Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 25th October 2024

1. Ayush Ministry to celebrate 9th Ayurveda Day on 29 October 

• The Ministry of Ayush will celebrate 9th Ayurveda Day at the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in New Delhi on 29th October. 
• This year the day is being celebrated around the theme Ayurveda Innovations for Global Health. 
• Over 150 countries across the globe are to join this year’s Ayurveda Day celebrations. 
• The government’s aim is to promote Ayurveda globally as a robust system of medicine for the welfare of the public. 

2. 17th Urban Mobility India Conference and Exhibition started in Gandhinagar. 

• Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inaugurated the three-day conference organized by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. 
• More than 3000 dignitaries including senior officials and policy makers from Central and State Governments and experts in urban transport participated in this conference. 
• Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar will preside over the concluding session of the conference. 
• The conference will be focused on the standardization of urban mobility solutions and the integration of various modes of urban mobility. 

3. WTSA-24 concluded with adoption of 8 proposals to upgrade telecommunications standards. 

• International Telecommunication Union ITU - World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) 2024 was held in New Delhi from 15 to 24 October 2024.
• WTSA-24 adopted eight new resolutions targeting emerging areas of standardization in telecommunications. 

Key Proposals by India 

• The 10-day event of WTSA-24 concluded with significant progress in the adoption of new proposals aimed at advancing global telecommunications and information and communication technologies. 
• These resolutions and actions reaffirm the ITU's commitment to advancing global telecommunications standards and addressing the challenges of the digital age.
• The outcomes of WTSA-24 will guide future standardization efforts, and ensure that telecommunications infrastructure continues to develop in a secure, sustainable, and inclusive manner. 
• The event saw the largest ever participation of 3,700 delegates from 164 countries. 

4. IFFI 2024 celebrates Australia’s Rich Film Traditions and Vibrant Cinema Culture 

• The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has announced that Australia has been nominated as the “Country of Focus” at the 55th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), to be held in Goa from 20th November to 28th November 2024. 
• This special recognition aims to celebrate the dynamic contributions of Australian cinema to the global film industry, highlighting its rich storytelling traditions, vibrant film culture and innovative cinematic techniques. 
• India & Australia are already parties to an Audio-Visual Co-production Treaty. 
• Founded in 1952, the International Film Festival of India is one of Asia’s most significant film festivals, serving as a platform for filmmakers worldwide to present their works. 
• Held annually in Goa, IFFI attracts directors, producers, actors, and film enthusiasts to celebrate the finest in world cinema. 

Country of Focus at IFFI 

• The “Country of Focus” segment is a key feature of IFFI, offering a dedicated showcase of a nation’s best contemporary films. 
• Australia’s diverse cultural background and globally acclaimed filmmakers have had a lasting impact on cinema, making it a fitting selection for this year. This inclusion reflects the strengthening collaboration between the Indian and Australian film industries. 

5. Former Indian women's hockey captain Rani Rampal announced her retirement on 24 October. 

• Rani Rampal's illustrious 16-year career has come to an end, during which she rose from a small town in Haryana to become an inspiration for her phenomenal rise. 
• The 29-year-old departed as one of India's most successful hockey players, having led the women's team to its best-ever finish at the Olympics - fourth place at the Tokyo Games in 2021. 
• Rani is a skilled forward who made her international debut in the Olympic qualifiers in 2008 at the age of 14. 
• She scored 205 goals in 254 matches for India. 
• She was awarded the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2020. 
• In 2020, she was also awarded the Padma Shri, the country's fourth highest civilian award. 
• Recently, she has been appointed as the national coach for sub-junior women players. 

6. An Mou signed between the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) and Sikkim government to increase the adoption of GeM. 

• This is a significant milestone for GeM's collaboration with various state governments to act as a facilitator for public procurement of goods and services in an efficient, transparent and inclusive manner. 
• With this MoU, GeM has covered all states and union territories. 
• As of October 23, buyers from the Sikkim government have made purchases worth around Rs 90 crore. 
• Currently, more than three thousand sellers from Sikkim are connected on the GeM portal. 
• Of these, 2,720 sellers are registered as "micro" sellers. 
• Through the GeM portal, Sikkim-based sellers get access to bids issued by the purchasing agencies of the Central Government, Sikkim and other State Governments. 
• GeM is a one-stop online platform for procurement of goods and services for all Central Government Agencies, Central Public Sector Undertakings, State Governments and all the concerned departments including buyers from cooperative societies. 

7. PM Modi and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz co-chaired the 7th Intergovernmental Consultations (IGC) in New Delhi. 

• German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is on a three-day visit to India. 
• The IGC is a whole-of-government framework. 
• Under IGC, Ministers from both sides hold discussions in their respective areas of responsibility. 
• The Ministers report on the outcome of their deliberations to the Prime Minister and the Chancellor. 
• Both leaders also addressed the 18th Asia Pacific Conference of German Business. 
• The IGC format was launched in 2011. It allows for a comprehensive review of cooperation. 
• It also allows for identification of new areas of engagement at the Cabinet level. 

