Daily Current Affairs and GK | 16 and 17 October 2022

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

1. India-Africa Defence Dialogue will be held on 18 October in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

• During the India-Africa Defence Dialogue (IADD), Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will host the Defence Ministers of African Nations.
• India-Africa Defence Dialogue will be organized on the sidelines of the 12^th DefExpo 2022 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• It will be organized under the theme of ‘India-Africa: Adopting Strategy for Synergising and Strengthening Defence and Security Cooperation’.
• The first India-Africa Defence Ministers Conclave was held in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. The Lucknow Declaration was adopted after the conclusion of IADMC 2020.
• The India-Africa Defence Dialogue is organized generally organized once every two years on the sidelines of DefExpo.
• This year’s India-Africa Defence Dialogue will explore new areas of convergence for mutual engagement in different fields like capacity building, training, cyber security, maritime security, etc.
• The Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA) is the knowledge partner for the India-Africa Defence Dialogue.
• The India–Africa defence relations foundation is based on two guiding principles- ‘SAGAR’ (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (The World is One Family).

Topic: Reports and Indices/Ranking

2. Haryana topped among major states in the Public Affairs Index 2022.

• Haryana has topped among 18 major states with a score of 0.6948 in three kinds of justices. It is followed by Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Punjab and Karnataka.
• Among the bigger States, Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Jharkhand secured 16th, 17th, and 18th places, respectively, in the delivery of three types of justices.
• Sikkim, with a score of 0.5715, has topped in the category of 10 smaller states. Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand secured second and third places, respectively.
• The seventh edition of PAI has been released by the Bengaluru-based Public Affairs Centre (PAC) on Governance in the States in India.
• Public Affairs Index comprises three types of categories: Economic justice, Political justice, and Social Justice.
• In the delivery of economic justice, Chhattisgarh secured the first position, while Haryana and Karnataka are in second and third positions, respectively.
• Among smaller states, Sikkim is on top of the list while Uttarakhand secured the last position.
• In the Political justice category, Tamil Nadu with a score of 0.875 is on top while Kerala and Madhya Pradesh secured second and third places, respectively.
• Among smaller states, Uttarakhand is on first place while Goa secured last place.
• Punjab secured the first spot in the Social Justice category. Haryana and Kerala secured second and third places respectively.
• Among the smaller States, Uttarakhand topped the list in delivering Social Justice. Nagaland secured the last position.

Topic: National News

3. India’s First Aluminum Freight Rake inaugurated by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

• On 16 October, the Aluminum Freight Rake - 61 BOBRNALHSM1 inaugurated at Bhubaneswar Railway Station and its destination is Bilaspur.
• This rake is a dedicated effort for the 'Make in India' program. 
• It is completely designed and developed indigenously in collaboration with RDSO, Hindalco, and Besco Wagons.
• Some Important features of Aluminium Rake:
  • Fully Lockbolted construction with no welding on superstructure.
  • The tare is 3.25 tons lower than normal steel rakes, 180 ton extra carrying capacity resulting in higher throughput per wagon.
  • The reduced tare will reduce carbon footprint as lower consumption of fuel in empty direction and more transport of freight in loaded condition.
  • A single rake can save over 14,500 tonnes of CO2 over its lifetime.
  • Cost is 35% higher as the superstructure is all aluminium.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

4. India will host the 90th General Assembly of the International Criminal Police Organisation, Interpol.

• This General Assembly will be held in New Delhi from 18 to 21 October.
• The General Assembly is the supreme governing body of Interpol, consisting of representatives from 195 member states.
• Its meeting is held once a year.
• India is one of the oldest members of the organization, joining Interpol in 1949.
• All Member States have agreed to ensure greater cooperation between criminal police authorities to prevent common law crimes.
• Interpol's task is to provide a platform for police from different countries to work together to make the world more secure.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

5. 5^th Assembly of the International Solar Alliance started in New Delhi under the chairmanship of India on 17th October.

• Participants from 109 countries will share their experiences related to a carbon-free economy to promote solar energy in the four-day meeting.
• This Assembly is the apex decision-making committee of the International Solar Alliance, which takes decisions regarding the implementation of the Framework Agreement on the ISA.
• This Assembly meeting is held annually at the ISA Headquarters.
• Ajay Mathur, Director General, ISA, in interaction with All India Radio, informed about the priorities and issues of the special focus of the global meeting.
• He also said that development of risk reduction facilities for solar projects through payment guarantee mechanism will also be discussed.
• Dr. Ajay Mathur also presented ideas on promoting One Sun, One World, One Grid.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

6. Hyderabad has won 'World Green City 2022' award.

• Hyderabad received this award at the International Association of Horticulture Producers (AIPH) 2022 on 14 October in Jeju, South Korea.
• Hyderabad is the only Indian city that was chosen.
• Hyderabad was adjudged as the winner in the overall category ‘World Green City 2022’ for the "Green Garland for the State of Telangana" initiative (Telangana Ku Haritha Haram).
• Apart from this, Hyderabad has also won the award in the category of 'Living Green for Economic Recovery and Inclusive Growth.
• It is given for efforts to create systems and solutions that allow all city residents to overcome the economic crisis and thrive.
• Some Other winners are Bogotá, D.C., Colombia won the category for living green for biodiversity, while Fortaleza, Brazil won the award in the ‘living green for health and well-being’ category.
• The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) award aims to honour the best methods for farming plants, flowers, and landscaping.
• Telangana Ku Haritha Haram Program:
  • Large-scale tree plantation has been done under this program.
  • The state started this program from 2015-16.
  • The programme aims to increase the State's tree cover from 24% to 33% of its overall geographic area.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

7. PM Kisan Samman Sammelan 2022 will be inaugurated by PM Modi at Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) in New Delhi on 17th October 2022.

