Daily Current Affairs October 05

Dear Champions, as you all know that a lot of competitive exams have been notified consequently. Candidates have to prepare themselves according to the level of competition and expectation of the Recruitment board. Regarding that one of the most important topic is Daily Current Affairs October 05. Current Affairs in the form of contemporary events of national & international play a crucial role in almost every competitive exams like Banking, Insurance, SSC, UPSC, TNPSC, Railway etc.

Current affairs are the most dynamic yet scoring among all sections and need to be prepared from the right source. Here, we cafunsta team, providing  Daily GK Updates, Current Affairs Questions, and Monthly  current affairs pdf.

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October 05| Daily Current Affairs 2023

Important Days – Daily Current Affairs October 05

1. On which date is World Teachers’ Day celebrated each year?
A) January 1
B) April 15
C) October 5
D) November 11
E) December 25
Answer: C) October 5

• World Teachers’ Day falls on October 5.
• The celebrations for World Teachers’ Day kickstarted in 1994.
• The theme for World Teachers’ Day 2023 is “The Teachers We Need for the Education We Want: The Global Imperative to Reverse the Teacher Shortage”.
• On October 5, 1994, UNESCO proclaimed that the day would be marked as World Teachers’ Day to celebrate and honour the contribution teachers make in our lives.
• The International festival marks the anniversary of the adoption of the 1966 ILO and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Recommendation – concerning the Status of Teachers.

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Banking and Finance – Daily Current Affairs October 05

2. Why did the Reserve Bank of India decide to constitute an external working group on the expected credit loss (ECL) based framework for provisioning by Banks?
A) To reduce interest rates
B) To increase the credit limit for banks
C) To provide guidance on digital banking
D) To obtain independent inputs on technical aspects related to provisioning
E) To regulate foreign exchange rates
Answer: D) To obtain independent inputs on technical aspects related to provisioning

• The Reserve Bank of India has decided to constitute an external working group on expected credit loss (ECL) based framework for provisioning by Banks to get independent inputs on some of the technical aspects having a bearing on the significant transition involved.
• The ECL approach to provisioning is a paradigm shift from the current incurred loss-based provisioning regime.
• The key requirement under the proposed ECL based Framework for Provisioning shall be for the banks to classify financial assets (primarily loans, including irrevocable loan commitments, and investments classified as held-to-maturity or available-for-sale) into one of the three categories – Stage 1, Stage 2 and Stage 3.
• The classification will depend upon the assessed credit losses on them, at the time of initial recognition as well as on each subsequent reporting date and make necessary provisions.
• The Working Group will be chaired by R Narayanaswamy, former Professor, IIM Bangalore and will consist of eight members – domain experts from academia and industry as well as representatives from select banks
• The group will suggest the methodology to be used for undertaking external independent validation of the models and recommend, based on comprehensive data analysis, prudential floors for provisioning.
• The recommendations of the working group would be duly factored in while framing the draft guidelines, which shall be put in the public domain for comments before issue of final guidelines

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3. Which organization recently received approval from the Reserve Bank of India for its merger with Guwahati-based North East Small Finance Bank (NESFB)?
A) HDFC Bank
B) ICICI Bank
C) Axis Bank
D) Fintech unicorn Slice
E) Kotak Mahindra Bank
Answer: D) Fintech unicorn Slice

• Fintech unicorn Slice is merging with Guwahati-based North East Small Finance Bank (NESFB) after receiving approval from the Reserve Bank of India
• The merger with the small finance bank will allow the combined entity “to better serve their shared mission and reach more consumers who currently lack access to basic banking services.”
• on March 8 that Slice, backed by New York-based Tiger Global and Japanese investor Gunosy, had acquired a 5% stake in Guwahati-based NESFB for less than Rs 30 crore
• In December, Slice had received a licence from the RBI to operate a prepaid payment instrument.
• In the past, Kotak Mahindra that started out as a NBFC, had converted itself into a commercial bank in 2003.
• Founded in 2016, Slice allows users to pay bills and make unified payments interface-based payments, provides credit cards, and helps customers manage expenses.
• Slice counts Tiger Global, Insight Partners, EMVC, Blume Ventures among its backers. It was last valued at about $1.5 billion in a funding round last year.

