1. Global Hunger Index 2022
Tags: Economics/Business International News
India ranked 107 out of 121 countries in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2022 that was released on 14 October 2022.
India's Performance
India is in a worse position than all the countries of South Asia except war-torn Afghanistan.
Hunger levels in India have been placed in the "severe" category with a score of 29.1.
Neighbouring Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Myanmar have been ranked 99, 64, 84, 81, and 71 respectively – all countries above India.
The wasting rate (underweight by height) of children in India is 19.3%, worse than the levels recorded in 2014 (15.1%).
The prevalence of undernutrition in India has increased from 14.6% in 2018-2020 to 16.3% in 2019-2021.
It is estimated that 224.3 million people in India are malnourished, out of a total of 828 million people who are malnourished globally.
India has shown improvement in two indicators – child stunting has declined from 38.7% to 35.5% between 2014 and 2022, and child mortality has fallen from 4.6% to 3.3% in the same period.
In 2021, India ranked 101 out of 116 countries, while in 2020, India stood at 94th position.
Global Scenario
According to the index, there are 44 countries that currently have "severe" or "alarming" levels of hunger.
Globally, progress against hunger has largely stalled in recent years.
For the world a GHI score of 18.2 in 2022 is considered "moderate", but 18.2 in 2022 represents a slight improvement from 19.1 in 2014.
This is due to conflicts, climate change, the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as crises such as the Ukraine War, which have increased global food, fuel and fertilizer prices and are expected to worsen in 2023.
About Global Hunger Index
GHI is a tool for comprehensively measuring and tracking hunger across nations.
It is an annual report jointly published by Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe.
It was first released in 2006, it is released every year in the month of October. Its 2022 edition refers to the 17th edition of the GHI.
It is calculated on the basis of four indicators –
Undernutrition - a population with insufficient caloric intake
Child wasting – Children under the age of five, who are underweight for their height, show acute malnutrition.
Child stunting - children under the age of five who are underweight for their age, indicating malnutrition
Child Mortality Rate - Mortality rate of children under five years of age
2. Coconut Community Farmers' Conference
Tags: Economy/Finance Summits National News
On October 14, 2022, the 'Coconut Community Farmers' Conference' was organised in Coimbatore.
Important facts
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated the Conference.
Tomar said that the government would continue to provide all possible assistance to the farmers in the coastal states to promote coconut cultivation in the country.
Efforts made in the field of research and development in recent years have resulted in the development of new technologies in farming and processing as well as improvements in existing technologies.
With the increase in the number of coconut based industries in the country, new products and employment opportunities are also increasing.
The contribution of coconut cultivation in the agricultural economy is very important. India is a leader in coconut cultivation.
Coconut production in India
India is one of the third largest producers of coconut in the world.
Tamil Nadu ranks first in coconut processing activities.
Coimbatore ranks first in terms of area under coconut cultivation, where coconut is cultivated in an area of 88,467 hectares.
Support is being provided for setting up 537 new processing units in India with a processing capacity of 3,638 million coconuts per annum, of which 136 are in Tamil Nadu.
Indonesia is the world's leading coconut producer, The Philippines is the world's second largest producer of coconuts.
3. Prime Minister Modi to inaugurate PM Kisan Samman Sammelan 2022 on October 17
Tags: Economy/Finance Government Schemes National News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate PM Kisan Samman Sammelan 2022 on 17th October, 2022 at Mela Ground, Indian Agriculture Research Institute, Pusa in New Delhi.
Important facts
On this occasion, the Prime Minister will release Rs 16,000 Crores under the PM-KISAN flagship scheme as 12th instalment through Direct Benefit Transfer.
The Prime Minister will also inaugurate the Agri Start-up Conclave and Exhibition.
He will also inaugurate 600 PM Kisan Samridhi Kendras (PM-KSKs) of the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
On this occasion he will also launch Bharat Urea Bags, India’s biggest move in fertilizers-One Nation One Fertilizer Scheme for Farmers.
During this event, the Prime Minister will launch an international weekly fertilizer e-magazine Indian Age.
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)
It was launched on 24 February, 2019 by PM Modi to supplement financial needs of land holding farmers.
Under the scheme financial benefit of Rs 6000 per year in three equal instalments, every four month is transferred into the bank accounts of farmers’ families across the country through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.
It is a central sector scheme with 100% funding by the Government of India.
It is being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
So far, eligible farmer families have received benefits of more than Rs 2 lakh crore under PM-KISAN through 11 instalments.
4. British PM Liz Truss sacks Finance Minister Kwasi Kwarteng, Jeremy Hunt appointed new Treasury chief
Tags: Person in news International News
British Prime Minister Liz Truss sacked Finance Minister Quasi Quarteng on October 14, 2022, ahead of the announcement of the economic package.
Important facts
In his place, former cabinet minister Jeremy Hunt has been appointed finance minister.
For the past several days, there was a demand to remove Quarteng from this post, he remained in this post for about a month.
Tax cuts were announced during his tenure, this caused a sharp drop in the pound's exchange rate.
Recently, the Mini Budget of the Liz Truss government was presented, which proved to be a failure in controlling inflation in the country.
After this, MPs gave an ultimatum to Truss that if Finance Minister Kwasi Quarteng is not removed, he may face a rebellion.
Quasi became the shortest-serving chancellor in Britain since 1970, a position he held for just 38 days.
5. Abdul Latif Rashid elected as new president of Iraq
Tags: Person in news International News
On 13 October 2022, lawmakers in Iraq elected Kurdish politician Abdul Latif Rashid as the country's new president. He will replace Barham Saleh.
