Daily Current Affairs and GK | 19 October 2023

Topic: International News

1. Egypt agreed to open the border crossing to allow passage of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

• Egypt and Israel agreed to open Rafah crossing into Gaza to allow 20 trucks with humanitarian aid.
• Israeli authorities have stated that it will not prevent deliveries of "only food, water and medicine for the civilian population".
• The aid is part of efforts to de-escalate tensions due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian terror group Hamas.
• US President Joe Biden visited Israel to show solidarity for people who died in a terror attack by Palestinian group Hamas on the 7th of October.
• Meanwhile, Russia sent 27 tonnes of humanitarian aid for civilians in the Gaza Strip. The Russian humanitarian aid will be handed over to the Egyptian Red Crescent.
• The Biden administration has allocated $100 million as humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
• UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also arrived in Israel. He will also travel to other Middle East countries.
• The situation in Gaza and the deadly hospital bombing have sparked widespread protests across the Arab and Muslim world.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

2. India’s first tilapia parvovirus is found in Tamil Nadu.

• Tilapia parvovirus has been reported in India for the first time at ponds in Walajah in Ranipet district of Tamil Nadu.
• It affects tilapia, a freshwater fish species and causes a huge mortality rate.
• Mozambique tilapia was introduced to Indian freshwater bodies in the 1950s.
• Tilapia farming is mainly carried out in different parts of Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.
• The mortality rate of tilapia due to this DNA virus is 30 to 50% in the field and up to 100% in the laboratory.
• Fish from eight ponds showed TiPV-positive by PCR.
• The research findings have been sent to the Archives of Virology (Springer Nature Switzerland AG) for publication.
• The research findings would help in developing a vaccine against TiPV, which will help fish farmers prevent the loss due to TiPV.
• The TiPV was first reported in China in 2019 and Thailand in 2021. India is the third country to report the occurrence of TiPV.

Topic: State News/ Andhra Pradesh

3. Andhra Pradesh government will begin the Backward Classes caste census around November 15.

• The Andhra Pradesh government will extensively deploy the village secretariat system along with the volunteer system for the Backward caste census.
• There are about 139 Backward Classes castes in the state. This census will give their numerical strength.
• The backward-class communities will also know about the level of their representation in various fields.
• It will comprehensively enumerate backward classes region-wise, profession-wise and under other parameters.
• The state government has also decided to create an email address and an app to elicit suggestions from the BC communities.

Topic: State News/ Maharashtra

4. Pramod Mahajan Grameen Kaushalya Vikas Kendras were launched in Maharashtra.

• On 18 October, 511 Pramod Mahajan Grameen Kaushalya Vikas Kendras were launched in Maharashtra by Prime Minister Narendra Modi through video conferencing.
• These centres are being established in 34 rural districts of the state.
• These centres will conduct skill development training programs to provide employment to rural youth.
• Each center will train around 100 youth in at least two vocational courses.
• This training will be provided by industry partners and agencies empaneled under the National Skill Development Council.
• The formation of these centers will help in developing more capable and skilled manpower in this sector.

Topic: Agriculture and Allied Sector

5. The minimum support price of Rabi crops for the marketing year 2024-25 approved by the Center.

• The government has increased the MSP of Rabi crops for the marketing season 2024-25, to ensure remunerative prices to producers for their produce.
• The highest increase of Rs 425 per quintal has been approved for lentils, followed by Rs 200 per quintal for mustard.
• An increase of Rs 150 per quintal each for wheat and safflower has been approved.
• An increase of Rs 115 per quintal and Rs 105 per quintal has been approved for barley and gram, respectively.
• The increase in MSP of mandatory Rabi crops for the marketing season 2024-25 is in line with the announcement in the Union Budget 2018-19.
• It was announced for setting the MSP at a level of at least 1.5 times the all-India weighted average cost of production.
• This increased MSP of Rabi crops will ensure remunerative prices for farmers and encourage crop diversification.
• Additionally, to extend the benefits of the Kisan Credit Card scheme to every farmer across the country, the Government has launched the Kisan Loan Portal (KRP), KCC door-to-door campaign, and Weather Information Network Data System (WINDS).
• Minimum Support Price for all Rabi crops for marketing season 2024-25:

