indian players
have secured their place to participate in the Paris 2024
Olympics.
Deotale became the first Indian archer to win three gold medals in the Asian Games
i.Nagpur’s (Maharashtra) Ojas Pravin Deotale won three gold medals in Archery including men’s individual,
men’s compound team event along with Abhishek Verma and Prathamesh Jawkar, mixed team event along with
Jyothi Surekha Vennam
• He was the first Indian archer to win three gold medals in the Asian Games so far.
• Deotale’s gold medal in the compound mixed team event along with Jyothi was India’s first gold
medal in the compound mixed team event so far in the Asian Games.
ii.Jyothi Surekha Vennam from Vijayawada also won three medals including gold in Women’s Compound
Individual, Women’s Compound Archery Team along with Aditi Swami & Parneet Kaur, and Mixed team
compound archery team.
Note: Compound archers Jyothi Surekha Vennam and Ojas Deotale won the most gold medals (three each) for
India in the Hangzhou Asian Games 2022.
Parul Chaudhary Wins gold & silver:
Parul Chaudhary won two medals including gold medal in the women’s 5000m race and the silver medal in the
3000m women’s steeplechase.
• Parul Chaudhary holds the national record for the 5000m with a time of 15:10.35.
Sunil Kumar – Bronze medal Winner in Greco-Roman wrestling:
i.Sunil Kumar won the bronze medal in Greco-Roman(87kg division) wrestling.
• This was India’s first medal in Greco-Roman wrestling in the Asian Games since the Guangzhou
Asian Games in 2010 when Ravinder Singh and Sunil Kumar Rana won bronze medals in the same
event.
• Sunil Kumar has also won the gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling at the 2020 Asian
Championships in China.
Avinash Sable- Gold Medal in 3000m Men’s steeplechase & silver medal in the men’s 5000m race:
i.Avinash Sable was the first Indian to win the gold medal in the 3000m men’s steeplechase event in any
Asian Games.
• Avinash finished the race in 8:19.50 minutes, breaking the previous Asian Games record of 8:22.79
minutes by Iran’s Hossein Keyhani in 2018.
ii.Avinash also won the silver medal in the men’s 5000m race.
• Sable’s medal was India’s first in the men’s 5000m since Raj Kumar’s bronze medal in 1982.
• Bahrain’s Birhanu Yemataw won the gold and Bahrain’s Dawit Fikadu won bronze in the men’s
5000m race.
• India’s Gulveer Singh secured fourth place in the event.
Arjun and Sunil won bronze in the men’s double 1000m canoe event:
i.Arjun Singh and Sunil Singh Salam won the bronze in the men’s double 1000m canoe event.
• This was India’s first Asian Games medal in the canoe event since 1994 and also the second medal in
the canoe event in the Asian Games so far after Indian duo Siji Sadanandan and Johnny Rommel won
the bronze in the 1994 Hiroshima edition.

Note: The canoe is a light narrow boat with both ends sharp that is usually propelled by paddling.
Indian Men’s 4x400m relay team wins gold:
i.Indian Men’s 4x400m relay team including Anas Muhammed Yahiya, Amoj Jacob, Muhammed Ajmal
Variyathodi and Rajesh Ramesh won the gold medal.
ii.Indian women’s 4x400m relay team including Vithya Ramraj, Aishwarya Mishra, Prachi and Subha
Venkatesan won the silver medal.
iii.Indian mixed team 4x400m relay team including Vithya Ramraj, Muhammed Ajmal Variyathodi, Rajesh
Ramesh and Subha Venkatesan won the silver medal.
Harmilan Bains Wins silver in the women’s 800m race and women’s 1500m race:
i.India’s Harmilan Bains won silver in the women’s 800m and 1500m event.
• Harmilan Bains’s mother Madhuri Singh had also won the silver medal in the women’s 800m event
at the 2002 Busan Asian Games.
Tejaswin Shankar Wins silver in men’s decathlon:
i.Tejaswin Shankar won the silver medal in the men’s decathlon.
• He set a national record in the men’s decathlon by finishing with 7666 points, surpassing
Bhartinder Singh’s 7658 points in 2011.
• Tejaswin Shankar is also a national record holder in the high jump with a 2.29m jump in 2018.
Note:
The decathlon is a combined event in athletics consisting of ten track and field events including 100m sprint,
long jump, shot put, high jump, 400m, 110m hurdles, discus throw, pole vault, javelin throw, and 1500m.
Javelin throw: Neeraj Chopra and Annu Rani win gold Medal
i.Neeraj Chopra won his second consecutive gold medal in the men’s Javelin throw in the Asian games with a
best throw of 88.88 metres.
• India’s Kishore Kumar Jena won the silver medal with the best throw of 87.54 metres in the men’s
Javelin throw.
ii.India’s Annu Rani won the gold medal in the women’s Javelin throw with the best throw of 62.92m.
• This has been Annu Rani’s second medal in the Asian games since she won the bronze medal in
Incheon(South Korea) in 2014.
Sepaktakraw – Indian Women’s team Wins Bronze medal:
Indian Women’s team including Ayekpam Maipak Devi, Oinam Chaoba Devi, Khushbu, Elangbam Priya Devi,
Khushbu and Elangbam Leirentombi Devi won the Bronze medal in the sepaktakraw.
• This was the second medal in sepaktakraw(regu team event)in the Asian games since the Indian
men’s regu team won bronze in 2018.
• The ball is made of rattan or synthetic plastic weighing from 150 to 160 grams (g).
Note: Sepaktakraw or kick volleyball is like Volleyball but played with feet, knees, Head, and chest. And the
match is played by two regus (teams) each made up of three players.
Tennis:
i.Sutirtha Mukherjee and Ayhika Mukherjee won bronze medal in women’s doubles.
• This was India’s first-ever Asian Games medal in women’s doubles.
ii.Ramkumar Ramanathan and Saketh Myneni won the silver medal in the men’s doubles event.
iii.Rohan Bopanna and Rutuja Bhosale won the gold medal in the mixed doubles event.
Roller skating:
i.Indian women’s team including Sanjana Bathula, Karthika Jagadeeswaran, Heeral Sadhu, and Aarathy Kasturi
Raj won the bronze medal in the women’s Speed Skating 3000m Relay event.
• This was India’s first-ever medal in the Asian Games speed skating category.
• Sanjana Bathula became the youngest Indian to win a medal at the Asian Games at the age of 15
years, three months, and 11 days old.
ii.Indian men’s team including Anand Kumar Velkumar, Siddhant Kamble, and Vikram Ingale won
the bronze medal in the men’s Speed Skating 3000m Relay.

Hockey:
i.The Indian men’s hockey team won the gold medal by defeating Japan in the final.
• This was India’s fourth Asian Games gold medal including Bangkok (1966), Bangkok(1998),
Incheon(2014), and Huangzhou(2022).
• With this win Indian men’s hockey qualified directly to Paris Olympics 2024.
ii.Indian women’s hockey team won the bronze medal by defeating Japan in the match for third place.
• This was India’s fourth bronze medal in women’s hockey at the Asian Games after Seoul (1986),
Doha (2006), and Incheon (2014).
• The Indian women’s hockey team won the silver medal at the last edition at Jakarta 2018.
Badminton:
i.Indian duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty won the gold medal in the men’s doubles of
badminton by defeating South Korea’s Choi Solgyu & Kim Wonho in the finals.
• This was India’s maiden gold medal in badminton at the Asian Games.
• This was also Chirag-satwik’s fifth title of 2023, after their wins at the Swiss Open, Asia
Championships, Indonesia Open, and Korea Open.
ii.Indian men’s team won the silver medal in the men’s team badminton event.
• Men’s team including HS Prannoy, Kidambi Srikanth, Lakshya Sen, Mithun Manjunath,
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, Dhruv Kapila, MR Arjun, Rohan Kapoor and Sai Pratheek K.
• This was India’s first medal in a badminton team event at the Asian Games since securing a bronze
in 1986.
iii.India’s H.S. Prannoy won the bronze medal in the badminton men’s singles event.
Cricket:
i.The Indian men’s cricket team led by Ruturaj Gaikwad was awarded a gold medal after the final was called
off due to rain.
• This was the Indian men’s cricket team’s maiden title in the Asian games.
• Afghanistan won the silver while Bangladesh bagged bronze in the men’s cricket.
Kabaddi:
i.The Indian men’s kabaddi team won the gold medal by defeating Iran in the finals.
• This was India’s eighth men’s kabaddi title at the Asian Games.
ii.The Indian women’s kabaddi team also won the gold medal by defeating Chinese Taipei in the final.
• The Indian women’s kabaddi team’s medal was the 100th medal for India in Hangzhou Asian Games
2022.
• This was the Indian women’s kabaddi team’s third gold medal in the Asian games.
Other Indian record holders:
i.Vithya Ramraj won the bronze medal in women’s 400m hurdles.
• She equalled P.T. Usha’s 400m hurdle national record with a timing of 55.42 seconds in Heat, which
was set in 1984.
ii.Jaggy Shivdasani, 65 years, seven months, and twenty days old, became the oldest Indian to win an Asian
Games medal.
• Jaggy Shivdasani was part of the men’s bridge team including Sandeep Thakral, Rajeshwar Tiwari,
Sumit Mukherjee, Raju Tolani, and Ajay Prabhakar Khare won the silver medal.
• Bridge is a team card game played by two teams of two players, with partners sitting opposite one
another.
Next Edition:
The 20th edition of Asian Games will be held in Japan in 2027.
New Medal Events:
Breaking or breakdancing made entry into this edition Asian Games, where Katsuyuki Banai (Japan) won the
gold medal in the men’s category while Liu Qingyi(China) won the gold medal in the women’s category.

15 world records were broken during the Asian Games:
Two world records were made by Indians,
i.Sift Kaur Samra won gold in the women’s 50m rifle 3-position individual event by breaking the World Record
with a score of 469.6 ahead of China’s Zhang Qiongyue.
ii.Shooters Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Swapnil Kusale, and Akhil Sheoran clinched gold in men’s rifle 3P
team event.
• The Indian trio broke the World Record after achieving a cumulative 1769 points.
Click here to view the part-1 of Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games
Ayush Shetty Wins Bronze Medal in BWF World Junior Championships 2023
India’s Ayush Shetty won the bronze medal in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Junior
Championships 2023 held from 25th September to 8th October 2023 in Spokane, United States of America
(USA).
• Alwi Farhan of Indonesia won the gold medal by defeating Hu Zhe An of China (Silver) in the 23rd
edition of the BWF World Junior Championships finals.
• Ayush Shetty lost to Alwi Farhan of Indonesia. The two losers of the semifinals were given the
Bronze medal, the another semifinalist Alex Lanier(France) won the Bronze medal.
• The 18-year-old Ayush Shetty’s bronze medal was India’s 11th medal including 1 Gold, 4 Silver, and
6 Bronze at the junior badminton world championships since 1992.
Saina Nehwal won the gold medal in 2008 (India’s best) and silver in 2006 while India’s Sankar Muthusamy
Subramanian won silver in 2022in Spain.
Verstappen wins Qatar GP 2023 to win 3rd Formula1 World Championship

Max Verstappen, the Belgian- Dutch driver of Red Bull added his name to the list of Formula One (F1) triple
champions.
• Max Verstappen achieved this feat by
securing 2nd place in Qatar Grand Prix 2023 sprint
race, Australian driver of McLaren Oscar Piastri won
the Sprint race.
• Later on, Max Verstappen won the 2023 Qatar Grand
Prix main race event, followed by Australian driver
of McLaren, Oscar Piastri and British driver of
McLaren, Lando Norris.
• With this win Max has won the consecutive F1 World
Championship in (2023, 2022 & 2021).
Note-
F1 Sprint race is a 100km dash to the chequered flag. There are no pit stops (unless you’re unfortunate enough
to need to dive in for repairs). It’s like a Twenty20 cricket match, where the emphasis is on attacking.
Elite F1 Champions:
i.Max becomes a part of the three time Champions that includes Brazilians Ayrton Senna and Nelson Piquet,
Austrian Niki Lauda, Britain’s Jackie Stewart, and Australian Jack Brabham.
ii.Sebastian Vettel (Germany) and Alain Prost (France) (four each), Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) (five),
Michael Schumacher (Germany) and Lewis Hamilton (Britain – United Kingdom) (seven each) have won more
than three championship since the championship started in 1950.
Records by Verstappen
i.Verstappen has now won on 24 different circuits in his F1 career, passing Michael Schumacher’s total and
trailing only Lewis Hamilton’s (31).
ii.Verstappen now leads the drivers’ championship by over 200 points. The largest winning margin ever at the

end of a season is 155 points by Vettel in 2013.
iii.Verstappen broke Sebastian Vettel’s record for the most laps led in a single season during Qatar GP race
(739), with five races still remaining in 2023
iv.Max Verstappen, has won 14 of 17 grand prix(GP) in this year including 11 in a row.
About 2023 Qatar Grand Prix
• The 2023 Qatar Grand Prix, officially known as the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix
2023 held on 8th October 2023.
• It took place at the Lusail International Circuit in Lusail, Qatar.
• It was the 17th round of the 2023 Formula One World Championship.
About Formula One Championship Award
A F1 World Champion is a racing driver which has been designated such a title by the governing body
of Formula One – the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).
The winner of the FIA Formula One World Championship (WDC) is the most successful Formula One driver
over a particular season.
• It is determined by a points system based on individual Grand Prix results.
• This year 2023 season will consist of 23 Grand Prix races.
Jannik Sinner Wins China Open 2023 Men’s Singles Title

Jannik Sinner of Italy won the China Open 2023 men’s single title against Daniil Medvedev (Russia) for the
first time. It was held at the Beijing Olympic Green Tennis Center, Beijing, China from September 28 – October
04 2023.
• Sinner defeated World No. 2 and top seed Carlos
Alcaraz (Spain) in the semi-finals.
• It was the 22nd edition of the China Open (1993 to
2023).
Iga Swiatek Wins China Open 2023 Women’s Singles Title
Iga Swiatek (Poland) won the China Open 2023 women’s single
title, beating her opponent Liudmila Samsonova (Russia).
• Iga Swiatek won her fifth title of the season 2023
with a 6-2 6-2 victory against Liudmila Samsonova.
i.It is the first China Open since 2019 after China lifted travel
restrictions that formed part of a longtime policy to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
ii.It was also the first time the women’s tournament had taken place since the WTA announced the end of an
embargo imposed on China following sexual assault allegations by former player Peng Shuai.
Winners at China Open 2023:
Men’s Doubles –
Ivan Dodig (Croatia) and Austin Krajicek (United States) cinched their fifth tour-level title of the season (2023)
at the China Open 2023 by defeating Wesley Koolhof (Netherlands) and Neal Skupski (United Kingdom).
Women’s Doubles-
Marie Bouzková (Czechia) and Sara Sorribes Tormo (Spain) defeated Chan Hao-ching (Taiwan) and Giuliana
Olmos (Mexico) in the final
About China Open
It is an annual men’s and women’s professional tennis tournament held in Beijing, China.
Founded – 1993
Surface – Hard/Outdoor (Since 2004-present)
The women’s China Open is a Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 1000 event on the WTA Tour
The men’s China Open is an Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Tour 500 event on the ATP Tour
Novak Djokovic is the only player to have won the title six times.

India’s Raunak Sadhwani Wins World Junior Rapid Chess Championship 2023 Title
India’s GrandMaster(GM) Raunak Sadhwani won the FIDE World Junior Rapid Chess Championship 2023 title
in the open category. He also secured second place(Silver Medal) in the FIDE World Junior Blitz Championship
2023 in the open category.
• The inaugural edition of the Federation Internationale des
Echecs/International Chess Federation (FIDE) World
Junior Under 20(U-20) Rapid & Blitz
Championships 2023 was held from 9th to 16th October
2023 in Pula(Sardinia), Italy.
• The event was hosted by the Italian Chess Federation and
the total prize was Money 25,000 Euro.
Note:
Rapid: a game of chess played within a fixed amount of time,
usually between 10 to 60 minutes per player.
Blitz: a game of chess, commonly known as speed chess, where all the moves must be made in a fixed time of
less than 10 minutes for each player.
Junior Rapid Chess Championship – Open Category:
i.The 17-year-old Raunak Sadhwani from Nagpur(Maharashtra) won the World Junior Rapid Chess
Championshisp 2023 title(Gold)
• He became a Grandmaster at the age of 13 years 9 months 28 days .He was the 9th youngest player and
4th Indian to achive GM at youngest age.
ii.GM Nesterov Arseniy(Russian – played under the FIDE flag)secured second place(Silver) and International
Master (IM) Alexakis Dimitris of Greece secured third place(Bronze).
• Nesterov Arseniy was the only unbeaten player in the open section of the tournament.
Junior Rapid Chess Championship – Girls Category:
i.Woman Grandmaster (WGM) Govhar Beydullayeva of Azerbaijan won the FIDE World Junior Girls
U20 Rapid Chess Championship 2023 title.
• Previously, She had won the World Junior U20 Championship title 2022 in Italy.
ii.Woman International Master (WIM) Xeniya Balabayeva of Kazakhstan won the silver medal and WIM Zeinep
Sultanbek of Kazakhsta won the bronze medal.
World Junior Blitz Championship – Open Category:
i.GM Mahammad Muradli of Azerbaijan won the FIDE World Junior Blitz Championship title.
• India’s Raunak Sadhwani won the silver medal and IM Arystan Isanzhulov of Kazakhstan won the
bronze medal.
World Junior Blitz Championship – Girls category:
i.WIM Xeniya Balabayeva of Kazakhstan won the FIDE World Junior Girls U20 Blitz Championship title.
• WIM Amina Kairbekova (Kazakhstan) won the silver medal and WIM Govhar Beydullayeva (Azerbaijan)
won the bronze medal.
Winners of FIDE World Junior Rapid & Blitz Championships 2023:
Players Medals
Rapid – Juniors
Raunak Sadhwani (India) Gold
Arseniy Nesterov (played under the FIDE flag) Silver
Alexakis Dimitris (Greece) Bronze

Rapid – Girls U20
Govhar Beydullayeva (Azerbaijan) Gold

Xeniya Balabayeva (Kazakhstan) Silver
Zeinep Sultanbek (Kazakhstan) Bronze
Blitz – Juniors
Mahammad Muradli (Azerbaijan) Gold
Raunak Sadhwani (India) Silver
Arystan Isanzhulov (Kazakhstan) Bronze
Blitz – Girls U20
Xeniya Balabayeva (Kazakhstan) Gold
Amina Kairbekova (Kazakhstan) Silver
Govhar Beydullayeva (Azerbaijan) Bronze
India wins the 3rd Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners:
The Indian team won the 3rd Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners in the youth section
by defeating the defending champions Serbia in the final.
• The team from Serbia won the silver medal while Ecuador’s team won the bronze medal.
women’s section:
i.The team from Mongolia won the Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners title in the
women’s section.
• This marks Mongolia’s second consecutive title in the women’s section including their win in 2022..
• England team won the silver medal while El Salvador and Philippines jointly won the bronze medal.
About Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners:
i.The Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners aims to popularize chess as an efficient tool for
reintegrating incarcerated people.
• The 3rd edition was held from 11th to 13th October 2023 in online mode, and 13th October 2023 marks
the International Day of Education in Prison.
Recent related news:
i.Aditya S Samant (17) an International Master, became India’s 83rd chess Grandmaster (GM) by earning his
3rd GM norm against Aryan Chopra in the 9th round of Biel Chess Festival Master Tournament (MTO) 2023 in
Switzerland.
ii.Norwegian Grandmaster (GM) and World No. 1 player Magnus Carlsen won his first International Chess
Federation (FIDE) World Cup title by defeating India’s GM Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa in the FIDE Chess
World Cup 2023 finals.
About Federation Internationale des Echecs/International Chess Federation (FIDE):
President – Arkady Dvorkovich
Overview of 141st Session of the IOC held in Mumbai; 5 Additional Sports added in 2028
Summer Olympics
The 141st Session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was hosted by India from October 15-17,
2023, in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The IOC’s Executive Board met during the session. The session facilitated
interaction and the exchange of knowledge among diverse stakeholders in the sports arena.
• The 141st session of IOC was inaugurated by the Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi.
• This is the 2nd IOC Session hosted by India after 40 years. India hosted the 86th IOC session in New
Delhi, Delhi in 1983.

Key People:
Thomas Bach, President of the IOC, members of IOC, along with
prominent Indian sports personalities and representatives from
various sports federations, including the Indian Olympic
Association(IOA) participated in the session.
IOC suspends Russian Olympic Committee for incorporating
Ukrainian Sports Bodies
IOC has suspended the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) for
violating the Olympic charter with “immediate effect and until
further notice” after it incorporated sports bodies from 4
territories annexed from Ukraine (Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and
Zaporizhzhia) as its member.
• This violates the territorial integrity of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Ukraine, as
recognized by the IOC in accordance with the Olympic Charter.
• This suspension doesn’t affect individual neutral athletes with a Russian passport immediately, but
their participation in the 2024 and 2026 Olympics is uncertain, as IOC reserves the right to decide
about their participation.
• The ban also removes the right of ROC to get funding from the IOC, which is presented as a part of
the each 4-year Olympic funding cycle.
Note: The Olympic Charter is the codification of the fundamental principles of Olympism, and the rules and
bye-laws adopted by the IOC. The Charter was first published in 1908.
IOC approved inclusion of 5 additional sports at 2028 Los Angeles Olympics
The 141st session of IOC approved the proposal of Los Angeles 2028 Organising Committee of Olympics and
Paralympic Games for the inclusion of 5 additional sports including Cricket (T20-Twenty20), Softball/Baseball,
flag football, lacrosse (sixes) and squash.
• These new sports align with American culture, showcasing iconic American sports globally.
• This inclusion has been made after a review and support by the IOC’s Olympic Programme
Commission (OPC) and Executive Board (EB).
Key Points:
i.Cricket made a comeback after 128 years at the Olympics. It was featured in the 1900 Summer Olympics
(Officially Known as Games of the II Olympiad) in Paris, France with teams from Great Britain and France.
ii.Baseball and softball were part of multiple Olympics, including Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics (Games of the
XXXII Olympiad) in Japan.
iii.Lacrosse was included in St Louis 1904 Summer Olympics in Missouri, United States (US), and London 1908
Summer Olympics in United Kingdom (UK).
iv.Flag football and squash will debut at LA28 Olympics.
Note:
The IOC Session also accepted IOC EB’s recommendation to keep Weightlifting and modern pentathlon as
Olympic sports. This decision follows the addressing of doping concerns by International Weightlifting
Federation (IWF) by delegating its anti-doping management to the International Testing Agency (ITA), and its
sanctioning to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) at least until the end of 2028.
• Modern pentathlon replaced horse jumping with obstacle course racing.
IOC awards Olympic Orders to personalities who have made an outstanding contribution to sport
and Olympism
During in a ceremony held on the final day of the 141st IOC Session, IOC awarded the following four
personalities or IOC members with Olympic Orders acknowledging their outstanding contribution to sport and
Olympism:

Awardee Country
Beatrice Allen Gambia
Craig Reedie Britain/UK
Ung Chang Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)(North Korea)
Andrzej Kraśnicki Poland
Key Points:
i.Beatrice Allen is the President of Gambia National Olympic Committee and the Vice President of World
Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC). She has been a member of the IOC since 2016.
ii.Sir Craig Reedie is a former international badminton player and former (3rd) President of the World Anti
Doping Agency (WADA). He has been a honorary member of IOC since 1994.
Note: Beatrice Allen and Craig Reedie were supposed to be honored in 2021 and 2022. However, due to the
COVID-19 pandemic, the IOC postponed the awards.
iii.Ung Chang is a North Korean sports administrator and former athlete who promoted the role of sport in the
DPRK. He played basketball in North Korea. He was first elected as an IOC member in 1996. He ceased his
membership in 2018 having reached the age limit.
iv.Andrzej Kraśnicki is the former President of the National Olympic Committee of Poland.
About Olympic Order:
Established in 1975, the Olympic Order is the highest award of the Olympic Movement by the IOC. It is awarded
for particularly distinguished contributions to the Olympic Movement.
• Nadia Comaneci of Romania is the youngest recipients of the Olympic Order in 1984 when she was
only 23 years old at the time of her award.
• She is also one of the two only athletes to be awarded the Olympic Order twice (1984, 2004), the
other one being the Brazilian Carlos Arthur Nuzman.
Others Highlights:
i.The 141st IOC Session also extended the term in office of IOC Member Luis Mejia Oviedo (Dominican
Republic), who has been the Vice President of WBSC (World Baseball Softball Confederation) since 2022.
ii.The Session also honoured Mamadou Ndiaye of Senegal, a member of IOC since 2015. He’ll step down in
2023 but he will serve as the President of the 4th Summer Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026 Organizing
Committee.
IOC Session approves principle of 2030−2034 double allocation for Olympic Winter Games
The 141st IOC session unanimously approved the principle of a double allocation two successive Olympic
Winter Games and Paralympics in 2030 and 2034 due to climate change threat.
• The proposal for was presented to the IOC EB in Mumbai by the Chair of the IOC’s Future Host
Commission for the Olympic Winter Games, Karl Stoss.
Reason behind this decision:
i.Global warming is reducing natural snow and water for snowmaking due to climate change. This is putting the
global snow sport industry at risk.
ii.By 2040 only 10 nations will be able to host the snow sports of the Olympic Winter and Paralympic Games.
Points to note:
i.Mumbai was the only bidder to host the 141st IOC session. The IOC members approved Mumbai’s application
during the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China.
1. The 2030 Winter Olympics host city was supposed to be selected in this session, but the decision
was delayed until 2024 by the IOC.
iii.During the meeting, IOC Members reviewed the progress on the implementation of Olympic Agenda 2020+5
following the publication by the IOC of the Olympic Agenda 2020+5 Midway Report.
• The Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024 are the first to be planned and delivered fully in line
with the Olympic Agenda 2020 and Olympic Agenda 2020+5.

What is Olympic Agenda 2020+5?
It is a set of 15 recommendations that were inspired by five influential contemporary trends, where sports and
Olympic values can make a difference. These trends are:
1. Solidarity
2. Digitalisation
3. Sustainable development
4. Credibility
5. Economic and financial resilience
i.Tokyo 2020 Olympic Gold medallist Neeraj Chopra won the gold medal in the Men’s Javelin Throw at the
Lausanne Diamond League 2023 (officially known as Lausanne Diamond League Athletissima 2023), held from
June 29 to 30 at Stade Olympique de la Pontaise in Lausanne, Switzerland.
ii.On 4th July 2023, Indian Football Team (also known as ‘Blue Tigers’) won the South Asian Football
Federation (SAFF) Bangabandhu Championship 2023 defeating Kuwait national football team at the finals, in
Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru, Karnataka.
About International Olympic Committee (IOC):
President– Thomas Bach
Headquarters– Lausanne, Switzerland
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen Wins 50th F1 in US Grand Prix 2023

Max Verstappen, the Belgian-Dutch driver of Red Bull won the Formula 1 (F1) United States Grand Prix 2023
held at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, The United States of America(USA) from 20- 22 October
2023.
• This marks Max Verstappen’s 50th career win in the
F1 and he joins Lewis Hamilton(103), Michael
Schumacher(91)(Germany), Sebastian
Vettel(53) )(Germany) and Alain Prost (51)(France) in
the 50-win club.
• This also marks Verstappen’s 15th win out of 17 races
of the 2023 season, in this 15 he won 11 races in a
row.
• McLaren Driver Lando Norris of the United
Kingdom(UK) finished second place while Ferrari
driver Carlos Sainz(Spain) finished third place in the podium.
Winners of US Grand Prix 2023:
Position Driver Team
1 Max Verstappen Red Bull
2 Lando Norris McLaren
3 Carlos Sainz Ferrari
Max Verstappen’s Records:
i.In the US Grand Prix, Verstappen broke his previous record for the most points scored in a season with 466
points in the F1 driver standings in 2023 (he scored 454 in 2022).
• This victory also marks Verstappen’s third consecutive US Grand Prix title win(2021, 2022 and
2023).
ii.Verstappen secured the F1 World Championship 2023 title by leading the F1 Driver standing, after he won
Qatar GP 2023.

iii.Verstappen could become the first driver ever to win three times in the same country in a single season if he
wins the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix on 19 November 2023.
• So far he had won two Grand Prix in the USA including Miami GP and US GP in 2023.
iv.Lando Norris won the fan-voted Driver of the Day Award for the third time this season.
About Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA):
The F1 Grand Prix races are organised by Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).
President – Mohammed Ben Sulayem
Headquarters – Paris, France
Badminton: India’s Unnati Hooda Win Women’s Singles Title in the Abu Dhabi Masters 2023
India’s Unnati Hooda won the women’s singles title in the Abu Dhabi Masters 2023 badminton tournament
held at the ADNEC Marina Hall, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 17 – 22 October 2023.
• Indian Duo of Ashwini Ponappa and Tanisha
Crasto won the women’s Doubles title.
• The tournament was organized by UAE Badminton
Federation with sanctions from the Badminton World
Federation (BWF).
Winners of Abu Dhabi Masters 2023:
i.Men’s Single:Mads Christophersen(Denmark) won the men’s
singles title by defeating Mark Caljouw(the Netherlands) in the
finals.
• Indians Kiran George and Raghu Mariswamy lost in the
semifinals.
ii.Men’s Doubles:Malaysian pair Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani won the men’s doubles title by
defeating Thailand’s Pharanyu Kaosamaang and Worrapol Thongsanga in the finals.
iii.Women’s Singles:The 16-year-old Unnati Hooda won the women’s singles title by defeating 20-year-old
Samiya Imad Farooqui(India) in the finals.
• This marks Unnati Hooda’s second Super 100 title including her win in the Odisha Open 2022. she
made the record of the the youngest Indian to win a BWF tournament at the age of 14.
iv.Women’s Doubles:Indian Pair Ashwini Ponappa and Tanisha Crasto won the Women’s singles title by
defeating Denmark’s Julie Finne-Ipsen and Mai Surrow in the final.
• This also marks Ashwini Ponappa and Tanisha Crasto’s first BWF World Tour title.
• Ashwini Ponappa and Tanisha Crasto defeated another Indian pair N Sikki Reddy and Arathi Sara
Sunil in the semifinals.
v.Mixed Doubles:Mads Vestergaard and Christine Busch of Denmark won the mixed doubles title by defeating
Terry Hee Yong Kai and Jessica Tan Wei Han of Singapore.
About Abu Dhabi Masters 2023:
1. The inaugural Abu Dhabi Masters 2023 is the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Super 100 event.
• Total Prize Money – USD 120,000
• This event was the twenty-sixth BWF World Tour event in 2023.
• The BWF World Tour is divided into six levels, namely World Tour Finals, four Super 1000, six Super
750, seven Super 500, and 11 Super 300.In addition, the BWF Tour Super 100 level offers ranking
points.

