Daily Current Affairs October 12

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October 12| Daily Current Affairs 2023

Important Days – Daily Current Affairs October 12

1. When is World Arthritis Day (WAD) observed annually?
A) May 5
B) September 22
C) October 12
D) November 7
E) December 3
Answer: C) October 12

• World Arthritis Day (WAD) is marked annually on October 12.
• The theme of World Arthritis Day 2023 is “Living with an RMD at all stages of life”.
• The World arthritis day was established by Arthritis and Rheumatism International (ARI) and the first event was observed on 12 October 1996.

World Sight Day

• World Sight Day is observed across the globe on the second Thursday of October every year to raise awareness about blindness and vision impairment.
• This year the occasion is being marked on October 12 under the theme ‘love your eyes at work’.
• World Sight Day has been observed since the year 2000 and is now coordinated by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness alongside the World Health Organization. It was initially observed as part of a SightFirstCampaign by the Lions Club International Foundation

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Sports – Daily Current Affairs October 12

2. Who won the men’s singles title at the China Open 2023 by defeating Daniil Medvedev (Russia)?
A) Rafael Nadal (Spain)
B) Novak Djokovic (Serbia)
C) Jannik Sinner (Italy)
D) Roger Federer (Switzerland)
E) Alexander Zverev (Germany)
Answer: C) Jannik Sinner (Italy)

22nd edition of the China Open

• Held in : Beijing Olympic Green Tennis Center, Beijing, China
• Date: September 28 – October 04 2023

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3. Who won the Qatar Grand Prix?
A) Lewis Hamilton
B) Sebastian Vettel
C) Valtteri Bottas
D) Charles Leclerc
E) Max Verstappen
Answer: E) Max Verstappen

Qatar Grand Prix (Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix)

• Held in the Lusail International Circuit in Lusail, Qatar

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4. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and which foundation have joined forces for Olympic Values Education in India?
A) Tata Trusts
B) Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
C) Azim Premji Foundation
D) Adani Foundation
E) Reliance Foundation
Answer: E) Reliance Foundation

• The International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Olympic Museum and Reliance Foundation entered into an agreement to promote Olympic values through sport among children in the Mumbai region.
• While there are plans to promote the programme across the state of Maharashtra soon, the agreement will focus on grade-specific activities in selected schools, sessions between athletes and students to promote physical activity and raising awareness about Olympic values.
• The Olympics Value Education Programme (OVEP) was launched in India last year with the Abhinav Bindra Foundation in Odisha.
• To mark the occasion, around 80 Reliance Foundation Young Champs students took part in games alongside more than 100 children from Reliance Foundation schools and their NGO partners.
• Together, they depicted the integration of Olympic values into both modern and traditional Indian sports such as kho-kho, gully cricket and mallakhamb.

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Obituary – Daily Current Affairs October 12

5. Who recently passed away in a hospital in Madhya Pradesh, and was a former Union minister and senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)?
A) Narendra Modi
B) Atal Bihari Vajpayee
C) L.K. Advani
D) Sartaj Singh
E) Rajnath Singh
Answer: D) Sartaj Singh

• Former Union minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sartaj Singh died in a hospital in Madhya Pradesh
• Singh came into the limelight in 1998 after he defeated powerful Congress leader and former Union minister late Arjun Singh from Hoshangabad Lok Sabha constituency.
• He won the Lok Sabha elections five times from the Hoshangabad seat.
• He was also elected as an MLA twice later.
• Singh served as the Union health minister in 1996 when the government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee was in power for just 13 days.
• During 2013-18, he served as the forest minister in the cabinet led by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. When BJP denied him a ticket for contesting MP assembly polls in 2018, he joined the Congress and contested as its candidate.
• However, he lost the elections and returned to the BJP after that. His last rites will be performed in Itarsi

