- National:
- On October 11, 2024, India and the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA) signed an agreement to establish the GBA Secretariat in India. The agreement facilitates setting up the Secretariat in India, granting legal status and privileges under the UN Act.
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- On October 15, 2024, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced the establishment of three AI Centres of Excellence (CoEs) focused on healthcare, agriculture, and sustainable cities. These CoEs, led by AIIMS and IITs in collaboration with industry partners, aim to strengthen India's position in AI-driven research and innovation.
- The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has relaxed the mandatory quality control norms for cookware and utensils for micro units. This includes exemptions for very small micro-enterprises with investments under Rs 25 lakh and turnover below Rs 2 crore. The implementation date for small and micro enterprises has been extended to July and October 2025, respectively.
- On October 14, 2024, SKYBER Aerospace partnered with Dubai-based Sibia Technologies to sell and service customized Indian-made UAV systems in the MEA region. This partnership aims to meet the growing UAV demand in defense and commercial sectors.
- On October 23, 2024, the Supreme Court of India upheld the states' right to regulate industrial alcohol in an 8:1 majority judgment. The ruling classified industrial alcohol under "intoxicating liquor" in Entry 8 of the State List, giving states regulatory authority. The lone dissenting opinion was from Justice B.V. Nagarathna.
- On October 21, 2024, the government integrated 12 schemes into the eShram portal, branded as the "eShram-One Stop Solution". This initiative aims to streamline access to welfare schemes for over 30 crore registered unorganised workers. Services are now offered in regional languages, with outreach programs to raise awareness.
- The foundation stone for the RTI Museum was laid in Beawar, Rajasthan, on October 20, 2024. Attended by notable figures like Aruna Roy and Justice Madan Lokur, the museum will document the history and impact of the RTI movement. It aims to be a resource center and repository for RTI-related documents and materials.
- Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia launched the International Incoming Spoofed Calls Prevention System on October 22, 2024, in New Delhi. The system identifies and blocks international spoofed calls using Indian phone numbers.
- Banking:
- India Exim Finserve partnered with VoloFin to enhance receivables finance solutions for Indian SME exporters. New India Assurance joined as the credit insurance partner, with reinsurance support from Atradius. This collaboration aims to address critical trade finance gaps and facilitate open-account trade.
- Effective October 1, 2024, LIC reduced the first-year agent payout from 35% to 28% following a revision of surrender value norms. Policies now require a full year before qualifying for surrender value. The renewal commission increased from 5% to 7.5%, and the minimum sum assured was raised to Rs 2 lakh from Rs 1 lakh.
- MoUs:
- RITES Ltd. signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Etihad Rail on October 8, 2024, in Abu Dhabi during the Global Rail Transport Infrastructure Exhibition & Conference. The aim of the MoU is to explore cooperation in developing railways and related infrastructure services in the UAE and the wider region.
- Important Days:
- United Nations Day is observed annually on October 24 to mark the founding of the UN in 1945. The 2024 theme is "The World Needs the UN; the UN Needs Us", emphasizing the essential partnership between the UN and member states in tackling global challenges and achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- World Development Information Day is observed annually on October 24. The theme for 2024 is "How Science, Technology, and Digital Divide Shaping the Countries". This theme emphasizes the role of science and technology in resolving global challenges and aims to raise awareness about development issues, promote cooperation, and close the digital divide.
- The International Day of Diplomats is observed on October 24. The 2024 theme is "Honoring the Unsung Guardians of Global Peace." This day highlights the crucial role of diplomats in maintaining international peace, fostering cooperation, and resolving conflicts.
- Appointments:
- Prabhakar Raghavan, an alumnus of IIT-Madras, was appointed as Google's Chief Technologist on October 17, 2024. Previously, he served as Senior Vice President, overseeing Google Search, Assistant, Geo, Ads, Commerce, and Payments.
- The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) announced the appointment of Dr. Himanshu Pathak as the new Director General on October 18, 2024.
- Awards & Honours:
- Actor and philanthropist Darasing Khurana received the Mahatma Gandhi Leadership Award in the UK on October 23, 2024, for his work in raising awareness about mental health issues. He was also the keynote speaker at the Global Mental Health Summit 2024 at Oxford University.
- Urmila Chaudhary received the Global Anti-Racism Championship Award 2024 on October 22, 2024. The award, presented by the US State Department, recognized her outstanding leadership and commitment to promoting the human rights of marginalized castes and ethnic communities in Nepal.
- The Adarsh Karmayogi Awards were conferred by the Ministry of Mines on October 21, 2024, during the National Learning Week. These awards recognized 13 top learners who completed over 100 courses on the iGOT Karmayogi portal. The initiative aims to encourage lifelong learning and capacity building among civil servants.
Questions:
1 Who received the Global Anti-Racism Championship Award 2024?
- A) Kailash Satyarthi
- B) Malala Yousafzai
- C) Urmila Chaudhary
- D) Greta Thunberg
2 When is United Nations Day observed annually?
- A) October 24
- B) October 23
- C) October 22
- D) October 25