Chess: Nodirbek Yakubboev wins Qatar Masters Open 2023 Title; India’s S L Narayanan
Secures Third Place
The GrandMaster(GM) Nodirbek Yakubboev (Uzbekistan) won the Qatar Masters Open 2023 Title held at
Lusail Sports Arena, Qatar from 10th to 21th October 2023.
• GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzbekistan) secured
second place while GM S L Narayanan(India) secured
third place in the Qatar Masters Open 2023.
• Indians who secured the top 10 positions in the Qatar
Masters Open 2023 are GM Erigaisi Arjun(6th), GM
Gukesh D(8th), and GM Karthikeyan Murali(10th).
Women winners:
i.International Master (IM) Vaishali Rameshbabu (India)
secured the women’s champion title while
IM Divya Deshmukh(India) and Woman International Master
(WIM) Alua Nurmanova (Kazakhstan) secured second and third highest ranks among women players.
• This event doesn’t have a separate category for the women but awards were given to the top three
women based on the final ranking.
Vaishali Rameshbabu Earned Final GM Norm:
i.The 22-year-old Vaishali Rameshbabu secured the third and final Grandmaster (GM) norm.
• Vaishali became an International Master (IM) in 2021.
ii.As of October 2023, GM-elect Vaishali has International Chess Federation (FIDE) rating of 2467.7 and lacks
only 32.3 Elo points to reach the threshold of 2500 points for the GrandMaster.
• If she gets the GM title, she will be the third Indian woman after Koneru Humpy(2002) and Harika
Dronavalli(2011) to become GM.
iii. The other Indians secured FIDE Norms in Qatar Masters 2023:
• India’s Mayank Chakraborty secured his third and final IM-norm. He got his Candidate Master
(CM) title in 2021.
Note: To earn a FIDE GM title, a player needs to earn 3 GM Norms and achieve a FIDE rating of 2500.
Karthikeyan Murali defeats Magnus Carlsen:
i.GM Karthikeyan Murali becomes the third Indian to defeat GM Magnus Carlsen in Classical Chess after
Harikrishna and Viswanathan Anand.
• Karthikeyan Murali(FIDE Rank – 163) defeated Magnus Carlsen (FIDE RANK -1) in the seventh
round of the Qatar master open 2023 tournament.
About the Qatar Masters Open 2023:
i.The Qatar Masters Open 2023 was held in two sections including Qatar Masters Open 2023 (main
event)and Qatar Masters Open 2023 section B.
• Qatar Masters Open 2023 should be participated by players who have a FIDE rating of 2300 and
above.
• Qatar Masters Open 2023 section B should be participated by players who have a FIDE rating of
2299 and Below.
ii.The 3rd edition of the Qatar Masters Open 2023 tournament was organised by the Qatar Chess Association.
• Prize Money: USD 108,250
• Format: The event is a nine-round Swiss format
iii.Previous Editions:The first edition was held in 2014 which was won by GM Yu Yangyi(China) and the
second edition was held in 2015 which was won by GM Magnus Carlsen (Norway).
Winners of Qatar Masters Open 2023 section B:
i.FIDE Master(FM) Rustum Tolentino (Philippines) won the Qatar Masters Open 2023 section B title.
• Majumder Shrayan(India) secured the second position while FM Sedrani Ammar (United Arab
Emirates -UAE) secured third place in the Qatar Masters Open 2023 section B.

i.India’s International Master Divya Deshmukh from Maharashtra won the Tata Steel Chess India Rapid title in
the women’s category. The Tata Steel Chess India Rapid and Blitz 2023 was held from 31st August to 9th
September 2023 at the National Library of India, Kolkata, West Bengal.
ii.In August 2023, Norwegian Grandmaster (GM) and World No. 1 player Magnus Carlsen won his first
International Chess Federation (FIDE) World Cup title by defeating India’s GM Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa in
the FIDE Chess World Cup 2023 finals.
About Federation Internationale des Echecs/International Chess Federation (FIDE):
President – Arkady Dvorkovich
OBITUARY
Sanskrit Scholar & Padma Shri Awardee Dahyabhai Karunashankar Shastri Passed Away
Padma Shri Awardee Dr. 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 26 February 1926 in Mehsana, Gujarat.
About Dr. Dahyabhai Karunashankar Shastri:
i.Dr. Shri Dahyabhai Karunashankar Shastri was a distinguished
Sanskrit scholar in India, holding titles like Vyakaranacharya,
Sahitacharya, and Hindi Visharad.
ii.From January 19, 1950, he was engaged in teaching at Petlad
Political Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya school in Gujarat.
• He served as both the school’s Principal and as an
Inspector of the Gujarat State Sanskrit Department and
retired in 1984.
iii.After retirement, he establishment of Shri Brahmarshi Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya College at
Brahmarshi Sanskar Dham in Nadiad in 1995.
• He is known as the pioneer of Brahmarshi Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya.
• This unique institution featured a Sanskrit college, a well-equipped library, student hostels, a
canteen, three temples and Matru-Ritu social service.
Awards:
i.In 2000, Sandipani Gaurav Awards conferred Dr. Dahyabhai Karunashankar Shastri with one of its category
awards named the “Brahmarshi Award“.
• Brahmarshi Awards are given to the scholar who has done outstanding work in the field of Vedic
literature since 1996.
ii.In 2016, he was awarded the ‘Padma Shri’ in the field of Literature and Education
Nari Shakti Award Winner & Kerala Adult Literacy Topper Karthyayani Amma Passed Away
Nari Shakti Award winner Karthyayani Amma, who topped Akshara Laksham project of Kerala’s adult literacy
programme, passed away at the age of 101 in Alappuzha, Kerala. She was born in 1922.
• In 2018, at the age of 96, Karthyayani Amma topped the Aksharalaksham (Million Letter) literacy
examination of the Kerala State Literacy Mission securing the highest mark (98/100). She was
the oldest learner under the Kerala State Literacy Mission.
i.In 2019, she was also appointed as the Goodwill Ambassador of the Commonwealth of Learning for the
promotion of distance education among 53 member countries.
ii.In 2020, she was awarded the Nari Shakti Puraskar, the highest civilian award for women, by the Ministry

of Women and Child Development(MoWCD).
Additional Info:
i.In 2020, Bhageerathi Amma, a 105-year-old great-grandmother, became the oldest student to clear the 4-level
education exam of the state literacy mission, with 74.5 per cent marks, beating Karthyayani Amma’s previous
record.
iii. During the 2023 Republic Day parade, Kerala government presented a tableau of “Nari Shakti and Folk
Traditions of Women Empowerment” featuring Karthyayani.
Padma Vibhushan Awardee & 11th CEC of India MS Gill Passed Away
Padma Vibhushan Awardee and the 11th Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India, Dr. Manohar Singh
Gill (MS Gill), passed away in New Delhi, Delhi at the age of 87. He was born on June 14, 1936, in undivided
Punjab. He had a distinguished career as an Indian bureaucrat, politician, and writer.
About MS Gill:
i.MS Gill was a 1958 batch of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of Punjab cadre.
ii.He has also served as the CEC of India between December 1996 and June 2001. During his tenure as CEC, the
Election Commission of India (ECI) successfully conducted the:
• General elections to the 12th Lok Sabha in 1998 and the 13th Lok Sabha in 1999;
• 11th Presidential polls and Vice-Presidential elections in 1997; and
• Polls to assemblies in more than 20 states.
iii. He also played a major role in the introduction of Indian
electronic voting machines(EVM), the replacement of the ballot
box .
• EVM’s were first used in 1982 in the By-election to
the North Paravur Assembly constituency in Kerala.
• EVM was developed by the Electronics Corporation of
India Ltd. (ECIL), Hyderabad(Telangana). The Bharat
Electronic Ltd. (BEL), Bengaluru(Karnataka) was co-
opted to to manufacture EVMs.
iv.He joined the Indian National Congress (INC) Party in 2004 and served as a Member of Parliament (MP) –
Rajya Sabha representing Punjab from 2004 to 2016.
• He held positions as Minister of State(MoS) in the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports(MoYAS), and
the Ministry of Statistics and Programme.
Awards/Honours:
i.MS Gill was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 2000 for his exceptional and distinguished services as a civil
servant.
ii.He received the Nishan-e-Khalsa honour on the 300th anniversary of the Khalsa. It is a testament to his deep-
rooted connections and contributions to the Sikh community.
Books:
Himalayan Wonder: Travels in Lahaul and Spiti (1972) and Tales from the Hills: Lahaul’s Enduring Myths and
Legends (2014).
Martti Ahtisaari, Former Finnish President & Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Passed Away
Nobel Peace Laureate, Martti Ahtisaari, who served as the 10th President of Finland (1994 to 2000),
passed away at the age of 86 in Helsinki, Finland. He was born on 23 June 1937, Viipuri (now Vyborg, Russia),
Finland.
About Martti Ahtisaari:
i.MarttiAhtisaari joined the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland in 1965.
ii.He assumed the role of the Ambassador of Finland to the United Republic of Tanzania from 1973 to 1976,

with additional accreditation to Zambia, Somalia, and Mozambique from 1975 to 1976.
iii.He first served as a member of the Senate of the United Nations (UN) Institute for Namibia between 1975
and 1976.
• He led the UN Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) in
Namibia from 1989 to 1990. His first peace-making
task resulted in the independence of Namibia.
iv.In 1994, Finland’s Social Democratic Party (SDP) nominated
him to run for the presidency and he became Finland’s first
directly-elected president. He held office from March 1, 1994, to
February 29, 2000.
v.Later in 2000, he founded the Crisis Management Initiative
(CMI), a non-governmental organisation of which he was
Chairman of the Board.
Awards:
i.In 2000, he was awarded the Hessian Peace Prize for his mediation efforts to end the Kosovo War.
ii.In 2008, Martti Ahtisaari was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his important efforts, on several continents
and over more than three decades, to resolve international conflicts.
• He played a key role in negotiating peacein in multiple countries, including Namibia, Kosovo,
Indonesia and Northern Ireland.
iii.He was awarded the UNESCO Félix Houphöuet-Boigny Peace Prize in 2008 for his lifetime contribution to
world peace.
Books:
Finns in the United Nations (1996); Can the international community meet the challenges ahead of us? (2009);
Global Disorders: A New Global Order? (Co-author, 2014).
Oscar & Emmy-Nominated American Actress Piper Laurie Passed Away

American actress Piper Laurie passed away in Los Angeles(LA), the United States of America(USA). She was
born “Rosetta Jacobs” in 1932 at Michigan, USA. She was nominated 9 times for an Emmy and 3 times for an
Academy Award(Oscar).
• She got her first Oscar nomination in 1961 for the movie “The Hustler”. Later she was nominated for
two more movies namely “Carrie,” (1976) and “Children of a Lesser God” (1986)
• She won the Emmy Award in 1987 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Special
for “Promise Hallmark Hall of Fame”.
She also won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress in 1991 for her role in ‘Twin Peaks’.
Nobel winning American Poet Louise Glück Passed Away

Louise Elisabeth Glück, an acclaimed Jewish-American poet & essayist and Nobel laureate (Literature 2020),
passed away at the age of 80 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the United States of America (USA). She was born on
22 April 1943 in New York, USA.
About Louise Glück:
i.She worked as a senior lecturer in the Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts (USA).
ii.In 2000, she commenced a three-year term as a poetry consultant to the Library of Congress for its
bicentennial celebrations.
• She was named 12th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress in 2003.
iii.She has also served as the adjunct professor of English and the Rosenkranz Writer in Residence in the Yale
University.
iv.She won the 2020 Nobel prize for literature and became the 1st American poet to do so since TS Eliot in
1948. She was also the 16th woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature.
v.In 2016, she was honored with the National Humanities Medal by then President Barack Obama.

Noted Works & Awards:
i.Firstborn, the 1st collection of poems by Louise Glück was published in 1968. She won the Academy of
American Poets College Prize for this book.
• Her 2nd, 3rd and 4th books were The House on Marshland(1975); The Garden(1976); and
Descending Figur(1980).
ii.She won the National Book Critics Circle Awards (Poetry) for ‘The Triumph of Achilles’ in 1985 and won the
Bobbitt Prize from the Library of Congress in 1992 for ‘Ararat’ (She shared the prize with Mark Strand, a
Canadian-born-American poet).
iii.She won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1993 for “The Wild Iris”
iv.Her essay collections on poetry included Proofs and Theories (1994) and American Originality (2017).
Padma Shri Awardee and Spiritual Leader Bangaru Adigalar Passed Away
Padma Shri Awardee Arul Thiru Bangaru Adigalar, a Spiritual Leader and the founder
of Melmaruvathur Adhiparasakthi Siddhar Peedam in Kancheepuram district (Tamil Nadu (TN)) passed
away at the age of 82 in Melmaruvathur, TN. He was born on 3 March 1941 in Melmaruvathur village.
Awards:
He was conferred with Padma Shri in 2019 for his spiritual
services to the society.
About Bangaru Adigalar:
i.G. Subramaniam, known as Bangaru Adigal, lovingly known as
‘Amma’ (mother) by his followers in
Adhiparasakthi Siddhar Peedam (referred to as Red-Clad
Movement), is renowned for leading significant reforms in
spiritual practices.
ii.He was by profession a school teacher in Arapeduvillage near
Achirupakkam in TN. He gained recognition as the admired oracle of the Parasakthi temple.
iii.The year 1971 marked the establishment of his spiritual leadership from a modest, thatched cottage in
Melmaruvathur.
iv.Initially, Swayambu (the self-generated) stood as the sole object of worship for many years. On 25 November
1977, the idol of Mother Adhiparasakthi was installed in the Sanctum Sanctorum.
v.The Adhiparasakthi spiritual movement founded by Adigalar is known by the Melmaruvathur temple near
Chennai (TN) and its local worship groups across TN.
vi.His contributions have brought about noteworthy changes, including the admission of women into the inner
sanctum of Arulmigu Aadhiparasakthi Temple in Melmaruvathur for regular worship.
• The Melmaruvathur temple is the only temple where a woman can offer worship even during her
menstrual flow.
vii.He established Melmaruvathur Adhiparasakthi Siddhar Vaara Vazhipaatu Mandram and almost every
village in TN has its branches.
viii.His fame led him to establish engineering and medical colleges. He owned several educational institutions
around the Melmaruvathur area.
• The foundation stone for AdhiParasakthi Polytechnic was laid by the then Chief Minister of TN, M.G.
Ramachandran.
• He also helped poor students with education through the Adhiparashakti Charitable Medical
Education and Cultural Trust.
Eminent Assamese Scholar & Padma Shri Awardee Birendra Nath Datta Passed Away
Padma Shri Awardee Birendra Nath Datta, an eminent Assamese scholar, Linguist, and Singer, passed away
at the age of 88 in Guwahati, Assam. He was born on March 1, 1935 in Nagaon, Assam.

About Birendra Nath Datta:
i.He started his academic career as a lecturer at the B Borooah College
in 1957 in Assam and later served in various colleges of Assam.
ii.He retired as the esteemed Head of the Department (HOD) of
Folklore Research at Gauhati University(Guwahati, Assam) in 1995.
iii.After his retirement, he joined Tezpur University (Assam) as a
professor in the Department of Traditional Culture and Art Forms.
iv.He has also served as the founder Principal of the
Pramathesh Barua College, Gauripur (Assam), popularly known as P.
B. College.
v.He also served as the President of Assam’s premier literary organisation, Asam Sahitya Sabha, for 2 terms
in 2003 and 2004, and a life member of the Gauhati Artists’ Guild.
Notable Works:
A Study of the Folk Culture of the Goalpara Region of Assam (1995); Goalpariya Lokagit Sangraha (Assamese)
(2010) (This book is a collection of folksongs of the Goalpara region of Assam); Cultural Contours of Northeast
India (2012).
Awards:
i.He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2009 for Literature and Education;
ii.For the book Shankar-Madhav Manisha Aaru Sanskritik Uttaradhikar, he won the 12th Jagaddhatri-
Harmohan Das Literary Award in 2010.
iii.He also received the Tagore Ratna Award of Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2012.
Legendary Indian spinner & Padma Sri Awardee Bishan Singh Bedi Passed Away
Former Indian cricketer, legendary left-arm spinner and Padma Shri awardee, Bishan Singh Bedi, passed away
at the age of 77. He was born on 25th September 1946 in Amritsar, Punjab.
About Bishan Singh Bedi:
Career:
i.Bishan Bedi made his debut for India against West Indies at
Eden Gardens (Kolkata, West Bengal)on December 31, 1966.
ii.He played 67 Tests for India between 1967 and 1979 and
captained Team India for 4 years in the Test format between
1975 and 1979.
iii.He led Delhi to its first two Ranji Trophy titles (in 1978-79
and 1979-80). He also led Punjab to its only Ranji Trophy win
(in the 1992-93).
iv.He played for Northamptonshire in 102 outings (1972 and 1977), and took 434 wickets, which is the most by
an Indian in County cricket.
• Bedi was one of the most successful overseas players in English county cricket.
v.He made his final international appearance for India against England at the Kennington Oval in 1979.
He became the first professional head coach of India in 1990.
Record:
i.He took 1560 wickets (more than any other Indian bowler) in 370 matches with a bowling average of 28.71.
ii.He has taken 266 wickets in 67 matches. With this, he made a record of being the highest wicket-taker in
India.
• In June 2023, Ravindra Jadeja surpassed Bishan Singh Bedi to become India’s most successful left-
arm spinner in Test cricket by taking 267 wickets in 65 matches at an average of 24.25.
Awards:
i.Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri for sports in 1970.
ii.He also received the Arjuna Award for Cricket in 1969.

iii.Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) honoured him with the Colonel C. K. Nayudu Lifetime
Achievement Award in 2004.
England’s FIFA World Cup Winner Sir Bobby Charlton Passed Away at 86
The former England football player Sir Bobby (Robert) Charlton
passed away at the age of 86. He suffered dementia in 2020.
· Sir Bobby Charlton was part of the England’s Federation
Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)World Cup
winning team in 1966.
About Sir Bobby Charlton:
i.Robert Charlton was born in 11th October 1937 in Ashington,
northeast England, United Kingdom(UK).
ii.He debuted for Manchester United football club from 1956 to
1973 in 758 matches and scored 249 goals.
· He also was a part of Manchester United’s that won the European Cup(1968),three English Premier
League titles(1965& 1967) and one Football Association Challenge(FA) Cup(1963).
iii.He represented England national football team from 1958 to 1970 in 106 international matches and scored
49 goals.
· As of October 2023, Bobby Charlton was the third highest goal scorer for England National team
behind Wayne Rooney(53 goals) and Harry Kane (61 goals).
· He played four FIFA World Cups 1958, 1962, 1966, and 1970.
Awards:
i.He was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1969 Queen’s Birthday Honours
List, the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1974 Queen’s New Year Honours List.
· He was Knighted in 1994 by Queen Elizabeth II in 1994 for his contribution to the game.
ii.He also awarded the Ballon d’Or award for the best player in Europe in 1966.
· He also received the FIFA Order of Merit in 1984, the Union of European Football Associations
(UEFA) President’s Award in 2008, and the FIFA Golden Foot Legend Award in 2011.
· He was presented with lifetime achievement trophy at the 2008 BBC Sports Personality of the Year
Award.
He also lifted the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball in 1966 and FIFA World Cup All-Star Team twice in 1966 and
1970.
Ex-Union Minister Babanrao Dhakne Passed Away

Babanrao Dhakne, Former Union Minister and senior politician, passed away in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra at
the age of 86. He was born on 10 November 1937 in Akola, Ahmednagar in Maharashtra.
He served as the Union State Minister in the Ministry of
Energy (1990 to 1991) under the premiership of
Chandra Shekhar (8th Prime Minister of India – 1990
to 1991)
About Babanrao Dhakne:
Babanrao Dhakne served as the Member of Parliament(MP) as a
part of the 9th Lok Sabha. He represented Beed constituency of
Maharashtra as a member of Janata Dal (JD).
He was the 1st person of Vanjari Community to become the
member of the 9th Lok Sabha.
Political affiliation:
i.He was associated with Indian National Congress (INC) (Undivided) till 1969 and served as President of
Janata Party (JP), Maharashtra from 1978 to 1980.

ii.He also served as the Executive Member of JP in 1979 and as Executive Member of JD Maharashtra in 1989.
Career:
i.He served as the Chairman of Panchayat Samiti, Pathardi in Maharashtra from 1972 to 1975.
ii.He was also a State and Cabinet Minister of Maharashtra from 1978 to 1980.
iii.He served as the Leader of the Opposition and Deputy Speaker in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from
1981-82 and 1988-89 respectively.
Li Keqiang, Former Chinese Premier Passed Away

Li Keqiang, a Chinese economist and politician who served as the Premier of People’s Republic of China (2013-
2023), passed away at the age of 68 in Shanghai, China. He was born in July 1955 in Dingyuan County in eastern
China’s Anhui province.
Li Keqiang stepped down from his post in March 2023 and
was succeeded by Li Qiang, the incumbent Premier of
China
Premier is the second-highest position in China’s political
system after the President.
About Li Keqiang:
i.He joined the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 1976 and served
as party secretary of a production brigade in Fengyang County,
Anhui from 1976–78.
ii.In July 1998, he became the youngest provincial governor in the central province of Henan in China.
iii.He then served as party secretary of Liaoning Province from 2004 to 2007. In October 2007, he was
promoted to Politburo Standing Committee member.
iv.Later, he was appointed as executive vice premier of the State Council from 2008 to 2013.
vii.In 2013, he became the Premier of the State Council for the 1st term, and in 2018, he was re-elected as
premier for a 2nd five-year term.
BOOKS & AUTHORS

PM Modi Releases 4 Books Showcasing G20’s Presidency Success
Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi released four Books revolving around the success of India’s Group 20
(G20) presidency at the G20 University Connect Finale programme held at Bharat Mandapam in New
Delhi, Delhi.
These 4 books are available on the G20 India website and on its application in ebook format.
About released books:
i.The Grand Success of G20 Bharat Presidency: Visionary Leadership, Inclusive Approach.
ii.G20 University Connect Programme: Engaging Young Mind.
• These 2 books are published by New Delhi(Delhi)–based autonomous policy research institute
Research and Information System for Developing Countries(RIS).
iii.India’s G20 Presidency: Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – One Earth, One family, One Future.
• The book features important event held at G20 under India’s Presidency
iv.Showcasing Indian Culture at G20.
• This book showcases the range and diversity of Indian culture through length and breadth of
India

TN Minister PTR Released “The Professionals’ Handbook to ChatGPT”, book on ChatGPT
Palanivel Thiaga Rajan(PTR), Minister of Information Technology and Digital Services, Government of Tamil
Nadu(TN) released “The Professionals’ Handbook to ChatGPT”, a book on ChatGPT for professionals in various
field.
• The book authored by Pattabhi Ram V and Dungar Chand U Jain was published by ReadWrite
Productions.
• The book covering around 27work areas will benefit finance professionals.
• It provides practical advice on how to use ChatGPT to improve productivity and efficiency in the
workplace.
ChatGPT:
i.ChatGPT(Generative Pre-trained Transformer) is an Artificial Intelligence (AI) -powered language model
developed by OpenAI and launched in November 2022.
ii.This is a AI chatbot that uses natural language processing to create humanlike conversational dialogue.
OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company founded in 2015 and headquartered in San Francisco,
California, United States of America(USA)
BlueKraft Digital Foundation launches book on PM Modi’s radio show ‘Mann ki Baat‘
BlueKraft Digital Foundation has launched a book on Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s monthly radio
programme Mann ki Baat. The book has been titled ‘Igniting Collective Goodness: Mann Ki Baat @ 100’.
About the book:
i.The book captures the journey of Prime Minister Modi’s 100 episodes of Mann Ki Baat and its impact on
Indian society.
ii.The book is published by Westland Publications Limited.
iii.This is the third book of Westland Publications in the series, which captures the journey of Mann ki Baat.
• The other two books are ‘Mann Ki Baat – A Social Revolution On Radio’ and ‘Mann Ki Baat – 50
Episodes Special Edition: A Social Revolution on Radio’ published in 2017 and 2019 respectively.
About Mann Ki Baat:
i.Mann Ki Baat is broadcast on All India Radio(AIR) and Doordarshan(DD) on the last Sunday of every month.
ii.The programme was launched on 3rd October 2014 and reached its 100th episode on 30th April 2023.
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri Launched Ashok Tandon’s New Book “The Reverse Swing”
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas(MoPNG) launched a book
titled “The Reverse Swing: Colonialism to Cooperation” authored by Ashok Kumar Tandon, a veteran
journalist and political commentator.
• The book, published by Prabhat Prakashan, features stories on the relationship between India and
the United Kingdom (UK), India’s colonial past and its resurgence and the current journey through
the Amrit Kaal.
• The book also features interesting facts about former Prime Ministers like Atal Bihari Vajpayee and
P. V. Narasimha Rao.
Ashok Tandon has worked as Press Trust of India limited (PTI) Bureau Chief in London and Diplomatic Editor
of the PTI in New Delhi, Delhi.
• He has also served in Prime Minister Office (PMO) from 1998-2004 as incharge of Media Relations in
the rank of Additional Secretary.