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6. Who recently passed away, and was a former Tamil Nadu all-rounder and BCCI match referee?
A) M. S. Dhoni
B) Virat Kohli
C) R. Ashwin
D) DJ Gokulakrishnan
E) Anil Kumble
Answer: D) DJ Gokulakrishnan

• Former Tamil Nadu player, BCCI match referee and coachD.J. Gokulakrishnan passed away at the age of 50
• The former bowling all-rounder has played 39 first-class and 45 list-A matches for Tamil Nadu, Assam, and Goa between 1993 and 2004.
• A medium-pace bowler, he has 103 first-class wickets at an average of 27.34 with four five-wicket hauls and the best bowling figures of seven for 54.
• He’s claimed 71 list-A wickets at an average of 20.91 with one five-wicket haul and the best bowling figures of five for 55.
• A right-hand batter, he has 1116 first-class runs at an average of 24.26 with one hundred and four fifties, the highest score being an unbeaten 104.
• He has a list-A tally of 552 runs at an average of 25.09 with two fifties, the highest score being an unbeaten 64.
• He’s officiated as a match referee in the Ranji trophy, Vijay Hazare trophy, and the Tamil Nadu Premier League.
• A qualified level 2 coach, he has served as the Tamil Nadu assistant coach in 2008 and 2013, and bowling coach in 2010. He was also the Tamil Nadu u-19 head coach in 2015.

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Ranking – Daily Current Affairs October 12

7. Who has reclaimed the top position on the 2023 Forbes list of India’s 100 Richest with a net worth of $92 billion?
A) Adani Group Chairman, Gautam Adani
B) Tata Group Chairman, N. Chandrasekaran
C) Reliance Industries Chairman and Managing Director, Mukesh Ambani
D) HDFC Bank CEO, Aditya Puri
E) Infosys Co-founder, Nandan Nilekani
Answer: C) Reliance Industries Chairman and Managing Director, Mukesh Ambani

2023 Forbes list of India’s 100 Richest
Full list of top 10 richest in India

1) Mukesh Ambani; US$92 billion
2) Gautam Adani; $68 billion
3) Shiv Nadar: $29.3 billion
4) Savitri Jindal; $24 billion
5) Radhakishan Damani; $23 billion
6) Cyrus Poonawalla; $20.7 billion
7) Hinduja Family; $20 billion
8) Dilip Shanghvi; $19 billion
9) Kumar Birla; $17.5 billion
10) Shapoor Mistry & Family; $16.9 billion

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Banking and Finance – Daily Current Affairs October 12

8. What collaboration has recently been announced between Paytm and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC)?
A) Introduction of cashback offers for metro commuters
B) Launch of a new metro-themed digital wallet
C) Integration of QR code-based ticketing for metro travel
D) Partnership for a metro-themed mobile game
E) Implementation of a cryptocurrency payment option for metro rides
Answer: C) Integration of QR code-based ticketing for metro travel

• One97 Communications Limited (OCL) , which owns the brand Paytm, said that it has partnered with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to launch QR code-based ticketing for metro travel.
• With this new feature, commuters can get the mobile QR ticket on the Paytm app under the ‘Metro’ section, by simply mentioning the station of entry and destination station on the day of the journey.
• Passengers can just hold their smartphone in front of the QR code scanner of the Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) gates at both entry and exit stations to proceed for the journey.
• The QR-based ticketing at Delhi Metro stations will lead to an efficient, and hassle-free movement for lakhs of metro commuters in the National Capital
• Also, The Reserve Bank of India imposed a monetary penalty of ₹5.39 crore on Paytm Payments Bank. The fine was imposed on the non-compliance of certain provisions of guidelines related to KYC, cybersecurity, etc.
• Paytm Payments Bank was penalised for “non-compliance with certain provisions of the ‘Reserve Bank of India (Know Your Customer (KYC)) Directions, 2016’, ‘RBI Guidelines for Licensing of Payments Banks’ read with ‘Enhancement of maximum balance at end of the day’, ‘Cyber security framework in banks’ read with ‘Guidelines on reporting of unusual cyber security incidents’ and ‘Securing mobile banking applications including UPI ecosystem,”

