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NATIONAL AFFAIRS
Regional Connectivity Scheme- Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik Completed 8 Years
On 21st October 2024, the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) – UDAN, or “Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik,” spearheaded by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), celebrated the completion of 8 years in service to the nation. Union Minister, Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, MoCA attended a special event celebrating 8 successful years of RCS-UDAN.
- 21st October 2024 marks the 8th anniversary of RCS UDAN, which was launched on 21st October 2016.
- RCS UDAN was a vital component of India’s National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) 2016 launched by MoCA in 2016 with a 10-year vision.
- Narendra Modi, Prime Minister (PM) of India, inaugurated the first RCS-UDAN flight, connecting Shimla to Delhi on 27th April 2017.
About Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA):
Union Minister- Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu (Constituency- Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh (AP))
Minister of State (MoS)- Murlidhar Mohol (Constituency- Pune, Maharashtra)
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NCPCR Report: India has over 11.5 Lakh Children Vulnerable to Child Marriage
According to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)’s latest report, over 11.5 lakh children across the 27 states and 7 Union Territories (UTs) of India were found to be “vulnerable” to child marriage in 2023-24.
- Among these children, mostly girls, were school dropouts or had been irregular or absent from school for long without any intimation to authorities.
i.As per the report, Uttar Pradesh (UP) with over 5 lakh vulnerable children, topped among the states, followed by Assam with 1.5 lakh children and Madhya Pradesh (MP) has nearly 1 lakh such children.
ii.While, UTs like Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands has identified no children vulnerable to child marriage.
About National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR):
It is the statutory body established under the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005 under the administrative control of the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoW&CD).
Chairperson- Priyank Kanoongo
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi
Established- 2007
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MoRD Signs MoU with 10 Banks to Empower Rural Women Entrepreneurs through Financial Support
The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with nine Public Sector Banks(PSBs)and one Private Sector Bank under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) at the National Conclave on Women led Entrepreneurship held in New Delhi(Delhi).
- The PSBs involved in the agreement are: Bank of Baroda (BOB), Bank of India (BOI), Bank of Maharashtra (BOM), Canara Bank (CB), Central Bank of India (CBI), Indian Bank (IB), Indian Overseas Bank (IOB), Punjab National Bank (PNB) and United Commercial Bank (UCO). The Private Sector Bank involved in the agreement is Industrial Development Bank of India Limited (IDBI Bank Ltd).
- Charanjit Singh, Additional Secretary,MoRD exchanged a MoU with Banks to promote financial support for rural women entrepreneurs, allowing them to expand their businesses by obtaining increased funding.
Key Objectives:
i.This effort supports the “Lakhpati Didi” initiative, introduced by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, which aims to help rural women become financially independent and earn sustainable incomes.
- The new loan products will offer women larger loans to help them scale their businesses.
ii.By offering higher loan amounts, this program is expected to boost rural women’s businesses, creating jobs and growing local economies.
iii.The MoRD has encouraged banks to provide financial assistance to Self-Help Group (SHG) members, enabling them to start and expand their own businesses.
- This assistance will support various sectors, including agriculture, handicrafts, and small-scale industries.
iv.Banks have been advised to ensure branch staff are well-informed about these new loan products so that rural women can easily access financing at their local branches.
About DAY-NRLM:
i.The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) was launched in 2011 by the MoRD, aimed at reducing poverty.
- National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) was launched in 2010 as a mission-mode scheme by restructuring the erstwhile Swarnajayanti Grameen Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY). In 2016, the program was renamed Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAYN-RLM).
ii.DAY-NRLM implementation is overseen by State Rural Livelihood Missions (SPVs), with District Mission Management Units (DMMUs) responsible for planning and execution at the district level under the district administration’s guidance.
iii.Since its inception, it has significantly enhanced the connection between Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and banks, facilitating the disbursement of over Rs. 9.5 crore in loans to these groups.
About Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD):
Union Minister- Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Constituency- Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, MP)
Minister of State (MoS)- Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani (Constituency- Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, AP); Kamlesh Paswan (Constituency- Bansgaon, Uttar Pradesh, UP)
Kotak Brands BKC station as Kotak Bandra-Kurla Complex Metro Station
Kotak Mahindra Group has branded the BKC station of Metro 3 Aqua Line in Mumbai(Maharashtra) as ‘Kotak Bandra-Kurla Complex metro station’.
- Narendra Modi, Prime Minister(PM) of India dedicated the first phase of the Aqua line, Mumbai’s first underground Metro, to the nation at the newly branded station.
i.Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited(KMBL) has partnered with Mumbai Metro Rail
Corporation Limited (MMRCL) to brand the station, reinforcing its strong ties to Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC).
ii.The station offers state-of-the-art facilities and modern amenities, including automated ticketing systems, a digital bank branch, an Automated Teller Machine (ATM), and accessibility options for all passengers.
iii.Kotak has secured branding rights for the BKC and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, CSMT (VT) metro stations to enhance visibility.
