15 Oct CA

1.

Japanese language courses are being introduced in Assam Medical Colleges to prepare medical professionals for service in Japan.

Similar practice in Assam

B. Borooah College, Guwahati is executing the project “Up-Skilling Students By Imparting Japanese Language Learning Course And Thereby Enhance Their Employability”. Its aim is to up skill the students by imparting them a course in Japanese Language and thereby enhancing their employability in the job and service market of Japan

2.

Uttar Pradesh received the third prize on October 10th for its exceptional implementation of Telemanas, a tele-technology-driven mental health and counseling service.
Dr. Pinky Joval, the Mission Director of the National Health Mission in Uttar Pradesh, accepted the award from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
This recognition underscores the state’s commitment to mental health and the significant support it extends to its residents.

3.

Nitin Gadkari, the Minister for Union Road Transport & Highways, has recently announced the sanctioning of seven bridge initiatives in Arunachal Pradesh.
These projects have an expenditure of Rs 118.5 crore, it forms a part of the Setu Bandhan program.
They are designed to amplify connectivity and stimulate economic growth within the state.
Setu Bandhan Program:

Considering the significance of road safety, the Indian Government initiated the Setu Bandhan project.
This initiative is geared towards establishing robust infrastructure that will facilitate the country’s progress, emphasizing the necessity of meticulous planning and effective execution throughout the project.

4.

Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) has been honoured with the esteemed ‘Best Innovation in Refinery’ award for the year 2022-23 by the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas at the 26th Energy Technology Meet 2023.
This notable recognition was secured after intense competition with industry giants such as IOCL, BPCL, and HPCL.
This marks MRPL’s second consecutive year of receiving this prestigious accolade.

5.

According to the Hurun India Rich List 2023, Mukesh Ambani has gained his position as the wealthiest individual in India, surpassing Gautam Adani.
Gautam Adani, the chairman of the Adani group, slipped to the second position.
Cyrus S Poonawalla has maintained his position at number three.

6.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the 82-kilometer Padma Bridge Rail Link which stands out as the largest infrastructure project in Bangladesh.
The inauguration ceremony took place at Mawa Railway Station in Munshiganj.
The Dhaka-Bhanga section of the rail route connects Dhaka and Jashore via the Padma Bridge.
This substantial project, implemented as part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

7.

Bridgestone India, a leading tire manufacturer, has collaborated with Tata Power aimed at advancing electric mobility within the country.
As part of this partnership, Tata Power will deploy high-capacity DC fast chargers at Bridgestone dealerships throughout India, streamlining the process for electric vehicle (EV) owners to swiftly and conveniently recharge their vehicles.
This initiative represents a significant stride in bolstering the burgeoning EV ecosystem in India.

8.

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has unveiled an ambitious initiative to introduce ‘Bima Vahaks’ in every Gram Panchayat nationwide by December 31, 2024.
The IRDAI has launched the ‘Bima Vahaks (BV)’ initiative to enhance insurance coverage and accessibility.
This initiative is specifically designed to empower women, establishing a specialized distribution network to guarantee the availability of insurance services in every part of India.

9.

Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Textiles Shri Piyush Goyal unveiled a significant initiative to issue system based automatic ‘Status Holder’ certificates under the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023.
Exporter Status Certificates will now be issued using existing electronic data, eliminating the requirement for manual or online applications.

10.

Sri Lanka is set to take over the chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) during the 23rd Council of Ministers’ Meeting scheduled for October 11, 2023, in Colombo.
The IORA is an intergovernmental organization established in 1997 to foster regional cooperation and development.
It comprises of 23 member states and 11 dialogue partners from Africa, West Asia, South Asia, South-East Asia, and Oceania.

11.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) celebrated its 91st anniversary at the Bamrauli Air Force Station in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.
The highlight of the occasion was the unveiling of the new IAF ensign by Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari.
This event featured several historic milestones, such as the incorporation of the Air Force crest and the historic appointment of the first-ever woman officer to lead the Air Force Day Parade, Group Captain Shaliza Dhami, among other distinguished individuals

12.

India and Saudi Arabia sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at establishing a secure green hydrogen supply chain and fostering cooperation on power grid interconnection.
The signing of this MoU took place in Riyadh during the MENA Climate Week 2023, with the union minister for power and new & renewable energy, RK Singh, representing India, and the Saudi minister of energy, Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud, representing Saudi Arabia.

13.

In the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup match against India at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, David Warner achieved the remarkable milestone of becoming the fastest player in the history of the tournament to reach 1000 runs.
David Warner accomplished this remarkable feat in just 19 innings, maintaining an impressive average of 62.
David Warner record includes three half-centuries and four centuries since he first participated in the tournament in 2011.

14.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma recently visited Vindhyavasini temple at Vindhyachal in Mirzapur district, Uttar Pradesh

Significance of the temple:

According to scriptures, Vindhyachal city is also believed to be the abode of Goddess Durga. It is said that the goddess chose Vidhyanchal to stay after killing the demon Mahishasura

Additional info:

Vindhya corridor:

It is modeled after the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor. The corridor is being built around Vindhyachal Temple at an estimated cost of ₹224 crores to facilitate pilgrimage. The corridor is being built using pink stones of Ahraura that Jaipur, Rajasthan, and artisans have expertly crafted

15.