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4. NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) has entered into a strategic partnership agreement with which organization for Domestic Card Scheme (DCS) Implementation in the UAE?
A) Emirates Airlines
B) Dubai Metro
C) Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC)
D) Al Etihad Payments (AEP)
E) UAE Central Bank
Answer: D) Al Etihad Payments (AEP)

• NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has entered into a strategic partnership agreement with Al Etihad Payments (AEP) for Domestic Card Scheme (DCS) Implementation in UAE.
• AEP is an indirect subsidiary of the Central Bank of UAE (CBUAE).
• s per the agreement, NIPL and AEP will work together to build, implement, and operationalize UAE’s national domestic card scheme.
• The DCS will aim to facilitate the growth of e-commerce and digital transactions in the UAE, bolster financial inclusion, support the UAE’s digitization agenda, increase alternate payment options, reduce the cost of payments, and enhance the UAE’s competitiveness and position as a global payments leader.
• The partnership aligns perfectly with NIPL’s mission to offer its knowledge and expertise to assist other countries in establishing their own cost-efficient, and secure payment systems.
• The DCS solution is based on the principles of sovereignty, speed to market, innovation, digitization, and strategic independence.
• The DCS solution provided by NIPL consists of a RuPay stack and value-added services like fraud monitoring services and analytics.
• NIPL will also assist AEP in formulating the operating regulations for their domestic card scheme.
• RuPay is an indigenous, highly secure, and widely accepted card payment network in India. RuPay cards have debit, credit, and prepaid propositions.

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Appointments – Daily Current Affairs October 05

5. Who has been assigned the additional charge CEO of the India Semiconductor Mission, in addition to being the CEO of MyGov?
A) Ramesh Sippy
B) Akash Tripathi
C) Sania Mirza
D) N. R. Narayana Murthy
E) ViratKohli
Answer: B) Akash Tripathi

• MyGov chief executive Akash Tripathi is set to take over as CEO of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) from October 9
• The addition to his portfolio of duties was notified by the ministry of electronics and IT on September 22.
• It launched the ISM in December 2021 toward this end.
• The mission was allocated $10 billion in funding.
• The ISM is tasked with the important mandate of screening the various applications under the semiconductor mission and shortlist the ones which are eligible for the subsidies.
• The order was notified as the tenure of current ISM CEO, joint secretaryAmitesh Kumar Sinha, is coming to an end on October 4
• Sinha was also the officer in charge of Electronics Hardware (PLI), SCL (Semiconductor Laboratory) and Productivity and Employment Generation, and the Designated Officer (u/s 69A).
• As per the revised work distribution order, joint secretary Sushil Pal is to take charge of Electronics Hardware (PLI), SCL, and Productivity and Employment Generation, with effect from October 9.
• Joint secretary Sanket S Bhondve will be the Designated Officer (u/s 69A).
• Under the mission, the government on September 23 broke ground for a $2.75 billion Micron semiconductor assembly, testing, marking, and packaging (ATMP) plant in Sanand, Gujarat.
• The project is expected to bring in more progress in the semiconductor mission, with two big proposals already underway

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6. Who has been appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director of General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re), effective October 1?
A) Ramesh Kumar
B) Sushma Sharma
C) Ramaswamy Narayanan
D) Sanjay Gupta
E) Meera Patel
Answer: C) Ramaswamy Narayanan

• Ramaswamy Narayanan assumed charge as chairman-cum managing director of GIC Re effective from October 1
• He will replace Devesh Srivastava, whose four-year term ended at the close of September 2023 as he attained the age of 60 years.
• The appointment comes after the Financial Services Institution Bureau (FSIB) recommended Narayanan as the head of GIC Re in June 2023, following which his position was approved by the Finance Ministry.
• Narayanan joined GIC Re has a direct recruit officer in 1988 and has since managed a spectrum of non-life insurance classes, including Fire, Engineering, Miscellaneous, Motor, Liability, Aviation, Marine, and Agriculture.
• Previously, he has also headed GIC Re’s UK branch, wherein he played a key role in the establishment of the Lloyds syndicate of GIC (GIC 1947).

