Daily Current Affairs and GK | 11 October 2022

Topic: Reports and Indices/Ranking

1. World Economic Forum released “Education 4.0 India” Report.

• As per the report, India has more than 60 million secondary and higher secondary students.
• This report has been prepared by World Economic Forum in collaboration with the United Nations Children's Education Fund and YuWaah (Generation Unlimited India).
• About 85% of the schools haven’t implemented vocational courses as part of their curriculum.
• As per the report, presently school pedagogy is being designed with no reference to industry needs. There are no formal channels for industry participation in curriculum design.
• The report explains how technology can reduce learning gaps and make education accessible for all.
• The report highlighted that School-to-work (S2W) transition process still faces many problems such as a lack of trainers, inadequate resources and infrastructure and poor linkages between localised skill gaps and vocational courses.
• The report mentioned that many students and parents consider vocational education the second-best option after mainstream education.
• The report recommended enhancing opportunities for career awareness through internships and apprenticeships.
• It also insisted upon providing education and training for holistic development through STEM-based courses, language learning, and life-skills coaching.

Topic: Art and Culture

2. UNESCO released a list of 50 exclusive and iconic Indian heritage textiles.

• ‘Handmade for the 21st Century: Safeguarding Traditional Indian Textile’ list mentioned the histories behind the textiles and describe the complicated processes behind their making.
• Toda embroidery and Sungadi from Tamil Nadu, Himroo from Hyderabad and Bandha from Odisha have been included in the list.
• Lack of proper inventory and documentation are the major challenges to safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage in South Asia.
• Ilkal and Lambadi or Banjara embroidery from Karnataka, Sikalnayakanpet Kalamkari from Thanjavur have also been included in the list.
• Mashru weaves and Patola from Gujarat, Himroo from Maharashtra and Garad-Koirial from West Bengal also found a place in this list.
• Khes from Panipat, Chamba rumals from Himachal Pradesh, Thigma or wool tie and dye from Ladakh, and Awadh Jamdani from Varanasi have been also included in the list.
• The document also provides a strategy for the conservation and revitalization of these textile crafts.

Topic: Personality in News

3. Renowned Naga writer and academic Padma Shri Dr Temsula Ao died at the age of 80.

• Ao had also served as chairperson of the Nagaland State Commission for Women.
• She was known as a prominent literary voice in the Northeast and was awarded the Padma Shri in 2007.
• She was also the recipient of the Nagaland Governor’s Award for Distinction in Literature, the Meghalaya Governor’s Gold Medal, and the Sahitya Akademi award.
• She spent almost half his life teaching at North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU).

Topic: State News/ Bihar

4. Amit Shah unveiled the statue of Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan at Sitabdiara in the Saran district of Bihar.

• Home Minister Amit Shah visited Sitabdiara in Bihar's Saran district on 11 October.
• He presided over a program organized on the birth anniversary of socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayan. He unveiled the statue of Jayaprakash Narayan on the occasion.
• Jayaprakash Narayan:
  • He is popularly called JP or Lok Nayak.
  • He played a major role in movements like Quit India Movement, Sarvodaya Movement, and JP Movement against Indira Gandhi government.
  • He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1999.
  • He is known for his ‘Total Revolution’ call against Indira Gandhi.

Topic: State News/ Maharashtra

5. Election Commission allotted the party's name “Balasahebunchi Shiv Sena” to the group led by CM Eknath Shinde.

• The Commission, while rejecting the election symbol of the party selected by the Shinde group, said that these three symbols are not in the list of notified free symbols.
• The Shinde group has been asked to submit a fresh list of the three symbols on 11 October.
• The Election Commission has allotted the party’s name “Shiv Sena” to the group led by former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
• The commission has allotted a Flaming Torch as the election symbol to the party in the Andheri East by-election.
• Earlier, the Election Commission had barred former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray and CM Eknath Shinde-led groups from using Shiv Sena's name in the upcoming Andheri East by-elections.

Topic: Sports

6. Novak Djokovic won his 90^th ATP title in Astana Open.

• On 9 October, Novak Djokovic won his 90^th ATP title by defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final of the Astana Open in Kazakhstan.
• 21-time Grand Slam winner Djokovic defeated Tsitsipas of Greece 6-3, 6-4.
• This is the fourth title of Wimbledon champion Djokovic of this year, including in Rome and Tel Aviv.
• With this win at Astana, Djokovic joined Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in the list of players to have won 90 or more ATP titles in the Open Era.
• Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic registered victories in the Astana Open men's doubles match.
• They defeated the French pair of Adrian Mannarino and Fabrice Martin 6-4, 6-2.
• The Astana Open is a professional tennis tournament that is organized in Astana, Kazakhstan, in late October every year since 2020.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Important Days

7. International Day of the Girl Child: 11 October

• International Day of the Girl Child is celebrated on 11 October.
• In December 2011, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution to declare 11th October as the International Day of the Girl Child.
• This was done to recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world.
• The theme for this year’s International Day of the Girl Child is - 'Our time is now - our rights, our future.'
• Related SDG: SDG 5 (Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls)

