India to adopt Brazil model of the human milk bank

1.World’s first blockchain-based carbon trading exchange in Singapore

Singapore-based AirCarbon Pte launched the worlds’ first blockchain-based carbon trading exchange.This will allow airlines and other corporate buyers to buy as well sell tokens backed by carbon offset credits approved by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

The company is applying to the Monetary Authority of Singapore for a recognized market operator license and targets for the exchange to be fully operational in 2020.

The AirCarbon Exchange will finance the registration costs of some carbon-mitigation projects at no charge to developers to help generate credits to trade.

2.National Unity Day: 31 October

The ‘Rashtriya Ekta Diwas’ or the National Unity Day is celebrated on October 31, which is the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai PatelHe was an Indian politician who played an instrumental role in India’s struggle for independence.

In 2014, it was decided that October 31 be celebrated as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas.

Last year, the government unveiled the ‘Statue of Unity’, sculpted in his honour, in the state of Gujarat.

The colossal statue of the First Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of independent India stands at a height of 182 metres and is the tallest in the world.

3.India to adopt Brazil model of the human milk bank

The Centre has set a target of ensuring at least 70 per cent infants to have access to breast milk by the year 2025.Target will subsequently be increased to 100 per cent.

India has taken inspiration from  Brazil’s success in the field of human milk bank decided to adopt a similar model in creating a wide network of human milk banks.

4.Jammu and Kashmir bifurcation

The state of Jammu and Kashmir has been bifurcated into two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh with effect from 31 October.IAS officers Girish Chandra Murmu have been appointed the new Lieutenant Governor (LG) for the Union territories (UTs) of Jammu and Kashmir.

Also and R K Mathur has been appointed as the LG for Ladakh.

They administered the oath of office by the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Justice Gitta Mittal

According to the Act, the UT of Jammu and Kashmir will have a legislature like Puducherry while Ladakh will be a UT without legislature like Chandigarh and both the UTs will be headed by two separate Lieutenant Governors (LG).

5.Air India depicts ‘Ek Onkar’ symbol on its aircraft to mark Guru Nanak’s 550th birth anniversary

In a unique gesture to mark 550th Birth Anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji, Air India has depicted Sikh religious symbol ‘Ek Onkar’ on the tail of one of its aircraft.The flight is set to fly from Amritsar to Stansted in the United Kingdom. 

Air India will fly its aircraft thrice a week on the Mumbai-Amritsar-Stansted route.

The international flight will facilitate Sikh pilgrims visiting Punjab on the occasion of the Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.

6.Kerala Governor inaugurates Ayurveda summit

As many as 400 industry leaders and delegates from SAARC, GCC and African countries have gathered in Kochi for the third edition of ‘Global Ayurveda Summit 2019’.The two-day summit organized by CII will deliberate on the theme “Mainstreaming Ayurveda through Startups, Innovation and Branding”.

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan inaugurated the summit.

7.IIIT Hyderabad researchers create first-ever Indian Brain atlas

Researchers at the International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad said that the first-ever Indian Brain Atlas (IBA) has been created.They stated that the next step is to prepare atlases for different age groups to study age-related effects on brain anatomy.

The average brain size of an Indian was smaller in height, width and volume in comparison to people of the Caucasian and eastern races.

The immediate implication of this finding can be seen in treatment outcomes of neurological problems or brain-related ailments – like dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease etc.

8.28th Vyas Samman conferred on Leeladhar Jagoori

The 28th Vyas Samman for the year 2018 was conferred on well known Hindi writer Leeladhar Jagoori.Mr Jagoori has been chosen for the prestigious award for his poetry collection- Jitne Log Utne Prem.

Renowned Author and Scholar Govind Mishra gave away the award to him.

The Vyas Samman started in 1991, is given by KK Birla Foundation for an outstanding literary work in Hindi authored by an Indian citizen published during the last 10 years.

It carries award money of four lakh rupees along with a citation and plaque.

9.India to play its first-ever Day-Night Test

The Indian cricket team will play its first-ever Day-Night Test match against Bangladesh.The Test is scheduled to be held at the Eden Gardens from November 22-26 and will be the second game of a two-match series.

The match will start at 2 pm (IST) and will comprise a Tea and Dinner break.

10.Former SC Judge and Karnataka Lokayukta N Venkatachala passes away

Former Karnataka Lokayukta and former Supreme Court Judge N Venkatachala passed away.Justice Venkatachala was appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court in July 1992.

He retired from his post in July 1995.

He served as Lokayukta of Karnataka following his retirement from the judiciary.