VISION

1)  World Day for Audiovisual Heritage celebrates on 27 October

•World Day for Audiovisual Heritage (WDAH) is celebrated on October 27 every year to highlight and promote the importance of such preservation. Audiovisual heritage refers to documents like film, sounds, radio, television programmes and other audio and video that are of socio-cultural importance and need preservation for posterity. Such documentations help us observe and understand the past, protects our memories and culture.

World Day for Audiovisual Heritage 2022: Theme

•“Enlisting documentary heritage to promote inclusive, just and peaceful societies” is the theme for WDAH this year. It refers to the importance of archiving visual and sonic information to preserve history for society’s benefit and progress.

2)  Indian Army Celebrates 76th Infantry Day On 27 October

•Indian Army Infantry Day is celebrated on October 27 every year to pay homage to the soldiers who fought for the country and laid down their lives in the line of duty. To celebrate the 76th Infantry Day this year on October 27, soldiers are organising four simultaneous bike rallies from all cardinal directions, Wellington (Tamil Nadu), Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir), Shillong (Meghalaya), and Ahmedabad (Gujarat). The rally started on October 16 and will cover the travel across the country, culminating at the National War Memorial on Infantry Day.

•Each group will have 10 bikers and will cover a cumulative journey of 8,000 km. The groups are spearheaded by the Maratha Light Infantry Regiment from Ahmedabad, Assam Regiment from Shillong, Madras Regiment from Wellington and Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Regiment from Udhampur.

3)  Union Territory of J&K celebrates its Accession Day on 26th October

•The Accession Day of Jammu and Kashmir on 26th October with the Union of India is being celebrated across the Union Territory. Accession Day carries great significance as it was on this day in 1947 that the then Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir, Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession to become part of the greatest democracy of the world. Several functions are being organized to mark the day. Accession Day is a public holiday in the Union Territory.

4)  National Statistical Office(NSO) Released the Employment Outlook of India

•The National Statistical Office (NSO), under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, released a press note on Employment Outlook of the country covering the period September, 2017 to June, 2022. This data is based on the administrative records available with selected government agencies to assess the progress in certain dimensions, the release stated.

5)  Ladakh MP launched “Main Bhi Subhash” campaign

•Ladakh MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal launched the ‘Main Bhi Subhash’ campaign from Leh. The ‘Main Bhi Subhash’ campaign is a series of events which is organized by the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose INA Trust in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture. The ‘Main Bhi Subhash’ campaign is going to be organized on the occasion of the 125th Birth Anniversary of Netaji on 23rd January next year. The ‘Main Bhi Subhash’ campaign begins in Mumbai and Kolkata.

6)  India Suffered Income Loss of 5.4% of GDP Due To Heatwave In 2021: Report

•India suffered an income loss of 5.4% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the highest among the G20 nations in 2021, according to the new report of Climate Transparency. The report highlighted that India witnessed a record heatwave that greatly affected workers, labour migrants, low-income households, and the homeless, and reduced the yields of wheat crops.

1)  International Stuttering Awareness Day observed on 22 October

•International Stuttering Awareness Day (ISAD) or International Stammering Awareness Day is celebrated on October 22. The day creates awareness about the speech disorder known as stuttering or stammering. Stuttering refers to disruptions in the fluency of speech. Its symptoms include involuntary repetition of words and temporary inability or difficulty to utter sounds or words, among others.

International Stuttering Awareness Day 2022: Theme

•The theme for 2022’s International Stuttering Awareness Day is “Being seen, being heard: Representation and normalisation of stuttering in the mainstream,”. The theme highlights the fact that stuttering is something that affects many in society and is nothing abnormal.

2)  Uttar Pradesh bags top honours at PMAY-U Awards 2021

•Under the BJP-led Centre’s flagship, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U) housing scheme have been delivered and the rest are under various stages of completion, Union Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri. PMAY-U Awards 2021 is scheduled annually to recognise the contribution of States, Union Territories and urban local bodies with regard to the implementation of the scheme in Rajkot.

3)  Telangana Hyderabadi Haleem bags ‘Most Popular GI’ award

•Telangana’s Hyderabadi Haleem has won the ‘Most Popular GI’ award after beating other food items including Rasgulla, Bikaneri Bhujiya, and Ratlami Sev. In a rigid competition with more than 15 food items across the country with Geographical Indication (GI) status, the famous Hyderabadi Haleem has bagged the ‘Most Popular GI’ award.

•GI tag is given to products to ensure that authorised users can only use the popular product name. For the first time, GI status was accorded to Hyderabadi Haleem in 2010. It expired in December 2019. However, later, the registrar of Geographical Indicator renewed the tag for the dish for 10 years.

•Notably: Other Telangana items that were accorded GI tag include Nirmal toys and crafts, Nirmal furniture, Nirmal Paintings, Gadwal sari, and Banaganapalle Mangoes.

4)  India to Beat US, Europe in Terms of Learners: Coursera chief

•India is anticipated to surpass its residence market, the United States, and even Europe in terms of learners over the subsequent 18-20 months, edtech agency Coursera’s chief  Jeff Maggioncalda said. The firm, which has 17 million learners and content material partnerships with 15 universities in India, is anticipated to overtake the United States and Europe. It has 20 million learners in America and 19 million in Europe.

5)  5th Khelo India Youth Games to be held in Madhya Pradesh

•The 5th edition of the Khelo India Youth Games will be held in Madhya Pradesh from 31st January to 11th February 2023. The event was felicitated by Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur, and Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

•Indigenous games will be a part of the upcoming Khelo India Youth Games. Madhya Pradesh has made the sport of Mallakhamb their state sport for supporting the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to support Olympics sports and indigenous sports in the same manner.

6)  World Spice Congress 14th edition organized in Maharashtra

•World Spice Congress 14th edition: The 14th World Spice Congress will take place in the CIDCO Exhibition and Convention Centre in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, from February 16 to 18, 2023. Spices Board India in conjunction with a number of trade and export forums is hosting the World Spice Congress during India’s G20 presidency.

7)  Punjab Government: Return of Old Pension Scheme for its Employees

•The Punjab Government decided to restore the old pension scheme for its employees. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced that the government has decided to implement the old pension scheme as a Diwali gift for its employees. The decision was taken as an in-principle decision to the effect of the cabinet meeting. The decision aims to benefit lakhs of employees.

