Daily Current Affairs and GK | 20 October 2022

Topic: Defence

1. Indian Navy Sailing Championship 2022 is being conducted by the Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala.

• The championship is being conducted from 18 October to 21 October at the Marakkar Watermanship Training Centre.
• It is the largest intra-Navy sailing event. Around 100 yatchpersons from all three Indian Naval Commands are participating in the event.
• It is being conducted by the Indian Navy to as part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and Khelo India.
• Both men and women are taking part in the Team Racing Format in Enterprise and the Match Racing Format in Laser Bahia Classes.
• Participants of the sailing championship will be tested for their individual skills and expertise in the Fleet Racing format.
• The Indian Naval Academy Ezhimala also conducted the ninth edition of the ‘Dilli Series’ Sea Power on October 10 and 11, 2022 in an online webinar format.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

2. National conference on tourist police scheme held in New Delhi on 18 October.

• It was a day-long national conference of top police officers from different states for the effective implementation of the tourist police scheme.
• Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla was the Chief Guest at the event.
• It has been organized by the Ministry of Tourism in association with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D).
• The main aim of the conference was to bring different stakeholders, such as the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Home Affairs, BPR&D and state governments and UT administration, on one platform.
• During the conference, a report on the ‘Tourist Police Scheme’ prepared by the Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPR&D) was also released.
• The report stated that many states have not deployed Tourist Police due to budgetary provisions.
• It recommended developing a separate Tourist Facilitation and Security Organization (TFSO).
• Tourist Police Scheme:
  • The scheme’s main objective is to develop a dedicated team of police personnel by states/UTs for the safety and security of foreign and domestic tourists.
  • The Tourist Police Station will work under the jurisdiction of the district police (Superintendent of Police) for all policing purposes.
  • The Tourist Police personnel shall be deployed in the major tourist attractions.

Topic: Reports and Indices/Rankings

3. India ranked 41 out of 44 countries in the Pension Index 2022.

• The Mercer CFS Global Pension Index survey showed that India has been ranked 41 out of 44 countries in 2022. The index value in 2022 is 44.4.
• India showed a marginal improvement in its index value, which was 40 out of 43 countries assessed on the Global Pension Index in 2021.
• Mercer CFS Global Pension Index has studied 44 countries that account for 65 percent of the world's population.
• In 2020, India was ranked 34th out of 39 countries, with a value of 45.7.
• Adequacy, sustainability, and integrity are the three subheads under which the index measures the country's pension system.
• India scored 33.5, 41.8, and 61 in these three subheads, respectively.
• Denmark, Iceland, and the Netherlands topped the survey.
• Thailand received the lowest score of 41.7.

Topic: State News/ Madhya Pradesh

4. A new tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh has been approved by the Wildlife board.

• Madhya Pradesh Wildlife Board has approved a new reserve for tigers of Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR).
• The approval for the new Tiger Reserve came because PTR’s one-fourth part will get submerged due to the linking of the Ken-Betwa rivers.
• The new tiger reserve will be called Durgavati Tiger Reserve and will be spread over 2,339 sq km in Narsinghpur, Damoh, and Sagar districts.
• A green corridor connecting PTR to Durgavati will be developed so that the natural movement of tigers can take place in the new reserve.
• Shivraj Singh Chouhan chaired the board meeting, which approved a proposal to notify 1,414 sq km area as the core area and 925 sq km as a buffer in the new tiger reserve.
• On September 27, in the Chitrakoot district, the Uttar Pradesh cabinet approved the notification of the state’s fourth tiger reserve in the Ranipur Wildlife Sanctuary (RWS).

Topic: Art and Culture

5. Kati Bihu festival was celebrated in Assam on 18 October.

• It is also called Kongli Bihu.
• Harvesting begins on this day, and the paddy is sown again.
• It is marked annually on the first day of the Kati month in the Assamese calendar.
• On this occasion, people light up outside their homes and pray for a good harvest.
• People also plant Tulsi plants outside their homes and perform Lakshmi Puja.

