WEEKLY OCTOBER (8-14) CURRENT AFFAIRS :-

 

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Narendra Modi Completes 23 Years in Public Office

  •  October 7, 2024 marks 23 years of Narendra Modi's public service, starting from his tenure as the Chief Minister of Gujarat on October 7, 2001, to his current role as Prime Minister of India.
  • His governance has been characterised by implementing numerous welfare programs, both at the state and national levels.
  • Central to Modi’s governance philosophy has been Jan Bhagidari(people’s participation) in governance, empowering citizens to contribute to the nation’s progress actively.

 

Mr.Joseph R.Biden Hosts Sixth Quad Leaders’ Summit with Prime Ministers of Australia, Japan, and India in Wilmington
  •  President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. hosted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia, Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India in Wilmington, Delaware, for the 6th Quad or Quadrilateral Security Dialogue Leaders’ Summit.
  • The grouping of four democracies –India, Australia, US and Japan is known as the quadrilateral security dialogue or quad.
  • The aim of this grouping is to ensure a free and open international order based on the rule of law in the Indo-Pacific.
  • Over the past four years, Quad Leaders have met six times, including twice virtually.

 

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma sets target to eliminate child marriage by 2026
  • Assam Chief Minister (CM) Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the government's target to eradicate child marriage in Assam by 2026.
  • The announcement coincided with the disbursement of the first instalment under the Mukha Mantri Nijut Moina scheme, which provides monthly financial assistance to girls pursuing higher education.

Key Highlights :

  • Financial Outlay: The scheme has a projected outlay of ₹1,500 crore and aims to benefit 10 lakh girl students.

Eligibility and Conditions:

  • Girls must remain unmarried until they complete their degree courses to qualify for the
  • The scheme excludes daughters of Ministers, MPs, and
  • Monthly Payments:Beneficiaries will receive ₹1,000 for class XII, ₹1,250 for the first year of graduation, and ₹2,500 for the first year of post-graduation for 10 months.

About Assam :

  • Governor : Shri Lakshman Prasad Acharya
  • Chief Minister : Himanta Biswa Sarma
  • Capital: Guwahati

 

India's Foreign Exchange ReservesCross $700 Billion Milestone
  • India's foreign exchange reserves (forex) have surpassed the $700 billion mark for the first time, marking a significant achievement as the country becomes the fourth economy globally to reach this milestone, joining China, Japan, and Switzerland.
  • The reserves climbed by $12.588 billion to a record $704.885 billion for the week ending September 27, reflecting the largest weekly increase since mid-July 2023.
Trend Since 2013:
  • India's forex reserves have been on an upswing since 2013
Role of RBI:
  • The RBI actively monitors forex markets, intervening to maintain stability and prevent extreme currency fluctuations.

 

Ashokan Charuvil Wins 48th Vayalar Ramavarma Memorial Literary Award
  • Ashokan Charuvil has been awarded the 48th Vayalar Ramavarma Memorial Literary Award for his novel Kattoorkadavu.
  • This prestigious award, established by the Vayalar Ramavarma Trust, includes a cash prize of ₹1 lakh and a sculpture crafted by renowned artist Kanayi Kunhiraman.

 

Reserve Bank of India names Aviral Jain as Executive Director
  •  Aviral Jain has been appointed as Executive Director (ED) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) effective from October 01, 2024.
  • Prior to his appointment as ED, Jain served as the Regional Director for
  • Responsibilities: In his new role, Jain will oversee several crucial departments within the RBI, including:
    • Legal Department
    • Premises Department
    • Right to Information Act, serving as the First Appellate

 

Malabar Maritime Exercise 2024 to be held from October 8 to 18, starting with Harbour Phase in Visakhapatnam, followed by Sea Phase
  • Maritime Exercise Malabar 2024 is scheduled to take place from 08 to 18 October 2024, beginning with the Harbour Phase in Visakhapatnam, followed by the Sea Phase.
  • Hosted by India, this year’s exercise will see the participation of Australia, Japan, and the United States of America.

About the Exercise :

  • Exercise Malabar originated in 1992 as a bilateral naval drill between the United States and the Indian Navy.

