We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 29 October 2024, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2024 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.
Our Current Affairs October 2024 events will help you to get more marks in Banking, Insurance, SSC, Railways, UPSC, CLAT and all State Government Exams. Also, try our Latest Current Affairs Quiz and Monthly Current Affairs 2024 PDF which will be a pedestrian to crack your exams.
Read Current Affairs in CareersCloud APP, Course Name – Learn Current Affairs – Free Course – Click Here to Download the APP
Click here for Current Affairs 27 & 28 October 2024
Click here for Affairscloud Hindu Free Vocabs telegram channel
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
India & Oman conducted Naseem Al Bahr, Bilateral Naval Exercise Off Goa’ coast
The Indian Navy(IN) and Royal Navy of Oman(RNO) successfully conducted ‘Naseem Al Bahr’, the Indo-Oman bilateral naval exercise off Goa’s coast from 13th to 18th October 2024. The exercise enhanced interoperability and understanding of each other’s best practices.
- ‘Naseem Al Bahr’ is also known as “Sea Breeze”.
Note: The first-ever IN-RNO exercise was conducted in 1993. 2024 marks 31 years of IN-RNO bilateral exercises.
About Naseem Al Bahr:
i.Aim: To strengthen mutual cooperation between India and Oman.
ii.Participants: Indian Naval Ship (INS) Trikand and Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft from India and the Royal Navy of Oman Vessel (RNOV) Al Seeb from Oman.
iii.Phases: The exercise was held in two phases: the harbour phase from 13th to 15th October 2024 and the Sea Phase from 16th to 18th October 2024.
- In the Harbour phase, personnel from both Navies participated in professional interactions, including Subject Matter Expert Exchanges and planning conferences. In addition, sports fixtures and social engagements were also conducted deepening relationships and strategic collaborations.
- In the sea phase, both ships conducted various evolutions, including gun firings at surface expandable targets, close-range anti-aircraft firings, manoeuvres, and Replenishment at Sea Approaches (RASAPS).
Highlights:
i.The integral helicopter operated from INS Trikand and undertook cross-deck landings and vertical replenishment (VERTREP) with RNOV Al Seeb.
ii.The Indian Navy’s Dornier aircraft provided Over-the-Horizon Targeting (OTHT) data with the participating ships.
v.To further enhance interoperability, Indian Navy Sea Riders embarked on RNOV Al Seeb for a day.
About Oman:
Prime Minister(PM)- Haitham bin Tariq
Capital- Muscat
Currency- Omani Rial
Dr Jitendra Singh Released “ICMR-India Diabetes ‘ INDIAB’, Jammu Related Data of the 1st of its Kind World’s Largest Survey
On 20th October 2024, Union Minister, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Ministry of Science & Technology(MoST), released ‘ICMR-India Diabetes ‘INDIAB’, Jammu related data of the ‘first of its kind’ world’s largest survey to assess the prevalence of Diabetes in India, including Jammu & Kashmir(J&K), during the event held in Jammu, J&K.
- The study was conducted by the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation(MDRF) with the collaboration of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Department of Health Research, under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW).
ICMR-India Diabetes:
i.The findings of the study will help to assess the health burden due to Diabetes, prediabetes and metabolic Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
- The study is expected to support policymakers, health professionals and stakeholders to develop targeted interventions for prevention and management of Diabetes and other NCDs in Jammu and across India.
ii.The total participants screened for diabetes and other metabolic disorders in all the phases of the study were 1,21,077, which makes it one of the largest epidemiological studies on diabetes on a global scale.
Key Highlights:
i.The Jammu phase surveyed 1,520 participants across urban and rural areas, providing meaningful insights into the region’s health landscape.
ii.As per the survey, the overall prevalence of hypertension, generalized obesity and abdominal obesity in Jammu came out to be 27.1 %, 41.7 % and 62.7 % respectively.
iii.According to the ICMR-INDIAB study, 10.8% of the population in Jammu region is affected by prediabetes, showing that there is an urgent need for action against the growing burden of NCDs in the region.
iv.Moreover, the overall burden of the disease in Jammu region covering its 10 districts is 18.9%, with 26.5 % in urban areas and 14.5% in rural areas which is higher than the national average.