8)  Pakistan Removed from FATF Grey List on Terror Financing

•Pakistan has been removed from the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force(FATF), the Paris-based global watchdog on money laundering and terrorist financing. Pakistan was placed in the grey list in 2018 for failing to keep a check on money laundering and terrorist financing.

9)  Nuclear capable Agni Prime missile successfully tested by India

•Agni Prime missile successfully tested: The Agni Prime New Generation Ballistic Missile was successfully tested by India on October 21 off the coast of Odisha. Around 9.45 this morning, a test launch of the ballistic missile took place. The missile successfully completed the test, covering its full range, and all of its test goals were achieved.

10)  Chandrayaan-3 set for launch in August 2023: ISRO chairman

•Chandrayaan-3 set for launch in August 2023: The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) plans to launch its third lunar mission in the month of June 2023. The more capable lunar rover that will be carried by Chandrayaan-3, which is essential for future interplanetary explorations, according to S. Somnath, Chairman of the Indian Space Agency, ISRO.

1)  World Osteoporosis Day 2022 observed on 20th October

•World osteoporosis day is a global healthcare event observed every year on 20 October. The day is observed to promote the early diagnosis of osteoporosis, its treatment and preventive tips for strong bones. The campaigns are mainly focused on encouraging people to take preventative measures for their bone health to avoid any risk of osteoporosis and associated complications in the future.

2)  World Statistics Day 2022 celebrates on 20 October

•World Statistics Day 2022 is celebrated annually on October 20th to recognize the importance of statistics in our daily lives. The United Nations Statistical Commission has been at the forefront of advocating for the use of statistics to track progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Good data and statistics are essential for effective planning, monitoring and evaluation of progress towards the SDGs.

World Statistics Day 2022: Theme

•The theme of Statistics Day, 2022 is “Data for Sustainable Development”. On this occasion, MoSPI also recognizes the outstanding contribution through high-quality research in the field of applied and theoretical statistics benefiting the official statistical system through awards instituted for this purpose.

3)  International Chef’s Day 2022 celebrates on 20th October

•Every year on October 20th, International Chefs Day is observed to honour the culinary masters who have protected the value of food and are passing on the same message to future generations. This day celebrates the culinary arts and recognizes the hard work and dedication that chefs put into their craft. If you know a chef, be sure to thank them for their delicious creations. And if you’re a chef yourself, take pride in knowing that your skills are appreciated by people all over the world!

International Chef’s Day 2022: Theme

•The theme for this year is “Growing A Healthy Future.” The idea behind this theme is to ensure a healthy and sustainable planet for future generations. This can happen when we teach them the value of food and its impact on the environment.

4)  PM Modi launched Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Urvarak Pariyojana

•Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Urvarak Pariyojana-One Nation One Fertiliser. Under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Urvarak Pariyojana, companies must market all subsidized fertilizers under a single brand, ‘Bharat’.

5)  UIDAI topped Grievance Redressal Index for second consecutive month

•The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), which oversees Aadhaar, has once again topped the September rankings report published by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), for resolving most public grievances among all government ministries and government departments. This is the second consecutive month UIDAI has topped the rankings.

6)  Mallikarjun Kharge Elected As The New Congress President

•Veteran Karnataka leader Mallikarjun Kharge defeated his rival Shashi Tharoor to become the first non-Gandhi Congress president in 24 years, and the first Scheduled Caste chief of the grand old organization in four decades. Kharge polled 7897 of the 9385 votes cast while Tharoor garnered a meagre 1072. Sources said 416 votes were invalid.

7)  United Nations Secretary General on India’s Visit

•United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived in Mumbai, India on October 19 on a three-day official visit. This is his first visit to India, since he assumed his second term in office in January this year.

8)  Hardeep Puri inaugurated Asia’s largest Compressed Bio Gas plant

•Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri has inaugurated Asia’s largest Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) plant in Lehragaga, in Sangrur, Punjab. The plant in Sangrur is just the beginning of India’s master plan for a CBG-based rural economy and the government is taking all steps to promote the ecosystem around it.

•The plant has been commissioned with a foreign direct investment of approximately Rs. 220 crores by Verbio AG, one of Germany’s leading bio-energy companies. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and senior management from Verbio India Private Limited were also present at the inaugural ceremony.

1)  PM Kisan Samman Sammelan 2022 Launched by PM Modi

•PM Kisan Samman Sammelan 2022 Launched: The PM Kisan Samman Sammelan 2022 will be launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute in New Delhi. More than 13,500 farmers from all around the country and about 1,500 agri entrepreneurs are expected to attend the two-day event.

2)  Union Cabinet Approves MSP Hike for All Mandated Rabi Crops

•The Union Cabinet approved an increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all Rabi Crops for the Marketing Season 2023-24. The highest increase has been cleared for lentils with a hike of 500 rupees per quintal. The MSP on wheat has been hiked by 110 rupees and barley by 100 rupees.

3)  ‘SARANG – The Festival of India in Republic of Korea’

•The 8th edition of annual flagship cultural program of Embassy of India, Seoul ‘SARANG– The Festival of India in Republic of Korea’ will be held from Sept. 30 through Oct. 14, 2022 in offline mode at various locations across the country after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19 pandemic.

4)  Pakistan May Take Out off FATF Grey List

•Pakistan is likely to exit the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) after it was placed in the infamous category since 2018 for failing to check money laundering and terrorist financing, a media report said.

5)  22nd World Blockchain Summit Begins in Dubai

•World Blockchain Summit in Dubai is taking place on Oct. 17 and 18, 2022 at Atlantis, The Palm. It is one of the most elite gatherings of the global crypto and blockchain ecosystem. The 22nd global edition of the World Blockchain Summit will bring together some of the world’s leading crypto influencers, policymakers, key government delegates, media, family offices, HNIs and other curated investors, among others, to foster the crypto and blockchain community across the globe.

6)  Dr Prashant Garg elected as member of Academia Ophthalmological Internationalis

•Dr Prashant Garg, executive chair, L V Prasad Eye Institute, has been elected as a ‘Member’ of the prestigious Academia Ophthalmological Internationalis (AOI). Dr Garg becomes the fifth from India to ever receive this honour. His tenure as a Member of Academia Ophthalmological Internationalis will formally commence next year during AOI’s next General Assembly meeting.