‘The Lords of the Wankhede – Tales Between Two Titles’ Co-authored by W.V. Raman and R.
Kaushik Launched
The book titled ‘The Lords of the Wankhede – Tales Between Two Titles’ Co-authored by Indian cricketer W.V.
Raman and senior journalist R. Kaushik was launched in Bengaluru, Karnataka and it was published by Rupa
Publications.
The book describes the changes that occurred in Indian cricket between 1983 and 2023, and reflects on
the events that influenced the growth of cricket in India.
Woorkeri Venkat Raman represented Indian cricket team between 1988 and 1997, also played for Tamil
Nadu in domestic cricket and his first book ‘The Winning Sixer’ was launched in 2020.
Kaushik is also the co-author of V.V.S. Laxman’s autobiography ‘281 and Beyond’, Former Indian
cricket captain Gundappa Ranganatha Visvanath’s autobiography ‘Wrist Assured’ and Former
Indian cricket team fielding coach R. Sridhar’s memoir ‘Coaching Beyond’.
Note:
The book launch event was attended by former Indian cricketers Venkatesh Prasad and VVS Laxman.
Ex-RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan & Economist Rohit Lamba authored a new book “Breaking
the Mould”
Raghuram Rajan, Former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and Economist Rohit Lamba
has authored a new book titled “Breaking the Mould: Reimagining India’s Economic Future”.
· The book, published by Penguin Business, an imprint
of Penguin Random House India (PRHI), is set to be
released in December 2023.
About the book:
i.Through this book, the authors provides an idea about the
economic future of India.
ii.The book examines crucial policy choices relevant to every
Indian, offering valuable insights on economic development.
iii.The book seeks to delve into some of the critical questions
surrounding India’s economic trajectory.
About Raghuram Rajan:
i.He is currently a distinguished service professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of
Business, and a senior fellow (adjunct) at the Hoover Institution, the United States of America (USA).
ii.He served as the 23rd Governor of the RBI from 2013 to 2016 and as vice chairman of the board of
the Bank for International Settlements from 2015 to 2016.
iii.He was a chief economist and director of research at the International Monetary Fund(IMF) from
2003 to 2006 and as president of the American Finance Association in 2011.
iv.He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Group of Thirty.
Award: In January 2003, the American Finance Association awarded him the inaugural Fischer
Black Prize for the best finance researcher under the age of 40.
Books: The Third Pillar: How Markets and the State Leave the Community Behind (2019); I Do What I
Do: On Reform, Rhetoric, and Resolve (2018); Saving Capitalism from the Capitalists with Luigi
Zingales (Co-author) (2003)
About Rohit Lamba:
i.Rohit Lamba is a Assistant Professor of Economics at the The Pennsylvania State University (since
2015)
ii.He was a visiting assistant professor of economics at the University of Pennsylvania from 2018-19.

ii.He served as the office of the Chief Economic Advisor, Government of India from 2012-2013, and in
2014.
Books:
Industrial Policy Redux (2023); Has India really become a mobile phone manufacturing giant? (Co-
author) (2023); How services can create next wave of India’s globalisation (Co-authored with
Raghuram Rajan)(2023).
PM Narendra Modi Releases Three Books at Tulsi Peeth in Chitrakoot in Madhya Pradesh
Prime Minister Narendra Modi released three books, including ‘Ashtadhyayi Bhashya’, ‘Ramanandacharya
Charitam’, and ‘Bhagwan Shri Krishna ki Rashtraleela‘, during his visit to Tulsi Peeth in Chitrakoot, Madhya
Pradesh.
The three books were written by Jagadguru Rambhadracharya of Tulsi Peeth.
Tulsi Peeth is a religious and social service institution which was established by Jagadguru
Rambhadracharya in 1987 and is one of the leading publishers of Hindu religious literature.
Jagadguru Rambhadracharya awarded Padam Vibhushan in 2015 in the field of Literature and
Education.
Note:
Astadhyayi is a Sanskrit Treatise on grammar written in 6th to 5th century B.C. by the Sanskrit grammarian
Panini.
IMPORTANT DAYS
International Translation Day 2023- September 30
The United Nations (UN) International Translation Day (ITD) is annually observed across the globe
on 30 September to recognise and honour the invaluable contributions of translators and language
professionals, who facilitate communication between nations strengthening global peace, cooperation,
understanding, and development.
• The theme of ITD 2023 is, “Translation unveils the many faces of humanity”.
• The annual theme of ITD is chosen by the Fédération Internationale des
Traducteurs/International Federation of Translators (FIT).
Background:
i.Since 1991, the FIT has been annually celebrating the International Translation Day to highlight the
significant role of translators all across the world.
• FIT celebrates the Internatioal Translation Day by creating an annual theme for the celebration.
ii.On 24 May 2017, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in its 71st session adopted the resolution
A/RES/71/288 and declared 30 September of every year as International Translation Day.
iii.The first UN-recognised ITD was observed on 30 September 2017.
Why September 30?
The date September 30 was chosen to coincide with the feast of St. Jerome, the Bible translator, who is
considered the patron saint of archaeologists, Biblical scholars, librarians, students, and translators.
About St. Jerome:
i.St. Jerome was born around 340 as Eusebius Hieronymous Sophronius in Stridon, Dalmatia (present-day
Croatia).
ii.He has translated most of the Bible into Latin from the Greek manuscripts of the New Testament. He has
also translated the Old Testament against the Hebrew original.

iii.He died on September 30, around 420 near Bethlehem in Palestine. In 1989, he became a Father and
Doctor of the Church.
Translation at the UN:
i.The UN is one of the world’s largest employers of language professionals, particularly translators.
ii.Translators are one type of language professional employed at the UN in its major offices.
iii.UN documents are issued in 6 official languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and
Spanish), with some core documents also translated into German.
iv.UN language specialists include:
• Editorial and desktop publishing assistants;
• Editors;
• Interpreters;
• Précis-writers;
• Production editors and desktop publishers;
• Translators;
• Verbatim reporters
Key Facts:
i.The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) holds the Guinness World Record as the most
translated document. It exists in more than 500 languages.
ii.The UN is one of the world’s largest employers of language professionals.
ITD 2023 Poster:
FIT Council presented its ITD Poster for 2023 with the theme “Translation unveils the many faces of
humanity”. The 2023 poster pays tribute to the many human faces and stories made visible through
translation.
2023 Events:
FIT organised an International Translation Day Webinar 2023 to commemorate ITD 2023 with a panel
discussion about the value of human interpreting and human translation across the world on 2 October
2023.
About International Federation of Translators (FIT):
President– Alison Rodriguez
Secretary-General– Alexandra Jantscher
FIT is the federation of professional associations of interpreters, translators, and terminologists. 2023
marks the 70th Anniversary of the founding of FIT.
Indian Army celebrated 197th Gunners Day – 28th September 2023

The Regiment of Artillery, an operational arm of Indian Army, annually observes September 28th as
the “Gunners Day”.
• The 28th of September 2023 marks the observance of the 197th Gunners day.
• The day commemorates the raising of 5 (Bombay) Mountain Battery, equipped with 2.5-inch Guns
as the 8th Company of the Golandaz Battalion, Bombay Foot Artillery (India’s first Artillery unit), on
28th September 1827.
What is Artilley?
Artillery refers to a group of soldiers primarily armed with some form of manufactured weapon or armour.
About Regiment of Artillery:
i.The Regiment of Artillery, the second-largest arm of the Indian Army, has been a part of the Indian defence
since its independence.

ii.The motto of the Regiment is Sarvatra Izat-o-Iqbal (Everywhere with Honour and Glory).
Contribution & Recognition:
i.The regiment made their contribution is post independence wars such as Indo-China war 1962, Indo-Pakistan
war 1947, Indo-Pakistan war 1965, Indo-Pakistan war 1965 and Kargil war 1999.
ii.The regiment was recognised with honours such as:
• Pre-independence era: One Victoria Cross, One Distinguished Service Order & 15 Military Crosses.
• Post independence era: One Ashok Chakra, Seven Maha Vir Chakras, Nine Kirti Chakras, One
Hundred and One Vir Chakras, Sixty Nine Shaurya Chakras, 6 Bar to Sena Medal, 502 Sena Medals
besides many other decorations.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2023 – October 1 to 31

Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) is annually observed across the globe during the month
of October (from October 1 to 31) to raise awareness about breast cancer, promote early detection, support
those affected by the disease, and raise funds for research, prevention, and treatment.
• BCAM, the month-long global health campaign, serves as a reminder of the significance of regular
breast examinations and mammograms to detect breast cancer at an early, more treatable stage.
Symbol: The pink ribbon is an international symbol of support for breast cancer awareness month.
• In a global effort to raise awareness of breast cancer, October has been designated as “Pink Month“.
Background:
i.The event started as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM), a weeklong event in October 1985.
ii.It was organised in partnership between the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the pharmaceutical division
of Imperial Chemical Industries, which would later become part of AstraZeneca.
• NBCAM was organised to promote mammograms as the most effective tool to fight breast cancer.
History of the Pink Ribbon:
i.Susan G. Komen, the world’s leading breast cancer organization has used the colour pink since its inception in
1982.
ii.In 1992, Evelyn H. Lauder, Senior Corporate Vice President of Estée Lauder (Cosmetics Company) and breast
cancer survivor launched the Breast Cancer Awareness (BCA) Campaign, and in 1993, she founded the Breast
Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF).
• The Estée Lauder Companies’ iconic brands support its mission to create a breast cancer-free world
and raise funds for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF).
Note: The original pink ribbon inspiration colour was peach.
About Breast Cancer:
i.Breast cancer starts in the cells of the breast as a group of cancer cells that can then invade surrounding
tissues or spread (metastasize) to other areas of the body.
ii.Breast cancer most often begins with cells in the milk-producing ducts (invasive ductal carcinoma).
iii.It may also begin in the glandular tissue called lobules (invasive lobular carcinoma) or in other cells or tissue
within the breast.
Significance:
i.Breast cancer is the most common cancer worldwide and the leading cause of cancer deaths among women.
The goal is to reduce breast cancer mortality by 2.5% per year.
ii.23% of breast cancer cases are preventable. Taking steps such as maintaining a healthy weight, limiting
alcohol intake, and quitting smoking, can help reduce the risk.
iii.Breast cancer deaths disproportionately affect individuals in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
iv.In high-income countries, the 5-year survival rates exceed 90% (9 out of 10), compared with 66% (6 out of
10) in India and 40% (4 out of 10) in South Africa.
v.Survival rates for breast cancer are very high when the cancer is detected early and where treatment is
available.

Breast Cancer in India:
i.According to the National Cancer Registry of India, it is estimated that by 2025, there will be 230,000 new
cases of breast cancer annually in India, with an increase in young women being diagnosed.
ii.Young women with breast cancer are typically diagnosed at or below the age of 40. They constitute less than
10% of all new breast cancer cases annually.
iii.Risk factors such as genetic mutations, obesity, and delayed childbirth can contribute to its occurrence.
International Day of Older Persons 2023 – October 1

The United Nations (UN)’s International Day of Older Persons (IDOP) is annually observed across the globe
on October 1 to raise awareness of the contributions and achievements of older individuals (defined as those
aged 65 years or older) in society, as well as to promote their well-being and inclusion in all aspects of life.
• 1st October 2023 marks the observance of the 33nd anniversary of the IDOP.
Theme:
The theme for IDOP 2023 is “Fulfilling the Promises of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for
Older Persons: Across Generations.”
• The theme highlights the unique needs of older people globally in terms of their rights and reporting
violations, in addition to fostering solidarity through equity and reciprocity between the generations
offers long-term solutions to fulfil the Sustainable Development Goals’ (SDG) promise.
Background:
i.The background of International Day of Older Persons (IDOP) can be traced back to the 1982 World Assembly
on Ageing (WAA), which adopted the Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing (VIPAA).
ii.In 1990, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) through Resolution A/RES/45/106 declared October
1 as the International Day of Older Persons (IDOP).
iii.The first IDOP was observed on 1st October 1991.
Objectives of UNIDOP 2023:
i.To increase global knowledge and awareness of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and encourage all
stakeholders to commit to protecting the human rights of older people around the world.
ii.To share and learn from intergenerational models for the protection of human rights around the world; and
iii.To encourage governments and UN entities to review their current practices to better integrate a life course
approach to human rights in their work, and to ensure the active and meaningful participation of all
stakeholders, including civil society, national human rights institutions, and older people themselves, in efforts
to strengthen solidarity among generations and intergenerational partnerships.
Significance of Older persons:
i.Older persons are invaluable sources of knowledge and experience and have much to contribute towards
peace, sustainable development, and protecting our planet.
ii.United Nations had declared 2020-30 as the Decade of Healthy Ageing to improve the lives of older people,
their families, and the communities in which they live.
iii.Rapid growth in the number of people reaching older ages underscores the significance of promoting health,
preventing, and treating illnesses throughout the entire course of life.
• The number of older people tripled from around 260 million in 1980 to 761 million in 2021.
Between 2021 and 2050, the global share of the older population is projected to increase from less
than 10% to around 17%.
In India:
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, as the nodal ministry for the cause of senior citizens, has been
celebrating the day since 2005 by conferring Vayoshreshtha Sammans to eminent Senior Citizens and
Institutions in recognition for their service towards the elderly persons, especially indigent senior citizens.

Additional Info:
According to ‘Caring for Our Elders Institutional Responses: India Ageing Report
2023’ released by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) India, along with the International Institute for
Population Sciences (IIPS)
i.The population of the senior citizen is 10% of India’s population. By 2036, it will be 14.36%. In 2050 it will be
20.8%
ii.The report predicts that by 2046 elderly population will surpassed the population of children (aged 0 to 15
years) in the country.
World Senior Citizen’s Day is annually celebrated across the globe on 21st August to honour the efforts,
contributions, and achievements made by elderly people to society, families, and communities. The day also
recognises the issues that an elderly individual faces in old age.
International Coffee Day 2023- October 1

International Coffee Day (ICD) is annually observed across the globe on 1 October to celebrate and promote
the global love and appreciation for coffee. This day provides an opportunity to recognize the significant
cultural, economic, and social impact of coffee around the world.
• ICD aims to recognise the millions of people across the globe, from farmers to roasters, baristas,
coffee shop owners, and more, who work hard to create and serve the beverage.
The 2023 theme of International Coffee Day is, “promoting the right to a safe and healthy working
environment in the coffee supply chain”.
• The celebration of ICD is led by International Coffee Organisation (ICO), with its 77 Member States
and dozens of coffee associations from around the world.
Background:
i.In March 2014, the Member States of the ICO agreed to observe International Coffee Day on 1 October of every
year to create a single day of celebration for coffee lovers around the world.
ii.The first ever ICD was observed on 1 October 2015 by 74 member states of the ICO and 26 coffee
associations from around the world.
iii.The first ICD coincided with the 115th session of the International Coffee Council (ICC) and the first Global
Coffee Forum (GCF) which took place during Expo Milan 2015 in Milan, Italy.
About Coffee:
i.The coffee plants originated in East Africa, particularly Ethiopia (formerly Abyssinia), where wild coffee plants
grew naturally.
ii.Coffee is a brewed drink prepared from roasted coffee beans, which are the seeds of “berries” from the Coffea
plant.
• Coffee comes from a genus of plants known as Coffea of the family Rubiaceae.
iii.It is one of the 3 most popular beverages in the world (alongside water and tea).
Types: 2 economically important species of coffee are Coffea Arabica and C. canephora.
Areas: Coffee plants are cultivated in over 70 countries and the primary coffee growing and exporting areas are
in the equatorial region.
Key Facts:
i.The top 5 coffee producing countries are: Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, Indonesia, and Ethiopia.
• These 5 countries account for nearly 75% of the world’s coffee production.
ii.Coffee is the second-most-exported commodity in the world after oil.
iii.Finland, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, and the Netherlands are the top 5 Coffee consuming countries.
iv.World coffee exports amounted to 10.21 million bags in July 2023, compared with 10.37 million in July 2022.
v.Top 3 Coffee producing states in India: Karnataka (72.5 %), Kerala (18.9%), Tamil Nadu (5.1%).

2023 Events:
To commemorate the ICD 2023 on 1 October 2023, the ICO and the International Labor Organization (ILO), a
United Nations (UN) agency jointly launched the #CoffeePeople Campaign and a social media challenge around
the ICD 2023 theme.
About International Coffee Organisation (ICO):
Chair of the International Coffee Council (ICC 2022-2023)– Massimiliano Fabian
Executive Director– Vanúsia Nogueira
Headquarters– London, United Kingdom
ICO is the main intergovernmental organization for coffee. Its Member governments represent 98% of world
coffee production and 67% of world consumption.
ICO was set up in 1963 under the auspices of the UN.
World Vegetarian Day 2023 – October 1

World Vegetarian Day(WVD) is annually observed across the globe on October 1 to promote the joy,
compassion and life-enhancing possibilities of vegetarianism.
• World Vegetarian Day marks the beginning of Vegetarian Awareness Month, which begins on 1st
October and concludes on 1st November, World Vegan Day.
Background:
i.World Vegetarian Day was formed in 1977 by the North American Vegetarian Society (NAVS).
ii.The day was endorsed by the International Vegetarian Union (IVU) in 1978.
iii.As of now World Vegetarian Day is celebrated in more than 180 countries around the world.
• It is also recognized as a national day in several countries, including India, Brazil, China, France, and
Thailand.
Significance
i.The day spread the benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle and encourages people to explore plant-based diets to
create positive impact on health and the environment.
ii.Around 22% of the global population is vegetarian.
iii.Most number of vegetarians reside in India with 38% of the total population following meat-less diet .
• Followed by Israel and Taiwan with 13% and 12% respectively.
Types Of Vegetarians
Vegetarians are individuals who typically do not eat animal products, but some groups are defined by the types
of animal-derived foods that they eat.
i.Lacto-ovo vegetarians: They consume eggs and dairy products but do not eat any meat, poultry, or fish.
ii.Lacto vegetarians: they omit eggs, meat, fish, and poultry, but do consume dairy products.
iii.Vegans: They omit all foods derived from animals, including eggs, dairy, meat, fish, and poultry.
World Habitat Day 2023- October 2

The United Nations (UN) World Habitat Day (WHD) is annually observed across the globe on the first Monday
of October to reflect on the state of cities and human settlements and promote the right to adequate shelter
and the need for sustainable urbanization. WHD also launches Urban October.
• WHD also reminds people that they are also responsible for the habitat of future generation.
The WHD 2023 was observed on 2 October 2023.
• The WHD 2022 was observed on 3 October 2022 and the WHD 2024 will be observed on 7
October 2024.
The theme of WHD 2023 is “Resilient urban economies. Cities as drivers of growth and recovery“.
• The theme aims to call various city stakeholders to analyse the various aspects of economic
slowdown experienced by cities worldwide due to COVID-19 and conflicts.
Host Country:
i.The 2023 global ceremony took place in the city of Baku, Azerbaijan.

ii.It was co-organized with the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture of the Republic of
Azerbaijan under the theme ‘Resilient urban economies. Cities as drivers of growth and recovery.’
iii.This was the first celebration of WHD in the Caucasus and Central Asian region.
Note: The host city of WHD 2022 was Balıkesir, Türkiye.
Background:
i.On 17 December 1985, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution
(A/RES/40/202) and decided to observe the first Monday of October every year as World Habitat Day.
ii.WHD was first celebrated in 1986 with the theme “Shelter is My Right“. It was hosted by the city
of Nairobi in Kenya.
Urban October: 31 days of promoting a better urban future:
i.WHD initiated Urban October, it was developed to raise awareness, promote participation, generate
knowledge and engage the international community in creating a better urban future.
ii.The Urban October month begins with the WHD on the first Monday of October and concludes with World
Cities Day on 31 October 2023.
• Each October, everyone interested in sustainable urbanization from national and local governments
to universities, communities, etc. is encouraged to hold or participate in activities, events, and
discussions.
Note: The UN World Cities Day was first celebrated in 2014.
Scroll of Honour award:
i.The UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award was launched by the United Nations Human Settlements
Programme in 1989.
ii.It is one of the highlights of the WHD global observance and is currently the most prestigious human
settlements award in the world.
Objective: It aims to acknowledge initiatives which have made outstanding contributions in various fields such
as:
• Shelter provision (providing adequate, affordable, and accessible housing); Highlighting the plight of
the homeless;
• Leadership in post-conflict reconstruction; and
• Developing and improving the human settlements and the quality of urban life.
iii.The Scroll of Honour Award recognizes both individuals and institutions that have made outstanding
contributions to urban development.
Award: The award is a plaque engraved with the name of the winner. Up to 5 winners were and they received
their awards at the global observance of World Habitat Day on 2 October 2023.
The 2023 UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award winners:
• ProEmployment Foundation (Fundación ProEmpleo Productivo, A.C), Mexico
• To Dubai Municipality, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
• Community Real Estate Fund for Rent (FICA – Fundo Imobiliário Comunitáriopara Aluguel), Brazil
• Assembleia de Moradores, Braga, Portugal
• EcoVironment, Sierra Leone
Significance:
i.The year 2023 poses significant challenges for urban economies worldwide, with global economic growth
expected to decline to approximately 2.5%, marking one of the weakest growth periods, according to the
International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) World Economic Outlook (WEO).
• Apart from the initial COVID-19 crisis in 2020 and the global financial crisis in 2009, this is the
weakest growth experienced since 2001.
ii.To ensure lasting economic growth, the focus must be on sustainability, as emphasized by the Organization
for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in 2023.

International Day of Non-Violence 2023 – October 2
The United Nations (UN)’s International Day of Non-Violence is annually observed across the globe on 2nd
October to celebrate the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian Independence movement and
pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence.
• In India, the day is observed as Gandhi Jayanthi.
• 2nd October 2023 is the 154th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and 17th International Day
of Non-Violence.
Background:
i.The idea of International Day of Non-Violence was initially proposed by Iranian Noble
Laureate Shirin Ebadi in 2004.
ii.In June 2007, the United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/61/271 and
declared October 2 as the International Day of Non-Violence.
• The day was first observed on 2nd October 2007.
• The day aims to spread the message of ‘Say No to Violence’ through education and public
awareness.
iii.The resolution reaffirms “the universal relevance of the principle of non-violence” and the desire “to secure a
culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence”.
Mahatma Gandhi & Non-Violence:
i.Mahatma Gandhi, often referred to as the “Father of the Nation” in India, was a leader who demonstrated the
immense power of non-violence.
ii.His philosophy of “Satyagraha,” which translates to “truth force” or “soul force,” was at the core of his
approach to social and political activism.
iii.He believed that Indians must not use violence or hatred in their fight for freedom from colonialism.
Key Principles of Non-Violence
i.Non-violence rejects the use of physical violence in order to achieve social or political change.
ii.Non-Violence is described as “the politics of ordinary people”.
this form of social struggle has been adopted by mass populations all over the world in campaigns for social
justice.
iii.Non-violence is a potent weapon for the oppressed. It involves the courage to endure suffering and injustice
without resorting to violence in return.
iv.Three main categories of non-violence action are
• Protest and persuasion – Peaceful marches, rallies, hunger strikes, petitions, and boycotts
• Non-cooperation – Tax resistance and civil disobedience
• Non-violent intervention – Blockades and Occupations
Achievements Through Non-Violence
i.Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violent campaigns played a pivotal role in India’s struggle for independence from
British colonial rule.
ii.Nelson Mandela and other anti-apartheid activists advocated non-violence, ultimately leading to the
dismantling of the apartheid system.
The United Nations (UN)’s International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion
or Belief is annually observed across the globe on 22nd August to condemn the violence and acts of terrorism
against individuals of religious minorities, on the basis of or in the name of religion or belief.
About the United Nations (UN):
Secretary-General- António Guterres
Headquarters- New York, United States of America(USA).
Establishment- 1945

69th Wildlife Week – 2 to 8 October 2023
Wildlife Week is annually observed across India in the month of October from 2 to 8 October to spread
awareness of the importance of wildlife and its conservation in India.
• The annual observanance coincides with the birth anniversary (2 October) of Mahatma Gandhi, who
championed the principles of Ahinsa (non-violence) and compassion toward all living beings.
• The 2023 marks the observance of the 69th Wildlife Week.
The theme of Wildlife Week 2023 is “Partnerships for wildlife conservation“.
• The theme is inspired by the theme of the United Nations (UN) World Wildlife Day 2023, which
honours the individuals and organisations making a positive impact on wildlife conservation.
Note: The UN World Wildlife Day (WWD) is annually observed across the globe on 3 March.
Background:
i.Wildlife Week was conceptualised in 1952 when the Government of India constituted an advisory body
designated as the Indian Board for Wildlife (IBWL).
• It was conceptualised with the goal of raising awareness to serve the long-term goal of safeguarding
the lives of wildlife through critical action.
ii.Initially, it was marked as Wildlife Day in 1955, it later evolved into Wildlife Week in 1957.
• It is to provide the initiative with a broader perspective and more encompassing approach to
conservation efforts.
iii.The first Wildlife Week was observed in 1957.
Note: The 42nd Amendment Act, 1976, Forests and Protection of Wild Animals and Birds was transferred from
the State to the Concurrent List.
Objectives of Celebrating Wild Life Week:
• To make people more aware of the conservation and protection of wildlife.
• To focus the people’s attention on the importance of conservation of wildlife.
• To implement more services to preserve wildlife.
• To discuss all the issues related to the preservation of wildlife.
Constitutional Provisions for Wildlife Protection:
Article 51A(g): It shall be the fundamental duty of every citizen to protect and improve the natural
environment including forests and Wildlife
Article 48A: The State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and safeguard the forests and
wildlife of India.
About National Board for Wildlife (NBWL):
i.The Wildlife (Protection) Act, of 1972 was subsequently amended in 1991 and lastly in 2002.
ii.As per the amendment of the Act in 2002, a provision was incorporated for the constitution of the National
Board for Wildlife (NMWL), replacing the Indian Board for Wildlife (IBWL).
iii.NBWL came into existence on 22nd September 2003. It is a Statutory organisation responsible for the
promotion of conservation and development of wildlife and forests.
iv.NBWL has 47 members with the Prime Minister in the Chair. The Minister in charge of the Ministry of
Environment & Forests in the Central Government is the Vice-Chairperson.
Wildlife Week celebration in National Zoological Park:
The National Zoological Park in Delhi has been celebrating “Wildlife Week – 2023” from October 2 to 8 2023.
Awareness activities were organized like Nukkad Natak, an expert talk on Biodiversity, a video on the mission
Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE), and a pledge.
Key People:
Bivash Ranjan, Additional Director General of Forests (Wildlife), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate
Change (MoEF&CC); Sanjay Shukla, Member Secretary Central Zoo Authority (CZA); and Dr. Faiyaz A. Khudsar,
Biodiversity Expert, University of Delhi.

Objective:
The goal of arranging this activity at the National Zoological Park was to create awareness about wildlife, and
biodiversity and also to promote the concept of LiFe by staying close to nature.
World Animal Day 2023 – October 4

World Animal Day (WAD) is annually observed across the globe on October 4 which aims to brings together
the animal welfare movement to work towards creating a better world for all animals.
• The day celebrates the diversity of the animal kingdom and reflects on the importance of animal
welfare around the world.
Theme:
The theme of World Animal Day 2023 is ‘Great or Small, Love Them All’.
• The theme is a reminder that all animals, regardless of their size or species, are sentient beings who
deserve our respect and compassion.
Background:
i.The idea of World Animal Day was initially proposed by Heinrich Zimmerman, a writer and publisher of the
German magazine “Mensch und Hund” (Man and Dog).
ii.The first World Animal Day celebrated on 24th March 1925, at the Sports Palace in Berlin, Germany; It was
organised by Zimmerman.
iii.In 1931, his proposal to officially recognize October 4th as World Animal Day was approved and enacted as a
resolution at the International Animal Protection Congress in Florence, Italy.
• October 4th is the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the
environment.
iv.In 2003, to increase awareness of World Animal Day, the United Kingdom(UK)-based animal welfare
charity Naturewatch Foundation created a website dedicated to the event.
v.As of now, the World Animal Day is celebrated in over 100 countries across the world.
Significance of World Animal Day
i.World Animal Day serves as a platform to raise awareness about the ethical treatment of animals.
• It underscores the importance of compassion and respect towards all living beings, emphasizing that
animals have the right to live free from suffering and exploitation.
ii.The Day highlights the urgency of conserving endangered species and protecting their natural habitats.
iii.This day plays a crucial role in educating the public about various issues affecting animals, including animal
cruelty, illegal wildlife trade, habitat destruction, and the impact of climate change on wildlife.
iv.World Animal Day encourages governments and policymakers to enact and enforce laws and regulations
regarding animal safety.
World Space Week 2023 – 4th to 10th October

The United Nations (UN) World Space Week (WSW) is annually observed across the globe
from 4th to 10th October to celebrate the contributions of space science and technology to the betterment of
the human condition.
The theme for World Space Week 2023 is “Space and Entrepreneurship”.
• The theme highlights the growing importance of the commercial space sector and its potential for
entrepreneurs. As miniaturisation and cost-efficiency continue to advance, the future of space
exploration belongs not only to governments but also to visionary entrepreneurs.
• Every year, the theme of WSW is selected by the World Space Week Association (WSWA) Board of
Directors in close coordination with the UN Office of Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) to provide a
focus on the activities and events that take place in over 80 nations from 4-10 October.
Note: WSWA began in 1980 as the coordinator of “Spaceweek,” a celebration of the first Moon landing, each
July 16-24.

