Daily Current Affairs and GK | 18 October 2024

Topic: International News

1. Indo-Turkiye Friendship Association has been launched in Hyderabad.

• The Indo-Turkiye Friendship Association (ITFA) has been launched to strengthen relations between India and Turkiye.
• This initiative aims to foster cooperation in areas such as economy and trade, culture and tourism, science and technology, and education.
• The association will focus on commonalities between India and Turkiye and organising cultural events.
• One of the key objectives of ITFA is to introduce Hyderabad as an important destination for Turkish tourists.
• 2.8 lakh Indians visited Turkiye in 2022, this number rise to 3.5 lakh in 2023.
• Additionally, there is a rising interest among Indians in learning the Turkish language.

Topic: Indian Polity

2. The constitutional validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act has been upheld by the Supreme Court by a majority verdict of 4:1. 

• This section is related to the grant of Indian citizenship to immigrants in Assam.
• Supreme Court held that Parliament had the legislative competence to enact the provision.
• The five-judge Constitution bench said that Assam Accord was a political solution to the problem of illegal migration.
• The five-judge Constitution bench was headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud.
• In 1985, the section 6A was inserted after the Assam Accord.
• It established a specific rule for Assam that declared people of Indian descent who arrived from Bangladesh before January 1, 1966, to be Indian citizens on that day.
• Additionally, the section stated that individuals of Indian descent who came into Assam between January 1, 1966, and March 25, 1971, had to register themselves.
• Only after ten years of residence did they receive their citizenship.
• Section 6A declared that anyone coming after the deadline (March 25, 1971) will be considered an illegal immigrant.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

3. Nikita Porwal from Madhya Pradesh has been crowned Femina Miss India 2024.

• After this win, Nikita will represent India in the Miss World beauty pageant (73rd Miss World pageant).
• Rekha Pandey from the Union Territory and Aayushi Dholakia from Gujarat were awarded the first and second runners-up titles, respectively.
• Femina Miss India 2024 event was held on October 16 in Mumbai. This was 60th edition of the beauty pageant.
• Last year's Femina Miss India titleholder is Nandini Gupta of Rajasthan.
• Nikita Porwal was born and raised in Ujjain. Nikitra has acted in over 60 plays.
• Femina Miss India 2024 was the 60th edition of Femina Miss India pageant.

Topic: Science and Technology

4. The Centre of Excellence in Ayurveda Research will be set up on the campus of the CSIR-NIIST at Pappanamcode.

• The centre will be set up on the campus of the CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST) at Pappanamcode, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
• The foundation for the centre was laid by Union Minister for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh as a milestone project to mark the golden jubilee of CSIR-NIIST.
• The centre will make use of cutting-edge techniques and instruments for research and development to make sure that Ayurvedic formulations satisfy the demands of contemporary wellness paradigms as well as international health care systems.
• It will help MSMEs and other Ayurvedic businesses expand their product offerings, especially in the field of Ayurveda.
• In an effort to promote domestic production in the chemical and polymer industries, the Union Minister also recently established the Centre of Excellence in Performance Chemicals and Sustainable Polymers for Industrial Application.
• The development of energy technology and optoelectronic devices depends heavily on performance chemicals.

Topic: Summit/Conference/Meeting

5. The AROHA-2024 conference inaugurated by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud.

• On October 17, the International Conference Advancement of Research and Global Opportunities for Holistic Ayurveda (AROHA-2024) inaugurated by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud in New Delhi.
• The main objective of this three-day program is to establish Ayurveda as a major pillar of global health and wellness.
• The event has been organised by the All India Institute of Ayurveda.
• The event focused on the theme “Advancements in Research and Global Opportunities for Holistic Ayurveda”.
• The conference agenda covers a wide range of topics including Ayurveda, ethnomedicine, quality control, standardization, diagnosis, drug delivery, evidence-based understanding and globalization.
• The conference will have 15 scientific sessions in which more than 400 research papers will be presented.
• All India Institute of Ayurveda has a global presence in over 74 countries through academic and scientific collaborations with leading organizations.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: National News

6. India's first self-powered indoor air quality monitor unveiled by Union Minister Jitendra Singh.

• On October 17, India’s first airport-based self-powered indoor air quality monitoring facility “Pawan Chitra” unveiled at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport by Union Minister of State for Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh.
• The off-grid air quality monitor is powered by indigenous indoor solar cells developed by CSIR-NIIST, crafted from locally available materials.
• It is made from locally available materials and designed to mimic the natural process of photosynthesis.
• In addition, Dr Jitendra Singh released two books published under the Science Heritage Project during the event.
• Shri Singh also launched six community projects under the Tribal Heritage Project of BRIC-RGCB and felicitated the award winning farmers at the event.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: International News

7. A new Line of Credit for 487.60 crore rupees has been extended by India to the government of Mauritius.

• The purpose of this line of credit is to finance the replacement of a water pipeline.
• This is the first time that India has ever offered a Line of Credit denominated in rupees to finance a project in any nation through the Indian Development and Economic Assistance Scheme (IDEAS).
• The project aims to replace Mauritius's around 100 km of obsolete water pipeline.
• State Bank of India will finance the Government of India-supported Line of Credit at concessional terms.

Topic: Indian Economy

8. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has notified amendments to income tax rules.