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9. What has ICICI Bank recently introduced to provide customers with a consolidated view of their savings and current accounts?
A) Project MoneyMerge
B) iConsolidate
C) Unified Banking Interface (UBI)
D) iFinance
E) Account Fusion Pro
Answer: D) iFinance

• ICICI Bank announces the launch of ‘iFinance’, enabling crores of customers-retail and sole proprietors, to get a consolidated view of their savings and current accounts in one place.
• Customers of other banks can also benefit from this facility, which ICICI Bank has introduced by leveraging the Account Aggregator ecosystem, on the Bank’s digital platforms, namely the iMobile Pay app, Retail Internet Banking (RIB), Corporate Internet Banking (CIB) and InstaBIZ, the Bank’s mobile app for businesses.

ICICI Bank’s ‘iFinance’: Key features:

1) Linking and viewing of all accounts: Users can securely link their savings and current accounts with all banks and view account balances in one place
2) Summary of income and expenditure: The facility allows users to get an insightful summary of their income and expenditure which helps them monitor their finances properly
3) Track spending/payments: Users can track their spending and get category-wise information on their expenses. This helps them manage their expenses and overall financial health
4) Complete user control: The facility also provides increased convenience as the users can link and de-link accounts on a real-time basis
5) Detailed statements: With this facility, users can also download consolidated account statement(s) of all linked Bank accounts

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10. Federal Bank has extended Unified Payments Interface (UPI) to which clients through its mobile banking platform, FedMobile?
A) Corporate clients
B) Non-Resident Indian (NRI) clients
C) Senior citizen clients
D) Student clients
E) Rural clients
Answer: B) Non-Resident Indian (NRI) clients

• Federal Bank has extended Unified Payments Interface (UPI) to NREclients through its mobile banking platform, FedMobile.
• With the integration of UPI, NRI customers residing in countries approved by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) permitting UPI for NRIs can seamlessly utilize UPI features through FedMobile.
• The NPCI approved countries include Singapore (+65), Australia (+61), Malaysia (+60), Canada (+1), Hong Kong (+852), Oman (+968), Qatar (+974), United States of America (+1), Saudi Arabia (+966), United Arab Emirates (+971), and United Kingdom (+44).
• Traditionally, NRE clients have faced challenges when it comes to making payments to merchants, especially in tier 2 and tier 3 cities where point of sale machines may not be readily available.
• This has now bridged this gap with the introduction of UPI for NRIs on its mobile platform

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Acquisitions and Mergers – Daily Current Affairs October 12

11. What recent approval has the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) granted to SBI Mutual Fund (SBI MF) regarding an acquisition?
A) To acquire a 9.99 percent stake in a technology startup
B) To acquire 9.99 percent of the paid-up share capital in IndusInd Bank
C) To purchase a majority stake in a telecommunications company
D) To invest in a foreign stock exchange
E) To establish a new financial institution
Answer: B) To acquire 9.99 percent of the paid-up share capital in IndusInd Bank

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued its approval to SBI Mutual Fund (SBI MF), the mutual funds arm of the State Bank of India, to acquire 9.99 percent of the paid-up share capital in private lender IndusInd Bank
• SBI MF has been advised by RBI to acquire the aforesaid major shareholding in the bank within a period of one year i.e. by October 10, 2024
• Earlier, in May, the RBI gave its nod to SBI Funds Management (SBIFML) -a joint venture between State Bank of India and France’s AMUNDI – to acquire 9.99 percent stake in HDFC Bank and had recommended the company to do so within six months.

