Dear Readers, get to know the daily current affairs today covering all the National & International Events provided here in this article. Current Affairs is an important topic in various competitive exams like IBPS/SBI/PO/Clerk and other competitive exams. To score better in this section, be updated with the daily happenings. Check the Daily Current Affairs September 2023 updates here. Revision is very important in remembering current affairs. Candidates after learning the Daily current affairs October 22 to 24 2023, can test their knowledge by attempting Current Affairs Quiz provided with answers. Daily current affairs October 22 to 24 2023 covers current affairs from International & National news, Important Days, State News, Banking & Economy, Business News, Appointments & Resignation, Awards & Honour, Books & Authors, Sports News, etc.,

Daily Current Affairs PDF of 22 to 24 October 2023

Get More: Static GK Pdfs

CURRENT AFFAIRS : BANKING & FINANCE

RBI Imposes Rs14 Lakh Penalty on 5 Cooperative Banks in Gujarat                                                                                

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has slapped monetary penalties on 5 co-operative banks in Gujarat for violation of norms which include giving loans to their own directors which is not allowed.

Key Highlights :

• The RBI levied a monetary penalty of 6.00 lakh on Surat National Co-operative Bank Ltd., Surat, Gujarat.
• This penalty was imposed for contravention of directions issued by the RBI regarding "Co-operative Banks - Interest Rate on Deposits" and "Customer Protection - Limiting Liability of Customers of Co-operative Banks in Unauthorised Electronic Banking Transactions."
• People's Cooperative Bank has been penalised Rs 3 lakh for non-compliance with the directions issued by RBI on loans and advances to directors, relatives and firms or concerns in which they are interested and cooperative banks - interest rate on deposits.
• Vadnagar Nagarik Sahakari Bank Ltd., Vadnagar, Gujarat, incurred a penalty of 2.00 lakh for non-compliance with RBI directions related to "Loans and Advances to directors, relatives, and firms/concerns in which they are interested."
• Mahila Co-operative Nagrik Bank Ltd., Bharuch, Gujarat, faced a penalty of 2.00 lakh for non-compliance with RBI directives regarding "Placement of Deposits with Other Banks by Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs)" and "Know Your Customer (KYC)."
• The RBI has also imposed a monetary penalty of Rs 1.00 lakh on The Chhapi Nagarik Sahakari Bank Ltd., Banaskantha, Gujarat for non-compliance with the directions issued by RBI on 'Loans and advances to directors, relatives and firms/concerns in which they are interested'.

About RBI :

• Established : 1 April 1935
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• Governor : Shaktikanta Das
• Deputy Governors : Swaminathan Janakiraman, Michael Patra, M. Rajeshwar Rao, T Rabi Sankar

HDFC Bank Introduces XpressWay Digital Banking Platform, Enabling Paperless Self-Service Banking                           

• HDFC Bank has introduced XpressWay, a digital platform that offers various banking products and services, providing customers with a swift and convenient banking experience.
• XpressWay offers a range of services, including Xpress Personal Loan, Xpress Business Loans, Xpress Car Loan, Xpress Home Loan, Xpress Loan on cards, Xpress Credit Card, Xpress Savings Accounts.
• These products and services are meticulously designed to deliver fast, seamless, paperless, and do-it-yourself customer journey, for both existing and new customers
• The platform was launched during the festive season, giving customers easier access to finance for their seasonal shopping.
• Incidentally, XpressWay is part of HDFC Bank’s digital ecosystem, known as ‘HDFC Bank NOW’.

About HDFC Bank :

• Founded : 1st July 2023 (via the merger between HDFC-HDFC bank)
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• MD & CEO : Sashidhar Jagdishan
• Tagline : We Understand Your World

RBL Bank Introduces Zero-Balance Go Savings Account

• RBL Bank, formerly known as Ratnakar Bank, has introduced a zero-balance GO Savings Account.
• This account is designed to be user-friendly and easily accessible, catering to customers of all age groups.
• The GO Savings Account represents an innovative subscription-based model in the banking sector, signifying a modern shift in the banking landscape.
• The GO Savings Account bridges the gap between traditional and digital banking by offering a compelling value proposition for customers.

Key Features of GO Savings Account :

• High Interest Rates: The account offers competitive interest rates of up to 7.5% per annum, providing customers with an opportunity to earn on their savings.
• Premium Debit Card and Vouchers: Account holders receive a premium debit card and vouchers worth 1,500 for premier brands, adding extra value.
• Insurance Coverage: The account includes comprehensive cyber insurance cover, accident insurance, and travel insurance, with coverage of up to ₹1 crore, offering enhanced financial security.
• Free CIBIL Report: Customers can access a free CIBIL report, which is essential for financial assessment and creditworthiness.
• Premium Banking Services: The account package encompasses a range of premium banking services.
• These services are bundled together with a first-year subscription fee of ₹1999 (plus taxes) and an annual renewal fee of ₹599 (plus taxes) thereafter.