Important facts
After two rounds of voting, 160 votes were cast in favor of Rashid, while Saleh got 99 votes.
Rashid, 78, is an engineer and was Iraqi Water Resources Minister from 2003 to 2010.
He has 15 days to invite a nominee from the largest parliamentary bloc to form the government.
The country had seen months of political stalemate after powerful Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr emerged as the biggest winner in a parliamentary vote last year but failed to garner enough support to form a government.
Al-Sadr withdrew his lawmakers from the House and announced in August that he would quit politics, which was followed by violence in Baghdad.
6. Golden Jubilee of PIN Code
Tags: National National News
The Minister of State for Communications, Devusinh Chauhan has released Commemorative Postage Stamp on the occasion of Golden Jubilee of PIN Code, in Gandhinagar, Gujarat on 12 October 2022.
Important facts
He also launched the e-Passbook. It will provide the following services -
No need to visit the Post Office to print the Passbook or to know the balance.
It will save a lot of manual work.
No need to have a separate Mobile Banking app.
Simple and user-friendly webpage.
On this occasion he launched 'PLI Mobile Training App' to provide online training. The app contains training material in audio/visual mode.
What is PIN code or a Postal Index Number?
In India it is a six-digit numeric code in the Indian Postal system.
It was started on 15 August 1972 by Shriram Bhikaji, the then Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Communications.
It is used by India Post for the numbering of the post office or post code system.
In its 6 digits code the first digit reflects the region, the second digit reflects the sub-region, the third digit reflects the district and the last three digits represent the post office code.
7. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launches ‘Maa Bharati Ke Sapoot’ website
Tags: Defence National News
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched 'Maa Bharti Ke Sons' website for contribution to Armed Forces Battle Casualty Welfare Fund at a function held at National War Memorial Complex in New Delhi on October 14.
Important facts
This fund is for the three services, which is used to provide immediate financial assistance to the families of the three forces personnel killed or grievously injured in military action.
Rajnath Singh said that security is paramount for any society and there is an important responsibility of all sections of the society towards the welfare of brave soldiers and their families.
He appealed to the countrymen to join this initiative and contribute for the welfare of the brave soldiers.
Popular actor Amitabh Bachchan is the goodwill ambassador of this initiative.
Any individual or any organisation can make a financial contribution to this fund through the website www.MAABHARATIKESAPOOT.MOD.GOV.IN.
8. India participated in the 6th East Asia Education Ministers' Summit in Hanoi, Vietnam
Tags: Summits International News
India participated at the 6th East Asia Summit Education Minister’s Meeting held on 14 October, 2022 in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Important facts
Ms. Neeta Prasad, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Education addressed the gathering through virtually.
She informed about the key initiatives of National Education Policy 2020 and India’s collaborative efforts in education and research with partner countries.
Ms. Neeta Prasad said that the National Education Policy - 2020 is a holistic, flexible and multi-disciplinary vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for education.
She said that this policy is based on the fundamental pillars of equity, quality, affordability and accountability.
She informed that the National Education Policy-2020 focuses on internationalisation of education and building cooperation with other countries.
About East Asia Summit (EAS)
It was initiated in 2005 with the convening of the 1st East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
At the time of its establishment, 16 countries had participated in the East Asia Summit.
The United States and the Russian Federation attended the East Asia Summit in Bali, Indonesia on 19 November 2011.
It refers to the meeting of the Heads of State/Government of the countries participating in the EAS which is held annually.
It has identified six priority areas of cooperation which include environment and energy, education, finance, global health issues and pandemic diseases, natural disaster management and ASEAN connectivity.
9. CSIR-NAL in Bengaluru successfully conducts Drone-based magnetic survey
Tags: Science and Technology National News
The CSIR National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) in Bengaluru successfully conducted the Drone based magnetic survey near Magnetic Hill and Puga Chumthang region of Leh-Ladakh on 14 October 2022.
Important facts
The survey was conducted last month in association with Hyderabad-based CSIR National Geophysical Research Institute.
NAL deployed its octa-copter drone which has a payload capacity of 20 kg at sea level.
NAL's OCTA-copter drone performed as designed at an altitude of more than 3600 metres, withstanding the harsh flight conditions of strong winds.
The magnetometer integrated with the drone received the magnetic data and is being analysed by scientists from the National Geophysical Research Institute.
The Director of NAL Dr.Abhay A Pashilkar said that the data will help to plan developmental activities in Ladakh region.
National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL)
It is a constituent of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), established in the year 1959.
It is the only government aerospace R&D laboratory in the country's civilian sector.
It is a highly-technology-oriented institute focusing on advanced subjects in aerospace.
10. PM Modi to chair the meeting of CSIR Society
Tags: Science and Technology National News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a meeting of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Society in New Delhi on 15 October 2022.
Important facts
The meeting will set goals for the next 25 years for CSIR which is a world class body in the field of science and research.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, 13 secretaries of central ministries and all secretaries of science-based ministries will also attend the meeting.
CMDs of four PSUs, NTPC, BHEL, GAIL and HAL, three industry leaders and 12 academicians and members of the scientific community will also participate in the meeting.
The Society meets annually to review CSIR activities and consider future programmes.
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
It is the largest research and development organisation in India in the field of science and technology.
It has a dynamic network of 37 national laboratories, 39 outreach centres, 3 innovation complexes and 5 units.
It is ranked 37th out of 1587 government institutions around the world.
The Chairman (ex-officio) of CSIR is the Prime Minister and the Union Minister of Science and Technology is the Vice President (ex-officio).
It is funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Established - September 1942
Located - New Delhi
Director-General of CSIR - N Kalaiselvi
Union Science and Technology Minister - Jitendra Singh
