Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 9th October 2024

1. Ministry of Youth Affairs and sports has released the draft of the National Sports Policy 2024 for public feedback. 

• The Ministry of Youth Affairs released the draft of the National Sports Policy 2024 for public consultation. 
• Its main aim is to promote sustainable growth in India's sports ecosystem and national development. 
• National Sports Policy 2024 aims to make India a global sports powerhouse through collaboration between the government, sports federations, the private sector and the public sector. 
• NSP 2024 aims to support previous initiatives such as the NSP 2001, the Khelo India Scheme and the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS). 
• This policy will focus on building a robust ecosystem that will nurture talent from grassroots to upper levels. 
• It also aims to use sports for economic development by fostering growth in tourism, manufacturing and sports technology sectors. 
• It aims to make sports a viable career and will expand access to sports infrastructure. 

NSP 2024 is based on these key pillars, which are given below: 

• Targeting excellence on the global stage 
• Economic and social growth
• Embedding sports in popular culture 
• Integrating sports with educational policy 

2. India will host World Pickleball Championship series in Mumbai from November 12th to 17th, 2024. 

• The All India Pickleball Association (AIPA) will host the Championship series. 
• The championship will be held for the first time in India in 2024. 
• Approximately 650 players from 6 to 7 countries will also participate in the World Pickleball Championship series in India. 
• The competition was previously held in Vietnam and Bali. 
• Elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis are combined in the Pickleball, a rapidly growing sport. 
• All India Pickleball Association (AIPA) is the governing body for pickleball in India. It was founded by Sunil Valavalkar in 2007. 

3. Ustad Allauddin Khan Festival started in Maihar, Madhya Pradesh on 08 October 2024. 

• This (year 2024) is the golden jubilee year of this music festival. 
• The three-day Ustad Allauddin Khan festival is being organized till October 10. 
• It is being organized jointly by the Madhya Pradesh Culture Department, Ustad Allauddin Khan Music and Art Academy and Maihar District Administration. 
• India’s well-known personalities will perform at the festival. 
• Two exhibitions are also being organized on this occasion. The first exhibition is named ‘Devi’. 
• In the first exhibition, there will be a collection of miniature paintings based on 108 names of Goddesses. 
• Under the title ‘Tantu’, an exhibition focusing on string instruments is being organized. 

4. India took part in 44 th session of Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU). 

• The 44th session of the CCNFSDU was held in Dresden, Germany from October 2 to October 6, 2024. 
• India offered insightful information on dietary reference values for infants six to thirty-six months old. 
• India offered its assistance in developing unified probiotic recommendations for meals and dietary supplements. 
• During the Codex Meeting, India pushed for improved nutrient requirements and probiotic guidelines. India received global support. 
• During the session, FAO/WHO announced plans for a Joint Statement on Healthy Diet Principles and shared updates on reviewing the benefits and risks of Alternative Animal Source Foods (A-ASFs). 
• The session was chaired by Ms. Martine Püster, with Dr. Carolin Bendadani as co-chair. 

5. MACE, Asia's largest and world's highest Imaging Cherenkov Observatory inaugurated by Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) at Hanle, Ladakh. 

• On October 4, Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Secretary DAE & Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, inaugurated the Major Atmospheric Cherenkov Experiment (MACE) Observatory in Hanle, Ladakh. 
• MACE is Asia's largest imaging Cherenkov telescope. Located at an altitude of ~4,300 meters, it is also the highest telescope of its kind in the world. 
• This telescope has been indigenously built by BARC in collaboration with ECIL and other Indian industry partners. 
• The inauguration of the MACE Observatory was a part of the Platinum Jubilee Year celebrations of the Department of Atomic Energy. 
• The MACE telescope will observe high-energy gamma-rays, contributing to global efforts to understand the most energetic phenomena in the universe, such as supernovae, black holes and gamma-ray bursts. 
• Established in 1954, DAE is an Indian government department with headquarters in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. 

6. Himachal Pradesh CM launches Sankalp Initiative to tackle drug menace 

• Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has launched a drug eradication initiative ‘Sankalp’ that also aims to address drug trafficking and supporting rehabilitation efforts. 
• The Sankalp initiative was announced by the chief minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, at an event organised by Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan in the state capital, Shimla. 

About the Sankalp Initiative 

• The state government will set up a state-level model of de-addiction and rehabilitation center under the Sankalp initiative at Kotla Barog in the Pachhad subdivision of the Sirmaur district. 
• The model center will assist drug addicts in de-addiction and help them reintegrate into mainstream society. 