About RBL Bank :

• Founded : 1943
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• MD & CEO : R Subramaniakumar

Shriram Housing Finance and Punjab & Sind Bank Ink Co-Lending Pact for Affordable Housing Segment                     

• Shriram Housing Finance (SHFL), an affordable housing finance company, has entered into a co-lending agreement with Punjab and Sind Bank (PSB).
• The partnership is primarily focused on providing business loans against affordable homes, specifically targeting the affordable housing segment.
• SHFL and PSB will work together to serve self-employed customers who require business loans in accordance with the co-lending model (CLM) established by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• The co-lending arrangement will primarily cater to self-employed customers seeking business loans against their properties in the affordable housing sector.

About Shriram Housing Finance :

• MD & CEO : Ravi Subramanian
• Shriram Housing Finance Limited is a housing finance company registered with the National Housing Bank (NHB) and promoted by Shriram Finance Limited.

About Punjab & Sind Bank :

• Founded : 24 June 1908
• Headquarters : New Delhi, Delhi
• MD & CEO : Swarup Kumar Saha

Tiger Logistics (India) Collaborates with ICICI Bank to Simplify International Trade                       

• Tiger Logistics (India) Limited has entered into a strategic partnership with ICICI Bank to assist exporters and importers in various aspects of international trade.

Aim :

• To streamline and enhance the international trade process by offering services such as shipment tracking, access to freight rates, and simplification of documentation procedures.
• This partnership seeks to provide a seamless integration of banking services with end-to-end logistics support for exporters and importers.
• The collaboration involves the integration of ICICI Bank's Trade Emerge platform with Tiger Logistics' digital freight booking and management platform known as FreightJar.
• Through this partnership, exporters and importers will gain easy access to competitive freight rates, which can have a significant impact on their trade operations.
• The collaboration is expected to offer a comprehensive solution to meet the diverse needs of global trade, making the process more efficient and user-friendly.

About ICICI Bank Limited :

• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra
• CEO: Sandeep Bakhshi.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

DGFT operationalises its online authorisation system for import of laptops, computers

• The Directorate General of Foreign Trade has operationalised its fully automated online authorisation system for imports of laptops, computers and tablets as the transition from a free import regime to a restricted one for select IT hardware products is set to come to an end on October 31.
• Import authorisations will be issued automatically through the online system to importers once they enter the value and volume of their proposed imports and the countries from where they plan to source.
• These authorisations, with no restrictions on quantities, volumes or sourcing, will be valid till September 30, 2024, after which the government will decide on further action.

Key Highlights

• The DGFT had issued a notification on August 3 this year imposing licensing conditions on identified IT hardware products, including laptops and computers.
• The industry pressed the government for more time following which it was decided to postpone implementation till October 31.
• The new authorisation regime, which is applicable for laptops, personal computers (including tablet computers), microcomputers, large or mainframe computers, and certain data processing machine, is largely to ensure that the items being imported do not pose cyber security risk for the country.
• The Union government is conducting consultations on a new system through which it aims to monitor the sources from which IT hardware is being imported.
• Through a system known as “Import Management System”, the government will monitor the sources from which IT hardware is being imported.
• There will be no restrictions on imports under baggage rules, and import of one laptop, tablet, personal computer or ultra-small form factor computer, including those purchased from e-commerce portals through post or courier, will also be exempted.
• Exemption has also been provided for up to 20 such items per consignment for the purpose of R&D, testing, benchmarking, evaluation and product development.

India’s contribution to global growth to rise to 18% in five years: IMF

• India’s contribution to global economic growth is expected to increase 200 basis points (bps) to 18% over the next five years as the country grows at a quicker pace.
• India and China are expected to jointly account for half the world’s growth in 2023 and 2024, with India’s share at 16% and the remaining being contributed by China.
• The IMF recently revised upwards India’s growth estimate to 6.3% in FY24, due to resilient domestic demand and strong investment inflows.
• In a report titled Regional Economic Outlook for Asia and Pacific, the IMF said growth in Asia-Pacific is expected to rise from 3.9% in 2022 to 4.6% in 2023.

About IMF

• The International Monetary Fund is a major financial agency of the United Nations, and an international financial institution funded by 190 member countries, with headquarters in Washington, D.C.
• The current managing director (MD) and chairwoman of the IMF is Bulgarian economist Kristalina Georgieva, Krishna Srinivasan, director, Asia Pacific Department, IMF.

