- National:
- The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) was signed on October 4, 2023 to advance the Pradhan Mantri Gati Shakti (PMGS) National Master Plan (NMP).
- Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has indeed inaugurated India’s largest pumped storage project at Neemuch. This project is being developed by Greenko Group, India’s largest energy storage company
- The Indian men’s hockey team has indeed reclaimed the Asian Games gold medal after nine years. They achieved this feat by defeating the defending champions, Japan, with a score of 5-1.
- Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has approved standards for the construction of bus bodies. These standards will be uniformly applicable to both original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and bus body builders
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to include the beneficiaries of the PM Vishwakarma Scheme under the Payments Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) Scheme. This decision is expected to boost the RBI’s efforts towards promoting digital transactions at the grassroots level.
- The Indian government has banned the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) for five years due to its anti-India and pro-Pakistan activities. The ban was ordered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
- The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, approved the establishment of the Sammakka Sarakka Central Tribal University in Mulugu district, Telangana. This decision was made through an amendment to the Central Universities Act, 2009.
- The Supreme Court has indeed refused to stop the Bihar government from making decisions based on the recent caste survey conducted in the state. The court issued a notice to the Bihar Government regarding a plea concerning this caste-based survey.
- The Sagar Parikrama, Phase- IX started from Thiruvandanai, Tamil Nadu1. This event was led by Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying Shri Parshottam Rupala along with Dr L Murugan, Minister of State, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
- The 49th All India Police Science Congress was held in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. The event was organized by the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) and focused on various themes such as Policing in the 5G Era, Narcotics:
- Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, inaugurated the Aadi Mahotsav, the National Tribal Festival, in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. This grand event is being organized by the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED), Ministry of Tribal Affairs. The festival is taking place from October 7th to October 16th, 2023.
- Economy:
- Saint-Gobain, the French construction and industrial materials company, has announced that it will be investing an additional 3,400 crores in Tamil Nadu. This investment will be spread across different business verticals such as glasswool, gypsum plasterboard, plaster, acoustic ceiling, float glass, solar glass, adhesives, sealants, mortars and ceramics.
- The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has announced that it will introduce options contracts on underlying WTI crude oil and natural gas futures in the commodity derivatives segment from October 9.
- The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has decided to keep the Policy Repo Rate unchanged at 6.5%. This decision was made after a detailed assessment of the evolving macroeconomic and financial developments and the outlook.
- World:
- Narges Mohammadi, the Iranian activist, has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2023. She is recognized for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her efforts to promote human rights and freedom for all.
- India has been re-elected as the President of the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) for the third successive term. This is an unprecedented development as India had already served two terms as President from 2018 – 2021 and 2021 – 2023.
- Banking:
- IndusInd Bank has launched a new digital banking app called ‘INDIE’. This app is designed to offer a completely differentiated experience to customers who are digitally savvy and looking for a superlative digital experience.
- The fintech credit and payments startup slice and Guwahati-based North East Small Finance Bank (NESFB) have announced a merger. The Reserve Bank of India has approved the deal. This is a first-of-its-kind development in the fintech and banking space.
- The Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) and Digital India Bhashini Division (DIBD) have indeed collaborated to foster linguistic inclusivity in financial services. This strategic partnership aims to break down language barriers prevalent in the financial services landscape.
- Axis Bank has launched its digital banking proposition called 'Open by Axis Bank’. This platform is designed to provide a user-friendly, modern interface for both existing and new customers. The ‘Open by Axis Bank’ app is a safe and secure mobile banking application that offers over 100 features and services, satisfying more than just banking needs
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed to allow banks to tokenise debit or credit cards. This proposal is part of the RBI’s efforts to enhance data security and give customers greater control over managing their card tokens.
- Important Days:
- World Smile Day is celebrated on the first Friday of October every year. In 2023, it falls on the 6th of October. The day is dedicated to smiles and acts of kindness throughout the world.The theme for World Smile Day in 2023 is "Radiate Joy".
- World Cerebral Palsy Day in 2023 will be celebrated on October 6th. This day is a global observance that shines a spotlight on cerebral palsy (CP) and its impact on individuals, families, and communities. The theme for World Cerebral Palsy Day in 2023 is “Together Stronger”.
Questions:
Q.1 Who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023?a. Malala Yousafzai
b. Narges Mohammadi
c. Kailash Satyarthi
d. Barack Obama
Q.2 What is the name of the digital banking proposition launched by Axis Bank?
a. Digital by Axis Bank
b. Axis Digital Bank
c. Open by Axis Bank
d. Axis Open Bank
