UDAN Scheme
- Announcement: On October 21, 2024, the Indian government extended the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme for an additional 10 years to enhance regional air connectivity.
- Launch Date: Originally launched on October 21, 2016, with a focus on making air travel affordable and boosting tourism and trade.
- Achievements:
- Operationalized 601 air routes and 71 airports.
- Increased the number of operational airports in India from 74 to 157 since 2016.
- Future Goals: Targeting 350-400 operational airports by 2047.
- Milestones:
- UDAN Versions:
- 1.0: 128 routes awarded.
- 2.0: Added connections to 73 underserved airports.
- 3.0: Introduced tourism routes.
- 4.0: Focused on Northeastern regions.
- 5.0: Removed distance cap and improved operational guidelines.
BRICS Summit 2024
- Date and Location: Held from October 22-24, 2024, in Kazan, Russia.
- Theme: “Strengthening Multilateralism for Fair Global Development and Security.”
- New Members: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and UAE joined BRICS.
- Key Outcomes:
- BRICS Pay: New payment system for member nations.
- Kazan Declaration: Supported UN reforms and the use of national currencies for trade.
- Bilateral Meetings:
- India-China relations were discussed, resolving military standoffs.
- Discussions on the Chabahar Port and regional cooperation with Iran.
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
- Event Details: The 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas will be held from January 8-10, 2025, in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
- Significance: Celebrates contributions of the Indian diaspora, commemorating Mahatma Gandhi’s return to India in 1915.
- History:
- First celebrated in 2003; biennial since 2015.
- Engages the diaspora in India’s development.
COP16 – United Nations Biodiversity Conference
- Location and Duration: Taking place in Colombia, focusing on biodiversity conservation.
- Objectives:
- Addressing habitat destruction and compliance with the 2022 biodiversity accord.
- Promoting transparency and accountability in environmental reporting.
- Participation: 196 countries are parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, with mandatory national plans for biodiversity strategies.
- Secretariat: Based in Montreal, Canada.
Summary of Key Developments
India-China LAC Agreement
India recently announced a significant agreement regarding patrols along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. This development is seen as a potential pathway toward normalizing relations after the tensions of 2020. Key aspects of the agreement include:
- Restoration of Patrolling Rights: Indian troops can now patrol specific points in the Depsang Plains and Demchok region, areas of prior contention, while previously disengaged areas remain excluded.
- Three-Step Process: The agreement outlines a phased approach involving disengagement, de-escalation, and demilitarization aimed at reducing military presence and preventing future conflicts.
- Background: Prime Minister Modi’s calls for improved relations in April 2024 were met positively by China, leading to this agreement.
- Significance: The agreement aims to build trust and maintain order along the border, with specific guidelines for troop conduct reaffirmed from a previous pact.
- Diverging Interpretations: While India emphasizes a comprehensive resolution to border issues, China suggests that broader relations should not be solely dependent on the border dispute.
- Future Dialogue: Both nations plan further discussions to seek a fair resolution to boundary questions, signaling ongoing diplomatic engagement.
Government Reshuffle: Appointment of 29 Joint Secretaries
The Indian government has appointed 29 new Joint Secretaries across various ministries to enhance governance. Notable appointments include:
- Ministry of Home Affairs: Praveen Kumar Rai and Rakesh Kumar Pandey (IDAS) join as Joint Secretaries, while Rajesh Gupta (IRSEE) also takes on a pivotal role.
- Economic Development: Deepak Agarwal becomes Managing Director at NAFED, and Premjit Lal is appointed Executive Director at ITPO, focusing on trade enhancement.
- Administrative Efficiency: Sarita Chand is appointed Joint Secretary in Administrative Reforms, and P Bala Kiran will oversee personnel policies in the Department of Personnel & Training.
- Social Welfare: Bhavna Saxena becomes CEO of CARA, emphasizing operational discipline in adoption processes.
- Sector-Specific Roles: Appointments in key sectors like Petroleum, Commerce, and Environmental Affairs aim to strengthen administrative capacity and sectoral governance.