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7. Whose tenure as the Chairman of the State Bank of India (SBI) was extended by the Indiangovernment until August 2024?
A) RaghuramRajan
B) Dinesh Khara
C) Arundhati Bhattacharya
D) Chanda Kochhar
E) Urjit Patel
Answer: B) Dinesh Khara

• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has given its nod for extending the tenure of SBI Chairman Dinesh Kumar Khara till August 28, 2024.
• The three-year tenure of 62-year-old Khara is due to end on October 6 and the order is expected to be issued soon
• Khara was appointed as Chairman of the country’s largest commercial bank on October 7, 2020, for a period of three years.
• The current norms stipulate that a person can hold the post of SBI Chairman up to the age of 63.
• In 1984, Khara started his career in SBI as a probationary officer.
• Khara also had a stint in Chicago and oversaw the merger of five associates and BhartiyaMahila Bank with SBI.
• He was also the MD & CEO of SBI Mutual Fund between November 2013 and August 2016. Khara was made MD of SBI in August 2016.

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Awards – Daily Current Affairs October 05

8. Who won the 2023 Nobel Prize in Literature for his innovative plays and prose which give voice to the unsayable?
A) Haruki Murakami
B) Jon Fosse
C) ChimamandaNgoziAdichie
D) J.K. Rowling
E) Salman Rushdie
Answer: B) Jon Fosse

• Norwegian author and dramatist Jon Fosse won the 2023 Nobel Prize in Literature “for his innovative plays and prose which give voice to the unsayable”
• The prize is awarded by the Swedish Academy and is worth 11 million Swedish crowns (about $1 million).
• Established in the will of Swedish dynamite inventor and businessman Alfred Nobel, the prizes for achievements in literature, science and peace have been awarded since 1901, becoming a career pinnacle in the fields.
• The economics prize is a later addition established by the Swedish central bank.
• Alongside the peace prize, literature has often drawn the most attention, and controversy, thrusting lesser known authors into the global spotlight as well as lifting book sales for well-established literary super stars.
• Over the years, the literature prize has also picked winners well beyond the novelist tradition, including playwrights, historians, philosophers and poets, even breaking new ground with the award to singer-songwriter Bob Dylan in 2016.
• Last year’s Nobel was won by one of the main favourites, author Annie Ernaux, for her largely autobiographical books examining memory and social inequality, making her the first French woman to win the world’s most prestigious literary award.

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9. Who was recently awarded the Tata Literature Lifetime Achievement Award for their significant contributions to literature?
A) R.K. Narayan
B) Arundhati Roy
C) Chetan Bhagat
D) Ambai
E) Ruskin Bond
Answer: D) Ambai

• Tamil writer Ambai, born as C.S. Lakshmi in Coimbatore, receives the prestigious Tata Literature Live Lifetime Achievement Award for 2023.
• A feminist writer, who questioned the stereotyping of women, Ambai, born C.S. Lakshmi in Coimbatore, won the SahityaAkademi award for her short story collection SivappuKazhutthudanOruPatchaiparavai in 2021.
• Her debut short story collection, SirakukalMuriyum, was released in 1976, when she was still in her teens. She limited herself to exclusively writing short stories.
• Lakshmi, who writes under the pen name Ambai, has made remarkable contributions to Tamil fiction, particularly in the short story genre
• Ambai joins a prestigious list of past recipients of the Tata Literature Live Lifetime Achievement Award, including eminent figures such as Mahesh Elkunchwar, Anita Desai, Ruskin Bond, Shanta Gokhale, Sir Mark Tully, Girish Karnad, Amitav Ghosh, Kiran Nagarkar, M.T. Vasudevan Nair, Khushwant Singh, Sir V.S. Naipaul, and Mahashweta Devi.
• Her contributions to literature, particularly her innovative exploration of women’s stories, make her a deserving addition to this distinguished group of literary luminaries.
• She is a pioneering archivist in women studies and a co-founder of SPARROW, (Sound and Picture Archives for Research on Women) India’s first archive dedicated to only women, which holds a range of writings and visual and oral records.

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10. Who recently became the first woman to receive the Global Indian Award?
A) Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
B) IndraNooyi
C) SudhaMurty
D) Chanda Kochhar
E) Naina Lal Kidwai
Answer: C) SudhaMurty

• SudhaMurty, renowned author, philanthropist and wife of Infosys co-founder N. R. Narayana Murty, was conferred with the Global Indian Award by the Canada India Foundation.
• She has been conferred by Canada India Foundation at Toronto gala event
• The Global Indian Award, which is worth $50, 000, is given each year to a prominent Indian who has made a major mark in his or her chosen field.
• She donated the award money to The Field Institute (University of Toronto) which is internationally renowned for strengthening collaboration, innovation, and learning in mathematics and across a broad range of disciplines.