Centre for Developing Sports Training, Rehabilitation at Jorhat

OIL and NRL under its CSR has financially supported setting-up of the high-performance sports training and rehabilitation centre, to cater to the needs of budding talents as well as sports persons of the state while providing a scientific approach to deal with issues related to sports.

The high-performance sports training and rehabilitation centre at Jorhat is being operated and executed under the technical expertise of Olympic Gold Medalist and Ace shooter Abhinav Bindra’s Abhinav Futuristics Pvt. Ltd.

16.

Jettwings Airways, a Guwahati-based regional airline, has submitted an expression of interest (EoI) for Go First, which has been undergoing an insolvency process since May this year.

Jettwings Airways recently obtained a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) to operate as a scheduled commuter airline.

About commuter airline

Commuter flights are those which travel from a small regional airport to a main airport, and are usually domestic flights. Typically, these flights operate on smaller aircraft

What is Expression of interest?

It is a document or letter submitted by a potential buyer or investor to express their interest in a particular property. It is the first step before entering a negotiation process or signing a formal agreement.

17.

Objectives of proposed strategic tunnel under the Brahmaputra in the Gohpur-Numaligarh stretch

(i) to provide relief to the existing traffic on NH-37 located south of the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve; (ii) to provide direct connectivity between Bongaon, near Numaligarh on NH-37, and Gohpur on NH-52; (iii) to strategically enhance the security of the nation by providing connection facilities through a tunnel for defence personnel movements into Arunachal Pradesh, etc.

18.

Chindang festival of Arunachal Pradesh celebrated recently by Sajolang Community

The word ‘Chindang’ means offering to the Almighty in a ritualistic manner, thereby praying for the well being of the community.

Chindang is an agriculture-based festival celebrated after the harvest by offering prayers and performing several rituals. The offerings are made to the mountains, rivers, Sun and Moon to seek their blessings for the well-being of humankind and for good harvest.

About Sajolang Community:

The Miji, also known by the names of Sajolang and Damai, inhabit the districts of West Kameng, East Kameng and a minuscule region of Kurung Kumey in Arunachal Pradesh

19.

Trinity Saioo, the 2021 Padma Shri winner known as the “Turmeric Trinity,” who was recognized for her work in promoting Lakadong turmeric cultivation in Meghalaya, is now focusing on promoting the unique “Makhir” ginger of the state.

Makhir ginger is known for its distinct pungency and medicinal properties.
Meghalaya is home to two popular types of ginger, Makhir and Nadia, both known for their health benefits despite their small size.

About Lakadong turmeric:

Under the “One District One Product” scheme, Lakadong turmeric gained recognition in the West Jaintia Hills district.

20.

The Union Cabinet has granted approval for the establishment of “Mera Yuva Bharat” (MY Bharat).

MY Bharat, an autonomous body will benefit youth in the age group of 15-29 years, in line with the definition of ‘Youth’ in National Youth Policy.

The primary objective of MY Bharat is to serve as a comprehensive platform for youth development across the government.
It is set to be dedicated to the nation, in honour of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary

21.

UNICEF’s Passport to Earning (P2E) Initiative has achieved a significant milestone by certifying over one million young people in India in the areas of financial literacy and digital productivity.

About the initiative:

P2E is an e-learning solution, launched in 2022, by UNICEF India, YuWaah and partners. This initiative aligns with the National Education Policy and provides free access to certificate courses in relevant skills. It aims to empower 5 million youth between the ages of 14-29 with skills (by 2024) and connect them to job and self-employment opportunities to achieve financial independence.

22.

Australia is currently conducting a referendum that will determine whether the country’s indigenous peoples should have a formal voice in the law-making process. The referendum aims to alter the Constitution to recognize the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and establish an Indigenous “Voice to Parliament.”

This move is prompted by the significant disparities faced by indigenous Australians in terms of socio-economic indicators, including a life expectancy eight years shorter than non-indigenous Australians, higher disease and infant mortality rates, and a suicide rate twice as high as their non-indigenous counterparts.

23.

The G20 expert group has presented a roadmap (in its report The Triple Agenda: A Roadmap for Better, Bolder and Bigger MDBs) for enhancing the performance of Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to be bigger, better, and bolder by 2030. The group, led by Lawrence Summers (US treasury secretary) and NK Singh (chair of the 15th Finance Commission), has recommended several measures for MDBs.

What are MDBs?

MDB is a financial institution established by multiple member countries and falls under international law. E.g., International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Asian Development Bank etc.

Objectives of MDBs: Stabilizing the global financial system during the time of crisis; Providing long-term financing; Providing lower-cost financing

24.

Air India has inaugurated a large warehouse in Delhi designed to house more than 1 million engineering spares for its aircraft and ground support equipment.
Situated near Terminal 3 of Delhi Airport, the facility is geared towards enhancing the airline’s operational efficiency.
Spanning an area of 54,000 square feet, this centralized warehouse will consolidate 16 previously scattered locations in Delhi and Mumbai into one unified facility.