LEGAL NEWS
Supreme Court said that caste bias and segregation in prisons are violations of dignity.
• On October 3, the Supreme Court ruled that caste-based discrimination and work segregation in prisons violate fundamental human dignity.
• The court condemned the treatment of inmates from de-notified tribes as “habitual offenders” within Indian prisons.
• Chief Justice Chandrachud, who authored the judgment, emphasized Article 15(1) of the Constitution, which protects against discrimination.
• The court mandated the amendment of the jail manual within three months to eliminate caste-based practices.
• It ordered the removal of the ‘caste column’ and any references to caste in the registers of undertrials and convicts.
• Members of de-notified tribes must not be subjected to arbitrary arrests, as stated by the court.
• The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, is applicable to prisons, reinforcing the court's stance against manual scavenging.
• The Central government has been directed to update the 2016 manual and the 2023 Act within three months to eradicate caste-based discrimination.
IMPORTANT DAYS
Gandhi Jayanti 2024 celebrated on October 2
• Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated every year on October 2, marking the 155th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in 2024.
• The day also serves as the International Day of Non-Violence, commemorating Gandhi's commitment to peace.
• The United Nations General Assembly officially designated October 2 as the International Day of Non-Violence on June 15, 2007.
• Mahatma Gandhi, known as the Father of the Nation, was born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, Gujarat.
• His full name was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, and he was a prominent lawyer, activist, and political ethicist.
• Gandhi was a staunch advocate of Satyagraha (truth-force) and Ahimsa (non-violence).
• His influential works include "Hind Swaraj," "My Experiments with Truth," and various newspapers such as "Harijan" and "Young India."
• In 1930, Times Magazine recognized Mahatma Gandhi as the Man of the Year for his impact on the world.
SPORTS
The first-ever Kho Kho World Cup will be hosted by India in 2025.
• India will host the first-ever Kho Kho World Cup in 2025, as announced by the Kho-Kho Federation of India (KKFI) and the International Kho-Kho Federation.
• The tournament will feature participation from 24 countries across six continents, with 16 men’s and 16 women’s teams competing.
• To promote the sport ahead of the World Cup, KKFI plans to introduce Kho Kho to 200 schools in 10 cities.
• A membership drive targeting school students aims to register at least 50 lakh players before the tournament.
• The World Cup will include a week-long series of matches showcasing top-level athletes from around the globe.
• The event seeks to elevate Kho Kho, an indigenous Indian sport, to the international stage.
• Kho Kho has evolved from its traditional roots in mud to being played on mats, now reaching 54 countries worldwide.
• The World Cup will also celebrate and highlight the rich cultural heritage and competitive spirit associated with Kho Kho.
NATIONAL NEWS
PM Modi inaugurated ‘Jamaica Marg’ in Delhi.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a road named ‘Jamaica Marg’ in front of the Jamaica High Commission in Delhi.
• The unveiling of Jamaica Marg symbolizes the global reach of India's diplomatic initiatives.
• Jamaica Prime Minister Andrew Holness was in India for an official visit from September 30 to October 3, 2024.
• During their meeting at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, both leaders discussed enhancing the India-Jamaica partnership.
• Topics of discussion included increased cooperation in sports and cultural exchanges between the two nations.
• Both leaders advocated for the reform of multilateral institutions, notably the UN Security Council.
• They also emphasized the importance of south-south collaboration, focusing on India's Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program.
• The meeting reflects the strengthening ties and mutual interests between India and Jamaica.
Union Cabinet has approved classical language status for five languages on 3 October 2024.
• On October 3, 2024, the Union Cabinet approved classical language status for five languages: Marathi, Bengali, Assamese, Pali, and Prakrit.
• The demand for Marathi to be granted classical status has been pending since 2013.
• Prior to this approval, India recognized six classical languages: Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Sanskrit, and Odia.
• Tamil was the first language to receive classical status in 2004, followed by Sanskrit in 2005.
• In July 2024, the Linguistics Experts Committee, led by the Sahitya Akademi, revised the criteria for awarding classical language status.
• This committee consists of four or five linguistic experts and officials from the Union Ministries of Home and Culture, with the Sahitya Akademi President as its chair.
• The designation of a language as classical comes with incentives from the Ministry of Education to promote its use.
• Benefits include two major annual international prizes for distinguished scholars and the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for the study of classical languages.
The reconstitution of the Monetary Policy Committee has been notified by the government.
• The reconstitution of the Monetary Policy Committee has been notified by the government.