About Himachal Pradesh

• Capital – Shimla (Summer), Dharamshala (Winter) 
• Chief Minister – Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu 
• Deputy Chief Minister – Mukesh Agnihotri 
• Governor – Shiv Pratap Shukla 

7. India to provide $400 Million Credit Swap Facility to Maldives 

• India has extended support of 400 million dollars and a bilateral currency swap of 3,000 crore rupees to the Maldives.
• The support will be instrumental in tackling the ongoing financial challenges faced by the Maldives. 
• Besides, the currency swap agreement, the two countries signed two MoUs including bilateral cooperation on preventing and combating corruption. Two MoUs were also renewed between the two countries on Capacity Building Programs for Maldivian judicial officers and in the field of Sports and Youth Affairs. 

About Maldives 

• Capital – Male
• Currency – Rufiya 
• President – Mohamed Muizzu 

8. Health Minister JP Nadda announces enhanced nutrition support for TB patients 

• Union Health Minister JP Nadda has announced several key initiatives aimed at enhancing nutrition support for TB patients and their household contacts. 
• The monthly nutrition support under Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana has been doubled from the existing 500 rupees to 1000 rupees for all TB patients during the period of treatment. 
• The government has also decided to introduce energy-dense nutrition supplementation for all patients with BMI less than 18.5. 
• The government also decided to permit expansion of scope and coverage of Ni-Kshay Mitra initiative under Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (PMTBMBA) including the family members of TB patients. 
• All TB patients will now receive nutritional support of 3,000 rupees to 6,000 rupees under Ni-Kshay Poshan Yojana (NPY). The enhancement of NPY support will benefit all 25 lakh TB patients annually and the introduction of Energy Dense Nutritional Supplementation (EDNS) would cover approximately 12 lakh underweight patients. 
• EDNS will be provided to all eligible patients for the first two months of their treatment. This initiative will cost the government an additional 1,040 crores rupees, which will be shared between the central and state governments on a 60:40 basis. 
• Ni-kshay Mitras will now provide food baskets to the household contacts of TB patients to improve their immunity. This initiative is expected to significantly reduce out-of-pocket expenses incurred by TB patients and their families. 
• 3,202 crore rupees have been disbursed to 1.13 crore beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer under the Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana. 

9. Reliance Nippon Life Insurance unveils ‘Nishchit Pension’ to help Indians secure guaranteed long-term retirement income 

• Reliance Nippon Life Insurance Company Limited, a leading private life insurer, has unveiled a new deferred annuity plan, the Reliance Nippon Life Nishchit Pension, which is designed to provide a guaranteed lifelong income, allowing customers to streamline their retirement income and protect against any decline in long-term interest rates. 
• RNL Nischit Pension solves significant retirement-related concerns such as establishing lifetime income guarantees, ensuring income for the last surviving couple, and leaving a legacy for future generations 
• RNL Nishchit Pension provides a lifelong rate guarantee for self and family, which is critical for good retirement planning. 
• Customers can choose their annuity start date by postponing psayouts, as well as the frequency of their income payouts (monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or yearly) to meet their specific demands. 

10. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has secured a majority in 90-member Haryana Legislative Assembly. 

• Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has retained Haryana for the third consecutive term. 
• In Jammu and Kashmir, the National Conference and Congress alliance is set to make the next government. 
• It surpassed halfway mark and secured 48 seats out of the 90-member assembly. 
• In Haryana, BJP has won 48 assembly seats. Congress has won 37 seats. Indian National Lok Dal has got two seats. 
• BJP leader and CM Nayab Singh Saini has won from Ladwa Seat. 
• Wrestler Vinesh Phogat from Congress won from Julana constituency. 
• Polling for 90-member Haryana assembly was held on 5th of October. 
• In Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference got 42 seats, while its alliance partner Indian National Congress won 6 seats. 
• Bharatiya Janata Party secured 29 seats in Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu & Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party won three seats. 
• Polling for 90 constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir took place in three phases on 18th and 25th of September and 1st of October. 

11. ‘Humsafar Policy’ has been launched by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. 

• This policy has been launched to improve national highway travel and boost wayside amenities. 
• The policy will enhance the convenience of traveling on national highways. It will accelerate the development of wayside amenities. 
• Mr. Gadkari said this initiative will benefit local marginal sections of society. 
• He also emphasised how this scheme will help people have easy, secure, and enjoyable travels. 
• Mr. Gadkari emphasised that this strategy, which was developed with cleanliness and ecology in mind, will be environmentally friendly. 
• He further said that consideration was given to solar energy, garbage recycling, soil conservation, and water conservation when creating the policy. 
• Commuters will gain from the "Humsafar" policy by having access to standardised, clean, and well-maintained facilities. .
• With the "Rajmarg Yatra" app, commuters may quickly access information on relevant service providers in their area. 