Background:
i.The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) by its resolution A/RES/54/68 of 6 December 1999,
proclaimed the week of 4 to 10 October every year as the World Space Week.
ii.The first-ever WSW was observed from 4th to 10th October 2000.
iii.The celebration of WSW is under the guidance of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
(COPUOS) and the UNOOSA.
Why October 4 to 10?
These dates commemorate two events:
October 4, 1957: Launch of the first human-made Earth satellite, Sputnik 1, thus opening the way for space
exploration.
October 10, 1967: The signing of the “Magna Carta of Space”, also known as the Treaty on Principles
Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, including the Moon and
Other Celestial Bodies.
UN and Space
i.UNOOSA is the UN office responsible for promoting international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer
space.
ii.UNOOSA serves as the secretariat for the UNGA’s only committee dealing exclusively with international
cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space: the UN’s COPUOS.
iii.UNOOSA is also responsible for implementing the Secretary-General’s responsibilities under international
space law and maintaining the United Nations Register of Objects Launched into Outer Space.
Goals of World Space Week:
• Provide unique leverage in space outreach and education
• Educate people around the world about the benefits that they receive from space
• Encourage greater use of space for sustainable economic development
• Demonstrate public support for space programs
• Excite young people about Science, Technology Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
• Foster international cooperation in space outreach and education.
Significance:
i.WSW consists of space education and outreach events held by space agencies, aerospace companies, schools,
planetaria, museums, and astronomy clubs around the world in a common timeframe.
ii.WSW also serves as a forum for important discussions on the transition of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to a more
entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Joint Campaign:
To commemorate the WSW 2023, the WSWA, the European Centre for Space Economy and Commerce
(ECSECO), and the European Centre for Space Law (ECSL) collaboratively launched a joint social media
campaign.
• It was to engage their extensive global networks and provide a forum for the participants to share
their invaluable insights and significant space career experiences.
Events in India:
i.In India, the World Space Week India Coordinating Committee, the National Coordinator of WSW, organised a
total of 39 events to celebrate WSW 2023, from October 4 to 10 2023 in various states such as Delhi, Andhra
Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan.
ii.The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) jointly organised WSW 2023 events from October 4-10, 2023 with
the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), the ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU), and the Indian Institute of
Space Science and Technology (IIST).
• The inaugural event and ‘Space and Entrepreneurship’, workshop on space startups, were held at
the Hotel Hilton Garden Inn, Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala), and various WSW 2023 events
organised by ISRO units are celebrating in Delhi.

iii.U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), is celebrating the WSW
through an outreach program. On the 4th and 10th October 2023, Inaugural and Valedictory functions are
arranged at the URSC campus in Bengaluru (Karnataka).
Note: URSC is the lead centre of ISRO responsible for design, development, assembly & integration of
communication, navigation, remote sensing, scientific and small satellite missions.
About United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA):
Director– Aarti Holla-Maini
Headquarters– Vienna, Austria
World Teachers’ Day 2023- October 5

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s World Teachers’ Day
(WTD) is annually observed across the globe on 5 October to recognise the important role that teachers play
in education around the world.
• WTD also aims to reflect on the support teachers require to maximize their impact on students and
society and to rethink the future of the teaching profession globally.
The theme of WTD 2023 is “The teachers we need for the education we want: The global imperative to
reverse the teacher shortage“.
• The theme underscores the need to support, respect, and celebrate educators to address teacher
shortages and make the teaching profession more appealing.
WTD is co-convened in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO), United Nations
Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and Education International (EI).
Background:
i.On 5th October 1966, ILO and UNESCO signed a recommendation concerning the ‘Status of Teachers’ and
adopted it at a special intergovernmental conference convened by UNESCO in Paris, France.
ii.In 1994, the UNESCO declared 5th October as World Teachers’ Day to celebrate the efforts made for teachers
in 1966.
• The first ever World Teachers’ Day was observed on 5th October 1994.
Significance of October 5:
i.The date October 5 commemorates the anniversary of the adoption of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO
Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers.
ii.October 5 also celebrates the adoption of the UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Higher-
Education Teaching Personnel by the UNESCO General Conference in 1997.
• It complements the 1966 Recommendation by covering teaching personnel in higher education.
2023 Events:
To commemorate the WTD 2023, various events were organised:
i.An opening ceremony and Recognition and appreciation events were held in Paris (France) on 5 October
2023. The event aims to recognize and appreciate the role of teacher prizes in enhancing the status of the
profession. The awards aim to celebrate their achievements and encourage the sharing of good practices.
A wide diversity of prizes aims at rewarding outstanding practices in the teaching profession at national,
regional, and global levels. Some of the popular awards are:
• The UNESCO-Hamdan Prize for Teacher Development;
• The Global Teacher Prize;
• The African Union Continental Teacher Prize;
• The European Innovative Teaching Award, and
• The Malaysia Teacher Prize and many National Teacher Prizes
ii.2 online events regarding the “Teacher education in emergencies to support attraction and well-being” and
“Global pathways to an attractive teaching profession” were organised on 6 October 2023.

iii.On WTD 2023, UNESCO presented an exhibition that celebrates educators from all corners of our planet,
recognizing their dedication, passion, and commitment to shaping the future.
• The exhibition served as a visual testament to the influence of teachers and the importance of their
vocation.
Teachers’ Day in India: In India September 5th of every year is observed as Teachers’ Day since 1962 to
honour the 2nd President of the country Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, whose birth anniversary falls on the
same day.
About United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO):
Director-General– Audrey Azoulay
UNESCO’s Constitution was adopted in London (United Kingdom) in 1945, it entered into force in 1946.
World Cerebral Palsy Day 2023- October 6

World Cerebral Palsy Day (WCPD) is annually observed across the globe on October 6 to raise awareness
of Cerebral Palsy (CP) and honour the efforts and accomplishments of people with Cerebral Palsy. CP is a
neurological disorder that affects motor abilities and muscle mobility
• WCPD is a global healthcare campaign to ensure a future in which children and adults with cerebral
palsy have the same rights, access, and opportunities as anyone else in our society.
The theme for World Cerebral Palsy Day 2023 is “Together Stronger.”
• The theme highlights the importance of unity, collaboration, and mutual support within the CP
community and beyond.
Background:
i.In 2012, the Cerebral Palsy Alliance (CPA) declared World Cerebral Palsy Day to be observed on 6th October
every year.
ii.The obsercavance began with a small campaign called “Change My World in One Minute”, started by the
Cerebral Palsy Alliance in Australia.
• The campaign aimed for a global change and encouraged people to share ideas for innovative
technologies and products that could enhance the lives of individuals with CP.
What is cerebral palsy?
i.It is an umbrella term that refers to a group of disorders affecting a person’s ability to move.
ii.CP is caused by abnormal brain development or damage to the developing brain that affects a person’s ability
to control his or her muscles.
iii.CP affects body movement, muscle control, muscle coordination, muscle tone, reflex, posture, and balance.
• People who have CP may also have visual, learning, hearing, speech, epilepsy, and intellectual
impairments.
Types: Spastic Cerebral Palsy, Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy, Ataxic Cerebral Palsy, Mixed Cerebral Palsy.
Key Facts:
i.There are more than 17 million people across the world living with CP. Another 350 million people are closely
connected to a child or adult with CP.
ii.It is a complex disability:
• 1 in 4 children with CP cannot talk
• 1 in 4 cannot walk
• 1 in 2 have an intellectual disability
• 1 in 4 have epilepsy.
2023 Events:
i.To commemorate WCPD 2023, CPA opened the competition to individuals and organisations from the CP
community to submit their life-changing ideas.
• One individual and one organisation will help shape the challenges for the 2024 Remarkable Design-
athon, which brings together designers, developers, and entrepreneurs to bring ideas to life.

ii.CPActive and CPA together organised the World Cerebral Palsy Day Awards ceremony on 20 October 2023.
The awards ceremony will be hosted by Australian disability rights advocate Elly Desmarchelier.
• Up to 2 winners will be announced at the World CP Day Awards, with a USD 5,000 cash prize.
Observance in India:
The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under the Ministry of Social Justice
and Empowerment, Government of India is the nodal department for Disability empowerment in India.
• With the objective of raising awareness about CP among the masses, DEPwD has observed World
Cerebral Palsy Day on 6th October 2023, by organizing diverse nationwide events through DEPwD-
affiliated institutions.
About Cerebral Palsy Alliance (CPA):
CPA formerly known as The Spastic Centre, is the world’s largest private funder of CP research and also a global
center of expertise for CP research, advocacy, intervention, and assistive technology innovation.
Chair of the Board of Directors of CPA– Andrew Buchanan
Headquarters– New South Wales, Australia
Founded in– 1945
World Cotton Day 2023 – October 7

The United Nations (UN)’s World Cotton Day (WCD) is annually observed across the globe on 7th October to
highlight the role of cotton in creating jobs and maintaining economic stability in cotton-producing countries,
particularly in least-developed countries (LDCs).
• 7th October 2023 marks the observance of the 5th World Cotton Day.
• The day highlights the critical role of cotton in economic development, international trade, and
poverty alleviation.
Theme:
The theme of World Cotton Day 2023 is “Making cotton fair and sustainable for all, from farm to fashion”.
Background:
The World Trade Organization (WTO) hosted the first World Cotton Day on 7 October 2019 in response to
an initiative of Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali, collectively known as the Cotton Four or C4 countries
• The launch event was organised by WTO along with the United Nations Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the
International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC), and the International Trade Centre (ITC) in
Geneva, Switzerland.
ii.The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/75/318 on 30th August 2021
and declared 7th October of every year as World Cotton Day.
Event of celebration:
i.The WCD 2023 celebration took place on 4th October 2023 at the Vienna International Centre in Austria.
ii.It is jointly hosted by Secretariats of the United Nations Industrial Development
Organization (UNIDO) and FAO.
About Cotton:
i.Cotton is a global commodity grown in over 75 countries across five continents and traded worldwide.
ii.Cotton is a major cash crop in many developing countries, providing jobs and improving living conditions for
millions of people.
iii.Cotton is a biodegradable material, unlike synthetic materials, which reduces plastic pollution and
contributes to a cleaner environment.
iv.Cotton is the only agricultural commodity that provides both fiber for textiles and food.
v.Cotton plants can thrive in arid regions where other crops struggle, making them a vital crop choice for areas
facing water scarcity.

Leading producer of cotton:
i.In world: Leading cotton-producing countries in the world are China, India, United States of America(USA)
and Brazil.
ii.In India: Gujarat, Maharashtra and Telangana are the major cotton producing states which produce about
65% of cotton production in India.
World Coconut Day is annually celebrated across the globe on 2nd September to promote the importance of
coconuts and their contributions to various aspects of life, including the economy, agriculture, and health.
About World Trade Organization (WTO):
Director-General – Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Eastablished in – 1995
World Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day 2023- October 8

World Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day (H2FC Day) is annually observed on October 8 to recognise the
importance of the chemical element, Hydrogen, and its role in the transition towards a cleaner and more
equitable energy future.
• The day aimed at promoting awareness and understanding of hydrogen as a clean and sustainable
energy source, along with the versatile technology of fuel cells.
Background:
i.In June 2015, the Senate of the United States of America (USA) designated the 8th October of every year as
‘‘National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day’’.
• The idea of the observance was initiated by the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association (FCHEA),
the trade association for the fuel cell and hydrogen energy industry in the USA.
ii.The first H2FC Day was observed on 8th October 2015.
Why October 8?
October 8th written in mm/dd format (10/08) refers to the atomic weight of hydrogen (1.008) therefore
8th October was chosen to observe the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day.
Types of Hydrogen:
i.Hydrogen is classified into several types based on its production methods and the carbon dioxide (CO2)
emissions it can generate.
ii.Each category has its own advantages and disadvantages compared to the others:
Green hydrogen: It is produced by electrolysis of water using electricity generated from Renewable Energy
(RE) sources.
Blue Hydrogen: It is derived from hydrocarbons like natural gas, but carbon capture is employed to reduce its
emissions impact.
• While not produced directly from RE sources, it is considered cleaner than grey hydrogen.
Grey hydrogen: It comes from fossil fuels. Although it is obtained in a similar way to blue hydrogen, CO2
emissions are not controlled so pollution is higher.
Fuel Cell:
i.A fuel Cell is an electrochemical energy conversion device, that utilises Hydrogen and Oxygen to generate
electricity, heat, and water.
ii.It uses the chemical energy of hydrogen or other fuels to cleanly and efficiently produce electricity.
Benefits:
i.It can operate at higher efficiencies than combustion engines and can convert the chemical energy in the fuel
directly to electrical energy with efficiencies capable of exceeding 60%.
ii.Fuel cells have lower or zero emissions compared to combustion engines. There also are no air pollutants.

Significance:
i.H2FC Day serves as a platform to acknowledge the potential of hydrogen and fuel cells in addressing the
pressing challenges of climate change, energy security, and environmental sustainability.
ii.Hydrogen and fuel cells can be used in multiple sectors for transportation, stationary power, and so on
enabling energy security, resiliency, etc in emerging technologies.
iii.Hydrogen is composed to play a substantial role in the global energy mix, potentially representing up to 12%
of total energy production by 2050, with a notable reduction in associated costs.
World Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day Celebrations in India:
On October 7, 2023, the eve of World H2FC Day, the Government of India (GoI) organised an event in New
Delhi, Delhi to explore the potential of hydrogen as a green and sustainable energy.
• The event was organised by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE), in association
with Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited, and gathered hydrogen experts from the
industry, academia, and government.
Roadmap for the National Green Hydrogen Mission:
During the event, the MNRE unveiled the Research and Development (R&D) Roadmap for the “National Green
Hydrogen Mission”, with a budget of Rs. 400 crores.
• This aims to guide the development of a robust research and development ecosystem for the
commercialisation of green hydrogen and contribute to India’s ambitious climate and energy goals.
Significance:
i.The roadmap emphasizes the development of materials, technologies, and infrastructure to improve the
efficiency, reliability, and cost-effectiveness of green hydrogen production, storage, and transportation.
ii.The R&D program also prioritizes safety and addresses technical barriers to developing a hydrogen economy.
National Single Window System (NSWS):
i.The event also marked the launch of the National Single Window System (NSWS) Green Hydrogen page for
approvals under the National Green Hydrogen Mission. This will enable industry stakeholders to obtain all
approvals related to projects under the Mission.
Roundtable Meeting:
MNRE in association with the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance organised a
roundtable meeting to create synergy between the banking system and green hydrogen developers.
• This aims to facilitate access to low-cost finance and thus lower the cost of green hydrogen.
Indian Air Force(IAF) Day 2023 – October 08

Indian Air Force(IAF) Day is annually observed across India on October 8 to commemorate the establishment
of the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 1932.
• 8th October 2023 marks the celebration of the 91st Anniversary of the Indian Air Force.
• The Indian Air Force is also known as Bharatiya Vayu Sena.
Theme:
The theme of Indian Air Force Day 2023 is ‘IAF – Airpower Beyond Boundaries’.
• The theme reflects the IAF’s commitment to protecting India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,
as well as its ability to operate in any environment.
Background:
i.The Indian Air Force (IAF) was founded on October 8, 1932, with six Hawker Hart biplanes under the
name Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF).
• RIAF was part of the British Royal Air Force.
• The 1st aircraft came into being on April 1, 1933, with 6 (Royal Air Force)RAF-trained officers and
19 Hawai Sepoys.
ii.During World War II, the RIAF played an important role in supporting British forces in the Middle East and
Southeast Asia.
iii.After India gained independence in 1947, the RIAF was renamed the IAF.

• The IAF started with a diverse fleet of aircraft, including the Hawker Hurricane and the Supermarine
Spitfire.
iv.Now, IAF is one of the four branches of the Indian Armed Forces.
91st Anniversary events:
i.The Indian Air Force (IAF) celebrated the day in Air Force Station Bamrauli in Prayagraj (formerly known as
Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh.
ii.The Air Force Day parade (a showcase of the IAF’s personnel and equipment) and Air Display(display of
aerial acrobatics and aerobatics) are two of the most important events.
• These two events were held at the Sangam confluence area, where the Ganges, Yamuna, and
Saraswati rivers meet.
iii.Over 100 aircraft, including Rafale fighter jets, Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets, and Tejas light combat aircraft
participated in the Air Display.
iv.A woman officer, Group Captain Shaliza Dhamia (a helicopter pilot), led the Indian Air Force Day parade for
the first time ever.
• She is also the first woman to take command of a frontline IAF combat unit in March, 2023.
New Indian Air Force Ensign
i.As part of the events, Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari unveiled the new IAF Ensign.
ii.The new ensign will feature the IAF crest in the top right corner(towards the fly side), which includes the
national symbol of the Ashoka lion on top with the wordings – “सत्यमेव जयते” Satyameva Jayate – Truth
alone Triumphs(in Devanagari) and a Himalayan eagle with its wings spread below it.
• A ring in light blue colour encircles the Himalayan eagle with the words “भारिीय वायु सेना” – Indian
Air Force
iii. The motto of the IAF was taken from verse 24, Chapter 11 of the Bhagavad Gita and means “Radiant Thou
Touchest Heaven” or in other words “नभः स्पृशं दीप्ति्” “Touching the sky with Glory”.
iv.Previously, the IAF ensign included the Union Jack and RAF roundels, which were replaced with the Indian
tricolour and IAF roundels after independence.
• In 2022, the Indian Navy also adopted a new ensign to remove colonial symbols.
MiG-21
i.The legendary Mikoyan-Gurevich (MiG)-21 fighter jets of the Indian Air Force (IAF) took its final air display
flight on IAF day 2023.
• The IAF is replacing these Russian-made squadrons with the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mark 1A
by 2025.
ii.The MiG-21 was introduced into the IAF in 1963.
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Raising Day, also known as CRPF Foundation Day, is annually
celebrated on 27th July to commemorate the establishment of CRPF, the largest of India’s Central Armed Police
Forces, functions under the aegis of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) of the Government of India (GoI).
About Indian Air Force (IAF):
Chief of the Air Staff – VR Chaudhari
Motto – Touching the sky with Glory
World Post Day 2023 – October 9

The United Nations (UN) World Post Day is annually observed across the globe on 9 October to mark
the anniversary of the establishment of the Universal Postal Union’s (UPU) in 1874 in Bern, Switzerland.
• The day aims to bring awareness about the role of the postal sector in everyday lives of people and
businesses, as well as its contribution to global social and economic development.

The theme of World Post Day 2023 observed on 9th October 2023 is “Together for trust: Collaborating for
a safe and connected future”.
• The UPU’s theme emphasises the crucial role of postal services in the digital age. It not only calls
upon governments and postal services to adapt to the changing landscape but also encourages
global collaboration to ensure equal access to the digital economy for all.
Note:
• UPU is the second oldest international organization worldwide, after the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU).
• The UPU became a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) on 1 July 1948.
Background:
i.In 1969, the UPU Congress held in Tokyo, Japan adopted the resolution C 11/1969 and recommended that the
9th of October (the anniversary of the founding of the UPU) each year be observed as UPU Day.
ii.“UPU Day” has been renamed ‘World Post Day’ by resolution C 32/1984 at the Hamburg Congress in
Germany.
iii.The first World Post Day was celebrated in 1969.
Note: Every year, more than 150 countries celebrate World Post Day in a variety of ways. In India, the day
acknowledges the beginning of National Postal Week, celebrated from October 9 to October 15.
International Letter-Writing Competition (ILWC) for Young People:
i.The annual International Letter-Writing Competition (ILWC) was launched by the UPU in 1971 and aims to
promote literacy among children through the art of letter writing.
ii.2023 ILWC marks the 52nd ILWC event.
• For countries participating in the UPU ILWC, national winners are often honoured on 9 October
every year.
UN Stamps:
i.The idea of the UN issuing its own stamps was first proposed by Argentina in 1947.
ii.The UN is the only organization in the world that is neither a country nor a territory that is permitted to issue
postage stamps.
iii.The United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) of the UN is the only postal authority that issues stamps in
3 different currencies: USD, Swiss francs, and euros.
iv.The first UN stamps were issued in USD denominations on UN Day, 24 October 1951.
v.The UN stamps are designed to illustrate the aims and achievements of the UN and its family of organisations.
India’s National Postal Week 2023- October 9-13, 2023
National Postal Week is annually observed across India from October 09 to 13 to generate a broad awareness
about the role of India Post and its activities among the public and media at a national level.
• The observance of National Postal Week is led by the Department of Posts (DOP).
Note: India possesses the largest postal network in the world
2023 Event:
In 2023, the event focuses on the latest products and Mail and Parcel Services like Dak Niryat Kendra (DNK),
collaboration with Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), Amazon, Aadhaar, and other citizen-centric
services available at postal counters.
Observance of National Postal Week 2023
• 9th October 2023 – World Post Day
• 10th October 2023 – Vittiya Sashaktikaran Diwas(Financial Empowerment Day).
• 11th October 2023 – Philately Day
• 12th October 2023 – Mails and Parcels Day
13th October 2023 – Antyodaya Diwas

World Dyslexia Day 2023 – October 08
World Dyslexia Day also known as “World Dyslexia Awareness Day” is annually observed across the globe
on October 8 to raise awareness about dyslexia.
• The day aims to promote inclusivity, access to education, and the implementation of effective
strategies to support individuals with dyslexia in their learning journeys.
• World Dyslexia Day was first observed on October 8, 2013. The day was initiated by the European
Dyslexia Association (EDA).
Dyslexia week & month:
i.The Dyslexia awareness week is observed annually on the first full week of October, always starting on the
first Monday.
• In 2023, it is observed from 2nd to 8th October.
ii.Dyslexia Awareness Month is celebrated worldwide each October.
Theme:
The theme for World Dyslexia Awareness Day 2023 is “Uniquely You”.
• The theme aims to celebrate the diversity of people within the dyslexic community.
Dyslexia:
i.Dyslexia is a language processing disorder; It is neurological condition that affects how the brain processes
language.
ii.Ten percent of the population are believed to be dyslexic.
iii.Dyslexic people face difficulty in processing and remembering information they see and hear, which impacts
on their learning.
• People with dyslexia may have difficulty with reading, writing, vocabulary, and tasks that
require hand-eye coordination.
The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment(MoSJE) is observing World Dyslexia Day in India by conducting various events across the
country.
National Postal Week 2023 – October 9 to 13 2023

National Postal Week is annually observed across India from October 09 to 13 to generate a broad
awareness about the role of India Post and its activities among the public and media at a national level.
• The observance of National Postal Week is led by the Department of Posts (DOP).
The National Postal Week 2023 is observed from 9th to 13th October 2023 under the theme “Together for
trust: Collaborating for a safe and connected future”.
• This is the theme of World Post Day 2023.
• National Postal Week started with World Post Day, observed across the globe on 9 October to mark
the anniversary of the establishment of the Universal Postal Union’s (UPU) in 1874.
Note:
• DoP trading as India Post, is a government-operated postal system in India, which is a part of the
Ministry of Communications of the Government of India (GoI).
• India possesses the largest postal network in the world.
Observance of National Postal Week 2023:
9th October 2023 – World Post Day
10th October 2023 – Vittiya Sashaktikaran Diwas(Financial Empowerment Day).
11th October 2023 – Philately Day
12th October 2023 – Mails and Parcels Day
13th October 2023 – Antyodaya Diwas

2023 Events:
The event focuses on the latest products and Mail and Parcel Services like Dak Niryat Kendra (DNK),
collaboration with Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), Amazon, Aadhaar, and other citizen-centric
services available at postal counters.
10th October 2023 – Vittiya Sashaktikaran Diwas:
Vittiya Sashaktikaran Diwas (Financial Empowerment Day). The Dak Community Development Program,
known as Dak Choupal, was organised by Circles across India.
• This initiative saw participation from various stakeholders, including the central, state, and local
governments, with the aim of promoting financial inclusion in even the most remote areas.
11th October 2023 – Philately Day:
Interactive sessions will be arranged at the schools for DHAI AKHAR – “Digital India For New India”. Seminars
will be arranged for Philatelists to promote Philately.
• The collection and study of postage stamps are called ‘Philately’.
12th October 2023 – Mails and Parcels Day:
Customer Meetings for Bulk Customers will be organised at Circle, Regional, and Divisional levels, to inform
bulk customers about new Parcel Tracker initiatives and gather their feedback.
• Workshops for Postmasters and Delivery Staff will be organised to raise awareness among field staff
for better delivery efficiency.
13th October 2023 – Antyodaya Diwas:
i.This will be celebrated to commemorate the contribution of DOP to the lives of the Common Man.
ii.Various seminars will be conducted aimed at schemes for uplifting the marginalized and underprivileged
sections of society.
World Day Against the Death Penalty 2023 – October 10

World Day Against the Death Penalty is annually observed across the globe on October 10 to raise
awareness about the inhumane and cruel practice of capital punishment and the need to get rid of the death
penalty from the justice systems.
• 10th October 2023 marks the observance of the 21st World Day Against the Death Penalty.
The death penalty: An irreversible torture
World Day against the Death Penalty 2023 will reflect on the relationship between the use of the death penalty
and torture or other cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment or punishment.
• This campaign was same for 20th World Day Against the Death Penalty.
Background:
i.World Day Against the Death Penalty was initiated by the World Coalition Against the Death
Penalty (WCADP) and supported by numerous Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and World
Governments (Amnesty International, the European Union, and the United Nations).
ii.On September 26, 2007, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe declared October 10 to be the
European Day against the Death Penalty.
• This day is a European contribution to the World Day against the Death Penalty, which is also held
on October 10 each year.
Amnesty International Global Report:
According to Amnesty International Global Report titled ‘Death Sentences And Executions 2020’,
i.Abolition: 112 states have abolished the death penalty for all crimes, and 9 states have abolished it for
common law crimes. 23 States are abolitionists in practice.
ii.Retention: 55 States are retentionists.(Retentionism is the practice of retaining the death penalty)
iii.Top 5 countries that executed the capital punishment the most in the world in 2022 are, (in order): China,
Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and United States of America (USA).
• China remained the world’s leading executioner; Excluding China, 90% of all reported executions
took place in Iran, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Why Death Sentence should be abolished?
i.Irreversibility: If an innocent person is executed, there is no way to bring them back.
ii.Ineffectiveness: The death penalty has not been shown to be an effective deterrent to crime.
iii.Disproportionality: The death penalty is disproportionately applied to minorities and the poor.
iv.Cruelty: The death penalty is a cruel and unusual punishment. It is a form of torture that inflicts immense
suffering on the person being executed.
Additional Info:
i.As of 2022, there were 28,282 people on death row across the globe; Out of that, less than 5% were women.
ii.Despite the fact that international law currently allows the death penalty, while strictly forbidding torture, it
is increasingly clear that the death penalty is inherently incompatible with the prohibition of torture.
Day of International Criminal Justice is annually observed across the globe by International Criminal Court
(ICC) on 17th July to commemorate the anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute(1998), the founding
treaty of the ICC.
About Amnesty International:
Secretary-General – Agnès Callamard
Headquarters – London, United Kingdom(UK)
World Mental Health Day 2023- October 10

World Mental Health Day (WMHD) is annually observed across the globe on 10 October to raise awareness
of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health.
• WMHD is a global health campaign that aims to encourage people around the world to support the
cause and establish a healthy environment in all aspects of life to support mental health.
WMHD is supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the World Federation for Mental Health
(WFMH), and its member organisations.
Symbol: The green ribbon is the international symbol of mental health awareness.
2023 Global Campaign:
The 2023 Global Campaign aims to recognise the 75th Anniversary of WFMH (founded in 1948) and WMHD
2023.
According to WFMH, the theme of the World Mental Health Day Global Campaign 2023 is “Mental health is a
universal human right.”
• The theme focuses on improving knowledge, raising awareness, and driving actions that promote
and protect everyone’s mental health as a universal human right.
Note: Since 2013, WHO has organized a global campaign for WMHD.
Background:
i.World Mental Health Day was started as an annual activity of the World Federation for Mental Health(WFMH)
by the then Deputy Secretary General Richard Hunter.
ii.WMHD was observed for the first time on 10 October 1992.
iii.In 1994, WMHD adopted its first theme, “Improving the Quality of Mental Health Services throughout the
World.”
• The then Secretary-General Eugene Brody introduced the concept of an annual theme for WMHD.
Efforts of WHO:
i.According to the WHO, Mental, neurological, and substance use disorders collectively contribute to over 10%
of the world’s disease burden.
ii.Depression and anxiety disorders, among the most prevalent mental disorders worldwide, cost the global
economy a staggering USD 1 trillion annually due to lost productivity.
• In Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), 85% of people with mental disorders receive no
treatment.

iii.To address the Global Mental Health Crisis, in 2018, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s Director-
General identified mental health as an area that needed accelerated action.
• Established the WHO Special Initiative for Mental Health, covering the 5-year period 2019-2023. It
was launched in 2019 for implementation over 5 years, in 12 countries.
• The vision of the WHO Special Initiative for Mental Health is that all people achieve the highest
standard of mental health and well-being.
iv.WHO member states are committed to implementing the Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013-
2030, to improve mental health by:
• Strengthening effective leadership and governance;
• Providing comprehensive, integrated, and responsive community-based care;
• Implementing promotion and prevention strategies; and
• Strengthening information systems, evidence, and research.
Key Facts:
i.According to the WHO:
• 1 in 8 individuals worldwide lives with a mental health condition.
• Women and young people are significantly more affected by mental health issues.
• 3 out of 4 people affected with mental health conditions receive inadequate treatment or none at all.
ii.According to the WHO, India bears a significant burden of mental health problems, with 2443 disability-
adjusted life years (DALYs) per 100,000 population.
• The economic loss due to mental health conditions in India projected between 2012 and 2030, is
estimated at a staggering USD 1.03 trillion.
About World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH):
Secretary General/CEO– Gabriel Ivbijaro
President– Dr Nasser Loza (Egypt)
President-Elect– Tsuyoshi Akiyama (Japan)
Headquarters– Texas, United States of America (USA)
Established in 1948
International Day of the Girl Child 2023- October 11

The United Nations (UN) International Day of the Girl Child(IDGC) is annually observed across the globe
on 11 October to focus attention on the need to address the challenges girls face and to promote girls’
empowerment and the fulfillment of their human rights.
The theme of IDGC 2023 observed on 11th October 2023 is “Invest in Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership, Our
Well-being”.
• The theme emphasises the need for the global community to go beyond making commitments and
invest boldly in the action needed to empower girls, safeguard their rights, and enhance their well-
being.
Background:
i.On December 19, 2011, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution A/RES/66/170
and declared October 11 of every year as the International Day of the Girl Child.
ii.The first International Day of the Girl Child was observed on 11 October 2012.
Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action:
i.In 1995, the World Conference on Women was held in Beijing, China where the UN adopted the “Beijing
Declaration and Platform for Action”, themost progressive blueprint ever devised for advancing not only
women’s rights but also the rights of girls.
• The Beijing Declaration notably stands out as the first to specifically call out girls’ rights.
Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, Beijing +5 Political Declaration and Outcome:
This publication also includes the political declaration from the 23rd special session of UNGA in 2000, which
reviewed progress toward the Platform for Action 5 years after its adoption.