Note
The Indian government is planning to set up nearly 1,50,000 health and wellness centres all over the country with an aim to prevent and control NCDs like diabetes, hypertension and some forms of cancer.
About Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR):
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) (formerly known as Indian Research Fund Association (IRFA) is an organization responsible for coordination and promotion of biomedical research and is one of the oldest and largest medical research bodies in the world.
Director General – Rajiv Bahl
Founded– 1911
About Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF):
Chairman – Viswanathan Mohan
Headquarters – Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN)
Founded – 1996
India & Seychelles Sign MoU for Collaboration in Auditing
On 21 October 2024, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) and Office of the Auditor General Auditing (OAG), Republic of Seychelles have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Victoria, Seychelles to boost training opportunities and information sharing between their respective Auditor General’s offices.
- The agreement was signed by Girish Chandra Murmu, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, and Gamini Herath, the Auditor General of the Republic of Seychelles during the CAG Girish Chandra Murmu’s official visit to Seychelles.
Key Attendees: The agreement was signed in the presence of Karthik Pande, the Indian High Commissioner to Seychelles, along with representatives from both Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs).
Key Points:
- This agreement aims to establish a collaborative platform for the exchange of knowledge and expertise among auditing professionals and to enhance collaboration in public sector auditing.
- The initiative is expected to enhance transparency and improve public financial management systems in both India and Seychelles.
- This collaboration will focus on capacity-building initiatives, including training programs, workshops, and seminars.
Key Discussions:
i.During his visit, CAG Girish Chandra Murmu met with Roger Mancienne, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Seychelles, to discuss the essential role of the Auditor General’s office in supporting the functions of national assemblies and parliaments globally.
ii.In a separate engagement, he held discussions with Sebastian Alik Pillay, Chairperson of the Finance and Public Accounts Committee, focusing on the critical partnership between Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) and Public Accounts Committees to collaboratively advance the legislative mandates entrusted to them by citizens.
About Republic of Seychelles:
President- Wavel Ramkalawan
Capital-Victoria
Currency-Seychellois Rupee
Ultraviolette launches its 6th UV Space station in Visakhapatnam
Bengaluru(Karnataka) based Ultraviolette Automotive Private Limited has launched its 6th Ultraviolette (UV) space station in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh(AP) to support and expand UV’s Electric Vehicle (EV) ecosystem in India, offering services like charging, maintenance and community space for EV users.
i.The newly launched UV Space Station spread across 2300 square feet, introduces the high-performance F77 MACH2 electric motorcycle to a broader audience, providing EV enthusiasts in the region with access to cutting-edge technology and sustainable mobility solutions.
- F77 MACH2 is equipped with a top-tier 10.3 Kilowatt-hour (kWh) SRB7 Lithium-ion battery, 800,000 kilometre(km) battery warranty.
ii.This facility marks a significant step in UV’s expansion journey, joining the flagship center in Bengaluru and recent launches in Pune(Maharashtra), Ahmedabad(Gujarat), Kochi(Kerala), and Hyderabad(Telangana), with plans to establish a presence in twelve cities by the end of 2024.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
149th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly held in Geneva, Switzerland from 13-17 October 2024
The 149th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly was held from 13th to 17th October 2024 in Geneva, Switzerland. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla headed the Indian Parliamentary Delegation(IPD) at the IPU Assembly.
Note: The next Assembly will be hosted by Uzbekistan in Tashkent and is scheduled for 5th to 9th April 2025.
Points to note:
i.The assembly adopted the resolutions on the emergency item and on the subject item taken up by the Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights entitled The impact of artificial intelligence on democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
ii.The assembly also concluded the adoption of an outcome document on the overall theme of the General Debate.
iii.The assembly also adopted the new IPU Charter on the Ethics of Science and Technology, developed by the IPU’s Working Group on Science and Technology.
About Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)
President – Tulia Ackson
Secretary General – Martin Chungong
Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland
>> Read Full News
EFW 2024 Annual Report: Hong Kong Regains Title as World’s Largest Freest Economy from Singapore & India ranked 84
According to the Vancouver (Canada)-based public policy research organisation Fraser Institute’s latest report titled “Economic Freedom of the World (EFW) 2024 Annual Report, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), People’s Republic of China, with ratings of 8.58, has reclaimed title as the world’s largest freest economy from Singapore, which has been ranked at 2nd position with overall ratings of 8.55.
- India has improved its ranking by 3 places, from 87th (In EFW 2023) to 84th (In EFW 2024) with the ratings of 6.58.
i.Switzerland ranked at 3rd position with overall score of 8.43, followed by New Zealand (with ratings of 8.39), the United States of America (USA) (with ratings of 8.09), ranked at 4th and 5th position respectively.
ii.Venezuela with the ratings of 3.02, ranked lowest in the rankings, followed by Zimbabwe (3.53),Sudan (4.11), Syrian Arab Republic (4.28) and Algeria (4.46) ranked at 164th, 163rd , 162nd and 161st position respectively.
About Fraser Institute:
President- Niels Veldhuis
Headquarters- Vancouver, Canada
Established- 1974
>> Read Full News
Egypt Declared ‘Malaria-Free’ by WHO; 2nd Country in 2024
Egypt was officially declared malaria-free by the World Health Organization (WHO) on October 20, 2024, a significant public health milestone for a country with more than 100 million inhabitants.
- Egypt became the 2nd country globally to receive this status in 2024, following Cabo Verde.
- Egypt is the 3rd country to be awarded a malaria-free certification in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region following the United Arab Emirates(UAE) and Morocco, and the first since 2010.
Note: Globally, a total of 44 countries and 1 territory have reached this milestone.
Key Points:
i.The WHO’s certification signifies that Egypt has interrupted the indigenous transmission of malaria by Anopheles mosquitoes.
ii.To qualify, Egypt demonstrated robust surveillance and preventive measures to ensure the disease does not re-establish itself.
iii.Malaria diagnosis and treatment are provided free of charge to all residents in Egypt, regardless of their legal status.
About WHO malaria-free certification:
Malaria elimination certification is the WHO’s official recognition that a country is malaria-free. It is granted when a country proves that local transmission by Anopheles mosquitoes has been interrupted for at least three years and shows the ability to prevent its return.
- The final decision on certification rests with the WHO Director-General, based on recommendations from an independent Technical Advisory Group on Malaria Elimination and Certification (TAG-MEC).
About World Health Organization (WHO):
Director-General– Tedros Adhanom
Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland
Establishment– 1948
BANKING & FINANCE
Citigroup Partners with Mastercard for Cross-Border Debit Payments
Citigroup Inc.,an American multinational investment bank and financial service, has partnered with Mastercard Inc.,an American multinational payment card service, to enable 24/7 cross-border payments through debit cards, providing consumers and businesses with a new, seamless option for global transactions.
i.Citigroup is the first global bank to facilitate cross-border payments to Mastercard debit cards through ‘Mastercard Move’, leveraging the speed, security, and transparency of the MasterCard network.
ii.The integrated solution available to Citi clients across 65 origination countries in the corporate, financial, e-commerce and commercial and supports users to perform transactions such as insurance payouts, airline refunds, e-commerce payments, on-demand payments to freelancers and gig economy workers, e-commerce transactions with merchants, and customer refunds.
iii.This collaboration expands Citi’s payout capabilities, reaching payment in 14 receiving markets across Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and for domestic transfers in the United States of America(USA)., with plans to expand it even further in the future.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
PFC, BEML ink pact to finance, execute infrastructure projects in defense, rail transportation
Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) and Power Finance Corporation (PFC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to finance and implement critical infrastructure projects, particularly in the areas of defense, rail transportation and infrastructure development.
- The MoU was signed between Shantanu Roy, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of BEML and Parminder Chopra, CMD of PFC on 18th October 2024.
Key Points
i.This partnership is expected to explore new growth areas for critical sectors that are important for nation-building, including Rail and Metro, Defence and Aerospace, and Mining and Construction and would enhance the development of key national infrastructure projects.
ii.Besides rail and metro projects, the MoU also focuses on strengthening defence manufacturing in line with the Indian government’s AatmaNirbhar Bharat vision, which focuses on achieving self-reliance in defence production.
