1 Prime Minister inaugurates, dedicates to the nation and lays the foundation stone of projects worth about Rs 5800 crore in Mehsana, Gujarat
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated , dedicated to the nation and laid the foundation stone of projects worth about Rs 5800 crore in Mehsana , Gujarat . The projects cover various sectors like railways, roads, drinking water and irrigation . The projects that were inaugurated and dedicated to the nation included the New Bhandu-New Sanand (N) section of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC); Doubling of Viramgam-Samakhiyali railway line; Katosan Road- Becharaji – Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL Siding) Rail Project; Recharge project of various village lakes of Vijapur taluka and Mansa taluka of Mehsana and Gandhinagar district; Valsana Barrage on Sabarmati River in Mehsana district; Two schemes for provision of drinking water in Palanpur, Banaskantha; and Dharoi Dam based Palanpur Lifeline Project – Major Works (HW) and water treatment plant of 80 MLD capacity.
2 CCI becomes member of International Competition Network Committee
Competition Commission of India (CCI), a global body dedicated to competition law enforcement , has become part of the prestigious 18-member Steering Committee of the International Competition Network . The ICN, comprising 140 competition agencies from around the world , is a unique global body dedicated exclusively to competition law enforcement. Its primary objective is to provide an exclusive and informal forum for antitrust authorities to maintain regular contact and address practical competition concerns. The ICN facilitates cooperation and collaboration between competition authorities, by fostering a global network of knowledge and expertise.
3 FATF removes Cayman Islands from its ‘grey list’
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recently removed several countries from its ‘grey list’, including the Cayman Islands , Panama, Jordan and Albania , while adding Bulgaria to the list . The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), is an inter-governmental body responsible for setting international standards to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing. The FATF maintains a ‘grey list’, which includes jurisdictions that do not meet the organization’s anti-money laundering (AML), counter-terrorism financing (CFT), and proliferation financing standards. Countries placed on this list are monitored until identified deficiencies in their regulatory framework are resolved.
4 South Eastern Coalfields Limited achieved the target of 100 million tonnes of coal dispatch
South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), a subsidiary of Coal India , has achieved the coal dispatch target of 100 million tonnes (MT) for the financial year 2023-24 . The Chhattisgarh- based company has achieved the target of dispatch of 100 metric tonnes of coal for the first time since its inception. Last year, SECL had dispatched around 85 million tonnes of coal in the same period and thus the company has registered a growth of 17.65 percent during this financial year. SECL’s mega projects Gevra, Deepka, and Kusmunda located in Korba district have contributed significantly to the total dispatch of 100 million tonnes of coal. Gevra, the country’s largest coal mine, has contributed 30.3 million tonnes of coal while Deepka and Kusmunda have contributed 19.1 million tonnes and 25.1 million tonnes of coal respectively.
5 Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announces road construction projects worth Rs 20 thousand crore to start in Mizoram in 2024
Road Transport and Highways Minister and senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari announced road construction projects worth Rs 20 thousand crore to start in Mizoram in 2024 . These projects will connect 9 districts of the state. He said that this road will also connect Manipur and Nagaland in the country and Myanmar on the international border . Shri Gadkari said that 355 km of road construction has been completed in Mizoram at a cost of Rs 8,000 crore. The 373 km long Aizawl-Tuipang road costing Rs 7,361 crore, connecting six districts of Mizoram, will be completed by 2024.
6 Dark Pattern Sales by Airlines – ‘Cyber Crime’
Recently the Ministry of Civil Aviation has directed its attention towards controversial practices identified within airlines and online travel agencies , identifying these as ” dark patterns “, raising potential cyber crime concerns. This has led to a large number of consumer complaints, forcing the government to intervene. Specifically, the government has called on major carrier IndiGo to rectify deceptive online practices related to seat selection and additional charges. Dark patterns are manipulative design strategies used in websites or apps. These are designed to confuse users or induce them to take actions they may not want to do. These may include indirect fees and deceptive layouts, intended to coerce users into taking actions that benefit the company, not the user.
7 PFRDA makes mandatory penny-drop verification for NPS
Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has introduced mandatory ‘Penny Drop’ verification for National Pension System (NPS) subscribers to ensure timely fund transfer during withdrawals. In the penny drop verification process, Central Record Keeping Agencies (CRAs) verify the active status of the savings bank account and verify the account with the customers Permanent Retirement Account Number (PRAN) or the documents submitted. Cross-references the name. Success of name matching verification is important for processing withdrawal/withdrawal requests and modifying customer bank account details. Failure in penny drop verification bars any such requests, prompting CRA to collaborate with nodal offices for rectification.
8 First district-level study in India reveals disparities in hypertension care: Report
A comprehensive study conducted by AIIMS Delhi in collaboration with scientists from Europe and the US has highlighted significant variations in hypertension care at the district level in India . This groundbreaking study underscores the urgent need for a targeted approach to combating high blood pressure, often called the “silent killer. ” The study found substantial variations across districts in terms of blood pressure diagnosis (range: 6.3%-77.5%), treatment (range: 8.7%-97.1%), and control (range: 2.7%-76.6%). This regional disparity emphasizes the need for targeted, decentralized health care solutions at the district level. According to a recent WHO report, 188.3 million people in India suffer from hypertension, but only 37% are diagnosed, 30% initiate treatment, and only 15% successfully manage their blood pressure. The study emphasizes that addressing hypertension could prevent at least 4.6 million deaths in India by 2040 if blood pressure control rates improve.
