Daily Current Affairs and GK | 15 October 2024

Topic: Indian Economy

1. In the last two years, Industrial output contracted for the first time.

• India’s factory output, measured by the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), has contracted by 0.1 percent for the first time in two years.
• The industrial output contracted due to a high base effect along with a decline in mining and electricity output.
• The overall industrial output had grown by 4.7 percent in July and 10.9 percent in August 2023.
• In the financial year 2024-25, industrial growth was recorded at 4.2 per cent during April-August, against 6.2 per cent in the previous financial year.
• Mining output recorded a contraction of 4.3 per cent in August as compared to a growth of 3.8 per cent in July.
• Electricity output also recorded a contraction of 3.7 per cent in August as compared with 7.9 per cent in July.
• Manufacturing also slipped to a 22-month low of 1.0 per cent in August.

Topic: Sports

2. India defeated Taipei and won Women’s Single Bendigo International Challenge Badminton Tournament.

• India’s Tanya Hemanth defeated Tung Ciou-Tong of Taipei to win the women’s singles title.
• Tanya won women’s singles title at the Bendigo International Challenge badminton tournament in Bendigo, Australia.
• This was Tanya’s third international title and first of the year.
• She finished runner-up at the Polish Open and Azerbaijan International in 2024.
• She won title at the India International in 2022. She also won title at Iran Fajr International in 2023.
• In the men’s doubles final, Indian duo of Hariharan Amsakarunan and Ruban Kumar Rethinasabapathi lost to the Taipei pair of Chen Cheng Kuan and Po Li-Wei.

Topic: Defence

3. Samarthak, first ship of the two Multi Purpose Vessel project, has been launched on 14 Oct 24 at L&T, Kattupalli.

• Mrs Shashi Tripathi President NWWA launched the ship.
• Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff presided over the launch ceremony.
• The ship has been named ‘Samarthak ’ which means ‘ Supporter’.
• The two Multi Purpose Vessel project are being built by L&T Shipyard for the Indian Navy.
• On 25 March 22, Ministry of Defence and L&T Shipyard signed the contract for building two Multi Purpose Vessel.
• The Multi Purpose Vessels can achieve a maximum speed of 15 knots. They are 106 m long and 16.8 wide.

Topic: National News

4. India has recalled High Commissioner and Other Diplomats from Canada.

• India cited Trudeau Government’s failure to ensure their safety.
• Six Canadian diplomats have been expelled by India. They have been requested to leave India by or before 19th October.
• India said it no longer trusts the current Canadian government to protect the security of its diplomats and officials, and it has withdrew its High Commissioner in Canada along with other targeted diplomats and officials.
• The India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned Canada's Charge d'Affaires after Ottawa connected the investigation into Hardeep Nijjar's killing to the Indian envoy.
• Following Ottawa's decision to designate the Indian high commissioner as a "person of interest" in its investigation into the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year, tensions between India and Canada escalated.

Topic: National News

5. ITU-World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly inaugurated by Prime Minister.

• On October 15, International Telecommunication Union ITU – World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) 2024 inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
• WTSA-24 is being held from 15 to 24 October 2024.
• The 8th edition of India Mobile Congress 2024 also inaugurated by the Prime Minister during the event.
• WTSA is the governing conference for the standardization work of the International Telecommunication Union, the United Nations agency for digital technologies. It is held every four years.
• This is the first time that the ITU-WTSA is being held in India and Asia-Pacific. It is an important global event.
• The event will be attended by over 3,000 industry leaders, policy makers and technical experts from over 190 countries representing the telecom, digital and ICT sectors.
• WTSA 2024 will provide a platform for countries to discuss and decide on the future of standards for next-generation critical technologies such as 6G, AI, IoT, Big Data, Cyber ​​Security, etc.
• India Mobile Congress 2024 will showcase India's innovation ecosystem with leading telecom companies and innovators highlighting advances in quantum technology and the circular economy.
• It will also highlight 6G, 5G use-case showcases, cloud and edge computing, IoT, semiconductors, cybersecurity, green tech, satcom and electronics manufacturing.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

6. 2024 Nobel Economics Prize awarded to Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson & James A. Robinson.

• They have been awarded 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics “for studies of how institutions are formed and affect prosperity.”
• The award is for his groundbreaking research on how institutions shape prosperity.
• The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences praised his work for highlighting the role of strong social institutions in promoting economic growth, reducing inequality and improving the rule of law.
• The award recognizes his contributions to understanding how institutional quality affects global development.
• The economics award was created in 1968 by Sweden’s central bank.
• The award is officially known as the 'Bank of Sweden Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel'.
• The prestigious award carries a cash prize of 11 million Swedish Krona (US$1.1 million).
• In 2023, Claudia Goldin won the Nobel Economics Prize.
• In 1969, the first winners of this award were Ragnar Frisch and Jan Tinbergen.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

7. e-Migrate V2.0 web portal and Mobile App has been inaugurated by External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar.

