Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 8th October 2024

1. Nagaland gears up for spectacular silver jubilee Hornbill Festival 2024 

• The Department of Tourism, Nagaland, will celebrate the silver jubilee of the Hornbill Festival, scheduled from December 1 to 10 at the Heritage Village, Kisama. 
• The tribal bodies are the core and backbone of the Hornbill Festival, and with their cooperation and collaboration, the state has successfully hosted twenty-four Hornbill Festivals so far. 
• Kisama Heritage Village, main venue, is undergoing renovations to welcome thousands of tourists, ensuring a grand celebration of Naga heritage. Naga morungs are traditional huts that were used as dormitories back in the day. 
• These morungs play a crucial role in imparting the knowledge of customs, traditions, and warfare to young men. The festival features replicas of these morungs. .

About Nagaland 

• Formation – 1 December 1963 
• Capital- Kohima 
• Chief Minister- Neiphiu Rio 
• Governor- La. Ganesan 

2. PM Modi inaugurated GAIL’s first CBG Plant in Jharkhand 

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated GAIL’s first CBG Plant in Jharkhand, through a virtual ceremony. The plant is built in an area of 7.86 acres at Ranchi Jharkhand, Jhir Dumping Site Mouza Jhiri. 
• This 12,500 m³ per day capacity plant is designed to process 150 tonnes of Municipal Solid Waste to produce 5,000 kg Bio-CNG and 25 tons of fermented bio manure per day. 
• The biogas generated in this facility is to be supplied to nearby CNG stations which can fuel over 600 vehicles per day in the region, contributing to the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative and promoting the use of clean and green fuel. 
• In March 2021, GAIL and Ranchi Municipal Corporation signed a Concession Agreement (CA) in the presence of Chief Minister of Jharkhand Hemant Soren to set up this plant. 

About Jharkhand 

• Capital – Ranchi 
• Chief Minister – Hemant Soren (replace Champai Soren) 
• Governor – Santosh Kumar Gangwar 

3. Northeast to hold first ever India International Science Festival showcasing PM’s vision for the Region 

• Jitendra Singh disclosed that the 10th edition of the India International Science Festival (IISF) will be held at Guwahati, marking a significant milestone in the region’s journey towards becoming a hub for scientific and technological innovation. 
• The festival, to be hosted at IIT Guwahati from November 30th to December 3rd 2024, is a testimony to the Government’s commitment to the Northeast and aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s focus on the region as a key player in India’s growth story. 
• The 10th edition of IISF carries the theme “Transforming India into an S&T driven Global Manufacturing Hub” reflecting the government’s ambition to merge science and technology with industrial growth, propelling India towards self-reliance and global leadership in manufacturing. 

4. Nepal, India, Bangladesh sign pact to facilitate cross-border electricity trade 

• India, Nepal, and Bangladesh have signed a trilateral agreement to export 40 megawatts of electricity from Nepal to Bangladesh via India’s power grid. 
• As per the agreement, Bangladesh will now import 40 megawatts of electricity from Nepal. The Indian side has also been involved in the trade deal, as Nepal’s electricity will be transmitted to Bangladesh through the transmission infrastructure on the Indian territory. 
• For now, Nepal will transmit the energy to India through the 400 KV Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur cross-border transmission line before India transmits the equivalent to Bangladesh. 
• The rate per unit of electricity has been fixed at 6.4 cents. From the export of electricity, Nepal will make an annual income of around $ 9.2 million. 

5. RBI appoints Aviral Jain as new Executive Director 

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has appointed Aviral Jain as Executive Director (ED). 
• Prior to being promoted to ED, Jain was serving as Regional Director for Maharashtra. 
• As Executive Director, he will look after the Legal Department, the Premises Department and the Right to Information Act (First Appellate Authority). The new ED has experience of more than three decades in areas of supervision, currency management, foreign exchange regulation and human resource management. 

Recent Appointment in Banking & Insurance Sector

• New Members of Monetary Policy Committee – Ram Singh, Saugata Bhattacharya, Nagesh Kumar (replace Ashima Goyal, Shashanka Bhide, Jayanth Varma) 
• MD & CEO for IndusInd Bank – Sumant Kathpalia (reappointment for 3 years) 
• Chairman of Utkarsh Small Finance Bank – Parveen Kumar Gupta 
• MD and CEO of Federal Bank – KVS Manian (replace Shyam Srinivasan) 
• Executive Director of TamilNad Mercantile Bank – Vincent Menachery Devassy (for three years) 
• Chief Compliance Officer of CIFDAQ – Muthuswamy Iyer 

6. DRDO successfully test the 4th Gen VSHORADS Air defence system 

• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted three flight tests of the 4th Generation Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) at the Pokhran Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan. 
• The tests, conducted in the last two days were carried out against a high-speed target, demonstrating very critical parameters of maximum range and maximum altitude interception. 
• The VSHORADS has been designed and developed indigenously by Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories and private companies. 

About the VSHORADS System 

• VSHORADS is a Man-Portable Air Defence System (MANPADS) being developed for the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy. It is a surface-to-air missile system with a range of up to six kilometres. 
• The VSHORADS is an air defence system that can neutralise aerial threats such as low-flying aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles flying at a low altitude. 
• The VSHORADS being developed by DRDO has an imaging infrared (IIR) homing system. 
• Due to its weight of around 21 kg, the VSHORADS missile can be launched through a tripod. 