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12. Bharti Group’s acquisition of the 49% stake in Bharti AXA Life Insurance Co is from which French insurer?
A) AXA
B) AIG
C) Allianz
D) BNP Paribas
E) Societe Generale
Answer: A) AXA

• Bharti Group will acquire French insurer AXA’s (AXAF.PA) 49% stake in Bharti AXA Life Insurance Co, the Indian conglomerate, taking full control of a venture that was jointly run for nearly two decades.
• It was not immediately clear if the deal marks the French insurer’s exit from the South Asian country.
• British United Provident Association (BUPA) is set to become the majority owner of Niva Bupa Health Insurance after it struck a deal to buy a portion of PE firm True North’s stake in the JV.
• India’s billionaire Burman family is also seeking to buy an additional stake of about 26% in Religare Enterprises (RELG.NS), in a move to capitalise on the country’s largely untapped insurance space
• Bharti’s JV deal, made through its Bharti Life Ventures arm, is expected to close by December this year, subject to regulatory approvals.
• The company competes with HDFC Life Insurance (HDFL.NS), ICICI Prudential Life Insurance (ICIR.NS), SBI Life Insurance (SBIL.NS) and LIC in a market ranked ninth in the world, according to the insurance regulatory body’s latest annual report.
• Bharti, which owns India’s No. 2 telecom carrier Bharti Airtel (BRTI.NS), also operates Bharti Realty and runs packaged foods company Del Monte Foods Pvt Ltd in India in partnership with Del Monte Pacific (DMPL.SI).

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Appointments – Daily Current Affairs October 12

13. Who has recently been appointed as the new chairman of South Indian Bank?
A) Arundhati Bhattacharya
B) VJ Kurian
C) Raghuram Rajan
D) Chanda Kochhar
E) N. S. Kannan
Answer: B) VJ Kurian

• VJ Kurian has been appointed as the non-executive part time chairman of the Thrissur based South Indian Bank with effect from November 2 to March 22, 2026.
• Kurian will succeed Salim Gangadharan, who will be retiring as non-executive part-time chairman of the bank on November 1 after completion of his term.

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14. Neeraj Chopra, the reigning Olympic, World, and Asian champion in men’s javelin, was recently named as an Ambassador for which organization?
A) UNICEF
B) Laureus
C) Red Cross
D) UNESCO
E) Greenpeace
Answer: B) Laureus

• Neeraj Chopra, the reigning Olympic, World and Asian champion in men’s javelin, was named as Laureus Ambassador, pledging his support to Laureus Sport for Good, the global foundation supporting over 300 programmes that use sport to eradicate inequality and discrimination for young people around the world.
• His association with Laureus goes back to 2022, when he was nominated in the Breakthrough of the Year category at the Laureus World Sports Awards, following his gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics – the first won by an Indian track and field athlete
  This year, Neeraj has climbed to the World No.1 ranking with golds at the World Championships and, earlier this month, the Asian Games

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Awards – Daily Current Affairs October 12

15. DBS Bank has recently been named “Safest Bank in Asia” by which New York-based trade publication?
A) Financial Times
B) The Wall Street Journal
C) Bloomberg Businessweek
D) Reuters
E) Global Finance
Answer: E) Global Finance

• DBS Bank announced that it has been named “Safest Bank in Asia” by New York-based trade publication Global Finance.
• This is the 15th consecutive year that DBS has achieved this accolade, extending a track record stretching back to 2009.
• The bank also retained its position at 2nd in the ‘World’s Safest Commercial Banks’ list.
• This year, DBS was also named World’s Best Bank for Corporate Responsibility by leading financial publication Euromoney, making it the first bank in Singapore to receive this award since the category’s inception in 2014. DBS has also been named “World’s Best Bank” multiple times by leading global publications including Euromoney, Global Finance and The Banker, “World’s Best Digital Bank” by Euromoney, “Most Innovative in Digital Banking” by The Banker, and “Top 100 Best Workplaces for Innovators” by Fast Company.

