IMPORTANT DAYS

World Student’s Day 2024 celebrated on October 15

• World Student’s Day celebrated on 15th October 2024, commemorating the birth anniversary of the 11th President of India, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, honors the life of India’s “Missile Man.”

• The 2024 theme, "Empowering Students to be Agents of Change."

• This day is a special effort to recognize his contribution to education and his role as a role model for young people.

• World Students’ Day encourages students worldwide to dream big and work hard to achieve their goals.

APPOINTMENTS

S Paramesh has been appointed as the new chief of the Indian Coast Guard.

• S Paramesh took office as the new Chief of the Indian Coast Guard on October 15.

• He was previously the acting Director General following Rakesh Pal’s tenure.

• With over 30 years of experience, Paramesh has held numerous key positions in the Coast Guard.

• He has extensive command experience, including leadership of the Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel Samar.

• Paramesh also commanded the Offshore Patrol Vessel Vishwast during his career.

• His previous roles include Deputy Director General for Operations and Coastal Security.

• He has served as the Coast Guard Commander for the Eastern Seaboard.

AWARDS

2024 Nobel Prize in Economics

• The 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics has been awarded to Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James A. Robinson.

• They received the prize for their research on how institutions are formed and their impact on prosperity.

• The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences recognized their work for emphasizing the importance of strong social institutions in economic growth.

• Their contributions shed light on how institutional quality influences global development and reduces inequality.

• The Nobel Economics Prize, established in 1968 by Sweden’s central bank, is officially known as the 'Bank of Sweden Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel.'

• The prestigious award includes a cash prize of 11 million Swedish Krona (approximately US$1.1 million).

• Claudia Goldin was the recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2023.

• The inaugural award in 1969 was jointly given to Ragnar Frisch and Jan Tinbergen.

IAF World Space Award presented to ISRO Chairman S. Somnath for the remarkable achievement of Chandrayaan-3.

• S. Somnath, Chairman of ISRO, was awarded the prestigious World Space Award by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF).

• This recognition was given during the opening ceremony of the 75th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) held in Milan, Italy.

• The award honors outstanding contributions to space science and technology, with previous recipients including Elon Musk in 2023 for his work with SpaceX.

• Chandrayaan-3's historic landing near the Moon's south pole on August 23, 2023, marked India's achievement as the first country to reach this region.

• The IAF announced the award in June 2024, celebrating the significant accomplishments of the space community.

• Chandrayaan-3's success has placed India among a select group of nations capable of lunar landings.

• S. Somnath's leadership at ISRO has been pivotal in advancing India's space exploration initiatives.

Odisha won Best State Award at 5th National Water Awards 2023.

• Odisha has won the Best State Award at the 5th National Water Awards 2023 announced on October 14 in New Delhi.

• In the best state category, Uttar Pradesh secured the second position, while Gujarat and Puducherry shared third place.

• President Draupadi Murmu will present the awards on October 22, 2023, in New Delhi.

• A total of 38 winners will be recognized, including joint winners across nine categories.

• Each award recipient will receive a trophy, citation, and, in some cases, a cash prize.

• The National Water Awards were initiated in 2018 to raise awareness about water conservation and promote best practices.

• These awards highlight the efforts of individuals and organizations working towards a "Water Prosperous India."

• The awards aim to motivate the public to recognize the importance of water and adopt sustainable usage practices.

NATIONAL NEWS

PM Modi Inaugurated India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2024.

• Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2024, marking its eighth edition.

• The event runs from October 15 to October 18 and is being held at Pragati Maidan.

• Among the highlights at IMC 2024 are the popular Meta Ray-Ban XR glasses.

• PM Modi emphasized that India has democratized digital technology during his address.

• He also inaugurated the World Telecommunication Standardisation Assembly (WTSA) 2024, organized by the International Telecommunication Union.

• Modi noted that India has installed optical fibers spanning a distance eight times that between Earth and the Moon over the past decade.

• The Prime Minister mentioned that 5G was introduced at the IMC two years ago and is now available in every district across the country.

• Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia reported that 5G has been deployed in all 36 states and union territories, covering 98% of districts and 80% of the population within just 22 months.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

UN General Assembly elected 18 members to the Human Rights Council for the 2025-2027 term.

• The UN General Assembly has elected 18 new members to the Human Rights Council for the 2025-2027 term.

• Elected countries include Benin, Bolivia, Colombia, Cyprus, Qatar, and Thailand, chosen through a secret ballot.

• These members will begin their three-year terms on January 1, 2025, replacing those whose terms end on December 31, 2024.

• The Human Rights Council is an intergovernmental body within the United Nations tasked with promoting and protecting global human rights.

• To maintain continuity, about one-third of the council’s 47 members are replaced each year.

• After the elections, the Assembly adopted a draft resolution on the assessment of UN expenses under Article 19 of the Charter.

• The elections ensure a diverse representation of countries within the council to address human rights issues.

• The staggered three-year terms help maintain on-going efforts in human rights advocacy and protection.

India is now Russia's second-largest supplier of restricted technology.

• India has become the second-largest supplier of restricted technology to Russia, according to US and European officials.

• The rise in Indian exports of restricted items, including microchips and machine tools, highlights challenges in curbing exports that support Russia's military efforts.

• In July, exports of restricted technologies from India reached $95 million, nearly double the figures from earlier in the year.

• Approximately 20% of sensitive technology fueling Russia's military-industrial complex now comes from India.

• Despite international efforts to limit sales, India has emerged as the largest buyer of Russian oil.

• US Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo warned Indian industry leaders about the risks of sanctions linked to transactions with Russia's military sector.

• Exports of restricted technologies from India exceeded $60 million in both April and May.

• The increase in technology exports underscores the complexity of managing global supply chains in the context of geopolitical tensions.

SPORTS

India defeated Taipei and won Women’s Single Bendigo International Challenge Badminton Tournament.

• India triumphed over Taipei at the Women’s Single Bendigo International Challenge Badminton Tournament.

• Tanya Hemanth secured the women’s singles title by defeating Tung Ciou-Tong from Taipei.

• This victory marked Tanya’s first title of the year and her third international championship overall.

• Previously, she was the runner-up at both the Polish Open and Azerbaijan International in 2024.

• Tanya won her first international title at the India International in 2022.

• She also claimed victory at the Iran Fajr International in 2023.

• In the men’s doubles final, the Indian team of Hariharan Amsakarunan and Ruban Kumar Rethinasabapathi lost to Taipei's Chen Cheng Kuan and Po Li-Wei.