Home Current Affairs Daily Current Affairs October 20: Check Here

Daily Current Affairs October 20: Check Here

Daily Current Affairs October 20

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 20. 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 20| Daily Current Affairs 2023

Important Days – Daily Current Affairs October 20

1. On which date is International Chefs Day observed annually?
A) October 10
B) October 15
C) October 20
D) November 10
E) December 20
Answer: C) October 20

  • The world observes International Chefs Day on October 20 annually.
  • In 2004, a reputed chef, Dr. Bill Gallagher initiated this day. He was the president of WorldChefs which was a network of more than 100 chef associations.
  • This year’s theme for International Chefs Day, is ‘Growing Great Chefs’.

World Osteoporosis Day 2023

  • Each year, on October 20th, World Osteoporosis Day is marked to promote awareness regarding the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of osteoporosis.
  • World Osteoporosis Day has its origins linked to the formation of the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF).
  • In 1998, IOF was established with the mission of addressing the worldwide issue of underdiagnosed and undertreated osteoporosis.
  • The inaugural World Osteoporosis Day took place in 1996, and since then, the International Osteoporosis Foundation has played a pivotal role in advocating for the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and research of osteoporosis.
  • “Step Up for Bone Health-Build Better Bones,” is the theme of World Osteoporosis Day 2023.

National Solidarity Day 2023

  • National Solidarity Day in India is observed every year on 20 October. The day is dedicated to commemorate the victory of Indian Army over the Chinese Army in 1962 during the Indo-China War.
  • The day is recognised with honour and respect, and promotes the bravery and strength of Indian forces in protecting the sovereignty and security of the nation.
  • National Solidarity Day is a tribute to all the brave souls who lost their precious lives in the Sino-Indian War that took place on 20 Oct 1962.
  • The history of National Solidarity Day of India is related to the India-China War that started from 20 October 1962 and ended on 21 November 1962.
  • During this Indo-China war, China attacked India suddenly from northeastern frontier with an intention to subjugate the disputed territories in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.
  • However, Indian forces fought till the end, despite losing thousands of lives in the war. A committee was established by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to honour and tribute the martyrs of the war. Finally, 20 October was officially declared as the National Solidarity Day for India.

Sports – Daily Current Affairs October 20

2. Which city is set to host the Formula E race for a second edition in February 2024?
A) New York
B) Paris
C) London
D) Mumbai
E) Hyderabad
Answer: E) Hyderabad

  • The Hyderabad EPrix Formula E race will return for a second edition next year, which will be held on February 10, 2024.
  • After a period of uncertainty regarding the future of the race, the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and Formula E confirmed Hyderabad’s slot in the final calendar for the tenth season of Formula E, which will have 16 rounds.
  • Formula E and the Telangana government had inked a four-year deal to conduct races in the city streets with a vision to promote electric racing.
  • DS Penske’s Jean-Eric Vergne won the 2023 Greenko Hyderabad E-Prix (Round 4 of Season 9) in front of a sold-out crowd of more than 25,000 people.
  • Formula E will also return to China for the first time in five years, with the first-ever Shanghai E-Prix scheduled as a double-header in May 2024.

Obituary – Daily Current Affairs October 20

3. Who was the founder of the ‘Melmaruvathur’ temple and a Padma Shri recipient, who recently passed away?
A) Swami Vivekananda
B) Mother Teresa
C) Bangaru Adigalar
D) Mahatma Gandhi
E) Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
Answer: C) Bangaru Adigalar

  • Spiritual guru Bangaru Adigalar, popularly known as ‘Amma’, who brought in revolutionary reforms such as paving the way for women to enter the sanctum sanctorum of Shakti temples, passed away
  • Head of the Adhiparasakthi Siddhar Peedam which he founded, the Adhiparasakthi (Goddess Parvathi) spiritual movement is known by the Melmaruvathur temple near here and its local worship groups across the state
  • Spiritual leader Bangaru Adigalar revolutionised spiritualism in Tamil Nadu by allowing women into the sanctum sanctorum of ‘Shakti’ temples.
  • He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2019 for his spiritual services to the nation

Banking and Finance – Daily Current Affairs October 20

4. How much penalty has the Reserve Bank of India imposed on L&T Finance Ltd for non-compliance with certain norms concerning non-banking financial companies (NBFCs)?
A) Rs 1 crore
B) Rs 2 crore
C) Rs 2.5 crore
D) Rs 5 crore
E) Rs 10 crore
Answer: C) Rs 2.5 crore

