Daily Current Affairs and GK | 30 October 2024

Topic: International News

1. Brazil became the second BRICS country to not join China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

• Brazil has decided to not join the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) of China.
• Brazil is the second BRICS country after India which decided to not join the Belt and Road Initiative.
• Brazil will collaborate with Chinese investors in alternative ways.
• The main objective is to use some framework of BRI and to create synergy between Brazilian infrastructure projects and the investment funds associated with the initiative.
• This decision has been taken by the Brazilian government as it could make relations with the US more difficult.
• India was the first country to oppose China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
• The Belt and Road Initiative was launched in 2013 by China as a global infrastructure development strategy.

Topic: Reports and Indices/Ranking

2. India secured 79th place in the Rule of Law Index 2024.

• The Rule of Law Index 2024 has been released by the World Justice Project (WJP).
• Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Germany are the top five countries on this index.
• The Rule of Law Index gives rankings to countries based on eight indicators.
• India secured 60th place among 142 countries on constraints on government powers indicator.
• On the open government indicator, India has been ranked 44 among 142 countries.
• India has shown poor performance in the protection of fundamental rights (102/142), the order and security of the people (98/142) and the efficiency of criminal justice (82/142).
• India ranks 97 out of 142 in the absence of the corruption indicator, 78 in regulatory enforcement and 107 in civil justice delivery.
• Among South Asian countries, India ranked third after Nepal (69) and Sri Lanka (75).
• Venezuela got the lowest rank in the Rule of Law Index 2024.

Topic: International News

3. United States, Japan and South Korea announced the launch of a new framework to support digital infrastructure in India.

• To strengthen digital infrastructure in India, the United States, Japan and South Korea announced a new framework to collaborate with the Indian private sector.
• This announcement has been made by the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), and the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Korea Eximbank).
• Digital Infrastructure Growth Initiative for India Framework (DiGi Framework) will support projects in the information and communications technology sector such as 5G, Open RAN, submarine cables, optical fiber networks, etc.
• Under this framework, a streamlined process will be created for partnerships between the Indian private sector and DFC, JBIC, and Korea Eximbank.
• To promote private sector funding for digital infrastructure projects, the streamlined process will also support policy dialogues.

Topic: International News

4. Lebanese group Hezbollah has announced Naim Qassem its new chief.

• Naim Qassem is one of its founding members. He has served as Deputy Secretary General of Hezbollah since 1991. 
• He will replace Hassan Nasrallah, who died over a month ago in an Israeli bombing.
• Hashem Safieddine, the apparent successor of Hassan Nasrallah had been eliminated in in Beirut. Israel confirmed this on 22 October.
• In October 1997, Hezbollah was designated as a foreign terrorist organization by U.S. State Department.
• Over 60 other countries and organisations have also designated Hezbollah as a terrorist group.
• These organisations include the EU, the Arab League, and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
• Hezbollah is a Lebanese Shia Islamist political party and paramilitary group.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

5. Rodri has won the 2024 Men’s Ballon d’Or.

• Rodri is Manchester City’s midfielder. The Spanish international helped in securing Manchester City’s fourth consecutive English Premier League title.
• Rodrigo Hernández Cascante, known as Rodri or Rodrigo, was named “Player of the Tournament” and finished the season with 14 assists and 10 goals across all competitions.
• Rodri has become the first Premier League player to win the Ballon d’Or since Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2008 victory with Manchester United.
• Aitana Bonmati of Barcelona Femeni won the women’s Ballon d’Or for the 2nd consecutive year.
• Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti got the Johan Cruyff Trophy as men’s coach of the year.
• Emma Hayes was honored as women’s coach of the year. Real Madrid was named men’s club of the year.
• Barcelona’s young star Yamine Lamal won the Kopa Trophy for the best male player under 21.
• Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez won the Lev Yashin Trophy for the second time.
• The Ballon d'Or (Golden Ball) is an annual football award. It is presented by French magazine France Football.
• It is presented to honour the player performing the best over the previous season.

Topic: State News/Gujarat 

6. PM Modi launched infrastructure and development projects of more than Rs 280 crore at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat.

• PM Modi will address the Officer Trainees of the 99th Common Foundation Course in Aarambh 6.0.
• The theme for this year’s programme is “Roadmap for Aatmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat.”
• PM will take part in the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations on 31st October.
• PM Modi will also pay the floral tribute at the Statue of Unity. 
• PM Modi will administer the Ekta Diwas pledge. He will witness the Ekta Diwas Parade.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

7. 4th Spain-India Forum has been inaugurated by Spain President Pedro Sánchez in Mumbai.

