- National:
- According to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) recent medium-term forecast, India’s natural gas demand is expected to grow by 4% in 2023. The report also projects an average annual growth rate of over 8% in India’s natural gas demand between 2022 and 2026.
- The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the 6th Annual Report ‘Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) [July, 2022 – June, 2023]’ on October 9, 2023.
- The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the acquisition of certain shareholding in Hitachi Astemo Ltd. (HAL) by JICC-01 Limited Partnership and Honda Motor Co. Ltd. (HMCL); and acquisition of certain shareholding of Hitachi Astemo Electric Motor Systems (HAEMS) by Hitachi Astemo Ltd
- The Spanish company PLD Space successfully launched its reusable Miura-1 rocket, marking Europe’s first fully private rocket launch. The launch took place early on Saturday from a site in south-west Spain.
- The Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) has written letters to the CEOs of Meta and Google, Mark Zuckerberg and Sundar Pichai respectively. The letters urge them to ensure that their platforms remain “neutral” ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha Polls.
- Tamil writer Sivasankari was indeed presented with the ‘Saraswati Samman’ 2022 for her book of memoirs Surya Vamsam. This remarkable feat marks a significant milestone in her literary career.
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu held the fifth annual defence dialogue in Paris. The dialogue took place on October 11, 2023.
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his French counterpart, Sebastien Lecornu, held the fifth annual defence dialogue in Paris. During this dialogue, they reviewed ongoing defence projects and discussed ways to deepen collaboration between the defence industries of both countries.
- The retail inflation, or Consumer Price Index (CPI)-based inflation, for September 2023 in India has indeed declined to 5.02%. This is a significant decrease from the previous month’s inflation rate of 6.83%.
- Film director Vivek Agnihotri, known for his critically acclaimed film ‘The Kashmir Files’, launched his latest book titled “The Book of Life: My dance with Buddha for Success” in Lucknow.
- The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) launched the “MDoNER Data Analytics Dashboard” and “Poorvottar Sampark Setu” portal on October 12, 2023.The MDoNER Data Analytics Dashboard contains data from 112 schemes across 55 Departments and Ministries.
- The 12th City Gas Distribution (CGD) Bidding Round was officially launched on 12th October 2023. In this round, the government has offered seven geographical areas (GAs) spread over five states and two union territories, covering 92 districts
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session at Mumbai’s Jio World Centre today, on 14th October 2023. This session serves as a key meeting of the members of the IOC, where important decisions regarding the future of Olympic games are made.
- NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has indeed set a new record as the fastest man-made object in history. On September 27, during its 17th loop around the sun, it achieved a speed of 394,736 miles per hour (mph) or 635,266 kilometers per hour (kph).
- Economy:
- India’s retail inflation did indeed drop to 5.02% in September 2023, down from 6.83% in the previous month. This decrease in inflation rate is primarily due to a significant slowdown in food inflation.
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has indeed initiated a pilot programme for the wholesale digital rupee in the interbank call money market. This pilot programme involves nine banks, including four public sector banks and five private sector banks.
- “Global Policy Agenda” unveiled at Marrakesh, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has indeed called for urgent support from its members to increase its quota resources. The IMF aims to secure funding for the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT) and Resilience and Sustainability Trust (RST) to benefit the poorest members.
- World:
- The Passport to Earning (P2E) Initiative by UNICEF has achieved a significant milestone by certifying over one million young people in India in the areas of financial literacy and digital productivity.
- The passenger ferry service between Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu, and Kankesanthurai in Sri Lanka has indeed commenced. The high-speed craft, Cheriyapani, embarked on its journey from the Nagapattinam port with 50 passengers and 12 crew members.
- The Annular Solar Eclipse, also known as the “Ring of Fire,” is set to occur on October 14, 2023. This eclipse will be visible from the USA, followed by parts of Mexico, Central America, Colombia, and Brazil.
- NTPC Limited, India’s largest integrated energy conglomerate, has indeed been recognized as one of the “World’s Best Employers 2023” in the Forbes World’s Best Employers list 2023. The list was released on October 10, 2023.
- Important Days:
- First National Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) Day on 10th October 2023. This initiative was taken by the Indian Drug Manufacturers’ Association (IDMA) in collaboration with the government to sensitize the public about the importance of quality assurance in the pharmaceutical industry
- World Arthritis Day 2023 was celebrated on October 12th. The theme for this year was "Living with an RMD at all stages of life".This day is marked annually to raise awareness about arthritis, its impact on individuals and society, and the importance of early diagnosis and treatment
- Appointments & Resignations:
- Anthony Heredia, who is the Managing Director and CEO of Mahindra Manulife Mutual Fund, has been elected as the Vice-Chairman of the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI). He will take charge from October 16, 2023.
- The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) announced that former Sri Lankan captain and batting legend, Kumar Sangakkara, has been appointed as the new Chair of its World Cricket Committee. He took over the role from former England captain Mike Gatting, who served the role for six years.
- Shiv Bajrang Singh, who was previously the Chief General Manager at Bank of India, has been appointed as the new Executive Director of the Indian Bank123. He assumed the post on October 9
- Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has resigned as a director of the Pune District Central Cooperative (PDCC) Bank. He decided to step down due to an increase in workload after becoming deputy chief minister and increased responsibility in his party.
- Obituary:
- Padma Shri Awardee Dr. Dahyabhai Karunashankar Shastri, a renowned Indian Sanskrit scholar and founder of Brahmarshi Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya, Nadiad(Gujarat), passed away at the age of 98 in Nadiad, Gujarat.
- Banking:
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has given approval to SBI Mutual Fund (SBIMF) for acquiring up to 9.99% of paid-up share capital in IndusInd Bank. This acquisition will also give SBI MF the right to 9.99% voting rights in the bank.
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed a monetary penalty of Rs 5.39 crore on Paytm Payments Bank for violating several norms, including Know Your Customer (KYC) norms. The bank failed to identify beneficial owners, monitor transactions, and breached the regulatory ceiling of end-of-day balances.
- The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) reported a decrease in India’s unemployment rate for the period between April and June 2023.
Question:
Q.1 What was the theme for World Arthritis Day 2023?a. Living with an RMD at all stages of life
b. Early diagnosis and treatment of arthritis
c. The impact of arthritis on society
d. The importance of a balanced diet for arthritis patients
Q.2 What is the amount of the penalty imposed by RBI on Paytm Payments Bank?
a. Rs 1.39 crore
b. Rs 5.39 crore
c. Rs 10.39 crore
d. Rs 15.39 crore