National Affairs Highlights
- Airport Inaugurations: PM Modi inaugurated three new airports under the UDAN scheme, enhancing regional connectivity.
- Skill Development Initiative: The Karmayogi Saptah was launched to promote continuous skill enhancement among civil servants.
- Cultural Initiatives: The government announced a two-year program to celebrate Sardar Patel’s 150th birth anniversary, highlighting his contributions to India.
- Livestock Census: The 21st Livestock Census was launched, focusing on data collection for effective livestock management.
- New Pension Initiatives: The Department of Pension announced a compassionate allowance for pensioners aged 80 and older.
- Aerospace Investment: Airbus opened its new headquarters and training center in India, aiming to boost the aerospace sector.
States in the News
Chennai Metro Modernization
- Event: Upcoming trial run of the first three-coach driverless train for Chennai Metro Phase II.
- Investment: Part of a Rs 63,246 crore urban infrastructure initiative.
- Date: Inaugural trial run on October 26, 2024, with Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar in attendance.
Haryana’s Sub-Quotas for Dalits
- Significance: Haryana becomes the first state to subclassify Scheduled Castes (SCs) for reservations.
- Background: Follows the Supreme Court’s ruling allowing states to divide SCs and STs.
- Classification:
Category Included Castes
Deprived SCs (DSC) 36 castes including Balmikis and Dhanaks
Other SCs (OSC) Castes like Chamars and Jatavs Madhya Pradesh’s ‘Pink Alarms’Archaeological Discovery in Tamil Nadu
Initiative: Installation of ‘pink alarms’ in government hospitals to enhance the safety of women healthcare workers.Context: Responding to concerns following a tragic incident involving a female doctor.
- Location: Sri Singeeswarar temple, Mappedu village, Tiruvallur district.Findings: Copper plate inscriptions from the 16th Century CE, linked to King Krishnadevaraya.Significance: Highlights historical and cultural heritage.
- Purpose: Launched by the Motor Vehicle Department to improve traffic law enforcement.Empowerment: Enables citizens to report traffic violations and enhance road safety.
- Policy Change: Women employees granted an additional 12 days of casual leave annually.Total: Women now entitled to 27 days of casual leave, compared to 15 days for men.
Approval: Delhi government establishes special courts designed for individuals with disabilities.Objective: To provide fair and accessible justice.
- Dates: November 28 to December 15, 2024.Location: Kurukshetra, Haryana.Highlight: Celebration of Indian heritage and the message of the Bhagavad Gita.
- President: Prabowo Subianto forms Indonesia’s largest-ever Cabinet with 109 members.
- Amendment: Enactment of the Constitution (26th Amendment) limiting Chief Justice’s tenure and changing appointment procedures.
- Announcement: President Mohamed Muizzu introduces India’s Unified Payments Interface to enhance financial inclusion.
Certification: Egypt declared malaria-free by the World Health Organization on October 20, 2024.
- Agreements and MoUs India-Pakistan Pact
- Renewal: Agreement to renew the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor for five additional years.
- Partnership: IIM Shillong collaborates with SIDBI to promote entrepreneurship training and incubation.
- Agreement: The Election Commission of India signs a cooperation agreement with Uzbekistan’s election body.
- Title: “Mountain Mammals of the World”Description: A comprehensive guide on endangered mountain mammal species.
- IMF Report: World public debt projected to exceed $100 trillion.
- Outcome: National Payments Corporation of India lifts embargo, allowing Paytm to onboard new UPI users.
IMF Forecast: India’s economy expected to grow by 7% in FY25.