7)  Kaustubh Kulkarni elevated as JP Morgan India head

•JP Morgan has announced the appointment of its new Country Head of India, Kaustubh Kulkarni. Madhav Kalyan the current country head of India will be serving in the Asia Pacific Payments Division from 1st November 2022. Kaustubh Kulkarni is currently serving as the head of investment banking in JP Morgan India and also as the Vice-chair of Asia Pacific for the bank and also as the co-head of investment banking for Southeast Asia.

8)  ICAS Bharati Das named as the new Controller General of Accounts

•The governement of India has appointed Bharati Das, an officer of the Indian Civil Accounts Service of the 1988 batch, as the Controller General of Accounts (CGA), Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance. She is the 27th Controller General of Accounts, Ministry of Finance.

9)  Former Infosys President Ravi Kumar joins Cognizant

•Former Infosys president Ravi Kumar S, who resigned from the Bengaluru-based IT company last week, is joining as president of Cognizant Americas. Kumar will take on the position from January 16, 2023, and will be reporting directly to Brian Humphries, chief executive officer (CEO) of Cognizant. Kumar succeeds Dharmendra Kumar Sinha who retired from Cognizant last year. At present, Sinha is the president of the public cloud business unit in Rackspace Technology. Surya Gummadi will continue to hold the post of interim president for Cognizant Americas till Kumar joins, after which he will move to lead Cognizant’s $5-billion health sciences business.

•In 2015, Kumar was one of the two presidents appointed by Infosys, and served in that position for almost seven years. He had been with Infosys for 20 years. Cognizant has also announced the appointment of former Bain executive Prasad Sankaran as head of the software and platform engineering (SPE) service line.

10)  IRS officer Sahil Seth launches his book ‘A confused mind story’

•Indian Revenue Service (IRS) Joint Commissioner GST, Custom & Narcotics and youth influencer, Sahil Seth launched his book titled ‘A confused Mind story’. The book was launched and the first look was Unveiled in the presence of Union Health Minister Sh Mansukh L Mandaviya.

•The book was published by Blue Rose publication house, one of the top fiction, nonfiction, and poetry book publishers in India. The book is based on the contrast between the spiritual and material world. The book depicts the answers behind the confusion of the common man in day¬to¬day life and explains the rationale behind the meaning of life and belief system.

1)  Global Handwashing Day 2022: Unite for Universal Hand Hygiene

•October 15 is marked as Global Handwashing Day, with the aim of increasing awareness and understanding about the importance of handwashing with soap as an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives. Hand hygiene has become quite popular after the Covid-19 pandemic. And to make handwashing a habit, there is a day dedicated to it; global hand washing day. It is an initiative to unite universal hand hygiene habits of people across the world. This global advocacy day is celebrated on October 15 each year.

Global Handwashing Day 2022: Theme

•This year’s theme, “Unite for Universal Hand Hygiene”, calls on all of society to work together to scale up hand hygiene.

2)  India to host 90th General Assembly of INTERPOL

•The 90th General Assembly of Interpol is going to be held in New Delhi from 18th October to 21st October 2022. The 90th General Assembly of Interpol will have the world’s largest police body with 195 members. The General Assembly is the International policing organization’s top governing body and meets once a year to take important decisions.

3)  Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik launched a new book Pandemic Disruptions and Odisha’s

•Odisha Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik released the book titled ‘Pandemic Disruptions and Odisha’s Lessons in Governance’ by Dr Amar Patnaik, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha this evening at Naveen Niwas. This book is a culmination of the various essays on pertinent contemporary issues that emerged in India during the pandemic years of 2020-21 and 2021-2022. Odisha Government’s handling of the covid crisis riding on its earlier experience in handling natural disasters has been applauded nationally as well as globally.

4)  India Lifted 415 Million out of Poverty in 15 Years: UN

•The number of people living below the poverty line in India decreased by 415 million between 2005-06 and 2019-21, according to a new Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) released  jointly by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) at the University of Oxford.

6)  Ulf Kristersson Elected As Sweden’s new Prime Minister Backed By Far Right

•Sweden’s parliament elected Moderates leader Ulf Kristersson as the country’s new prime minister. A total of 176 members of the Riksdag voted in favor of Kristersson, while 173 members voted against him.

7)  Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Inaugurates India’s First Aluminum Freight Rake at Bhubaneswar Railway Station

•Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated India’s first aluminium freight rake — 61 BOBRNALHSM1 — at Bhubaneshwar Railway Station. The rake’s destination is Bilaspur. As per reports, the aluminium freight rake wields the capacity to carry 180-ton more goods as against the traditional rake. Moreover, it is 180 tons lighter than the traditional steel rake.

8)  Justice DY Chandrachud named as 50th Chief Justice of India

•President Droupadi Murmu has appointed Dr Justice DY Chandrachud as the new Chief Justice of India. He will succeed the present Chief Justice of India Justice Uday Umesh Lalit. Justice Chandrachud’s appointment will come into effect from the 9th of next month. Justice DY Chandrachud would be the 50th Chief Justice of India. While Justice Lalit has a tenure of 74 days, Justice Chandrachud will serve as the CJI for two years. Justice Chandrachud will demit office on November 10, 2024.

9)  Home Minister Amit Shah Launches First Hindi Version of MBBS Course Books

•Home Minister Amit Shah launched the MBBS Course books in Hindi version at Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. It is the first ever Hindi version of the MBBS course books in India. The book launch event was felicitated by the Bhopal state education minister Vishvas Kailash Sarang and Bhopal CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

1)  International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 2022 observed on 17 October

•International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is observed every year on October 17 globally. It is a day to raise awareness about the global issue of poverty and how it is a violation of human rights and of human dignity. The day also honours the courage of people living in poverty and their everyday struggles. On the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the World Day to Overcome Extreme Poverty and the 30th anniversary of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, this year, the UN honors people living with poverty and their daily courage and raises awareness on why global cooperation is necessary to eradicate poverty.

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 2022: Theme

•This year’s theme for International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is “Dignity For All in Practice”. The dignity of the human being is not only a fundamental right in itself but constitutes the basis of all other fundamental rights. Therefore, “Dignity” is not an abstract concept: it belongs to each and every one. Today, many people living in persistent poverty experience their dignity being denied and disrespected.