Topic: National News

6. A four percent increase in the dearness allowance of central government employees announced on October 18.

• The government has increased Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) for central government employees and pensioners by four percentage points from 42% to 46%.
• Approval has been given to release an additional installment of DA to Central Government employees and DR to pensioners from July 1, 2023.
• This decision will benefit 48 lakh 67 thousand central government employees and 68 lakh pensioners.
• This increase is based on the accepted 7th Pay Commission recommendations.
• Including both dearness allowance and dearness relief, there will be an annual impact of Rs 12 thousand 857 crore on the government treasury.

Topic: State News/ Bihar

7. President Draupadi Murmu launched the fourth 'Bihar Agriculture Roadmap 2023-2028' in Patna.

• On 18 October, President Draupadi Murmu reached Patna on her three-day visit to Bihar.
• In this road map, an action plan has been made for the development of agriculture in the state in the next five years.
• Bihar government has made a budget of Rs 1 lakh 64 thousand crores for this agriculture roadmap.
• Agriculture and eleven other related departments have been included in this action plan.
• More than 1800 farmers and 700 members of Jeevika-Didi self-help groups participated in the Agriculture Roadmap program.
• The President will visit Takht Sri Harminder Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh, in Patna city and offer prayers.
• On October 19, the President attended the first convocation of Mahatma Gandhi Central University in Motihari.
• After this, she also addressed the first convocation ceremony of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna.
• She will also attend the convocation ceremonies of three different institutions in Bihar.
• President Murmu will also go to Gaya to attend the third convocation of South Bihar Central University.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: State News/ Ladakh

8. Khelo India State Excellence Centre establishment in Ladakh has been approved by the government.

• The newly constructed open stadium located at Spithuk in Leh district in Ladakh has received approval for the establishment of the Khelo India State Center of Excellence (KISCE).
• It will focus on athletics, boxing, and archery.
• This center is planned to be completed within a time frame of two years.
• In this, an expenditure of Rs 3.139 crore has been allocated for the financial year 2023-24 and Rs 1.195 crore for the subsequent financial year.
• In this regard, the Sports Authority of India and the Department of Youth Services and Sports, UT Ladakh, will also sign a MoU in the near future.
• This initiative represents an unprecedented scientific approach to the development of sports in the Union Territory.
• Following the establishment of Khelo India centers for ice hockey, archery, athletics, table tennis, and football in the Union Territory, it will provide a platform for emerging young talents to grow in sports.

Topic: National Appointments

9. Raghubar Das has been appointed as Governor of Odisha.

• Indra Sena Reddy Nallu became the new Governor of Tripura. He will take the place of Satyadeo Narain Arya.
• Raghubar Das became the new Governor of Odisha. He has been appointed in the place of Prof. Ganeshi Lal.
• Raghubar Das was the first non-tribal Chief Minister of Jharkhand from 2014 to 2019.
• Indra Sena Reddy Nallu is a leader of the BJP from Telangana.
• The appointments will take effect from the dates they assume charge of their respective offices.
• The Governor of a State is appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal under Article 155.
• The Governor hold office at the pleasure of the President. He can give his resignation to the President. (Article 156)
• The Governor should not be a member of either House of Parliament or of a House of the Legislature of any State specified in the First Schedule.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: State News/ Punjab

