Latest Current Affairs For Tuesday 18th October, 2022

Haryana topped the Public Affairs Index 2022 in big states

According to the Public Affairs Index 2022, Haryana has emerged as the best-governed among 18 big states of the country, followed by Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Punjab and Karnataka.

This report was prepared by a Bengaluru-based think tank.

The states have been divided into two categories - large and small.

Union Territories are not a part of the report.

Sikkim has topped in the category of 10 smaller states.

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 2022: 17th October

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is observed every year on October 17 globally.

Aim: To raise awareness about the global issue of poverty and how it is a violation of human rights and of human dignity.

2022 theme: Dignity For All in Practice

On December 22, 1992, the United Nations General Assembly, through resolution 47/196 declared 17 October as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

PM distributed PMJAY-MA Ayushman cards in Gujarat

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has started the distribution of Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana - Mukhyamantri Amrutam (PMJAY-MA) Ayushman cards in Gujarat through video conferencing.

Fifty lakh Ayushman cards was distributed to all the beneficiaries across Gujarat, at their doorstep.

In 2012, then CM of Gujarat, Modi had started the Mukhyamantri Amrutam scheme to protect poor citizens from the catastrophic costs of medical treatment and illness.

Education minister launches NEP in higher education institutes in U’khand

Union Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan has launched the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in higher education for the session 2022-23 in Uttarakhand.

The event was attended by CM, Pushkar Singh Dhami.

Under the NEP, children will be linked to formal education for three years initially.

Under this policy, Bal Vatika has been started.

After learning for three years under the Bal Vatika scheme the child will enter the first class.

Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurates India’s First Aluminum Freight Rake

Union Minister for Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw has inaugurated India’s First Aluminum Freight Rake -61 BOBRNALHSM1 at Bhubaneswar Railway Station in Odisha.

It was fully designed and developed indigenously in collaboration with RDSO, HINDALCO and Besco Wagon.

Aim: To reduce carbon footprint due to lower consumption of fuel.

A single rake can reduce 14,500 tonnes Carbon dioxide emissions during its lifetime.

PM Narendra Modi inaugurates PM Kisan Samman Sammelan

PM Narendra Modi has inaugurated the PM Kisan Samman Sammelan 2022 at Indian Agricultural Research Institute in New Delhi.

The conference was participated by more than 13 thousand farmers and around 1,500 Agri Startups.

PM has also released the 12th installment amount of 16,000 crore rupees under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi through DBT.

Under the scheme, eligible farmer families are provided a benefit of 6,000 rupees per year in three equal installments.

PM Modi dedicates 75 Digital Banking Units to the nation

PM Narendra Modi has dedicated 75 digital banking units (DBUs) to the nation.

Aim: To promote financial inclusion

The ceremony was attended by Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman and RBI Governor, Shaktikanta Das via virtual mode.

The setting up of 75 DBUs in 75 districts of the country was done to commemorate the 75 years of independence of the country.

11 public sector banks, 12 private sector banks and one small finance bank are participating in the endeavour. 

Harry Potter actor Robbie Coltrane passes away

The veteran actor, Robbie Coltrane, who played Hagrid in "Harry Potter" movies, has been passed away at 72 in Scotland.

He was known for his role in a crime-solving psychologist on  "Cracker", Bond villain Valentin Dmitrovich Zukovsky in "Golden Eye" (1995) and "The World is Not Enough" (1999).

He was awarded the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II in 2006.

He was active in Amnesty International, Greenpeace and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

India to host 90th General Assembly of INTERPOL from 18 to 21 Oct

The 90th General Assembly of the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) from 18th - 21st October, 2022 in New Delhi.

The General Assembly is taking place in India after 1997.

The move was proposed by HM, Amit Shah to Interpol secretary general, Jurgen Stock in August 2019.

India joined the INTERPOL in 1949.

Aim of INTERPOL: To promote possible assistance between all criminal police authorities in the prevention and suppression of ordinary law crimes.

Hyderabad wins the prestigious ‘World Green Cities Award 2022’

Hyderabad city of Telangana has been awarded ‘World Green City Award 2022' at the AIPH World Green City Awards 2022 held in Jeju, South Korea.

Hyderabad was awarded in the category of "Living Green for Economic Recovery and Inclusive Growth" for Green Garland to the State of Telangana.

Mexico City’s Environmental and Climate Change Program of Mexico City was also awarded in Living Green for Climate Change.