12. Prime Minister Modi will visit Vientiane for the ASEAN-India and East Asia Summits. 

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic on 10-11 October 2024, at the invitation of Prime Minister of Laos Sonexay Siphandone. 
• During his visit, Prime Minister Modi will attend the 21st ASEAN-India Summit and the 19th East Asia Summit, hosted by Laos, the current chair of ASEAN. 
• Prime Minister Modi's visit to Laos comes on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of India's Act East Policy, which highlights the importance of relations with ASEAN as a cornerstone of India's regional strategy and Indo-Pacific vision.  The objective of the ASEAN-India Summit is to evaluate the progress made in India-ASEAN relations under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and to chart out avenues for future cooperation. 
• The East Asia Summit serves as an important platform for leaders, including India, to discuss strategic trust and regional issues with partner countries. 

13. Red Panda Programme of Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoo, Darjeeling Selected as Finalist for WAZA Conservation Award. 

• The red panda programme of the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park in Darjeeling has been selected as a finalist for the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) Conservation Awards 2024. 
• In collaboration with various institutions and the Government of India, the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park has undertaken several habitat restoration initiatives. 
• Nine captive-bred red pandas—seven females and two males—were released into West Bengal's Singalila National Park between 2022 and 2024. 
• The zoo's conservation efforts are strengthened by its biobanking and genetic resources facility.
• It preserves gametes, tissues and DNA of red pandas and other endangered species for future use. 
• The winner of the WAZA Award will be announced at the 79th WAZA Annual Conference held at Tarongo Zoo, Australia on 7th of next month. 

14. ADB grants $162 mn loan for new infra, tourism boost in Himachal Pradesh 

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a loan of $162 million to support tourism development in Himachal Pradesh. 
• The loan has been provided to finance the state government’s Sustainable and Inclusive Tourism Development Project. 
• The state government’s Sustainable and Inclusive Tourism Development Project aims to revive the tourism economy in the five districts—Hamirpur, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, and Shimla which were badly affected during the pandemic. 
• The loan will finance the promotion of heritage and cultural sites in the Mandi and Hamirpur districts and the restoration of the historic Naggar Castle in Kullu. 
• Upgrades to facilities along key travel routes in Kullu, Hamirpur, and Kangra are also part of the plan, focusing on incorporating environmentally friendly technologies such as solar-powered lighting and electric vehicles. These initiatives also aim to improve accessibility for the elderly, women, children, and people with disabilities. 

Recent Loan approved by ADB 

• India and ADB sign $50 million to improve water resources management, access to water, and community resilience to the effects of climate change in Meghalaya. 
• India and ADB sign 530 crore to boost drinking water supply in 12 cities of Tripura state 
• India and ADB sign $500 million to improve healthcare in Maharashtra 
• India and ADB sign $200 million to improve solid waste management and sanitation in 100 cities across eight states in the country 
• India and ADB sign $200 million to expand metro rail corridors and improve transport connectivity in Nagpur .
• India and ADB sign $240.5 million to rooftop solar system in India .

15. Shigeru Ishiba appointed as the 102nd PM of Japan 

• Japan’s parliament elected Shigeru Ishiba, head of the governing Liberal Democratic Party, as the country’s new prime minister. 
• Shigeru Ishiba as the 102nd Prime Minister of Japan. 
• The 67-year-old Shigeru Ishiba replaces Fumio Kishida, who was also from the same political party – the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 
• The LDP has ruled Japan almost continuously since its formation in 1955. 
• Former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida resigned as the Prime Minister of Japan in September this year due to a series of political scandals. 
• Shigeru Ishiba has appointed Takeshi Iwaya as the new Foreign Minister of Japan. 

About Japan 

• Capital – Tokyo 
• Currency – Yen 
• Prime Minister – Shigeru Ishiba (replace Fumio Kishida) 

Newly Appointed Prime Minister & President 

• President of Mexico – Claudia Sheinbaum (first woman president of nation) 
• President of Sri Lanka – Anura Kumara Dissanayake;9th (replace Ranil Wickremesinghe) 
• PM of Jordan – Jafar Hassan 
• President of Algeria – Abdelmadjid Tebboune 
• PM of France – Michel Barnier 
• PM of Thailand – Paetongtarn Shinawatra (youngest PM of country) 

16. Government extends tenure of RBI Deputy Governor for 1 year 

• The Central Government has extended the tenure of Mr M. Rajeshwar Rao as Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India with effect from the 9th of October. 2024. 
• The extension is for one year or until further orders, whichever is earlier. 
• This is the second one-year extension for Mr Rao, who was initially appointed as Deputy Governor in October 2020 for three years. 
• Rao will continue to look after the Department of Regulation, Department of Communication, Enforcement Department, Legal Department and Risk Monitoring Department. 