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

8. The first conference of Agni Tattva campaign under LiFE (Lifestyle for environment) mission held in Leh.

• The theme of the conference was ‘Sustainability and Culture’.
• Shri R K Mathur, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, inaugurated the conference.
• Speaking on the occasion, he emphasised on several key areas.
• Ladakh has immense solar energy potential. This should be harnessed. Geothermal energy holds immense potential in the Ladakh region.
• Green Hydrogen is another option in Ladakh. This is because the region has plenty of solar energy and water.
• Power Foundation of India in partnership with Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA) is currently running a campaign to create awareness on Agni Tattva under LiFE.
• Shri R K Singh, Union Minister of Power and New & Renewable Energy, launched Agni Tattva campaign - Energy for LiFE, an initiative under the umbrella campaign of Sumangalam, in New Delhi on 21st September 2022.
• Power Foundation of India is a Society formed under the aegis of the Ministry of Power, Government of India. It is supported by leading CPSEs.
• Vijnana Bharati is a movement for the development of Swadeshi Sciences.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: Government scheme and Initiatives

9. Government launched an online portal for handicraft artisans.

• The office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) has launched the Indian handicraft portal (http://indian.handicrafts.gov.in).
• Eligible artisans can use this portal to submit online applications for marketing events.
• Every year, around 200 domestic marketing events are organized in different parts of the country to support artisans in selling their produce.
• The artisans can log in to the portal through the pehchan card number, followed by authentication with an OTP.
• The online process will provide equal, fair, and transparent opportunities to all artisans.
• The process of receipt of applications, selection, and allotment for all the marketing events will be made through this portal only.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

10. India Captain Harmanpreet Kaur & Pakistan player Mohammad Rizwan have been selected for ICC Player of the Month awards for September.

• Harmanpreet Kaur won the ICC Player of the Month award in the women’s category.
• Mohammad Rizwan received the ICC Player of the Month award in the men's category.
• Harmanpreet Kaur won the award for her performance in the ODI series in England.
• Recently, India’s women’s team won its first series in England since 1999.
• Rizwan defeated Indian left-arm spinner Axar Patel and Australian allrounder Cameroon Green to win this award in Men’s category.
• ICC Player of the Month awards recognizes the best performances of both male and female cricketers across all forms of international cricket.
• The ICC Player of the Month award was introduced by ICC in January 2021.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Indian Economy

11. Gross direct tax revenue has increased by 24% in the current financial year so far.

• According to the tax department, the Gross direct tax revenue has reached Rs 8.98 lakh crore with an increase of 24% so far in the current financial year.
• It includes a 32.3 % growth in personal income tax and a 16.73 % increase in corporate tax revenues.
• Between 1 April and 8 October, direct tax collections were Rs 7.45 lakh crore after adjusting refunds. It is 52.46% of Budget Estimates (BE) for the full-year tax collection target.
• The Budget has estimated direct tax collection of Rs 14.20 lakh crore for this fiscal year.
• In the first six months of the fiscal year, the trade deficit has nearly doubled. The ‘Core sector’ hit a nine-month low of 3.3 % in August.
• The collection from GST is around Rs 1.45-1.46 lakh crore per month.
• Tax collection is a key indicator of the economic activity in any country.

Topic: Defence

12. India is hosting stage 2 of the multinational Joint Anti-Terror Exercise (JATE) at Manesar.

• Exercise “Manesar Anti-Terror 2022” is being organized under the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) at NSG Manesar Garrison.
• Stage-1 of the exercise was conducted from July 27 to August 1. In this stage, the National Counter Terrorist Forces of SCO members had participated.
• Stage 2 of the exercise is being conducted from 8 to 13 October.
• National Counter Terrorism Forces of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Russian Federation and India are participating in this exercise.
• The main aim of the exercise is to enhance operational capabilities and to exchange experience in combating terrorism, separatism and extremism.
• India assumed the chairmanship of the Council of SCO RATS in Oct 2021.
• Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) is a permanent organ of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. Its headquarters is located in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

13. Ben Bernanke, Douglas Diamond and Philip Dybvig won the 2022 Nobel Prize in Economics.

• US-based economists Ben Bernanke, Douglas Diamond and Philip Dybvig won the award for research on banks and financial crisis.
• Their research has improved our understanding of banks, bank regulation, banking crisis and how financial crisis should be managed.
• Nobel Economics Prize comprises a cash prize of 10 million Swedish krona ($914,447).
• Nobel Economics Prize is formally called the 'Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel.'
• The Nobel Economics prize is not one of the original five awards created in 1895. It was established by Sweden's central bank and was given for the first time in 1969.
• So far, only two women have won the Nobel Economics Prize, Elinor Ostrom in 2009 and Esther Duflo in 2019.

Topic: Important Days

14. World Mental Health Day: 10 October

• World Mental Health Day is observed every year on 10 October.
• It is observed to promote global mental health education and to spread awareness.
• It gives an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to discuss their work.
• The theme for this year’s World Mental Health Day is 'Make Mental Health and Well-Being for All a Global Priority'.
• World Mental Health Day was observed for the first time on October 10, 1992.
• This day was started by Deputy Secretary General Richard Hunter.