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International Affairs – Daily Current Affairs October 12

16. What initiative has India recently announced to aid the return of Indians from Israel?
A) Project Exodus
B) Operation Ajay
C) Mission Homeland
D) Project Shalom
E) Operation ReturnEase
Answer: B) Operation Ajay

• India announced launching “Operation Ajay” to facilitate the return from Israel of those Indians who wish to come back home as a series of brazen attacks on Israeli towns by Hamas militants over the weekend triggered fresh tensions in the region.
• Israel has already mounted a massive military offensive to avenge the attacks
  Earlier in the day, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it has set up a round-the-clock control room in Delhi and separate emergency helplines in Tel Aviv and Ramallah to monitor the situation in Israel and Palestine and provide information and assistance to the Indian citizens.
• The phone numbers of the control room in Delhi are 1800118797 (toll-free), +91-11 23012113, +91-11-23014104, +91-11-23017905 and +919968291988, and the e-mail ID is situationroom@mea.gov.in.

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National Affairs – Daily Current Affairs October 12

17. Recently, the Assam government notified the creation of a new district. What is the name of the new district?
A) Rangia
B) Bajali
C) Dibrugarh
D) Jorhat
E) Tezpur
Answer: B) Bajali

• A new district of Bajali was notified by the Assam government
• The Bajali district was created by bifurcating the Barpeta district.
• It will become the 35th district of Assam with the issuance of the notification as per the orders of the Governor.

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18. Which Indian government ministry launched three AI-powered technologies developed under the Intelligent Transportation Initiative?
A) Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
B) Ministry of Civil Aviation
C) Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
D) Ministry of Railways
E) Ministry of Science and Technology
Answer: C) Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology

• The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has launched three indigenously developed technologies developed under the Intelligent Transportation System Endeavor for Indian Cities initiative.
• These technologies are: CMOS Sensor based Camera for Industrial Application, Thermal Sensor Camera for Intelligent Transportation System-(TvITS) and Online Sucro Crystal Imaging System (OSIS).
• S Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), launched these technologies at the 11th Traffic Expo and Smart Mobility Conference.
• Sunita Verma, Group Coordinator R&D, MeitY, and other senior representatives from the government and industry were present at the occasion.
• The CMOS Sensor based Camera for Industrial Vision Applications (iViS) is an indigenous technology for automated inspection and identification of objects. It supports AI based applications employing Machine Learning and Deep Learning Techniques.
• The Thermal Sensor based Camera (TvITS) is an AI powered thermal sensor based smart vision camera for road traffic applications. It can provide data of stationery as well as of moving objects with high accuracy even in a completely dark environment in all weather conditions. The modular design provides ease of operation and changing of lenses as per need.
• The Online Sucro Crystal Imaging System (OSIS) is a system developed using the industrial camera for measurement of crystal size in sugar industries. It is a very important quality parameters which is required by the sugar industries.

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19. In which city did the External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar participate in the 23rd Council of Ministers meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association?
A) Mumbai
B) Colombo
C) New Delhi
D) Chennai
E) Male
Answer: B) Colombo

• India participated in the 23rd Council of Ministers (COM) meeting and the 25th Committee of Senior Officials of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, led by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
• India assumed the role of the Vice Chair of IORA for the year 2023-25 in this meeting, followed by the Chairmanship in 2025-27.
• Additionally, inaugurations were also done virtually at a ceremony presided over by President Wickremesinghe. It included 126 houses in Badulla, Matale and Matara districts under phase 3 of the Indian Housing project; 48 houses in Matale and Puttalam districts under the Model Village Housing project; 64 houses in Hambantota and Jaffna districts under Gram Shakthi projects.
• Moreover, a joint logo was also launched commemorating 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries
• The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) is an inter-governmental organisation aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and sustainable development within the Indian Ocean region through its 23 Member States and 11 Dialogue Partners.