PM Modi flags off Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Rail Transit System

• PM Modi inaugurated the first leg of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), India’s first mass rapid system dedicated to regional connectivity.
• Trains on the first section will eventually cut the journey time between Delhi and Meerut to less than an hour.
• India’s first regional rapid train, between Delhi and Meerut, has been named “Namo Bharat”.
• PM inaugurated the priority section of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor and flag off the “RapidX train” connecting Sahibabad and Duhai Depot.
• The overall length of this RRTS train system spans 82.15 kilometers, with the initial 17-kilometre priority section between Sahibabad and the Duhai Depot now operational.
• The entire corridor is on track for full functionality by June 2025.
• RRTS trains will travel significantly faster than metro trains.
• These will operate at a speed of 160 km/hour but are designed to be able to run at speeds up to 180 km/hour.
• The RRTS is modelled on systems such as the RER in Paris, Regional-Express trains in Germany and Austria as well as the SEPTA Regional Rail in the United States, among others.
• Eight corridors will be developed under the project, of which three are being constructed under phase I: the 82-km Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut, the 164-km Delhi-Gurugram-SNB-Alwar, and the 103-km Delhi-Panipat corridors.
• The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has constructed the RRTS also known as Namo Bharat.
• NCRTC is a joint venture company of the Central government and the governments of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

About NCRTC

• NCRTC, under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, is mandated with implementing the RRTS project across the National Capital Region.
• It is being developed at a cost of more than Rs 30,000 crore. Government of India has borrowed about $1 billion from Asian Development Bank (ADB), $500 million from New Development Bank (NDB) and $500 million from Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
• Apart from that, the Government of India will fund 20%, Government of Delhi 3.22%, and Government of Uttar Pradesh 16.78%.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Egypt and Israel Reach Agreement to Reopen Rafah Crossing for Humanitarian Aid to Gaza                            

• Egypt and Israel agreed to open Rafah crossing into Gaza to allow 20 trucks with humanitarian aid.
• Israeli authorities have stated that it will not prevent deliveries of "only food, water and medicine for the civilian population".
• The aid is part of efforts to de-escalate tensions due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian terror group Hamas.
• US President Mr Joe Biden visited Israel to show solidarity for people who died in a terror attack by Palestinian group Hamas on the 7th of October, 2023.
• Meanwhile, Russia sent 27 tonnes of humanitarian aid for civilians in the Gaza Strip.
• The Russian humanitarian aid will be handed over to the Egyptian Red Crescent.
• The Biden administration has allocated $100 million as humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
• UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also arrived in Israel. He will also travel to other Middle East countries.
• The situation in Gaza and the deadly hospital bombing have sparked widespread protests across the Arab and Muslim world.

About Egypt :

• President : Abdel Fattah el-Sisi
• Prime Minister : Moustafa Madbouly
• Capital : Cairo
• Currency : Egyptian pound

About Israel :

• President : Isaac Herzog
• Prime Minister : Benjamin Netanyahu
• Capital : Jerusalem
• Currency : New shekel

CURRENT AFFAIRS : STATE NEWS

Prime Minister Sends Best Wishes to the People of Assam on the Auspicious Occasion of Kati Bihu                        

• The Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi has extended best wishes to the people of Assam on the auspicious occasion of Kati Bihu.

About Kati Bihu :

• Kati Bihu is celebrated in the state of Assam.
• The term "Kati" translates to "cut," and this Bihu festival marks the time of relocating rice seedlings.
• Kati Bihu is also referred to as "Kongali Bihu," with "Kongali" meaning "poor" in the context of this festival.
• Assam celebrates two other major Bihu festivals: Bhogali or Magh Bihu, observed in January, and Rongali or Bohag Bihu, celebrated in the month of April.

About Assam :

• Governor : Gulab Chand Kataria
• Chief Minister : Himanta Biswa Sarma
• Capital: Guwahati
• National Park: Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park, Nameri National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuary: Garampani Wildlife Sanctuary, Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary, Bornadi Wildlife Sanctuary

Punjab Government Launches 'Hope Initiative' with the Goal of Achieving a Drug-Free State  

• The Punjab government launched the ‘Hope Initiative’ mission to curb the drug menace in the state.
• A special prayer (Ardas) was conducted at the premises of Sri Harmandir Sahib to seek success in this mission.
• Punjab Chief Minister Shri Bhagwant Mann pledged his commitment to staying drug-free as a part of the campaign against the drug menace.
• Over 40,000 students, wearing yellow turbans, dupattas, and scarves, participated in the event and vowed to avoid drugs.
• Additionally, more than 300 teachers and coordinators from various educational institutions and organizations also joined the initiative.
• As part of the initiative, Amritsar Police also organized gully cricket competitions.

