Sreedhar’s CCE CURRENT AFFAIRS OCTOBER 2023-PART-2

CURRENT AFFAIRS OCTOBER 2023 - PART - 2

Indian Air Force Day
• Indian Air Force Daycelebrated on 8th October every year to commemorate the

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establishment of the Royal Indian Air Force on 8th October 1932.
• The theme of Indian Air Force Day 2023 is ‘IAF – Airpower Beyond Boundaries’.
Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari unveiled the new
ensign on 91st celebrations of IAF.
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The flag features the IAF Crest in the upper right corner, with the national
symbol, the Ashoka Lion, and the words “Satyamev Jayate” below it.
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Major operations undertaken by the IAF
Operation Vijay
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• Operation Meghdoot
• Operation Cactus
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• Operation Poomalai.
RBI HARBINGER 2023
• The Reserve Bank had launched the results of second edition of its global
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hackathon - “HARBINGER 2023 – Innovation for Transformation” with the theme
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‘Inclusive Digital Services’ which was released on February 14, 2023.

Problem Statement
1. Innovative, easy-to-use, digital banking services for differently abled
Winner - Ezetap Mobile Solutions Pvt Ltd (Now acquired by Razorpay), India
Joint Runners-up - PoSMirror and SL Avatar, India
2. RegTech solutions to facilitate more efficient compliance for Regulated Entities
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(REs)
Winner - WeavAir, Singapore
Runners-up - Munafa, India
3. Exploring use cases/solutions for CBDC-R transactions, including transactions
in offline mode
Winner - Dygnify Ventures Private Limited, India
Runners-up Crunchfish Digital Cash AB (Sweden) + IDFC First Bank (India)
4. Increasing Transactions Per Second (TPS)/ throughput and scalability of
blockchains
Winner - Fortis Net Ltd., UK
Runners-up - No runner-up was selected.

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World Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day 2023- October 8

• The first H2FC Day was observed on 8th October 2015.
• 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.
RBI Action against Bank of Baroda
• The Reserve Bank of India has, in exercise of its power, under section 35A of the
Banking Regulation Act, 1949, directed Bank of Baroda to suspend, with immediate

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effect, any further onboarding of their customers onto the ‘bob World’ mobile
application.
• This action is based on certain material supervisory concerns observed in the
manner of onboarding of their customers onto this mobile application.
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Yogi Adityanath Declared Gangetic Dolphin as State Aquatic Animal of UP
Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) Meeting
• Recently, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in its bimonthly Monetary Policy Committee

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(MPC) Meeting has retained benchmark interest rates unchanged for the 4th time
in a row.
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• Repo Rate – 6.50%
• Standing Deposit Facility Rate – 6.25%
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• Marginal Standing Facility - 6.75%

• Bank Rate - 6.75%
• Reverse Repo Rate - 3.35%
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• CRR - 4.50%
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• SLR - 18.00%
• The RBI retained its real GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth forecast for 2023-
24 at 6.5% and the average CPI inflation forecast for the current fiscal year FY24
at 5.4%.
RBI doubles UCB gold loan limit to Rs 4 lakh
• The RBI announced doubling the lending limits for Gold Loans under the Bullet
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Repayment Scheme (BRS) for urban cooperative banks to Rs 4 lakh from 2 lakh.
• It has been decided in respect of Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs) who have met
the overall target and sub-targets under the Priority Sector Lending (PSL)as on
31st March, 2023.
• A BRS is one where a borrower repays interest and the principal amount at the
end of a loan tenure without worrying about repayment during the loan tenure.
• The RBI permitted bullet repayment of gold loans of up to Rs 1 lakh to start with
in 2007, which was increased later in 2014 to Rs 2 lakh.
Extension of PIDF Scheme
• Reserve Bank Governor Shaktikanta Das announced the extension of the
Payments Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) Scheme by 2 years, until
December 31, 2025.

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• This extended scheme will now include beneficiaries of the PM Vishwakarma

Scheme, aiming to promote digital transactions at the grassroots level.
• The PIDF Scheme was operationalized by the Reserve Bank in January 2021 for a
3-year period.
• Objective: Incentivize the deployment of payment acceptanceinfrastructure,
including physical Point of Sale (PoS) and Quick Response (QR) codes.
• Target Areas: Tier-3 to tier-6 centers, northeastern states, and Union Territories
of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

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• 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