8. Weather forecast has been launched by government at Gram Panchayat Level in New Delhi. 

• The initiative is aimed at enhancing disaster preparedness at the grassroots level. 
• It is also aimed at empowering rural communities. It will directly benefit farmers and villagers across India. 
• The initiative will provide weather updates via e-GramSwaraj, the Meri Panchayat app, and Gram Manchitra. 
• The Panchayati Raj Ministry, the Earth Sciences Ministry, and the India Meteorological Department have laid the cornerstone of this initiative. 
• Jitendra Singh, the minister of earth sciences, emphasised that space technology has helped weather forecasting accuracy rise by 40% over the past ten years. 
• The Minister also emphasised the allocation of 2000 crore rupees under the government's Mission Mausam. 
• Mission Mausam was approved by the union cabinet on September 11, 2024, with a budget outlay of 2,000 crores over two years. 

9. Nepal’s Urmila Chaudhary wins Global Anti-Racism Championship Award 2024 

• Urmila Chaudhary of Nepal won the Global Anti-Racism Championship Award 2024 which was presented by Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken. 
• This award honours six civil society leaders for their exceptional courage, leadership, and commitment to advancing racial equity, justice, and human rights. 
• Urmila Chaudhary is an abolitionist and labour activist who was rescued from child servitude at age 17. She co-founded the Freed Kamlari Development Forum and established 42 cooperatives to empower former bonded labourers. She is currently studying law to further her fight against injustice.
• Urmila Chaudhary is honoured for her dedication to advancing the rights of marginalized castes and ethnic communities in Nepal and for combating systemic racism and intersectional abuses. 

Recent Award 

• Conscious Companies Awards – Mohanji 
• Femina Miss India 2024 – Nikita Porwal (from Madhya Pradesh) 
• 54th Dadasaheb Phalke Award (for 2022)- Mithun Chakraborty 
• 32nd Ekalabya Puraskar by Odisha govt – Pratyasa Ray (Swimming)
• FIDE 100 Awards – Men’s – Magnus Carlsen (Norway); Women’s – Judit Polgar (Hungary) 

10. Government approved a new missile testing range in Andhra Pradesh. 

• The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has approved the establishment of a new missile testing range in Nagayalanka, Andhra Pradesh. 
• It aims to strengthen the defence capabilities, particularly in testing tactical missile systems. 
• The new facility will support the testing of surface-to-air missiles, anti-tank missiles, and other projects under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). 
• The DRDO is developing a large number of weapon systems for the defence forces including the Very Short Range Air Defence Systems, man-portable anti-tank guided missiles. 

11. New species of snake discovered in the Himalayas, named after Leonardo DiCaprio. 

• A team of researchers in the western Himalayas have discovered a new snake species named after Leonardo DiCaprio, Hollywood actor and producer, in recognition of his conservation efforts. 
• The new species, named ‘Anguiculus dicaprioi’ or DiCaprio’s Himalayan snake, was discovered by a team of researchers from India, Germany, and the United Kingdom in 2020 while they were exploring lesser-known species of snakes as part of a project on reptiles of India. 
• Their discovery and study of the new species was published October 21, 2024 in a peer-reviewed journal called Scientific Reports. 
• The researchers classified the new species under a new genus called 'Anguiculus,' which means 'little snake' in Latin. 
• The specific epithet "dicaprioi" is a patronymic in honor of Leonardo DiCaprio, an American actor, filmmaker, and environmentalist. 
• He has been actively involved in creating awareness about global climate change, increasing biodiversity loss, and human health issues through pollution. 

12. Bihar Industry Minister Nitish Mishra on October 21 inaugurated the state's first dry port at Bihta. 

• In collaboration with a private company, this dry port is being seen as a major initiative of the state to promote the export of goods produced in Bihar. 
• A dry port, or inland container depot (ICD), provides a logistics facility away from a port or airport for cargo handling, storage, and transportation. 
• It acts as a bridge between sea/air ports and inland areas, facilitating efficient movement of goods. 
• The Bihta Dry Port is spread over seven acres. 
• It is being run by Pristine Magadh Infrastructure Pvt Ltd and the state industries department in the public-private partnership (PPP) mode. 
• Bihar is a major producer of fruits and vegetables such as potatoes, tomatoes, bananas, litchis and makhana. 
• In addition, it also has significant potential for exporting maize (11 out of 38 districts in Bihar focus on maize production), sponge iron, packaged food, waste paper, newsprint, rice and meat. 
• According to Bihar government data, the state recorded exports worth Rs 20,000 crore in 2022-23. 
• Now, with the availability of ICD Bihta, the state is looking to enhance its export potential. 

13. India’s expenditure on education is higher than countries like China and Japan: UNESCO’s report. 

• As per a report by UNESCO, between 2015 and 2024, India spent about 4.1 percent to 4.6 percent of its GDP on education. 
• The UN 'Education 2030 Framework for Action' recommends countries allocate 4-6 percent of their GDP to education. 
• A new series of reports from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics on world education statistics has revealed that government expenditure on education was between 13.5 per cent and 17.2 per cent during 2015-2024. 
• The report mainly focused on the global education investment trends, particularly in achieving sustainable development goals (SDG) 4. 
• India has been investing more in education in terms of both GDP percentage and government expenditure as compared with other Central and Southern Asian countries. 
• South Asian countries Nepal and Bhutan allocate around 4-6 per cent of their GDP to education. 
• The world average of public expenditure on education has declined from 13.2 per cent in 2010 to 12.5 per cent in 2020. 

14. World Polio Day: 24 October 

• Every year on 24 October, World Polio Day is celebrated around the world. 
• Polio is a life-threatening disease caused by the poliovirus, which the World Health Assembly committed to eradicating in 1988. 
• The WHO European Region was declared polio-free in 2002. 
• The polio vaccine is a critical tool in the global effort to eradicate poliomyelitis. 
• There are different types of polio vaccines, inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) and oral polio vaccine (OPV). 
• In India, OPV has been used exclusively in India since 1978. 

15. IASST Guwahati Inks Technology Transfer Agreement With Bharat Biotech 

• The Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST) Guwahati has signed an MoU with Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) Hyderabad. 
• The agreement focuses on technology transfer and aims to bring innovative health products, particularly probiotics to market. 
• These probiotics, isolated from traditional fermented foods of Northeast India, have shown promising results in addressing metabolic diseases, improving gut health and promoting healthy ageing. 
• Bharat Biotech, known for its excellence in developing vaccines and health solutions, will conduct pre-clinical and clinical trials to ensure that the probiotics meet regulatory standards. The trials will determine the products’ efficacy in combating lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and obesity. 

16. Department of Posts issues a Commemorative Stamp to mark 200 Years of Kittur Vijayotsava 

• On the 200th anniversary of Kittur Vijayotsava a commemorative Postage stamp was released at the historic Kittur Rani Channamma Stage, Kittur Fort Premises. 
• This grand event commemorated Rani Channamma’s glorious victory on 23rd October,1824 against the British rule. 
• The commemorative stamp designed by Shri Brahm Prakash features a striking portrait of Rani Channamma, on her horse drawing a sword, fighting against the British, embodying her strength and bravery.
• Surrounding her image are forts symbolizing the rich heritage of Kittur and the historic battle of Kittur. 

17. Govt launches two-year nationwide celebration for Sardar Patel’s 150th Birth Anniversary 

• The government will commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel with a two-year-long nationwide programme from 2024 to 2026 to honour his monumental contribution to the country. Patel was born on October 31, 1875, at Nadiad in Gujarat. 
• Sardar Patel’s enduring legacy as the visionary behind the establishment of one of the world’s most robust democracies and his pivotal role in unifying India from Kashmir to Lakshadweep remains indelible. 
• This celebration will serve as a testament to his remarkable achievements and the spirit of unity that he epitomised. 
• The Central government has been observing October 31 as ‘Rashtriya Ekta Diwas’ or National Unity Day since 2014 to foster and reinforce its dedication to preserving and strengthening the unity, integrity and security of the nation. 

18. 24 to 30 October – UN Disarmament Week 

• UN Disarmament Week is observed every year on from 24 October to 30 October. 
• The week-long observance is dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of disarmament and promoting international dialogue to reduce the spread and impact of weapons. 
• It was first called for in the Final Document of the UN General Assembly’s 1978 Special Session on Disarmament (resolution S-10/2) and reinforced in 1995 by the General Assembly’s invitation (resolution 50/72 B, 12 December 1995) to governments and NGOs to actively participate. 
• As the world marks UN Disarmament Week, global efforts to promote arms control are under the spotlight as the Church strives to reduce the spread of weapons that fuel conflict and instigate violence. 
• In a world threatened by weapons of mass destruction, conventional arms and emerging cyberwarfare, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres presented a new agenda for disarmament to save humanity, save lives and secure our common future. 

19. 24-31 October – Global Media and Information Literacy Week 

• Global Media and Information Literacy Week is an annual event observed from 24th to 31st October to raise awareness and celebrate the progress achieved towards Media and Information Literacy for all. 
• Theme 2024 – The New Digital Frontiers of Information: “Media and Information Literacy for Public Interest Information” 
• During Global Media and Information Literacy Week, stakeholders around the world organize events and UNESCO co-hosts with a Member State the global conference gathering, the Media and Information Literacy community.