About Reserve Bank of India (RBI) 

• Founded – 1 April 1935 
• RBI Nationalized – 1 January 1949 
• Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra 
• RBI set up – Hilton Young Commission 
• 1st Governor – Sir Osborne Smith (Australia) 
• 1st Indian Governor – CD Deshmukh 
• 25th Governor – Shaktikanta Das 

RBI Deputy Governor (4) – 

1. Tavarna Rabi Sankar 
2. J Swaminathan 
3. Michael D Patra 
4. M Rajeshwar Rao 

17. Victor Ambros & Gary Ruvkun win Nobel medicine for microRNA discovery 

• Scientists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun have won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discovery of microRNA and its role in gene regulation. 
• The United States-based laureates discovered the new class of tiny RNA molecules, which play a crucial role in regulating gene activity. 
• Ambros conducted the research that led to his prize at Harvard University. He is currently a professor of natural science at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School. 
• Ruvkun’s research was performed at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Harvard Medical School, where he is a professor of genetics. 
• The winners for medicine are selected by the Nobel Assembly of Sweden’s Karolinska Institute Medical University and receive a prize sum of 11 million Swedish crowns ($1.1m). 
• Created in the will of Swedish dynamite inventor and businessman Alfred Nobel, the prizes have been awarded for breakthroughs in science, literature and peace since 1901, while economics is a later add. 

18. Olympian Dipa Karmakar retires from Gymnastic 

• Olympian and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Dipa Karmakar has announced her retirement from Gymnastics. 
• Dipa Karmakar, nicknamed ‘Small Wonder,’ was the first female Indian gymnast to establish India’s name at the international level in the sport. 
• Dipa, who hails from Agartala, Tripura, holds the distinction of being the first Indian female gymnast to compete at the Olympics. Her only Summer Games appearance at Rio 2016 saw her narrowly miss a medal in the women’s vault event. 
• She also has the distinction of being the first Indian woman to win a gymnastics medal at the Commonwealth Games. She won a bronze medal at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. 
• Dipa Karmakar is the first Indian to win a gold medal at an international gymnastics event. She won a gold medal in the women’s vault at the 2018 Artistic Gymnastics World Cup in Mersin, Turkiye. 
• Dipa Karmakar became the first indian women gymnast to win a gold medal in the Asian Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Championships. She won a gold medal in the Vault event at the 2024 Asian Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Championships, held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. 

Awards and Biography 

• Dipa Karmakar was honoured with India’s fourth-highest civilian award, Padma Shri in 2017.
• In 2016, she was awarded the country’s highest sports award, the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award (then the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award). 
• In 2015, Dipa Karmakar was awarded the Arjuna Award. 
• Dipa Karmakar: The Small Wonder – co-authored by Digvijay Singh Deo, Vimal Mohan and Dipa Karmakar Coach, Bishweshwar Nandi. 

Recently Retired Players 

• Dwayne Bravo (West Indies) – All forms of Cricket 
• Luis Suarez (Uruguay) – National Football 
• Barinder Sran (India) – International Cricket .
• Shannon Gabriel (West Indies) – International Cricket 
• Shikhar Dhawan (India) – All forms of Cricket 
• Ilkay Gundogan (Germany) – International Football 
• Andy Murray (UK) – International Tennis 
• PR Sreejesh (India) – International Hockey 

19. 7 October 2024 – World Habitat Day 

• World Habitat Day is celebrated every year on the first Monday of October. This year it was celebrated on 7 October. 
• The day serves as a powerful reminder that everyone has the right to a decent and safe place to live. 
• On this day, governments, communities and individuals are urged to work towards improving housing conditions, creating safe environments and making neighbourhoods safer. 
• Theme 2024 – Engaging youth to build a better urban future 
• World Habitat Day was first celebrated in 1985. 

20. 9 October – World Post Day 

• World Post Day is celebrated annually on October 9 to highlights the significant role of the postal system in daily life, global communication, and economic development. 
• This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), established in 1874 in Bern, Switzerland, which paved the way for modern international mail exchange. 
• Theme 2024 – 150 years of enabling communication and empowering peoples across nations.