- National:
- India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) became an affiliate member of the International Medical Device Regulators Forum (IMDRF) on October 3, 2024. This membership aims to enhance global collaboration and harmonization in medical device regulations, benefiting both regulatory bodies and the medical device industry in India.
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- REC Limited has indeed signed a significant financing agreement with the Government of Rajasthan. This agreement, worth Rs 3 lakh crore, aims to support various power and infrastructure projects across the state. The funding will be provided over the next six years, with an annual provision of Rs 50,000 crore.
- NCERT has partnered with Amazon to improve the availability of textbooks across India. This collaboration aims to ensure students from Kindergarten to Class 12, as well as UPSC aspirants, can easily access genuine NCERT textbooks at the printed price through Amazon’s platform.
- The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) will open its first overseas campus at the India Pavilion in Expo City, Dubai, by early 2025. This campus will offer various training programs and research opportunities, including the flagship MBA (International Business) program.
- On October 4, 2024, Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOC) and Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) signed a Business-to-Business (B2B) Framework Agreement. This agreement focuses on developing petroleum infrastructure in Nepal, including extending pipelines and building new oil storage terminals. This collaboration aims to enhance energy security and efficiency in Nepal.
- The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) inaugurated the Major Atmospheric Cherenkov Experiment (MACE) Observatory at Hanle, Ladakh, on October 4, 2024. This observatory is the largest imaging Cherenkov telescope in Asia and the highest in the world, located at 4,300 meters.
- International:
- The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) has invested USD 272 million in India to promote economic growth. This funding will support financial inclusion, sustainability, and small businesses, with a focus on women entrepreneurs and climate initiatives. Key sectors benefiting include agriculture, healthcare, and electric vehicles.
- Banking:
- SEBI fined NSE Data And Analytics Ltd Rs 12 lakh for not segregating its IT infrastructure and manpower from NSE. The violations included issues with IT infrastructure, backup records, disaster recovery policies, and KYC record validation between April 2022 and July 2023.
- HDFC Bank achieved its 25% gender diversity goal a year ahead of schedule, with women now making up 26% of its workforce. This milestone was reached through initiatives like AI-powered hiring and ‘All Women Branches’. The bank now aims for 27% female representation by FY27.
- Bank of Baroda has launched the bob Masterstroke Savings Account for high-net-worth individuals, offering benefits like higher interest rates, priority banking, and exclusive cards. Customers need to maintain a Quarterly Average Balance of ₹10 lakh.
- Federal Bank has partnered with Bhashini to enhance its AI chatbot, Feddy, by supporting 14 Indian languages. This initiative aims to make banking services more accessible and inclusive for customers who prefer regional languages. The collaboration is part of the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub’s efforts to promote regional language banking.
- LIC has increased its stake in Bank of Maharashtra to 7.10% through a Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP), acquiring 25.96 crore equity shares. This move reflects LIC’s confidence in the bank’s growth potential and provides essential capital for its expansion.
- Economy:
- The CII Business Confidence Index (CII-BCI) rose to 68.2 in Q2 of the current fiscal year, marking a two-quarter high. This increase is driven by improved rural consumption, steady monsoon progress, ongoing reforms, and new private sector investments.
- Committees:
- The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) formed an internal committee to review the Income Tax Act on October 6, 2024. This committee is chaired by Nitin Gupta, the Chairman of CBDT. The review aims to simplify and modernize the tax laws to improve compliance and administration.
- Govt.Schemes:
- The Tripura government launched the CM-SATH scheme to support meritorious students in higher education. Under this scheme, 200 students will receive ₹5,000 monthly for their studies. The initiative aims to ensure financial constraints do not hinder talented students from accessing quality education.
- Reports:
- Over the past decade, India’s academic freedom has significantly declined. The “Free to Think 2024” report by the Scholars at Risk (SAR) Academic Freedom Monitoring Project, highlights increased political interference, restrictions on student expression, and attacks on academics as key factors. India’s current ranking places it in the bottom 30% among 179 countries. This decline threatens the country’s intellectual and democratic vitality.
- Sports:
- Dipa Karmakar announced her retirement from gymnastics on October 7, 2024. She is renowned for being the first Indian woman gymnast to compete in the Olympics, finishing fourth in the vault event at Rio 2016.
- Pankaj Advani won the Songhe Singapore Open Billiards on October 6, 2024, in Singapore. He defeated Jaden Ong with a 5-1 score to claim the title. This victory adds another prestigious title to Advani’s illustrious career.
- Appointments:
- The BCCI has appointed Sharad Kumar, a retired IPS officer, as the new head of its Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU). Kumar, who previously led the National Investigation Agency (NIA), brings extensive experience in handling high-profile investigations.
Questions:
1 Which organization published the “Free to Think 2024” report highlighting the decline in India’s academic freedom?
- A) UNESCO
- B) Scholars at Risk (SAR)
- C) Amnesty International
- D) Human Rights Watch
2 Who won the Songhe Singapore Open Billiards on October 6, 2024?
- A) Jaden Ong
- B) Mike Russell
- C) Pankaj Advani
- D) Peter Gilchrist
