DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: Oct. 11, 2022

India to host 3rd WADA Athlete Biological Passport Symposium- 2022” in New Delhi

Tags: place in news Sports Summits

India will host the 3rd  WADA(World Anti-Doping Agency) Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) Symposium- 2022” in New Delhi from 12-14 October 2022.The Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports Anurag Singh Thakur will address the opening session of the Symposium.

The 3rd WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) Symposium- 2022” is being organised by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) and National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL). 

The first WADA ABP Symposium was hosted by Qatar in 2015 and the second was hosted by Italy at Rome in 2018.

Two hundred plus participants from 56 Countries, WADA Officials, representatives and Experts from different National Anti-Doping Organizations, Athlete Passport Management Units (APMUs) and WADA Accredited Laboratories are participating in this Symposium.

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was established in 1999 as an international independent agency composed and funded by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and governments of the world.

Its main aim is to fight against the unauthorized use of performance enhancing drugs (Dope) by the athletes in sports. 

WADA’s primary role is to develop, harmonize and coordinate anti-doping rules and policies across all sports and countries.

WADA is an international organisation. It delegates work in individual countries to Regional and National Anti-Doping Organizations.

Headquarters: Lausanne,Switzerland.

President: Witold Bańka

Nitin Gadkari launches Toyota’s pilot project on Flex-Fuel Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicles (FFV-SHEV) in India

Tags: place in news National Science and Technology

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari launched Toyota’s first of its kind pilot project on Flex-Fuel Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicles (FFV-SHEV) in India on 11 October 2022,  which would run on 100% petrol as well as 20 to 100% blended ethanol and electric power.

The Toyota car which was unveiled by the minister has been imported from Toyota Brazil. Flex-fuel vehicles are at present available in Brazil, the USA and Canada.

Ethanol in India is mainly derived from molasses of the sugarcane.

An FFV SHEV has a flex-fuel engine and an electric powertrain, providing dual benefit of higher ethanol use and greater fuel efficiency. It can run for a significant time period on its Electric Vehicle mode, wherein the engine is shut off.

Flex-fuel compatible cars can run on more than one type of fuel and also a mixture of fuel. It typically runs on a blend of petrol and ethanol or methanol is used.

FFVs provide an opportunity of greater substitution of petrol by ethanol as it is capable of using any of the higher blends of ethanol mix from 20 per cent up to 100 per cent.

Toyota was also the first company in India to launch India's first green hydrogen-based advanced fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), Toyota Mirai. 

Toyota Motor Company of Japan has a joint venture with Kirloskar in India and the company is called as Toyota Kirloskar Motor ltd. 

Praveen Giri wins silver medal in Water Technology at World Skill Competition 2022

Tags: place in news Awards Person in news

B.Tech final year student in Mechanical Engineering of C.V. Raman Global University Odisha, Praveen Kumar Giri, won the silver medal for India in Water Technology at the World Skills Competition 2022, held at Stuttgart, Germany on 10 October 2022.

He is the second Indian to win a medal in the world skill competition after Aswastha Narayana won the gold medal in water technology at the 2019 event in Kazan, Russia.

 In water technology, a total of 7 countries participated this time including Singapore, Japan, South Africa, Germany, and Korea.”

The Gold Medal was won by Singapore, Silver by India and Bronze was won by Japan.

IMF cuts India's growth rate to 6.8% for 2022 , India will still remain the fastest growing major economy in the world

Tags: Economy/Finance

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its annual World Economic Outlook released on 11 October 2022 has cut the expected growth rate of India to 6.8% in 2022, but still it will be the fastest growing major economy in the world. In July 2022, the IMF had said that India would grow at 7.4% in the present fiscal.  IMF is the latest international agency which has cut the Indian growth rate. IMF expects the Indian economy to grow by 6.1% in 2023.

However, the IMF still expects the Indian economic growth to be highest amongst the major economies in the world ahead of China (4.4%), Saudi Arabia (3.7%), and Nigeria (3%).