2)  India to Host SCO National Coordinators Meet

•India is set to host the Shanghai Coordinators Organization national coordinator meeting in Delhi. The SCO National Coordinators meeting will take place from the 17th to the 18th of October 2022. New Delhi took over the presidency of the nine-member grouping earlier this year at the Samarkand SCO summit.

3)  Amit Shah inaugurates ‘Gatha Swaraj Ki’ gallery in Scindia Museum, Gwalior

•Union Home Minister Amit Shah has inaugurated a gallery-cum-exhibition depicting the history of prominent Maratha commanders at the sprawling Jai Vilas Mahal of Scindias, the erstwhile rulers of Gwalior. Shah was in Gwalior to lay the foundation for the terminal building and expansion of the Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Airport.

•Shah visited the museum in the palace and inaugurated the ‘Gatha Swaraj ki-Maratha Gallery’ depicting the history of the main Maratha rulers including the Scindias, Gaikwads, Holkars, Nevalkars, Bhosales and the Pawar.

•As per the booklet about the gallery, the word “Swaraj” was first used by Sakharam Ganesh Deoskar in a Bangla book- “Shivajir Mahatva” on the life of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in 1902. The word “Swaraj” was used by Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi, Veer Savarkar, the Bhartiya Jan Sangh and Indian National Congress among others. Union civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, the royal descendant, his wife Priyadarshini Raje and their son Mahanaryaman welcomed Shah in the palace.

4)  Telangana’s Hyderabad honoured with AIPH ‘World Green City award 2022’

•The city of Hyderabad, Telangana, has been honoured as the Grand winner of the AIPH (International Association of Horticultural Producers) World Green City Awards 2022, the most prestigious award of the Inaugural AIPH World Green City awards (2022 edition), for its initiative titled “Green Garland to the State of Telangana”. Hyderabad also won the award under the ‘Living Green for Economic Recovery and Inclusive Growth’ category.

5)  India Stands 3rd in the World in Terms of Fish Production

•Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying  Dr. L Murugan has recently said that India stands third in the world in terms of fish production. India is the 3rd largest fish producing and 2nd largest aquaculture nation in the world after China.

6)  Tamil Nadu is the only State to achieve Jal Jeevan Mission target for 2022

•Tamil Nadu has emerged as the only state in India which has achieved the target for 2022 Q1 and Q2 for Jal Jeevan Mission, with 69.57 lakh households provided with tap connections. Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat visited Chennai and reviewed the progress of the work on the Jal Jeevan Mission for assured portable Tap water supply to every rural household by 2024.

7)  EAM S Jaishankar Visits Egypt on 2-day Official Arrival

•External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar has reached Cairo in Egypt on his two-day official visit. On the first day of his visit, he met with eminent personalities in the field of foreign policy. During his visit, Dr Jaishankar have discuss a range of bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry.

8)  Piyush Goyal: India to achieve USD 2 trillion export target by 2030

•Piyush Goyal Predicts the Growth of Economy and Exports: Piyush Goyal, the minister of commerce and industry, expressed confidence that the nation will reach its goal of 2 trillion USD in products and services exported by 2030. The Union Commerce and Industry minister was addressing at the Chennai-based Exporters Conclave.

9)  NATO announced its annual nuclear exercise “Steadfast Noon”

•The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), also called the North Atlantic Alliance announced had started its annual nuclear exercise code-named “Steadfast Noon”. The week-long exercise is taking place over Southern Europe and involves aircraft and personnel from 14 NATO countries. Steadfast Noon involves training flights with dual-capable fighter jets, as well as conventional jets, backed by surveillance and refuelling aircraft. No live weapons are used. This exercise helps to ensure that NATO’s nuclear deterrent remains safe, secure and effective.

•Notably: Steadfast Noon, as the exercise is known, runs from October 17 to October 30 and will involve 14 countries and up to 60 aircraft of various types, including fourth and fifth-generation fighter jets, as well as surveillance and tanker aircraft.

•Of the 14 nations involved, Dutch F-16s and German Tornadoes are operating out of Ghedi AB alongside Italian Tornados, while U.S. and Belgian F-16s and possibly Czech Gripen are operating out of Aviano AB.

10)  Goa to host 9th World Ayurveda Congress & Arogya Expo

•The 9th World Ayurveda Congress (WAC) and Arogya Expo, will be held in Panaji, Goa from 8th to 11th December 2022. The 9th World Ayurveda Congress aims to transformationally push Ayurveda to bring it into global focus. The 9th World Ayurveda Congress (WAC) is going to be hosted in Goa and it aims to create an accessible and affordable healthcare system that is in harmony with modern medical practices.

11)  Japan to Scrap Remarriage Restrictions on Pregnant Women

•Japanese cabinet ministers on Oct 14 approved the scrapping of a law that stipulates women pregnant at the time of a divorce must wait 100 days before marrying again. The law, in place for more than a century, does not apply to men and was originally intended as a way to aid the identification of the father who is financially responsible for a newborn baby.

12)  India’s WPI inflation falls to 10.7% in Sep from 12.41% in Aug

•India’s WPI inflation falls to 10.7% in Sep: Inflation based on the Wholesale Price Index(WPI) decreased to 10.70% in September. According to official figures, the WPI-based inflation rate was 12.41% in August. High-speed diesel (HSD) saw the highest inflation rate at 65.96%. (YoY). It was followed by price increases of 44.72 percent for crude oil and natural gas and 49.79 percent for potatoes.

13)  Haryana topped the Public Affairs Index 2022 in big states

•Haryana has bagged the top position in the category of big states in the Public Affairs Index-2022. The state has emerged at the forefront in social, economic and political justice themes. It has topped among the major states with a score of 0.6948, followed by Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Punjab and Karnataka among many other states.

•In PAI-2022, Sikkim has retained its position as the best-governed small state in India. The index, prepared by a Bengaluru-based non-profit think tank Public Affairs Centre (PAC), was released. In the report, economic justice was measured on indicators such as labour productivity, assurance of standard of living to wage workers, public expenditure on development, coverage of social safety net, and employment opportunities.