- HDFC Life Accolades
- Recognition: Honored for commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Appointments and Resignations
| Position | Appointee |
|---|---|
| President, Indian Chamber of Commerce | Abhyuday Jindal |
| Chairperson, National Commission for Women | Smt. Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar |
| Coal Secretary | Vikram Dev Dutt |
| DGP, Jharkhand | Ajay Kumar Singh |
| Chief Technologist, Google | Prabhakar Raghavan |
| CEO, JP Morgan Chase India | Pranav Chawda |
| Director General, ICRISAT | Dr. Himanshu Pathak |
| Chief Justice of India | Justice Sanjiv Khanna |
| Ambassador to Sweden | Dr. Neena Malhotra |
| MD & CEO, Axis Bank | Amitabh Chaudhry |
Defence News Overview (October 2024)
Bilateral Naval Exercises
| Exercise Name | Date | Participants | Location | Key Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naseem-Al-Bahr | October 13-18, 2024 | INS Trikand, Dornier Aircraft (India), Al Seeb (Oman) | Off the coast of Goa | Conducted in two phases; enhancing bilateral naval cooperation. |
| SIMBEX 2024 | October 23-29, 2024 | Indian Navy, Republic of Singapore Navy | Visakhapatnam | Focus on maritime security and interoperability. |
| Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) | October 2024 | INS Delhi (India), Baden-Württemberg & Frankfurt (Germany) | Bay of Bengal | Marked inaugural collaboration between Indian and German navies. |
Army Exercises
Exercise SWAVLAMBAN SHAKTI
Date: October 17-22, 2024
Location: Babina Field Firing Ranges, Jhansi
Objective: Enhance combat capabilities through integration of niche and emerging technologies
Naval Innovation and Indigenisation
- NIIO Seminar
Date: October 22, 2024
Location: New Delhi
Chair: Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan
Focus: Showcase advancements in innovation and indigenisation in the Indian Navy.
Nuclear Capabilities
Launch of SSBN S4*
Date: October 2024
Location: Ship Building Centre, Visakhapatnam
Details: Represents a significant advancement in India’s naval capabilities compared to INS Arihant.
Security Initiatives
- New Missile Testing Range
Approved by: Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS)
Location: Nagayalanka, Andhra Pradesh
Purpose: Enhance testing capabilities for tactical missile systems.
Defence Conferences
Chanakya Defence Dialogue 2024
Date: October 25, 2024
Location: Manekshaw Centre, Delhi
Theme: “Drivers in Nation Building: Fueling Growth Through Comprehensive Security.”
Participants: Policymakers, strategists, and defense personnel.
New Military Assets
- Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC)
Launch Date: October 25, 2024
Vessel Name: Abhay
Manufacturer: Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE)
Significance: Enhances India’s maritime defense capabilities.
Awards and Recognitions
| Award/Recognition | Recipient(s) | Details |
|---|---|---|
| SHRM HR Excellence Awards | Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) | Recognized for inclusion, equity, diversity, and managing a distributed workforce. |
| Mahatma Gandhi Leadership Award | Darasing Khurana | Honored for contributions to mental health awareness as the Commonwealth Year of Youth Champion. |
| Global Anti-Racism Championship Award | Urmila Chaudhary | Recognized for social campaigning in Nepal, presented by U.S. Secretary of State. |
| Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought | María Corina Machado, Edmundo González | Awarded by the European Parliament for their commitment to freedom and democracy in Venezuela. |
Summits and Conferences
| Event | Date | Location | Key Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 BRICS Summit | October 22-24, 2024 | Kazan, Russia | Adoption of Kazan Declaration endorsing UN reforms and new payment system (BRICS Pay). |
| International Film Festival of India | November 20-28, 2024 | Goa | Australia recognized as “Country of Focus.” |
| Pravasi Parichay | October 2024 | Riyadh | Cultural celebration focusing on India’s linguistic diversity. |
| Asia Clean Energy Summit (ACES) | October 22-24, 2024 | Singapore | Focus on advancing clean energy solutions in Asia. |
| Urban Mobility India Conference | October 25-27, 2024 | Gandhinagar, Gujarat | Discussing urban transport solutions. |
Ranks and Reports
| Report | Key Findings |
|---|---|
| Economic Freedom of the World: 2024 Report | India ranked 84th; global decline in economic freedom observed. |
| Travel Trends Report | Shillong emerged as the top travel destination for Indians in 2025. |
Sports Highlights
| Event | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| ICC T20 World Cup | Recent | New Zealand Women’s Team won against South Africa, marking their first title in 23 years. |