World Economic Growth prospects 

According to the IMF the world economy is likely to grow by 3.2 % in 2022 with the United State economy expected to grow by 1.6%.

The IMF said global GDP growth in 2023 will slow to 2.7%, as higher interest rates slow the U.S. economy, Europe struggles with spiking gas prices and China contends with continued COVID-19 lockdowns and a weakening property sector.

The three largest economies, the United States, China and the euro area will continue to stall," IMF chief economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas said in a statement. "In short, the worst is yet to come, and for many people, 2023 will feel like a recession."

IMF World Bank annual meeting 2022

The report was released on the eve of the Annual meeting of the IMF and World Bank which is going to be held in Washington D.C from 10 -16 October 2022. 

This is the first in person meeting to be held after the three years due to covid related restriction.

Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is leading the Indian delegation to the meeting.

International Monetary Fund 

• It is an International financial institution which was set up after the Bretton Woods conference held in the United States from July 1 to 22, 1944. 
• It was set up in July 1944.
• It was set up to provide loans to the member countries which were facing a balance of payment crisis.
• A country which is a member of the IMF automatically becomes a member of the World Bank.

Total member of IMF: 189

Headquarters: Washington D. C, United States of America

Managing Director: Kristalina Georgieva

Accounting Unit of IMF: Special Drawing Rights (SDR)

Army Day Parade 2023 to be held in Bengaluru

Tags: place in news Defence

The Indian Army has announced that the annual Army Day Parade 2023 will be held on 15 January in Bengaluru, Karnataka as per the Prime Minister's vision to move significant events and festivities out of the national capital.

Army Day is observed every year on 15 January and till date it was held in New Delhi.

Recently for the first time the Air Force Day and flypast was held in Chandigarh on 8 October. 

Indian Army Day 

It was on this day that for the first time an Indian took over the command of the Indian Army from the Britishers. 

On 15 January, 1949 Field Marshal Kodandera Madappa Cariappa (K. M. Cariappa), took over as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) from General Francis Robert Roy Bucher. 

Current Chief of Army Staff : General Manoj Pande
 

10th India -UAE High Level Joint Task Force on Investments held in Mumbai

Tags: place in news Summits Economics/Business

The 10th meeting of the UAE-India High Level Joint Task Force on Investments took place in Mumbai on 11 October 2022. It was co-chaired by the Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and His Highness Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

The Joint Task Force was established in 2013 to promote trade, investment and economic ties between the UAE and India. 

This was the first meeting of the Joint Task Force since the signing of the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and unveiling of the Joint UAE-India Vision Statement in February 2022 during the virtual summit between India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. 

India -UAE Trade relation 

• The United Arab Emirates is the third largest trading partner of India after the United States and China in 2021-22.
• In 2021 – 22, total trade between India and the UAE was $72.8 billion, with India’s exports of $28 billion and imports of $44.8 billion. 
• UAE is a major market for Indian commodities such as basmati rice, tea, electrical equipment, apparel and machinery among others.
• One of the key goals of the CEPA is to increase bilateral trade between the UAE and India over $100 billion in the next five years, including raising services trade beyond $15 billion.
• Besides trade, the UAE is a major employment destination for Indians. Of the nearly 90 lakh Indians living in West Asia, Emirates is home for 34 lakh of them, who work there in the finance industry, hospitality, medical sector, oil industry, construction and others.

United Arab Emirate (UAE) 

• It is a federation of seven Emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Khaimah, Ajmain, Fujairah, Umm -Al-Quwain. It is an Arabian country.
• Abu Dhabi is the largest of the emirates and is the centre of UAE oil business.
• It is situated in the West Asia /Middle East region of the world in the Arabian Peninsula.
• UAE in its present form came into existence in 1971. 

Capital of UAE: Abu Dhabi 

Currency: Emirati Dirham

President of UAE: Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He is the king of Abu Dhabi and the supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

India-Norway Joint Working Group on Higher Education held in New Delhi

Tags: place in news National

India hosted the 6th meeting of the India-Norway Joint Working Group on Higher Education on 11th October 2022 in New Delhi.