14)  Bob Dylan’s latest book, “The Philosophy of Modern Song,” released soon

•A new book titled “The Philosophy of Modern Song” authored by Bob Dylan, Nobel laureate and published by Simon & Schuster will be launched in November 2022. The Philosophy of Modern Song contains the artistic journey and achievements of Bob Dylan.

•The collection of essays is Bob Dylan’s first book of new writing since 2004, when he released ‘Chronicles, Volume One and since winning the Nobel prize for literature in 2016. Bob Dylan released thirty¬nine studio albums. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature and was also awarded the French Legion of Honor, a Pulitzer Prize and the Presidential Medal of Freedom etc. The most prominent books of Bob Dylan are ‘’The Lyrics 1961¬2012’’, ‘’Tarantula (1971)’’, ‘’Younger Than That Now’’ etc.

15)  ICC tie-up with UNICEF to promote gender equality

•The International Cricket Council (ICC) and UNICEF have launched a global partnership to empower women and girls and promote inclusion and gender equality through cricket. The initiatives to drive greater gender equity along with advocacy campaigns involving some of the world`s best players will form the basis of the partnership, which aims to mobilise the “power of cricket to driving positive social change”.

1)  World Student’s Day 2022 celebrates on15 October

•October 15 is celebrated as World Students’ Day to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, a celebrated Aerospace scientist and former President of India. The day is marked to acknowledge his efforts toward students and education. Dr Kalam was born on October 15, 1931. He served as an inspiration to many students to achieve and do something remarkable. After his tenure as the President came to an end, he became a visiting faculty at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Shillong, IIM-Indore and IIM- Ahmedabad.

2)  International Day of Rural Women 2022 observed on 15 October

•October 15 is celebrated as the International Day of Rural women across the world. The day focuses to promote gender quality and highlight the important role played by women in rural areas. The International Day of Rural Women is a time to celebrate the important role that rural women play in society. It is also an opportunity to raise awareness about the challenges faced by rural women and to call for action to address these issues. We hope that this day will help empower rural women and give them the recognition they deserve.

International Day of Rural Women 2022: Theme

•The theme for the International Day of Rural Women (15 October), “Rural Women Cultivating Good Food for All”, highlights the essential role that rural women and girls play in the food systems of the world. The contribution of women’s labour in agricultural and other related fields is the backbone of the economies of several countries. As per a UN report, approximately 40 per cent of the total agricultural labour force in developing countries comprises women. For Asian and African countries this figure rises to nearly half.

3)  PM Modi to Dedicate 75 Digital Banking Units to the Nation

•Prime Minister Narendra Modi to dedicate 75 Digital Banking Units (DBUs) to the nation on 16th October. He will address the occasion via video conferencing. The Finance Minister has announced the setting up of the 75 DBUs in 75 districts of the country to commemorate the 75 years of Independence of India as part of the Union budget speech for 2022-2023.

4)  India Opposes G7’s Just Energy Transition Plan

•The G7 nations’ plan of persuading India to start negotiations on a Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), an initiative of the rich nations to accelerate phasing out of coal and reducing emissions has hit a road-block. JETP makes various funding options available for this purpose in identified developing countries. The Power Ministry has refused to give its consent to the negotiations so far, as it argues that coal cannot be singled out as a polluting fuel, and energy transition talks need to take place on equal terms.

5)  Cabinet approved PM-DevINE scheme for development of Northeast states

•Prime Minister’s development initiative for North East region (PM-DevINE), was approved by the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The PM-DevINE is a Rs 6,600 crore scheme to support infrastructure, industries, and other Livelihood projects in northeastern states of India.

6)  17th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas to be held at Indore in January 2023

•The 17th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas Convention is to be held in Indore, Madhya Pradesh in January 2023. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar launched the website of the 17th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas Convention with Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan and Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan.

7)  Abdul Latif Rashid elected as President of Iraq

•The Iraqi Parliament chose Kurdish politician, Abdul Latif Rashid to lead the country. Rashid won more than 160 votes against 99 for the incumbent Saleh. Rashid, 78, is a British-educated engineer and was the Iraqi minister of water resources from 2003-2010. Outgoing President Saleh reportedly walked out of the parliament building as the votes were tallied.

8)  Global Hunger Index 2022: India ranks 107th out of 121 countries

•India ranks 107 out of 121 countries on the Global Hunger Index in which it fares worse than all countries in South Asia barring war-torn Afghanistan. India’s score of 29.1 places it in the ‘serious’ category. India also ranks below Sri Lanka (64), Nepal (81), Bangladesh (84), and Pakistan (99). Afghanistan (109) is the only country in South Asia that performs worse than India on the index.

•China is among the countries collectively ranked between 1 and 17 having a score of less than five. India’s child wasting rate (low weight for height), at 19.3%, is worse than the levels recorded in 2014 (15.1%) and even 2000 (17.15%), and is the highest for any country in the world and drives up the region’s average owing to India’s large population.

9)  Living Planet Report 2022: Wildlife Populations decline by 69% in 50 years

•There has been a 69 per cent decline in the wildlife populations of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish, across the globe in the last 50 years, according to the latest Living Planet Report by World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). 

1)  World Standards Day celebrates on 14th October

•World Standards Day is marked every year on October 14 to raise awareness about the importance of using standardised measurements, technologies, and industries. This day, also known as International Standards Day, strives to educate consumers, policymakers, and businesses about the value of standardisation. The day is also used to commemorate the achievements of scientists for developing voluntary universal standards that can be used for various measurements.

World Standards Day 2022: Theme

•Every year, the World Standards Event has a theme around which events and knowledge materials are created. The theme for World Standards Day 2022 is ‘Shared Vision for a Better World.’ The theme is part of the IEC, ISO and ITU multi-year campaign to increase understanding about how standardisation is important to achieve the United Nations’ sustainable development goals.

2)  International E-Waste Day 2022 observed on 14 October

•Each year, International E-Waste Day is held on 14 October, an opportunity to reflect on the impacts of e-waste and the necessary actions to enhance circularity for e-products. International E-Waste Day was developed in 2018 by the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment recycling (WEEE) Forum to raise the public profile of waste electrical and electronic equipment recycling and encourage consumers to recycle. 2022 is the fifth edition of International E-Waste Day.

