IMPORTANT DAYS
Police Commemoration Day 2024 observed on 21 October
• Police Commemoration Day is observed annually on October 21 to honour the sacrifice and dedication of police personnel.
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah paid tribute to fallen police officers at the National Police Memorial in New Delhi on 21st October 2024.
• The day marks the 1959 ambush, where 10 CRPF soldiers were martyred by Chinese troops on the Indo-China border.
• In 1962, it was decided that October 21 would be observed annually to commemorate these brave officers.
• In 2023, 216 police officers lost their lives in service to the country.
• Since India's independence, 36,468 police personnel have sacrificed their lives for the nation.
• Prime Minister Modi dedicated the National Police Memorial in New Delhi on Police Commemoration Day in 2018.
• The memorial features a 30-foot granite sculpture, a ‘Wall of Valour,’ and a museum, paying tribute to the bravery of fallen officers.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Quad countries took part in back-to-back naval war games.
• India, Australia, Japan, and the U.S. participated in back-to-back naval exercises as part of the Quad group.
• Exercise Malabar took place in Visakhapatnam from October 8 to 18, showcasing strong naval cooperation.
• The Harbour Phase of Malabar was held in Visakhapatnam, followed by the Sea Phase in the Bay of Bengal.
• Malabar 2024 highlighted Quad countries' collaboration in maritime security.
• Exercise Kakadu, hosted by Australia's Navy, occurred from September 9 to 20.
• Kakadu involved nearly 3,000 personnel, with ships from 10 countries and aircraft from five nations.
• Anti-submarine warfare has gained significance among Quad members during these exercises.
• Quad partners have also prioritized underwater domain awareness as a key focus area.
India and Germany will sign a pact on labour mobility and skill recognition.
• India and Germany are set to sign a pact on labour mobility and skill recognition to enhance worker movement.
• The agreement will allow skilled professionals to be recruited by German industries.
• This will be the first agreement under the G20 framework for “Skills-based migration pathways.”
• The G20 countries recognize that integrated skill-based migration can create more job opportunities for skilled workers.
• The pact will provide skilled Indian professionals with the opportunity to migrate to Germany.
• A key focus of the agreement is the introduction of a digital visa by the end of 2024.
• This initiative aims to streamline the hiring process for skilled professionals in Germany.
• The collaboration reflects a commitment to fostering international talent mobility.
APPOINTMENTS
Prabowo Subianto took over as President of Indonesia.
• On October 20, Prabowo Subianto became the new President of Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy.
• Prabowo, aged 73, is Indonesia’s eighth president and a former special forces commander.
• He secured nearly 60% of the vote in the February 14 election, winning support through policies like free school meals.
• Prabowo appointed 48 ministers and 58 vice-ministers in his newly formed cabinet.
• His presidency marks the end of Joko Widodo’s leadership, who oversaw over a decade of economic growth.
• Indonesia is the largest archipelagic country, with more than 17,000 islands.
• It is the 14th largest country by area and the most populous Muslim-majority nation.
• Indonesia’s capital is Jakarta, and its currency is the Indonesian rupiah.
Abhyuday Jindal has taken over as president of Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
• Abhyuday Jindal has been appointed as the new President of the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
• His appointment was announced during the ICC annual plenary session in New Delhi, where Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal was the chief guest.
• Jindal is a Boston University graduate with expertise in Economics and Business Management.
• As the Managing Director of Jindal Stainless, Jindal has led key advancements in the company.
• Brij Bhushan Agarwal, vice chairman of Shyam Metalics, has been appointed senior vice president of ICC.
• Parthiv Vikram Neotia, executive director of Ambuja Neotia, took on the role of vice president.
• Jindal's leadership at ICC is expected to bring new energy and direction to the organization.
Nayab Singh Saini sworn in as CM of Haryana for 2nd time in Panchkula
• Nayab Singh Saini was sworn in as Haryana's chief minister for the second consecutive term on 17 October 2024.
• He becomes the 11th chief minister of Haryana.
• Nayab Singh Saini became the chief minister of Haryana for the first time on 12 March 2024 after Manohar Lal Khattar's resignation.
• Manohar Lal Khattar was the first-ever chief minister of Haryana from the Bharatiya Janata Party.
• The oath of office was administered by Governor Bandaru Dattatreya in Panchkula, alongside 13 ministers.
• The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
• Thirteen chief ministers and sixteen deputy chief ministers from the BJP and its NDA allies were present at the event.
• Notable attendees included chief ministers from Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Sikkim, Nagaland, and Meghalaya, all allies of the BJP.
• Saini's reappointment reflects the continued support for the BJP in Haryana.
• The ceremony highlighted the strong ties among NDA members and their commitment to governance.
SPORTS
New Zealand women's team won the 2024 T20 Cricket World Cup title.
• On October 20, New Zealand made history by winning their first Women's T20 World Cup title, defeating South Africa by 32 runs in Dubai.
• This victory marked New Zealand’s first-ever World Cup win in either men's or women's cricket.
• New Zealand set a target of 159 runs, while South Africa managed 126 for nine wickets in their 20 overs.
• Amelia Kerr was named both the player of the match and player of the series for her outstanding performance.