7. Visakhapatnam to host Malabar 2024 from October 8 

• India will host the joint naval exercise of QUAD nations from October 8 to 18 in Visakhapatnam. 
• Hosted by India, this year’s exercise will see the participation of Australia, Japan, and the United States of America. 
• The exercise, named Malabar 2024, includes sea and harbor phases focusing on cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. It features various Indian naval platforms, such as guided missile destroyers, submarines, and fighter aircraft. 
• The Malabar exercise started in 1992 as a US-India drill and evolved into a multilateral event to enhance interoperability and address maritime challenges. 
• International Naval Exercise Malabar 2024 is scheduled to take place from October 8 to 18, beginning with the Harbour Phase in Visakhapatnam, followed by the Sea Phase. 
• Hosted by India, this year’s exercise will see the participation of Australia, Japan, and the United States of America. 
• Malabar Exercise, which began in 1992 as a bilateral naval drill between the United States and Indian Navy, has evolved into a key multilateral event aimed at enhancing interoperability, fostering mutual understanding, and addressing shared maritime challenges in the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific region. 

Recent Exercise 

• 8th edition of Exercise KAZIND 2024 between India -Kazakhstan military in Auli, Uttrakhand. 
• 7th edition of Exercise Eastern Bridge between Indian Air Force and Royal Oman Air Force – Air Force Base Masirah, Oman. 
• 5th edition of Exercise Al NAJAH between Indian Army and Royal Army of Oman – Rabkoot Training Area in Salalah, Oman. 
• Exercise Ulchi Freedom Shield between South Korea and USA 
• Exercise Udara Shakti 2024 between Indian Air Force and Malaysia Air Force – Kuantan, Malaysia 
• Ex Pitch Black 2024 between India and Australia – Darwin, Australia 

8. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar unveils logo, mascot for Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2024 

• Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar unveiled the logo and mascot for the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy-2024, which will be held in Rajgir from November 11-20. 
• The mascot, named ‘Gudiya’, is inspired by the state bird of Bihar, Sparrow. 
• The hockey stick in Gudiya’s hand is the symbol of the hockey competition and the goalkeeper’s glove in the hand, and the defensive posture reflect the strategic qualities of alertness. 
• The design of the ‘logo’ of this competition is a symbol of the rich cultural heritage and all-round progress of glorious Bihar. The Bodhi tree and hockey stick have been kept in the logo. 
• The Bodhi tree is a symbol of knowledge, power, harmony, tolerance and development which connects people with the rich spiritual and cultural history of Bihar. 
• The Women’s Asian Champions Trophy-2024 is a joint venture of Hockey India and the Bihar government and will be held at the newly developed Rajgir Hockey Stadium. 
• The state cabinet recently sanctioned Rs 10 crore to Hockey India for the purpose. 
• Six countries, including India, China, Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan, are participating in the championship 

9. Mumbai win Irani Cup for first time in 27 years 

• Mumbai has won the 2024-25 season Irani Cup under its first-innings lead over the Rest of India. 
• Mumbai won the trophy after 27 years, having won it in the 1997/98 season. This was the 16th Irani Cup title for the current Ranji Champion, Mumbai. 
• The Irani Cup is a first-class domestic cricket tournament held at the Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee Eakana Stadium in Lucknow.
• This year, the 2023-24 season Ranji Champion Mumbai, led by Ajinkye Rahane, faced the Rest of India, led by Ruturaj Gaikwad. 
• Sarfraz Khan (Mumbai) was declared the Player of the match for his unbeaten knock of 222. 

About the Irani Cup 

• BCCI instituted the ZR Irani Cup (popularly known as Irani Cup) in memory of its long-time Treasurer and President Zal R Irani. 
• The first Irani Cup was held in the 1959-60 season and was won by Mumbai (then Bombay) due to its first-inning lead. 
• The Rest of India is the most successful team in the Irani Cup’s history, having won it 26 times out of the 61 finals it has played. 
• Mumbai has won it 16 times (shared once and 15 wins). 

10. 6 October – World Cerebral Palsy Day 

• World Cerebral Palsy Day is celebrated every year on 6 October 
• Objective – To raise awareness about the condition and promote inclusivity. 
• This day aims to challenge stereotypes and work towards creating an inclusive society where individuals with cerebral palsy are respected for their identities and talents.
• Theme 2024 – Uniquely CP 
• To mark this day, various national institutes and regional centres under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) will host programs across the nation to raise awareness about cerebral palsy and empower those affected by it. 

11. 8 October – World Smile Day 

• The world celebrates World Smile Day 2024 every year on the first Friday of October month, and this year the festival will be celebrated on October 4, 2024. 
• This is a special day to set a positive tone for both yourself and those around you. 
• Theme 2024 – Do an act of kindness 
• The World Smile Day spreads smiles, and fosters connections, positivity, and a wave of happiness. It inspires individuals, organisations, and communities to perform good deeds and celebrate the transformative power of a simple smile. 

12. 8 October – Indian Air Force Day 

• Indian Air Force Day is observed every year on 8 October. 
• This day is dedicated to honouring the servicemen and pilots who have sacrificed their lives for the nation and commemorating the establishment of the Indian Air Force (IAF). 
• This year marks the 92nd anniversary of the IAF.
• Theme 2024 – Bharatiya Vayusena: Saksham, Sashakt aur Aatmnirbhar’ (Potent, Powerful, and Self-Reliant) 
• The Indian Air Force, also known as Bharatiya Vayu Sena’ was established in the country on October 8, 1932, by the British Empire. 
• The first operational squadron came into being on April 1, 1933, with six RAF-trained officers and 19 Havai Sepoys (air soldiers). The aircraft inventory consisted of four Westland Wapiti IIA army co-operation biplanes at Drigh Road as the “A” Flight nucleus of the planned No.1 (Army Co-operation) Squadron. 
• In January 1950, India became a Republic within the British Commonwealth and the Indian Air Force dropped its “Royal” prefix.