Daily Current Affairs – October 31, 2023
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Daily Current Affairs - Banking - October 31, 2023
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State News
Nitin Gadkari announced road projects for Mizoram
- Minister for Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari announced the beginning of 20,000 crore rupees road construction projects from 2024 which will connect nine districts of Mizoram.
- The road will also connect Manipur and Nagaland in the country and Myanmar in the International boundary.
- Mr Gadkari stated that that 355 km of road construction costing 8000 crore rupees was completed in Mizoram after he took charge as Minister.
- The 373 km long Aizawl – Tuipang road which connects six districts of Mizoram costing 7361 crore rupees will be completed by 2024.
- The Aizawl by-pass road, 2.5 km tunnel and road length of 34 km amounting to 2500 crore rupees will be completed by 2025 which will solve the problem of traffic jams in the State capital.
- The Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project with a cost of 1132 crore rupees will be completed by November 2023 and is helpful for connecting Sittwe port in Myanmar.
- Mizoram – Aizawl (Capital) – Zoramthanga (CM) – Kambhampati Hari Babu (Governor) – Mizo & English (Language)
Banking and Finance
Aurionpro partnered with MasterCard for contactless payments
- Aurionpro Solutions Ltd has joined forces with MasterCard to introduce a contactless payment solution for public transportation.
- Commuters will have the convenience of tap-and-go payments using any digital wallet linked with a MasterCard.
- This system eliminates the need for multiple cards or regular top-ups, as MasterCard’s open-loop solutions enable the same digital wallet to be used across various transit modes and in numerous cities.
- For transit agencies and authorities, this partnership is to enhance their capability to implement user-friendly payment solutions, ensuring a hassle-free and convenient travel experience for commuters.
- Mastercard Inc. – 1966 (Founded) – New York (HQ) – Merit Janow (Chairman)
- Aurionpro Solutions Limited – October 1997 (Founded) – Mumbai (HQ) – Paresh Zaveri (Chairman and Managing Director)
IndusInd Bank collaboration with Viamericas
- IndusInd Bank announced a strategic collaboration with Viamericas Corporation to offer digital inward remittance services to Non Resident Indians (NRIs) in the USA through IndusInd Bank ‘Indus Fast Remit’, a remittance service platform.
- This collaboration enables NRIs to benefit from highly competitive exchange rates for digital inward remittances to India.
- The Indus Fast Remit platform will allow NRIs to book remittance transactions through auto debit payment mode (Automated clearing House – ACH) as well as transfer funds through the overseas Bank account.
- Viamericas Corporation will use its existing IndusInd Bank Vostro relationship to credit the beneficiary account in India using the RDA scheme of RBI.
- IndusInd Bank’s digital remittance platform will provide customers with complete transparency into the status of payment requests, the exact INR amount to be received by the beneficiary and the expected time for delivery of funds.
- Existing IndusInd Bank customers will also benefit from the convenience of initiating payment requests using a single sign-on facility through the Bank’s Internet banking platform, without visiting bank branches or going through the hassle of paperwork.
- IndusInd Bank Limited – April 1994 (Founded) – Mumbai (HQ) – Sumant Kathpalia (MD & CEO) – “We Make You Feel Richer” (Tagline)
- Viamericas Corporation – 1999 (Founded) – Coral Gables, Florida (HQ) – Joseph Argilagos (Chairman)
Agreements and MoUs signed
Punjab Energy Development Agency signed MoU with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited
- Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) for setting up 10 compressed biogas (CBG) projects and other new and renewable energy projects across the state.
- The MoU was signed by PEDA Chief Executive Officer Amarpal Singh and Executive Director (Bio-fuels and Renewables) of HPCL, Shuvendu Gupta.
- HPCL will initially set up 10 CBG projects with an investment of about Rs 600 crore.
- It will also explore possibilities to establish other new and renewable energy projects in the state.
- These 10 CBG plants are expected to produce over 35,000 tonnes of biogas and about 8,700 tonnes of organic manure annually, besides generating revenue of about Rs 300 crore annually from the CBG production.
- The projects will also generate more than 600 direct employment opportunities and about 1,500 indirect employment.
- With the implementation of these 10 projects, at least 2.75 lakh tonne paddy straw will be prevented from being burnt on 1.10 lakh acres.
- The annual prevention of CO2 emissions and other pollutants will be about 5 lakh tonnes, which is equivalent to planting 83,000 trees annually.
- The projects will also create around 50 rural entrepreneurs for the supply of paddy straw to these plants, further creating more employment opportunities for more than 500 people.
- Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) – 1974 (Founded) – Mumbai (HQ) – Pushp Kumar Joshi (CMD)
Summit and Conference
Global Conference on Cooperation in Enforcement Matters (GCCEM)
- Global Conference on Cooperation in Enforcement Matters (GCCEM) in New Delhi.
- The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) under Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), in consultation with World Customs Organisation (WCO), Brussels, is hosting the global conference with the theme ‘It takes a Network to fight a Network’.
- The aim of the international conference is to facilitate sharing of insights, best practices and to serve as a catalyst for enhancing collaboration with Indian Customs’ partner Administrations and for building new partnerships.
- The WCO has collaborated with Indian Customs to ensure wide participation by Member Administrations and international organisations, including WCO’s Regional Intelligence Liaison Offices (RILOs) and senior representations from the WCO Secretariat.
- World Customs Organization (WCO) – 26/01/1953 (Founded) – Brussels, Belgium (HQ) – Kunio Mikuriya (Secretary General)
Nature
New mushroom species
- A tiny, fragile-looking mushroom sporting a honey-yellow ‘cap’ found on the campus of the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI) at Palode here has been identified as a new species.
- Researchers at the JNTBGRI identified and described the new species as belonging to the genus Candolleomyces, a relatively small genus with just 35 species recognised worldwide.