• Previously, New Zealand reached the finals in 2009 and 2010 but fell short of victory.
• The Women's T20 World Cup began in 2009, with nine editions held so far.
• Australia leads the tournament with six titles, while England, West Indies, and now New Zealand have each won once.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES
Labour and Employment Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya launched the eShram in New Delhi on 21 October 2024.
• Labour and Employment Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya launched the eShram platform in New Delhi on 21 October 2024.
• eShram serves as a one-stop solution to ensure unorganized workers access various government schemes easily.
• The platform aims to centralize data on social security and welfare programs for unorganised workers in one place.
• It acts as a bridge between unorganized workers and government benefits, enhancing efficiency and accessibility.
• eShram will help raise awareness among unorganized labourers about the schemes available to them.
• The initiative is designed to simplify and streamline welfare program access for millions of unorganized workers.
Regional Connectivity Scheme – Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN) completed eight years of its launch.
• The Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS-UDAN) celebrated its 8th anniversary on 21st October 2024.
• Launched by the Ministry of Civil Aviation on 21st October 2016, the scheme aims to enhance air connectivity to underserved regions.
• Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the first UDAN flight on April 27, 2017.
• Since its launch, more than 600 UDAN routes have become operational.
• Over 1.44 crore passengers have benefited from the scheme.
• RCS-UDAN has successfully connected 34 states and union territories across India.
• In the Northeast, two heliports and 10 airports have been made operational under the scheme.
• The program is focused on improving access to air travel in remote and underserved areas of the country.
STATE NEWS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and inaugurated a project worth 6,700 crore rupees in Varanasi.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation for projects worth ₹6,700 crore in Varanasi.
• He initiated the expansion of the runway and construction of a new terminal at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport.
• Modi also laid the foundation stone for the New Civil Enclave at Agra Airport in Uttar Pradesh.
• Tourism development projects in Sarnath, related to Buddhism, were inaugurated by the Prime Minister.
• Other initiatives included the redevelopment of Banasur Temple, Gurudham Temple, and beautification of parks.
• The Prime Minister inaugurated the RJ Sankara Eye Hospital in Varanasi.
• Under the Khelo India scheme and Smart City Mission, he opened Phases 2 and 3 of the Varanasi Sports Complex redevelopment.
• These projects aim to boost infrastructure, tourism, and healthcare in the region.
Cyclonic Storm 'Dana' is expected to land in Odisha.
• Cyclonic Storm 'Dana' is expected to make landfall in Odisha, prompting preparations for its impact.
• The storm is anticipated to form over the east-central Bay of Bengal and hit the Odisha coast.
• Wind speeds are projected to reach 100 to 120 km per hour along the coasts of Odisha and West Bengal.
• The cyclonic circulation has developed over the Andaman Sea and is moving northwest.
• A low-pressure area is likely to form in the east-central Bay of Bengal as the storm approaches.
• A cyclone is characterized by a large rotating air mass around a strong center of low atmospheric pressure.
Mission Basundhara 3.0 launched in Guwahati by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
• Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched Mission Basundhara 3.0 in Guwahati to grant land rights to indigenous people.
• The initiative aims to digitize land-related services and publish maps for the benefit of the state's residents.
• The Chief Minister also introduced DigiDoc, a digital directory for non-registrable and optionally registrable documents.
• DigiDoc will streamline processes, reduce service time, and improve public accessibility and convenience.
• Shortly after taking office, the government prioritized granting land rights to Assam's indigenous communities, a historic move.
• Mission Basundhara was first launched in 2021 to support this goal.
• Under Mission Basundhara 1, the Assam government resolved eight lakh applications within nine months.
• Mission Basundhara 3.0 is expected to further strengthen land rights and service efficiency across the state.
AWARDS
Mohanji received the Humanitarian Award at the 2024 Conscious Companies Awards in Johannesburg.
• Mohanji received the Humanitarian Award at the 2024 Conscious Companies Awards held in Johannesburg.
• He was honored for his global humanitarian leadership during the 9th edition of the awards in South Africa.
• The annual event recognizes ethical and visionary leaders demonstrating conscious leadership within their organizations.
• The Conscious Companies Awards celebrate individuals and organizations that promote ethical behavior and sustainable practices.
• Mohanji is a renowned humanitarian and philanthropist, known for his commitment to selflessness.
• His life's work focuses on guiding individuals from selfishness to selflessness.
MISCELLANEOUS
Government to set up a committee to reduce the disparity between farm-gate prices and retail costs of horticulture produce.
• The government plans to form a committee to reduce the gap between farm-gate prices and retail costs of horticulture produce.
• Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan highlighted the stark difference between farmers selling at ₹5/kg and consumers paying ₹50/kg.
• He proposed a two-pronged strategy to address price volatility in agricultural markets.
• Chouhan also announced the launch of ‘Krishi Chaupal’ to bridge the gap between agricultural research and its application in the fields.
• Agriculture remains the backbone of India's economy, vital for the country’s progress.
• The minister stressed the need to optimize the performance of over 730 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) across India.
• Strengthening agriculture is key to India’s overall development, according to Chouhan.