• The theme of the forum was “Spain-India Partnership amid Geopolitical and Technological Challenges: New Horizons, New Possibilities.”
• Observer Research Foundation and the Spain India Council Foundation jointly organised it.
• Spain President said that India and Spain seek more business, greater investment, increased cooperation, and enhanced exchanges.
• He highlighted the mutual understanding between India and Spain.
• He also highlighted the strength of economic and trade relations between India and Spain.

Topic: State News/ Rajasthan

8. Rajasthan Investment Promotion Scheme (RIPS) 2024 has been launched to attract investment in the state.

• The Rajasthan Investment Promotion Scheme (RIPS) 2024 has been launched to promote private investment.

• Under this scheme, financial incentives will be increased in different sectors of the state.
• Financial incentives will be provided to support the establishment and operation of industries.
• This scheme has been launched ahead of the 'Rising Rajasthan' Global Investment Summit 2024.
• RIPS 2024 has added a series of new sectors to the sunrise sectors' list, including aero and space, defence, drones, semiconductors, agri-tech, and waste recycling.
• These new sectors will get an additional 10% incentive over the asset creation incentive secured by the business unit.
• The first three units in the sunrise sectors have been classified as mega or ultra-mega projects.
• Under this scheme, mega or ultra-mega projects can avail 25% additional subsidy above the capital subsidy, turnover-linked incentive, or investment subsidy.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

9. PM Modi launched the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card.

• Under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card has been launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• It expanded the Ayushman Bharat scheme benefits of health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh annually for every citizen aged 70 years and above, irrespective of income or economic status.
• This card ensures that elderly people no longer need to live with the anxiety of high healthcare expenses.
• The inclusion of senior citizens will strengthen the government’s commitment to universal health coverage.
• The Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card provides an annual health cover of ₹5 lakh per family.
• The new scheme will cover nearly 6 crore individuals from 4.5 crore families.
• The Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card has been designed to address the healthcare needs of this growing demographic.

Topic: National Appointments

10. Chief Operating Officer (COO) Shashwat Sharma will take charge as the MD and CEO of Bharti Airtel.

• Incumbent Gopal Vittal has been named vice-chairman of Bharti Airtel Ltd. from January 1, 2026.
• Sharma will be CEO designate of the company for the next 14 months.
• As the CEO designate, Shashwat will lead the entire end-to-end consumer business.
• Gopal Vittal will be responsible for mentoring and grooming Shashwat to take over.
• Bharti Airtel Limited is an Indian multinational telecommunications company based in New Delhi. It is the second-largest telecom operator of the country.

Topic: State News / Uttarakhand

11. India's 1^st 'Writer's village' has been inaugurated in Dehradun.

• It has been jointly inaugurated by former President Ram Nath Kovind, Uttarakhand Governor Lt Gen Gurmeet Singh (retd) and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.
• The ‘Writer’s village’ is located in Thano village, about 24 km from Dehradun.
• The ‘Writer’s village’ is the brainchild of former chief minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, a distinguished writer himself.
• On this occasion, during International Literature, Culture and Art Festival 'Sparsh Himalaya Mahotsav-2024', the first work of Writer's village, 'Ram in the Himalayas' was also released.
• All the arrangements have been made in the Writer's Village like Lekhan Kutir, Nakshatra and Navgrah Vatika, auditorium, yoga-meditation centre, discussion centre, and restaurant and so on.
• In this village, writers will get the peaceful and creative environment necessary to create their works.

Topic: State News/Haryana

12. Rajya Vishisht Yojana has been implemented by the Haryana government to curb stubble burning.

• The Haryana government has implemented the Rajya Vishisht Yojana to curb the incidents of stubble burning.
• Under this scheme, farmers will get financial assistance for managing crop residue. Zero-burning targets will also be set up by panchayats.
• Red zone panchayats will receive an incentive of 1 lakh rupees, while yellow zone panchayats will receive 50 thousand rupees for achieving the zero burning target.
• As of October 28, 83,070 farmers have registered for the management of 7,11,000 acres of paddy area.
• Farmers will get an incentive of 1,000 rupees per acre for managing paddy crop residue.
• So far in Haryana, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research has recorded a total of 713 incidents of stubble burning.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

13. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar received the Highest Civilian Award of Fiji.

• Fiji has become the sixth country to confer the highest civilian award to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
• He has received the award for his tireless contribution to the upliftment of the human spirit and connecting diverse communities in peace and harmony.
• Sri Sri Ravi Shankar received the title of ‘Honourary Officer of the Order of Fiji’ by the President of the Republic of Fiji, Ratu Wiliame M. Katonivere.
• ‘The Art of Living Foundation’ was set up by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in 1981.
• Its main aim is to spread happiness and harmony through its multifarious service initiatives in areas of mental health, education, environment, and women and youth empowerment.