• This portal promotes safe and legal mobility channels for Indian migrants.
• The eMigrate V2.0 portal's launch, according to Dr. Jaishankar, is evidence of the government's efforts to provide secure, open, and inclusive mobility for Indians.
• According to him, the updated portal represents the government's dedication to upholding the rights and dignity of Indian labourers employed abroad.
• The Minister stated that this is significant because it also supports the promotion of orderly, safe, regular, and responsible movement and mobility of people, which is Goal 10 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals.
• The Minister of External Affairs noted that the number of passports issued has nearly doubled in recent years.
• Dr. Jaishankar also noted the fact that the portal will also give migrants social security.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

8. India and Colombia signed the Audiovisual Co-production Agreement in New Delhi.

• Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr. L. Murugan was the signatory representative of India.
• Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia, Jorge Enrique Rojas Rodriguez was the signatory representing his country.
• This agreement will benefit producers from both countries.
• It will also lead to an exchange of art and culture among India and Colombia.
• It will also boost cultural ties between India and Colombia.
• At present, India has co-production treaties with 16 countries.
• Colombia is the 17th country with which India has signed a Co-Production Agreement.

Topic: Defence

9. India and US to finalize ₹32,000 crore deal for 31 predator drones and MRO facility.

• India and the United States to sign a ₹32,000 crore agreement for the acquisition of 31 Predator drones and the establishment of a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility.
• The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has approved the procurement.
• 15 drones will be allocated to the Indian Navy. The remaining drones will be equally divided between the Air Force and the Army.
• The Foreign Military Sales contract will be finalized during the signing ceremony in New Delhi.
• It will also be attended by top Indian defence officials, including the Joint Secretary and Acquisition Manager for naval systems.
• The Predator drones will be stationed at four key locations: INS Rajali near Chennai, Porbandar in Gujarat, and two airbases in Uttar Pradesh.
• This procurement will be a tri-service agreement, with the number of drones determined after a comprehensive study by the Indian military.

(Source: DD News)

Topic: National Appointments

10. S Paramesh has been appointed as the new chief of the Indian Coast Guard.

• S Paramesh has assumed the office on October 15.
• He was serving as the acting Director General of the Indian Coast Guard after the passage of Rakesh Pal.
• During his 30-year’s career, Paramesh has held numerous significant positions both at sea and on land.
• He has extensive experience in commanding key vessels such as the Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel Samar and the Offshore Patrol Vessel Vishwast.
• He has previously served as the Deputy Director General for Operations and Coastal Security and as the Coast Guard Commander for the Eastern Seaboard.

Topic: International News

11. India is now Russia's second-largest supplier of restricted technology.

• US and European officials said India has become the second largest supplier of restricted critical technologies to Russia.
• It highlights the challenge to efforts to curb exports that fuel President Vladimir Putin's war machine.
• Indian exports of restricted items such as microchips, circuits and machine tools exceeded $60 million in both April and May, nearly double from the first months of the year, and reached $95 million in July.
• The latest figures imply that nearly a fifth of the sensitive technology going to Russia’s military-industrial complex has made its way through India.
• India has emerged as the top buyer of Russian oil despite allied efforts to restrict sales.
• In July, US Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo wrote a letter to senior officials of the Confederation of Indian Industry, warning of the sanctions risk faced by Indian companies and banks doing business with Russia's military industrial base.

Topic: Important Day

12. World Standards Day 2024: 14 October

• Every year on 14 October, World Standards Day is celebrated.
• It is celebrated by the members of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
• The day is intended to show gratitude to many experts worldwide who evolved the voluntary technical norms that are issued in the form of international standards.
• The day aims to raise awareness among regulators, industry, and consumers about the importance of implementing and developing standards in the global economy.
• The theme of World Standards Day in 2024 is " Shared Vision for a Better World: Standards for the Changing Climate."
• In 1946, World Standards Day began, when representatives from 25 countries gathered in London to establish an international organization focused on promoting standardization.
• This resulted in the formation of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in 1947.
• In 1970, the first official celebration of World Standards Day took place.

Topic: International News

13. UN General Assembly elected 18 members to the Human Rights Council for the 2025-2027 term.

• 18 countries including Benin, Bolivia, Colombia, Cyprus, Qatar, and Thailand have been elected through a secret ballot.
• The elected members will serve three-year terms beginning on 1 January 2025.
• They will replace members whose terms of office are set to expire on 31 December 2024.
• The Human Rights Council is an intergovernmental body within the United Nations system.
• It is responsible for promoting and protecting human rights across the world.
• About one-third of 47 members are replaced every year to ensure council members serve staggered three-year terms for the sake of continuity.
• After the elections, the Assembly adopted a draft resolution titled “Scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of the United Nations:  requests under Article 19 of the Charter”.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

14. Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to the Japanese organisation Nihon Hidankyo.

• The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Nihon Hidankyo.
• It is an organisation of survivors of the Hiroshima-Nagasaki bombings.
• Nihon Hidankyo members are survivors of the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United States in 1945.
• The members of this organization raise awareness about the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of using nuclear weapons.
• The US dropped a bomb named “Little Boy” on Hiroshima and a bomb named “Fat Man” on Nagasaki.
• Hibakusha's main objectives are the elimination of nuclear weapons and due compensation to the victims.
• In 2017, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN).