Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 15th October 2024

1. In the last two years, Industrial output contracted for the first time. 

• India’s factory output, measured by the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), has contracted by 0.1 percent for the first time in two years. 
• The industrial output contracted due to a high base effect along with a decline in mining and electricity output. 
• The overall industrial output had grown by 4.7 percent in July and 10.9 percent in August 2023. 
• In the financial year 2024-25, industrial growth was recorded at 4.2 per cent during April-August, against 6.2 per cent in the previous financial year. 
• Mining output recorded a contraction of 4.3 per cent in August as compared to a growth of 3.8 per cent in July. 
• Electricity output also recorded a contraction of 3.7 per cent in August as compared with 7.9 per cent in July. 
• Manufacturing also slipped to a 22-month low of 1.0 per cent in August. 

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

• India’s Tanya Hemanth defeated Tung Ciou-Tong of Taipei to win the women’s singles title. 
• Tanya won women’s singles title at the Bendigo International Challenge badminton tournament in Bendigo, Australia. 
• This was Tanya’s third international title and first of the year. 
• She finished runner-up at the Polish Open and Azerbaijan International in 2024. 
• She won title at the India International in 2022. She also won title at Iran Fajr International in 2023. 
• In the men’s doubles final, Indian duo of Hariharan Amsakarunan and Ruban Kumar Rethinasabapathi lost to the Taipei pair of Chen Cheng Kuan and Po Li-Wei. 

3. Samarthak, first ship of the two Multi Purpose Vessel project, has been launched on 14 Oct 24 at L&T, Kattupalli. 

• Mrs Shashi Tripathi President NWWA launched the ship. 
• Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff presided over the launch ceremony. 
• The ship has been named ‘Samarthak ’ which means ‘ Supporter’. 
• The two Multi Purpose Vessel project are being built by L&T Shipyard for the Indian Navy. 
• On 25 March 22, Ministry of Defence and L&T Shipyard signed the contract for building two Multi Purpose Vessel. 
• The Multi Purpose Vessels can achieve a maximum speed of 15 knots. They are 106 m long and 16.8 wide. 

4. Trachoma no longer a public health problem in India: WHO 

• The World Health Organisation (WHO) has certified India, Nepal, and Myanmar as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem. 
• India joins 19 other countries in the world that have successfully eliminated trachoma as a public health problem. 
• According to the WHO, trachoma is still a major public health problem in 39 countries in the world and causes blindness in around 19 lakh people worldwide. 
• Trachoma was amongst the leading cause of blindness in the country during 1950-60. 
• The Government of India launched the National Trachoma Control Program in 1963 and later on Trachoma control efforts were integrated into India’s National Program for Control of Blindness (NPCB). 
• In 1971, blindness due to Trachoma was 5% and today, owing to the various interventions under the National Programme for Control of Blindness & Visual Impairment (NPCBVI), it has come down to less than 1%. 
• WHO SAFE strategy was implemented throughout the country wherein SAFE stands for adoption of surgery, antibiotics, facial hygiene, environmental cleanliness etc. As a result, in 2017, India was declared free from infective Trachoma. However, surveillance continued for trachoma cases in all the districts of India from 2019 onwards till 2024. 

What is Trachoma? 

• Trachoma is a bacterial infection that affects the eyes. It is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia Trachomatis. 
• Trachoma is contagious, spreading through contact with the eyes, eyelids, nose or throat secretions of infected people, if left untreated it causes irreversible blindness. 

About World Health Organization (WHO) 

• Formation – 7 April 1948 
• Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland 
• First President – Andrija Štampar 
• Director General – Tedros Adhanom (Ethiopia) 
• Deputy Director General – Soumya Swaminathan (Indian) 
• Member Countries – 194 

5. ITU-World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly inaugurated by Prime Minister. 

• On October 15, International Telecommunication Union ITU – World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) 2024 inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. 
• WTSA-24 is being held from 15 to 24 October 2024. 
• The 8th edition of India Mobile Congress 2024 also inaugurated by the Prime Minister during the event. 
• WTSA is the governing conference for the standardization work of the International Telecommunication Union, the United Nations agency for digital technologies. It is held every four years. 
• This is the first time that the ITU-WTSA is being held in India and Asia-Pacific. It is an important global event. 
• The event will be attended by over 3,000 industry leaders, policy makers and technical experts from over 190 countries representing the telecom, digital and ICT sectors. 
• WTSA 2024 will provide a platform for countries to discuss and decide on the future of standards for next-generation critical technologies such as 6G, AI, IoT, Big Data, Cyber Security, etc. 
• India Mobile Congress 2024 will showcase India's innovation ecosystem with leading telecom companies and innovators highlighting advances in quantum technology and the circular economy. 
• It will also highlight 6G, 5G use-case showcases, cloud and edge computing, IoT, semiconductors, cybersecurity, green tech, satcom and electronics manufacturing. 

6. JP Nadda inaugurates 19th International Conference of Drug Regulatory Authorities 

• Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Jagat Prakash Nadda inaugurated the 19th International Conference of Drug Regulatory Authorities (ICDRA). 
• The event which is being hosted for the first time in India, from 14th – 18th October by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in collaboration with, the World Health Organization (WHO) brought together regulatory authorities, policymakers, and health officials from over 194 WHO member states. 
• The 5-day conference will feature a series of insightful sessions where regulatory authorities and industry leaders will deliberate on key issues affecting global drug and medical device regulation. 

7. e-Migrate V2.0 web portal and Mobile App has been inaugurated by External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar. 

• This portal promotes safe and legal mobility channels for Indian migrants. 
• The eMigrate V2.0 portal's launch, according to Dr. Jaishankar, is evidence of the government's efforts to provide secure, open, and inclusive mobility for Indians. 
• According to him, the updated portal represents the government's dedication to upholding the rights and dignity of Indian labourers employed abroad. 
• The Minister stated that this is significant because it also supports the promotion of orderly, safe, regular, and responsible movement and mobility of people, which is Goal 10 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals. 
• The Minister of External Affairs noted that the number of passports issued has nearly doubled in recent years. 
• Dr. Jaishankar also noted the fact that the portal will also give migrants social security. 

8. India and Colombia signed the Audiovisual Co-production Agreement in New Delhi. 

• Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr. L. Murugan was the signatory representative of India. 
• Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia, Jorge Enrique Rojas Rodriguez was the signatory representing his country. 
• This agreement will benefit producers from both countries. 
• It will also lead to an exchange of art and culture among India and Colombia. 
• It will also boost cultural ties between India and Colombia. 
• At present, India has co-production treaties with 16 countries. 
• Colombia is the 17th country with which India has signed a Co-Production Agreement. 

9. India and US to finalize ₹32,000 crore deal for 31 predator drones and MRO facility. 

• India and the United States to sign a ₹32,000 crore agreement for the acquisition of 31 Predator drones and the establishment of a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility. 
• The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has approved the procurement. 
• 15 drones will be allocated to the Indian Navy. The remaining drones will be equally divided between the Air Force and the Army. 
• The Foreign Military Sales contract will be finalized during the signing ceremony in New Delhi. 
• It will also be attended by top Indian defence officials, including the Joint Secretary and Acquisition Manager for naval systems. 
• The Predator drones will be stationed at four key locations: INS Rajali near Chennai, Porbandar in Gujarat, and two airbases in Uttar Pradesh. 
• This procurement will be a tri-service agreement, with the number of drones determined after a comprehensive study by the Indian military. 

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

• S Paramesh has assumed the office on October 15. 
• He was serving as the acting Director General of the Indian Coast Guard after the passage of Rakesh Pal. 
• During his 30-year’s career, Paramesh has held numerous significant positions both at sea and on land. 
• He has extensive experience in commanding key vessels such as the Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel Samar and the Offshore Patrol Vessel Vishwast. 
• He has previously served as the Deputy Director General for Operations and Coastal Security and as the Coast Guard Commander for the Eastern Seaboard. 

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

• US and European officials said India has become the second largest supplier of restricted critical technologies to Russia. 
• It highlights the challenge to efforts to curb exports that fuel President Vladimir Putin's war machine. 
• Indian exports of restricted items such as microchips, circuits and machine tools exceeded $60 million in both April and May, nearly double from the first months of the year, and reached $95 million in July. 
• The latest figures imply that nearly a fifth of the sensitive technology going to Russia’s military-industrial complex has made its way through India. 
• India has emerged as the top buyer of Russian oil despite allied efforts to restrict sales. 
• In July, US Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo wrote a letter to senior officials of the Confederation of Indian Industry, warning of the sanctions risk faced by Indian companies and banks doing business with Russia's military industrial base. 

12. World Standards Day 2024: 14 October 

• Every year on 14 October, World Standards Day is celebrated. 
• It is celebrated by the members of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). 
• The day is intended to show gratitude to many experts worldwide who evolved the voluntary technical norms that are issued in the form of international standards. 
• The day aims to raise awareness among regulators, industry, and consumers about the importance of implementing and developing standards in the global economy. 
• The theme of World Standards Day in 2024 is " Shared Vision for a Better World: Standards for the Changing Climate." 
• In 1946, World Standards Day began, when representatives from 25 countries gathered in London to establish an international organization focused on promoting standardization. 
• This resulted in the formation of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in 1947. 
• In 1970, the first official celebration of World Standards Day took place. 

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

• 18 countries including Benin, Bolivia, Colombia, Cyprus, Qatar, and Thailand have been elected through a secret ballot. 
• The elected members will serve three-year terms beginning on 1 January 2025. 
• They will replace members whose terms of office are set to expire on 31 December 2024. 
• The Human Rights Council is an intergovernmental body within the United Nations system. 
• It is responsible for promoting and protecting human rights across the world.
• About one-third of 47 members are replaced every year to ensure council members serve staggered three-year terms for the sake of continuity. 
• After the elections, the Assembly adopted a draft resolution titled “Scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of the United Nations: requests under Article 19 of the Charter”. 

14. MSDE partners with Meta for AI Assistant in Skill India Mission and 5 Centers of Excellence in NSTIs 

• The Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has partnered with Meta for the launch of two key initiatives. 
• 1. An AI Assistant for the Skill India Mission and 
• 2. the establishment 5 Centers of Excellence (CoEs) in Virtual Reality (VR) and Mixed Reality (MR) at National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) located at Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Jodhpur, Chennai, and Kanpur. 
• Under this partnership, an innovative AI chatbot powered by Meta’s open-source Llama model will be developed, which will enhance the learner experience on the Skill India Digital (SID) Portal. 
• The chatbot, which will be integrated into the SID Portal, offers 24/7 assistance to users, enabling quick discovery of course information, interactive Q&A, for course content, and access to lecture summaries and relevant videos for revision. 
• The chatbot will also provide valuable analytics to the MSDE to further optimize the platform. Sarvam AI, the technical partner for the AI assistant project, will be responsible for the development and deployment of the chatbot, which will be piloted over six months. 
• The Skill India Digital Portal has become a cornerstone of the nation’s skilling ecosystem, with millions of students accessing courses aimed at improving their employability. With the launch of the AI chatbot, MSDE and Meta are taking a significant step forward in revolutionizing how students interact with course content and prepare for the future. 
• Further, Skillveri, the technical partner for establishing the CoEs, will provide cutting-edge VR and MR resources, curriculum, and trained professionals to equip learners and instructors with the latest technology, enabling immersive and interactive learning experiences. 

15. Manoj Kumar Dubey appointed as CEO and MD of IRFC 

• Public Sector Undertaking Indian Railways Financial Corporation (IRFC) has appointed Manoj Kumar Dubey as the CEO, Chairman, and Managing Director of the company for five years. 
• Dubey joined the Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS) in the 1993 batch after clearing the Civil Services examination in the first attempt. 
• During his decorated career with Indian Railways, he implemented key initiatives such as the near-universal payment of salaries through banks,the introduction of e-tendering and eauction systems etc. 
• He won the National Award for Outstanding Service at the Minister of Railways level in 2011 for his leadership and innovative approaches. 
• He was in the Board of Directors of a Joint Venture Company of General Electricals of USA and IR, Alstom of France and IR, and a Joint Venture Company of NMDC, SAIL, and Indian Railways. He took over as Director (Finance) & CFO, CONCOR. 

Recent Appointment 

• Chairman of Tata Trusts – Noel Tata (replace Ratan Tata) 
• CEO of Government e Marketplace (GeM) Portal – L Satya Srinivas (additional charge) 
• MD of Nestlé India Limited – Manish Tiwary (replace Suresh Narayanan); effect from 1 August 2025 
• President of Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) for 2024-25 – Prasanth Kumar 
• Head of BCCI’s Anti-Corruption Unit – Sharad Kumar (replace KK Mishra) 

16. Historic medal for Ayhika & Sutirthat at Asian T T Championships 2024 

• In Table Tennis, India’s top-ranked pair of Ayhika Mukherjee and Sutirtha Mukherjee have scripted history by clinching the first-ever medal for the country in Women’s Doubles of Asian Championships 2024 at Astana in Kazakhstan. 
• The Indian pair settled for the bronze medal after losing to the Japanese combination of Miwa Harimoto and Miyuu Kihara 0-3 in the semi-finals. 
• Miwa Harimoto was part of Japan’s Paris 2024 Olympics silver-medal team, and Miyuu Kihara is a three-time World Championships medal winner. 
• This was the first medal for the Indian women’s doubles team in the Asian Table Tennis Championships since 1972. 
• India ended the 27th Asian Table Tennis Championships with three bronze medals. The Indian men’s and women’s teams won a bronze medal in their respective events. 

17. India to hoist Junior World Cup of shooting in 2025 

• The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) President Luciano Rossi confirmed that India will host the ISSF Junior World Cup in 2025. 
• India continues to be a significant force in the world of shooting not only with its talented athletes but also through its commitment to expanding the sport’s infrastructure and reach. 
• Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, president of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) was present during the occasion. 

Upcoming Sport Events 

• Asian Track Cycling Championships 2024 – India 
• FIFA Club World Cup 2025 – USA 
• Kho Kho World Cup in 2025 – India 
• AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 – Australia 
• FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 – Brazil 
• World Aquatics Championships 2029 – Beijing 
• AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2029 – Uzbekistan 

18. Harmanpreet Singh emerges as most expensive player in Hockey auction 

• India captain Harmanpreet Singh became the most expensive player on day one of the Hockey India League auction, with Soorma Hockey Club snapping the star drag-flicker for 78 lakh rupees. 
• Abhishek became the second-most expensive buy, acquired by Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers for 72 lakh rupees, while Hardik Singh went to UP Rudras for 70 lakh rupees. 
• The league will get underway on 28th December this year. 

19. 15 October – International Day for Rural Women 

• International Day for Rural Women is observed every year on 15 October. 
• The day recognizes the significant contributions of rural women to food systems, agricultural production, and the environment, and calls for equal opportunities for all. 
• Theme 2024 – Rural Women Sustaining Nature for Our Collective Future: Building climate resilience, conserving biodiversity, and caring for land towards gender equality and empowerment 
• The International Day for Rural Women, first established by the General Assembly in its resolution 62/136 of 18 December 2007, recognizes, “the critical role and contribution of rural women, including Indigenous women, in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty.” 

20. 11 October 2024 – World Egg Day 

• World Egg Day is observed annually on the second Friday of October. This year it observed on 11 October. 
• This day acknowledges the role of eggs in providing essential nutrients and affordable protein to people around the world. 
• Theme 2024 – United by Eggs 

21. Akashvani Darbhanga former radio presenter Indranand Singh Jha passes away 

• Indranand Singh Jha, the famous former radio presenter and compere of Akashvani Darbhanga passed away at the age of 77. 
• Well-known for his rural radio talk programme Gamghar from Akashvani Darbhanga station with the pen name of Khur Khur Bhai (खरु खरु भाई), he was very popular among radio listeners during his service.