UN Women Strategic Plan 2022–2025:
UN Women Strategic Plan 2022–2025 sets a vision and roadmap for supporting the achievement of the
Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) by 2030.
• Through this, UN Women leverages its unique triple mandate – encompassing support for norms
and standards, UN system coordination and operational work – to mobilize urgent and sustained
action to achieve gender equality
Key Facts:
According to the UN:
i.Currently, nearly 1 in 5 girls are still not completing lower-secondary and nearly 4 in 10 girls are not
completing upper-secondary school.
ii.Around 90% of adolescent girls and young women in low-income countries do not use the Internet, while
their male counterparts are twice as likely to have internet access.
iii.Globally, girls aged 5-14 spend 160 million more hours every day on unpaid care and domestic work than
boys of the same age.
iv.Adolescent girls continue to account for 3 in 4 new Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections among
adolescents.
v.Pregnancy continues to be a significant contributor to adolescent girls’ mortality rates.
• Since 2012, there has been a mere 5% (55% to 60%) increase in the usage of modern family
planning methods among adolescent girls.
• 4 out of 10 adolescent girls aged 15-19, who wish to prevent pregnancy, still lack access to or are not
using modern contraception.
Investing in Girls:
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF):
i.For every extra year of secondary education, a girl’s potential income rises by 10-20%.
• Investing in girls’ education reduces poverty rates, enhances economic prospects, and improves
overall well-being.
ii.Every dollar invested in sexual and reproductive health and rights for adolescent girls can yield economic
returns of up to USD 120.
iii.Child marriage is a global issue that demands attention. However, a 2022 review of Official Development
Assistance (ODA) reports that only 0.07% of ODA was directed towards combating child marriage.
iv.A 2023 analysis conducted by the Overseas Development Institute concluded that less than 6% of ODA from
major bilateral donors is designated for the vital cause of gender and adolescent-focused projects.
First National Current Good Manufacturing Practices Day – 10th October 2023
The inaugural National Current Good Manufacturing Practices(cGMP) Day was celebrated across India on 10th
October 2023. The day aims to create awareness about the critical role of cGMP in the pharmaceutical
industry, ensuring the quality and safety of medicinal products.
• The theme of National cGMP Day 2023 is “cGMP: Transforming Healthcare”.
Background:
i.Indian Drug Manufacturers’ Association (IDMA), under the guidance from the Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare and Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, initiated the plan to observe 10th October of every year as
“National Current Good Manufacturing Practices Day” or “National cGMP Day”.
• 10th October 2023 marks the first ever National cGMP day.
ii.The idea of National cGMP Day was proposed by Girish Pai Kand, Coordinator at the Centre for cGMP, at
Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MCOPS), Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE).
Purpose:
The day aims to empower the pharmaceutical industry to develop a culture of quality medicine production,
which will improve patient safety.

Why 10th October?
On 10th October 1962, International Drug Regulators approved a framework which mandates drug
manufacturers to scientifically prove that a medication will be safe and effective.
• This approval is the aftermath of Thalidomide disaster.
What is Thalidomide disaster?
i.The Thalidomide disaster was a major public health crisis that occurred in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
ii.Thalidomide was a drug that was widely prescribed to pregnant women for morning sickness.
iii.However, it was later discovered that Thalidomide caused severe birth defects, including missing or
underdeveloped limbs.
Events:
i.The Inaugural National cGMP Day was celebrated in MAHE by conducting three symposiums, a mini
workshop, and a panel discussion by industry experts.
ii.The sessions also cover current trends in cGMP compliance, including recent international regulatory
updates, products for global markets, and the future of cGMP compliance.
GMP in India:
i.In August 2023, MoH&FW had instructed pharmaceutical companies to comply with World Health
Organization (WHO) Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) standards to ensure the quality of their products for
domestic use and export.
ii.In July 2023, Schedule M of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1940, which specifies the requirements for
Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), was upgraded to international standards.
About Centre For Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP):
i.Centre for cGMP is the first of its kind pharmaceutical institute in India
ii.It was established on 11th February 2021 in Manipal, Karnataka.
iii.The centre is the brainchild of Girish Pai Kand.
World Arthritis Day 2023 – October 12

World Arthritis Day(WAD) is annually observed across the globe on October 12 to raise awareness of
Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases (RMDs) and its impact on people lives. The day also highlights the
importance of early diagnosis and treatment.
• 12th October 2023 marks the observance of 28th WAD.
The theme of WAD 2023 is “Living with an RMD at all stages of life”.
Background:
i.World Arthritis Day was first established in 1996 by Arthritis and Rheumatism International (ARI).
ii.The first WAD was celebrated on 12th October 1996 and the event has been held annually ever since.
What is Arthritis?
i.Arthritis is a broad term encompassing over 100 diseases that affect the joints. These diseases are commonly
triggered by problems of the immune system.
ii.It can cause pain, stiffness, swelling, and difficulty in moving, and can lead to difficulty in walking.
iii.There are different types of arthritis including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, juvenile idiopathic
arthritis, Gout, Psoriatic arthritis, Septic arthritis.
• Osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are the two most common types of arthritis.
• In rheumatoid arthritis is a autoimmune disease, in which the body’s own immune system
mistakenly attacks healthy tissue in joints and other organs.
• With OA, the cartilage within a joint begins to break down and the underlying bone begins to change
(by rubbing together) causing pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints.
RMD:
i.RMDs are chronic systemic diseases that can affect any part of the body, including the joints, muscles, bones,
and organs.
ii.There are over 200 different types of RMDs.

iii.RMDs can affect people of all ages, from children to young adults. Some RMDs are more common in women
of reproductive age.
The EULAR Campaigns 2023:
i.European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) hosts campaigns to help achieve its goal in the
area of Advocacy to increase participation in work by people with RMDs by the year 2023.
ii.The campaign is build upon 2022 campaign about rheumatology being an invisible specialisation of medicine.
• It is focused on understanding the issues the diverse people have in the field of Rheumatology.
World Sickle Cell Day, also known as “World Sickle Cell Awareness Day” is annually observed across the
globe on 19th June to raise awareness about Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) and its impact on individuals, families,
and communities worldwide.
About the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR):
EULAR is the European umbrella organisation representing scientific societies, health professional associations
and organisations for people with RMDs.
President- Daniel Aletaha (Austria)
Headquarters- Zürich, Switzerland
World Sight Day 2023- October 12

World Sight Day (WSD) is annually observed across the globe on the second Thursday of October to focus
the world’s attention on eye health as a global issue and to recognise the work done by the thousands of
ophthalmologists across the world to fix the problem of vision impairment.
• World Sight Day is also known as ‘World Eye Day’ or ‘World Vision Day’.
WSD 2023 falls on 12th October 2023.
• WSD 2022 was observed on 13th October 2022 and WSD 2024 will be observed on 10th October
2024.
The theme of World Sight Day 2023 is “Love Your Eyes at Work”.
• The theme focuses on helping people understand the importance of protecting their vision in the
workplace and calling on business leaders to prioritise the eye health of workers, everywhere.
WSD is coordinated by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) and supported by
almost 200 IAPB Member organisations globally.
Background:
i.The establishment of WSD was started by the SightFirst campaign of the Lions Clubs International
Foundation (LCIF).
• Started in 1990, this campaign aimed to fight blindness due to trachoma and other causes of
blindness.
ii.In 2000, LCIF integrated “World Sight Day”, an event launched as a part of their SightFirst campaign, with
VISION 2020.
iii.It was formally launched by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Agency for the
Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) in Geneva, Switzerland in 1999. In 2000, WDS became a part of IAPB.
iv.LCIF partnered with blindness presentation organizations worldwide and observed the first-ever WSD on 8
October 1998.
Love Your Eyes Campaign:
i.IAPB originally launched the Love Your Eyes campaign as part of WSD in 2021, to make eye health accessible,
available, and affordable for everyone by 2030.
ii.In 2023, IAPB’s “Love Your Eyes Campaign” secured the “Best Campaign of the Year” award at the Association
of Associations Executives (AAE‘s) International & European Association Awards.

Efforts of WHO:
i.WHO and its Member States at its 74th World Health Assembly (WHA) in 2021, adopted 2 new global targets
for eye care by 2030:
• A 30% point increase in effective Cataract Surgery Coverage (eCSC), and
• A 40% point increase in effective Refractive Error Coverage (eREC).
ii.These indicators and related targets are intended to drive increases in eye care coverage while delivering
high-quality care.
iii.In 2023, WHO launched the Action Plan for Integrated People-Centered Eye Care in South-East Asia 2022-
2030 to strengthen our eye health care strategy in alignment with global and regional initiatives.
Note: According to WHO, globally, at least 2.2 billion people have a near or distant vision impairment.
Mobile App:
To facilitate better screening, WHO has developed a free mobile application ‘WHO eyes’ that would enable
individuals to check their vision, without the need for the eye care provider.
2023 Events:
i.Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones, Her Royal Highness (HRH) The Duchess of Edinburgh, who serves as the Global
Ambassador of IAPB visited Ethiopia to celebrate the transformative work of the international eye care charity,
Orbis
ii.The United Nations (UN) marked WSD with the first-ever ‘blurred’ photo exhibition titled, ‘2030 IN SIGHT’ in
the corridors of the UN headquarters in New York (USA). This underscores the relationship between eye health
and sustainable development.
The exhibit is a powerful interpretation of a central argument outlined in the first UN resolution on vision and
the WHO World Report on Vision.
Event in India:
i.The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under the Ministry of Social Justice
and Empowerment observed WDS on 12 October 2023, in alignment with its vision to raise awareness about
visual impairments.
ii.DEPwD-affiliated institutions hosted a range of events across India to educate the public about visual
impairment issues and prevention.
Note: DEPwD is the nodal department to look after all the development agenda of Persons with Disabilities in
India.
International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2023 – October 13

The United Nations (UN) International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR) is annually observed
across the globe on 13 October to promote a global culture of risk awareness and disaster reduction.
• The day serves as a platform to recognise and celebrate the efforts of individuals and communities
worldwide in mitigating disaster risks.
The theme of IDDRR 2023 is “Fighting inequality for a resilient future.”
• The theme focuses on the close interconnection between disasters and inequality. Recognizing the
link between disasters and inequality is critical for effective disaster response and recovery, as well
as long-term resilience.
• The theme aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (SFDRR).
Background:
i.In 1989, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/44/236 and proclaimed
the decade 1990 – 1999 beginning on 1st January 1990 as “International Decade for Natural Disaster
Reduction” . The resolution also proclaimed to celebrate the 2nd Wednesday of October througout the decade
as “International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR)”
• The first International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR) was observed on 10 October
1990.

ii.In 2009, the UNGA adopted the a resolution A/RES/64/200 and officially designated 13 October as the
International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction.
• Since 2010, IDDRR has been annually observed on 13 October.
Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030:
i.The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (SFDRR) was adopted at the 3rd UN World
Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai, Japan, on March 18, 2015.
ii.The SFDRR outlines 7 clear targets and 4 priorities for action to prevent new and reduce existing disaster
risks:
• Understanding disaster risk;
• Strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk;
• Investing in disaster reduction for resilience and;
• Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response, and to “Build Back Better” in recovery,
rehabilitation, and reconstruction.
iii.It was the first major agreement of the post-2015 development agenda that aims to achieve a substantial
reduction of disaster risk and to prevent and reduce losses in lives, livelihoods, economies, and basic
infrastructure.
iv.The 2023 IDDRR took place after the Midterm Review of SFDRR, where the UNGA in May 2023 adopted a
political declaration to accelerate action to strengthen disaster resilience.
v.UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) (formerly UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction
(UNISDR)) is a part of the UN Secretariat that supports the implementation and review of the Sendai
Framework.
Note:
• UNDRR is a member of the UN Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG).
Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction:
i.The UN Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction (GAR 2023) is the flagship report of the United
Nations on worldwide efforts to reduce disaster risk.
ii.It is a biennial global assessment of disaster risk reduction and a comprehensive review and analysis of the
natural hazards that are affecting humanity.
iii.The GAR is published by UNDRR and the first GAR was published in 2009.
Highlights:
i.The UN GAR Special Report 2023: Mapping Resilience for the SDGs, assesses the progress towards sustainable
development through the crucial role of resilience in mitigating the impacts of disasters and enhancing
response capabilities.
ii.The report emphasises the significance of investing in Early Warning Systems (EWS), particularly in
vulnerable regions, as they have demonstrated a remarkable ability to reduce damages.
Key Facts:
i.As per UNDRR (2022), with current climate projections, the world will face some 560 disasters per year by
2030.
• An estimated 37.6 million individuals are expected to face conditions of extreme poverty by 2030
due to these environmental challenges.
• In a worst-case scenario, it is predicted that an additional 100.7 million individuals will be pushed
below the poverty line by 2030.
ii.As per the Climate Adaptation Platform (2022), about 75% of extreme weather events are currently
connected to climate change, fueled by carbon emissions (CO2).
About United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR):
Head of UNDRR– Mami Mizutori

World Egg Day 2023 – October 13
World Egg Day is annually observed across the globe on the 2nd Friday of October to raise awareness of the
importance of eggs in human nutrition, food security, and overall well-being.
• The 27th World Egg Day (World Egg Day 2023) was observed on 13th October 2023.
• The World Egg Day 2022 was observed on 14th October 2022. The World Egg Day 2024 will fall on
11th October 2024.
Theme:
The theme for World Egg Day 2023 is “Eggs for a healthy future.”
• The theme highlights the potential of eggs to help people around the world achieve their nutritional
needs.
Background:
i.World Egg Day was isolated by the International Egg Commission(IEC), the only organisation that represents
the global egg industry
ii.The decision to annually observe the second Friday of October as “World Egg Day” was made during the IEC
Confence held in Vienna, Austria in 1996.
iii.The first ever World Egg Day was observed on 11th October 1996.
Significance:
i.The World Egg day makes aware that the egg is an “incredibly unique, accessible and affordable source of
protein and essential nutrients.”
ii.It highlights the importance of eggs in food security in areas with limited access to other protein sources.
iii.It supports the egg industry, which is a vital part of the global economy.
About Eggs:
i.Eggs are a great source of protein, vitamins and minerals.
ii.They are an important part of a healthy and balanced diet and can help to improve the nutritional status of
people across the world.
iii.One egg has about 72 calories, 6 grams of high-quality protein, 5 grams of fat, and 1.6 grams of saturated fat,
along with iron, vitamins, minerals, and carotenoids.
ii.Eggs are also a good source of choline, an essential nutrient that is important for brain development and liver
function.
World Coconut Day is annually celebrated across the globe on 2nd September to promote the importance of
coconuts and their contributions to various aspects of life, including the economy, agriculture, and health.
World Migratory Bird Day 2023 – October 14

The United Nations (UN)-backed biannual campaign World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) is celebrated
across the globe on 2 peak days of a year, 2nd Saturday of May (In the spring) and October (in the fall).
• It is a day to raise awareness about the importance of migratory birds, their ecological importance, and
the need for international cooperation to protect them and their habitats.
WMBD 2023 falls on the 13th of May and the 14th of October 2023.
• WMBD 2022 was observed on the 14th of May and 8th of October 2022 and the WMBD 2024 will be
observed on the 11th of May and 12th of October 2024.
The theme/Campaign Slogan of WMBD 2023 is, “Water: Sustaining Bird Life“.
• WMBD 2023 campaign focused on Water and its importance to migratory birds, and the increasing
threats to both water quality and quantity.
The annual observance of the WMBD is led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the leading
global authority on the environment in the UN system.
Observance:
The observance of WMBD on the:
• 2nd Saturday of May is officially celebrated in Canada and the United States of America (USA).

• 2nd Saturday of October is officially celebrated in Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean.
Annual Campaign:
i.The annual WMBD campaign is a joint effort of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of
Wild Animals (CMS), the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA), Environment for the
Americas (EFTA), and the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP).
Note:
• EAAFP was announced as an official partner of the WMBD campaign during the 11th Meeting of Partners
(MOP11) of the EAAFP held in Brisbane, Australia in March 2023.
• EAAFP will strengthen engagement and awareness for migratory birds in the East Asian-Australasian
Flyway.
Background:
i.International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD), now World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD), was originally created in
1993 by visionaries at the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, USA.
ii.From 1995 to 2006, the WMBD program was under the direction of the National Fish and Wildlife
Foundation (NFWF) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
iii.In 2006, WMBD was jointly initiated by the 2 UN Wildlife treaties, the Secretariat of the Agreement on the
Conservation of AEWA, and CMS, and in 2007, WMBD also joined forces with EFTA.
iv.On the occasion of its 10th anniversary in 2005, the AEWA Secretariat initiated the Migratory Waterbird
Days (MWD) which were held in Africa, Europe, and parts of Asia.
v.The first-ever WMBD was launched by AEWA and CMS on the weekend of 8-9 April 2006 on the wildlife
reserve ‘Ole Ari Nyiro’ in Laikipia, Kenya.
Why in May and October?
The Day celebrated biannually on the 2nd Saturday in May and in October reflecting the cyclical nature of bird
migration with varying peak migration periods in the northern and southern hemispheres.
Significance of Water with the Migratory Birds:
i.The vast majority of migratory birds rely on aquatic ecosystems during their life cycles.
ii.Inland and coastal wetlands, rivers, lakes, etc are all vital for feeding, drinking, or nesting, and also as places
to rest and refuel during their long journeys.
iii.The increasing human demand for water, as well as pollution and climate change, are having a direct impact
on the availability of clean water and the conservation status of many migratory birds
Key Facts:
i.One of Africa’s largest water bodies in 1960, Lake Chad, a Ramsar site has experienced a drastic reduction of
90% in its area, adversely affecting not only local communities but also disrupting the ecosystem for migratory
birds.
ii.The Amur-Heilong Basin in Asia is struggling with climate change-induced habitat destruction, leaving
migratory birds without crucial breeding and stopover locations, amplifying the challenges they face.
iii.Prolonged drought conditions in the USA have resulted in the dehydration of wetlands, notably at sites like
Cheyenne Bottoms in Kansas, impacting the migration of various bird species, especially shorebirds.
iv.48% of the world’s existing bird species are experiencing population declines, underscoring the urgency of
addressing the issue of water scarcity and its impact on these vulnerable creatures.
2023 Events:
The UNEP/CMS, EFTA, AEWA, and EAAFP organised a series of webinars to mark the WMBD 2023 on October
14th, 2023 entitled “Water: Sustaining Bird Life.”
World Standards Day 2023 – October 14

World Standards Day (WSD) also known as International Standards Day is annually observed across the globe
on October 14 to educate consumers, policymakers, and businesses about the value of standardisation.
• The day is observed by the members of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC),
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Theme:
The theme of World Standards Day 2023 is “Shared Vision for a Better World – Standards for Sustainable
Development Goals(SDG)”.
• The 2023 WSD highlights “SDG 3 – Good Health and Well Being” and the role of standards in
supporting the achievement of SDG 3 on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all
ages.
Note:
• The theme will be fixed togetherly by ISO, IEC and ITU based on a seminal issue relevant to
standardization.
• A shared vision for a better world – is a multi year campaign started in 2021 with an aim to raise
awareness about the contribution of International standards on United Nations SDG.
Background:
i.On October 14, 1946, delegates from 25 countries met in London(United Kingdom) to create a new
international organization to coordinate and unify standards work.
• This led to the formation of the “International Organization for Standardization (ISO)” in 1947.
ii.To celebrate this event, (the first) World Standards Day was formally observed on 14th October 1970 by
Faruk Sunter, then president of International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
Significance:
i.Standardization is the process of developing and agreeing upon common technical specifications or criteria
for products, services, and processes.
ii.The Standards are considered as a tool to achieve 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development.
iii.The day creates an opportunity to recognize the contributions of the many experts who volunteer their time
to develop and maintain international standards.
iv.These standards are used by businesses, governments, and consumers around the world to ensure that
products and services are safe, reliable, and compatible.
The annual observance of World Standards Day in India is led by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
• In 2023, BIS hosted a Standards Conclave called Manak Mahotsav to celebrate World Standards Day
2023.
About BIS:
i.BIS is the National Standards Body of India, under Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
ii.Activities of BIS: Standard Formulation, Certification, Laboratory Testing, Hallmarking and Systems
Certification.
Additional Info:
The three organizations ISO, IEC and ITU collaborate on a number of initiatives, under the banner of the World
Standards Cooperation(WSC).
About International Organization for Standardization (ISO):
President – Ulrika Francke
About International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
Secretary-General – Doreen Bogdan-Martin

International Day of Rural Women 2023- October 15
The United Nations (UN) International Day of Rural Women is annually observed across the globe on 15
October to recognise the critical role and contribution of rural women, including indigenous women, in
enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security, and eradicating rural poverty.
• The theme of International Day of Rural Women 2023 is “Rural Women, Women with Rights”.
Background:
i.The International Day of Rural Women was created in 1995 by Civil society organizations at the 4th World
Conference on Women in Beijing, China.
ii.On 18 December 2007, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/62/136
and declared the 15th of October of every year as the International Day of Rural Women.
iii.The first-ever International Day of Rural Women was observed on 15 October 2008.
Contribution of Rural Women to Development:
i.Women constitute a substantial portion of the agricultural labour force, actively participating in both formal
and informal agricultural activities in rural areas.
ii.Women play a pivotal role in strengthening agricultural production, ensuring food security and nutrition,
managing land and natural resources, and fostering the development of climate-resilient practices.
iii.Alongside their agricultural contributions, women perform the primary responsibility for unpaid care and
domestic tasks within families and households, often without financial recognition.
Key Facts:
i.According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the UN, Women make up 43% of the global
agricultural labour force, yet they face significant discrimination.
• On average, women earn 18.4% less than men in wage employment in agriculture.
• Giving women the same opportunities as men could raise agricultural production by 2.5 to 4% in the
poorest regions and the number of malnourished people could be reduced by 12 to 17%.
ii.The International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that reducing the gap in labour force participation
rates between men and women by 25% by the year 2025 could raise global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by
3.9%, or USD 5.8 trillion.
iii.According to the UN-Women’s Policy paper, Global Gendered Impacts of the Ukraine-crisis of 2022:
• The current disruption to the food and energy markets has only intensified gender disparities, causing
rates of food insecurity, malnutrition, and energy poverty.
2023 Events:
i.To commemorate the International Day of Rural Women, from 1-17 October 2023, the “17 Days of Activism
for the Empowerment of Rural Women Leaders and their Communities” is scheduled to take place.
• This campaign, initiated by the FAO, aims to foster the empowerment and autonomy of women in rural
areas through collaborative efforts and knowledge dissemination.
ii.On 17 October 2023, FAO Asia-Pacific organised an event “entitled “Breaking the barriers: Gender equality,
water, financial inclusion in agrifood systems in Asia and the Pacific.” to discuss gender equality, water and
financial inclusion in agrifood systems in Asia-Pacific.
iii.On 10 October 2023, FAO Latin America organised a seminar at FAO Santiago de Chile, Chile to provide a
regional overview of the advances and challenges that promote or obstruct the economic empowerment of
rural women in all their diversity among others.
Global Handwashing Day 2023 – October 15

The Global Handwashing Day is annually observed across the world on October 15 to raise awareness about
the importance of handwashing with soap and water as a way to prevent disease.
• 15th October 2023 marks the observance of 16th Global Handwashing Day.
Theme:
The theme for Global Handwashing Day 2023 is “Clean Hands Are Within Reach.”

• The theme emphasizes the importance of ensuring that everyone has access to the resources and
knowledge they need to wash their hands regularly.
Background:
i.Global Handwashing Day was initiated by the Global Handwashing Partnership (GHP) in August 2008 at the
annual World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden.
ii.The first Global Handwashing Day was celebrated on 15th October, 2008.
Global Handwashing Partnership:
The Global Public-Private Partnership for Handwashing encourages people around the world to make
handwashing a habit.
• It is supported by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization
(WHO).
Significance:
i.Washing the hands with soap and water is one of the simplest and the most effective ways to stop the spread
of germs.
ii.It can help prevent the spread of diseases such as diarrhea, pneumonia, and cholera.
iii.Handwashing is especially important for children, who are at higher risk of getting sick from these diseases.
iv.The day ultimately aims to inculcate the habit of washing hands with water and soap among all the people.
The Role of Education:
i.Education plays an important role in promoting hand hygiene. Schools often integrate handwashing into their
curriculum to ensure that children grow up with good hygiene practices.
ii.When children learn the importance of handwashing from a young age, they are more likely to continue
practicing it throughout their lives, which can have a significant impact on public health.
WHO Research:
i.In May 2023, World Health Organization (WHO) released its first-ever research agenda on hand hygiene in the
name ‘WHO research agenda for hand hygiene in health care 2023–2030’
ii.The agenda identifies 21 highest research priorities in six key areas such as
• System change
• Training and education
• Evaluation and feedback
• Reminders and communication
• Institutional safety climate
Impact of hand hygiene improvement on health care-associated infections (HAIs) and antimicrobial resistance
(AMR)
World White Cane Day 2023 – October 15

World White Cane Day, also known as White Cane Safety Day, is annually observed across the globe on 15th
October to promote accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities and to increase public awareness of
the rules of conduct for the visually impaired people.
Background:
i.In 1960s, the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) in the United States of America(USA) began advocating
for the use of the white cane as a symbol of independence and mobility for blind and visually impaired people.
• With the effort of NFB, the United States Congress issued a joint resolution to observe World White
Cane Day.
iii.The first World White Cane Day was observed on 15th October 1964 by then-US President Lyndon Baines
Johnson.
What is White Cane?
i.The white cane is a critical mobility tool for blind people that has been used for centuries.
ii.Along with cane, blind people use their hearing and touch senses to navigate their surroundings and perform
daily tasks easily.

iii.Over time, it has become more than just a tool, but a symbol of freedom, independence, and confidence for
them.
i.World White Cane Day is observed in India by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with
Disabilities (DEPwD) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE).
• It is the nodal department which oversees the development agenda of Persons with Disabilities.
ii.DEPwD conducted activities like Awareness Programmes, Seminars & Webinars, Interviews and Rally at
more than 30 places across India.
iii.A rally was also organised by National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Visual
Disabilities (NIEPVD).
World Students Day 2023- October 15

World Students Day is annually observed on 15 October to commemorate the birth anniversary of the 11th
President of India (from 2002 to 2007) and the Missile Man of India Dr. A P J (Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen)
Abdul Kalam.
• 15 October 2023 marks the 92nd birth anniversary of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.
About Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam:
i.Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was born on 15 October 1931 in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu.
ii.As an aerospace Scientist, he worked with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Defence
Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
iii.He was elected as the President of India in 2002 and held the post till 2007. He was nominated by the
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its National Democratic Alliance(NDA).
iv.After completing his term as President, he served as a visiting professor in various esteemed institutes and
universities of India, such as the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Shillong (Meghalaya), Ahmedabad
(Gujarat) and Indore (Madhya Pradesh).
v.He passed away in Shillong, Meghalaya on 27th July 2015.
Noted positions held by Kalam:
i.He served as the Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister and Secretary of the Department of Defence
Research & Development from July 1992 to December 1999.
ii.He served as the first Principal Scientific Advisor(PSA) to the Government of India (GoI), in the rank of
Cabinet Minister, from November 1999 to November 2001.
iii.He also served as the Chief Project Coordinator of the Pokhran-II nuclear tests, a series of 5 nuclear bomb
test explosions conducted by India at the Indian Army’s Pokhran Test Range in May 1998.
iv.He was part of the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) committee working under
Vikram Sarabhai, the renowned space scientist.
Significant Works:
i.He played a major role as in the development of India’s first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-
III) which successfully injected the Rohini satellite into the near-earth orbit in July 1980.
ii.He served as the Chief Executive of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) at the
DRDO. He was the key figure in the development of ballistic missiles like the Prithvi, and Agni.
Awards/Honours:
i.He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1981 for Civil Service and the Padma Vibhushan in 1990 for
Science and Engineering.
ii.In 1997, he was awarded the Bharat Ratna for Science and Engineering.
iii.Other awards include the Veer Savarkar Award (1998) and; the Indira Gandhi Award for National
Integration (1997); among others.