• Over 13,000 farmers from across the country and around 1,500 Agri Startups will take part in the conference.
• More than one crore farmers are expected to attend the event virtually.
• PM Modi will also release the 12th installment amount of 16,000 crore rupees under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi through Direct Benefit Transfer.
• Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, eligible farmer families get a benefit of 6,000 rupees per year in three equal installments of 2,000 rupees each.
• PM will also inaugurate the Agri Startup Conclave and Exhibition.
• He will also inaugurate 600 Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samruddhi Kendras of Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
• Under it, the fertilizer retail shops will be gradually converted into Pradan Mantri Kisan Samruddhi Kendras.
• The conversion of more than three lakh 30 thousand retail fertilizer shops into Pradan Mantri Kisan Samruddhi Kendras is planned.
• PM will also introduce Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Urvarak Pariyojana - One Nation One Fertilizer.
• Under the scheme, Bharat Urea Bags will be launched. This will help companies market fertilizers under the single brand name "Bharat".

Topic: Important Days

8. International Day for the Eradication of Poverty: 17 October

• International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is observed every year on 17 October.
• On 22 December 1992, the UN General Assembly declared 17 October as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
• The theme of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty for 2022 is Dignity For All in Practice.
• This year marks the 30th anniversary of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
• This year marks the 35th anniversary of the World Day to Overcome Extreme Poverty.
• 1.3 billion People still live in multidimensional poverty. Almost half of them are children and youth.
• Related SDG: SDG1 (End poverty in all its forms everywhere)

Topic: Important Days

9. World Food Day: 16 October

• World Food Day is observed every year on 16 October around the world.
• The theme for World Food Day 2022 is Leave NO ONE behind.
• It is observed to mark the founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 1945.
• According to the UN, the number of people affected by hunger has doubled in the last 3 years.
• The World Food Program estimated that around 19 million people in Afghanistan are facing food insecurity.
• World Food Day celebration is led by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

10. MoYAS, FSSAI & NFSU signed MoU to establish a testing facility for dietary supplements.

• To set up the testing facility for dietary supplements, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS), the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) have signed an MoU.
• It will benefit athletes and athlete-support personnel by educating and spreading awareness about doping and prohibited substances in nutritional supplements.
• It will be established at National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), Ahmedabad.
• It is an important step for implementing the recently enacted National Anti-Doping Act, 2022.
• The MoU has been signed in the presence of the Department of Sports, Secretary Sujata Chaturvedi, National Anti-doping Agency Director General Ritu Sain and other officers of the Ministry, FSSAI and NFSU.
• Dietary supplements include vitamins, minerals, herbs, botanicals, enzymes, amino acids, or other dietary ingredients. These are used to add nutrients to the diet or to lower the risk of health issues.

Topic: National News

11. Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated 75 Digital Banking Units across 75 districts to the country on October 16.

• As part of the Union budget speech for 2022-23, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the setting up of 75 Digital Banking Units in 75 districts of India.
• These 75 Digital Banking Units will deepen financial inclusion in the country and provide a variety of digital banking facilities.
• It will provide banking facilities like the opening of savings accounts, balance-check, print passbooks, transfer of funds, and investment in fixed deposits, etc.
• Eleven Public Sector Banks, twelve Private Sector Banks and one Small Finance Bank are participating in this initiative.
• These 75 Digital Banking Units will also spread Digital Financial Literacy and special emphasis will be given to educating customers about cyber security.
• DBUs will enable customers to have cost-effective, convenient access and enhanced digital experience of banking products and services.

Topic: Sports

12. India wins the Women's Asia Cup title by defeating Sri Lanka.

• India wins the Women’s Asia Cup title for the seventh time by defeating Sri Lanka by 8 wickets.
• Sri Lanka reached into finals after 14 years.
• India chased the target of 66 runs in 8.3 overs in the finals. Smriti Mandhana scored 51 off 25 balls.
• Deepti receives the Player of the Tournament award.
• The women’s Asia Cup was established in 2004. It is a women's One Day International and Twenty20 International cricket tournament.
• The first Women's Asia Cup was held in 2004 in Sri Lanka. The 2022 edition of the tournament took place in Bangladesh.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

13. Indian Army signed MoU with11 banks for Agniveer salary accounts.

• The Indian Army has signed a historic MoU with 11 Banks for providing banking facilities to Agniveers on enrollment.
• The 11 Banks are SBI, PNB, Bank of Baroda, IDBI Bank, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, Yes Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, IDFC First Bank and Bandhan Bank.
• The Agniveer Salary Package's features and perks are similar to the Defense Salary Package.
• Additionally, the banks will also offer soft loans to Agniveers for promoting their entrepreneurial skills.
• The Agnipath scheme was launched on 14 June for the recruitment of youths in defence forces.

Topic: Defence

14. INS Arihant carried out the successful launch of Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM).

• The missile hit the target area in the Bay of Bengal with very high accuracy. It is a significant step to prove crew competency and validate the SSBN programme.
• All operational and technological parameters of the weapon system have been validated.
• The Defense Ministry said that the test is significant for the SSBN programme, which is a crucial element of India’s nuclear deterrence capability.
• Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs) are known as K family missiles. It has been named after Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
• Missiles of various ranges have been developed under the SLBM family. India has developed and tested the K-4 missiles from the K family.
• INS Arihant was the first boat under the SSBN project. INS Arihant became fully operational in 2018.
• INS Arihant is India’s nuclear-powered ballistic missile-capable submarine.