About Punjab :

• Governor : Banwarilal Purohit
• Chief Minister : Bhagwant Mann
• Capital : Chandigarh

Arunachal Pradesh Approves Formation of Special Tiger Protection Force for 3 Tiger Reserves  

• The Arunachal Pradesh State Cabinet has granted approval for the creation of a Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) within the state.
• The STPF will be established to safeguard and protect 3 Tiger Reserves in the state, namely Namdapha, Pakke, and
• This decision entails the creation of a total of 336 regular posts within the state to support the STPF.
• The STPF would comprise one company of 112 personnel each for 3 tiger reserves in the state and each company would be distributed into 3 platoons and 18 sections.

Key Highlights :

• Namdapha National Park & Tiger Reserve is located in the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh.
• Pakke Tiger Reserve is in the East Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh.
• It was known as Pakhui Tiger Reserve.
• The Kamlang tiger reserve is located in the Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh.
• The cabinet observed that this will lead to protection of Tigers and their habitats, protection of wildlife habitats and prevention of other illegal activities in these tiger reserves.
• The cabinet approved the amendment of the "Arunachal Pradesh State Industrial and Investment Policy 2020" to make the state an attractive destination for investments.
• The cabinet also approved the formulation of the "Arunachal Pradesh Home Guard Rules 2023."
• The state cabinet also approved to provide a lump-sum honorarium to all the third language teachers of various tribes who have developed their own scripts @ Rs 1000 per month for 10 months in a year.

About Arunachal Pradesh :

• Governor : Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik
• Chief Minister : Pema Khandu
• Capital : Itanagar

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS NEWS

Govt revises down 2022-23 wheat output by 2.19 mn ton to record 110.55 mn ton in final estimate

• The government revised downwards the wheat production by 2.19 million tonnes to a record 110.55 million tonnes for the 2022-23 crop year ended June.
• The country's actual wheat production stood at 107.74 million tonnes in the 2021-22 crop year (July-June).
• The ministry releases three estimates before the final one at different stages of harvesting.
• As per the final estimate of foodgrain production for the 2022-23 crop year, wheat production has set a new record at 110.55 million tonnes but remains lower by 2.19 million tonnes from the third estimate of 112.74 million tonnes for the same crop year.
• As per the final estimate, rice production is estimated to be a record 135.75 million tonnes in 2022-23 against 129.47 million tonnes in the previous year.

Key Highlights

• Coarse cereals production is estimated to have been 57.31 million tonnes in 2022-23, higher than 51.10 million tonnes in the previous year.
• In the case of pulses, the total production is estimated to have declined to 26 million tonnes in 2022-23 from 27.3 million tonnes in the previous year.
• The total foodgrain output is estimated to have reached a record 329.68 million tonnes in 2022-23 from 315.61 million tonnes in the previous year.
• In the case of oilseeds, the production has reached a record 41.35 million tonnes in 2022-23 compared to 37.96 million tonnes in the previous year.
• Among cash crops, sugarcane production is estimated to have increased to 490.53 million tonnes against 439.42 million tonnes.
• Cotton production is also estimated to be higher at 33.66 million bales (of 170 kg) in 2022-23 compared to 31.11 million bales in the previous year, while that of jute/mesta declined to 9.39 million bales (of 180 kg) from 10.14 million bales.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOURS

Sachin Tendulkar's statue to be inaugurated at Wankhede

• Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) is gearing up to honor cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in a grand way during the 2023 ODI World Cup.
• MCA has ambitious plans to unveil a life-size statue of Sachin Tendulkar, standing approximately 20 feet tall, at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
• This monumental tribute is set to find its place in the Sachin Tendulkar Stand, located between the Sachin Tendulkar and Vijay Merchant Stands.

Mahsa Amini, the Kurdish-Iranian woman who died in police custody, is awarded EU human rights prize

• Mahsa Amini, the 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian woman who died in police custody in Iran last year, sparking worldwide protests against the country’s conservative Islamic theocracy, has been awarded the EU’s top human rights prize.
• Amini died on 16 September 2022, three days after she was arrested for allegedly violating Iran’s mandatory headscarf law.
• The award, named for the Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, was created in 1988 to honour individuals or groups who defend human rights and fundamental freedoms.
• Sakharov, a Nobel peace prize laureate, died in 1989.
• Last year's prize was awarded to the people of Ukraine and their representatives for their resistance to Russia’s invasion and defiance during the ongoing war.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

RBI Grants Approval for Ashok Vaswani as MD & CEO of Kotak Mahindra Bank                   

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the appointment of Ashok Vaswani as the Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kotak Mahindra Bank for a period of 3 years.
• The appointment is effective from the date of taking charge, which will not be later than January 1, 2024.
• He will succeed interim CEO Dipak Gupta.
• The approval was granted based on the bank's application to the RBI, submitted on July 19, 2023, for the appointment of the new Managing Director & CEO.
• Vaswani will be the second full-time CEO at Kotak Mahindra Bank that began as a bill-discounting firm in the 1980s and converted into a full-fledged commercial bank early this century.
• Uday Kotak, Asia’s richest banker has recently stepped down as chief executive of the Kotak Mahindra Bank.