- BEML expertise in the design and manufacturing of modern rail infrastructure, will benefit from PFC’s large financial backing to execute large-scale projects which will increase national security capabilities.
About Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML)
BEML Limited is a ‘Schedule ‘A’ Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under Ministry of Defence(MoD).
Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) – Shantanu Roy
Headquarters – Bengaluru, Karnataka
Founded – May,1964
About Power Finance Corporation (PFC) Limited:
PFC is a ‘Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise(CPSE)’ under the Ministry of Power.
Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) – Parminder Chopra
Headquarters – New Delhi, India
Founded – July 1986
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar appointed as 9th Chairperson of NCW; Dr. Archana Majumdar named its Member
Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar has been appointed as the 9th Chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW) with immediate effect. She succeeded Rekha Sharma, whose tenure as NCW chief ended on August 6, 2024.
- Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar appointment was made under Section 3 of the NCW Act, 1990. Her tenure is for three years or until she reaches the age of 65, whichever comes first.
- Dr. Archana Majumdar has been designated as a member of the commission for a three-year term.
About Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar:
i.Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar served as the chairperson of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women from 2016 to 2021.
ii.She has led initiatives such as Sakshama (support for acid attack survivors), Prajwala (linking self-help groups to government schemes), and Suhita (a 24/7 helpline for women).
iii.She was also involved in legal reforms related to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, anti-triple talaq measures, and anti-human trafficking initiatives.
iv.She has implemented digital literacy initiatives and introduced a publication titled “Saad” which focuses on women’s issues.
v.She served two terms as the national general secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) women’s wing, known as Mahila Morcha, from 2010 to 2014, before becoming its National President in 2014.
vi.She is also an accomplished author, having written several books, including “Vidhilikhit,” which addresses women’s legal rights, and “Aurangabad: Leading to Wide Roads.”
vii.Her accolades include the National Law Award and the Savitribai Phule Award from the National Literary Council.
About National Commission for Women (NCW):
The NCW is functions under the Ministry of Women & Child Development (MWCD).
Chairperson – Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established – 1992
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
ISRO Gears up for ‘Space Handshake’ SPADEX; Private Firm Delivers two Satellites
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has acquired two 400kg satellites that are part of an important upcoming mission known as Space Docking Experiment (SPADEX).
- As part of this mission, these two satellites will be ejected into slightly different orbits by a single rocket.
- Ananth Technologies Private Limited (ATL), has facilitated the integration of two 400kg satellites for ISRO and were provided to them at ISRO’s Udupi Ramachandra Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), Bengaluru – the facility which is meant for designing and developing satellites.
About the Space handshake
i.The satellites which will be travelling at around 28,000 kmph will precisely align themselves in a manner where they can perform a space handshake and dock (mechanically attach themselves) to form a single orbiting unit.
ii.ISRO has always builds their satellites at the URSC, but this is the first time that ISRO is has got their satellites completely assembled, integrated and tested by the Indian private industry at a private facility.
Key Highlights
i.SPADEX is a mission which will show independent engagement and docking, which is the ability of two spacecraft to work as one unit, move itself in control etc. Docking is important for building and maintaining a space station.
- SPADEX is important for the country as it is going to establish an Indian space station from 2028 onwards.
ii.If the technologies are developed as demonstrated by SPADEX, it will be possible to robotically assemble the modules (large components) of the space station.
- India’s Chandrayaan-4 mission which will be returning with lunar samples will also involve autonomous docking while circling the moon.
About Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
Chairman – Sreedhara Panicker Somanath
Headquarters – Bengaluru, Karnataka
Founded– 15 August 1969
James Webb telescope discovers Carbon Dioxide, Hydrogen Peroxide on Pluto’s moon Charon
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) detected Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) on the surface of Charon, Pluto’s largest moon.
- The discoveries were made using Webb’s Near-Infrared Spectrograph(NIRSpec).
i.This marks the first identification of these compounds on Charon, which is approximately 1,200 kilometers(km) in diameter and orbits Pluto at a distance of about 19,640 km.
ii.The detection of CO2 and H2O2 adds to previously known materials on Charon’s surface, such as crystalline water ice and ammonia. These findings were published in Nature Communications.
iii.The team was led by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in Texas, the United States of America (USA).