- These two stations are significant for Kotak Group, as BKC represents where the firm was founded (“Janmabhoomi”), and the CSMT is its current nerve centre.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
Highlights of IEA’s World Energy Outlook 2024
The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) has released its flagship report titled ‘World Energy Outlook (WEO 2024)’. It states that India is on track to become the third-largest economy in the world by 2028.
i.The report emphasized that the world is entering the Age of Electricity, with increased growth in global power demand, especially in China, where solar power generation could exceed the total electricity demand of the United States of America (USA) by the early 2030s.
- Electric Vehicles(EVs) projected to account for 50% of new car sales by 2030.
ii.Global electricity demand is on track to double by 2050, mainly due to China’s large scale energy transition, according to the Carbon Tracker’s statement on the IEA’s WEO 2024.
iii.India is going to face a higher increase in energy demand than any other country over the next decade mainly because of its size and the scale of rising demand from all sectors.
About International Energy Agency (IEA):
Executive Director(ED) – Fatih Birol
Headquarters – Paris, France
Founded: 18 November 1974
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FATF Revised Grey Listing Criteria to Focus on Nations Posing Great Risk to Global Financial System
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has revised the criteria for placing countries on its grey list. The main objective of these changes is to reduce the burden on Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and to focus on those nations that pose great risks to the international financial system.
Need of the changes:
i.FATF observed that LDCs are mostly affected by the impact of illicit financial flows, which impedes sustainable development.
ii.Billions of dollars are diverted annually from important public goods such as education and heath due to proceeds of crimes, tax evasion, corruption, among others. So, it is important to deprive criminals from their ill-gotten profits in order to help these countries in building robust economies and societies.
Key Changes:
i.As per the revised criteria, jurisdictions will be prioritized for active review if they meet the referral criteria and are:
- Country which is a member of FATF;
- Country on the World Bank’s High Income Countries (HICs) list (excluding those with a financial sector of two or fewer banks);
- Country that has financial sector assets more than USD 10 billion (measured by broad money).
ii.LDCs, as defined by the United Nations (UN), will not be prioritized for active review unless the FATF agrees that they poses serious risks such as money laundering, terrorist financing or proliferation financing.
- In such cases, LDCs which are subject to review process will be granted a longer observation period of two years to work on progress against their key recommended action roadmap.
- These key changes will be applicable in the next round of assessments, and FATF expects that these changes could potentially reduce the number of low-capacity countries being listed in the next assessment cycle by half.
About Grey List:
i.The Grey list identifies countries with strategic deficiencies in their Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Countering the Financing of Terrorism system.
ii.The countries on the grey list are examined by and work with a group of experts to fix the loopholes in their system by using a tailored action plan.
Note: Currently, countries which are on the grey list: Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Croatia, Kenya, Congo, Haiti, Mali, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Philippines, Senegal, South Africa, South Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Venezuela, Vietnam and Yemen.
About Financial Action Task Force (FATF):
It is an intergovernmental organisation which acts as an international watchdog to combat Money Laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats.
President- Elisa de Anda Madrazo (Mexico)
Headquarters- Paris, France
Member nations- 39 (including India)
Established- 1989
BANKING & FINANCE
RBI approves Piramal Payment Services to launch ‘Piramal Pay’ Prepaid Payment Instrument
Piramal Payment Services Limited(PPSL), a subsidiary of Piramal Capital & Housing Finance Ltd (Piramal Finance), has received approval from the Reserve Bank of India(RBI) to set up a Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI) service called ‘Piramal Pay’.
- This authorisation was granted under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.
i.With this, PPSL has become one of the Payment System Operators authorized by the RBI to set up and operate in India.
ii.‘Piramal Pay’ was designed to provide seamless, secure, and convenient financial transactions for individuals and businesses alike.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
InCorp Global Becomes First Firm at GIFT IFSC to Receive BATF Licence Approval
Singapore based InCorp Global Pte Limited, a corporate solutions and professional services provider, has become the first firm at the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT) International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) to obtain a BATF (Bookkeeping, Accounting, Taxation, and Financial Crime Compliance) licence.
- Under the IFSCA (BATF Services) Regulations, 2024, this licence authorises InCorp Global to offer BATF services to businesses beyond the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sectors.
Key Points:
i.The services under this licence have been standardized to align with internationally recognized benchmarks.
ii. A significant aspect of the BATF regulations is the incorporation of financial crime compliance services.