• The RBI Governor serves as the ex-officio Chairperson of the MPC.
• The Deputy Governor of the RBI responsible for monetary policy is also an ex-officio member of the committee.
• Additionally, one officer from the RBI nominated by the Central Board is included as an ex-officio member.
• Newly appointed members of the committee include Professor Ram Singh, Economist Saugata Bhattacharya, and Dr. Nagesh Kumar.
• Professor Ram Singh is the Director of the Delhi School of Economics, while Dr. Nagesh Kumar heads the Institute for Studies in Industrial Development.
• The newly appointed members will serve a term of four years, effective immediately or until further notice.
• They will succeed former members Ashima Goyal, Shashanka Bhide, and Jayanth R. Varma.
STATE NEWS
Bapu Tower Inaugurated in Bihar on Gandhi Jayanti
• On October 2, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inaugurated 'Bapu Tower' to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary.
• The inauguration took place at Gandhi Maidan in Patna, a significant location for the event.
• Bapu Tower is an iconic five-storey building featuring both cylindrical and rectangular structures.
• The complex includes several galleries that celebrate the life and legacy of the Father of the Nation.
• A special exhibit on Mahatma Gandhi's visit to Bihar and the Champaran Satyagraha has been curated with engaging audio-visual materials.
• The entire Bapu Tower complex spans seven acres, with six acres allocated for parks and additional facilities.
• Constructed at a cost of Rs 129 crore, the tower is built using over 40 tons of copper and is poised to become a major cultural attraction in Bihar.
Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan launched by the Prime Minister from Hazaribagh, Jharkhand
• On October 2, 2024, Prime Minister launched the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA) in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, coinciding with Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary.
• The scheme has a total outlay of Rs 79,156 crore, with the Central government contributing Rs 56,333 crore and the state government providing Rs 22,823 crore.
• DAJGUA aims to benefit over 5 crore tribal people across approximately 63,843 villages in 549 districts and 2,911 blocks.
• The initiative will focus on improving social infrastructure, health, education, and livelihoods in tribal areas through 25 initiatives involving 17 Indian ministries.
• During the event, the Prime Minister also inaugurated 40 Eklavya Vidyalayas and laid the foundation for 25 new EMRSs, amounting to around Rs 2,834 crore.
• Under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN), projects worth Rs 1,365 crore were inaugurated, including extensive road construction and community facilities.
• The projects include 1387 km of roads, 120 Anganwadi centres, 250 multi-purpose centres, and 10 school hostels, developed by various ministries focused on tribal welfare and development.
Telangana becomes the first state to get NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform chapter.
• Telangana has become the first state to launch a chapter of NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP).
• The initiative was unveiled by NITI Aayog in collaboration with WE Hub and the Telangana government.
• The primary goal of the Women Entrepreneurship Platform is to promote and support women entrepreneurs across various sectors.
• The WEP Hub will serve as the nodal agency for all activities related to the platform in the state.
• This hub will provide essential resources, tools, and a strong network to foster business growth for women entrepreneurs.
• Customized support offered by WEP includes digital skills training, access to financial services, mentorship, and market linkages.
• WE Hub stands out as India's first incubation center dedicated exclusively to women entrepreneurs.
• The launch of this chapter aims to empower women and enhance their entrepreneurial capabilities.
BANKING, ECONOMY AND FINANCE
India’s current account deficit increased to 1.1% of GDP.
• India’s current account deficit (CAD) has risen to 1.1% of GDP, reaching $9.8 billion in Q1 of FY25, up from $8.9 billion (1%) in the same quarter last year.
• The increase in CAD is primarily attributed to a widening merchandise trade deficit.
• In Q1FY25, the merchandise trade deficit escalated to $65.1 billion, compared to $56.7 billion in the previous year.
• A current account surplus of $4.6 billion (0.5% of GDP) was recorded in the fourth quarter (Q4) of FY24.
• The rise in merchandise trade deficit was driven by higher imports of oil and gold, along with increased non-oil imports.
• Net service receipts grew from $35.1 billion to $39.7 billion in Q1FY25, while private transfer receipts rose from $27.1 billion to $29.5 billion.
• The primary income account's net outflow slightly increased from $10.2 billion in Q1FY24 to $10.7 billion in Q1FY25.
• Inflows of net foreign direct investment (FDI) improved from $4.7 billion in Q1FY24 to $6.3 billion in Q1FY25, while external commercial borrowings (ECBs) brought in $1.8 billion during the same period.