•This year, the main focus of International E-Waste Day will be those small electrical devices that we no longer use but keep in drawers and cupboards or often toss in the general waste bin. This is why International E-Waste Day (#ewasteday) 2022 will be focusing on small items of e-waste, under the slogan “Recycle it all, no matter how small!”. #ewasteday will take place on 14 October 2022.

3)  Rajnath Singh is set to launch ‘Maa Bharati Ke Sapoot’ website

•Defence Minister of India, Rajnath Singh will be launching the ‘Maa Bharati Ke Sapoot’ (MBKS) website for the Armed Forces Battle Casualties Welfare Fund (AFBCWF) during a function at the National War Memorial Complex in New Delhi. The AFBCWF is a Tri-service fund utilised to grant immediate financial assistance of ex-gratia to the next of kin and dependents of Battle Casualties. Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan to be the ‘Goodwill Ambassador’.

4)  Odisha MP Aparajita Sarangi elected to IPU panel

•Lok Sabha member from Bhubaneswar, Aparajita Sarangi has been elected as a member to the executive committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). The Parliamentarian from Odisha bagged 12 out of the total of 18 available votes in the election to the post held at Kigali, Rwanda. Sarangi will represent India at the 15-member executive committee of the union.

•Notably, this will be the first time in 20 years, that India will have her representative in the international committee.

•The Indian Parliamentary Delegation is being led by Harivansh, Deputy Chairperson in Rajya Sabha. Aparajita Sarangi, Harivansh and Sasmit Patra attended a meeting called by the Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union following her nomination. The 145th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly is being held currently in Kigali, Rwanda.

5)  PM Modi inaugurated 4th Vande Bharat Express in Himachal Pradesh

•Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the fourth Vande Bharat Express Train of India. He also launched a slew of development projects in Himachal Pradesh. PM Modi flagged off the inaugural run of the new Vande Bharat Express Train from Amb Andaura to New Delhi.  He also laid the foundation stone of Bulk Drug Park.

6)  Israel and Lebanon Agreed to ‘Historic Agreement’ on the Maritime Dispute

•Lebanon and Israel have reached a “historic” deal to end a long-running maritime border dispute in the gas-rich Mediterranean Sea, according to negotiators from the two countries. Lebanon’s deputy speaker Elias Bou Saab said, after submitting the United States-brokered final draft of the deal to President Michel Aoun, that an agreement had been reached that satisfies both sides.

7)  Indian Navy Conducts Offshore Security Exercise, ‘Prasthan’

•‘Prasthan’ an Offshore Security Exercise was conducted by the Eastern Naval Command in the Offshore Development Area (ODA) off Kakinada. ‘Prasthan’ is a half-yearly exercise that was conducted in the KG basin to validate SOPs, address various contingencies and strengthen the command and control organization toward Maritime security.

1)  International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2022 observed on 13 October

•October 13 is designated as International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction with a focus on encouraging a global culture of risk awareness and catastrophe preparedness. The day is an opportunity to acknowledge the progress being made toward preventing and reducing disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods, economies and basic infrastructure in line with the international agreement for reducing global disaster risk and losses.

•In 2022, the International Day will focus on Target G of the Sendai Framework: “Substantially increase the availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information and assessments to people by 2030.” The urgency to achieve this target was strengthened in March 2022 by the announcement made by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres that “the United Nations will spearhead new action to ensure every person on Earth is protected by early warning systems within five years.”

2)  53rd Capacity Building Programme in Field Administration Inaugurated

•53rd Capacity Building Programme in the Field Administration for the Civil Servants of Bangladesh was inaugurated at National Centre for Good Governance (NCGC) at Mussoorie. This institute is the only institute that has trained 1,727 field-level officers of Bangladesh Civil Service such as Assistant Commissioners, SDMs, and Additional Deputy Commissioners.

3)  Himachal Pradesh govt starts new scheme “HIMCAD” to help farmers

•The state government of Himachal Pradesh has started a new scheme named ‘HIMCAD’, to provide irrigation facilities to farmers. According to the latest data, about 80% of the agricultural area of Himachal Pradesh is rain-fed. The scheme will provide end-to-end connectivity of farmers’ fields for better water conservation, crop diversification and integrated farming.

4)  CRII: India up six places for reducing inequality, ranks 123 globally

•According to the latest Commitment to Reducing Inequality Index (CRII), India has moved up six places to rank 123 out of 161 countries for reducing inequality but continues to be among the lowest performers in health spending. Norway leads the CRII followed by Germany and Australia.

•The Index which is prepared by Oxfam International and Development Finance International (DFI) measures government policies and actions in three areas proven to have a major impact on reducing inequality. The three areas are public services (health, education, and social protection), taxation and workers’ rights.

5)  4th Heli-India Summit 2022 inaugurated by Jyotiraditya Scindia

•Minister of Civil Aviation Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia inaugurated the 4th Heli-India Summit 2022. The civil enclave will be built in Jammu for Rs 861 crore and Srinagar’s present terminal will be expanded three times from 20,000 square meters to 60,000 square meters for Rs 1500 crores.

•The 4th Heli-India Summit 2022 is inaugurated with the theme of ‘Helicopters for Last Mile Connectivity’ at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre, Srinagar in the presence of Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir Majon Sinha.

7)  Indian-American Tulsi Gabbard Exits Democratic Party

•Former US Presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard – who was the first Hindu-American to run for the White House in 2020 announced her exit from the Democratic Party ahead of next month’s midterm elections. Gabbard blamed the party for “racializing every issue in the nation” and denouncing it as the “elitist cabal of warmongers.” The former US Congresswoman was a member of the party for the last 20 years.

8)  Retail Inflation Highest Since April Stands At 7.41%

•India’s retail inflation accelerated to 7.41 per cent in September from a year ago on higher food and energy costs, the highest since April and above the upper end of the RBI’s 2-6 per cent tolerance band in each month this year. Data released by the National Statistics Office showed consumer price index-based inflation (CPI) in September rising to 7.41 per cent from a year ago, compared to August’s 7 per cent.

9)  IMF Slashed India’s GDP growth at 6.8% from 7.4% in Current Financial Year

•The International Monetary Fund (IMF), in its latest World Economic Outlook report, cut its forecast for India’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth in financial year 2022-23 (FY23) by 60 basis points (bps) to 6.8 per cent, warning of a long and tough economic winter.