  • The Reserve Bank of India a penalty of Rs 2.5 crore has been imposed on L&T Finance Ltd for non-compliance with certain norms concerning non-banking financial companies (NBFCs).
  • It was revealed that the NBFC did not disclose to its retail borrowers, the gradation of risk and rationale for charging different interest rates to different categories of borrowers in the loan application form/sanction letter.
  • It also failed to notify the change in penal interest rate to borrowers, when it charged penal interest rate higher than what was communicated at the time of sanction
    penalty is based on the deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the company with its customers
Titbits

L&T Finance Ltd:

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra|
Non-Executive Director and Chairperson: Mr. S. N. Subrahmanyan


5. Which microlender has Kotak Mahindra Bank received approval from the Reserve Bank of India to acquire for Rs 537 crore?
A) MicroBank India
B) Sonata Finance
C) MicroLend India
D) FinanceGenix
E) Kotak Microcredit
Answer: B) Sonata Finance

  • Kotak Mahindra Bank said the Reserve Bank has given approval for its Rs 537-crore acquisition of microlender Sonata Finance.
  • The city-headquartered private sector lender had on February 10 this year announced its intent to acquire Sonata.
  • The RBI has allowed Kotak to make Sonata as its business correspondent subsidiary and the entity will now be a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kotak Mahindra Bank
  • In February, Kotak had said that Sonata had Rs 1,903 crore of assets under management and serviced 9 lakh people as of December 2022.
Titbits

Kotak Mahindra Bank:

Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra
Interim MD and CEO : Dipak Gupta
Tagline : Let’s make money simple, Ab Kona KonaKotak

Sonata Finance Pvt. Ltd:

Headquarters: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Promoter & Managing Director: Anup Kumar Singh


6. In which city of Arunachal Pradesh did the Reserve Bank of India open a sub-office?
A) Guwahati
B) Shillong
C) Kohima
D) Itanagar
E) Aizawl
Answer: D) Itanagar

  • Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced the opening of its sub-office in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh in the northeast of India.
  • Dr. Michael Debabrata Patra, deputy governor, RBI, inaugurated the sub-office on October 20.
  • The sub-office in Itanagar begins functioning with the departments/cells such as Financial Inclusion and Development Department (FIDD), Human Resource Management Department (HRMD), Consumer Education and Protection Cell (CEPC) and Market Intelligence Cell (MIC).
  • The sub-office, located at the Arunachal Pradesh Forest Corporation Limited Building in Itanagar, is headed by Abhijit Majumdar, General Manager (officer-in-charge).
  • With the opening of this office, the Reserve Bank now has presence in all the seven States of the north-eastern region (NER) viz., Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura.

Acquistions and Mergers – Daily Current Affairs October 20

7. Tata Motors is set to acquire a 27% stake in ‘Freight Tiger’ for how much money?
A) ₹10 crore
B) ₹50 crore
C) ₹100 crore
D) ₹150 crore
E) ₹200 crore
Answer: D) ₹150 crore

  • Tata Motors and Freight Commerce Solutions Private Ltd have signed a Securities Subscription Agreement (SSA) and a Shareholders Agreement (SHA) for the acquisition of 26.79% stake in ‘Freight Tiger’ for a consideration of ₹150 crore.
  • The SSA also includes a provision enabling Tata Motors to further invest ₹100 crore over the next two years, at the then prevailing market value.
  • ‘Freight Tiger’ is a digital platform that provides end-to-end logistics value chain solutions for cargo movement in the country.
Titbits

Tata Motors Limited:

Non-Executive Director and Chairman : Mr. Natarajan Chandrasekaran
Headquarters: Mumbai


Appointments – Daily Current Affairs October 20

8. Who has been appointed as the Senior Vice President (SVP) & Managing Director for the India market at HP?
A) Ravi Shankar Prasad
B) Sundar Pichai
C) Ipsita Dasgupta
D) Satya Nadella
E) Anand Mahindra
Answer: C) Ipsita Dasgupta

  • HP announced the appointment of Ipsita Dasgupta as the Senior Vice President and Managing Director for HP’s India market.
  • In her new role, Dasgupta will oversee all aspects of HP’s strategy and profit and loss (P&L) operations in India, as well as in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
  • Effective October 30, Dasgupta will report directly to David McQuarrie, the Chief Commercial Officer at HP
  • This appointment follows the tenure of Gurpreet Singh Brar, who has been serving as the Interim India Managing Director since November 2022. Brar will now take on the role of Vice-President, Innovation & Growth, focusing on HP’s India Market
  • Ipsita Dasgupta joins HP from Apple, where she most recently held the position of Senior Director of Marketing for Apple Services, based at the company’s headquarters.
  • In her role at Apple, she led Global Synergy Marketing, External Partnership Marketing, Consumer Insights, and Market and Competitive Intelligence for Apple’s subscription services.
Titbits