The meeting was chaired by Ms. Neeta Prasad, Joint Secretary, International Cooperation, and Ministry of Education from the Indian side and by Ms. Anne Line Wold, Director General, Ministry of Education and Research from the Norwegian side. The Ambassador of Norway to India also participated in the meeting.

The Joint Working Group was established to monitor and oversee the implementation of the MoU on Cooperation in the field of Higher Education signed between India and Norway on 25th April 2022.

Kingdom of Norway 

It is a Northern European country and lies in the Scandinavian Peninsula. Scandinavian islands consist of Norway and Sweden.

It is one of the largest exporters of crude oil and natural gas in the world .It has significant oil and gas reserves in North Sea.

Prime Minister:  Jonas Gahr Støre

Capital: Oslo 

Currency: Norwegian krone

CJI Uday Umesh Lalit recommends Justice ‘DY Chandrachud’ as his successor

Tags: National Person in news

The Chief Justice of India (CJI) Uday Umesh Lalit has recommended the name of Justice DY Chandrachud as his successor to the Union Minister of law and Justice on 11 October 2022. Justice Chandrachud is the senior-most Judge in the Supreme Court after the current Chief Justice of India.

Convention on appointment of next CJI

• On 7 October 2022 the Union Law ministry requested the CJI to recommend the name of his successor as per the convention. 
• The Memorandum of Procedure for the appointment of the Chief Justice of India says that the Union Minister of Law, Justice and Company Affairs will, at an ‘appropriate time,’ seek the recommendation of the outgoing Chief Justice of India for the appointment of the next Chief Justice of India.
• Though there is no specific timeline, as per practice, the Ministry seeks the outgoing CJI’s recommendation a month before the retirement.
• The Judge of the Supreme Court retires at the age of 65 years.
• Chief Justice Lalit, who took charge as CJI on August 27, will retire on November 8 this year. After him, Justice Chandrachud is likely to become the 50th CJI.

Justice D Y Chandrachud 

Justice D Y Chandrachud was former Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court and was elevated to the Supreme Court in May 2016. He has been part of some key benches that delivered landmark judgments like Ayodhya Ramjanmbhumi and Sabarimala. The Ayodhya verdict was unanimous and Chandrachud was part of the five-judge bench headed by then CJI Ranjan Gogoi.

Justice Chandrachud, who is set to be the 50th Chief Justice of India, would have a tenure of two years. He is due to retire on November 10, 2024.

Central government appoints Chief Justices of Rajasthan, Karnataka, Jammu and Kashmir Ladakh High Court

Tags: Person in news State News

The Union Ministry of Law and Justice on 11 October 2022 announced the appointment of the new Chief Justices for the High Courts in Rajasthan, Karnataka, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Union Minister of Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju informed that Justice Pankaj Mithal has been appointed as Chief Justice in the Rajasthan High Court here. He was earlier the Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court. 

Justice Prasanna B Varale has been appointed as the Karnataka HC’s Chief Justice. He was the senior most judge of the Bombay High Court.

Justice AM Magrey was elevated as the Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court. Justice AM Magrey was earlier the Judge of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court.

The government has announced the appointment after the Supreme Court collegium had recommended their appointment.

Procedure for the appointment of High Court Chief Justice 

• Under article 217 of the Indian constitution the Chief Justice of a High Court is appointed by the President in consultation with the Chief Justice of India.
• The Chief Justice of India consults two senior most Judges of the Supreme Court and other Judges who are conversant with the affairs of the concerned High Court.
• The Chief Justice of India will send the recommendation to the Union Minister of Law, Justice.
• The Union Minister of Law, Justice then obtains the views of the concerned State Government. After receipt of the views of the State Government, the Union Minister of Law, Justice and Company Affairs, will submit proposals to the Prime Minister, who will then advise the President as to the selection.
• As soon as the appointment is approved by the President, the Ministry of Law and Justice announces the appointment and issues necessary notification in the Gazette of India.