1)  World Arthritis Day 2022 observed on 12th October

•World Arthritis day is observed on 12 October every year and it is a global health awareness event that helps create awareness about rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. This day aims to bring people around the world on a single platform so that their voices are heard and more support is provided for better treatment options for the people affected with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs).

World Arthritis Day 2022: Theme

•The theme for World Arthritis day 2022 is “It’s in your hands, take action”. The theme aims to encourage people with arthritis, their caregivers, families, and the general public so that they don’t feel that they are alone in this situation.

2)  PM Narendra Modi addresses UN World Geospatial International Congress

•Addressing the Second United Nations World Geospatial International Congress via video message, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that steps taken by India over the past few years has been of empowering the “last person at the last mile’’, reflecting the theme of this year’s conference — ‘Geo-Enabling the Global Village: No one should be left behind’.

3)  PM inaugurates Phase 1 of Education Complex, Modi Shaikshanik Sankul

•Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Phase 1 of Modi Shaikshanik Sankul, which is an educational complex for needy students in Ahmedabad. The project aims to provide facilities to students for holistic development. Prime Minister emphasized young students taking up medicine, engineering, and other such subjects as their major streams for further studies.

4)  Union Minister Smriti Irani releases operations manual of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao

•The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and Ministry of Minority Affairs organized “Betiyan Banein Kushal”. It is an inter-ministerial conference on non-traditional livelihoods (NTLs) for adolescent girls on the occasion of the International Day of the Girl Child. Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Smt Smriti Zubin Irani was the chief guest on the occasion.

5)  HM Amit Shah Unveils 14 feet High Statue of Lok Nayak Jayprakash Narayan

•Union Home Minister Amit Shah unveils 14 feet high statue of Lok Nayak Jayprakash Narayan at Sitabdiara in Saran district, Bihar. He paid floral tribute to socialist icon Jayaprakash Narayan on his birth anniversary at his ancestral village at Sitabdiara. Home Minister Amit Shah highlighted the welfare schemes of the Union government.

6)  Centre Extends Ethanol subsidy scheme till March 2023

•The Centre has extended the timeline for disbursement of loans up to March 31 under the ethanol blending programme interest subsidy scheme, notified first in 2018, to facilitate entrepreneurs to complete their projects while availing of government support.

7)  Two Chief Justices for High Courts of Rajasthan, Karnataka, J-K, and Ladakh

•Two Chief Justices for High Courts: The central government announced the appointment of two judges as chief justices of the high courts in Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, and Karnataka. It also announced the transfer of the chief justice of the J&K high court to the Rajasthan high court. Notifications were released by the law ministry’s Department of Justice, in this regard.

8)  EU parliament approved adoption of world’s first single charger rule

•According to a new law passed by the European Union parliament, all new smartphones, tablets and cameras will have a single standard charger from late 2024. The law was adopted with a vote of 602 in favour, and 13 against. It mandates smartphone, laptop and camera manufacturing companies to adopt a standard charger, at least in Europe. Makers of laptops will have extra time, from early 2026, to also follow suit.

9)  CJI UU Lalit Recommends Justice DY Chandrachud As The Next Chief Justice Of India

•Chief Justice of India, Uday Umesh Lalit has named Justice DY Chandrachud as his successor. He handed over a letter to Justice DY Chandrachud, designating him as the next CJI. The letter was handed over in the presence of the other judges of the Supreme Court. The law ministry – as per protocol – writes to the CJI around a month before the due date of retirement to seek the successor’s name.

•The reply is usually sent between 28 and 30 days before the retirement date. As a matter of convention, the next in line, in terms of seniority, after the CJI is chosen as his successor. The Supreme Court will get its 50th chief justice when Justice UU Lalit retires. He would have completed a 74-day tenure by then.

10)  Nomura Prediction for India in FY24: 5.2% Slowdown in Growth Rate

•Nomura Prediction for India in FY24: Nomura predicts that India’s growth will drastically slow down to 5.2% in 2023–24 (FY24) from 7% in the current fiscal year due to the spillover effects of the global downturn. The Japanese brokerage urged policy vigilance in the face of global challenges and emphasised that macro stability, not development, should be the first focus.

11)  Ananth Narayan Gopalakrishnan take charges as whole-time member at SEBI

•Former banker Ananth Narayan Gopalakrishnan took charge as the fourth whole time member (WTM) in the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi). Narayan, who has been a member of various advisory committees of Sebi and RBI, has been appointed for an initial period of three years.

1)  International Day of the Girl Child observed on 11th October

•International Day of the Girl Child is observed on October 11 to raise awareness about the importance and potential girls hold as the future of our society. In 2022, we commemorate the 10th anniversary of the International Day of the Girl (IDG). The International Day of the Girl Child focuses attention on the need to address the challenges girls face and to promote girls’ empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights.

International Day of the Girl Child 2022: Theme

•This year’s theme for the International Day of the Girl Child is “Our time is now—our rights, our future”. The focus is on the multitude of challenges put in front of girls’ path to reach their potential. This has been made worse by the ongoing crises of climate change, COVID-19 and humanitarian conflict around the globe. Girls struggle with issues related to their education, their physical and mental wellness, and leading a life without violence.

2)  Indian Army celebrated 73rd Raising Day of Territorial Army

•Indian Army celebrated the 73rd Raising Day of Territorial Army on 9th October 2022. The Raising Day of the Territorial Army is celebrated to commemorate its raising by the first Governor General Shri C Rajagopalachari on this day in 1949. On the 73rd Raising Day Lieutenant General Preet Mohinder Singh, Director General of the Territorial Army paid tribute to the fallen heroes of the Territorial Army by laying a wreath at the National War Memorial.

3)  PM Narendra Modi declared Gujarat’s Modhera as first 24×7 solar-powered village

•Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declared Modhera village in poll-bound Gujarat as the country’s first 24×7 solar-powered village. Modhera, which is famous for a centuries-old Sun temple built during the Chalukya, will also be known as a “solar-powered village”. Modi, who is on a three-day visit to Gujarat, will inaugurate various development projects worth more than ₹14,600 crores. Assembly elections in the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled Gujarat are scheduled to be held by the end of this year.

4)  “Mahakal Lok” 900 m long in MP’s Ujjain to be opened by PM

•“Mahakal Lok” corridor first phase of Mahakaleshwar Temple in the city of Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, is scheduled to open by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is said that the initiative will improve pilgrims’ experiences and increase tourism in the area. Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, examined the Mahakal Lok’s opening preparations.