About Ashok Vaswani :

• Ashok Vaswani has wide experience as a banker and has previously served as the Chief Executive Officer of Barclays Bank, UK, and subsequently CEO of their Global Consumer, Private, Corporate, and Payments businesses and Member of the Group Executive Committee.
• He was CEO at Citigroup Asia Pacific and a Member of the Citigroup Global Operating and Management Committees.
• He also built and ran various country and regional businesses across geographies.
• He implemented a project called Barclays’ ‘Digital Eagles’ to ensure the success of digitisation at Barclays bank.

About Kotak Mahindra Bank :

• Founded : 1985
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra

Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das appointed as 26th Governor of Odisha  

• Former Jharkhand Chief Minister, Shri Raghubar Das, has been appointed as the 26th Governor of Odisha.
• He has been appointed in the place of Ganeshi Lal.

About Raghubar Das :

• He belongs to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and has twice served as the president of Jharkhand BJP.
• He was elected as the member of Bihar Legislative Assembly in 1995 from Jamshedpur East.
• In 2004, he was appointed as the chief of BJP in Jharkhand.
• He was appointed as the Vice President of the National Committee of BJP on August 16, 2014.
• He was sworn in as the 6th chief minister of Jharkhand on 28 December 2014 & he was the first non-tribal Chief Minister of Jharkhand from 2014 to 2019.

Powers & Functions of the Governor Under Constitution of India :

• Article 151. Audit reports : (2) The reports of the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India relating to the accounts of a State shall be submitted to the Governor of the State, who shall cause them to be laid before the Legislature of the State.
• Article 153. The Governor : There shall be a Governor for each State. Provided that nothing in this Article shall prevent the appointment of the same person as Governor for two or more States.
• Article 155. Appointment of Governor : The Governor of a State shall be appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal.
• Article 156. Term of office of Governor : (1) The Governor shall hold office during the pleasure of the President.
  (2) The Governor may, by writing under his hand addressed to the President, resign his office.
  (3) Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Article, a Governor shall hold office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office. Provided that a Governor shall, notwithstanding the expiration of his term, continue to hold office until his successor enters upon his office.
• Article 157. Qualifications for appointment as Governor : No person shall be eligible for appointment as Governor unless he is a citizen of India and has completed the age of 35 years.
• The Governor should not be a member of either House of Parliament or of a House of the Legislature of any State specified in the First Schedule.

Indrasena Reddy Appointed as the 20th Governor of Tripura                              

• The President of India Droupadi Murmu has appointed Indra Sena Reddy Nallu as the 20th Governor of Tripura.
• He will take the place of Satyadeo Narain Arya who has been serving as the Governor of Tripura Since 2021.

About Indrasena Reddy :

• Indra Sena Reddy Nallu is a leader of the BJP from Telangana.
• Reddy was elected as MLA thrice- the first time in 1983 at the age of 33.
• In 1985, he won from Malakpet in Hyderabad and was re-elected in 1999.

About Tripura :

• Chief Minister : Manik Saha
• Capital : Agartala

CURRENT AFFAIRS : ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

RBI Grants Approval to Kotak Mahindra Bank for Acquisition of Sonata Finance                                  

• Private-sector lender Kotak Mahindra Bank (KMB) has received Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) approval to acquire 100% of the issued and paid up capital in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (UP) based Sonata Finance Private Limited (SFPL) for Rs 537 crore.
• Sonata will become a business correspondent subsidiary of the bank.
• Earlier, Kotak Mahindra bought BSS Microfinance in an all-cash deal for ₹139 crore in September 2016.

About Sonata :

• Established : 2006
• Sonata is a Non-Banking Financial Corporation (NBFC – MFI) based out of Lucknow.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : DEFENCE NEWS

DRDO’s oceanographic research vessel ‘INS Sagardhwani’ embarks on Sagar Maitri Mission-4 to establish long-term scientific partnerships with Indian Ocean Rim countries in ‘Ocean Research & Development’                               

• The oceanographic research vessel Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sagardhwani has embarked on a two-month long Sagar Maitri (SM) Mission-4 from the South Jetty of the Southern Naval Command (SNC) in Kochi.

About INS Sagardhwani :

• INS Sagardhwani is a marine acoustic research ship designed and developed by the Naval Physical & Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) of DRDO in Kochi and was constructed indigenously by GRSE Ltd.
• It was initially launched in July 1994.
• The NPOL is actively involved in the study of the ocean environment and related fields.
• Over the past 25 years, the vessel has been engaged in extensive oceanic observing missions and research.