 

Mumbai Wins Irani Cup 2024/25 After 27 Years
  • Mumbai finally lifted the Irani Cup after 27 years by defeating the Rest of India (RoI) on a first-innings lead under the captaincy of Ajinkya Rahane.
  • This is Mumbai’s 15th Irani Cup title, marking a significant victory for the team after a long gap.
Irani Trophy: An Overview
  • The Irani Cup (also known as the IDFC First Bank Irani Trophy due to sponsorship) is an annual first-class cricket competition organized by the BCCI.
  • It is contested between the Ranji Trophy champions and the Rest of India
Indian Air Force Day 2024: October 8
  • The Indian Air Force Day is celebrated on the 8th of October of every year in India.
  • The Indian Air Force was first established on the 8th of October of 1932, so the Indian Air Force Day is celebrated on the 8th of October of every year.
  • The first flight of the Indian Air Force came into being on 1 April

 

Union Health Ministry Doubles Nutrition Support for TB Patients Under Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana
  • The Union Health Ministry announced a significant boost to its anti- tuberculosis (TB) efforts by doubling the monthly nutrition support for TB patients from ₹500 to ₹1,000 under the Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana (NPY).
  • This move aims to enhance the well-being of TB patients by addressing their nutritional needs during treatment.
Key Initiatives:

Increased Nutrition Support:

  • TB patients will now receive ₹1,000 per month, up from the previous ₹500, to aid in their recovery.
India's TB Elimination Goals:
2025 Target:
  • While the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim for global TB elimination by 2030, India has set an ambitious target to eliminate TB

 

Nobel Prize in Medicine 2024: Awarded to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun
  • The 2024 Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their discovery of microRNA (miRNA) and its role in post-transcriptional gene regulation.
  • Their groundbreaking work has deepened our understanding of gene expression, revealing a new principle that is crucial for multicellular life, including humans.
The Nobel Prize:
History:
  • The Nobel Prize was established by Alfred Nobel to reward those who have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind. It was first awarded in 1901.
Categories:
  • Nobel Prizes are awarded in Physics, Chemistry, Medicine (Physiology), Literature, and Peace. The Nobel Memorial Prize in

 

Ministry of External Affairs Appoints Sanjeev Singla and Ajit Gupte as Ambassadors to France and Germany
  • Ajit Vinayak Gupte has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Federal Republic ofGermany.
  • Sanjeev Kumar Singla has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to France.

 

Dipa Karmakar Announces Retirement from Gymnastics
  • Dipa Karmakar, renowned for her groundbreaking performances in gymnastics, has announced her retirement from the sport.
  • Karmakar, who became a national icon after finishing 4th in the Rio 2016 Olympics, leaves behind a legacy characterized by her daring spirit and commitment to excellence.
Key Highlights
  • Produnova Vault: Karmakar is famous for executing the extremely challenging "Produnova" vault, known as the "vault of death," which only a few gymnasts attempt due to its high difficulty and risk.
Career Achievements:
  • Achieved a historic 4th place finish at the Rio Olympics, capturing global attention despite missing out on a medal.

 

World Post Day 2024: October 9
  • World Post Day is celebrated on 9th October of every
  • the World Post Day theme for 2024 is: "150 years of enabling communication and empowering peoples across nations".
  • World Post Day was first declared by the Universal Postal Union (UPU) Congress in Tokyo, Japan in the year of

 

 India Eliminates Trachoma as a Public Health Problem: WHO Certification
  •  The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared that India has eliminated Trachoma as a public health problem.
  • India becomes the third country in the WHO South-East Asia Region to achieve this milestone.
  • The official certification was presented to Aradhana Patnaik, Additional Secretary and Mission Director of the National Health Mission, by Saima Wazed, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia, at the WHO Regional Committee meeting in New Delhi.
About Trachoma:
  • Trachoma is a bacterial infection caused by Chlamydia Trachomatis.
  • It is a contagious disease, spread through contact with infected eyes, eyelids, or secretions from the nose or throat.
  • If untreated, it can lead to irreversible blindness.