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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.
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The loans come with a low interest rate of 5%.
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• Covers artisans in 18 fields, including carpenters, goldsmiths, blacksmiths,
masons, stone sculptors, barbers, and boatmakers.
ATMAN (Agri sTartupdeMoAnd funding) 2023 Program
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• The Department of Science and Technology (DST) organized the ATMAN (Agri
sTartupdeMoAnd funding) 2023 program in partnership with four Technology
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Innovation Hubs.
Israel-Palestine Conflict
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• On 7 October, the Hamas, the militant group ruling the Gaza Strip, have mounted
a sudden attack on Israel from the land, air and water leading to multiple
casualties.
Balfour Declaration:
• The seeds of the conflict were laid in 1917 when the then British Foreign Secretary
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Arthur James Balfour expressed official support of Britain for a Jewish “national
home” in Palestine under the Balfour Declaration.
Creation Of Palestine:
• Unable to contain Arab and Jewish violence, Britain withdrew its forces from
Palestine in 1948, leaving responsibility for resolving the competing claims to the
newly created United Nations.
• The UN presented a partition plan to create independent Jewish and Arab states
in Palestine which was not accepted by most of Arab nations.
Arab Israel War (1948):
• In 1948, the Jewish declaration of Israel’s independence prompted surrounding
Arab states to attack. At the end of the war, Israel controlled about 50 % more
territory than originally envisioned by the UN partition plan.

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UN Partition Plan:
• As per the Plan, Jordan controlled the West Bank and Jerusalem’s holy sites,
and Egypt controlled the Gaza Strip.
• But it fell short of solving the palestinian crisis which led to the formation of
Palestinian Liberation Organisation in 1964.
Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO):
• PLO was founded, with the aim of freeing Palestine from clutches of Israel and
Jewish domination and setting up the dominance of Muslim Brotherhood in the

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Arab world.
• The United Nations granted the PLO observer status in 1975 and recognizes
Palestinians’ right to self-determination.
Six-Day War: ha
• In 1967 war, Israeli forces seized the Golan Heights from Syria, the West Bank &
East Jerusalem from Jordan and Sinai Peninsula & Gaza strip from Egypt.
Camp David Accords (1978):
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“Framework for Peace in the Middle East” brokered by the U.S. set the stage for
peace talks between Israel and its neighbors and a resolution to the “Palestinian
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problem”. This however remained unfulfilled.
Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin are
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jointly awarded the 1978 Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts in bringing about
peace between Israel and Egypt.
Emergence of Hamas: 1987
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• Founding of Hamas, a violent offshoot of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood seeking to
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fulfill its agenda through violent jihad.

• Hamas- It is regarded as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government. In 2006,
Hamas won the Palestinian Authority’s legislative elections.
Oslo Accords: 1993
• Under the Oslo Accords Israel and the PLO agree to officially recognize each
other and renounce the use of violence.
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• The Oslo Accords also established the Palestinian Authority, which received limited
autonomy in the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank.
• In 1994, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded jointly to two Israelis, Prime Minister
Yitzhak Rabin and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, and Palestinian leader Yasser
Arafat.
• 2005: Israel begins a unilateral withdrawal of Jews from settlements in Gaza.
However, Israel kept tight control over all border crossings (blockade).
2012- UN upgrades Palestinian representation to that of ”non-member observer
state”.
Operation Iron Swords
• This operation has been started by Israel in Palestine’s Gaza Strip.
Its goal is to reduce Hamas’s military capabilities and prevent future attacks.

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MOSSAD
• “Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations” is the national intelligence
agency of Israel started in 1949.
• Mossad is responsible for intelligence collection, covert operations, and
counterterrorism, as well as bringing Jews to Israel from countries where official
Aliyah agencies are forbidden, and protecting Jewish communities.
• HEADQUARTERS: Tel Aviv
Top Intelligence Agencies Of The World

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1. Central Intelligence Agency - USA
2. MI6 – UK
3. Federal Security Services – Russia
4. Research and Analysing Wing – India
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5. Federal Intelligence Service - Germany
Operation Ajay
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This operation conducting by the Indian Armed Forces to evacuate Indian citizens
from Israel during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war.
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World Post Day 2023 – October 9
• The United Nations (UN) World Post Day is annually observed across the globe on
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9 October to mark the anniversary of the establishment of the Universal Postal

Union’s (UPU) in 1874 in Bern, Switzerland.
• Theme: “Together for trust: Collaborating for a safe and connected future”.
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• National Postal Week, celebrated from October 9 to October 15.
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• National Post Day – 10th October.

Saraswati Samman Award
• Field – Literature
• Award 2023 - Tamil writer Sivasankari (Surya Vamsam)
• Cash Prize – 15 Lakhs
• Founded By – KK Birla Foundation
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• First award – 1991
• Jnanpith Award, highest literary award in India.
• Damodar Mauzo, a Goan short story writer, novelist, critic, and scriptwriter in
Konkani, has been awarded the 57th Jnanpith Award.
Prompt NPA Labeling for Willful Defaulters
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in a recent draftproposed that lenders should
classify a borrower as a wilful defaulter within six months oftheir account being
declared a non-performing asset (NPA).
• Under the new regime, the lender must identify wilful Defaulter borrowers within
a specified six-month timeframe, whereas in the previous system,there was no
such timeconstraint.

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• Lenders must assess wilful default for accounts over Rs 25 lakhwithin 6 months
of becoming NPAs.
• An Identification Committee formed by lenders reviews evidenceof wilful default.
Famous Pashmina of Jammu and Kashmir received geographicalrecognition
with a GI tag.
World Bank Raises India’s Retail Inflation Forecast To 5.9% For FY24
• World Bank Retains India’s FY24 GDP Growth At 6.3% Amidst Challenges.
Operation Kachchhap

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• In a recent operation named ”Kachchhap,” the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence
(DRI) has successfully rescued nearly a thousand live baby Gangetic turtles,
shedding light on the ongoing battle against illegalwildlife trade and the protection
of these unique creatures.
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The Ganga river system in India is home to 13 species of turtles,
various threats from habitat loss, overexploitation, and pollution.
they face

31st edition of World Mental Health Day

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World Mental Health Day observed 10th October every year, a global initiativeaimed
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at raising awareness about mental healthissues and rallying support for mental
health care worldwide.
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• Theme:- Mental Health is a universal human right.

• WMHD is supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the World Federation
for Mental Health (WFMH), and its member organisations.
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• The green ribbon is the international symbol of mental health awareness.
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• WMHD was observed for the first time on 10 October 1992.

World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH):
• Secretary General/CEO– Gabriel Ivbijaro
• President– Dr Nasser Loza (Egypt)
• Headquarters– Texas, United States of America (USA)
• Established in 1948
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Tele MANAS Seva
• 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).
• Tele-MANAS Seva is a mental health counseling service launched on World Mental
Health Day 2022.
• It was announced in Union Budget 2022-23 and launched in October 2022.
• It functions under Ministry of Health & Family Welfare(MoH&FW).
• Tele-MANAS has counseled more than 3,50,000 people till 11th October 2023 and
more than 1,000 calls are being received on this helpline every day.

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Indian Ocean Rim Association

• Sri Lanka is set to take over the chairmanship of the Indian OceanRim Association
(IORA) during the 23rd Council of Ministers’Meeting scheduled for 11th October,
2023, in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
• It will hold the chairmanship of the association from 2023 to 2025.
• Bangladesh held the chairmanship from November 2021 – November 2023.
• Creation of the Indian Ocean Rim Association in March 1997.
• Currently, IORA has 23 Member States and 11 Dialogue Partners.

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• Members: Australia, Bangladesh, Comoros, France, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya,
Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Seychelles,
Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, United Arab
Emirates, Yemen.
• Secretariat: Mauritius.

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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

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Aircraft Recovery Kit” (DARK), to help stranded aircraft.
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International Day of the Girl 2023
• International Day of the Girl Child, observed annually on 11th
• October.
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• It was first celebrated in 2012.

• Theme”Invest in Girls’s Right Our Leadership, Our Well-being.”
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A-HELP’ Program launched in Jharkhand
• The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of Indialaunched
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the ‘A-HELP’ (Accredited Agent for Expansion Of Health and Livestock Production)
programme in Jharkhand.
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.
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• 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.
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.
• 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.
• 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.

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Axis Bank and Fibe Partner to Launch India’s First Numberless Credit Card
360 ONE Wealth Hurun India Rich List 2023
• Hurun India and 360 ONE Wealth recently released the 360 ONE Wealth Hurun
India Rich List 2023 which is an annual ranking of the wealthiest individuals in
India.
• It ranks the wealthiest individuals in India based on their net worth.
• The list includes 1,319 individuals with a net worth of over INR 1,000 crore, with
a cumulative wealth of INR 109 lakh crore.

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• Mukesh Ambani takes over Gautam Adani to score the richest Indian Title
• Manish Kejriwal, Founder of Kedaara Capital is now the first Indian private equity
fund manager on this list with a net worth of 3,000 crore.
• The average age of this list for men is 63 and for women is 62.
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• Top five richest people in the list
1. Mukesh Ambani, RIL, 8,08,700 crore
2. Gautam Adani, Adani Group, 4,74,800 crore

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3. Cyrus Poonawalla, Serum Institute of India, 2,78,500 crore
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4. Shiv Nadar, HCL Technologies, 2,28,900 crore
5. Gopichand Hinduja, Hinduja Group, 1,76,500 crore
Hurun India:
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• Managing Director– Anas Rahman Junaid

• Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra
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• Establishment– 2012
RBI to Apply PCA Supervisory Guidelines to Government-Owned NBFCs
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• 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.
• 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
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Corporation of India (IFCI).
• 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.
Indian Space Conclave 2023
• 2nd edition of annual Indian Space Conclave (ISC 2023) was held in New Delhi.
• It has organized by Indian Space Association (ISpA).
• It co-hosted by Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-
SPACe), an autonomous agency in the Department of Space (DOS).
• Theme: ‘Bhumandal se Brahaman Tak’ (From Earth to the Entire Universe)’.
• Indian Space Association (ISpA): Director General– Lt Gen Anil Kumar Bhatt
(Retd) Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi Establishment– 2021

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