About Sagar Maitri :

• Sagar Maitri is an innovative initiative of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• It aligns with India's "Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)" policy declaration, which aims to foster closer cooperation in socio-economic aspects and enhance scientific interaction, especially in ocean research, among Indian Ocean Rim (IOR) countries.
• Under the Sagar Maitri initiative, DRDO introduced a scientific component called "MAITRI" (Marine and Allied Interdisciplinary Training and Research Initiative), which focuses on establishing long-term collaborations with IOR countries in the field of 'Ocean Research and Development'.
• The missions under Sagar Maitri aim to create enduring scientific partnerships and collaborations with 8 IOR countries: Oman, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and
• The current mission, SM-4, includes scientific deployments on INS Sagardhwani in the Northern Arabian Sea and the initiation of collaborative research programs with the Department of Marine Sciences & Fisheries at Sultan Qaboos University, Oman.
• These missions provide a platform for scientists to cooperate and establish strong working relationships with their counterparts from IOR countries who are also involved in the study of the oceans.

About Ministry of Defence :

• Defence Minister : Rajnath Singh
• Minister of State : Ministry of Defence
• Defence Secretary : Giridhar Aramane

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Google India Introduces 'DigiKavach' to Counter Online Financial Fraud

• Google India has launched its flagship program called "DigiKavach."
• This program serves as an early threat detection and warning system designed to identify and analyse emerging financial fraud patterns.
• The primary aim of DigiKavach is to develop and implement effective countermeasures before emerging threats and fraud patterns lead to widespread harm in the online financial space.
• Google has partnered with The Fintech Association for Consumer Empowerment (FACE) and onboarded them as a priority flagger to address predatory digital lending apps on the Play Store in India.
• As a priority flagger, FACE will play a key role in supporting Google by providing market intelligence to help identify non-compliant personal loan apps in India that do not adhere to Play Store's policies.
• DigiKavach leverages a collective, proactive, responsible approach to cross share learnings and insights quickly and effectively with committed partners across the ecosystem.

About FACE :

• CEO : Sugandh Saxena is the
• Fintech Association for Consumer Empowerment (FACE), a not-for-profit industry association committed to building a robust fintech ecosystem in India and aims to drive ethical lending practices among the Indian fintech sector.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS NEWS

4th Asian Para Games: India bags 17 medals including 6 gold, 6 silver, 5 bronze

• At the 4th Asian Para Games being held in Hangzhou, China, India began its campaign by adding 17 medals including 6 gold, 6 silver and 5 bronze.

Key Highlights

• Aruna Tanwar secured the first ever Medal for India in Para Taekwondo.
• She clinched Bronze in the Women's K44 -47KG event.
• Kapil Parmar secured Silver in Men's - 60 Kg J1 in Judo.
• Athlete Praveen claimed Gold and Unni Renu secured Bronze in the Men's High Jump - T64 event.
• Kokila won bronze in Judo Women -48 kg J2 event after defeating Taipei's Lee Kai-lin.
• In men's 5000 metres T-11 final, Ankur Dhamma recorded 16 minutes and 37 seconds to clinch the gold, easily breezing past his competitors. In men's high jump T-63 event, Shailesh Kumar won the gold medal and Mariyappan Thangavelu won the silver medal.
• In men's high jump, Nishad Kumar won a Gold in the T-47 category, breaking the Asian Games record by clocking in 2.02 metres. In the same event, Ram Pal was tied with China's Hongjie Chen for the silver.
• Ace shooter Avani Lekhara won gold in 10 metres air rifle event by a narrow margin of 2.1 points against China's Zhong Yixin.
• In Mixed 50 metre pistol event, 16-year-old Rudransh Khandelwal, won the coveted silver medal. Earlier, Prachi Yadav bagged the first silver medal for the country in women's canoeing VL2 final.
• India's Monu Ghanghas made the country proud by securing the bronze medal in men's shot put by playing his best throw of 12.33 metres.
• In men's club throw, India swept the podium with Pranav Soorma, Dharambir and Amit Siroha winning the gold, silver and bronze medals respectively.
• India has sent a contingent of 303 athletes who are participating across 17 disciplines at the Asian Para Games.

Unnati Hooda captures women's singles title at Abu Dhabi Masters 2023

• In a battle of future Badminton stars from India, Unnati Hooda beat Samiya Imad Farooqui to capture the women's singles title at the Abu Dhabi Masters 2023.
• 16-year-old Unnati Hooda defeated 20-year-old Samiya Imad Farooqui 21-16, 22-20.
• This is her second BWF Super 100 World Tour title.
• She became the youngest Indian to clinch a BWF title last year at 14 years of age.

The fourth Asian Para Games officially commenced in Hangzhou, China

• The fourth Asian Para Games officially commenced in Hangzhou, China.
• It will go on till October 28.
• The Indian contingent at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China comprises 303 sportspersons across 17 sporting disciplines.
• A total of 143 coaches, escorts, officials and support staff are also part of the contingent.
• The athletes' list comprises of 191 Male and 112 Female athletes.
• A total of 190 athletes in 13 sporting events participated in the last edition of the Asian Para Games in 2018 where India returned with a total of 72 medals including 15 Golds.