Books:
Wings of Fire: An Autobiography (1999); India 2020 – A Vision for the New Millennium (1998); Evolution of
Enlightened Societies (2006); My Journey: Transforming Dreams into Actions (2013); Turning Points: A
Journey Through Challenges (2014); Reignited: Scientific Pathways to a Brighter Future (2015).
Tributes:
i.In 2005, Switzerland declared May 26 as the Science Day, dedicated to Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, who had visited
Switzerland on this day.
ii.In 2015, the Odisha government announced renaming the outer Wheeler Island in Bhadrak district as APJ
Abdul Kalam Island.
• In 2017, the Odisha government formally named Wheeler Island as APJ Abdul Kalam Island, as a
tribute to APJ Abdul Kalam on his 2nd death anniversary.
iii.In 2023, Aurangzeb Lane in Lutyens’ Delhi has been officially renamed to Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Lane. The New
Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) workers in Delhi unveiled a signboard bearing the name of DR. APJ Abdul
Kalam.
• NMDC in 2015, changed the name of Aurangzeb Road to Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road.
World Food Day 2023 – October 16

The United Nations (UN) World Food Day (WFD) is annually observed across the globe on 16 October to
highlight the millions of people worldwide who cannot afford a healthy diet and the need for regular access to
nutritious food.
• WFD also raises awareness of hunger and action for the future of food, people, and the planet and
also to ensure food security and combating hunger.
The day 16 October also commemorates the establishment of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of
the UN in 1945.
The 2023 theme of WFD is, ‘Water is Life, Water is Food. Leave No One Behind.’
• The theme highlights the basic role of water in guaranteeing food security and focuses on the need
for water resources in our attempts to battle hunger and malnutrition, emphasizing the need to
ensure equitable access to water resources for all.
The observance of WFD is led by the FAO. WFD is one of the most celebrated days on the UN calendar.
Background:
i.WFD was established in 1979 during the 20th session of the Conference of FAO, held in Rome, Italy.
ii.On 5 December 1980, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/35/70
and proclaimed the 16th of October of every year as WFD.
iii.The first-ever WFD was observed on 16 October 1981.
World Food Day Events 2023:
i.The 2023 WFD events are taking place as part of the 2023 World Food Forum (WFF), a youth-led movement
and network to transform our agrifood systems.
• The 2023 WFF flagship events are scheduled from 16 to 20 October 2023 at the Headquarters of
FAO in Rome, Italy, and virtually.
• The event is comprised of the WFF Global Youth Forum, the FAO Science and Innovation Forum, and
the FAO Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum.
Note: WFF is committed to the theme: “Agrifood systems transformation accelerates climate action.”
ii.The 2023 WFD events include the Presentation of FAO’s Achievement Award, Intergenerational Dialogue:
The modernisation of FAO, and the Inauguration of the WFD exhibit among others.
FAO Award for Achievement:
i.The FAO Conference, during its 42nd Session in June 2021, agreed to institute the “FAO Award for
Achievement.”
ii.This award, designed to be an integral part of the annual World Food Day celebrations, will be presented to
commendable entities or individuals, including FAO teams and employees.

iii.The Award is conferred for activities and programs with remarkable achievements conducted during the
biennium preceding the current year.
Nature of the Award:
• A scroll describing the achievements of the recipient institution and/or an award;
• A cash prize of USD 10,000.
Winners of FAO Award for Partnership 2023:
• Al-Shouf Cedar Society (ACS), Lebanon.
• The Nepal Agriculture Cooperative Central Federation Limited (NACCFL), Nepal.
Winners of FAO Award for Achievement 2023
Junior World Food Day 2023:
i.The 3rd edition of the hybrid Junior WFD event will take place on 19 October 2023.
ii.The event features Rodrigo Pacheco, FAO National Goodwill Ambassador for Ecuador; Diarmuid Gavin, FAO
National Goodwill Ambassador for Ireland;
• It also includes International food heroes and chefs, Fatmata Binta, Anahita Dhondy, Bela Gil,
Michael Haddad, Olivia Mandle, Max Mariola, and Matteo Ward.
iii.The event will accompanied by a live performance of the 2023 youth music video by Piccola Orchestra di Tor
Pignattara and friends.
Key Facts:
i.Agriculture accounts for 72% of global freshwater withdrawals, but only 2.5% of water is fresh, and suitable
for drinking, agriculture, and most industrial uses.
• 16% is used by industries; and 12% by municipalities for households and services.
• Global water demand for agriculture is expected to increase by 35% by 2050.
ii.Currently 2.4 billion people live in water-stressed countries, and approximately 10% of the global population
live in countries with high and critical water stress.
iii.Around 600 million people depend, at least partially, on aquatic food systems for a living.
iv.Almost 1 billion tonnes of food, 17% of all food available to consumers worldwide, are thrown away each
year. It results in the waste of water resources too.
• 95% of our food is produced on land and all begins with soil and water.
FSSAI Launches Eat Right Creativity Challenge for Millets on World Food Day 2023
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) marked WFD 2023 by launching the Eat Right
Creativity Challenge (ERCC), a national-level initiative for Millets (Shree Anna). It aims to encourage the
consumption of millet among school children to promote their health benefits and extend this knowledge to the
wider community.
• This initiative is part of efforts taken by FSSAI during the celebration of the International Year of
Millets (IYOM) 2023 to raise public awareness about the nutritional advantages of millets through
various means.
• Millets are known for their nutritional value and sustainability, making them a suitable choice for a
balanced diet.
Note: FSSAI is the apex food regulator of India under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
Eat Right Creativity Challenge (ERCC):
i.It is part of FSSAI’s Eat Right India movement, which encourages students to adopt healthy dietary habits.
ii.This initiative also motivates schools to create an environment that promotes healthy and safe food practices.
• So far, 3 ERCCs have been successfully conducted in multiple phases, each with its unique theme.
iii.The initiative aims to empower young people as agents of change, capable of influencing the broader
community to make healthier food choices.
Awards:
Winners of the competition will receive cash prizes and certificates. A total of 160 prizes will be awarded at the
regional level, and an additional 40 prizes will be given at the national level for each of the 4 competitions.

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 2023- October 17
The United Nations (UN) International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, also known as End Poverty
Day, is annually observed across the globe on 17 October to raise awareness about the global issue of poverty
and how it is a violation of human rights and human dignity.
• This day also aims to honour the victims of extreme poverty, violence, and hunger, and to promote
understanding and dialogue between people living in poverty and the wider society.
The theme of International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 2023 is, “Decent Work and Social Protection:
Putting Dignity in Practice for All”.
• The 2023 theme focuses on empowering workers, ensuring fair treatment, and prioritising human
dignity in all decision-making processes.
Background:
i.The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty was first observed as World Day for Overcoming Extreme
Poverty on 17 October 1987.
ii.On that day, by the effort of Joseph Wresinski, founder of ATD (All Together in Dignity) Fourth World, more
than 100,000 human rights defenders gathered on the Trocadero square in Paris, France, where the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights was signed in 1948, to honor the victims of hunger, violence, and ignorance.
• They proclaimed that poverty is a violation of human rights and affirmed the need to come together
to ensure that these rights are respected.
iii.On 22nd December1992, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution A/RES/47/196
and declared the 17th of October of every year as International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
• UN’s International Day for the Eradication of Poverty was first observed on 17th October 1993.
UN Decade for the Eradication of Poverty:
i.In 1996, UNGA adopted the resolution A/RES/50/107 and proclaimed the decade 1997 to 2006 as “First UN
Decade for the Eradication of Poverty”. The theme for the decade was “Eradicating poverty is an ethical, social,
political and economic imperative of humankind”.
ii.In 2008, UNGA adopted the resolution A/RES/63/230 and proclaimed the decade 2008 to 2017 as “Second
United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty”. The theme of the decade was “Full employment and
decent work for all”.
iii.On 20 December 2017, UNGA was adopted the resolution A/RES/72/233 and proclaimed the decade 2018
to 2027 as “Third UN Decade for the Eradication of Poverty”. The theme of the decade is “Accelerating global
actions for a world without poverty”.
What is Poverty?
i.Poverty is a multifaceted issue that extends far beyond just the lack of income. It often leads to inadequate
food, resulting in hunger and malnutrition.
ii.Impoverished individuals may struggle to access education and fundamental services, and may have limited
say in shaping their futures.
iii.Poverty can fuel social discrimination and exclusion, limiting opportunities.
Note: More than 160 million children faced the risk of extreme poverty by 2030.
Key Facts:
i.An estimated 7% of the global population, around 575 million people, could still find themselves trapped in
extreme poverty by 2030.
ii.Despite progress, nearly 700 million people still live in extreme poverty worldwide, surviving on less than
USD 2.15 a day.
iii.According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), from 2020 to 2023, approximately 165
million people globally fell into poverty.
• This drastic increase is attributed to debt servicing, which has overshadowed spending in crucial
sectors such as social protection, health, and education.
vi.In developing countries, the majority of working-age individuals are engaged in informal, low-productivity,
low-paying, and insecure jobs.

• This disparity is especially pronounced among women, girls, and the elderly. Nearly 4 million young
people are expected to enter the global workforce each month until 2030.
Poverty and SDG:
Ending poverty in all its forms is the first of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda
for Sustainable Development.
• A setback between 2020 and 2022 saw approximately 3 years of lost progress in poverty reduction.
• Current rates suggest that the global goal of ending extreme poverty by 2030 might not be achieved.
• Estimates predict that around 600 million people will continue to grapple with extreme poverty in
2030.
World Trauma Day 2023 – October 17

World Trauma Day is annually observed across the globe on October 17 to raise awareness about trauma and
educate people on ways to address traumatic incidents and deaths.
• The day promotes people to take preventative measures to lessen the number of casualties and
injuries.
• 17th October 2023 marks 13th World Trauma Day.
Theme:
The theme of World Trauma Day 2023 is ‘Embracing Resilience, Overcoming Trauma’s Impact’.
Background:
i.World Trauma Day was established in 2011 in New Delhi, Delhi.
ii.The day was established in response to the alarming number of daily deaths (exceeding 400) due to traffic
accidents.
What is Trauma?
i.Trauma means “any injury caused to the body”. It is an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident,
rape, or natural disaster.
ii.Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5-29 years.
iii.1.3 million people die each year as a result of road traffic crashes.
• Annually, around 1.3 million people die due to road traffic crashes.
iv.Approximately 93% of the world’s fatalities on the roads occur in low- and middle-income countries.
v.According to the report of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), around 1.55 lakh people lost their
lives due to road accidents in 2021.
• Two wheelers have accounted for maximum fatal road accidents, contributing 44.5% of total road
accidental deaths.
Bone and Joint Action Week:
i.World Trauma Day is a part of Bone and Joint Action Week which is annually observed from October 12 to
October 20.
ii.There are five special days during Action Week.
• October 12 – World Arthritis Day
• October 16 – World Spine Day
• October 17 – World Trauma Day
• October 19 – World Pediatric Bone and Joint (PB&J) Day
October 20 – World Osteoporosis Day
39th Raising Day of NSG – 16th October 2023

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.
• 16th October 2023 marks the observance of 39th Raising Day of NSG.

About NSG:
i.In 1984, The Union Cabinet planned to create a Federal Contingency Force to act against. This paved a way for
the formation of NSG.
• The National Security Guard was formally established through ‘National Security Guard Act,
1986’.
ii.It is a Federal Contingency Deployment Force for combating terrorist activities in any part of India.
iii.It operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA) with the motto ‘Sarvatra, Sarvottam, Suraksha’.
iv.They work with the basic philosophy of swift and speedy strike and immediate withdrawal from the theatre
of action.
v.The NSG was modelled on the pattern of the Special Air Service (SAS) of the United Kingdom(UK)
and Grenzschutzgruppe 9(GSG-9) of Germany.
vi.It has two complementary elements in the form of
• Special Action Group (SAG) – comprising Army personnel
• Special Ranger Groups (SRG) – comprising personnel from the Central Armed Police Forces/State
Police Forces.
Notable Operations of NSG
i.Operation Black Thunder, Golden Temple Amritsar (Punjab) in April 1986
ii.Operation Cloud Burst was carried out by NSG in 1990 in Punjab
iii.Operation Vajra Shakti, Gandhinagar (Gujarat) in 2002
iv.Operation Chakravyuh, Chhattisgarh in 2006.
v.Operation Black Tornado in Mumbai on November 26, 2008.
vi.Operation Dhangu Suraksha, Pathankot in Punjab on January 2, 2016.
About National Security Guard (NSG)
Headquarters-New Delhi, Delhi
Director General- M A Ganapathy
National Solidarity Day 2023- October 20

National Solidarity Day is annually observed across India on 20 October to honour, respect, and promote the
bravery and strength of the Indian armed forces.
• The day is dedicated to mark the national integrity displayed by India during the 1962 conflict with
China(Indo-China War)
• The day is also plays tribute to all the brave souls who lost their lives during the Sino-Indian War
which started on 20th October 1962 and ended on 21 November 1962.
20 October 2023 marks the 61st anniversary of the India-China war.
Background:
i.On 20th October 1962, China launched a surprise attack on India’s northeastern frontier, claiming disputed
territories in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.
iii.Despite the courage and dedication of India’s military personnel, India suffered a humiliating defeat and lost
thousands of lives in the war.
iv.In 1966, a committee was set up under the leadership of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to honour the
martyrs of the war and to promote a sense of patriotism and solidarity among the citizens.
v.The committee decided to designate October 20 as National Solidarity Day. This day continues to be marked
as National Solidarity Day, dedicated to honouring the armed forces each year.
About Indo-China War 1962:
i.The war began on 20 October 1962 between the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the armed wing of the
Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and the principal military force of China and the Military of India.
• The conflict coincided closely with the Cuban Missile Crisis which began in 1962.
ii.The first heavy engagement of the war was a Chinese attack on an Indian patrol north of the McMahon Line.

iv.The conflict eventually widened to include the region of Aksai Chin which China regarded as a strategic link,
via the China National Highway route G219, between the Chinese-administered territories of Tibet and
Xinjiang.
v.The war ended when the Chinese captured the disputed area and unilaterally declared a ceasefire on 20
November 1962.
World Osteoporosis Day 2023 – October 20

World Osteoporosis Day (WOD) is a global awareness campaign annually observed across the globe on 20
October to highlight the importance of Osteoporosis and to raise global awareness of the prevention, diagnosis,
and treatment of Osteoporosis and related musculoskeletal diseases.
• This day serves as a platform to encourage people to take action to maintain strong and healthy
bones throughout their lives.
The theme of 2023 WOD Campaign is ‘Build Better Bones’.
• With this theme, IOF highlights the crucial role of a bone-healthy lifestyle in ensuring a fracture-free
future and promoting mobility.
• The WOD campaign is a global initiative supported by the International Osteoporosis Foundation
(IOF) member societies worldwide to drive action on behalf of bone health and fracture prevention.
Background:
i.World Osteoporosis Day was initially launched in 1996 by the National Osteoporosis Society of the United
Kingdom (UK) and was supported by the European Commission.
ii.In 1998, the European Foundation for Osteoporosis (EFFO) and the International Federation of Societies on
Skeletal Diseases (IFSSD) merged.
• This merger led to the formation of the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF).
iii.The first-ever WOD was observed on 20 October 1996.
• Since then, the IOF Foundation has played a pivotal role in advocating for the diagnosis, treatment,
prevention, and research of osteoporosis.
Note:
• In 1998 and 1999, the World Health Organization (WHO) acted as co-sponsor of World Osteoporosis
Day.
• Osteoporosis was not officially acknowledged and defined as a disease by the WHO until 1994.
About Osteoporosis:
i.Osteoporosis is a condition causing weakened and fragile bones. Due to decreased bone strength, the risk of
fractures after minor incidents increases.
ii.Lack of evident symptoms often leads to undiagnosed cases until fractures occur.
iii.Although it affects both women and men, it is most common in older women as the protective effect of
oestrogen declines with menopause.
iv.Fractures can significantly impact one’s quality of life, causing pain and loss of independence.
• Prioritizing preventive measures is vital in combating this condition and preserving bone health.
About International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF):
IOF is the world’s largest nongovernmental organization dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment
of osteoporosis and related musculoskeletal diseases.
President– Professor Cyrus Cooper (UK)
CEO– Philippe Halbout (Switzerland)
Headquarters– Nyon, Switzerland
Formed in– 1998

International Chefs Day 2023 – October 20
International Chefs Day is annually observed across the globe on October 20 to celebrate the Culinary arts and
to educate the people about the significance of culinary professionals (Chefs).
• The day also aims to educate kids around the world about the importance of healthy eating.
• The day is observed by the World Association of Chefs’ Societies (Worldchefs).
• 20th October 2023 marks the 20th International Chefs Day.
Campaign:
The campaign of International Chefs Day 2023 is Growing Great Chefs.
• It was announced by Nestlé Professional and Worldchefs.
Note: In 2014, Nestlé Professional partnered with Worldchefs to teach children around the globe about the
importance of healthy eating.
Background:
i.The day was founded in 2004 by Bill Gallagher, the then-president of the WorldChefs.
• He aimed to highlight the importance of passing on knowledge and culinary skills to the next
generation of chefs with a sense of pride and commitment to the future.
ii.The first International Chefs Day was observed on 20th October 2004.
Event 2023:
i.Through the campaign “Growing Great Chefs”, Nestlé Professional and Worldchefs aims to introduce the joys
of cooking and the world of gastronomy to the children across the globe.
ii.They also created a toolkit packed with innovative recipes, an interactive game, and guide to start a garden.
• Children will learn how to grow their own ingredients, understand the value of fresh produce, and
connect with nature by planting and caring for their own gardens.
iii.The campaign will also help children learn about different flavors, textures, and cultures through cooking.
Additional Info:
i.In 2022, about 421 events were organised across the world and it was participated by over 3’700 chefs and
almost 96’000 children.
ii.This initiative forms part of the Nestlé for Healthier Kids program (N4HK) of Nestle.
The United Nations (UN) International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression is observed annually on
June 4th across the world to recognise and acknowledge the sufferings and pain of children throughout the
world, who are the victims of physical, mental and emotional abuse.
About World Association of Chefs’ Societies (Worldchefs):
President- Thomas A. Gugler
Headquarters- Paris, France
Establishment- 1928
Police Commemoration Day 2023- October 21

Police Commemoration Day (Police Martyrs Day) is annually observed across India on 21 October to pay
homage to, and appreciate the incredible dedication of all the Police personnel who were killed on duty.
• The day commemorates the sacrifices of 10 brave Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) policemen,
who sacrificed their lives while defending our borders with China in 1959 at Hot Springs in Aksai
Chin, Ladakh.
Background:
i.In January 1960, a resolution was passed at the Annual Conference of Inspectors General of Police of States
and Union Territories, recognising October 21st of every as the Police Commemoration Day.
• 21st October of every year since 1960 is being observed as Police Commemoration Day”. The day is
also observed as Police Martyr’s Day.
ii.A decision was also made to erect a memorial at Hot Springs. The memorial serves as a tribute to the gallant
martyrs.

• Every year, members of Police Forces nationwide undertake a trek to Hot Springs.
History of Commemoration Day:
i.On 20 October 1959, CRPF patrolled the India-Tibet border with 3 units of the 3rd Battalion.
• The 3rd Battalion conducted independent patrols in the Hot Springs area of Ladakh.
• The primary objective was to monitor the India-China border located east of Ladakh.
ii.Only two of these units returned and the third one comprising of two Police Constables and a Porter did not
return.
iii.A new unit of 20 personnel consisting of people from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBF) and CRPF was
led by the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP)/Deputy Central Intelligence Officer (DCIO) Karam Singh to
search for the missing unit.
• Out of 20, 10 Police personnel were killed and 7 injured personnel were imprisoned by China.
• The 10 martyred Policemen were returned by the Chinese only on November 13, 1959, a full three
weeks after the incident. They were cremated with full Police honours at Hot Springs.
Note: Hot Spring in Aksai Chin in Ladakh is situated between 15,000 and 16,000 feet above sea level on the
Indo-Tibet border which was being manned by the Indian Police.
Events in India:
Union Minister Amit Shah, Ministry of Home Affairs paid homage to the martyrs on Police Commemoration Day
2023 at the NPM in New Delhi, Delhi on 21st October 2023. The NPM hosted the primary commemoration
event, which was presided over by the Union Home Minister.
National Police Memorial:
On Police Commemoration Day in 2018, Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi dedicated the National Police
Memorial (NPM) in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi (Delhi), to the nation. The memorial comprises a central
sculpture, the ‘Wall of Valour’ and a museum.
About Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF):
Director-General– Dr Sujoy Lal Thaosen, Indian Police Service (IPS)
Establishment– 27 July 1939
Global Iodine Deficiency Disorders Prevention Day 2023 – October 21

Global Iodine Deficiency Disorders(IDD) Prevention Day or World Iodine Deficiency Day is annually
observed across the globe on 21st October to create awareness about the importance of Iodine, an
essential micro-nutrient.
Iodine and its importance:
i.Iodine is a mineral that is found mainly in animal protein and sea vegetables and, to a lesser extent, in fortified
foods like bread, cereals, and milk.
ii.Iodine is required to make the thyroid hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine, which assist with the
creation of proteins and enzyme activity, and regulate normal metabolism.
Source of Iodine:
i.Iodine is present naturally in soil, seawater, and in some foods.
ii.The content of iodine in food depends on the amount of iodine in soil, the proximity of seawater, farming
practice
Note: The Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) of iodine is 150 micrograms (mcg) per day for most adults.
Iodine Deficiency Disorders:
i.Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) refers to the full clinical spectrum of disease caused by iodine deficiency.
ii.Inadequate intake of iodine will affect the production of thyroid hormones which will affect the muscle, heart,
liver, kidney and the developing brain.
iii.Iodine deficiency is a leading cause of preventable brain damage worldwide.
• Insufficient iodine during pregnancy and infancy results in neurological and psychological deficits
• This will reduce a child’s Intelligence quotient (IQ) by 8 to 10 points.

iv.IDD which can begin in the womb, pose a grave threat to children’s mental health and, in many cases, affects
their very survival.
v.During the neonatal period, childhood, and adolescence, IDDs can lead to hypothyroidism and
hyperthyroidism.
IDD Prevention in India:
i.The National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme (NIDDCP) is a government initiative launched in
1992 to address the widespread issue of iodine deficiency in India.
• It is the extended version of the program National Goitre Control Programme (NGCP) which was
launched in 1962.
ii.The National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme (NIDDCP) aspires to achieve a prevalence of
iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs) below 5% in India.
iii.Additionally, the programme aims to ensure that every household in the country consumes adequately
iodized salt containing 15 parts per million (ppm) of iodine.
Iodised salt:
In an effort to promote the use of iodized salt, the Government of India (GoI) implemented a ban on the sale of
non-iodized salt for direct human consumption in India, effective from May 2006.
• This measure was enacted under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act 1954.
International Stuttering Awareness Day 2023- October 22

International Stuttering Awareness Day, also known as International Stammering Awareness Day (ISAD), is
annually observed across the globe on 22 October to raise awareness about Stuttering, a speech disorder that
affects millions of people (about 1% of the population) across the globe.
Symbol:
Since 2009, the Sea-Green Ribbon has been used as a stuttering awareness ribbon for ISAD
• The color ‘blue’ is traditionally associated with “calm” and ‘green’ represents “liberty, freedom and
justice”.
Note: The annual See-Green Ribbon campaign aims to spread awareness about all mental health difficulties to
help end mental health stigma and discrimination.
Background:
i.In 1997, ISAD was first proposed by Michael Sugarman, the co-founder of the National Stuttering Project
(NSP) during the closing ceremony of the International Fluency Association (IFA) in San Francisco, California,
the United States of America (USA).
ii.In 1998, the European League of Stuttering Associations (ELSA), the International Fluency Association (IFA),
and the International Stuttering Association (ISA) declared the 22nd October of every year as “International
Stammering Awareness Day”
iii.The first ISAD was observed on 22 October 1998.
Note: The year 2004 was designated by the IFA, ISA, and ELSA as the International Year 2004 Children Who
Stutter.
2023 ISAD Online Conference:
i.The ISAD Online Conference, in its 26th year, runs from October 1-31, 2023.
ii.The 2023 theme for ISAD Online Conference is, “One Size Does NOT Fit All”.
• This theme highlights the individual nature of needs and circumstances. When applied to stuttering,
it emphasises the unique manifestations of this complex condition.
iii.The ISAD online conference operates as a private initiative by dedicated volunteers, separate from any
specific organization.
iv.The mission of the ISAD Online Conference is to carry on a tradition of education through diverse mediums,
fostering discussions, and sharing insights related to stuttering.
What is Stuttering?
i.Stuttering refers to a complex speech disorder characterized by disruptions in the normal flow of speech.

ii.It is a speech disorder characterized by repetition of sounds, syllables, or words; prolongation of sounds; and
interruptions in speech known as blocks.
Types: The 3 types of stuttering are developmental stuttering, neurogenic stuttering, and psychogenic
stuttering.
Key Facts:
According to the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD):
• Stuttering occurs most often in children between the ages of 2 and 6 as they are developing their
language skills.
• Approximately 5 to 10% of all children will stutter for some period in their lives, lasting from a few
weeks to several years.
• Approximately 75% of children recover from stuttering.
• For the remaining 25% who continue to stutter, stuttering can persist as a lifelong communication
disorder.
About International Stuttering Association (ISA):
ISA is a not-for-profit, international umbrella association made up primarily of national self-help associations
for people who stutter.
Chair– Douglas Scott (USA)
Headquarters– Minnesota, USA
Founded in– 1995
International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week 2023- October 22 to 28

International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (ILPPW) is annually observed across the globe on the last full
week of October to raise awareness about the harmful effects of lead poisoning(lead exposure).
• The day also aims to promote the action to eliminate the use of lead in paint.
• This is an initiative of the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint (Lead Paint Alliance), jointly led
by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
In 2023, the ILPPW was observed from 22nd to 28th October 2023. This marks the 11th observance of ILPPW.
• ILPPW 2022 was observed from 23-29 October 2022 and the ILPPW 2024 will be observed from 20-
26 October 2024.
2023 Campaign:
The 2023 campaign of ILPPW focuses on “End Childhood Lead Poisoning”.
• This highlights the unacceptable risks of lead exposure and the need for action to protect children’s
health.
• The 2023 campaign builds on the success of banning the use of lead in petrol and the progress made
by many countries in passing laws that limit the use of lead in paint, especially paints that children
are exposed to in their homes, schools, and playgrounds.
Lead Paint Alliance:
i.The Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint (Lead Paint Alliance) is a voluntary partnership formed by UNEP
& WHO.
ii.It was established in 2011.
iii.Lead Paint Alliance aims to prevent exposure to lead through promoting the phase-out of paints containing
lead.
Exposure to Lead:
i.Lead is a toxic metal that can damage the brain and nervous system, especially in children.
ii.Lead exposure can cause a range of health problems, including learning disabilities, behavioral problems,
decreased Intelligent Quotient (IQ), and even death.
iii.United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimates that 1 in 3 children – up to 800 million globally, have
blood lead levels at or above 5 µg/dl(microgram/deciliter).

