National News

ITU-WTSA 2024

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) – World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) and also inaugurated the 8th India Mobile Congress at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
• It is for the first time that the ITU-WTSA was hosted in India and the Asia-Pacific.

About ITU

PMECRG and MAHA-EV

• The Anusandhan National Research Foundation launched its first two initiatives: the Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant (PMECRG) and the Mission for Advancement in High-Impact Areas - Electric Vehicle (MAHA-EV) Mission.

eMigrate V2.0 

• External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar inaugurated the eMigrate V2.0 web portal and mobile app in Delhi, promoting safe and legal mobility for Indian migrants.

Additional Info:

Pradhan Mantri Divyasha Kendra

• A new 'Pradhan Mantri Divyasha Kendra (PMDK)' of the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO) was inaugurated at the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities (NIEPVD), Dehradun.

Initiatives for Welfare of Divyangjans

SARAS Aajeevika Mela 2024

• The Ministry of Rural Development and National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR) is hosting the SARAS Aajeevika Mela from October 13 to 29, 2024, in Gurugram, featuring over 900 rural women artisans from 30 states.

 7th Session of ISA

• The Seventh Session of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Assembly will take place at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from November 3 to 6, 2024.

About ISA

UNIFIL

• India supported a joint statement by United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) -contributing countries, "strongly condemning" recent attacks on the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon.
• The Security Council also called for the full implementation of its resolution 1701, which was adopted in 2006 with the aim of keeping peace on the border between Lebanon and Israel.

eGramSwaraj Portal

• The eGramSwaraj portal is now available in 22 Indian languages, including Bhashini.

About eGramSwaraj portal

India expelled Canadian diplomats

• The diplomatic row between India and Canada intensified as New Delhi recalled its top envoy to Ottawa and expelled six Canadian diplomats.

About Canada

Meeting of MLAs from the Meitei, Kuki, and Naga communities

• To restore peace in Manipur, the Ministry of Home Affairs has called a meeting of MLAs from the Meitei, Kuki, and Naga communities, in New Delhi.

SCO Summit 2024

• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will arrive in Pakistan for a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) conclave, marking the first high-level visit by an Indian Foreign Minister in nearly nine years.

About SCO

State Special

River-linking projects in Maharashtra

• Maharashtra approved the Damanganga-Vaitarna-Godavari and Damanganga-Ekdare-Godavari river-linking projects to address water scarcity in North Maharashtra and Marathwada regions.

About Maharashtra

Padma Vibhushan Ratan Tata Skills University

• The Maharashtra State Skills University will be renamed Padma Vibhushan Ratan Tata Skills University in honour of the late industrialist and philanthropist Ratan Tata.

Economy

Co-production Agreement between India and Colombia

• The Audiovisual Co-production Agreement between India and Colombia was signed in New Delhi to enable producers from both countries to pool their creative, artistic, technical, financial, and marketing resources for co-production.
• Colombia is the 17th country with which India has signed a Co-Production Agreement.

About Colombia

Central Electricity Authority

• According to the Central Electricity Authority, India is set to exceed 200 GW of renewable energy capacity by October 10, 2024, with the current capacity at 201.45 GW, representing 46.3% of the total installed capacity.

About CEA

Science and Tech

Europa Clipper Mission

• NASA has launched Europa Clipper, its largest spacecraft for a planetary mission, to explore whether Jupiter's moon Europa has conditions to support life, focusing on its suspected subsurface ocean beneath the ice.

About NASA

3 AI Centres of Excellence

• Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced three AI Centres of Excellence (CoE) focused on Healthcare, Agriculture, and Sustainable Cities, in New Delhi.

19th ICDRAs Conference

• 19th The International Conference of Drug Regulatory Authorities (ICDRAs) Conference, is being held from October 14-18, 2024, in New Delhi, India. Hosted by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO).

About CDSCO

Environment and Biodiversity

GRAP

• The Commission of Air Quality Management (CAQM) has activated Stage-I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the National Capital Region as the AQI hit 234, marking 'Poor' air quality.

About GRAP

12th CII Bioenergy Summit 2024

• Union Minister Nitin Gadkari addressed the 12th CII Bioenergy Summit 2024 in New Delhi, themed “Fuelling the Future - Securing India’s Green Growth Goals.”
• Shri Gadkari highlighted that ethanol blending in petrol increased from 1.53% in 2014 to 15% in 2024, aiming for 20% by 2025.

About CII

Now leopards can roam in open forest

• The leopards brought from South Africa will soon roam freely in the open forest, as the government plans to move them from the small forest to a larger one.

Reintroduction of Cheetah

Defence

Samarthak

• L&T launched the first Multi-Purpose Vessel for the Indian Navy, named ‘Samarthak,’ at Kattupalli, Chennai.

About Indian Navy

Acquisition of 31 MQ-9B drones

• India and the US are set to sign a ₹34,500 crore deal to acquire 31 MQ-9B drones for the Indian armed forces, including contracts for maintenance and acquisition.

New Missile testing range in Nagayalanka, Andhra Pradesh

• The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the establishment of a new missile testing range in Nagayalanka, Andhra Pradesh.

THAAD

• The United States is deploying an advanced anti-missile system Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery, to Israel.

Army Chief  on a four-day visit to Japan

• Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi is on a four-day visit to Japan with an aim to strengthen defence cooperation.

About Indian Army

Art and Culture

Maha Kumbh, Prayagraj

• The publicity campaign will be conducted in 194 countries, including the USA, UK, Australia, Switzerland, Canada, Mauritius, Maldives, South Africa, Brazil, and Germany, to educate tourists about Maha Kumbh and encourage their participation in the Prayagraj event.

About Maha Kumbh

First International Festival on Indian Dance

• The Sangeet Natak Akademi will host its inaugural International Festival on Indian Dance from October 16 to 21, featuring scholarly discussions and captivating performances.

About Sangeet Natak Akademi

Awards and Honours

2024 Nobel Prize in Economics

• Economists Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James Robinson won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics for their research on how strong institutions drive prosperity, reduce inequality, and improve governance.

About Nobel Prize

5th National Water Awards 2023

• The 5th National Water Awards 2023 were announced by the Ministry of Jal Shakti  in New Delhi.

Award Winners

Person in News

Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to renowned scientist and former President Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam on his birth anniversary, October 15th.

Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam

Vice Admiral Kavita Sahai

• Surgeon Vice Admiral Kavita Sahai assumed charge as Director General Medical Services (Navy) on October 14, 2024.

Indranand Singh Jha

• Indranand Singh Jha, former Akashvani Darbhanga radio presenter, passed away at 77 in Chanaur village.

About Indranand Singh Jha

Atul Parchure

• Atul Parchure, beloved Marathi actor, passes away after battling health complications, at a private hospital in Mumbai on October 14, 2024.