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20. What is the name of the two-day coastal security exercise conducted by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) to test the defense preparedness of security agencies in the event of an emergency?
A) Operation Coastal Shield
B) Operation Sea Sentinel
C) Sagar Rakshak
D) Sagar Kavach
E) Coastal Guardian Exercise
Answer: D) Sagar Kavach

• A two-day Coastal security exercise ‘Sagar Kavach’, to test the defence preparedness of various security agencies in the event of an emergency, was conducted by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).
• The exercise was conducted in coordination with all stakeholders in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on October 10 and 11
• The objective of the exercise was to check coastal security mechanisms, strengthen surveillance, detection and identification capabilities and validate standard operating procedures of various Central, State and other agencies involved in the Coastal security framework.
• Coastal Security has come to the forefront after the November 26, 2008 Mumbai terror attack and Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry being the coastal states, have enormous importance of Maritime safety and security.
• In order to strengthen the coastal security mechanism, ‘Sagar Kavach’ exercise was conducted twice every year under the supervision of respective State Governments.
• The exercise is coordinated by the Indian Coast Guard with the active participation of Indian Navy, State Police, Intelligence Bureau, Customs, CISF, NSG, Department of Ports, Department of Fisheries, Director General of Lighthouses and Lightships.
• The exercise conducted consisted of two teams, Red Force–attackers–and the Blue Force–defenders.

ICG conducts 21st National Maritime Search and Rescue Board (NMSAR) meeting in Kolkata

• The 21st National Maritime Search and Rescue (NMSAR) Board meeting was held at Kolkata
• The meeting was chaired by Director General Rakesh Pal, Indian Coast Guard (ICG) in his capacity as Chairman , NMSAR Board. ICG is the coordinating and executing agency for Maritime Search and Rescue in Indian Search and Rescue Region (ISRR).
• The meeting was attended by representatives from stakeholders and resource agencies including Navy, Indian Air Force, ISRO, Customs, Coastal Police, DGCA, AAI, SCI, IMD, Fisheries, DG Shipping , Maritime boards, Port authorities, coastal States/UTs and other agencies, which are NMSAR Board members.
• During the meeting National Search and Rescue (SAR) awards for the year 2022-23 were also presented.
• The United Kingdom Flag vessel MV Furious was awarded in the merchant vessel category, Indian Fishing Boat New Aparajita from West Bengal was awarded in fishing boat category, ICG Ship Sujeet & ICG Air Squardon 835 Sqn(CG) in Govt owned SAR unit category while Gujrat Maritime Board and INMCC received the award in the ashore unit category.
• The NMSAR Board was formed in 2002 and since the Board meeting is being held annually to discuss policy issues, formulate guidelines/ procedures and consider recommendations for reviewing the National Search and Rescue plan.

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21. What is the name of the initiative launched by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in Malkangiri district to provide assured and affordable transport to the people?
A) Mukhya Mantri Gramin Yojana
B) Malkangiri Mobility Scheme
C) Location Accessible Multi Modal initiative (LAccMI) Yojana
D) Odisha Rural Connectivity Program
E) Affordable Transport Assurance Scheme
Answer: C) Location Accessible Multi Modal initiative (LAccMI) Yojana

• Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched the Location Accessible Multi Modal initiative (LAccMI) Yojana from Malkangiri district to facilitate assured and affordable transport to the people.
• Along with the LAccMI, Patnaik also launched projects worth Rs 800 crore for Malkangiri district.
• The Chief Minister inaugurated projects worth Rs 200 crore and laid foundation stone for projects worth Rs 600 crore.
• He had earlier launched flagship programmes like Rs one kg rice and Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana from Malkangiri.
• The Chief Minister bought a ticket by paying Rs 10 and travelled from Malkangiri to MV-3 in the bus .
• the role of Malkangiri in the development of Odisha, he said the proposal for Rs 10 lakh health insurance for women under the BSKY came from Malkangiri.
• Under the LAccMi scheme, over 1,000 buses will ply throughout the state.
• In the first phase , the Chief Minister said , buses will ply under the LAccMI scheme in Nabarangpur, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati and Kandhamal alongwith Malkangiri.