Elimination of lead and SDG:
Eliminating lead paint will help to achieve two Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
SDG 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air,
water, and soil pollution and contamination.
SDG 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout
their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to
air, water, and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.
About World Health Organisation (WHO):
Director General – Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
About United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP):
Executive Director– Inger Andersen
Headquarters – Nairobi, Kenya
62nd Indo-Tibetan Border Police Raising Day – 24th October 2023

Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Raising day is annually celebrated on 24th October to mark the
establishment of the ITBP, a Central Armed Police Force functioning under the Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA),
in 1962.
The day also honour the dedication of the ITBP in safeguarding the security of borders of India and
promote sense of security among the people living in border areas.
24th October 2023 marks the observance of the 62nd ITBP Raising Day.
Significance of ITBP Raising Day:
i.The day serves to recognise the services and achievements of the ITBP and honour the brave hearts who have
made the ultimate sacrifice for the country.
ii.On this day, the government acknowledges the courage of ITBP personnel by presenting them with medals in
recognition of their exceptional bravery and service to the nation.
Evolution of the ITBP:
i.ITBP was established on October 24, 1962, to reorganise the intelligence and security arrangements along the
Indo-Tibetan border.
It was raised in the aftermath of the 1962 Chinese aggression.
ii.Initially, the force commenced with the sanction of only 4 Battalions and operated under the Central Reserve
Police Force (CRPF) Act, 1949.
iii.In 1992, the ITBP Force Act was passed by Parliament, leading to the framing of corresponding rules in
1994.
ITBP Force Symbol:
The Crest of the ITBP showed a national emblem, i.e. Ashoka’s Lion Capital, mounted on the Chakra crossed by
2 loaded rifles depicting the valor and readiness of the Force.
Battalion Count:
i.The ITBP is increasingly tasked with diverse roles, including border guarding, counter-insurgency, and
internal security functions.
ii.The number of ITBP Battalions increased gradually and ITBP presently has 60 service Battalions, 4 Specialist
Battalions, 17 Training Centres and 07 logistics establishments with a total strength of approximately 90,000
personnel.
Points to note:
i.Based on the “One Border One Force” suggestion, the ITBP was entrusted with safeguarding the entire 3,488
km stretch of the India-China border ranging from the Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to Jachep La in Arunachal
Pradesh.

ii.The ITBP’s significant responsibility includes border guarding duties, and in 2004, the ITBP effectively
replaced the Assam Rifles in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
Recognitions: Decorations earned by the ITBP forces include Padam Shri, Kirti Chakra, Shaurya Chakra, Sena
Medal, President’s Police Medal for Gallantry, and Police Medal for Gallantry, among others.
About Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP):
Director General– Sh. Anish Dayal Singh, IPS
Established on– October 24, 1962
Motto– Shaurya-Dridhata-Karma Nishtha (Valour – Determination – Devotion to Duty)
Disarmament Week 2023- October 24 to 30

The United Nations (UN)’s Disarmament Week is annually observed across the globe in the week starting
on 24 October, the anniversary of the founding of the UN, to spread awareness of disarmament initiatives that
have been historically used by countries throughout the world to establish international peace and security.
The UN Disarmament Week is observed from 24-30 October.
This day aims to promote awareness and a better understanding of disarmament issues and their importance.
The annual event of Disarmament Week is organized by the United Nations Office for Disarmament
Affairs (UNODA).
Background:
i.The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/S-10/2 (the Final Document of
the 10th Special Session of the UNGA) in 1978 and proclaimed the week starting on 24th October, foundation
day of the UN, as a week devoted to promote the objectives of disarmament.
ii.In 1995, UNGA adopted the resolution A/RES/50/72 B and invited governments, as well as Non-
Governmental Organisations (NGOs), to actively take part in the observance of Disarmament Week in order to
promote a better understanding among the public of disarmament issues.
Disarmament:
Disarmament refers to the act of eliminating or abolishing weapons (like nuclear weapons) either unilaterally
or reciprocally. This is a tool to help prevent armed conflict and to mitigate its impacts when it occurs.
Agenda for Disarmament:
i.In 2018, UN Secretary-General António Guterres launched Securing our Common Future: An Agenda for
Disarmament.
ii.The agenda emphasizes strategic disarmament measures to foster sustainable peace and security worldwide.
iii.Key Pillars of Agenda for Disarmament:
Disarmament to Save Humanity
Disarmament that Save Lives
Disarmament for Future Generations
Strengthening Partnerships for Disarmament
UN’s Disarmament Body- UNODA:
i.UNODA, the UN’s Disarmament body established in January 1998 as the Department for Disarmament Affairs.
ii.UNODA supports the development and implementation of practical disarmament measures after a conflict.
iii.It was originally established in 1982 upon the recommendation of the UNGA’s 2nd special session on
disarmament (SSOD II).
iv.In 1992, its name was changed to Centre for Disarmament Affairs, under the Department of Political Affairs.
v.At the end of 1997, it was renamed the Department for Disarmament Affairs, and in 2007, it became the
UNODA.
About United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA):
Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs– Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu
Headquarters– New York. USA

World Snow Leopard Day 2023- October 23
World Snow Leopard Day, also known as International Snow Leopard Day, is annually observed across the
globe on 23 October to raise awareness about the conservation and protection of Snow Leopard, one of the
world’s most elusive and endangered big cats, and their natural habitat.
• The Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) are listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for
Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
Significance:
The Day commemorates the adoption of the ‘Bishkek Declaration,’ as well as the Global Snow Leopard and
Ecosystem Protection (GSLEP) Program, by all snow leopard range countries on 23 October 2013, in
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Background:
i.During the Global Snow Leopard Conservation Forum in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, from 22-23 October 2013,
the 12 snow Leopard range countries adopted the Bishkek Declaration on the Conservation of the Snow
Leopard and declared the 23 October of every year as the International Snow Leopard Day.
• With the adoption of this declaration, the Snow Leopard Range Countries endorsed a
comprehensive, long-term GSLEP Program
ii.The first-ever International Snow Leopard Day was observed on 23 October 2014.
Bishkek Declaration:
The Bishkek Declaration emphasises the commitment of Snow Leopard Range Countries. It focuses on creating
thriving ecosystems for both snow leopards and the local communities.
• The declaration aims to contribute to the prosperity of nations and the planet.
Note: The Bishkek Declaration also declared the year 2015 as the International Year of the Snow Leopard.
12 Snow Leopard Range Countries: Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic
(Kyrgyzstan), Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection (GSLEP) Program:
GSLEP is an unprecedented alliance of all snow leopard range countries that aims to save snow leopard and
their habitat and to identify and secure at least 20 snow leopard landscapes across the cat’s range by 2020.
• The snow leopard range countries have identified a total of 24 landscapes to be secured for snow
leopards
Key Facts:
i.Snow leopards live in high alpine areas, mostly above the tree line and up to 18,000 feet in elevation. It is
estimated that around 4,080-6,590 snow leopards are in the wild.
ii.The estimated size of the snow leopard’s distributional range is about 1.8 million square kilometers, with the
largest share in the Tibetan plateau of China, followed by Mongolia and India.
Snow Leopards in India:
i.There are about 500 individuals in the higher reaches of Indian Himalaya.
ii.In India, Snow leopards are Snow leopards due to poaching for its pelt and body parts, a decline in prey base
(mostly Blue Sheep and Asiatic Ibex) and and retaliatory killings by village communities.
United Nations Day 2023- October 24

The United Nations (UN) Day is annually observed across the globe on 24 October to mark the anniversary of
the day on which the UN Charter entered into force in 1945.
UN Day offers the opportunity to amplify the common agenda and reaffirm the purposes and principles
of the UN Charter.
24 October 2023 marks the 78th Anniversary of the foundation of the UN.
The UN Day Concert 2023 was held under the theme “The Frontlines of Climate Action”
Background:
On October 31, 1945, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/168(II) and
proclaimed the 24th of October of every year as the United Nations Day.

The UN Charter is the founding document of the United Nations.
UN Charter:
i.On 26 June 1945, the UN Charter was signed by the representatives from 50 nations, who attended the UN
Conference on International Organization (UNCIO) in San Francisco, the United States of America (USA) and
came into force on 24 October 1945.
The main objective of the San Francisco conference, officially known as the UNCIO, was to produce a
Charter for this new organization that would be acceptable to all the countries.
ii.It was mandated that the UN would come into force upon ratification and notification by key nations,
including China, France, the United Kingdom (UK), the Soviet Union, and the USA, along with a majority of other
signatory states.
iii.The Declaration by the UN was issued in Washington, DC (USA), on 01 January 1942, during the 2nd World
War. The Declaration by the UN contained the first official use of the term ‘United Nations’.
The name ‘United Nations‘ was suggested by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 32nd President of the USA.
Significance of UN:
i.The UN operates as a vital global entity with the authority to address a diverse array of issues, owing to its
distinctive international composition and the authoritative provisions of its Charter.
ii.The UN Charter holds the status of an international treaty, rendering it a crucial component of international
law and providing a forum for its 193 members to express their views.
iii.UN Member States are legally bound by the stipulations within this Charter, which encapsulates fundamental
principles governing international relations.
UN Day Concert 2023:
The UN Day Concert 2023, held under the theme “The Frontlines of Climate Action”, was sponsored by the
Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Tonga to the United Nations with support from PVBLIC Foundation’s
Family Offices for Sustainable Development (FOSD).
The theme of the 2023 UN Day Concert reinforces Secretary-General António Guterres’ call for “faster,
bolder climate action”
The 2023 concert featured the Environmental Symphony: The Movement and world-renowned cellist
Michael Fitzpatrick.
Symbols of UN:
UN Emblem:
The original UN emblem was created by a team of designers led by Oliver Lincoln Lundquist, during the UNCIO
in 1945.
Design: A world map representing an azimuthal equidistant projection centred on the North Pole, inscribed in
a wreath consisting of crossed conventionalized branches of the olive tree, in gold on a field of smoke-blue with
all water areas in white.
It encompasses a wide geographical area, extending to 60 degrees south latitude and featuring 5
concentric circles.
The “UN blue” colour is an integral part of the visual identity of the Organization. Blue
represents peace in opposition to red, for war.
UN Flag:
i.On 20 October 1947, the UNGA adopted the resolution A/RES/167 (II) and approved the UN flag.
ii.The resolution states “The flag of the UN shall be the official emblem adopted by the UNGA the terms of its
resolution 92 (I) of 7 December 1946, centered on a light blue ground.”
Note: The UN emblem has been incorporated into the logo designs of several entities in the UN System and is
also used on UN stamps.
About United Nations (UN):
Secretary-General– António Guterres
Headquarters– New York City, USA

World Polio Day 2023 – October 24
World Polio Day is annually observed across the world on 24th October to highlight the importance of the
efforts to eradicate poliomyelitis (polio), the infectious disease that commonly affects children aged under 5.
24th October 2023 marks the 22nd observance of World Polio Day.
Background:
i.World Polio Day was established by Rotary International(RI) to commemorate the birth anniversary of
Jonas Salk, an American virologist who developed the first successful polio vaccines.
Jonas Salk led the first team to develop a vaccination against polio and began its testing in 1953.
Oral polio vaccine (OPV) – OPV produces antibodies in the blood and provides shield against all three
types of poliovirus.
Inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) – It is an injectable vaccine and can be either administered alone or
along with other vaccines (e.g., diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, and haemophilus
influenza).
ii.The first World Polio Day was observed on 24th October 2002.
Why from 2002?
i.In 1988, there were about 3.5 lakh cases of polio worldwide, and the World Health Assembly committed to
eradicating it.
ii.The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the European Region polio-free in 2002.
iii.The World Polio Day is celebrated annually on October 24th ever since.
What is Polio?
i.Polio also known as poliomyelitis, is a disabling and life-threatening disease caused by the poliovirus.
ii.The poliovirus spreads from person to person and infects a person’s spinal cord and causes paralysis.
iii.It is an infectious disease, which can spread easily from one person to another.
iv.The only way to prevent polio is by vaccine.
India and Polio:
i.From 1995 onwards, India observes National Vaccination Day (twice a year) to create awareness about the
importance of vaccination against not only polio but also other viral diseases.
ii.South-East Asia Region of the World Health Organization (WHO) including India was certified polio-free by
the Regional Certification Commission (RCC) in 2014.
The last polio case in India was in 2011; it was from Howrah, West Bengal.
iii.In 2012, WHO removed India from the list of “endemic countries with active poliovirus transmission”
iv.In 2015, India (along with 125 other countries) introduced the Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine (IPV) into
routine immunization as part of the Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic plan.
Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI):
i.Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) is a public-private partnership(PPP) led by national governments
with six partners –
World Health Organization (WHO)
Rotary International
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Gavi, the vaccine alliance
ii.GPEI aims to eradicate polio worldwide.
iii.In June 2021, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) launched the “GPEI Strategy 2022-2026:
Delivering on a Promise.” to cut outbreak response times; increase vaccine demand; transform campaign
effectiveness; work systematically through integration; increase access in inaccessible areas; transitioning
towards government ownership; and improving decision-making and accountability.

World Development Information Day 2023- October 24
The United Nations (UN)’s World Development Information Day is annually observed across the globe on 24
October to draw the attention of the world to development problems and the need to strengthen international
cooperation to solve them.
The day emphasises the significance of widespread information dissemination to ensure a
comprehensive understanding of global development challenges.
Background:
i.In 1972, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/3038(XXVII) and
declared October 24 of every year as the World Development Information Day.
ii.The first World Development Information Day was observed on 24 October 1973.
Why October 24?
The date of the observance was chosen to coincide with the United Nations Day(24th October) and also to mark
the date of adoption of the 1970 International Development Strategy for the Second United Nations
Development Decade.
The International Development Strategy for the 2nd UN Development Decade (1971-1980) was adopted
on 24th October 1970.
3 Development Settings of UNDP:
i.The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) operates within diverse country contexts, addressing 3
broad development challenges.
Eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions;
Accelerating structural transformations for sustainable development; and
Building resilience to crises and shocks.
ii.Securing these challenges are core development need, notably emphasising the enhancement of gender
equality and women’s empowerment, alongside the need to safeguard human rights.
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs):
i.According to the UN, ICTs are a key to eradicating poverty and unemployment and the importance of building
a people-centered, inclusive, and development-oriented Information Society.
ii.During the UN Conference on Sustainable Development or Rio+20, which took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
on 20-22 June 2012, Governments recognized that ICTs are facilitating the flow of information between
governments and the public.
iii.Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) are essential drivers of sustainable and inclusive development.
iv.STI initiatives address all aspects of sustainable development, economic, social, and environmental, and their
interrelationships.
Commitment to Development Index (CDI) 2023:
CDI 2023 is topped by Sweden (1st) followed by Germany (2nd), Norway (3rd), Finland (4th) and France (5th).
India is ranked 38th in CDI 2023.
i.CDI is released annually by the Center for Global Development (CGD) since 2003. It ranks 40 powerful
countries, considering policies affecting over 5 billion people in poorer nations.
ii.It measures countries’ aid potential relative to their size and economic influence.
2023 Events:
On October 24th, 2023, the UN hosted a significant event in New York, USA to commemorate World
Development Information Day.
This event, organized by various UN bodies including the UNGA, the United Nations Office for
Sustainable Development (UNOSD), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
(UNCTAD), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the UNDP.

Global Media and Information Literacy Week 2023 – October 24 to 31
The United Nations (UN) Global Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Week is annually observed across
the globe from 24th to 31st October to raise awareness of the importance of media and information literacy
(MIL) and to celebrate the progress made towards achieving MIL for all.
· 24-31 October 2023 marks the observance of the 12th Global Media and Information Literacy
Week.
The 2023 theme of Global MIL Week is, “Media and Information Literacy in Digital Spaces: A Collective
Global Agenda.”
· The theme emphasises the significance of digital spaces, paving the way for enhanced multilateral
collaboration with various digital platforms and stakeholders.
The annual event of Global MIL Week is organised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organisation (UNESCO).
· The 2023 Global MIL Week was scheduled in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
Note: Due to regional circumstances, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and UNESCO have decided to postpone
the event originally planned for 23-25 October at the Dead Sea. The new date for the conference will be
communicated promptly as soon as possible.
Background:
i.In June 2011, the first edition of the International Forum on Media and Information Literacy (MIL) held in Fez,
Morocco came up with the Fez Declaration on MIL.
· It dedicated that World Media and Information Literacy Week should be celebrated from 15-21 June
every year.
ii.Initiated in 2012, Global MIL Week was a collaborative effort led by UNESCO in partnership with the UNESCO
MIL Alliance, formerly known as the Global Alliance for Partnerships on Media and Information Literacy
(GAPMIL), United Nations Alliance of Civilization (UNAOC), and the Media and Information Literacy and
Intercultural Dialogue (MILID) University Network.
iii.In 2019, the UNESCO General Conference at its 40th session adopted a resolution and decided to proclaim
Global MIL Week to be observed from 24 to 31 October each year.
iv.In 2021, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/75/267 and
proclaimed 24 to 31 October of each year the Global MIL Week.
Significance:
i.Global MIL Week mobilizes worldwide stakeholders to raise awareness and aims to increase national take-up
of Media and Information Literacy.
ii.It also recognizes the achievements since 2011 towards Media and Information Literacy for All.
2023 Events:
The International Conference of the Global MIL 2023 schedule includes:
i.Plenary sessions and side events organized by UNESCO and local/global partners.
ii.A Youth Newsroom: Hosted by a local institution or university that brings together young people (especially
journalism students and youth with a media background) globally.
iii.5th Global MIL Youth Hackathon:
· The Global MIL Youth Hackathon is an integral part of the Global MIL Week Youth Agenda Forum.
· It is an opportunity for young people and youth organizations worldwide to participate in creating
innovative MIL learning in meaningful ways.
· UNESCO and partners encouraging global youth participation in a virtual hackathon. It is tasked
with designing creative responses to predefined social challenges, in connection with the 2023
theme: “Youth powering media and information literacy in digital spaces.”
Global MIL Awards:
The Global MIL Awards are presented every year at the Global MIL Week feature conference. Global MIL
Awards recognize and celebrate the outstanding contributions of MIL champions since the inaugural edition in
2016.

· The MIL Alliance Awards recognize information/library, media and technology specialists,
educators, artists, activists, researchers, policymakers, NGOs, associations, and other groups
integrating MIL in an innovative way in their work and related activities.
· The awards recognise excellence and leadership in 5 sectors: Education, Research, Policy, Advocacy,
Media, and Communication/Information Industries.
Note: The UNESCO MIL Alliance aims to promote international cooperation to ensure that all citizens have
access to media and information literacy competencies.
Key Facts:
i.With 62.5% global internet users and 58.4% active on social media, the digital space’s widespread influence is
undeniable.
ii.In June 2023, the UN published a policy brief on “Information Integrity on Digital Platforms,” revealing that
75% of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) country offices had identified information pollution
as a significant concern.
iii.A global survey found that 58.5% of frequent internet and social media users express concerns regarding
encountering misinformation online.
· Particularly, young individuals and those from low-income brackets face increased susceptibility to
online misinformation.
iv.UNESCO Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report for 2023 indicates that approximately 50% of 15-year-
olds in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries lack proficiency in
differentiating facts from opinions.
These revelations emphasize the immediate necessity to prioritise and strengthen MIL education globally.
International Dwarfism Awareness Day 2023 – October 25

International Dwarfism Awareness Day, also known as World Dwarfism Day, is annually
observed across the globe on 25th October to raise awareness about achondroplasia, a bone growth
disorder that causes dwarfism due to a genetic mutation in the arms and legs.
· 25th October 2023 marks the observance of 12th International Dwarfism Awareness
Day.
What is Dwarfism?
i.Dwarfism is a group of conditions that cause short stature. It is generally defined as an adult height
of 4 feet 10 inches (147 centimeters) or less. They have short arms and legs in comparison to the head
and trunk.
ii.There are over 200 different types of dwarfism, each caused by a different genetic or medical
condition.
iii.Achondroplasia is a Greek word meaning “without cartilage formation”. This is one of the most
common causes of dwarfism.
Background:
i.International Dwarfism Awareness Day was established by ‘Little People of America(LPA)’ to
commemorate the birth anniversary of Billy Barty (born as William John Bertanzetti), an American
actor who had dwarfism(achondroplasia).
ii.The first International Dwarfism Awareness Day was observed on 25th October 2012.
About Billy Barty:
i.Billy Barty was born on 25th October 1924 in Millsboro, Pennsylvania, United States of America
(USA).
ii.He appeared in over 200 films and television shows, and was a tireless advocate for people with
dwarfism.
iii.In 1957, Billy Barty founded LPA, a non-profit organization that provides support, resources, and

information to people of short stature and their families.
i.International Dwarfism Awareness Day is observed in India by the Department of Empowerment of
Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment(MoSJ&E).
ii.DEPwD conducted various activities like Awareness Programmes, Interview sessions, poster
making, Webinars and Panel Discussion at more than 20 places across India.
World Day for Audiovisual Heritage 2023- October 27

The United Nations (UN) World Day for Audiovisual Heritage (WDAH) is annually observed across
the globe on 27 October to remind us of the significance of archiving and preserving Audiovisual (AV)
sources, and to honour the AV preservation professionals and institutions that safeguard our heritage
for future generations.
WDAH also aims to raise general awareness of the need to take urgent measures and acknowledge the
importance of AV documents.
· The 2023 theme of WDAH is “Your Window to the World”.
WDAH celebration is a key initiative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) and the Coordinating Council of Audiovisual Archives Associations (CCAAA).
Background:
i.In 2005, UNESCO adopted the resolution (33 C/Resolution 53) during the 33rd session of the
UNESCO General Conference held in Paris, France, and proclaimed the 27 October of every year as the
World Day for Audiovisual Heritage (WDAH).
ii.The resolution also commemorated the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Recommendation
for the Safeguarding and Preservation of Moving Images.
· “Recommendation for the Safeguarding and Preservation of Moving Images”, was adopted
in 1980 by the 21st UNESCO General Conference in Belgrade, Serbia.
ii.The first-ever WDAH was observed on 27 October 2006.
UNESCO/Jikji Memory of the World Prize:
i.UNESCO’s Executive Board approved the establishment of the UNESCO/Jikji Memory of the World
Prize in April 2004.
ii.The purpose of the prize is to commemorate the inscription of the world’s oldest existing book of
movable metal print, the Buljo Jikji Simche Yojeol, inscribed in the Memory of the World Register.
iii.The prize honors endeavors that contribute to safeguarding and facilitating access to documentary
heritage, emphasizing its collective value for all of humanity.
iv.Aligned with UNESCO’s vision, the prize underscores the organization’s mission to promote
universal access to information and knowledge.
About Audiovisual Heritage:
i.AV documents, such as films, radio and television programs, and audio and video recordings, contain
the primary records of the 20th and 21st centuries.
ii.Serving diverse audiences, these documents have transformed communication, acting as a vital
supplement to written history.
iii.The vulnerability of these records demands urgent digitization to prevent further irreversible loss.
UNESCO’s Digitization Initiative:
i.AV archives serve as invaluable repositories of global heritage, offering insights into diverse cultures
and people worldwide.

ii.In 2015, UNESCO launched Digitizing Our Shared UNESCO History, a fundraising project to digitize
the Organization’s archives.
· The archives date back to its predecessors, including the League of Nations’ International
Institute for Intellectual Cooperation.
iii.The project underscores the significance of safeguarding and promoting this collective memory for
current and future generations.
About Coordinating Council of Audiovisual Archives Associations (CCAAA):
Chair– Mary Egan (Representing FOCAL International)
Members– 9
77th Infantry Day – 27th October 2023

Infantry Day is annually observed across India on 27th October by Indian Army to commemorate the
contributions of the Infantry, the largest fighting arm of the Indian Army.
· 27th October 2023 marks the observance of the 77th Infantry Day.
Why 27th October?
On 27th October, 1947, the first military event of independent India took place in the Kashmir Valley
against Pakistani invaders.
Background:
i.On October 26, 1947, the ruler of (then Princely state) Jammu and Kashmir(J&K), Maharaja Hari
Singh, signed the Instrument of Accession(IOA) agreeing to join India.
ii.Pakistani soldiers, disguised as volunteers from the tribal areas of North West Frontier Province
(NWFP), entered J&K.
· They aimed to forcibly occupy J&K and integrate it with Pakistan.
iii.On 27th October 1947, the infantry of the Indian army, led by the 1st battalion of the Sikh Regiment
commanded by Lieutenant (Lt) colonel (Col) Dewan Ranjit Rai entered the Srinagar airfield in J&K to
halt the invasion by the Pakistani raiders.
iv.Lt Col Rai was killed in action, on the outskirts of Baramulla(Kashmir). He was honoured with the
Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) posthumously for his gallant action and exceptional valour.
About Infantry:
i.The Infantry (popularly known as the ‘Queen of the Battle’) is one among the four major combat
arms of the Indian Army. The other three are
· Armoured Corps
· Mechanised Infantry
· Artillery
ii.It is made up of foot soldiers who use small arms, such as assault rifles, grenades and machine guns,
to fight.
iii.They defend the nation along the Line of Control (LoC), Line of Actual Control (LAC) and the
International Border..
About Indian Army:
Chief of the Army Staff – General Manoj Pande

International Animation Day 2023- October 28
International Animation Day (IAD) is annually observed across the globe on 28 October to honour
the birth of animation, recognised as the first public performance of projected moving images at
Emile Reynaud’s Théâtre Optique in Paris (France), on the 28th of October 1892.
· 28 October 2023 marks the observance of the 22nd International Animation Day.
IAD is annually coordinated and promoted by the Association Internationale du Film d’Animation
(ASIFA) (International Animated Film Association).
Background:
i.In 2002, the Association Internationale du Film d’Animation (ASIFA) decided to observe the 28th of
October every year as International Animation Day (IAD) to commemorate the birth of Animation.
· The first public performance of projected moving images by Emile Reynaud’s Theatre
Optique in Paris, on the 28th October 1892 was considered the Birth of Animation.
ii.The first IAD was observed on 28 October 2002.
Théâtre Optique:
i.The praxinoscope was an animation device invented in France in 1877 by a French inventor, Charles-
Émile Reynaud.
ii.Théâtre Optique (Optical Theatre) was created by Charles-Émile Reynaud and is a theatrical
projection version of Praxinoscope.
· It was patented in 1888 and was adopted commercially in the Musé e Gré vin in Paris in
1892.
iii.The Théâtre Optique machine produced images on a screen using 36 mirrors, 2 magic lanterns or
supplementary lights that were the source of a stationary background, and a projector.
First Show using Théâtre Optique:
i.On October 28, 1892, Charles-Émile Reynaud exhibited animations consisting of loops of about 500
frames, using his Théâtre Optique system at Musée Grévin in Paris, France.
ii.The show, billed as Pantomimes Lumineuses, included 3 cartoons, Pauvre Pierrot, Un bon bock, and
Le Clown et ses chiens, each consisting of 500 to 600 individually painted images and lasting about 15
minutes.
2023 IAD Poster:
i.Since 2002, ASIFA has been celebrating the IAD with a unique Poster designed by many prestigious
animators from countries all over the world helping to represent this international event.
ii.The 2023 IAD poster was designed and illustrated by the legendary Georges Schwizgebel of
Switzerland.
ASIFA Prize:
i.Since 1985 ASIFA has been awarded a prize for outstanding achievements in the art of animation.
ii.The ASIFA Prize is awarded annually to an individual(s) or organisation(s) which have made a
significant and innovative contribution towards the promotion and preservation of the art of
animation.
About Association Internationale du Film d’Animation (ASIFA):
Working with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), ASIFA aimed to
unite the animation world in peace by trying to find ways for animators.
President – Deanna Morse
Founded in– 1960
Headquarters– Annecy, France

World Stroke Day 2023- October 29
World Stroke Day is annually observed across the globe on 29 October to raise awareness of the serious
nature and high rates of stroke, and the effective treatment options available to drive action on stroke
prevention.
The theme for World Stroke Day 2023, designated by the World Stroke Organisation (WSO), is
‘Together we are #GreaterThan Stroke.’
The theme focused on uniting members, partners, and stakeholders worldwide together to spread crucial
information regarding stroke prevention.
Background:
i.The World Stroke Congress in Vancouver, Canada, in 2004 established World Stroke Day, which falls on
October 29.
Dr. Vladimir Hachinski led the formation of a working group, which in October 2006 became a World
Stroke Proclamation.
In 2006, WSO was formed by the merger of International Stroke Society (ISS) and the World Stroke
Federation (WSF).
ii.The first World Stroke Day was observed on 29th October 2006.
World Stroke Day Campaign 2023:
i.Along with a focus on stroke prevention, and symptom awareness, the World Stroke Day Campaign aims to
ensure better care and support for survivors.
ii.World Stroke Day 2023’s ‘Be #GreaterThan Stroke’ campaign emphasises prevention, prioritises health
checks to manage major stroke risk factors including:Hypertension; Smoking; Atrial fibrillation; Cholesterol; &
Diabetes
About Stroke:
i.A stroke, sometimes called a brain attack, occurs when something blocks blood supply to part of the brain or
when a blood vessel in the brain bursts.
ii.It can cause lasting brain damage, long-term disability, or even death.
Types of stroke: There are 2 main types of stroke, ischemic and haemorrhagic.
Ischemic strokes: They occur as a result of an obstruction in a blood vessel supplying blood to the
brain.
Hemorrhagic strokes: They happen when a weakened blood vessel ruptures and bleeds into the brain.
Key Facts:
i.Stroke is the second leading cause of disability worldwide and each year over 12 million people have strokes.
Up to 90% of strokes are preventable.
ii.Globally, women account for just over half (56%) of all persons who have experienced a stroke.
iii.Globally, there are over 77 million people currently living who have experienced ischaemic stroke.
The global age-standardized incidence rate of ischemic stroke was projected to increase to 89.32 per
100,000 population in 2030.
About World Stroke Organisation (WSO):
President– Sheila Martins (Brazil)
President-Elect– Jeyaraj Pandian (India)
First ever UN’s International Day of Care and Support – 29th October 2023
The United Nations (UN)’s first-ever International Day of Care and Support was observed across the globe
on 29 October 2023 to emphasise the importance of caregiving, recognize the contributions of caregivers, and
advocate for policies and initiatives that support and enhance care in all its forms.
Background:
i.On 24 July 2023, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution A/RES/77/317 and
decided to proclaim the 29 October of every year as the International Day of Care and Support.

ii.29 October 2023 marks the first observance of the International Day of Care and Support.
Significance:
i.The annual global observance aims to recognize the crucial need to invest in the care economy and establish
resilient, inclusive support systems that value and redistribute unpaid care and domestic work.
ii.The day also aims to raise awareness of the importance of care and support in fostering gender equality and
sustaining societies and economies.
iii.It emphasizes rectifying disparities between paid and unpaid care, promoting fair treatment. It also
emphasises the significance of acknowledging and valuing paid care work, underscoring its vital role.
Decent Work and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG):
Goal 8: Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment, and decent work for all.
Sustainable development cannot be achieved without decent work, and vice versa. Sustainable development
and the Decent Work Agenda (DWA) are completely linked, each supporting the other.
2023 Events:
i.The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), in partnership with UN Women, ILO,
and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), hosted a virtual event to mark the 1st International Day
of Care and Support.
This virtual commemoration serves as the 2nd initiative of the Global Care Alliance in the Asia-Pacific
region.
ii.The event highlighted the importance of care and support for gender equality, healthy aging, and sustainable
societies and economies.
Key Facts:
i.According to ILO, the global care workforce comprises 249 million women and 132 million men.
ii.Women perform 76.2% of the total amount of unpaid care work, 3.2 times more time than men.
iii.By 2030, the number of care recipients is predicted to reach 2.3 billion, driven by an additional 0.1 billion
older persons and an additional 0.1 billion children aged 6 to 14 years.
iv.The total sectoral employment in education and health and social work is likely to increase by almost one-
quarter to a total of 248 million jobs by 2030.
v.Investment in the care economy to achieve the SDGs means a total of 475 million jobs by 2030
Vigilance Awareness Week 2023 – October 30 to November 05

Vigilance Awareness Week is annually observed across India during the week in which the birth
anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (31st October) falls.
The week is observed by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) to promote integrity, transparency,
and ethical practices, emphasising the crucial role of vigilance in preventing corruption and
ensuring accountability within organizations.
Vigilance Awareness Week 2023 is observed from 30th October to 5th November 2023.
Vigilance Awareness Week 2022 was observed from 31st October to 6th November 2022.
The 2023 theme of Vigilance Awareness Week is, “Say no to corruption; commit to the Nation.”
Significance:
i.Vigilance Awareness Week is one of the tools of CVC in increasing public awareness about the riskiness of
corruption.
ii.Encouraging citizens to play an active role, CVC emphasises the importance of transparency and
accountability in public administration, seeking collaboration for effective governance.
Observance of Vigilance Awareness Week 2023:
Integrity Pledge:
i.Every year, the observance of Vigilance Awareness Week begins with the administration of the Integrity
Pledge by CVC.