| Para-Swimming Championship | October 20-24, 2024 | Karnataka crowned overall champion. |
| National Para-Swimming Championship | October 20, 2024 | Celebration of talent among para-athletes. |
| Indian Women’s Hockey | Recent | Rani Rampal announced retirement after a notable career of over 15 years. |
Important Days and Observances
| Date | Day/Observance | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| October 21 | World Iodine Deficiency Day | Raise awareness about iodine’s importance in health. |
| October 24 | United Nations Day | Celebrate the UN’s mission for peace and development. |
| October 24 | World Polio Day | Awareness about polio eradication efforts. |
| October 25 | International Dwarfism Awareness Day | Highlight challenges faced by individuals with dwarfism. |
Obituaries
| Name | Age | Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Vasant Anant Gadgil | 94 | Renowned Sanskrit scholar and founder of Sharda Gyan Peetham. |
| Ron Ely | 86 | Famous for his role as Tarzan in the 1960s NBC series. |
| Professor Rohini Godbole | 72 | Esteemed physicist and advocate for gender equality in science. |
Miscellaneous News Highlights
India-Sri Lanka Educational Initiative: India has increased its grant for upgrading schools in Sri Lanka’s plantation areas to Rs. 600 million (INR 172.25 million). This funding focuses on improving educational infrastructure for the Indian-origin Tamil community across nine schools in Central, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, and Southern Provinces.
- Entertainment Industry Merger: Adar Poonawalla, CEO of the Serum Institute of India, has signed a binding agreement to acquire a 50% stake in Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions and its digital arm, Dharmatic Entertainment. The deal, valued at ₹1,000 crore, marks a significant collaboration between the cinema and pharmaceutical sectors.
Hurricane Oscar: The hurricane made landfall in the Bahamas and crossed into Cuba, resulting in at least six fatalities and significant destruction. The storm caused widespread power outages, leading to protests in affected neighborhoods like Santos Suárez and central Havana.
- Cyclone Warning: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal that is expected to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm (Cyclone Dana) by October 23. It is predicted to make landfall in Odisha and West Bengal on October 24, bringing heavy rains to the region for several days.
Static Takeaways of Organizations
Indian Meteorological Department
- Designation: –
- Established: 1875
- Headquarters: New Delhi, India
- UNESCO
- Designation: Audrey Azoulay (Director-General)
- Established: November 16, 1945
- Headquarters: Paris, France
- United Nations
- Designation: António Guterres (Secretary-General)
- Established: 1945
- Headquarters: New York, USA
- BRICS
- Designation: –
- Established: 2009
- Headquarters: Shanghai, China
Steel Authority of India (SAIL)
- Designation: –
- Established: January 24, 1973
- Headquarters: New Delhi, India
- Indian Chamber of Commerce
- Designation: Abhyuday Jindal (President)
- Established: 1925
- Headquarters: Kolkata, India
- NVIDIA
- Designation: Jensen Huang
- Established: April 5, 1993
- Headquarters: Santa Clara, California
International Copper Association
Established: 1895
Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium
- State Bank of India (SBI)
- Designation: Shri Challa Sreenivasulu Setty (Chairman)
- Established: July 1, 1955
- Headquarters: Mumbai, India
- Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India
- Designation: –
- Established: 1999
- Headquarters: Hyderabad, Telangana
- International Monetary Fund (IMF)
- Designation: Kristalina Georgieva (Managing Director)
- Established: 1944
- Headquarters: Washington, USA
Election Commission of India
- Designation: Rajiv Kumar (Chief Election Commissioner)
- Established: January 25, 1950
- Headquarters: New Delhi, India
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- Designation: Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (Director-General)
- Established: April 7, 1948
- Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
- Asian Development Bank
- Designation: Masatsugu Asakawa (President)
- Established: 1966
- Headquarters: Manila, Philippines
- Indo-Tibetan Police Force
- Designation: Rahul Rasgotra (Director-General)
- Established: 1962
- Headquarters: New Delhi, India
Daily Current Affairs for UPSC, APSC, Bank, SSC, Government Jobs, and Sarkari Exams
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