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Science and Technology – Daily Current Affairs October 05

11. What is the aim of the collaboration between Tata Elxsi and IISc in the domain of cyber security?
A) To develop advanced autonomous vehicles
B) To enhance digital marketing strategies
C) To improve cybersecurity measures and technologies
D) To create sustainable energy solutions
E) To optimize supply chain management
Answer: C) To improve cybersecurity measures and technologies

• Tata Elxsi has announced a joint venture with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) to develop advanced Automotive Cyber Security Solutions.
• This initiative is part of their existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and will combine Tata Elxsi’s expertise in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and software-defined vehicles (SDV) and EV solutions with IISc’s research capabilities.
• The partnership aims to tackle the growing cybersecurity challenges posed by complex in-vehicle networks and the evolution of software in modern vehicles.
• The rise of vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-anything (V2X) connectivity has opened avenues for potential threats such as theft, remote control, tampering, and unauthorised access to personal information
• Tata Elxsi is a provider of design and technology services spanning various industries, including Automotive, Broadcast, Communications, Healthcare, and Transportation.
• The company leverages digital technologies like IoT, Cloud, Mobility, Virtual Reality, and Artificial Intelligence to help clients reimagine their products and services.

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12. How many Starlink internet satellites did SpaceX launch into orbit from Florida?
A) 10 satellites
B) 15 satellites
C) 20 satellites
D) 22 satellites
E) 25 satellites
Answer: D) 22 satellites

• SpaceX launched a new batch of Starlink internet satellites to low-Earth orbit.
• The Falcon 9 rocket with 22 Starlink satellites lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
• Launch marked the eighth flight for Falcon 9’s first-stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched CRS-26, OneWeb Launch 16, Intelsat IS-40e, and four Starlink missions.
• Following stage separation, the first stage landed on the Just Read the Instructions droneship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
• Starlink is a large constellation of highly advanced satellites operating in a low orbit around the Earth to provide high-speed, low-latency internet access to underserved and remote areas around the world, including rural and remote regions that lack reliable internet infrastructure.

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International Affairs – Daily Current Affairs October 05

13. Which two countries have recently announced their collaboration for sharing and developing industries and advanced technologies?
A) India and China
B) India and United States
C) India and United Arab Emirates (UAE)
D) United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia
E) United States and United Kingdom
Answer: C) India and United Arab Emirates (UAE)

• India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have joined forces to collaborate in sharing and development of industries and advanced technologies.
• India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry and UAE’s Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Thursday on cooperation in the fields of industries and advanced technologies.
• The MoU was signed in the presence of Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Sheikh Hamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Managing Director of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.
• This Memorandum of Understanding aims at strengthening and developing industries in both nations through investments, technology transfer and the deployment of key technologies in industries, by benefiting from joint funds and the mutual efforts in developing various technologies.
• UAE and India along with Saudi Arabia, the US and European Union (EU), had recently announced an ambitious infrastructure plan — the ‘India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor’.
• This initiative launched at the G20 summit in New Delhi, seeks to reshape the trade route between the Gulf, Europe and South Asia, connecting them by rail and sea links.
  Union Minister Piyush Goyal is in UAE to co-chair the 11th Meeting of the India-UAE High-Level Joint Task Force to boost investments between the two countries.
• The Joint Task Force was established in 2013 to promote trade, investment and economic ties between India and the UAE.

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National Affairs – Daily Current Affairs October 05

14. What is the purpose of the pact signed between the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya?
A) To promote international trade agreements
B) To advance the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan
C) To establish a new university
D) To develop infrastructure for the entertainment industry
E) To create a national transportation network
Answer: B) To advance the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan

• The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and GatiShaktiVishwavidyalaya (GSV) have entered into collaboration to boost development of India’s infrastructure and logistics sectors.
• Under this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), GSV shall be the nodal agency across India to design, develop and deliver courses and curriculum related to PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan and National Logistics Policy at various centres in different states
• This collaboration shall mark the culmination of smarter planning and implementation, structured specialised development and capacity building.
• It will bring academic vigour to PM GatiShakti approach leading to reduced logistics cost, efficient logistics, and fostering a competitive business ecosystem