CM Hemant Soren unveils 'Juhi' mascot for Jharkhand Women's Asian Champions Trophy Ranchi 2023

• Chief Minister Hemant Soren unveiled the mascot for the Jharkhand Women's Asian Champions Trophy Ranchi 2023 at the Project Bhawan in Dhurva.
• The mascot, named 'Juhi' was unvieled inspired by the popular elephant at Betla National Park.
• The event also marked the launch of the Trophy Tour for the tournament.
• The magnificent trophy for the Jharkhand Women's Asian Champions Trophy Ranchi 2023 will travel across all the districts of the state.
• The trophy tour will culminate on October 25th, 2023, with the trophy returning to Ranchi, ahead of the start of the tournament.
• Notably, the Indian Women’s Hockey Team clinched the Bronze medal in the recently concluded 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 after a 2-1 triumph over Japan, and the victory has boosted their confidence as they look to secure a spot in the Paris 2024 Olympics.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

International Stuttering Awareness Day: 22nd October

• International Stuttering Awareness Day 2023 is observed on the 22nd of October 2023.
• This year, 2023, the International Stuttering Awareness Day Theme is “One Size Does NOT Fit All.”
• International Stuttering Awareness Day was established in the year 1998 to bring attention to the millions of people across the world who are living with his specific Communication Disorder.
• People think that stuttering means repetitions of some words. Stuttering is also mentioned for persons who have an elongation of a vowel or syllable.
• This condition may also vary because sometimes a person may stutter once in a while and sometimes they stutter continuously while talking.
• In 19th-century Europe, surgeons recommended surgery for this disorder.
• They thought that removing triangular wedges in the mouth would help people to come out of this disorder.
• They also thought that by removing tonsils speech would be improved.
• But later they understood that the surgery resulted in bleeding to death for many patients.
• This practice was later stopped because the patients who survived also stuttered again.
• Later it was understood that stuttering was a neurological disorder that can be developmental from Childhood and also can be acquired due to excessive drug use and also due to trauma.

United Nations Day: 24th October      

• United Nations Day 2023 is observed on the 24th of October 2023.
• The Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Tonga to the UN is funding this year's UN Day Concert, which has as its theme “The Frontlines of Climate Action,” with assistance from the PVBLIC Foundation's Family Offices for Sustainable Development (FOSD).
• The United Nations Conference took place in San Francisco in 1945.
• 50 countries came to the conference to form the United Nations Charter.
• The Aim of the United Nations Organisation is to bring peace among the people to stop the War Situation.
• UNO also works to reduce Poverty across the Globe.
• The Permanent members of UNO are the United States, India, the United Kingdom, France, Turkey, and Canada.
• The United Nations Day is celebrated for the remembrance of the formation of the United Nations Organisation. United Nations Day is celebrated annually.
• This year United Nations Day 2023 will be celebrated by UNO globally by conducting a Peace Conference. Arranging Funds for the Countries below the Poverty line to make sure that the Poverty is eliminated globally.
• UNO also fights to reduce Inequality among people. UNO decided to advise the Developed Countries to reduce the usage of Fossil fuels for their Energy Sources and to Concentrate on Renewable Resources like Solar Power, Wind Power, etc. On United Nations Day 2023, a new Theme will be launched for this year.
• The United Nations Organisation will also celebrate Women's Day, Elders Day, World Peace Day, and other days formulated by the UNO. United Nations Day 2020 Theme was 'The Future We Want, the UN We Need: Reaffirming our Collective Commitment to Multilateralism’.

World Polio Day: 24th October

• World Polio Day 2023 is observed on the 24th of October 2023.
• World Polio Day was first initiated and Celebrated by Rotary International for the birthday of Jonas Salk, the Medical Researcher who led the first team to develop a vaccine against polio.
• He developed the Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine in 1955.
• Later Albert Sabin developed the Oral Polio Vaccine in 1962.
• Rotary International and WHO established the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in 1988.
• At the time there were around 3,50,000 cases across the world.
• Now the European Countries have completely eradicated polio and now announced themselves as Polio-free Countries.
• But still Asian Countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India still find rare cases across the country.

ITBP Raising Day: 24th October

• ITBP Raising Day 2023 is observed on the 24th of October 2023.
• The war took place between India and China in 1962 in the Himalayan region which is the highest altitude in the country.
• Since it is at the highest altitude the weather conditions are worse which will be around 25 degrees Celcius.
• Due to the Climatic Conditions and also the Chinese army's Out-numbered Indian soldiers, India lost the war.
• Then in order to protect the nation at a difficult altitude, a special security force formed under CRPF called Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
• They Cover the border region from Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh.
• Nearly 85,000 policemen have been involved in this ITBP.
• It has been separated into many Battalions.
• Specially Trained Battalions will be upfront which is called the first line of defence.
• The Formation of ITBP is called ITBP Raising Day.
• Every Year the ITBP raising day is celebrated to honour the Police forces and to issue medals to the officers who showed bravery and courage in emergency situations.
• Every year ITBP manpower has been increased to increase the ITBP's Strength and modernisation has been done for better defence in the border.

