Daily Current Affairs and GK | 28 October 2022

Topic: New Developments

1. Indian scientists developed the first indigenous Overhauser Magnetometer.

• It is one of the most accurate magnetometers used by all magnetic observatories across the world.
• It reduces the cost of sampling and sensing experiments, which are essential for geomagnetic sampling.
• The sensor at Alibag Magnetic Observatory (MO) will reduce India’s dependency on commercial OVH magnetometers for performing geomagnetic field measurements.
• OVH magnetometers are known for their accuracy, higher sensitivity, and efficient power consumption.
• The Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG) has developed this Magnetometer as part of its technology development program.
• A team from IIG’s instrumentation division used various spectroscopic tools and theoretical simulations to understand the working of the OVH sensor.
• The performance of this indigenous magnetometer is at par with a commercial OVH sensor.
• A magnetometer is used to measure the magnetic field or magnetic dipole moment.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: Reports and Indices/Ranking

2. UNFCCC released NDC Synthesis Report 2022 on 26 October 2022.

• The UNFCCC’s synthesis report is an annual summary of climate commitments made by countries and their impact on greenhouse gas emissions.
• Under the Paris agreement, countries have made Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) commitments to counter climate change.
• The NDC Synthesis Report 2022 analyses 166 NDCs communicated to the UNFCCC.
• The report states that marginal progress has been made over the last year.
• According to the NDC Synthesis Report, cumulative CO₂ emissions in 2020-2030 would use up to 86% of the remaining carbon budget.
• Full implementation of all the latest NDCs could lead to a 3.6% emission reduction by 2030 compared to the 2019 level.
• As per the report, at present, we are on the track of about 2.5°C temperature rise by 2100.
• After COP 26, only 24 countries have submitted their new or updated NDCs. India submitted its revised NDC in August.
• India has now committed to reducing the emissions intensity of its GDP by 45% by 2030 from its 2005 levels.
• The UNFCCC released another report which summarizes 53 long-term emission reduction plans submitted by countries. These are known as long-term low-emission development strategies (LT-LEDS).
• UNFCCC estimated that the total emissions of countries who submitted LT-LEDS will be 10.8 GtCO2e, 68 percent less than from the 2019 levels.

Topic: Corporates/Companies

3. Elon Musk buys Twitter in a $44 billion deal.

• Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, became the new owner of Twitter.
• After six months of public and legal wrangling over the deal, Elon Musk completed the acquisition of Twitter.
• Elon Musk promised many new changes, including new leadership, job cuts, and the pursuit of new ways to make money.
• After the deal, Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal, chief executive Ned Segal and chief financial officer Vijaya Gadde were fired.
• The shareholders will be paid $54.20 per share and Twitter will now operate as a private company.
• Twitter:
  • It is an American social networking and microblogging service.
  • Its founders are Jack Dorsey, Biz Stone, Evan Williams, and Noah Glass.
  • Its headquarters is located in San Francisco, California, United States.

Topic: Defence

4. PM will lay the foundation stone for the C-295MW transport aircraft manufacturing project in Vadodara, Gujarat on 30 October.

• This transport aircraft with a capacity of five to ten tonnes is being manufactured for the first time in the country.
• This aircraft will replace the ageing Avro aircraft of IAF.
• This is the first project of its kind in which military aircraft will be manufactured by a private company.
• This aircraft will strengthen the logistic capability of the Indian Air Force.
• Sixteen aircraft will be handed over in-flight condition and 40 such aircraft will be manufactured in India by Tata Advanced Systems Ltd, and Tata Consultancy Services.
• In September 2021, the Cabinet Committee on Security had approved the procurement of 56 C-295MW transport aircraft from M/s Airbus Defence and Space S.A., Spain.
• The first 16 fly-away aircraft are scheduled to be delivered between September 2023 and August 2025.
• The first Made in India aircraft is expected to be delivered in September 2026.
• The total cost of the project will be Rs. 21,935 crores. This aircraft can also be used for civilian purposes.
• All 56-transport aircraft will have indigenous electronic warfare suites of Indian DPSUs – Bharat Electronics Ltd and Bharat Dynamics Limited.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: State News/ Kerala

5. Kerala government is ready to become a woman-friendly tourism destination.

• Kerala has launched a project to encourage women's participation in all tourism activities and attract more women tourists to the state.
• As a part of the State Responsible Tourism Mission (RT Mission) initiatives, "women-friendly tourism" project was launched on October 26 with an aim of establishing women-friendly tourism centers and empowering women.
• The RT mission aims to create a network of women's units and tourism centers run by women through this project.
• The mission will train selected women to work as tour coordinators, storytellers, community tour leaders, auto/taxi drivers (guest handling), homestay operators, etc.
• The Minister of Tourism will lead the monthly evaluation process to provide the project with all the necessary resources.