 

Myanmar to Participate in Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit for the First Time in Three Years
  • Myanmar will send a representative to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit for the first time in three years.
  • The decision to participate comes as the junta struggles to address an ongoing civil war and amid diplomatic isolation since the February 2021 coup.
About ASEAN :
  • Headquarters : Jakarta, Indonesia
  • Secretary General : Kao Kim Hourn
  • Membership : 10 member states

(Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) & 2 Observer States (East Timor, Papua New Guinea)

About Myanmar :
  • President : Min Aung Hlaing
  • Capital : Naypyidaw
  • Currency : Kyat

 

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Unveils Logo and Mascot for Women's Asian Champions Trophy 2024 in Rajgir
  • Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar unveiled the logo and mascot for the Women's Asian Champions Trophy-2024, which will be held in Rajgir from November 11-20.
  • The mascot, named 'Gudiya', is inspired by the state bird of Bihar,
  • The Women's Asian Champions Trophy-2024 is a joint venture of Hockey India and the Bihar government and will be held at the newly developed Rajgir Hockey
  • The state cabinet recently sanctioned Rs 10 crore to Hockey India for the
  • Six countries, including India, China, Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan, are participating in the championship.
About Bihar :
  • Governor : Rajendra Arlekar
  • Chief Minister : Nitish Kumar

 

Nagaland Collaborates with Wales for 25th Hornbill Festival
  • Nagaland government has signed Wales as one of the Country Partners for the upcoming 25th Edition of the Hornbill Festival.
  • Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, who is on an official visit to Wales, announced the signing of the agreement with the Welsh Government, the British Council, and Wales Arts International representatives in Cardiff.
  • The festival has been organised by the Nagaland government since 2000 between December 1 and December 10 every year to showcase and promote the best of Naga culture, cuisines and music to the world.
About Nagaland
  • Governor : Ganesan
  • Chief Minister : Neiphiu Rio
  • Capital : Kohima

 

Nobel Prize in Physics 2024 Awarded to John J. Hopfield and Geoffrey E. Hinton
Award Recipients:
  • John Hopfield (Princeton University, USA)
  • Geoffrey Hinton (University of Toronto, Canada)

Topic:

  • For their foundational discoveries and inventions that have advanced machine learning, particularly through the development of artificial neural networks.

 

Indian Foreign Service (IFS) Day 2024: October 9
  • Indian Foreign Service (IFS) Day is observed annually on October 9, commemorating the establishment of the Indian Foreign Service in
  • This day honors the dedicated diplomats and foreign service officers who play a crucial role in India's diplomatic, consular, and commercial representation around the world.

 

World Mental Health Day: October 10
  • World Mental Health Day 2024 falls on the 10th of October.
  • World Mental Health Day with the theme 'It is Time to Prioritise

Mental Health in the Workplace’

 

World Sight Day : October 10
  • World Sight Day is an International Day of Awareness, held annually on the second Thursday of This year, World Sight Day is observed on the 10th of October 2024.

 

Bihar Government to Establish Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary as the State's Second Tiger Reserve
  • The Bihar government will establish the Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary (KWLS) as the state’s second tiger reserve.
  • Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR), which is the state's first national park, has reached its capacity, and now the state government is finalising modalities for translocating the big cats to KWLS.
  • The Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary is spread over an area of 1,504.96 sq
  • The number of tigers in VTR is 54
  • The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) granted in-principle approval for the development of KWLS as a tiger reserve during its 12th technical committee meeting.
About Bihar :
  • Governor : Rajendra Arlekar
  • Chief Minister : Nitish Kumar
  • Capital : Patna
Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2024:

David Baker, Demis Hassabis, and John Jumper awarded for protein innovations Awardees

  • The 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry will be shared between:
  • David Baker (University of Washington, Seattle, USA), awarded for his work on computational protein design.
  • Demis Hassabis and John Jumper (Google DeepMind, London, UK), were awarded for their breakthrough in protein structure prediction.

 

JP Nadda appointed as Chairperson for the 77th Session of the WHO Regional Committee
Union Health Minister JP Nadda was elected as the Chairperson of the 77th session of the World Health Organization (WHO)’s Regional Committee for Southeast Asia.

Key Highlights :

  • Role of the Committee: The WHO Regional Committee for Southeast Asia is the annual governing body that influences health policies across the region.
  • Session Details: The three-day session commenced on October 7, 2024, in New Delhi, with participation from health ministers and delegates from member countries.
  • Participating Countries: Delegates from countries including Bangladesh, Bhutan, North Korea, India, Indonesia, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Timor-

 

Meta Unveils New AI Model "Movie Gen" Capable of Creating Realistic Video and Audio Clips to Compete with Industry Leaders
  • Facebook owner Meta opens a new tab and announced that it had built a new AI model called Movie Gen that can create realistic-seeming video and audio clips in response to user prompts, claiming it can rival tools from leading media generation startups like OpenAI and ElevenLabs.
  • The model can generate personalized videos using actual photos of individuals, placing them in various scenarios.
Video Quality and Specifications:
  • Movie Gen can produce high-definition (1080p)
  • Videos can be up to 16 seconds long at 16 frames per second (FPS).
  • The model supports variable resolutions, durations, and different aspect
About Meta :
  • Founded : January 4, 2004
  • Headquarters : California, United States