- This development enhances the firm’s capabilities in areas such as Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Countering the Financing of Terrorism, and Know Your Customer (KYC) compliance.
iii.This licence allows the company to harness India’s extensive talent and resources to provide tailored services to international clients, strengthening its footprint in the global market.
iv.InCorp Global aims to ease the entry process for international clients into the Indian market while contributing to GIFT City’s growth as a prominent financial hub.
Note- InCorp Global currently serves a diverse range of clients from countries such as Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States of America (USA), among others.
Background of the BATF Regulations:
i.The BATF regulations were introduced following a government notification on January 18, 2024. These regulations define BATF services as ‘financial services’ as per Section 3 of the IFSCA Act, 2019.
ii.This framework aims to cultivate a robust financial market ecosystem at GIFT IFSC, offering guidelines for the establishment and operation of BATF service providers while ensuring compliance with international standards and safeguarding against financial crimes.
About In.Corp Global Pte Ltd.
Chairman- Lennard Yong
Chief Executing Officer (CEO) India – Manish Modi
Headquarters– Singapore
Established– 2015
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
UK’s Tom Fletcher Appointed as Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs & Emergency Relief Coordinator
United Nations (UN) Secretary-General (SG) António Guterres appointed Tom Fletcher of the United Kingdom (UK) as Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
- Tom Fletcher will succeed Martin Griffiths of the UK, who stepped down from the post in July 2024 due to health reasons.
- Joyce Msuya, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator will serve as Acting Under-Secretary-General until Tom Fletcher assumes his position.
About Tom Fletcher:
i.Currently Tom Fletcher serves as the Principal of Hertford College, Oxford (since 2020) and Vice Chair of Oxford University’s Conference of Colleges (since 2022).
ii.He has also served as the UK’s Ambassador to Lebanon (2011-2015), as Foreign and Development Policy Adviser to the UK’s Prime Ministers from 2007-2011, and as the Prime Ministers’ mediator on Northern Ireland.
iii.He has also headed Middle East Peace Process, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), London (1997-1998), as Second Secretary, Nairobi, Kenya (1998-2002), Chief of Staff for Africa, Caribbean and Commonwealth, FCO, London (2002-2004) and First Secretary, Paris, France (2004-2007).
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Google made AI-led collaborations for India’s Health, Sustainability, & Agriculture Sectors
Google made a series of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-led collaborations aimed at enhancing India’s healthcare, sustainability, and agriculture sectors. This initiative was unveiled during a roundtable event in Bengaluru, Karnataka, coinciding with the fifth anniversary of Google’s Research Lab in the city.
- The partnerships focus on utilizing AI to address challenges in these critical areas.
Collaborations
i.Forus Health (Bengaluru, Karnataka):
- Focus: Diabetic retinopathy screening.
- Objective: Conduct AI-assisted screenings to prevent blindness in diabetic patients.
ii.AuroLab (Madurai, Tamil Nadu/TN):
- Focus: AI-driven healthcare solutions.
- Objective: Support diabetic retinopathy screenings in resource-constrained communities.
iii.Perceptra (Thailand):
- Focus: Diabetic retinopathy screening.
- Objective: Collaborate on AI-assisted screenings alongside Indian partners.
iv.Saahas Zero Waste/SZW (Bengaluru):
- Focus: Urban waste management.
- Objective: Implement the CircularNet model for sorting plastic waste and improving recycling rates.
Key Points:
i.Google is working on diabetic retinopathy screenings through AI-assisted technologies, aiming to provide 6 million screenings over the next decade at no cost to patients.
ii.It’s CircularNet model will help improve urban waste management by automating the sorting of plastic waste, thereby enhancing recycling efforts and reducing landfill strain.
iii.Google is opening its Agricultural Landscape Understanding (ALU) API (Android Programming Interface) to developers, which will provide insights for more efficient farming practices based on satellite imagery and Machine Learning (ML).
SPORTS
Formula 1: Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc won the 2024 United States Grand Prix
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc (Monaco) won the title at the Formula 1(F1) United States (US) Grand Prix (GP) 2024 held on 20th October 2024 in the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, The United States of America(USA).
- This marks Charles Leclerc’s 3rd title of the 2024 season after Italy GP and Monaco GP.
- Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz finished 2nd and Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT’s Max Verstappen finished 3rd.
Note: US GP 2024 was the 19th round of the 2024 Formula One World Championship.
Result:
| Position | Winners | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charles Leclerc (Monaco) | Ferrari |
| 2 | Carlos Sainz (Spain) | Ferrari |
| 3 | Max Verstappen (Netherlands) | Red Bull |
Key Highlights
i. This also marks Ferrari’sfirst US GP victory since 2018. Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari won the US GP 2018.
ii.Max Verstappen currently leads the 2024 F1 Drivers’ Standings followed by Lando Norris (McLaren Mercedes) in the 2nd spot and Charles Leclerc on the 3rd spot.