Topic: State News/ Uttar Pradesh

6. Second elephant sanctuary of Uttar Pradesh will come up in Lakhimpur Kheri.

• The establishment of the Terai Elephant Reserve (TER) in the Uttar Pradesh district of Lakhimpur Kheri, has received approval from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
• In April of this year, Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR) authorities drafted the proposal and forwarded it to the Union Minister on October 11.
• The ministry approved the proposal on October 21.
• Terai Elephant Reserve will be 33rd in the country and second in Uttar Pradesh.
• In 2009, the first elephant reserve in Uttar Pradesh was notified at Shivalik in Saharanpur and the Bijnor districts.
• The TER will be established over an area of 3,049.39 sq km.
• It will spread over the forest areas of Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR), Dudhwa National Park (DNP), Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary (KWS), Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary (KGWS), Dudhwa buffer zone and parts of south Kheri forest division.
• On the occasion of the 30^th anniversary of the establishment of project elephant in1992, the Centre approved three elephant reserves across the country, including TER.
• The other two reserves are Lemru Elephant Reserve in Chhattisgarh and Agasthyamalai Elephant Reserve in Tamil Nadu.

Topic: Important Days

7. International Animation Day 2022: 28 October

• Every year on 28 October, International Animation Day is celebrated.
• In 2002, the International Animated Film Association (ASIFA) declared International Animation Day (IAD) (28 October) as a worldwide occasion to commend the specialty of animation.
• October 28, 1892 was the day when Charles-Émile Reynaud and his Théâtre Optique presented their first production, "Pantomimes Luminous", at the Grevin Museum in Paris.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

8. PM Modi addressed Chintan Shivir of Home Ministers of states on 28 October via video conferencing.

• The two-day Chintan Shivir held at Surajkund in Haryana on 27th & 28th October, 2022.
• Chief Ministers of the States, Home Ministers of States and Lieutenant Governors and Administrators of Union Territories participated in the Chintan Shivir.
• Home secretaries and director general of police (DGPs) of the states and director generals of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Central Police Organisations (CPOs) also attended Chintan Shivir.
• Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah addressed the first day of ‘Chintan Shivir’ at Surajkund, Haryana.
• He said since 2014 there has been a 74% reduction in insurgency incidents.
• He said NIA and other agencies are being strengthened. He informed that before 2024, efforts are being made to set up an anti-terror network by setting up NIA branch in all the states.
• He said that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has been given extra territorial jurisdiction. It has also been given the right to confiscate the property acquired / related to terrorism.
• While addressing Chintan Shivir, PM Modi proposed the idea of "One Nation, One Uniform" for police. 

(Source: PIB)

Topic: Sports

9. BCCI announces equal match fee for both men and women cricketers.

• The payment for Test matches will be 15 lakh rupees, 6 lakh rupees for ODIs, and 3 lakh rupees for T-20.
• New Zealand is the first country to start equal pay for women's and men's cricketers.
• According to a BCCI announcement made earlier this month, a five-team IPL tournament for women will be held in March 2023 after Women's T20 World Cup ends in South Africa on February 26.
• Around 22 matches will be played. Each team will have 18 players, with a maximum of six players from overseas.
• Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI):
  • It is India’s governing body for cricket.
  • It was established in December 1928.
  • Headquarters: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
  • President: Roger Binny

Topic: Defence

10. India and US to conduct "Yudh Abhyas" exercise at Auli in Uttarakhand.

• Indian and US military to conduct the battalion-level "Yudh Abhyas" exercise from November 15 to December 2 at Auli in Uttarakhand.
• Around 350 soldiers from each side will take part in the "Yudh Abhyas" exercise.
• Before this, members of the "Quad" will conduct the Malabar exercise off Yokosuka in Japan.
• India will also conduct the "Austra-Hind" infantry combat exercise at the Mahajan range in Rajasthan from November 28 to December 11.
• The "Agni Warrior" exercise will be conducted between India and Singapore in Maharashtra from 13-30 November.
• Recently, India and US took part in the "Vajra Prahar" exercise at Bakloh in Himachal Pradesh in August.