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22. Recently, the Himachal Pradesh Cabinet approved a scheme named ‘Van Mitra.’ Which department is associated with this scheme?
A) Education Department
B) Health Department
C) Forest Department
D) Agriculture Department
E) Rural Development Department
Answer: C) Forest Department

• Himachal Pradesh Cabinet approved the ‘Van Mitra’ Scheme of the Forest Department.
• The Cabinet in its meeting held under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has decided to approve ‘Van Mitra’ Scheme of the Forest Department under which one ‘Van Mitra’ each in 2061 Forest Beats would be engaged to strengthen the participation of local communities in protection, conservation and development of forest areas by roping in grass root level institutions.
• It also gave nod to fill up 100 vacant posts of Forest Guards in the Forest Department on contractual basis
• The Cabinet also decided to enhance the honorarium of Jal Rakshaks, Multi Purpose Workers, para fitters and para pump operators of Jal Shakti Vibhag by Rs. 500 per month raising it to Rs. 5000, Rs. 4400, Rs. 6000 and Rs. 6000 respectively.
• The Cabinet approved in principle to establish a passenger ropeway system from Chintpurni Baba Mai Dass Bhawan Parking to Chintpurni Temple in PPP mode in Una district with a cost of Rs. 76.50 crore in order to facilitate the pilgrims.

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23. Who inaugurated the 8th BRICS International Competition Conference 2023 in New Delhi?
A) Prime Minister Narendra Modi
B) Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana
C) Chairperson, NCLAT, Justice Ashok Bhushan
D) Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman
E) External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar
Answer: C) Chairperson, NCLAT, Justice Ashok Bhushan

• Chairperson, National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), Justice Ashok Bhushan, inaugurated the 8th BRICS International Competition Conference (BRICS ICC) 2023, in New Delhi.
• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) is hosting the Conference on the theme, New Issues in Competition Law and Policy – Dimensions, Perspective, Challenges, from 11th – 13th October, 2023.
• The conference has brought together heads and officials of BRICS competition authorities, competition policy experts, representatives of international organisations, and other stakeholders from across continents to enable exchange of insights on the new and emerging areas of importance in competition law and policy.
• The two-day conference features three plenary sessions on ‘BRICS Joint Documents (Leniency Programme & Digital Economy Reports)’, ‘New Issues in Competition Law & Policy in the BRICS Countries’ & ‘Promoting Soft law tools to create a pro-competitive environment in the markets’ and four breakout sessions on topics of competition analysis in digital economy, sustainability and climate change, role of market studies and challenges in merger control.

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24. The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers has launched a web portal containing statistical data of which sector?
A) Textile Sector
B) Pharmaceutical Sector
C) Information Technology Sector
D) Chemical Sector
E) Agricultural Sector
Answer: D) Chemical Sector

• The Union government launched a web portal providing statistical data related to the chemical sector for the benefit of all stakeholders.
• The portal www.charak.chemicals.gov.in will facilitate the collection of statistics related to various aspects of the chemical sector, such as production, installed capacity, export, import, purchases and sales, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers said
• The web portal developed by Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals along with the National Informatics Center was launched at a workshop hosted by industry body FICCI in New Delhi.
• The department has planned workshops in various cities, including Vadodara, Vapi, Pune, Bengaluru, Chennai, Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad, during October-November in order to sensitise about the web portal
• The objective of this portal is to elevate the value of chemical and petrochemical industries by streamlining data supply, fostering efficiency, and providing access to the latest sector innovations and technological advancements.
• It will also enable users, researchers, academicians, policy makers to generate swift visualizations and comprehensive reports tailored to the chemical sector’s specific needs
• This initiative will enable a support system for promoting industries for best practices, create authentic inventorization of the chemical data system and enable geographical data support system to various stakeholders, including policy makers, associated industries, researchers, academicians

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