World Development Information Day: 24th October

• World Development Information Day 2023 is observed on the 24th of October 202
• The United Nations General Assembly conducted a conference on Trade and Development on 17th May 1972.
• In that, they gave a proposal to develop and reduce conflicts between nations by asking for public opinion through Information Technology.
• The Resolution was passed on 19th December 1972.
• From 24th October 1973 next year, World Development Day has been celebrated.
• The Celebration work for World Development Information Day 2023 has been started.
• The Development of Informed Technology has solved many international issues, trading has been improved across nations.
• Public Thoughts are viewed lively by Media support, through Internet support. Telephonic Chats helped leaders to resolve the border issue quickly.

Daily CA One- Liner: Oct 22, 23 & 24

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has slapped monetary penalties on 5 co-operative banks in Gujarat for violation of norms which include giving loans to their own directors which is not allowed.
• HDFC Bank has introduced XpressWay, a digital platform that offers various banking products and services, providing customers with a swift and convenient banking experience.
• RBL Bank, formerly known as Ratnakar Bank, has introduced a zero-balance GO Savings Account.
• Shriram Housing Finance (SHFL), an affordable housing finance company, has entered into a co-lending agreement with Punjab and Sind Bank (PSB).
• Tiger Logistics (India) Limited has entered into a strategic partnership with ICICI Bank to assist exporters and importers in various aspects of international trade.
• The Directorate General of Foreign Trade has operationalised its fully automated online authorisation system for imports of laptops, computers and tablets as the transition from a free import regime to a restricted one for select IT hardware products is set to come to an end on October 31.
• India’s contribution to global economic growth is expected to increase 200 basis points (bps) to 18% over the next five years as the country grows at a quicker pace.
• PM Modi inaugurated the first leg of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), India’s first mass rapid system dedicated to regional connectivity
• The government revised downwards the wheat production by 2.19 million tonnes to a record 110.55 million tonnes for the 2022-23 crop year ended June.
• Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) is gearing up to honor cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in a grand way during the 2023 ODI World Cup
• Mahsa Amini, the 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian woman who died in police custody in Iran last year, sparking worldwide protests against the country’s conservative Islamic theocracy, has been awarded the EU’s top human rights prize
• Egypt and Israel agreed to open Rafah crossing into Gaza to allow 20 trucks with humanitarian aid.
• The Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi has extended best wishes to the people of Assam on the auspicious occasion of Kati Bihu.
• The Punjab government launched the ‘Hope Initiative’ mission to curb the drug menace in the state.
• The Arunachal Pradesh State Cabinet has granted approval for the creation of a Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) within the state.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the appointment of Ashok Vaswani as the Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kotak Mahindra Bank for a period of 3 years.
• Former Jharkhand Chief Minister, Shri Raghubar Das, has been appointed as the 26th Governor of Odisha.
• The President of India Droupadi Murmu has appointed Indra Sena Reddy Nallu as the 20th Governor of Tripura.
• Private-sector lender Kotak Mahindra Bank (KMB) has received Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) approval to acquire 100% of the issued and paid up capital in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (UP) based Sonata Finance Private Limited (SFPL) for Rs 537 crore.
• The oceanographic research vessel Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sagardhwani has embarked on a two-month long Sagar Maitri (SM) Mission-4 from the South Jetty of the Southern Naval Command (SNC) in Kochi.
• Google India has launched its flagship program called "DigiKavach.", serves as an early threat detection and warning system designed to identify and analyse emerging financial fraud patterns.
• At the 4th Asian Para Games being held in Hangzhou, China, India began its campaign by adding 17 medals including 6 gold, 6 silver and 5 bronze.
• In a battle of future Badminton stars from India, Unnati Hooda beat Samiya Imad Farooqui to capture the women's singles title at the Abu Dhabi Masters 2023
• The fourth Asian Para Games officially commenced in Hangzhou, China.
• Chief Minister Hemant Soren unveiled the mascot for the Jharkhand Women's Asian Champions Trophy Ranchi 2023 at the Project Bhawan in Dhurva
• International Stuttering Awareness Day 2023 is observed on the 22nd of October 2023.
• United Nations Day 2023 is observed on the 24th of October 2023
• World Polio Day 2023 is observed on the 24th of October 2023.
• ITBP Raising Day 2023 is observed on the 24th of October 2023.
• World Development Information Day 2023 is observed on the 24th of October 2023.