- National:
- The Sagar Kavach 02/23 was a two-day comprehensive coastal security exercise conducted by the Indian Navy. It involved all maritime security agencies and was held in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and the Union Territory of Puducherry from October 11-12, 2023.
- NASA’s Psyche spacecraft was launched on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission is to travel to a metal-rich asteroid named Psyche, which orbits the Sun between Mars and Jupiter.
- The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) released a report titled ‘The High Cost of Cheap Water’ on World Food Day. The report uncovers a stark reality: the annual economic value of water and freshwater ecosystems is estimated to be USD 58 trillion, equivalent to 60% of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
- The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Department of Land Resources (DOLR) and the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) was signed on Tuesday, October 17, 2023.The main objective of this collaboration is to monitor WDC-PMKSY 2.0 projects through high-resolution satellite data for all the WDC 2.0 projects in States/UTs across the country.
- The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), under the aegis of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), has announced a collaboration with Coca-Cola India to launch the Super Power Retailer Program as part of the Skill India Mission.
- Obituaries:
- Manohar Singh Gill, the 11th Chief Election Commissioner of India and a Padma Vibhushan awardee, passed away at the age of 87. He served as the Chief Election Commissioner between December 1996 and June 2001.
- Three-time Oscar-nominated and Emmy winner actor Piper Laurie has passed away at the age of 91. She was known for her performances in ‘The Hustler’ and ‘Carrie.
- Important days:
- World White Cane Day was observed on October 15, 2023. This day is celebrated annually to raise awareness about the courtesy rules of blindness and to promote accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities.
- The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is observed every year on October 17. This day presents an opportunity to acknowledge the effort and struggle of people living in poverty, a chance for them to make their concerns heard.
- Awards:
- Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das has been awarded an ‘A+’ ranking in the Global Finance Central Banker Report Cards 2023. The award was given in recognition of central bank governors who have outperformed their peers in terms of originality, creativity, and tenacity.
- Appointments:
- Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami has been appointed as the brand ambassador of Puma India.Under this partnership, Shami will endorse Puma’s footwear, apparel, and accessories through various activities and campaigns throughout the year.
- Economy:
- India is set to spend nearly Rs 143 lakh crore on infrastructure between the fiscal years 2024 and 2030. This is more than double the amount spent in the previous seven years.
Questions:
Q.1 Who is the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) who has been awarded an ‘A+’ rating in the Global Finance Central Banker Report Cards 2023?a. Thomas J. Jordan
b. Nguyen Thi Hong
c. Shaktikanta Das
d. Narendra Modi
Q.2 When is World White Cane Day observed?
a. October 10
b. October 15
c. October 20
d. October 25