Living Green for Social Cohesion: OASIS Schoolyard Project, Paris

PM Narendra Modi to be awarded prestigious Lokmanya Tilak Award 2023

The Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust (Hind Swaraj Sangh) would confer the prestigious Lokmanya Tilak National Award 2023 to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Pune on August 1, 2023.

Reason: This award recognizes PM Modi's supreme leadership under which India has climbed the ladder of progress

It is presented annually on the occasion of Lokmanya Tilak's death anniversary.

Other awardees: Indira Gandhi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Sharad Pawar, Cyrus Poonawalla, and Manmohan Singh. 

J&K Bank wins award for Best Performance in CASA

Jammu & Kashmir Bank has been felicitated for the Best Performance in CASA-India (1st Runner up in Small Bank Category) at ICC Emerging Asia Banking Conclave & Awards 2022.

The event was participated by banks from India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka & Myanmar.

The function was organized by the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Goa.

Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is a non-governmental trade association and advocacy group headquartered in Calcutta.

India poised to become world’s 2nd-largest economy by 2075: Goldman Sachs

According to the Investment Bank Goldman Sachs, India is poised to become the world’s second-largest economy by 2075.

As per the report, India would cross Japan, Germany, and the US With a population of 1.4 billion people.

India’s GDP is estimated to expand remarkably, reaching 52.5 trillion dollars surpassing the US GDP projection.

The labour force participation set to make India the second-largest economy in the world by 2075.

L&T and Spain's Navantia sign agreement for submarine project

L&T has signed a teaming agreement with Spanish-based Navantia for the submission of a techno-commercial bid for the Indian Navy’s prestigious P75 (India) submarine program.

P75 (India) Submarine Project is expected to be valued at €4.8 billion.

Navantia would carry out the design of P75(I) submarines based on its S80 class of submarines.

The first S80 class submarine was launched in 2021 and is undergoing sea trials prior to its delivery to Spanish Navy. 

India overtakes China as most attractive emerging market for investing

According to a study by Invesco Global Sovereign Asset Management, India has overtaken China to become the most attractive emerging market for investing in sovereign wealth funds this year.

Reason: This is due to its solid demographics, political stability, and proactive regulation. 

Positives for the nation also include the rapidly expanding demography, strong regulatory actions, and a welcoming climate for sovereign investors.

World Population Day 2023: 11 July

World Population Day is observed every year on July 11 in order to raise awareness about global population issues, including population control.

2023 theme: Unleashing the power of gender equality: Uplifting the voices of women and girls to unlock our world’s infinite possibilities. 

It was established by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 1989, after the day the world approximately reached a population of five billion, which was observed on 11 July 1987.

MoHUA conducts SBM-U 2.0 Planning & Implementation Review-cum-Workshop

The Housing Ministry organized a review-cum-workshop to evaluate and accelerate the planning and implementation of the SBM-Urban 2.0.

PM Modi launched the 2.0 versions of SBM-U and AMRUT on October 1, 2021.

SBM-U 2.0: Achieving 100% waste segregation in all households and premises and 100% door-to-door collection of segregated waste from each. 

AMRUT 2.0: To provide complete coverage of water supply to all households and sewerage and septage in 500 AMRUT cities. 

Gujarat CM launches pilot project of ‘Antyodaya Shramik Suraksha Yojana’

Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel launched the Antyodaya Shram Suraksha Accident Insurance Scheme from Kheda

All those registered under the e-Shram portal from Nadiad will benefit from the scheme.

It is being implemented through the Indian Postal Department, the IPPB, and the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Under this scheme, insurance with a premium of Rs. 289 and Rs. 499 per year will be a big support to workers in the event of death or partial disability.

OCA elects Sheikh Talal as the new President

Kuwait’s Sheikh Talal Fahad Al Ahmad Al Sabah has been elected as the new President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).

He replaced his older brother Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, who led the OCA for 30 years until 2021.

The OCA was founded in 1982 by his father Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who led it until 1990.

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) is a governing body of sports in Asia, currently with 45 member National Olympic Committees.

Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance wins Insurer Innovation Award 2023

Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance has won the Insurer Innovation Award 2023 for the APAC region at the 8th World Digital Insurance Awards, hosted by TDI - The Digital Insurer.

Recognition: Bajaj Allianz Life's ground-breaking WhatsApp Conversational Platform - empowering customers to digitally services their policies seamlessly. 

The award entries were shortlisted by industry experts and the winner was selected by the community through pre-voting and live event voting.