10. Punjab government launched the ‘Hope Initiative’ to make the state completely drug-free.

• The Punjab government launched the ‘Hope Initiative’ mission to curb the drug menace in the state.
• The Ardas for the success of this mission was performed in the premises of Sri Harmandir Sahib.
• Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann pledged to stay away from drugs as part of an initiative to fight drug menace in the state.
• More than 40,000 students in yellow turbans, dupattas, and scarves, took a pledge to stay away from drugs.
• More than 300 teachers and coordinators from various educational institutions and organisations also took part in the event.
• As part of the initiative, Amritsar Police also organized gully cricket competitions.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: State News/ Uttar Pradesh

11. The three-day 'Sri Anna Mahotsav' & state-level millet workshop will be organized by the UP government in Lucknow.

• From the 27th to the 29th of October, the Mahotsav and workshop will be organized at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, Lucknow to promote the use of millets.
• Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will inaugurate the program.
• On this occasion, farmers who have done good work for millet production will be honoured.
• On 27 October, farmers from Lucknow, Kanpur, Ayodhya, Basti, Azamgarh, and Devipatan divisions will participate.
• On 28 October, farmers from Saharanpur, Meerut, Aligarh, Agra, and Moradabad will participate.
• On 29 October, farmers from Gorakhpur, Bareilly, Varanasi, Jhansi, Chitrakoot, Prayagraj, and Mirzapur will participate in the 'Anna Mahotsav.
• About 40 stalls of food made from millet will also be set up in the three-day Anna Mahotsav.
• 2023 is also being celebrated as the ‘International Year of Millets’ (IYM).
• Millets was notified as Nutri-cereals by the Government of India in 2018.
• India is the largest producer of millet.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Banking System

12. A penalty has been imposed by RBI on ICICI Bank, and Kotak Mahindra Bank for violation of norms.

• On October 17, the Reserve Bank imposed a penalty of ₹12.19 crore on ICICI Bank and ₹3.95 crore on Kotak Mahindra Bank for non-compliance with certain regulatory norms.
• The penalty has been imposed on ICICI Bank for violation of norms relating to 'Loans and Advances-Statutory and Other Restrictions' and 'Fraud Classification and Reporting by Commercial Banks and Select FLS'.
• The penalty has been imposed on Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited for contravention of directions related to "Managing Risks and Code of Conduct in Outsourcing of Financial Services by Banks", and "Recovery Agents engaged by Banks".
• It also includes violations of "Customer Service in Banks", and "Loans and Advances – Statutory and Other Restrictions".
• In both cases, the RBI said the penalty was based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance.
• It is not intended to affect the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by banks with their customers.

Topic: Banking System

13. CCI gave approval for the merger of IDFC with IDFC First Bank.

• The Infrastructure Development Finance Company (IDFC) has received approval from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for its merger with IDFC First Bank.
• The merger had received approval from the board of directors of IDFC and IDFC First Bank on July 3.
• The proposed merger will come into effect after approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).
• As of 30 June 2023, IDFC holds a stake of 30.93 per cent in IDFC First Bank through its non-financial holding company.
• After the merger, shareholders of IDFC will get 155 shares of IDFC First Bank for every 100 shares.
• IDFC First Bank is an Indian private-sector bank. It was founded in 2015. It is headquartered in Mumbai.
• Infrastructure Development Finance Company Limited (IDFC):
• It is a finance company under the Department of Financial Services, Government of India.
• It was founded in 1997. It is headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

Topic: Space and IT

14. India set a goal to send astronauts to the moon by 2040.

• Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi set new ambitious goals of sending astronauts to the Moon by 2040 and establishing a space station by 2035.
• During a meeting to assess the progress of India’s Gaganyaan Mission, PM Modi set these ambitious targets.
• This visionary goal highlights India’s intent to become a significant player in the realm of space exploration.
• PM Modi also said scientists to work on missions to Venus and Mars.
• The United States is the only country to have successfully landed humans on the Moon.
• In recent years, India’s journey of space exploration has gained momentum.
• Recently, India has launched the Chandrayaan 3 mission and the Aditya L1 mission.
• The first demonstration flight of the Crew Escape System Test Vehicle of the Gaganyaan Mission will be conducted on October 21.