HP Inc:

Headquarters: Palo Alto, California, United States
President and CEO: Enrique Lores


9. Who will be the next Secretary General of the seven-nation grouping BIMSTEC?
A) Indra Mani Pandey
B) Kofi Annan
C) Angela Merkel
D) Xi Jinping
E) Antonio Guterres
Answer: A) Indra Mani Pandey

  • Senior diplomat Indra Mani Pandey will be the next secretary general of seven-nation grouping BIMSTEC, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said
  • It will be for the first time that an Indian will hold the position of the secretary general of BIMSTEC that comprises India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan.
  • Pandey, a 1990-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) official, is currently serving as India’s permanent representative to the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva.
  • This is the first time that an Indian will hold the position of the secretary general of BIMSTEC

Awards – Daily Current Affairs October 20

10. What award did the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) receive for its contribution to sustainability reporting?
A) Nobel Prize for Sustainability
B) ICAI Excellence Award
C) United Nations (UN) Award
D) Environmental Stewardship Prize
E) Corporate Responsibility Recognition
Answer: C) United Nations (UN) Award

  • The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) received ISAR Honours 2023 by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) for its initiative Sustainability Reporting Standards Board (SRSB).
  • Sanjeev Kumar Singhal, central council member from ICAI chaired the UNCTAD ISAR session during the World Investment Forum held from October 16-20 in Abu Dhabi.
  • In 2022, ICAI formed a Section 8 Company namely– ‘The Institute of Social Auditors of India (ISAI)’, with an objective of fostering proficient, ethical and world-class social auditors, profession responding to the needs and expectations of the stakeholders
    ICAI also issued 16 audit standards on social audits across 16 thematic focus areas, making India the first country in the world to have social impact assessment standards.
  • It is also offers a certificate course on business responsibility and sustainability reporting and another course on on social audit for NISM Series XXIII: Social Auditors Certification Examination.
  • ICAI for its initiative Sustainability Reporting Standards Board (SRSB) has been awarded the ISAR Honours 2023 by the UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) working group on International Standards for Accounting and Reporting (ISAR).
Titbits

ICAI:

Abbreviation: The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India
Formation: 1 July 1949
Headquarters: New Delhi
President: CA. Aniket Sunil Talati


11. Who was posthumously awarded this year’s Sakharov Prize, along with the Woman, Life, and Freedom Movement, sparked by her death in custody in Iran?
A) Angela Merkel
B) Jina Mahsa Amini
C) Greta Thunberg
D) Nelson Mandela
E) Malala Yousafzai
Answer: B) Jina Mahsa Amini

  • This year’s Sakharov Prize was posthumously awarded to Kurdish woman Jina Mahsa Amini and the Woman, Life and Freedom Movement sparked by her death in custody in Iran.
  • Amini was arrested by Iran’s morality police in September 2022 for allegedly wearing her hijab in a way that did not conform to the country’s strict dress code. She died in custody at the age of 22.
  • Her death sparked nationwide protests against Tehran’s ruling regime. Hundreds of protesters died in the ensuing crackdown.
  • The prize is awarded by the European Parliament to individuals and groups for defending freedom of thought and human rights.
  • It is named in honor of Soviet physicist, political dissident and 1975 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Andrei Sakharov.
  • The other finalists for 2023 were Vilma Nunez Escorcia and Bishop Rolando Jose Alvarez Lagos from Nicaragua and three women fighting for free, safe and legal abortion:
  • Poland’s Justyna Wydrzynska, El Salvador’s Morena Herrera, and the US’ Colleen McNicholas.
  • Last year, the Sakharov Prize was awarded to the Ukrainian people for “protecting democracy, freedom and rule of law” during Russia’s war in Ukraine.

National Affairs – Daily Current Affairs October 20

12. What is the purpose of the MoU signed between IICA and the Skill Council for Persons with Disability?

A) To establish a new university for disabled individuals.
B) To promote sports and fitness programs for people with disabilities.
C) To provide job coaching for inclusive programs.
D) To offer financial support to disabled entrepreneurs.
E) To organize cultural events for persons with disabilities.
Answer: C) To provide job coaching for inclusive programs.

  • A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) and the Skill Council for Persons with Disability (SCPwD) at IICA Campus in Manesar, Gurugram.
  • The purpose of MoU is to synergise the expertise of the SCPwD and the IICA with the aim of equipping the corporates in terms of knowledge, skills and competencies for building and managing a diverse workforce through the various entities created under the aegis of SCPwD and IICA.
  • SCPwD, in collaboration with the IICA, will take the initiative through skill courses on “Qualification – Job Coach for Inclusivity (JCI)” programmes or otherwise in diverse areas.
  • Dr. Garima Dadhich, Head of School of Business Environment, IICA and Shri Ravindra Singh, CEO, SCPWD signed the MoU.
Titbits

The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA):

Founded: 2012
Headquarters: Gurugram, Haryana
Director General & CEO: Shri Praveen Kumar

Skill Council for Persons with Disability (SCPwD):

Founded: 01st October’ 2015
Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi
CEO: Shri Ravindra Singh


13. Who launched the deposit-linked loan scheme of the Cooperative Bank?
A) Prime Minister Narendra Modi
B) CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
C) Reserve Bank of India
D) Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman
E) The President of the Cooperative Bank Association
Answer: B) CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu

  • Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launched a deposit-linked loan scheme of the Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Bank
  • The deposit-linked loan scheme, ‘Sapno Ka Sanchay’, is an initiative for students in the age group of 10 to 18 years.
  • Every year the savings account balance will shift to a Term Deposit account and would fetch Term Deposit Interest for the student and the ATM Charges shall be waived up to 18 years of age
  • Under the scheme, loan facility of five times the Term Deposit amount, shall be available to the student after turning 18 up to 25 years of age.
  • Under this, loans worth about Rs 8.50 crore have been provided to about 4,000 beneficiaries. The bank has obtained licenses from the Reserve Bank of India to open 25 new branches and would increase the number of outlets of the bank to 262.
  • The reliance of the people of the state on the cooperative bank has constantly increased, resulting in the number of customers having crossed the figure of 16 lakh
Titbits

Himachal Pradesh:

Capital : Shimla
CM : Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
Governor : Shiv Pratap Shukla


14. What is the name of the third stealth destroyer delivered by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited to the Indian Navy as part of Project 15B Class Guided Missile Destroyer?
A) Yard 12704
B) Yard 12705
C) Yard 12706
D) Yard 12708
E) Yard 12710
Answer: C) Yard 12706

  • Yard 12706 (Imphal), the third Project 15B stealth guided missile destroyer, being built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), was delivered to the Indian Navy
  • The Project is a follow-on of the Kolkata class (Project 15A) destroyers commissioned in the last decade.
  • Imphal follows in the wake of her predecessors Indian Naval Ships Visakhapatnam and Mormugao commissioned in the past two years.
  • Designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and built by M/s Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd, Mumbai, this ship is a hallmark of indigenous shipbuilding and is amongst the most technologically advanced warships in the world.
  • Being a guided missile destroyer with a displacement of 7,400 tons and an overall length of 164 meters, Imphal is a potent and versatile platform equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, including surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles and torpedoes.
  • Powered by a Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) propulsion set, comprising four gas turbines, she is capable of achieving speeds in excess of 30 knots (56 km/h).
  • The ship boasts of a high indigenous content of approximately 75% that includes Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (BEL, Bangalore), BrahMos Surface-to-Surface Missiles (BrahMos Aerospace, New Delhi), Indigenous Torpedo Tube Launchers (Larsen & Toubro, Mumbai), Anti-Submarine Indigenous Rocket Launchers (Larsen & Toubro, Mumbai) and 76mm Super Rapid Gun Mount (BHEL, Haridwar)
  • Imphal’s keel was laid on 19 May, 2017 and the ship was launched into water on 20 April, 2019. The ship had sailed out for her maiden sea trials on 28 April, 2023, and, ever since, has undergone a comprehensive schedule of trials in harbour and at sea, leading up to its Delivery within a record timeframe of only six months.
  • The time taken to build Imphal and for her trials is the shortest for any indigenous destroyer.
  • The delivery of Imphal is an affirmation of the impetus being given by the Government of India and the Indian Navy towards ‘AatmaNirbharBharat’.
  • The induction of the destroyer, is a tribute to the collaborative efforts of large number of stake holders and would enhance the maritime prowess of the country in the Indian Ocean Region.
Titbits

Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL):

Chairman & Managing Director(CMD): Sanjeev Singhal
Established: 1934
Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra


15. Who initiated the biennial multilateral naval exercise known as Milan in 1995?
A) United States Navy
B) Russian Navy
C) Indian Navy
D) Chinese Navy
E) French Navy
Answer: C) Indian Navy

  • India will showcase its increasing maritime prowess at a nine-day mega naval exercise it will host in February that is set to see participation of over 50 countries against the backdrop of increasingly fractious global geopolitical environment and China’s increasing military muscle-flexing in the Indo-Pacific.
  • Navies from the US, Japan, Australia, France, Bangladesh, South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia are set to be among the participating nations in the ‘Milan’ exercise to be conducted off Visakhapatnam from February 19 to 27 next year
  • The upcoming exercise will be the biggest multilateral military wargame to be hosted by India ever and it will feature large-force manoeuvres, advanced air defence operations, anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface drills
  • The Milan is a biennial multilateral naval exercise which was initiated by the Indian Navy in 1995.
  • Originally conceived in consonance with India’s ‘Look East Policy’, the exercise expanded in ensuing years with New Delhi’s ‘Act East Policy’ and Security And Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) initiative.
  • In 2022, 39 countries participated in Milan exercise.
  • The harbour phase of Milan will consist of maritime seminars, exhibition and city parade.
  • A mid-planning conference on Milan was hosted by the Eastern Naval Command on October 17 with participating friendly foreign navies.

