SUMMIT AND CONFERENCE
17th Urban Mobility India Conference and Exhibition started in Gandhinagar.
• The 17th Urban Mobility India Conference and Exhibition commenced in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• Gujarat's Chief Minister, Bhupendra Patel, officially opened the three-day event.
• The conference is hosted by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
• Over 3,000 prominent figures, including senior officials, policy makers, and urban transport experts, are in attendance.
• Participants include representatives from both Central and State Governments.
• The event centers on standardizing urban mobility solutions and connecting diverse urban transport modes.
• Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar will oversee the conference’s closing session.
PM Modi and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz co-chaired the 7th Intergovernmental Consultations (IGC) in New Delhi.
• PM Modi and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz co-led the 7th Intergovernmental Consultations (IGC) in New Delhi.
• Chancellor Scholz is on a three-day official visit to India.
• The IGC operates as a whole-of-government framework for bilateral cooperation.
• Ministers from India and Germany engage in discussions based on their respective portfolios under this framework.
• Outcomes of these ministerial discussions are presented to PM Modi and Chancellor Scholz.
• Both leaders also spoke at the 18th Asia Pacific Conference of German Business.
• Established in 2011, the IGC format enables a thorough review of bilateral partnerships.
• It also opens avenues for identifying new areas of cooperation at the Cabinet level.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES
Weather forecast has been launched by government at Gram Panchayat Level in New Delhi.
• The government launched a Gram Panchayat-level weather forecast service in New Delhi.
• This initiative aims to boost disaster readiness at the grassroots level.
• It seeks to empower rural communities and provide direct benefits to farmers and villagers across India.
• Weather updates will be accessible through e-GramSwaraj, the Meri Panchayat app, and Gram Manchitra.
• The project is jointly spearheaded by the Panchayati Raj Ministry, Earth Sciences Ministry, and India Meteorological Department.
• Minister Jitendra Singh highlighted that advancements in space technology have improved weather forecasting accuracy by 40% over the last decade.
• The government has allocated 2,000 crore rupees for Mission Mausam under this initiative.
• Approved by the Union Cabinet on September 11, 2024, Mission Mausam is set to span two years with this budget.
STATE NEWS
Government approved a new missile testing range in Andhra Pradesh.
• The government has approved a new missile testing range in Nagayalanka, Andhra Pradesh.
• This decision was cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).
• The facility will enhance defense capabilities, focusing on tactical missile system testing.
• It will facilitate tests for surface-to-air and anti-tank missiles, among other DRDO projects.
• DRDO is developing various weapon systems for the armed forces, including Very Short Range Air Defence Systems.
• Man-portable anti-tank guided missiles are also part of DRDO’s projects under this initiative.
INDEX AND RANKING
India’s expenditure on education is higher than countries like China and Japan: UNESCO’s report.
• UNESCO's report highlights that India spends more on education than countries like China and Japan.
• Between 2015 and 2024, India allocated about 4.1% to 4.6% of its GDP to education.
• The UN’s 'Education 2030 Framework for Action' recommends 4-6% GDP allocation for education.
• UNESCO's global education statistics show India’s government expenditure on education ranged from 13.5% to 17.2% between 2015 and 2024.
• The report emphasizes global trends in education spending, focusing on SDG 4 for sustainable development.
• India’s education investment, by both GDP share and government expenditure, surpasses that of many Central and Southern Asian nations.
• South Asian neighbors Nepal and Bhutan also allocate around 4-6% of their GDP to education.
• The global average for public spending on education fell from 13.2% in 2010 to 12.5% in 2020.
Indian football team jumped to 125th spot in latest FIFA world rankings.
• The Indian men’s football team climbed to 125th in the latest FIFA rankings as of October 24.
• This one-spot jump is credited to their 1-1 draw against Vietnam in a recent friendly match.
• Under new coach Manolo Marquez, India has yet to secure a win.
• The team has recorded one loss and two draws, gaining +0.26 points for a total of 1133.78.
• India also advanced to 22nd in the AFC rankings.
• Argentina remains the world leader in FIFA rankings with 1883.5 points.
• France, Spain, England, and Brazil complete the top five globally.
• India’s gradual rise in rankings shows promising momentum under Marquez’s guidance.