 

Wimbledon abolishes line judges after 147 years Historic Change for Wimbledon
  • From 2025, Wimbledon will remove line judges from all courts for the first time in its 147-year history, opting for Live Electronic Line Calling (ELC) on all courts, including the qualifying tournament at
  • This change follows successful testing during the 2023 championships and reflects the broader adoption of ELC in tennis.
Evolution of Line-Calling Technology
  • Wimbledon first introduced Hawk-Eye technology in 2007, allowing players to challenge line calls.
  • Following the pandemic, major tournaments like the US Open and Australian Open adopted ELC, while the ATP announced plans for ELC at all events by 2025.

 

National Post Day: October 10
  • National Postal Day is observed in India on October 10each year, celebrating the establishment of the Indian postal system and acknowledging the vital role it plays in connecting people across the country.

Theme:

  • For 2024, the theme for National Postal Day is "Connecting India: The Role of Postal Services in Nation Building".

 

World Day against the Death Penalty, 10 October 2024
  • October 10 marks World Day Against the Death Penalty

Theme of the World Day: "The Death Penalty Protects No One"

 

 International Day of the Girl Child: 11 October
  • On 11 October 2024, the International Day of the Girl Child is celebrated

Theme for 2024: "Girls’ Vision for the Future"

 

Ratan Tata, Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons and National Icon Passed away
  • Ratan Tata, chairman emeritus of one of India's biggest conglomerates, Tata Sons, has passed away at the age of 86.
About Ratan Tata :
  • Birth: December 28, 1937, in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
  • Family Background: Great grandson of Jamsetji Tata, the founder of the Tata
Career Highlights
  • Chairmanship: He served as chairman of the Tata Group from 1991 to 2012 and again from 2016 to Major Contributions:
  • Founded Tata Teleservices in
  • Took Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) public in
  • Acquired British brands Jaguar and Land Rover in 2004, marking a significant reverse colonialist
  • Launched Tata Nano in 2009, the world’s cheapest car, priced at ₹1 lakh, symbolizing innovation and
  • Led notable acquisitions, including the British steelmaker Corus in 2007
Awards and Honors
  • Padma Vibhushan (2008): India's second-highest civilian
  • Padma Bhushan (2000): India's third-highest civilian
  • Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (2014).
  • Assam Baibhav (2021).
  • Order of Australia (2023).

 

Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary near Bhopal set to become Madhya Pradesh's eighth tiger reserve, the first in India near a capital city
  • Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary, located near Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh (MP), will soon be declared the state's 8th tiger reserve.
  • This will be the first tiger reserve in India located near a capital Location and Area:
  • Distance: 60 km from
  • Total area: 1,270 sq km (763 sq km core area, 507 sq km buffer area).
  • Will include both Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary and Singhori

Existing Tiger Reserves in Madhya Pradesh:

  • Kanha Tiger Reserve – Established in
  • Bandhavgarh Tiger
  • Panna Tiger Reserve – Established in
  • Pench Tiger
  • Sanjay Dubri Tiger
  • Satpura Tiger
  • Veerangana Durgavati Tiger

About MP :

  • Governor: Mangubhai Patel
  • Chief Minister: Mohan Yadav

 

Nobel Prize in Literature 2024: Han Kang’s Poetic Exploration of Trauma
  • The 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded to Han Kang, a celebrated South Korean author, recognized for her intense poetic prose that delves into historical traumas and the fragility of human life.
  • Her work profoundly explores the interplay between personal and societal histories, reflecting deep themes of memory, resistance, and identity.
  • Han Kang gained international acclaim with her novel ‘The Vegetarian’ (2016), which won the Man Booker International Prize.

 

 
Nihon Hidankyo Awarded 2024 Nobel Peace Prize for Advocacy Against Nuclear Weapons
  • The Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize to Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese organization representing the survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
  • The award recognizes the group’s significant efforts in advocating for a nuclear- free world and its compelling witness testimonies about the horrors of nuclear
Key Highlights:
Background of Nihon Hidankyo:
  • Established in 1956, Nihon Hidankyo is the largest and most influential organization of atomic bomb survivors in Japan.
  • The organization aims to raise global awareness about the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons.