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15. How many items were included in the fifth Positive Indigenisation list released by the Ministry of Defence (MoD)?
A) 50 items
B) 75 items
C) 98 items
D) 110 items
E) 125 items
Answer: C) 98 items

• The Ministry of Defence (MoD) released the fifth Positive Indigenisation list of 98 items, such as certain categories of combat vehicles and drones, sensors, weapons and ammunitions, to give more exposure to domestic industry and reduce dependence on imports of the military hardware.
• The latest indigenisation list, prepared by the Department of Military Affairs, lays special focus on import substitution of components of major systems which are being developed and is likely to translate into firm orders in the next five to ten years
• Prominent items include Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicle, Articulated All-Terrain Vehicles, Remotely Piloted Air Borne Vehicles upto 25 Km with 2Kg Payload for Army, Naval Shipborne Unmanned Aerial System, Medium Upgrade Low Endurance Class Tactical Drone, Electric Light Vehicle for Army, Medium Range Precision Kill System for Artillery, and Next Generation Low Level Light Radar for Army.
• Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also launched 76 challenges for the industry under 10th Defence India Start-up Challenges (DISC 10) and DISC 10 PRIME of Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) and five problem statements under iDEX for Fauji at Swavlamban seminar 2023. In addition, two INDUS X challenges under ‘INDUS-X Mutual Promotion of Advanced Collaborative Technologies’ (IMPACT) challenges jointly finalised by iDEX and United States Department of Defense (US DoD) were also launched by Rajnath Singh. He also released the Indian Navy’s updated Indigenisation Roadmap ‘Swavlamban 2.0’.
• The NIIO and the Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO) entered into an agreement for jointly working on facilitating the infusion of Venture Capital into the defence ecosystem through the iDEX Innovators Hub (iIH), said the MoD. At the seminar, ‘INVenT’ (iDEX-Navy Venture for Technology) was launched. In addition, a number of other MoUs were exchanged including with the academia and the industry. iDEX winners, and especially those who have already been awarded procurement contracts, were also felicitated during the event.
• The Defence Minister also launched SBI NAVeCash Card – a one-of-its-kind dual-chip debit card developed by the State Bank of India (SBI) and the Indian Navy. The card can be used in online mode (as a regular debit card) as well as in offline mode while at sea with no direct connectivity with the bank, stated the ministry. The card has been already been tested onboard various Indian Naval ships.

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16. Which organization collaborated with SavitribaiPhule Pune University for the soft launch of the “Universalization of Traditional Indian Knowledge System (UTIKS) portal” at Manipal Academy of Higher Education?
A) Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)
B) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
C) Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR)
D) Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
E) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Answer: C) Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR)

• The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) in collaboration with SavitribaiPhule Pune University organized the soft launch of an online platform “Universalization of Traditional Indian Knowledge System (UTIKS) portal” at Manipal Academy of Higher Education
• The UTIKS portal was soft-launched by Dr Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, President, ICCR in the presence of Kumar Tuhin, Director General, ICCR, Dr Narayan Sabhahit, Pro-VC, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Dignitaries and Officials from the state Government of Karnataka and international students from Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka.
• This online platform is for short courses on Traditional Indian Knowledge which provides an authentic single window source of introductory level knowledge on a range of subjects under the Traditional Indian Knowledge System and was developed in collaboration with SavitribaiPhule Pune University.
• The Portal is aimed at disseminating knowledge and authentic information about Indian culture to the uninitiated, as well as introducing Indian culture in a nuanced manner to those who may already have a basic understanding but would be looking for a deeper appreciation of diverse subjects
• UTIKS, an initiative of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), is an e-learning platform designed to take Indian culture to a global audience and present its rich civilization and culture in a learner-friendly manner.

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17. What is the purpose of UNICEF’s ‘YouthHub’ platform launched in India?
A) To provide free education to young people.
B) To promote sports and fitness among young people.
C) To connect young people to future job opportunities.
D) To provide financial assistance to young entrepreneurs.
E) To offer mental health support to young people.
Answer: C) To connect young people to future job opportunities.