‘Smart Wire’ launched by ICICI Bank for faster SWIFT-based inward remittances

Tags: Economy/Finance

India’s 2nd largest private bank ICICI Bank has launched Smart Wire, for its customers to help them with SWIFT-based inward remittances in a faster and hassle-free manner. 

ICICI Bank, which is the first bank in the country to launch such a service, said that the Smart Wire facility will allow both Non Resident Indians (NRIs) and resident customers to undertake inward remittance transactions in an online and paperless way.

Wire transfer is an electronic way to transfer the money from one bank to another or a financial service provider. The funds are transferred through SWIFT or Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication network.

Inward Remittance: Remittance means transfer of funds from one place to another. Inward remittance means that a person who is living outside India sends money to India.

SWIFT was set up in 1973 with its headquarters in La Hulpe, Belgium and it became live in 1977. It is a messaging system which provides instant communication between the networked member banks for cross border international fund transfer. The communication is secured and standardized. 

At present it is present in all the continents with 200 plus countries and territories and more than 10,500 institutions as its client.

ICICI Bank 

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer: Sandeep Bakshi 

Headquarters : Vadodara ,Gujarat 

India to surpass US to have the second largest online shopper base by 2024

Tags: Economy/Finance

According to a report ‘How India shop online 2022 ‘published by the American consultancy firm Bain and Co.  and Flipkart, India is likely to overtake the United States within 1-2 year  and will have the second largest online shopper base in the world after China .

India currently has the third-largest shopper base globally, with 180–190 million online shoppers in 2021 after China and the United States and it is likely to grow to 400–450 million by 2027. 

According to the report, the Indian e-retail market rose to approximately $40 billion in 2021 and is slated to reach $50 billion in 2022. 

It expects India’s e-retail market to increase to $150–$170 billion by 2027. This implies 25%–30% annual growth and doubling of market penetration to 9%–10% over the next five years.

The report defines ‘e-retail’ as purchase of products online and does not include services, games and entertainment. 

The report expects a growth rate of 25–30% annual growth in the next five years.

The report says that fashion, beauty, and grocery or general merchandise, including personal care, will replace mobiles, electronics and large appliances as the leading categories by 2027.

Tele-MANAS Initiative

Tags: National National News

On the occasion of World Mental Health Day on 10 October, 2022 the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched the Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele-MANAS) initiative.

Important facts

• 'Tele Manas' will serve as the digital arm of the 'District Mental Health Programme' with the objective of providing access to mental health support.

• Tele-MANAS aims to provide free tele-mental health services across the country.

• The program includes a network of 23 Tele-Mental Health Centers of Excellence, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bengaluru and National Health System Resource Center (NHRSC) to provide technical support.

• The government aims to open at least one tele-manas cell in each State/UT.

• A toll-free, 24/7 helpline number (14416) has been launched across the country.

• In the Union Budget 2022-23, the central government announced the National Tele Mental Health Program (NMHP).

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare - Mansukh Mandaviya

India hosts SCO joint anti-terror exercise

Tags: National Defence National News

India is currently hosting the multilateral counter-terrorism exercise 'Manesar Anti-Terrorism 2022' to be held from October 8 to 13.

Important facts

• It is organized under the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS).

• This is the Phase 2 of the exercise, "Phase-1 of the exercise was conducted from 27 July to 1 August by the National Anti-Terrorist Forces of the SCO member countries in their respective territories.

• Phase-2 of the Exercise is being conducted at NSG Manesar Garrison, in which eight representatives from National Counter Terrorism Forces of Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of Uzbekistan, Russian Federation and NSG of Republic of India are participating. 

• The exercise is aimed at exchanging expertise, best practices and build synergy between the Counter Terrorism Forces of the SCO RATS Member Countries to enhance capabilities for conducting Anti-Terrorist operations and countering other security threats collectively.

Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS)

• The Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS) is one of the permanent organs of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and is headquartered in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

• SCO RATS aims to facilitate cooperation and coordination against terrorism, extremism and separatism.