9 Jharkhand launches ‘Abua Awas Yojana’ (AAY) housing scheme
Jharkhand Cabinet has recently approved ‘ Abua Awas Yojna ‘ (Abua Awas Yojna – AAY), a housing scheme designed to provide eight lakh pucca houses to homeless persons in the state. With a total budget of Rs 16,320 crore, the scheme will be implemented in three phases, with a target to build 2 lakh houses in the current financial year, 3.5 lakh houses in FY 2024-25 and 2.5 lakh houses in FY 2025-26 . will be kept. Despite the existence of several housing schemes in Jharkhand, including the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin and Ambedkar Awas Yojana, these initiatives have been unable to cover all the eligible beneficiaries. Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Rural Development Minister Alamgir Alam had expressed concern that around 8 lakh eligible beneficiaries have been left out of the housing schemes due to discrepancies and errors in the identification process.
10 Indian Government tightens disclosure rules for limited liability partnerships
The Government of India has imposed strict disclosure rules for Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs), mandating the maintenance of a register of partners containing details of their beneficial interests and contributions, both tangible and intangible . The Limited Liability Partnership (Third Amendment) Rules, 2023 , issued by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, came into force on October 28, 2023. According to these rules, newly established LLPs must maintain a register of registered partners at their office within 30 days of incorporation.
11 RBI revises bulk deposit limit of regional rural banks to Rs 1 crore
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has reviewed the bulk deposit limits for financial institutions , particularly with a focus on Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) . As a result, the bulk deposit limit for RRBs has been increased from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 1 crore . Depending on the size of the deposit, different banking institutions may have different definitions of bulk deposits. Reserve Bank, after review, it has been decided that the non-withdrawable FD can be increased from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 1 crore. Along with instructions to increase the limit of pre-maturity withdrawal, RBI has told the banks that they can also change the interest rates accordingly. These instructions have come into effect with immediate effect on all commercial banks and co-operative banks.
12 SBI made MS Dhoni its brand ambassador
State Bank of India (SBI), the country’s largest public sector lender, has appointed former cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni as its brand ambassador. As the brand ambassador of SBI, Dhoni will play a key role in various marketing and promotional campaigns, the bank said in a statement.
13 World Occupational Therapy Day
World Occupational Therapy Day is celebrated every year on 27 October . This day promotes the objectives and goals of professional medicine. The day also raises awareness about professional therapists and their global impact. This year’s theme for World Occupational Therapy Day is ” Unity through Community “, which celebrates our role in working together with others to facilitate participation and community discourse. These specialized therapists provide proper treatment to injured or disabled patients.
14 World Stroke Day 2023
World Stroke Day is celebrated every year on 29 October . Stroke Day is celebrated every year with the aim of increasing awareness about the prevention and treatment of increasing risks of stroke and to ensure better care to stroke victims. This year the theme of World Stroke Day is ‘ Together We Are Greater Than Stroke ‘.
15 Homi Jahangir Bhabha’s 114th birth anniversary
Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhabha , born on October 30, 1909 , was a renowned nuclear physicist and a key figure in shaping the scientific future of India. He established the Cosmic Ray Research Unit and was instrumental in establishing the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai . In 1944 he began research on nuclear weapons and established the Atomic Energy Commission . In 1942 , he was awarded the Adams Prize by the University of Cambridge . The Government of India honored him with the Padma Bhushan in 1954 . He chaired the United Nations Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy in 1955 . Dr. Bhabha served as President of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics from 1960 to 1963 . Dr. Bhabha died in a mysterious air crash near Mount Blanc on 24 January 1996 . There is speculation surrounding his death that he may have been targeted to disrupt India’s nuclear programme.
16 Republic of Türkiye: 100th Anniversary Celebration
The Republic of Turkey celebrated its 100th anniversary , marking the centenary of its establishment as a modern, secular state following the fall of the Ottoman Empire . There were fireworks and drone shows and a procession of 100 naval ships in Istanbul. Notably, there was no grand reception. President Erdogan followed traditional protocol by laying a wreath at Ataturk’s mausoleum and speaking with ambassadors and officials . Turkey has a secular government and was founded in 1923 by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk as a modern, secular republic, replacing the Ottoman Empire . Turkey is a transcontinental country located primarily on the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with a small portion in Southeastern Europe.
17 ‘Friends’ fame actor Matthew Perry passes away
Famous American-Canadian actor Matthew Perry passed away at the age of 54. According to media reports, he has been found dead in his Los Angeles home. He died due to drowning in the hot tub. Matthew Perry rose to fame in the 1990s for his lead role in the hit American television comedy Friends . It is known that the American television comedy series Friends ran from 1994 to 2004 . Matthew Perry, who played the role of Chandler Bing in Friends, has also worked in many films, including the rom-com, Fools Rush In, The Whole Nine Yards.