16. Where was India’s first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) launched by the Prime Minister?
A) New Delhi
B) Mumbai
C) Kolkata
D) Ghaziabad
E) Chennai
Answer: D) Ghaziabad

  • The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the priority section of Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor at Sahibabad RapidX Station in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.
  • He also flagged off the Namo Bharat RapidX train connecting Sahibabad to Duhai Depot, marking the launch of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) in India.
  • Shri Modi dedicated to the nation, two stretches of east-west corridor of Bengaluru Metro.
  • The 17 Km priority section of Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor will connect Sahibabad to ‘Duhai Depot’ with stations at Ghaziabad, Guldhar and Duhai on the way.
  • The foundation stone for Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor was laid by the Prime Minister on 8th March 2019.
  • In line with the Prime Minister’s vision to transform regional connectivity in the country through the construction of new world-class transport infrastructure, the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) project is being developed. RRTS is a new rail-based, semi-high-speed, high-frequency commuter transit system. With a design speed of 180 Kmph, RRTS is a transformational, regional development initiative, which is designed to provide high-speed trains for intercity commuting every 15 minutes, which can go up to a frequency of every 5 minutes as per requirement.
  • A total of eight RRTS corridors have been identified to be developed in NCR, out of which three corridors have been prioritised to be implemented in Phase-I including Delhi – Ghaziabad – Meerut Corridor; Delhi – Gurugram – SNB – Alwar Corridor; and Delhi – Panipat Corridor. The Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS being developed at a cost of more than Rs 30,000 crore and will connect Delhi to Meerut in less than an hour of travel time going through the urban centres of Ghaziabad, Muradnagar, and Modinagar.
  • The full 82-km stretch between Delhi and Meerut will be complete within the next 1-1.5 years.
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Metro rail services from Baiyappanahalli to Krishnarajapura, and Kengeri to Challaghatta legs of Bangalore Metro Purple Line will improve connectivity and benefit lakhs of commuters.
  • The Baiyappanahalli to Krishnarajapura, and Kengeri to Challaghatta legs of Bangalore Metro Purple Line were opened to the public from October 9 without waiting for a formal inauguration.
  • With this, the total operational length of ‘Namma Metro’ has increased to 74 km with 66 stations, and daily ridership to over 7.5 lakh.
  • Namma Metro, inaugurated 12 years ago, is the second largest Metro network in the country.
  • The east-west corridor — the Purple Line from Whitefield (Kadugodi) to Challaghatta — now spans a total length of 43.49 km comprising 37 stations

17. Who inaugurated 15 Khelo India Centres in Haryana?
A) Prime Minister Narendra Modi
B) Shri Anurag Singh Thakur
C) Rahul Gandhi
D) Virat Kohli
E) Arvind Kejriwal
Answer: B) Shri Anurag Singh Thakur

  • A total of 15 Khelo India Centres (KICs) were launched this morning in Haryana by CM of Haryana Shri Manohar Lal Khattar, in the virtual presence of MYAS Shri Anurag Singh Thakur.
  • Smt Lalita Sharma, ED, SAI RC Sonepat and other officials from SAI and the State were also present at the event.
  • The Govt of India has already notified 1000 Khelo India Centres (KICs) notified across the country
  • In the KICs, Past Champion Athletes become coaches and mentors for youngsters, run the sports training centre in an autonomous manner and earn their livelihood. Under the Khelo India Scheme, initial and annual financial support is also provided to these past champions as well as these centres for running the sports training, coaching and operations.
  • In order to augment the utilisation of existing sports infrastructure available at schools, organizations and other eligible agencies at the block or district level, the small Khelo India Centres assist in the strengthening of the sports ecosystem at the grassroots level.