ii.Central Vigilance Commissioner Praveen Kumar Srivastava and Vigilance Commissioner Arvinda Kumar
administered the integrity pledge at Satarkata Bhawan, New Delhi (Delhi) marking the beginning of Vigilance
Awareness Week.
Vigilance Awareness Campaign:
i.The campaign spans 3 months, focusing on preventive vigilance activities from August 16 to November 15,
2023, aiming for comprehensive participation from Central Government bodies.
ii.The Commission is issuing 3 publications, highlighting best practices in vigilance administration,
transparency through technology, and challenges in public procurement, fostering knowledge sharing and
future guidance.
Focus Areas of the Campaign:
The campaign would have 6 focus areas as preventive vigilance measures. They included:
Awareness building about Public Interest Disclosure and Protection of Informers (PIDPI) resolution;
Capacity building programmes;
Identification and implementation of Systemic Improvement Measures;
Leveraging of Information Technology (IT) for complaint disposal;
Updation of circulars/guidelines or manuals;
Disposal of complaints.
About Central Vigilance Commission (CVC):
Central Vigilance Commissioner– Praveen Kumar Srivastava
CVC is an apex governmental body in India, established in 1964 as a result of the recommendations of the
Santhanam Committee on Prevention of Corruption.
APPS & WEB PORTAL

MoS Dr Jitendra Singh Launches IGMS 2.0 Public Grievance portal & Automated Analysis in
Tree Dashboard Portal of DARPG
On September 29, 2023, the Union Minister of State (MoS) Dr Jitendra Singh, Ministry of Personnel, Public
Grievances & Pensions, launched the Intelligent Grievance Monitoring System (IGMS) 2.0 Public
Grievance portal and Automated Analysis in Tree Dashboard portal of the Department of Administrative
Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG).
• He also launched the Swachhata Special Campaign 3.0 and released the Precedent Book (e-
book) prepared by DARPG.
Note: DARPG work under the aegis of Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
About IGMS 2.0:
i.IGMS 2.0 dashboard has been implemented by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, Uttar
Pradesh (UP) following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with DARPG on December 14, 2021 for
upgrading Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) with Artificial
Intelligence (AI) capabilities.
ii.The IGMS portal provides instant tabular analysis of grievances filed and disposed, enabling officials to
identify root causes.
iii.It automates grievance processing for the 20 lakh annual complaints on CPGRAMS, expediting
resolutions.
• Notably, Reforms led by DARPG have slashed average resolution time from 32 to 18 days, a 50%
decrease.
Launch of Swachhata Special Campaign 3.0
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh also launched the Swachhata Special Campaign 3.0 w.e.f. October 2,

2023 i.e. on the occasion of Birth Anniversary of Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, till 31st October,
2023.
• It is a sequel of the Special campaigns conducted in the last two years.
• DARPG is the Nodal Department for implementation of Special Campaign 3.0.
Key Points:
i.It will focus on field/outstation offices responsible for service delivery or having public interface, in
addition to the Ministries/Departments and their attached/subordinate offices.
ii.DARPG introduced 300 Best Practices for all Ministries, emphasizing a ‘Whole of
Government’ and ‘Whole of Science’ approach, in Special Campaign 3.0.
IndusInd Bank Launches ‘INDIE’, a Customer Oriented Digital Banking App

IndusInd Bank Limited launched INDIE, a customer centric digital mobile banking application(app), to
empower customers with an all-in-one digital financial solution. This hyper-personalized financial super-app
utilises the advanced analytics to provide personalized insights to its customers.
• The app leverages advanced analytics to provide personalized insights to its customers such as
smart reminders, expense tracking, and spending insights..
Key features:
The app offers a number of industry-first features, including ultra-flexible products that can be customized to
meet specific needs of the customer. This includes
i.A range of financial products that can be customized to meet the individual needs of each customer. For
example, customers can get an instant line of credit up to Rs 5 lakh, with the flexibility to choose only the
amount they need and set their own loan tenor.
ii.INDIE offers a choice of account number, high-interest-bearing savings account (upto 6.75% per annum(p.a.)
return) and fixed deposits(FD) that offer exclusive returns of up to 7.85% p.a.
• The customer can also link FD to savings account so that customers can pay with fixed deposit when
savings balance is low.
ii.INDIE also offers a transparent rewards program where customers can choose their favorite brands from
leading e-commerce platforms.
• Customer can earn upto 3% rewards per Rs 100 spend (1 reward point valued at Rs 1)
Safety & Security Features:
INDIE’s offers several industry-first safety and security features like
• Numberless debit cards – These cards do not have the traditional card details, such as the card
number, expiration date, and CVV (Card Verification Value), printed on the physical card.
• Single-use disposable virtual debit cards – can be used when customer dont want to reveal their
card details
• A dynamic PIN for ATM/POS(Automated Teller Machines or Point-of-Sale) transactions – This
feature can be used against static PIN.
• Super OTP(one-time passwords) – ability to access OTP even in low network zones.
About IndusInd Bank Limited:
REC Launches ‘SUGAM REC’, a Mobile App for 54EC Bonds Investors
REC Limited (formerly Rural Electrification Corporation Limited) launched SUGAM REC, a mobile app for its
current and future investors in REC’s 54EC Capital Gain Tax Exemption Bonds.
• REC Limited is a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise(CPSE) under the Ministry of Power

Features of the App:
i.SUGAM REC offers the ability to view complete details of their investment in REC 54EC Bonds, including the
investment amount, interest rate, and maturity date.
ii.This will also allow the users to
• download electronic bond (e-bond) certificates securely.
• apply for new investments.
• download important forms related to Know Your Customer (KYC) updation.
• connect with REC’s Investor Cell via call, email, or WhatsApp.
About 54EC Bonds:
Section 54EC bonds, also known as Capital gain bonds are fixed income instruments which provide capital
gains tax exemption.
• Section 54EC of the Income Tax Act, 1961 allows taxpayers to claim a deduction from their capital
gains tax liability by investing in certain bonds.
The following bonds are eligible for exemption under section 54EC:
i.Rural Electrification Corporation Limited (REC) bonds
ii.National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) bonds
iii.Power Finance Corporation Limited (PFC) bonds
iv.Indian Railway Finance Corporation Limited (IRFC) bonds
Eligibility:
To claim a tax exemption under Section 54EC, taxpayers must:
i.Be any type of taxpayer, including individuals, Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs), companies, Limited Liable
Partnership (LLPs), and firms.
ii.Sell a long-term capital asset, which is land, a building, or both, that they have owned for at least 24 months.
iii.Investment should not be more than Rs 50 lakhs in the current financial year and the subsequent financial
year.
Criteria:
i.To get the tax exemption, one must invest the money within 6 months of selling the immovable property. The
investment cannot be redeemed for 5 years.
ii.The tax exemption only applies to long-term capital gains from the sale of immovable property (land or
buildings).
iii.The maximum exemption amount is Rs. 50 lakh.
On 3rd August 2023, the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) under the Ministry of Finance, upgraded the
status of 2 oil sector Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) namely Oil India Limited (OIL) and ONGC
Videsh Ltd (OVL).
• The status of OIL and OVL has been upgraded to the status of Maharatna and Navratna CPSEs
respectively. Earlier OIL was a ‘Navratna’ CPSE, while OVL was a Categry-I ‘Miniratna‘ CPSE.
About REC Limited:
REC Limited is registered with Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as non-banking finance company (NBFC), Public
Financial Institution (PFI) and Infrastructure Financing Company (IFC).
Chairman & Managing Director (MD) – Vivek Kumar Dewangan
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi
ICCR & SPPU Partnered to Launch UTIKS, an Online Portal to Promote Indian Culture
Worldwide
The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) in partnership with Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU),
formerly known as the University of Pune, in Maharashtra organised the soft launch of an online

platform “Universalisation of Traditional Indian Knowledge System (UTIKS) Portal” at Manipal Academy of
Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka.
• The portal was soft-launched by Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, President, ICCR
• UTIKS, an initiative of the ICCR, with a mission to introduce Indian culture to a worldwide audience
and present its rich civilization and culture in a learner-friendly manner.
Objective:
The Portal is aimed at spreading knowledge and authentic information about Indian culture to those new to
Indian culture. It will restore India’s cultural dignity, which aims to showcase India’s rich knowledge culture to
the world.
Key People:
Kumar Tuhin, Director-General, ICCR; Dr. Narayan Sabhahit, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, MAHE; Dignitaries and
Officials from the state government of Karnataka and international students form MAHE wer present during
the launch.
Features:
i.The UTIKS online platform offers a vast array of short courses focussed on Traditional Indian Knowledge.
ii.This platform will serve as an authentic single-window source for introductory-level knowledge on a range of
subjects under the Traditional Indian Knowledge System.
iii.SPPU contributts its academic framework for UTIKS capsules. Each UTIKS capsule consists of a 30-minute
video segment, including organized video and audio content, images, interviews, and demonstrations.
Benefits:
i.UTIKS offers a refined exploration to those who may already have a foundational understanding but would be
seeking a deeper understanding of diverse subjects.
ii.UTIKS provides an integrated platform and portal for online courses in Distance Learning Mode, accessible on
various devices, from PCs and laptops to smartphones and tablets.
iii.UTIKS caters not only to foreigners seeking to unlock the beauty of Indian culture but also to residents of
India who may be unaware of the depth and richness of their own heritage.
Highlights:
i.5 of the UTIKS capsules ‘Architecture of India’, ‘Cuisine of India’, ‘Attires of India’, ‘Introduction to Indian
Cinema’, and ‘Ramayana and Mahabharata’ were presented during the launch on 5th October 2023.
• 7 more UTIKS capsules on diverse subjects are under different stages of preparation and will be
available online shortly.
ii.A presentation on UTIKS showcasing videos of the 5 capsules on Indian culture with a brief narration was
also presented.
CM Pushkar Dhami Launches Rozgar Prayag Portal at U’khand Youth Mahotsav in Dehradun
On October 9, 2023, Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Minister (CM) of Uttarakhand, launched the government-
developed Rojgar Prayag Portal during the Uttarakhand Youth Mahotsav 2023 program organized at
Parade Ground in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
• The portal for youths aims to provide employment opportunities in the Uttarakhand on a single
portal.
• The event was organized by the Uttarakhand Skill development Society and Government of
Uttarakhand on the theme ‘Uttarakhand Towards Entrepreneurship and Employment’.
Highlights of the event:
Yuva Uttarakhand App:
During the event, CM Pushkar Singh Dhami launched the Yuva Uttarakhand App to make the schemes run by
various departments available at one place.
The app was developed by Information Technology Development Agency (ITDA).

Employment Centres:
CM also announced that development of self-employment centres in the employment officers in all the districts
for the youth to get more information and applications related to the schemes.
• He inaugurated the self-employment centres in the employment offices of Dehradun and Udham
Singh Nagar.
• In these centres, VC (Virtual Conference) rooms will be established to connect remote youth with
experts.
MoUs signed during the Youth Mahotsav:
During the event, three Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) were signed in the presence of CM Dhami.
Details of the 3 MoUs:
i.An MoU was signed between Uttarakhand’s Skill Development and Employment Department and Indian
Institute of Technology(IIT) Roorkee, Uttarakhand to utilize the technical expertise of IIT Roorkee for the
development of skill capacity of the state’s manpower.
• In the first phase, technical support will be provided by the Incubator Center of IIT Roorkee for high
level upskilling of the labor force working in the construction sector.
ii.An MOU was signed between the Skill Development and Employment Department and Microsoft.
• Under this, Students studying in higher technical institutions of UK will be given training related to
digital skills by Microsoft.
• Microsoft also supports digital training for underprivileged groups.
iii.MoUs were signed with Envertz Consultancy to employ nursing trainees from U'Khand as nurses in
England and Ireland; and with Generise Global to employ them as nurses in Germany.
iv.Learnet Skills Pvt. Ltd. to provide Japanese language and lifestyle training to the UK’s youth in Japan.
i.The Naini Saini Airport, Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand has received the Directorate General of Civil Aviation
(DGCA) aerodrome licence to operate civil flights.
ii.The 12th edition of “Ex Ekuverin”, a bilateral joint military exercise between the Indian Army and the
Maldives National Defence Force commenced at Chaubatia, Uttarakhand.
About Uttarakhand:
Chief Minister– Pushkar Singh Dhami
Capital– Dehradun
Festivals– Magh Mela, Nanda Raj Jat
MoC&F launched web portal with Statistical Data of Chemical Sector

The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers(MoC&F) has launched a web portal (www.charak.chemicals.gov.in) to
provide statistical data related to the chemical sector for the benefit of all stakeholders.
• The portal was launched during the Sensitization workshop on ChemIndia – Chemicals Inventory of
India: An Online Data Management System in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The workshop was organised by Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals(DOCP), MoC&F and
Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI).
About the Portal:
i.The web portal developed by Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals along with the National
Informatics Center(NIC).
ii.The portal aims to provide statistical data on the chemical sector to all stakeholders.
iii.The portal will facilitate the collection of data on production, installed capacity, exports, imports, purchases,
and sales of chemicals in Chemical sectors.
Objective:
The portal streamlines data supply, foster efficiency, and provides access to latest innovations and
technological advancements related to chemical and petrochemical industries.

Benefits:
This protal will provide a support system to help industries to implement best practices, create an accurate
inventory of the chemical data system, and provide geographical data support to various stakeholders.
• This benefits the users, researchers, academicians, policy makers to generate visualizations and
reports according to their needs.
Additional Info:
During October-November 2023, DOCP has planned workshops in various cities, including Vadodara(Gujarat),
Vapi(Gujarat), Pune(Maharashtra), Bengaluru(Karnataka), Chennai(Tamil Nadu), Bhubaneswar(Odisha), and
Hyderabad(Telangana) to raise awareness about the web portal.
Education Minster Dharmendra Pradhan launched NCERT’s web portal “Apna Chandrayaan’ for
students
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the Ministry of Education(MoE), launched a web portal
‘Apna Chandrayaan’ for school students in New Delhi, Delhi. The web portal was developed by the National
Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).
• He also launched 10 special modules offering a comprehensive perspective on the Indian Space
Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Chandrayaan-3 mission for students.
• The modules encompass scientific, technological, and social aspects as well as the emotional journey
and team spirit of the scientists involved in the mission.
Note: NCERT is an autonomous organisation under the aegis of the Department of School Education & Literacy
(DoSEL), Ministry of Education(MoE).
Key People:
Dr. Sreedhara Panicker Somanath, Chairman of ISRO and Secretary of the Department of Space (DoS), graced
the event as the Guest of Honour, and officials of MoE and students were also present during the launch.
Apna Chandrayaan Web Portal:
i.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.
ii.It also has a set of colouring books, dot-to-dot activities, picture builders, and inspiring stories in the form of
graphic novels on Chandrayaan 3.
iii.This user-friendly web portal will enhance accessibility for self-guided learning among students.
iv.Students who score above 70% will receive digital certificates and age appropriate books will be presented
to the first 1000 winners.
Special Modules:
i.To inspire Indian youth to explore the realms of science and technology, 10 comprehensive modules have
been launched in multiple languages for the stakeholders on the success of Chandrayaan 3
ii.These modules cover a wide spectrum of information and are designed to offer valuable insights and
motivation to the stakeholders.
iii.The interactive and engaging content, enriched with graphics, photographs, illustrations, spanning across all
5 stages and covering Classes I-XII of school education.
iv.It emphasises experiential learning, promoting self-paced education, and teacher guidance. The digital
formats of the modules are accessible on the NCERT website.
v.The content will be translated into all 22 Indian languages with the help of technology. New puzzles,
questions, etc. will be added and this will run till 23 August 2024.
Note: More modules will be prepared on 14 different topics including women empowerment, COVID-19
vaccination, India’s G20 Presidency, etc.
Key Points:
i.Chandrayaan 3’s mission embodies qualities vital for students, such as determination, scientific curiosity, and
creative thinking.

ii.The NCERT plans to engage India’s schoolchildren in science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics
through Chandrayaan 3’s legacy-based activities. These activities foster innovation and critical thinking.
iii.Promoting interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary learning aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP)
2020’s vision and India’s need for scientific thinking.
iv.These activities equip students with versatile skills to tackle complex challenges, furthering India’s progress
on the global stage.
v.These knowledge products support students, teachers, and school leaders in raising every child’s holistic
development. They contribute to India’s journey as a “Vishwa Guru” in line with the value of
“Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (The world is one family).
On July 7, 2023, the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education (MoE), released
the ‘Performance Grading Index (PGI): 2.0: 2021-22: States & Union Territories‘, which assesses the
performance of school education system at the State/UT level by creating an index for comprehensive analysis.
About Ministry of Education:
Union Ministry– Dharmendra Pradhan (Rajya Sabha- Madhya Pradesh)
Ministers of State– Annpurna Devi; Dr. Subhas Sarkar; Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh
Uttarakhand CM launches Nandagaura Yojana Portal for Girls

On October 22, 2023, the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami, launched
the Nandagaura Yojana Portal, an online facility to be annually available to about 50 thousand girls who are
permanent residents of Uttarakhand.
About Nandagaura Yojana :
i.It allows girls in Uttarakhand to apply for financial assistance.
ii.It aims to improve the gender ratio and education of girls.
iii.Under this scheme, eligible parents will get Rs 11,000 at the time of birth of the girl child and later the girl
child will receive Rs 51,000 on clearing class XII.
Key Points:
i.The CM also inaugurated the online portals of Nanda Gaura Yojana (NGY), a scheme to improve the gender
ratio; and Mukhyamantri Mahalakshmi Kit Yojana (MMKY) aimed at providing nutrition and extra care to
the mother and the girl child after delivery on the occasion.
• These portals monitor the working progress of both these schemes.
ii.The CM handed over the appointment letters for the supervisor posts to 167 Anganwadi workers and mini
Anganwadi workers.
iii.There will be construction of 3,940 Anganwadi buildings in the State soon and each building will cost around
Rs 12 lakh.
• These buildings will be built with the help of the Central government, State Government and
MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) with a budget of about Rs
472 crore.
About Uttarakhand:
Capital– Dehradun, winter capital, and Gairsain, summer capital
Dance Forms– Barda Nati, Langvir Nritya, Ramola
Rajasthan Launches ‘iStart Talent Connect Portal’ To Boost Employment Opportunities

The government of Rajasthan launched the “iStart Talent Connect Portal” under iStart Rajasthan, the
flagship initiative of the Rajasthan Government in collaboration with Jaipur-based startup Hyrefox.
The portal was launched during the Bhamashah Techno Hub, Jaipur, Rajasthan.
The portal was developed to support the job providers and job seekers with a user-friendly platform.

The portal will allow the companies to hire potential talents and let them post job opening details and
connect with job seekers.
Since its launch in 2017, iStart Rajasthan has played a major role in supporting local talents and new-age
sectors and ventures.
Goa CM Pramod Sawant Launches ‘Swayampurna e-bazaar’

Goa Chief Minister(CM) Pramod Sawant launched the ‘Swayampurna e-bazaar’, an online platform to sell
products across India made by self-help groups, local artisans, and women of Goa.
· The Goa government is set to provide training at the panchayat level through Swayampurna Mitras
on the packaging of items for sale through the Swayampurna e-bazaar portal.
· The entrepreneurs and self-help groups from Goa can contact ‘9262626262’ to join this platform
and sell their products online, One can also shop via www.goaebazaar.com
· The Swayampurna e-bazaar is an extension of the successful Swayampurna Chavath e-bazaar’, an online
food delivery portal integrated with the Swiggy app for delivering food products produced by local Goa people.
ENVIRONMENT
Protosticta Armageddonia: Pune researchers found new Damselfly Species in Western Ghats,
Kerala
Researchers from MIT-World Peace University (MIT-WPU) in Pune (Maharashtra) have
discovered Protosticta Armageddonia (Armageddon Reedtail), a new species of damselfly in the
southern Western Ghats of Kerala.
• They name “Armageddon” symbolizes the global
crisis of habitat loss and climate change affecting
insect populations.
• The discovery of the new species has been
documented in the International Journal
of Odonatology. It has also been recorded and
registered with the Zoological Survey of India
(ZSI), Pune.
• This new species, with its ominous name, serves
as a clear reminder of the ongoing ecological
crisis powered by uncontrolled habitat loss and climate change.
Note: The International Journal of Odonatology is a publication affiliated with the Worldwide Dragonfly
Association based in the United States of America (USA).
Genus and Species:
i.The new damselfly species, P.Armageddonia belongs to the genus ‘Protosticta‘ in the
family Platystictidae, which is endemic to Western Ghats in India.
ii.The genus Protosticta consists of slender-built damselflies commonly called reed-tails or shadow
damsels.
iii.It belongs to the order Odonata (“toothed ones”) and one of its group Zygoptera (which includes
damselflies).
Armageddon:
i.The name, Armageddon Reedtail, is a direct reference to the concept of “Ecological Armageddon”,
which describe the devastating decline of insect populations around the world.
ii.This phenomenon, also called insect apocalypse, affects entire ecosystems because insects pollinate,

cycle nutrients, and provide food for other animals.
Features:
i.The newly found species exhibits a captivating dark brown to black body with vibrant greenish-blue eyes.
ii.It features delicate pale blue markings on half of its eight abdominal segments.
iii.Its exclusive habitat choice is primary montane streams, where it grows beneath dense canopy cover.
iv.The new species is distinguished from its other damselflies by a combination of characteristics,
including:
• A marking on the ventral side of the thorax, structure, and colour of the prothorax.
• Markings on the 8th abdominal segment;
• The structure of caudal appendages and genital ligula.
Note: A new species of Protosticta Selys (1885), is described based on specimens collected from
northeast of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, in the southern parts of the southern Western Ghats of India.
Research Team:
i.Dr. Pankaj Koparde (Lead Researcher for the Armageddon Reedtail), Assistant Professor, Department of
Environmental Studies at MIT-WPU.
ii.Arajush Payra, PhD Scholar, MIT-WPU, entomologist and lead author.
iii.Ameya Deshpande, MSc Environmental Science Student at MIT-WPU.
iv.Mr. Reji Chandran, a prominent wildlife photographer and team member first spotted the species.
Badis limaakumi: New Species of Badis Fish Discoverd from Nagaland

Scientists have discovered a species of Badis fish (fresh water fish), “Badis limaakumi”, from the Milak River
in the Mokokchung district of Nagaland. The new species is named after Limaakum, assistant professor and
head of the zoology department at Fazl Ali College, Nagaland.
• Badis is a species of Asian freshwater fish in the family
Badidae, order Perciformes and class Teleostei.
• Fish of Badis genus are also known as chameleon fish
for their ability to change colour.
Note:
In biology, the word family describes the broadest group category,
then genus describes a group of closely related species, and then
species.
Discovery:
Limaakum discovered the new fish during the project “Integrated Taxonomic Studies on The Fishes Found in
The Rivers of Nagaland”.
• The findings have been published in the journal Zootaxa(Biotaxa.org).
About Badis limaakumi:
i.Badis limaakumi have a distinct opercular splotch at the base of its opercular spine, a bone series that serves
as a support structure for the face as well as a protective covering for the gills.
ii.This species lacks markings on the sides and cleithrum (a membrane bone), as well as more lateral line
scales.
iii.Badis limaakumi belongs to the Badis assamensis Sub Group(GP) (i. e. B. assamensis and B. blosyrus), which
is characterised by a distinct, dark opercular blotch.
• B. assamensis and B. blosyrus can be distinguished from B. limaakumi by the presence of two rows
of irregular blackish blotches on the sides, which are absent in B. limaakumi.
iv.Badis limaakumi is also one of the largest speciesin Badis genus, the other being Badis assamensis.
• Badis limaakumi attains a size of 66.8 millimetres of Standard length where standard length (SL)
was the way of measuring fish from the snout to the end of the vertebral column.

Key Points:
i.The Badidae family are small freshwater fishes found in streams with slow or moderate water flow. They are
also found in ditches and stagnant water bodies across India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand and
Myanmar.
ii.There are 26 recognised fish species in Badidae family and there are 15 valid species of Badis genus
from India including Badis limaakumi.
Epithemis wayanadensis: New Dragonfly Species Found in Wayanad

Researchers have discovered a new species of colourful dragonfly in Wayanad, Kerala. The new species, also
known as “Red-rumped Hawklet”, is given the scientific nomenclature “Epithemis wayanadensis”. It is
named after its habitat “the Wayanad plateau”, situated among the biodiverse Western Ghats.
• The discovery of the new species is published in the peer-reviewed, open-access journal, Journal of
Asia-Pacific Biodiversity, by the Elsevier Group.
About Epithemis wayanadensis:
i.The species Epithemis wayanadensis (E. wayanadensis) belongs to the Genus Epithemis, a genus of insects,
and family Libellulidae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats, India.
ii.E. wayanadensis is a sister taxon of Ruby-tailed Hawklet (Epithemis Mariae) a very similar species found in
small colonies closely associated with forested marshes in south India.
Habitat:
i.wayanadensis has been identified in the Western Ghats, specifically in the lush landscape of Wayanad and
parts of the Nilgiri Coorg region (Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka).
• It primarily inhabits marshes and pools at the base of
forested hills.
Features:
i.E. wayanadensis species is a much darker insect with more
restricted red colouration like E. Mariae.
ii.It differs in having darker pigmentation, a restricted red
colouration on the abdomen, and lacking the yellow antehumeral
stripes.
iii.It has a weak flight and never flew higher than 3 metres above
the ground.
iv.This dragonfly species takes to the skies (makes a brief appearance) exclusively during the month of October
and by early November, these dragonflies vanish from sight.
Research Team:
The discovery was a collaborative effort led by Vivek Chandran and Subin K. Jose, researchers of the
Environmental Science department at Christ College, Irinjalakuda, Kerala; David Raju, a seasoned naturalist and
wildlife photographer; and Zeeshan Mirza, a researcher from the Max Planck Institute for Biology in Germany.
Discovery of the Species:
i.The team was conducting research on the odonates (dragonflies and damselflies) in Kerala and collected
specimens of a population that resembles E. Mariae.
ii.Further examination revealed distinct differences in morphology, behaviour, and genetic makeup, leading to
the conclusion that E. wayanadensis was a previously undiscovered species.
DNA analysis:
i.To validate their remarkable discovery, the team conducted DNA analysis, a pivotal method for confirming the
existence of a new species.
• Typically, a mere 2% genetic difference indicates the presence of a new species.
• However, the researchers found a 12% genetic difference in their analysis.
ii.This instance marks the first time, an Indian dragonfly species has been officially documented with genetic
evidence supporting its distinct morphological features.

iii.For the first time in the history of Indian Odonatology, the researchers have used molecular techniques to
reaffirm the identity of a species new to science.
Bufoides Bhupathyi: New Toad Species Discovered in the Dampa Tiger Reserve of Mizoram
Researchers from India and the United Kingdom have discovered a new toad species “Bufoides
Bhupathyi” (Common name: Mizoram rock toad) in the the Dampa Tiger Reserve(TR) of Mizoram.
• It is named after the S Bhupathy, a noted
herpetologist who served as principal scientist at the
Coimbatore(Tamil Nadu)-based Salim Ali Centre for
Ornithology and Natural History(SACON).
• The findings were published in Biodiversitas, a
journal published in Indonesia.
• Bufoides Bhupathyi belong to the ‘Bufonidae’ family
and the genus ‘bufoides’. Both frogs and toads belong
to the order “Anura”, which means “without a tail.
Note: Herpetologists are zoologists who specialize in the study
of reptiles and amphibians.
About Bufoides Bhupathyi:
i.Bufoides Bhupathyi was the third species of the genus ‘bufoides’. The other two are “Bufoides
meghalayanus” and “Bufoides kempi”, found in Meghalaya.
ii.Th research work also indicated that ‘Bufoides Bhupathyi” to be included in the IUCN’s red list as critically
endangered as it meets its criteria.
iii.Distinct Features:Bufoides Bhupathyi is different from the co-generic (similar) species in interdigital
webbing, colouration, skin tuberculation, and the presence of ovoid, tuberculated and depressed parotid
glands.
Background:
i.In 2001, Bufoides meghalayanus were reported from Dampa tiger reserve and Ngengpui wildlife sanctuary in
Mizoram. These are around 200 kilometers away from Mawblang, the type locality of B. meghalayanus.
ii.International Union for Conservation of Nature(IUCN) assessed B. meghalayanus as Endangered as it
occured at more than one location, including Dampa Tiger Reserve in Mizoram.
iii.Later it was suggested that the populations of Bufoides found in Mizoram might represent a new species.
iv.During the recent IUCN red list workshop, range of B. meghalayanus was restricted to 3 locations, all within
1.5 km from one another in Cherrapunjee, East Khasi Hills in Meghalaya and the species was reassessed as
Critically Endangered.
A field surveys in Dampa Tiger Reserve studied the population of Bufoides resembling B. meghalayanus and
assessed the systematic status of the Bufoides population in Dampa TR and describe it as new species “B.
Bhupathyi”.
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