About Charles Leclerc
i.Charles Leclerc has achieved a total of eight race wins, 26 pole positions, nine fastest laps and 40 podiums in Formula One.
ii.He made his Formula One debut in 2018 and joined Ferrari for the 2019 season becoming the second-youngest driver to qualify for pole position at the Bahrain GP.
iii.He won his first GP title in Bahrain Grand Prix in 2022
About the United States (US) Grand Prix (GP):
i.The United States Grand Prix dates back to 1908, when it was known as the American Grand Prize at Savannah, Georgia.
- The Grand Prix later became part of the Formula One World Championship.
ii.As of 2023, the Grand Prix has been held 52 times at 10 different locations.
Since 2012, it has been held every year at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.
IMPORTANT DAYS
International Abhidhamma Divas 2024 – October 17
International Abhidhamma Divas 2024 was celebrated by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India(GoI), in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) on 17th October 2024 in Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi, Delhi.
i.International Abhidhamma Divas is annually observed across the globe to commemorate the descent of Lord Buddha from Tavatimsa-devaloka, the celestial realm of the thirty-three divine beings, to Sankassiya (now Sankisa Basantapur in Uttar Pradesh(UP).
ii.The celebration of Abhidhamma Divas coincides with the end of the first Rainy Retreat (Vassa) and the Pavāraņā festival, a time when monks and nuns conclude their retreat period with a ceremony.
- The Pavarana Day is celebrated on the full moon day of the 11th lunar month, which usually falls in October.
World Trauma Day – October 17 2024
World Trauma Day is annually observed across the globe on 17th October to create awareness about trauma which refers to an injury to the body or an event that causes long-term mental or emotional damage.
- The day acts as a platform to support trauma victims and educate people to adhere to preventive measures to avoid traumatic incidents.
- 17th October 2024 marks the observance of the 14th World Trauma Day.
- The theme for World Trauma Day 2024 is “Workplace Injuries: Prevention & Management”.
STATE NEWS
MoEFCC Declares Namdapha National Park and Kamlang Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh as ESZ
The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) designated Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve and Kamlang Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve located in Changlang and Lohit of Arunachal Pradesh (AR) respectively, as Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZ).
- This ESZ designation is a major initiative to conserve the delicate ecosystems of Arunachal Pradesh, strengthening measures to safeguard these natural regions and their biodiversity for future generations.
- ESZ status is intended to protect the areas’ rich biodiversity and unique landscapes, creating a buffer against potentially damaging human activities and bolstering conservation efforts in the Eastern Himalayas.
Note: India has more than 600 ESZ declared across different states.
About Namdapha National Park:
i.Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve is one of India’s largest and most biologically diverse protected areas within the Eastern Himalayas. It was declared as Tiger Reserve by the Government in 1983. It was the 15th Tiger Project of India.
ii.Namdapha is home to over 1,000 plant species and approximately 1,400 animal species, representing a range of unique and endangered flora and fauna.
iii.Namdapha is the name of a river which originates from Daphabum (Dapha is the name of the hill, and Bum means the peak of hill) and meets Noa-Dehing River.
iv.The terrain varies from tropical to temperate zones, which supports a wide variety of ecosystems.
About Kamlang Wildlife Sanctuary:
i.Kamlang Wildlife Sanctuary, designated as a sanctuary in 1989, was named after the Kamlang River that flows through its terrain.
ii.In 2016, the Government declared the sanctuary as the 50th Tiger Reserve of India.
iii.The sanctuary lies between the Lang River to the north and Namdapha National Park to the south, creating a continuous protected corridor for wildlife.
iv.It is known for its scenic Glow Lake and its diverse tropical and sub-tropical climatic zones, which make it an ideal habitat for a variety of wildlife, including all four of India’s big cat species—tiger, leopard, clouded leopard, and snow leopard.
About Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC):
Union Minister– Bhupender Yadav (Constituency- Alwar, Rajasthan)
Minister of State (MoS)- Kirti Vardhan Singh (Constituency- Gonda, Uttar Pradesh)
KAP Sinha Appointed as New Chief Secretary of Punjab
The government of Punjab has appointed KAP Sinha, a 1992-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, as the chief secretary of Punjab, replacing Anurag Verma. He becomes the 43rd chief secretary of Punjab.
- KAP Sinha will also hold the additional charge of principal secretary, personnel, vigilance and general administration.
i.Prior to this, KAP Sinha served as special chief secretary in the departments of Revenue, Rehabilitation and disaster management; agriculture and farmer welfare; horticulture; and soil and water conservation.
ii.Anurag Verma, a 1993-batch IAS officer, served as the chief secretary of Punjab since 26th June 2023. He will now be holding the charges held by KAP Sinha
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