Topic: Important Days

6. World Osteoporosis Day 2022: 20 October

• Every year on 20 October, World Osteoporosis Day is observed to raise awareness about Osteoporosis disease.
• The aim of the day is to highlight the silent bone disease and raise awareness about its prevention and treatment.
• The theme of World Osteoporosis 2022 is “Step Up For Bone Health”.
• It was first observed by the United Kingdom’s National Osteoporosis Society on 20 October 1996. 
• In 1997, the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) organized World Osteoporosis Day (WOD).
• Osteoporosis:
  • Osteoporosis is called a “silent disease” because there are no symptoms until a bone is broken or one or more vertebrae collapse (fracture).
  • Osteoporosis is a bone disease in which the bones become weak and brittle because of the loss of mineral density.
  • It is caused due to imbalance between bone resorption and bone ossification.
  • Shortness of breath, Bone fractures, and Pain in the lower back and neck are some common symptoms of Osteoporosis.

Topic: National News

7. PM Modi participated in the 10th Heads of Missions Conference at Kevadia on 20 October 2022.

• PM launched Mission LiFE (i. e. Lifestyle for Environment) in Kevadiya in the presence of UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres.
• Later, PM inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for Projects worth 1,970 crore rupees at Vyara in the Tapi district of South Gujarat.
• This includes foundation stone laying for the improvement of the road between Saputara and the Statue of Unity.
• The 10th Heads of Missions Conference is being organized by the Ministry of External Affairs at Kevadiya.
• It is a three-day Conference. It brings together more than 100 Heads of Indian Missions including Ambassadors and High Commissioners from all over the world.
• At the conference, issues pertaining to the contemporary geo-political & geo-economic environment, and connectivity will be discussed.
• On the first day of his visit to Gujarat on 19 October, PM dedicated to the national projects worth over 15 thousand 670 crore rupees.
• The Projects include the Mission Schools of Excellence at Adalaj, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• At Gir Somnath, he laid the foundation stone for a fishing port at Madhwad.
• The Prime Minister said the Sagarkhedu scheme of the Gujarat government resulted in increasing the fishing export by seven times during the last eight years.
• He launched Mission DefSpace and laid the foundation stone of Deesa airfield in Gujarat.
• Mission Life will be the India-led global mass movement toward protecting and preserving the environment.
• Saputara is a hill station and tourist destination located in Sahyadris or the Western Ghats. It comes under the Dang district in Gujarat.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

8. 14^th edition of the World Spice Congress will be held at Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra.

• It will be held from 16-18 February 2023 on the sidelines of the G20 Meet. 
• World Spice Congress 2023 will be centred around the theme ‘Vision 2030: SPICES (Sustainability– Productivity – Innovation – Collaboration- Excellence and Safety)’.
• More than 1000 delegates from more than 50 countries are expected to take part in the event.
• World Spice Congress (WSC) will be organized by Spices Board India (Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Govt. of India) in association with various trade and export forums.
• First ever World Spice Congress (WSC) was held in 1990. It is a biennial event.
• The 13th edition of the World Spice Congress was held in Ahmedabad, Gujarat in February 2016. Its theme was 'Target 2020: Clean, Safe and Sustainable Supply Chain'.

Topic: Banking System

9. India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) and Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) joined hands for innovations in Financial Products and Services.

• India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) and Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) will focus on enhancing the reach of financial solutions to large sections of society.
• India's economy has grown significantly, but a larger portion of the population, as well as micro and small businesses, lack access to crucial financial services and knowledge.
• IPPB and RBIH will plan, design, and execute innovative products and try to bring digitalized services to customers’ doorsteps.
• IPPB will be an active participant and partner in initiatives of national importance led by RBIH.
• Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH):
  • It is a subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to promote innovation across the financial sector.
  • It acts as a focal point for a network of financial services providers, fintech innovation hubs, policymakers, technologists, academics, etc.
• India Post Payments Bank (IPPB):
  • It was established under the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communication in 2018.
  • It was set up to build the most accessible, affordable, and trusted bank for the common man in India.