• CBDT has notified these amendments to simplify the process of claiming credit for TCS collected and TDS deducted for salaried employees.
• The amendments has also been notified to enable the claiming of TCS credit for minors in the hands of their parents.
• The Income Tax Act regulations have been modified to allow tax deductions for salaried employees for any tax that is collected or deducted at source.
• Additionally, when the minor collectee's income is combined with their parent's, the laws now permit the credit of TCS to an individual other than the collectee, such as the child's parent.
• Form No. 12BAA has been introduced as the prescribed statement of particulars required to be furnished by employees.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

9. ‘Scam se Bacho’ Campaign has been launched by the Government and Meta.

• To combat online scams, the government and Meta have launched the “Scam se Bacho” campaign.
• This initiative of Meta has been launched in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C).
• Its main aim is to combat the growing menace of scams and cyber fraud.
• It is part of the government’s commitment to address the rising cases of online scams and enhancing cyber safety.
• More than 1.1 million cyber fraud cases have been reported in 2023.
• This campaign can be a national movement that can empower Indian citizens with the tools and knowledge to protect themselves from these threats.

Topic: State News/ Andhra Pradesh

10. Andhra Pradesh released six policies to foster economic growth.

• Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister released six transformative policies to boost industrial and economic growth.
• The new policies aim to mobilize ₹30 lakh core investments across the manufacturing sector. It will generate employment of more than five lakh over the next five years.
• One industrial park would be set up in each of the 175 Assembly constituencies.
• The A.P. Food Processing Policy 4.0 is set to attract ₹30,000 crore investments and create three lakh jobs.
• The A.P. Electronics Policy 4.0 targets to mobilize ₹84,000 crore investments and create five-lakh jobs.
• The A.P. Integrated Clean Energy Policy 4.0 sets an ambitious agenda for transitioning to renewable energy.
• The six policies were as follows:
  • A.P. Industrial Development Policy 4.0 (IDP 4.0)
  • A.P. MSME & Entrepreneur Development Policy 4.0 (MEDP 4.0)
  • A.P. Food Processing Policy 4.0 (FPP 4.0)
  • A.P. Electronics Policy 4.0 (EP 4.0)
  • A.P. Private Parks Policy 4.0 (PPP 4.0)
  • A.P. Integrated Clean Energy Policy 4.0 (ICE 4.0).

Topic: National News

11. The new guidelines ban the use of words like natural, organic, etc. by brands.

• The guidelines have been issued by the Consumer Protection Authority of India to combat greenwashing and misleading environmental claims in advertising products.
• Greenwashing refers to deceptive practice in which companies make exaggerated or false claims about the environmental benefits of their products or services, often using vague terms such as "natural," "organic," or "eco-friendly."
• According to the Consumer Protection Authority, this strategy misleads consumers and undermines genuine environmental efforts.
• The comprehensive guidelines titled “Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Greenwashing or Deceptive Environmental Claims, 2024” have been issued by the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) to ensure transparency and accuracy in environmental marketing claims.
• Clear definitions have been provided for terms such as “environmental claims” and “greenwashing” to ensure there is a common understanding between businesses and consumers.
• All environmental claims must be supported by credible scientific evidence or third-party certification.
• Adequate disclosures must be provided about the product, its manufacturing process and its packaging.

Topic: Banking System

12. On October 16, the first branch in Singapore inaugurated by HDFC to expand financial services.

• The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has granted a wholesale banking license to HDFC Bank effective October 15, 2024.
• This will enable the bank to offer a wider range of financial products and services to Singapore residents.
• HDFC Bank will continue to provide loan-related administrative services to NRIs in Singapore for obtaining home loans and purchasing properties in India through its new branch.
• Rakesh Singh, Group Head, International Banking, Investment Banking, Private Banking, Digital Ecosystems & BAS, HDFC Bank, inaugurated the branch.
• HDFC Bank's international operations now comprise five branches, including one each in Hong Kong, Bahrain, Dubai, Singapore and an IFSC Banking Unit (IBU) at Gujarat International Finance Tech City.
• The lender also has representative offices in Kenya, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and London.
• The balance sheet size of the bank's international business as of March 31, 2024 was $9.06 billion.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

13. President Murmu received an honorary doctorate in Algeria.

• President Droupadi Murmu received an honorary doctorate in political science from Sidi Abdellah Science and Technology Pole University in Algiers.
• The doctorate was presented to Murmu by Kamal Baddari, Algeria’s Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
• President Murmu highlighted India’s commitment to providing quality education at affordable prices.
• After Algerian independence, diplomatic relations between both countries were established in July 1962.

(Source: DD News)

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

14. PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan’s district version has been launched for 27 aspirational districts.

• The district version of the plan will cover over 750 districts in the next 18 months, according to Commerce & Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.
• PM GatiShakti’s National Master Plan has recently completed three years.
• On the occasion of three years of PM Gati Shakti, District Master Plan has been launched.
• Guidelines have been issued by the Minister to help cities prepare their logistics plan.
• The government had expanded the ambit of PM Gati Shakti to social infrastructure to map power distribution lines, schools, hospitals and others using the ‘Area Development Approach’ initiative.
• PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (PMGS-NMP) was launched on 13th October 2021.
• It was launched for providing multimodal connectivity infrastructure to various economic zones.
• On 21st October 2021, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) gave approval for the implementation of PM GatiShakti National Master Plan.