• India assumed the chairmanship of the Council of SCO RATS in October 2021.

About SCO

• The SCO is an eight-member economic and security bloc in which India and Pakistan joined as full-time members in 2017.

• The founding members of this group include China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Environment Minister participates in Sustainable Mountain Development Summit

Tags: National National News

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav attended the inaugural session of Sustainable Mountain Development Summit-XI (SMDS-XI) held at Leh, Ladakh from 10-12 October, 2022. 

Important facts

• The theme for SMDS-XI is ‘Harnessing tourism for sustainable mountain development’. 

• The main focus of the summit is to reduce the negative impacts of tourism, while harnessing its positive contribution in building climate and socio-ecological resilience and sustainability.

• Bhupendra Yadav highlighted the establishment of Govind Ballabh Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and its regional center at Leh under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

• This regional center is entrusted with the task of research and development activities especially with regard to the sustainability of the Himalayan environment.

About Sustainable Mountain Development Summit (SMDS)

• It is a flagship annual event of the Integrated Mountain Initiative (IMI), a working and civil society-led forum in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR), comprising 10 mountain states, two union territories and four hill districts.

• Apart from the central event, two integral components of SMDS include the Mountain Legislators' Meet (MLM) and the Indian Himalayan Youth Summit.

PM inaugurated Shri Mahakal Lok temple complex at Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain

Tags: State News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Shri Mahakal Lok at Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh on 11 October.

Important facts 

• Shri Mahakal Lok is a place where all the mythological stories of Lord Shankar will be seen at one place.

• It is built in the Mahakaleshwar temple of Ujjain, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of the country.

• Apart from this, the venue has been declared as a no fly zone.

• The estimated cost of Shree Mahakal Corridor, built on the lines of Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, is Rs 800 crore.

About Mahakal corridor

• The construction work of Mahakal Corridor project in Ujjain city of Madhya Pradesh is in progress as per the plan.

• Mahakal Mandir Parisar Vistar Yojna is a plan for the expansion, beautification, and decongestion of the Mahakaleshwar temple and its adjoining area in Ujjain district.

• Under the scheme, the Mahakaleshwar temple complex of about 2.82 hectares is being increased to 47 hectares, which will be developed by the Ujjain district administration in two phases.

• The project will include a 17-hectare Rudrasagar lake.

• This corridor is going to be four times bigger than Varanasi's Kashi Vishwanath Corridor.

Mahakaleshwar Temple 

• Shri Mahakaleshwar of Ujjain is considered one of the twelve famous Jyotirlingas of India.

• According to Hindu mythology, the temple was built by Lord Brahma and is currently situated on the banks of the holy Kshipra River.

• According to the records, the Mahakal lingam of the temple is believed to be swayambhu (self-manifested) and unlike any other Jyotirlinga in the country, the idol of Mahakaleshwar faces south.

• The bhasma-aarti is the first ritual conducted at the temple in the morning to wake the God.

• This temple is revered as one of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas in India.

• The present form of the temple was built in 1734 AD by the Maratha general Ranoji Shinde.

• The temple is three-storeyed, with Mahakaleshwar at the bottom, Omkareshwar in the middle and the linga of Nagchandreshwar in the upper part.

• The collectorate office of Ujjain district now manages the administration of the temple.

Second United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress

Tags: Science and Technology

The Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM) is organizing the 2nd United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress (UNWGIC) in Hyderabad, India from 10-14 October 2022.

Important facts

• It is organized by the Government of India through the Ministry of Science and Technology.

• It is a global event bringing all stakeholders together to address at the highest level and ensure that geospatial information has broad utility in sustainable social, economic and environmental development.

• The theme of the congress is "Geo-Enabling the Global Village : No one should be left behind".

• The second UNWGIC will reflect the importance of integrated geospatial information to support sustainable development and the well-being of society, address environmental and climate challenges, embrace digital transformation and technological development, and catalyze a vibrant economy.

About UNWGIC

• It is organised by the United Nation Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM).

• Its objective is to enhance international collaboration among the Member States and relevant stakeholders in Geospatial information management and capacities.

• It is conducted every four years. 

• The first UNWGIC was organized by China in October 2018.

About UN-GGIM

• It aims to play a leading role in setting the agenda for the development of global geospatial information and promoting its use to address major global challenges.

What is Geospatial Technology?

• It is an emerging field of study that includes Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing (RS), and Global Positioning Systems (GPS).

• It enables us to obtain data that is in reference to the Earth and used for analysis, modelling, simulation and visualization.

• This technology can be helpful in making decisions based on the importance and priority of scarce natural resources.

• Geospatial technology was used optimally during the COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

International Day of the Girl Child

Tags: Important Days

International Girl Child Day is celebrated annually and internationally every year on 11 October.

Important facts

• Its aim is to raise awareness about gender-based discrimination and inequality faced by girls. 

• The day focuses on the need to address the challenges faced by girls, empower them and promote the fulfilment of their rights.

• According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the day celebrated globally by the United Nations (UN) aims to stand with girls who are more vulnerable to discrimination and violence than boys.

• The theme of International Day of the Girl Child of year 2022 - "Our time is now—our rights, our future".

Background of the day

• On December 19, 2011, the United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 66/170 and declared October 11 as International Day of the Girl Child to recognize the rights of girls and the challenges faced by girls around the world.

• For the first time this day was celebrated on 11 October 2012.

• The theme of the first International Day of the Girl Child was 'Ending Child Marriage'.

FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup 2022 begins today

Tags: Sports Sports News

FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup 2022 started from 11 October 2022. After successfully hosting the Under-17 men's FIFA World Cup in 2019, India is now hosting the tournament.

Important facts

• India will take on USA in their Group-A opening match at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on October 11.

• This is the seventh edition of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.

• North Korea is the tournament's most successful country, having won two titles since its inception in 2008.

• Previous winners are South Korea, France, Japan, and Spain.

• Spain are the defending champions, having won the 2018 tournament in Uruguay after defeating Mexico in the final.

• The tournament will take place from 11th to 30th October 2022, in Bhubaneshwar, Navi Mumbai and Goa.

Financial Inclusion 

• All India Football Federation (AIFF) has been sanctioned a financial outlay of Rs 10 crore for the maintenance of the playground, spectator capacity in the stadium, energy and cable laying and branding of the ground and training venue, etc.

Objectives 

• Increasing the representation of women in football leadership and decision-making

• Motivating more and more girls to play football in India

• Advocating gender-inclusive participation by generalizing the concept of equal play from a young age

FIFA Tournament 

• Organized by FIFA, the FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup is the world championship for female players aged 17 or below 17.

• The event started in 2008. 

• The sixth edition of the event was held in Uruguay from 13 November to 1 December 2018.

• Spain is the current champion of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.

• FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup India 2022 will be the 7th edition of the tournament in which 16 teams including India will participate.

Home Minister unveil statue of Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan at Sitabdiara in Saran district, Bihar

Tags: National Person in news National News

Union Home Minister Amit Shah presides over a function to mark the birth anniversary of socialist icon Jayaprakash Narayan at Sitabdiara in Bihar's Saran district on October 11, 2022.

Important facts

• He addressed a public meeting after unveiling the statue of Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan at Sitab Diyara.

• The event was organized by the Union Ministry of Art and Culture.

• This is Amit Shah's second visit to Bihar after the BJP was ousted from power in the state during the political turmoil in Bihar in August this year.

About Jayaprakash Narayan 

• On October 11, 2022, the birth anniversary of Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan was celebrated across the country.

• He was born on 11th October, 1902 in Sitabdiara, Bihar.

• He was Influenced by Marxist ideas and Gandhian ideology.

• He was educated at universities in the United States where he became a supporter of Marxist ideology.

• On his return to India in the year 1929, he joined the Indian National Congress.