5)  Nitin Gadkari inaugurated Indian Roads Congress in Lucknow

•Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the 81st annual session of the Indian roads Congress in Lucknow. He was accompanied by the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath. On the occasion, he highlighted the aims and dreams of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make the Indian economy number one in the world, for which good infrastructure is necessary. The new ideas and initiatives by the IRC will help India to achieve it.

6)  China More Self-Reliant in Defence Production, Outranks India by Massive Margin

•India stands at fourth position among 12 countries of the Indo-Pacific in self-reliant defence production, says a study by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) that assessed self-reliance in arms production. China dominated the list leaving others behind by a long margin.

7)  Pakistan To Take Part In The SCO Anti-Terror Exercise Hosted By India

•Pakistan has confirmed that it will attend the Shanghai cooperation organisation’s anti-terror exercises in India. Pakistan, which is a part of SCO will take part in counter-terror drills in Haryana’s Manesar in October. These exercises will be conducted under the ambit of the SCO regional anti-terrorism structure (RATS).

8)  Space Economy To Touch 13 Billion $ By 2025

•India’s space economy is likely to be worth nearly $13 billion by 2025, with the satellite launch services segment set to witness the fastest growth due to increasing private participation, according to a report released .

9)  37th National Games: Goa to host Games in October 2023

•The Indian Olympic Association has confirmed that Goa will host the 37th edition of the National Games in October next year. The state government of Goa also conveyed its in-principle approval to IOA to host the National Games in 2023. The Goa delegation may receive the IOA flag at the Closing Ceremony of the 36th National Games on 12th October 2022 in Surat, Gujarat.

•Notably: The 37th National Games will be decided to keep in view of the dates of the 19th Asian Games, which will be held from 23rd September to 8th October 2022 in Hangzhou, China.

1)  World Post Day 2022 celebrates on 9th October

•World Post Day is celebrated each year on 9 October, the anniversary of the establishment of the Universal Postal Union in 1874 in the Swiss Capital, Bern. This day celebrates the role of the post in people’s and businesses’ everyday lives. It was declared World Post Day by the UPU Congress held in Tokyo, Japan in 1969. Since then, countries across the world participate annually in the celebrations. The Posts in many countries use the event to introduce or promote new postal products and services.

World Post Day 2022: Theme

•The theme for World Post Day 2022 is ‘Post for Planet’. The Post is the world’s largest logistics network. Every year, more than 150 countries celebrate World Post Day in a variety of ways. In certain countries, World Post Day is observed as a working holiday.

2)  World Mental Health Day 2022 Observed on 10 October

•World Mental Health Day is observed on October 10 every year. On this day, various programs are designed to draw attention to mental health issues and their effects on those affected and the lives of their caregivers. In India, World Mental Health Day is marked on the final day of the Mental Health Awareness Campaign Week campaign, launched last year by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

World Mental Health Day 2022: Theme

•The theme or rather the slogan for 2022’s celebration of World Mental health Day is “Make mental health & well-being for all a global priority.” World Health Organisation (WHO) mentions that before the COVID-19 pandemic, about one in eight people worldwide suffered from mental issues. Proper infrastructural and economic support for mental health, however, was lacking. The global pandemic raised mental stress for people all over the world. Lives were left permanently altered by the virus. Recent armed conflicts between nations and religious violence have added to this stress.

3)  IREDA celebrates “Cyber Jaagrukta Diwas”

•To create cybersecurity awareness among all employees, Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) observed the “Cyber Jaagrukta Diwas”. On this occasion, Shri Alok Kumar, Information Security Consultant, AKS IT Services, shared his insights with IREDA employees on the practice of cyber hygiene.

4)  India-Australia Relations: From A Dull to The Forefront of International Partnerships

•India is one of Australia’s most important Indo-Pacific partners, with the relationship characterised by strong people-to-people links and close cooperation at all levels of government. The Australia-India relationship is at a high point, underpinned by the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership announced by Prime Ministers Morrison and Modi in June 2020, significant investments to bolster our economic ties announced as part of the India Economic Strategy Update, launched in March 2022, and the signing of the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement in April 2022.

5)  ISRO’s Chandrayaan-2 spectrometer maps abundance of sodium on moon for first time

•Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter’s X-ray spectrometer ‘CLASS’ has mapped an abundance of sodium on the moon for the first time, as per the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). As Chandrayaan-1’s X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer (C1XS) detected sodium from its characteristic line in X-rays, this opened up the possibility of mapping the amount of sodium on the Moon.

6)  “Education 4.0 Report” 2022, released by the World Economic Forum (WEF)

•Titled Education 4.0 Report’, the report explains how technology can address learning gaps and make education accessible to all. The information was published under Education 4.0 India initiative, launched in May 2020 and has convened over 40 partners from the education technology, government, academic and start-up communities.

7)  Financing Platform Launched by IFC in response to Global Food Crisis

•Financing Platform Launched by IFC: The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector investment arm of the World Bank, has introduced a new, $6 billion funding facility to boost the private sector’s capacity to respond to the Global Food crisis and aid in food production in response to mounting food insecurity. Rising levels of hunger and malnutrition (Global Food Crisis) have already been made worse by climate change and increasingly extreme weather events that are destroying harvests and lowering yields. The conflict in Ukraine and an unequal worldwide recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated to this trend.

8)  Nobel Prize for Economics 2022: US trio, including former Fed Chairman Bernanke, wins

•Nobel Prize for Economics 2022: US Trio of Ben S. Bernanke, Douglas W. Diamond, and Philip H. Dybvig received the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences 2022 (Nobel Prize for Economics 2022) in Memory of Alfred Nobel  “for research on banking and financial crises.” The prize money for the Nobel Prize for Economics 2022 total 10 million Swedish kronor, or roughly $900,000. They will be distributed on December 10.

9)  Gross direct tax collection increases by over 23 % to Rs 8,98,000 crore in current financial year

•The gross direct tax collections has increased by over 23 per cent to eight lakh ninety eight thousand crore rupees in the current financial year as compared to last year. Finance Ministry said, the provisional figures of direct tax collections still  continue to register steady growth.