• To connect young people in India to future job opportunities, especially girls and marginalised youth, UNICEF launched an innovative, digital ‘YouthHub’ app.
• The platform, which functions as a digital ecosystem, was jointly launched by UNICEF Executive Director, Catherine Russell and UNICEF India National Ambassador, AyushmannKhurrana.
• Co-created by YuWaah at UNICEF, PwC India, Capgemini, and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), the YouthHub app aims to connect young people to curated jobs, skills, and volunteering opportunities.
• Furthermore, it intends to enable access, especially for girls and youth from marginalized backgrounds.

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18. What two indigenous technologies has the Indian Navy recently developed to enhance its capabilities?
A) An anti-aircraft missile system and a stealth submarine.
B) A long-range radar system and an autonomous underwater vehicle.
C) An indigenous navigation system and an anti-swarm drone.
D) A nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and a ballistic missile.
E) A sonar network and a hypersonic missile.
Answer: C) An indigenous navigation system and an anti-swarm drone

• The Indian Navy has developed an indigenous navigation system and an anti-swarm drone, capable of building walls around its own warships or assets to protect them from any attack by enemy drones
• The speciality of this ammunition is it has 300 steel balls, on detonation, it will spread and create a wall of balls and it will destroy the drones. It is highly effective and completed lab trials
• The anti-swarm drone ammunition serves as an essential tool in bolstering national security.
• The Indian Navy is progressing with the development of niche technologies through its Swavlamban initiative.
• The programme, launched last year, involves collaborating with start-ups and MSMEs to develop technologies such as autonomous weaponized swarms, underwater swarm drones, fire-fighting robots, and more.
• The Indian Navy’s anti-swarm drone 30 mm ammunition is displayed at the Indian Navy’s Swavalambam 2023 exhibition at Bharat Mandapam.
• The drone is capable of building an iron wall around its own warships or assets to protect it from any attack by enemy swarm drones including hundreds of drones
• The 30mm ammo is used by the AK-630 close-in weapon system. The ammunition has been developed in partnership with a defence research lab in Pune.
• In anti-swarm drone ammunition, a single shell will burst and disperse 300 steel balls and multiple shells will be fired.
• A wall of steel will be created in the air that will protect the assets from any aerial or drone attack.
• The ammunition will be fired from an AK 630 gun mounted on a ship.

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19. Which minister inaugurated Nokia’s 6G Lab in India?
A) Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman
B) Prime Minister Narendra Modi
C) Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw
D) Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya
E) Foreign Minister SubrahmanyamJaishankar
Answer: C) Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

• Finnish telecom gear maker Nokia has established a 6G Lab at its global research and development centre in Bengaluru
• The lab was inaugurated virtually by Union Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
• The first-of-its-kind project aims to accelerate the development of fundamental technologies and innovative use cases underpinned by 6G technology that will address the future needs of both industry and society.
• Last month, India’s vision to have ubiquitous coverage under 6G technology was accepted by UN body ITU’s Study Group in its meeting held in Geneva — a move that is expected to reduce the cost of deployment of the next-generation technology.
• The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) decides on the development of international mobile telecommunication standards after coordination with its member countries, technology companies and other stakeholders.
• Nokia’s 6G lab will function as a platform for collaboration among industry stakeholders and facilitate the testing of innovative solutions while establishing their potential for commercialisation.
• The lab includes a setup to research ‘Network as a Sensor’ technology that enables the network to sense objects, people and movement without the need for onboard sensors.
• In the 6G era, ‘Network as a Sensor’ has been identified as a key enabling technology that supports the vision of bringing the digital and physical worlds together
• The lab will also provide an experimental platform for researching algorithms, privacy, and sustainable system design
• Nokia is also a founding member of theNext G Alliance which is helping to drive the 6G ecosystem in North America and coordinating the German Lighthouse project 6G ANNA.
• Also, Ministry of Tourism organised inaugural ceremony for the PATA Travel Mart 2023 in New Delhi.
• The 46th edition of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Travel Mart 2023 is being organised at the magnificent International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC), PragatiMaidan, in New Delhi.
• The Mart is being organised from October 4th to 6th 2023, bringing together tourism professionals and business stakeholders from across the world.
• The physical version of the Travel Mart is being held after a hiatus of three years due to the pandemic.
• This year the event features different activities, including the prestigious PATA Gold Award, the PATA Youth Symposium, PATA Forum on Sustainability besides the B2B Mart.
• The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) founded in 1951, with its Head Quarters in Bangkok, is a renowned not-for-profit association recognized internationally for its role as a catalyst in the responsible development of travel and tourism in the Asia Pacific region.
• Also, A MoU between Department of Heritage & Tourism, Government of Haryana and the North Eastern Handicrafts and Handloom Development Corporation Ltd. (NEHHDC), Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) was signed for bilateral, cross-cultural exchange & promotion of handicrafts, handlooms, textiles, crafts, culture and cuisine of the state of Haryana and North East India.
• Shri Chanchal Kumar, Secretary Ministry of DoNER, Shri M.D. Sinha, Principal Secretary, Govt. of Haryana and senior officials of MDoNER and Government. of Haryana were present. This significant and historic partnership will go a long way realizing the objectives of ‘DekhoApnaDesh’ and ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’.
• As per the MoU, the Department of Heritage & Tourism, Government of Haryana will allow NEHHDC to participate as the Theme State in the annual ‘SurajkundMela’ for the next 5 years.