Topic: Agriculture and allied sectors

11. Union government estimate 342.33 million tonnes of horticulture production in 2021-22.

• For the year 2021-22, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare released the 3rd Advance Estimates of the area and production of various horticultural crops.
• As per the government estimate, a record 342.33 million tonnes will be produced in an area of ​​28.08 million hectares.
• It shows an increase of 7.73 million tonnes (an increase of 2.3%) as compared to the previous year.
• Production of fruits is estimated to be 107.24 million tonnes against 102.48 million tonnes in 2020-21.
• The production of vegetables is estimated to be 204.84 million tonnes in comparison with 200.45 million tonnes in 2020-21.
• Potato and tomato production is estimated to be declined.
• Production of Potatoes is estimated to be 53.39 million tonnes in 2021-22 as against 56.17 million tonnes in 2020-21.
• Tomato production is estimated to be 20.33 million tonnes as compared to 21.18 million tonnes in the previous year.
• The third advance estimates were compiled on the basis of information received from States and Union Territories.
• Note:
  • Andhra Pradesh is the highest fruits-producing state in India.
  • Uttar Pradesh is the highest vegetable-producing state in India.
  • Uttar Pradesh is the highest Potato Producing state in India.
  • Andhra Pradesh is the highest producer of tomatoes in India.

Topic: National News

12. Government released new policy reforms for satellite communication services.

• To ease procedures and streamline clearances, the government has unveiled new policy reforms for satellite communications services.
• The main aim of the policy reform is to substantially speed up the deployment of 5G towers.
• At present, the current pace of tower deployment is 2,500 per week, and for 5G it needs to be increased to at least 10,000 per week.
• Now, the SACFA (Standing Advisory Committee on Frequency Allocation) clearance is not required for the deployment of 5G antenna.
• The Department of Telecom has also completely delicensed three bands for near-field communications.
• It includes the 865-868 MHz band, the 433 - 434.7MHz band, and certain other band for contactless inductive chargers.
• The reform in the satellite communication services will ensure that digital services reach the remotest parts of the country.
• The satellite communications service is likely to be implemented in the next 7-8 months.
• The telecom department has also released the National Frequency Allocation Plan (NFAP).

Topic: Defence

13. Indian Navy and Drone Federation of India have joined hands for the indigenous development, manufacturing, and testing of drones.

• The Drone Federation of India will assist the Indian Navy in creating a stronger roadmap for the induction of drone platforms in a time-bound manner.
• The Technology Development & Acceleration Cell of the Naval Innovation Indigenisation Organisation and the Drone Federation of India will increase synergy between the Navy and academia.
• A special maritime drone testing site will be developed for the Indian drone industry. It will facilitate the testing of drones in the maritime environment and support the faster development of drones.
• The maritime testing site will support the development of versatile and reliable drone platforms for advanced maritime use.
• India’s domestic drone manufacturing industry has the potential to become ₹1.8 lakh crore industry in the next eight years.
• Drone Federation of India: It is a non-government and not-for-profit body dedicated for safer and scalable unmanned aviation industry in India.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

14. A Special Meeting of the United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee (UNSC-CTC) will begin in Mumbai on October 28.

• It will be the first such meeting of the UNSC-CTC in India since its establishment in 2001.
• The Permanent Representative of India to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj, will chair the meeting.
• The meeting will be hosted in Mumbai and Delhi on October 28 and 29, 2022.
• The theme of the meeting is the ‘Countering the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes’.
• It is an opportunity to discuss existing and evolving threats, and the deployment of new and emerging technology to counter those threats.
• The discussion of the meeting will be focused on the following subjects:
  • Countering terrorist exploitation of information and communication technologies (ICTs).
  • Countering terrorism financing online and new payment technologies and fund-raising methods.
  • Threats posed by terrorist use of unmanned aerial systems.
  • Terror financing through crypto-currency.

Topic: Important Days

15. World Day for Audiovisual Heritage: 27 October

• Every year on October 27, the World Day for Audiovisual Heritage (WDAH) is observed.
• It is observed to highlight the importance of recorded images, motion pictures and sounds.
• Recorded images, motion pictures, and sounds are vital for the knowledge of humanity and help in preserving cultural and social diversity.
• WDAH is celebrated as part of the Sustainable Development Goal Target 16.10.
• The preservation of moving images was adopted at the 21^st General Conference of UNESCO at Belgrade, Serbia on 27 October 1980.
• “Enlisting documentary heritage to promote inclusive, just and peaceful societies” is the theme for the World Day for Audiovisual Heritage 2022.