Role of Hibakusha:

  • The survivors, known as Hibakusha, share personal stories of the devastation they experienced in August 1945, contributing to the international "nuclear "

 

Indian Railway Finance Corporation
Manoj Kumar Dubey has been appointed as the Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC).

About IRFC :

  • Founded: December 12,
  • Headquarters: New Delhi,
  • Primary Function:IRFC is primarily engaged in raising financial resources for the expansion and operation of Indian Railways.

 

Ratan Tata's Half-Brother NoelTata Appointed as Chairman of Tata Trusts, Succeeding Ratan Tata
  • Noel Tata, the half-brother of Ratan Tata, has been appointed Chairman of Tata Trusts, following a board meeting held in Mumbai.
  • Noel's appointment is of significance as Tata Trusts owns 66% of Tata Sons, the holding company of various firms under the Tata brand which is more than 150 years old.
  • His mother, Simone Tata, is the stepmother of Ratan
  • Family Background:Ratan Tata's younger brother, Jimmy Tata, is not involved in the family business and lives in a modest apartment in Colaba, Mumbai.

 

Amazon Acquires MX Player, Integrates it with miniTV to Launch Amazon MX Player
  • Amazon has acquired free streaming OTT platform MX Player and merged it with its content streaming service miniTV to launch 'Amazon MX Player'.
  • The merger aims to provide premium-free entertainment to a broader
  • Leadership: Karan Bedi is the head of Amazon MX Player.
  • History of MX Player: Initially developed by a South Korean developer as a media player for downloaded videos.
  • Previous Acquisition: In 2018, Times Internet (owned by Bennett Coleman & Co Ltd) acquired MX Player for ₹1,000 crore (around $140 million) and relaunched it as an ad-supported video streaming

 

Forbes Unveils 2024 'India’s 100 Richest' List, Wealth Crosses Trillion-Dollar Mark
  • The combined wealth of India's richest individuals surpassed the trillion-dollar mark, reaching $1.1 trillion. This marks a doubling in wealth since 2019, with an addition of $316 billion in the past year alone.
Top 10 Richest Individuals in India:
  • Mukesh Ambani - $119.5 billion (Reliance Industries, diversified assets)
  • Second biggest gainer, adding $27.5
  • Gautam Adani and Family - $116 billion (Adani Group, diversified assets)
  • Biggest gainer, adding $48
  • Savitri Jindal and Family - $43.7 billion (Metals and Mining), India's richest woman.
  • Shiv Nadar - $40.2 billion (HCL Enterprise)
  • Dilip Shanghvi and Family - $32.4 billion (Sun Pharmaceuticals)
  • Radhakishan Damani and Family - $31.5 billion
  • Sunil Mittal and Family - $30.7 billion
  • Kumar Birla - $24.8 billion
  • Cyrus Poonawalla - $24.5 billion
  • Bajaj Family - $23.4 billion

 

IPS Officer Anita Roy Makes History with Gold Medal at Commonwealth Bench Press Competition
  • IPS Officer Anita Roy, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Puducherry, has become the first IPS officer to win a gold medal at the Commonwealth International Classic Bench Press Competition.
  • The event was held in Sun City, South Africa, on October 4, 2024, where the 46-year-old lifted 70 kg, outperforming competitors from 43 countries

 

Rafael Nadal Announces Retirement After Legendary Tennis Career
  • Rafael Nadal, the tennis legend, has confirmed his retirement after a 23-year career, with plans to conclude his professional journey following the upcoming Davis Cup final.
Career Overview:
  • The 38-year-old Spaniard announced his decision via a heartfelt video on social media platform X, reflecting on the challenges he faced in recent years due to injuries and limitations.
  • Nadal turned professional at 15 in 2001 and quickly became one of the sport’s foremost figures.

 

World Arthritis Day: October 12
  • World Arthritis Day 2024 falls on October 12.
  • The theme for World Arthritis Day 2024 is "Informed Choices, Better “

 

International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction: October 13
  • The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2024 is observed on the 13th of October.
  • The International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction was established by a resolution passed by the UN General Assembly in 1989.

 

 World Standards Day: October 14
  • World Standards Day is observed annually on the 14th of October
  • The first World Standards Day was celebrated in 1946 in London, the same year that the International Organization for Standardization was founded