18. Who inaugurated the “Heartland Tripura” project, which aims to boost employment and employability in the state of Tripura?
A) Prime Minister Narendra Modi
B) Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb
C) Rajeev Chandrasekhar
D) Amit Shah
E) Mamata Banerjee
Answer: C) Rajeev Chandrasekhar

  • In a bid to enhance the employability and skills of the youth of Tripura, a project named “Heartland Tripura” was launched, in partnership with Deloitte India and the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT), Agartala.
  • Union Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Electronics & IT Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar inaugurated the ceremony in Agartala where Deloitte India and NIELIT – Agartala signed an agreement.
  • This project is poised to open new career and personal development opportunities for undergraduate students in both engineering and non-engineering fields. It is backed by the Government of India and the State Government of Tripura.
  • The “Heartland Tripura” project will deliver a specific set of skill development certification courses through NIELIT – Agartala for the state.
  • Further, it will provide internship opportunities to select professionals, ultimately paving the way for promising job prospects upon successful completion of certification and internship requirements.
  • In the pilot phase of this project around 350 graduates are expected to receive training and employment opportunities, subject to fulfilling laid out assessment criteria.
  • This will potentially create job opportunities for 50 engineering and non-engineering students by January 2024 and further job placements for up to 300 engineering and non-engineering students from March to June 2024.

19. What did Arunachal Pradesh recently approve the constitution of for three Tiger Reserves to enhance tiger protection?
A) Special Police Force
B) Conservation Committee
C) Special Rhino Protection Force
D) Special Tiger Protection Force
E) Wildlife Monitoring Unit
Answer: D) Special Tiger Protection Force

  • The Arunachal Pradesh state cabinet approved the constitution of Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) with creation of 336 regular posts as per the guidelines of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) for three tiger reserves of the state – Namdapha, Pakke and Kamlang.
  • The creation of STPF will lead to protection of tigers and their habitats, protection of wildlife habitats, prevention of smuggling of wildlife articles, protection and safeguarding the assets of the department of environment, forest and climate change including those of tiger reserves and assisting in scientific management of forests.
  • The STPF would comprise of one company of 112 personnel each for 3 tiger reserves in the state and each company would be distributed into 3 platoons and 18 sections.
  • The council of ministers, headed by Chief Minister Pema Khandu, also approved creation of 414 contingency posts for various administrative units in the state.
  • It gave nod for creation of 293 Group “C” and “MTS” posts for various administrative centers and further approved creation of 60 posts for various administrative centers in the state.
  • State cabinet created 2 new circles – Paye circle with its headquarter at Rikmum Riangio and Nyoriq circle bifurcating Tali administrative center. The Pipsorang circle office has been upgraded to sub-divisional office and Chambang circle office has also been up-graded to SDO for administrative convenience.
  • The cabinet approved ‘Transfer and Posting Policy of General Duty Medical Officers and Specialists’ so that their deployment is made in a rational and equitable manner.
  • The state cabinet also approved to provide a lump-sum honorarium to all the third language teachers of various tribes who have developed their own scripts @ Rs 1000 per month for 10 months in a year.
  • There are 1043 language teachers engaged presently and this cabinet decision will encourage third language subject of respective tribes right from elementary level onwards.
  • The cabinet also approved the ‘Amendment of Arunachal Pradesh State Industrial and Investment Policy 2020’ to make Arunachal Pradesh a favoured destination for investment.
  • The policy also includes special incentive in the form of amended power subsidy, among others, to large scale industries and to attract investors to boost up the state economy and provide opportunities for generating large number of employments.
  • The policy further includes tax incentives with single window clearance for all mandatory licenses.
  • The cabinet approved framing of Arunachal Pradesh Home Guard Rules 2023.
  • The cabinet approved three byelaws for the proper management of solid waste in the state, namely-Arunachal Pradesh Solid Waste (Management & Handling) Byelaws 2023, Plastic Waste Management Byelaws 2023 and Construction & Demolition Waste Management Byelaws 2023.
  • Proposal for amendment of “The Arunachal Pradesh Real Estate (Regulation & Development) Rules 2020” got a positive nod from the cabinet paving way for early establishment of Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) and Real Estate Appellate Tribunal (REAT) under the provisions of Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 of Govt. of India.
  • Cabinet further approved “Operation and Maintenance Policy” for rural and urban water supply system aimed at ensuring sustainable management of water supply system across the state. (CM’s PR cell)
Titbits

Arunachal Pradesh:

Capital : Itanagar
CM : Pema Khandu
Governor : Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik


20. What is the occasion for which Chief Minister Siddaramaiah unveiled the emblem of Karnataka Sambhrama-50?
A) Karnataka Independence Day
B) Karnataka Formation Day
C) Karnataka Liberation Day
D) Karnataka Statehood Day
E) Karnataka Golden Jubilee
Answer: E) Karnataka Golden Jubilee

  • Chief Minister Siddaramaiah unveiled the emblem of Karnataka Sambhrama-50 to mark the golden jubilee of renaming the Mysore State as Karnataka on November 1, 1973.
    Former chief minister late D. Devaraj Urs is credited with renaming Mysore State as Karnataka.
  • With the inclusion of the districts from erstwhile Nizam’s Hyderabad State and Bombay presidency, many people, including politicians, then felt the need to change the State’s name since districts from Mysuru region were just a part of the State.
  • In a ceremony conducted under the leadership of Devaraj Urs, the new name was announced
  • The Department of Kannada and Culture had organised a programme to launch the emblem of Karnataka Sambhrama-50 at the Banquet hall of Vidhana Soudha (State secretariat) on October 17.
  • Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar, Kannada and Culture Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil were among those who attended the programme.
  • Karnataka government has decided to hold the Karnataka Rajyotsava on November 1 on a grand scale to mark the 50th year of renaming the State.
Titbits

Karnataka:

Capital : Bengaluru
CM : Siddaramaiah
Governor : Thaawarchand Gehlot


21. What has the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) approved as India’s first-ever indigenous charging standard for light EVs?
A) Vehicle Safety Guidelines
B) Green Energy Certification
C) Charging Protocol for Heavy EVs
D) Indigenous Charging Standard for Light EVs
E) Battery Performance Ratings
Answer: D) Indigenous Charging Standard for Light EVs

  • The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has granted approval to an indigenous AC and DC combined charging connector standard designed for light electric vehicles (LEVs), known as IS17017 (Part 2/Sec 7): 2023.
  • This is claimed to be the world’s first-ever combined AC and DC charging connector standard for LEVs and is designed and engineered in India and can become the benchmark globally for LEVs.
  • The introduction of this standard benefits all stakeholders in the EV ecosystem, including vehicle owners, manufacturers and charging point operators.
  • The initiative was undertaken by NITI Aayog, the Department of Science and Technology, ARAI, EV makers and the Bureau of Indian Standards to develop a national standard to help create an open ecosystem that will drive faster EV adoption across the globe.
  • Moreover, the standard addresses a large gap in the market for a standardised connector for an AC and DC combined charging system for light electric vehicles (two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and microcars).
  • A combined AC and DC charging connector ensures that a hybrid, cost-efficient infrastructure emerges for all forms of charging, whether fast or slow, for light electric vehicles. The customer benefits from having an interoperable network for fast and slow charging without carrying a bulky charger with them.
  • Ather Energy has received approval from the BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) for its recently developed indigenous charging connector. It is called the Light Electric Combined Charging System (LECCS) and can be used by two-, three-, and four-wheelers
  • In a first, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) along with the National Standard Body of India has approved the country’s first ever indigenously developed AC (Alternating Current) and DC (Direct Current) combined charging connector standard for light electric vehicles (LEVs) like two-wheelers and three-wheelers and micro cars.
  • The move is seen to aid electric vehicle manufacturers and OEMs in moving away from relying solely on international standards and protocols and instead implement a charging system that is developed in-house.
  • AC and DC are two types of electric currents. All home EV chargers and the majority of public charging stations use AC, while DC is used for fast charging.
  • NITI Aayog, The Department of Science and Technology, ARAI, EV makers like Ather, Hero, Ola Electric and the Bureau of Indian Standards came together to develop the national standard. The proposal and discussion have been going on for around four years.
Titbits

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS):

Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi
Founded: 23 December 1986
Director General: Pramod Kumar Tiwari


22. What is the name of the web portal launched by Union Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan for school students, providing activity-based support material for Mission Chandrayaan-3?
A) Chandrayaan Quiz Hub
B) Lunar Learning Center
C) AstroPuzzles
D) Space Explorer’s Portal
E) Apna Chandrayaan
Answer: E) Apna Chandrayaan