• In the year 1932, he was sentenced to one year's imprisonment for participating in the civil disobedience movement against British rule in India.

• In the year 1948, he left the Congress party along with most of the socialist leaders of the Congress and formed the Praja Socialist Party in the year 1952.

• He soon became dissatisfied with politics and announced in 1954 that he would devote his life to the Bhoodan movement which was founded by Vinoba Bhave.

• In 1959, he introduced the concept of 'reconstruction of Indian politics' through a four-tier hierarchy of village, district, state and union councils.

• In the year 1974, he started a program against corruption for social change which was termed as total revolution.

• A total revolution is a combination of political, social, economic, cultural, ideological or intellectual, educational and spiritual revolutions.

• Jayaprakash Narayan was posthumously awarded India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna (1999), for his invaluable contribution to the freedom struggle, upliftment of the poor and downtrodden.

• He died on October 8, 1979 in Patna.

National Workshop on 'Ease of Doing Business' organized by DPIIT

Tags: Economy/Finance

The National Workshop on 'Ease of Doing Business' was organised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) in New Delhi on 8 October 2022. Parameswaran Iyer, CEO, NITI Aayog addressed the workshop.

Important Facts:

• Meanwhile, G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant emphasised the role of ease of doing business in transforming India.

• It is also necessary to bring about a change in the mindset within the country to accept the new methods.

• Ramesh Abhishek, former secretary at DPIIT, outlined the vision of Ease of Doing Business 2.0, which would create a framework for all public authorities, including states and regulators.

• Ajay Tirkey, Secretary, Department of Land Resources said that there has been a significant improvement in the registration processes through digitization and accessible grievance redressal mechanism. 

• The department is working on the next phase of reforms including geo-referencing and unique identification for land parcels.

About Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)

• In the year 2019, the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) was renamed as Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).

• It is administered by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

• It is a nodal government agency to formulate and implement development strategies for the industrial sector, along with other socio-economic objectives and national priorities.

India to host special meetings of UNSC on terrorism

Tags: National National News

India will host UN Security Council diplomats along with other member countries for an important meeting of the Anti-Terrorism Committee in Mumbai and New Delhi on 28-29 October 2022.

Important Facts:

• At present, India is the chairman of the UN Security Council's Anti-Terrorism Committee for the year 2022.

• India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ruchira Kamboj said during a press conference in New York on 8 October that the members of the UN CTC would pay tribute to the victims of the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai.

• In the meetings, there will be a brainstorming on the topic of countering the challenges of 'Using New Technologies in Terrorism'.

• Terrorism is the most serious threat to the international community.

• Three important techniques used by terrorists will be discussed in these meetings. These include the Internet, social media and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS).

Members of 15 countries will attend the meeting:

• Members of 15 countries will participate in this meeting. The crucial meeting of the UNSC's Anti-Terrorism Committee to be held in Mumbai later this month will be a tribute to those who lost their lives in the 26/11 terror attacks.

• In the year 2008, more than 160 people were killed in the terrorist attacks in Mumbai. The plot of this attack was hatched in Pakistan.

• The terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba was involved in this attack.

• India's two-year term as an elected non-permanent member of the UNSC will end in December this year.

NMDC Signs MoU with RailTel for ICT and Digital Solutions

Tags: Economy/Finance National News

Mining major National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) and RailTel Corporation of India signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 10 October covering NMDC's ICT and Digital Transformation services at their corporate offices and mining premises.

Important facts

• This partnership will focus on optimum utilization of resources and will pave the way for a robust digital transformation in the mining sector.

• As India’s leading miner, NMDC has been an early user of automation and digitalization. 

• RailTel will provide consultancy, project management and execution services which will enhance efficiency and transparency.

• This is a big step towards retaining NMDC in the top league.

• This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) builds on NMDC's already existing partnership with National Railway Telecom.

• Under this, MPLS VPN at 11 locations of NMDC and Internet Leased Lines (ILL) at 7 locations of NMDC and High-Definition Video Conferencing solutions are being provided for the last 7 years.