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20. Where was India’s first solar cycling track launched, along the Outer Ring Road (ORR)?
A) Mumbai
B) Kolkata
C) Chennai
D) Hyderabad
E) New Delhi
Answer: D) Hyderabad

• The solar-roofed cycling track around Hyderabad’s Outer Ring Road (ORR) was officially inaugurated
• This 23-kilometre track is first-of-its-kind and is designed to be environmentally friendly.
• The newly opened Healthway Cycling Track is a unique facility with a global design.
• It is divided into two distinct stretches.
• The first section covers a distance of 8.5 kilometres, running from TSPA to Nanakramguda.
• The second stretch spans 14.5 kilometres, extending from Narsingi to Kollur.
  Additionally, there will be five strategically located access points along the track, allowing entry from Narsingi, Kollur, TSPA, Vattinagulapalli, and Nanakramguda.
• KT Rama Rao, the Minister of Municipal Administration and Urban Development, who officiated the track’s inauguration, described it as India’s first-of-its-kind solar-covered cycle track.
• These solar roof panels have the potential to generate an impressive 16 megawatts of electricity, equivalent to powering 32,000 streetlights or illuminating 800 kilometres of city streets.
• The path is guarded by V-shaped columns made of SS steel. The roofing sheets, sourced from a factory in Ahmedabad and fabricated on-site, are made of GI with anodised coating.
• The design of the panels was customised in collaboration with experts from the Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad, and Osmania University’s College of Engineering.
• The project aims to create modular pieces for easy installation and maintenance.

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21. Who recently launched the ‘SankalpSaptaah’, a week-long programme aimed at Aspirational Blocks?
A) President of India
B) Prime Minister of India
C) Chief Justice of India
D) Speaker of the Lok Sabha
E) Chief Minister of Odisha
Answer: B) Prime Minister of India

• The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi launched a unique week-long programme for Aspirational Blocks in the country called ‘SankalpSaptaah’ at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
• He also launched the Aspirational Blocks Programme Portal and inaugurated the exhibition showcased on the occasion.
• SankalpSaptaah’ is linked to the effective implementation of the Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP).
• The Prime Minister launched the nationwide programme on January 7, 2023.
• It aims to improve governance at the block level in order to enhance the quality of life of citizens. It is being implemented in 500 Aspirational Blocks across 329 districts in the country.
• Chintanshivirs were organized at village and block levels across the country to implement the Aspirational Blocks Programme and to prepare an effective block development strategy.
• The ‘SankalpSaptaah’ is a culmination of these chintanshivirs.
• ‘SankalpSaptaah’ will be observed in all of the 500 Aspirational Blocks.
• Each day in ‘SankalpSaptaah’, from 3rd October till 9th October 2023, is dedicated to a specific development theme on which all Aspirational Blocks will work.
• The themes for the first six days include ‘SampoornaSwasthya’, ‘SuposhitPariwaar’, ‘Swachhta’, ‘Krishi’, ‘Shiksha’, and ‘SamridhiDiwas’.
• The last day of the week i.e. October 9, 2023, will be a celebration of the work conducted during the entire week, as ‘SankalpSaptaah – SamaveshSamaroh’.
• The inaugural programme will witness the participation of about 3,000 panchayat and block-level people’s representatives and functionaries from across the country in Bharat Mandapam.
• In addition, nearly two lakh people including block and panchayat level functionaries, farmers, and persons from other walks of life, will join the programme virtually.

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