  • Union Minister for Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Shri Dharmendra Pradhan launched a web portal ‘Apna Chandrayaan’ having activity-based support material such as quiz , puzzles, etc for school students on Mission Chandrayaan-3 developed by NCERT under the aegis of the Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education, in New Delhi.
  • He also released 10 special modules on Chandrayaan-3, offering a comprehensive overview of its various facets – including scientific, technological, and social aspects, as well as the emotional journey and team spirit of the scientists involved.
  • The Apna Chandrayaan portal has a set of colouring books, online quizzes, jigsaw puzzles, picture builders, and inspiring stories in the form of graphic novels on Chandrayaan 3. For the students in foundational and preparatory levels the portal offers colouring sheets, dot-to-dot activities and colour coding with instructions.
  • There will be online interactive quizzes for the Preparatory, Middle, and Secondary levels including explanatory feedback for responses. Digital certificates will be issued for all those who score more than 70%, and the first 1000 winners will receive age-appropriate books. Jigsaw Puzzles and Picture Builders for the Foundational, Preparatory, Middle, and Secondary levels have also been developed. Also, there will be inspiring stories in the form of graphic novels depicting events that shaped ISRO’s journey up to Chandrayaan 3.
  • In addition to these, 10 special modules were released in multiple languages for the stakeholders on the success of Chandrayaan 3 that will motivate Indian youth to venture more and more into science and technology. These modules offer a comprehensive overview of its various facets – including scientific, technological, and social aspects, as well as the emotional journey and team spirit of the scientists involved.
  • The content is rendered in an interactive and engaging manner, enriched with graphics, photographs, illustrations, activities, challenging questions, and more, spanning across all five stages and covering Classes I-XII of school education.
  • These modules have been crafted with a mindful approach towards the relevance of themes for different stages, featuring stories, cases, quiz questions, and activities, designed to motivate self-paced learning among students and encourage teachers to guide their students through the suggested pedagogy of experiential learning. A digital format of the modules will also be available on the NCERT website
Titbits

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT):

Founded: 1961
Director: Dinesh Prasad Saklani
Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi



Over All Review

Important Days

  • The world observes International Chefs Day on October 20 annually; Each year, on October 20th, World Osteoporosis Day; National Solidarity Day in India is observed every year on 20 October.

Sports 

  • The Hyderabad EPrix Formula E race will return for a second edition next year, which will be held on February 10, 2024.

Obituary

  • Spiritual guru Bangaru Adigalar, popularly known as ‘Amma’, who brought in revolutionary reforms such as paving the way for women to enter the sanctum sanctorum of Shakti temples, passed away.

Banking and Finance 

  • The Reserve Bank of India a penalty of Rs 2.5 crore has been imposed on L&T Finance Ltd for non-compliance with certain norms concerning non-banking financial companies (NBFCs).
  • Kotak Mahindra Bank said the Reserve Bank has given approval for its Rs 537-crore acquisition of microlender Sonata Finance.
  • Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced the opening of its sub-office in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh in the northeast of India.

Acquisitions and Mergers

  • Tata Motors and Freight Commerce Solutions Private Ltd have signed a Securities Subscription Agreement (SSA) and a Shareholders Agreement (SHA) for the acquisition of 26.79% stake in ‘Freight Tiger’ for a consideration of ₹150 crore.

Appointments

  • HP announced the appointment of Ipsita Dasgupta as the Senior Vice President and Managing Director for HP’s India market.
  • Senior diplomat Indra Mani Pandey will be the next secretary general of seven-nation grouping BIMSTEC, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

Awards 

  • The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) received ISAR Honours 2023 by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) for its initiative Sustainability Reporting Standards Board (SRSB).
  • This year’s Sakharov Prize was posthumously awarded to Kurdish woman Jina Mahsa Amini and the Woman, Life and Freedom Movement sparked by her death in custody in Iran.

National Affairs

  • A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) and the Skill Council for Persons with Disability (SCPwD) at IICA Campus in Manesar, Gurugram.
  • Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launched a deposit-linked loan scheme of the Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Bank.
  • Yard 12706 (Imphal), the third Project 15B stealth guided missile destroyer, being built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), was delivered to the Indian Navy.
  • India will showcase its increasing maritime prowess at a nine-day mega naval exercise it will host in February that is set to see participation of over 50 countries against the backdrop of increasingly fractious global geopolitical environment and China’s increasing military muscle-flexing in the Indo-Pacific.
  • The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the priority section of Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor at Sahibabad RapidX Station in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.
  • A total of 15 Khelo India Centres (KICs) were launched this morning in Haryana by CM of Haryana Shri Manohar Lal Khattar, in the virtual presence of MYAS Shri Anurag Singh Thakur.
  • In a bid to enhance the employability and skills of the youth of Tripura, a project named “Heartland Tripura” was launched, in partnership with Deloitte India and the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT), Agartala.
  • The state cabinet approved the constitution of Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) with creation of 336 regular posts as per the guidelines of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) for three tiger reserves of the state – Namdapha, Pakke and Kamlang.
  • Chief Minister Siddaramaiah unveiled the emblem of Karnataka Sambhrama-50 to mark the golden jubilee of renaming the Mysore State as Karnataka on November 1, 1973.
  • The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has granted approval to an indigenous AC and DC combined charging connector standard designed for light electric vehicles (LEVs), known as IS17017 (Part 2/Sec 7): 2023.
  • Union Minister for Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Shri Dharmendra Pradhan launched a web portal ‘Apna Chandrayaan’ having activity-based support material such as quiz , puzzles, etc for school students on Mission Chandrayaan-3 developed by NCERT under the aegis of the Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education, in New Delhi.

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