Topic: Defence

10. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi unveiled the indigenous trainer aircraft HTT-40 during DefExpo 2022 on 19 October.

• Indigenous trainer aircraft, HTT-40, has been designed and developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
• It would be used for basic flight training, aerobatics, instrument flying, and close formation flights.
• HTT-40 has state-of-the-art contemporary systems and has been designed with pilot-friendly features.
• It has 60 per cent in-house parts and is an example of the vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.
• It has been designed to meet the primary training requirements of the Indian defence services.
• HTT-40 has completed all tests, all PSQR performances, and hot weather, sea level, and crosswind trials.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: Reports and Indices/Ranking

11. India’s internet freedom score has improved after 4 years of decline.

• According to a report by Freedom House, India's internet freedom score has improved by two points to 51 in the global ranking. In 2021, India's score was 49 in Internet Freedom.
• The score has improved due to the reduced frequency and intensity of internet shutdowns in the country.
• As per the report, the Indian government has limited power to censor online content under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
• The report states that misinformation and disinformation are frequently shared through online mediums.
• Journalists, nongovernmental organizations, and members of marginalized groups remain at more risk of facing hate speech and online harassment.
• As per the report, global internet freedom has declined for the 12^th consecutive year. Internet freedom has declined sharply in Russia, Myanmar, Sudan, and Libya.
• China has the world's worst environment for internet freedom while internet freedom in the United States America has improved marginally for the first time in the last six years.

Topic: Sports

12. Qatar to host AFC Asian Cup in 2023.

• Qatar will host the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup in 2023 in place of China.
• China has withdrawn from hosting the tournament due to the coronavirus situation in the country.
• Qatar has earlier hosted the Asian Cup twice in 1988 and 2011. It had won the last edition of the AFC Asian Cup in 2019.
• India and Saudi Arabia have been shortlisted to host the AFC Asian Cup in 2027.
• The final decision about hosting the AFC Asian Cup 2027 will be taken after the AFC congress’s next meeting in February 2023.
• Indian team has qualified for the AFC Asian Cup 2023.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: National Appointments

13. Mallikarjun Kharge elected as the new President of Congress party.

• Mallikarjun Kharge has won the Congress President polls by defeating his opponent Shashi Tharoor.
• Mallikarjun Kharge received 7,897 of the total 9,385 votes while Shashi Tharoor received 1,072 votes.
• He is the 98^th and current President of the Indian National Congress.
• He will take the place of Sonia Gandhi, who is the interim President of the Congress.
• He becomes the Congress' first non-Gandhi President in the last 24 years.
• He was also the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha from 16 February 2021 to 1 October 2022.
• The Indian National Congress was founded on 28 December 1885. Wyomesh Chandra Banerjee was the first President of Congress.

Topic: Art and Culture

14. ‘Sarang - the Festival of India in the Republic of Korea’ was celebrated from 30 September to 14 October 2022.

• The Indian Embassy in Seoul, South Korea organized the annual flagship cultural program ‘SARANG – The Festival of India in Republic of Korea’.
• Indian and Korean musicians, dancers, and artists participated in the festival.
• During the festival, a special focus was on relevant themes related to the India-Republic of Korea partnership.
• As part of the festival, cultural performances were also held at Gimhae (Oct 1), Busan (Oct 2), Seoul (Oct 4-5), Cheongju (Oct 6), Yeongdong (Oct 7), Nami Island (Oct 8-9) and Incheon (Oct 13-14).
• The ‘Sarang’ festival was started in 2015. It has emerged as a prominent Indian cultural festival in South Korea.
• ‘Sarang’ in Korean means ‘love’ and for Indians, it refers to ‘diversity representing different colours of India’.
• As part of the ‘Sarang’, a Film Festival will be hosted in November and December, followed by a food Festival in January 2023.