APPOINTMENTS
Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar has been appointed as 9th Chairperson of NCW.
• Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar has been appointed as the 9th Chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW).
• She previously served as Chairperson of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women from 2016 to 2021.
• Rahatkar led notable initiatives like “Sakshama” for acid attack survivors, “Prajwala” for linking self-help groups to government schemes, and “Suhita,” a 24/7 helpline for women.
• She also launched a publication called “Saad,” focusing on women's issues.
• Rahatkar has authored books such as ‘Vidhilikhit’ on women's legal rights and ‘Aurangabad: Leading to Wide Roads.’
• Dr. Archana Majumdar has been appointed as a Member of the NCW alongside Rahatkar.
• The National Commission for Women is a statutory body that advises the government on policy matters affecting women.
• The NCW was established in 1992 and plays a crucial role in safeguarding women's rights.
• Its headquarters is based in New Delhi.
STATE NEWS
Delhi government will establish special courts for people with disabilities.
• The Delhi government will establish special courts dedicated to people with disabilities.
• Chief Minister Atishi has approved this initiative to enhance accessibility to the judicial process for disabled individuals.
• These courts aim to streamline legal procedures for people with disabilities, reducing obstacles they face in obtaining justice.
• The new courts will ensure that the rights of disabled individuals are protected and upheld.
• By introducing these courts, the government seeks to build greater trust in the legal system for people with disabilities.
• The primary focus will be on resolving disputes swiftly, avoiding unnecessary delays and procedural hurdles.
• These special courts will be tailored to meet the specific needs of people with disabilities.
• The initiative reflects a commitment to creating a more inclusive and equitable judicial process.
Haryana government led by Saini implemented sub-classification of Scheduled Castes.
• The Haryana Cabinet, led by Nayab Singh Saini, has initiated the sub-classification of Scheduled Castes following a Supreme Court order.
• This decision marks a historic first in India, aimed at enhancing the BJP's outreach to Dalits in Haryana.
• The government has allocated a 20% reservation for Scheduled Castes in both government jobs and educational institutions.
• Just weeks after the Supreme Court's August 1 verdict, the Saini government approved the Haryana Scheduled Caste Commission's recommendations.
• The Commission proposed a 10% sub-quota for "deprived scheduled castes" within the existing 20% reservation.
• In 2020, the Haryana government introduced a bill to increase the sub-quota for deprived SCs in educational institutions to 50%.
• The bill identifies 36 scheduled castes as "deprived SCs," deliberately excluding the more dominant Jatav community.
• It highlighted that the representation of deprived SCs in state jobs is below 6%, despite them constituting about 11% of the population.
• According to the 2011 census, 46.75% of deprived SCs were illiterate, reflecting significant social and educational challenges.
• The initiative seeks to address the distinct disadvantages faced by deprived SCs, enabling better competition with more dominant groups.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
India and China reached on an agreement on border patrolling along LAC.
• India and China have reached an agreement on patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
• The announcement was made by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri following recent negotiations between both countries.
• Indian and Chinese negotiators have been working to resolve outstanding border issues over the past few weeks.
• This agreement is expected to contribute to disengagement and ease tensions that began in 2020.
• The announcement comes ahead of Prime Minister Modi's visit to Russia for the 16th BRICS Summit.
• The standoff between Indian and Chinese forces at the border has been ongoing since May 2020.
• The agreement marks progress, with about 75 percent of border disengagement issues reportedly resolved.
• Both sides aim to restore peace and stability along the LAC through this arrangement.
• This development could pave the way for further diplomatic cooperation between India and China.
SPORTS
India’s Deepika Kumari clinched the silver medal in the women’s recurve category.
• Deepika Kumari secured a silver medal in the women’s recurve event at the Archery World Cup Final in Tlaxcala, Mexico.
• She was defeated by China's Li Jiaman in the final with a score of 0-6.
• To reach the final, Deepika triumphed over Alejandra Valencia from Mexico.
• This marks the fifth time that Deepika has finished as a runner-up in the Archery World Cup.
• Her consistent performances continue to make her one of India's top archers on the global stage.
• Despite the loss, Deepika’s achievement adds to her impressive list of accolades.
• The match in Mexico highlighted her competitive spirit and skill in international archery.
DEFENCE
Army's Sudarshan Chakra Corps have conducted Swavlamban Shakti’s exercise.
✓ The Sudarshan Chakra Corps conducted 'Exercise SWAVLAMBAN SHAKTI' at Babina Field Firing Ranges near Jhansi.
✓ The exercise took place from October 17 to October 22.
✓ The Sudarshan Chakra Corps, also known as the XXI Corps, is based in Bhopal.
✓ The primary objective of the exercise is to enhance combat capabilities.
✓ Emphasis is placed on integrating niche and emerging technologies.
✓ The exercise aims to improve operational readiness and effectiveness.
✓ It involves various tactical drills and scenarios to test coordination.
✓ The event showcases the Army's commitment to modernization and innovation.
The 6th India-Singapore Defence Ministers’ Dialogue co-chaired by Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh and Singapore Defence Minister.
• The 6th India-Singapore Defence Ministers’ Dialogue was held on 22 October, co-chaired by Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh and Singapore's Defence Minister Dr. Ng Eng Hen in New Delhi.
• The meeting aimed to enhance defence cooperation between India and Singapore.
• Both ministers exchanged perspectives on regional and global issues of mutual interest.
• India and Singapore share a comprehensive strategic partnership, with bilateral defence relations as a crucial component.
• Singapore plays a significant role in India’s Indo-Pacific vision and Act East Policy.
• The defence and security collaboration between the two nations contributes to stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Strengthening ties in defence is vital for both countries to address emerging security challenges.
• The dialogue reflects a commitment to a robust and dynamic partnership in defence matters.
SUMMIT AND CONFERENCE
COP16 biodiversity summit kicked off in Colombia.
• The COP16 biodiversity summit has commenced in Colombia, running for two weeks.
• Its primary goal is to address the unprecedented global destruction of nature observed in 2024.
• Delegates will focus on implementing the 2022 Kunming-Montreal accord.
• Since 1970, global wildlife populations have declined by 69% due to climate change, deforestation, pollution, and habitat loss.
• This summit marks the 16th gathering of countries that ratified the 1992 Convention on Biodiversity.
• Approximately 23,000 delegates are participating in COP16.
• Delegates face pressure to demonstrate commitment to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework goals.
• The summit serves as a critical platform for negotiating future biodiversity conservation strategies.
27th All India Forest Sports Meet concluded in Chhattisgarh.
• The 27th All India Forest Sports Meet concluded in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
• Chhattisgarh topped the medal tally with 174 medals.
• Kerala secured second place with a total of 103 medals.
• Madhya Pradesh came in third, earning 88 medals.
• Nearly 3,000 athletes from various states and Union Territories participated.
• The event spanned five days and showcased around 300 competitions.
• Competitions were held across 26 different sports disciplines.
• The meet highlighted the talents of forest sports athletes nationwide.