Note: Charon was discovered in 1978 by James Christy and Robert Harrington at the US Naval Observatory in Arizona.
ENVIRONMENT
Recent Discoveries in Biodiversity: DiCaprio’s Himalayan Snake, New Tenkana Spider, and Two New Orchid Species
According to recent research, scientists have discovered new species of snake , spider and orchid in the Western Himalayas, Southern India, and Northeast India. These findings highlight the region’s rich biodiversity.
i.A team of researchers from India, Germany, and the United Kingdom(UK) discovered this new snake species named ‘Anguiculus dicaprioi’ in the western Himalayas.
ii.In another significant finding, a team of arachnologists from India and Canada identified a new genus of jumping spiders called ‘Tenkana’, which inhabits southern India and northern Sri Lanka.
iii.A new species of orchid named ‘Crepidium assamicum’ was discovered in Dibru Saikhowa National Park, Assam and another species of orchid named ‘Coelogyne tripurensis’ was discovered in Jampui Hills in the North District of Tripura.The findings emphasize the critical need for ongoing conservation efforts to protect these unique species.
>> Read Full News
BOOKS & AUTHORS
M.K. Ranjitsinh launches New Book titled ‘Mountain Mammals of the World’
Dr. M.K. Ranjitsinh, a prominent wildlife conservationist, has launched his fourth book titled ‘Mountain Mammals of the World’, published by Penguin Random House.
- The book was launched by former politician-author Padma Vibhushan Dr Karan Singh at WWF India’s (World Wide Fund for Nature-India) headquarters in New Delhi, Delhi.
i.The book serves as a comprehensive guide to 62 species and 78 subspecies of larger mammals inhabiting mountainous regions globally.
ii.Ranjitsinh is recognized for his role in drafting India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972.
STATE NEWS
Karnataka Launches ‘Shiksha Copilot’: AI Assistant for Empowering Teachers with Technology
The Government of Karnataka has introduced ‘Shiksha Copilot’, a new Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered digital assistant designed to help teachers create lesson plans and improve student learning outcomes. It was launched by Madhu Bangarappa, Minister of School Education and Literacy, Karnataka.
- The initiative is a collaboration between the Sikshana Foundation and Microsoft Research India.
About Shiksha Copilot:
i.It is a generative AI tool that quickly creates lesson plans, including activities, videos, and quizzes, tailored to local curriculums.
ii.This initiative aims to empower teachers in government schools by providing them with valuable resources.
iii.The initiative is a collaboration between the Sikshana Foundation and Microsoft Research India. It is part of Project VeLLM, (Very Large Language Model), a Microsoft Research India initiative that focuses on developing specialized AI copilots for various users, including teachers and farmers.
Functionality:
i.Two Chatbot Modes: The assistant includes two features:
- A mode for teachers to ask questions related to specific topics.
- A general educational assistant that provides information on broader educational issues, helping teachers upskill.
ii.Personalized Content Generation: Teachers can develop tailored lesson plans and resources suited to their students’ needs, whether for specific chapters or sub-topics.
Key Features:
i.Automated Lesson Planning: The assistant helps teachers save time by automating the process of lesson creation.
ii.Multimodal Learning: It integrates texts, images, and videos, enhancing the learning experience by using publicly available content from the internet.
iii.Targeted Subjects: The tool supports students in Classes 5 to 10 across subjects like Mathematics, Science, English, and Social Science in both Kannada and English.
Benefits for Teachers:
i.The Shiksha Copilot aims to address the challenges faced by teachers in government schools, such as managing multi-grade classrooms with diverse student needs.
- By offering personalized content generation, teachers can create lesson plans that align with the 5Es model—Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate.
ii.Shiksha Copilot is accessible via a web portal on both computers and smartphones, making it flexible and user-friendly.
About Karnataka:
Chief Minister (CM)- Siddaramaiah
Governor- Thawar Chand Gehlot
Capital-Bengaluru
National Park –Bandipur National Park, Anshi National Park
*******
Current Affairs Today (AffairsCloud Today)