- A paper by C. K. Pradeep, Principal Scientist, Microbiology Division, and P. K. Nayana, Research Student, of JNTBGRI highlighting the findings has been published in the scientific journal Phytotaxa.
- The new species, which is quite cute in appearance, has been named Candolleomyces albosquamosus – ‘albosquamosus’ for the white woolly scale-like structures on its pileus or cap.
- Delicate in build, the mushroom grows to a height of just about 58 mm.
- The ‘cap,’ or pileus, of a mature Candolleomyces albosquamosus is 12 mm to 38.5 mm in diameter and bell-shaped.
- The honey-yellow coloured pileus turns brownish-gray or brownish-beige with age.
- The ‘stipe’ – the stem or stalk of the mushroom – is white in colour and cylindrical.
Appointments
New assistant chief UNDP’s Bureau of Policy and Programme Support
- United Nations Secretary-General announced the appointment of Mr. Marcos Athias Neto of Brazil as Assistant Secretary General, Assistant Administrator and Director, Bureau for Policy and Programme Support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
- He is serving as Director of UNDP’s Sustainable Finance Hub.
- United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) – 22/11/1965 (Founded) – New York (HQ) – Achim Steiner (Administrator)
26th Governor of Odisha
- Raghubar Das was sworn in as the 26th Governor of Odisha by replacing Ganeshi Lal.
- He was a former chief minister of Jharkhand (6th CM).
Reports
Women in India’s Start-up Ecosystem Report (WISER)
- According to Women in India’s Start-up Ecosystem Report (WISER) Start-ups in India have the potential to create two million new jobs for women by 2030, with the ecosystem being uniquely positioned to attract female talent.
- The report, led by ACT For Women in collaboration with The Udaiti Foundation, finds that women made up 35% of the start-up workforce in 2022, in contrast to 19% in the corporate sector.
- This indicates that with careful introspection within the start-up community which enables timely and targeted action, that number can rise to 50% by 2030.
- WISER shows that start-ups offer women a highly conducive growth environment, by way of faster career progression and higher autonomy, which enables female employees to meet their career goals at different stages.
- Women-led start-ups in particular are observed to perform even better on gender equality, with start-ups that have at least one female founder seen to have 2.5 times women in senior roles as compared to male-founded start-ups.
Awards and Recognitions
Ballon d''Or Award
- Ballon d’Or – Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, Argentina)
- Ballon d’Or Feminin – Aitana Bonmatí (FC Barcelona Femení, Spain)
- Kopa Trophy for the best male U-21 player – Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid, England)
- Yachine Trophy for the best male goalkeeper – Emiliano Martínez (Astona Villa, Argentina)
- Gerd Müller Trophy for the highest-scoring male striker – Erling Haaland (Manchester City, Norway)
- Socrates Award to acknowledge humanitarian work – Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid, Brazil)
- Club of the Year – Manchester City and FC Barcelona Femeni
- Lionel Messi of Paris Saint-Germain won the men’s Ballon d’Or for a record-extending eighth time after fulfilling his life’s ambition by leading Argentina to the World Cup title in Qatar last year.
- He previously won the award in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 and 2021.
International Jury of 54th International Film Festival of India, Goa
- The following persons were the jury members of 54th International Film Festival of India that will be held in Goa.
- Mr. Shekhar Kapur (Filmmaker) – Chairman, Jury is an acclaimed filmmaker, actor, narrator and producer. He is recipient of several accolades, including Padma Shri, National Film Award, BAFTA Award, a National Board of Review Award and three Filmfare Awards, in addition to nomination for a Golden Globe and Oscars award. He is a former member of Cannes International Jury (2010) & IFFI Jury Chairman (2015). He has also served as the president of Film and Television Institute of India.
- Mr. José Luis Alcaine (Cinematographer) is the first cinematographer to use a fluorescent tube as key lighting in the 1970s.
- Mr. Jerome Paillard (Film Producer & Ex-head of Film Market) – After successively working as a classical musician, artistic director and CFO for a classical record label
- Ms. Catherine Dussart (Film Producer) has produced or co-produced nearly 100 films in around 15 countries.
- Ms. Helen Leake (Film Producer) is one of Australia’s respected creative producers.
Union Home Minister’s “Special Operation Medal” for the year 2023
- The “Union Home Minister’s Special Operation Medal” for the year 2023 have been awarded for 4 Special Operations.
- The medal was constituted in 2018 with the objective to recognize those operations, which have high degree of planning, high significance for the security of the country/State/UT and have significant impact on the security of larger sections of the society.
- The award shall be conferred for Special Operation in the areas such as counter terrorism, border action, arms control, prevention of narcotics smuggling and rescue operations.
- It is announced on 31st of October every year.
- In a year, normally 3 Special Operations are considered for the award and in extra ordinary circumstances, the award may be given up to 5 Special Operations to encourage State/UT Police.
- Ministry of Home Affairs – Amit Anil Chandra Shah,Union Minister (Gandhinagar,Gujarat) – Nityanand Rai, Minister of State (Ujiyarpur,Bihar), Nisith Pramanik, Minister of State (Cooch Behar, West Bengal), Ajay Kumar Mishra, Minister of State (Kheri,UP)
Sports News
Asian Shooting Championship
- Commonwealth Games gold medallist Anish Bhanwala bagged India’s 12th Paris Olympic quota in shooting as he clinched a bronze medal in the men’s 25m rapid pistol fire event and Shriyanka Sadangi grabbed India’s 13th Paris Olympics quota in shooting when she finished fourth in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions (3P) event at the ongoing Asian Shooting Championship in Changwon, Korea.
FIFA banned Luis Rubiales
- FIFA banned ousted former Spanish soccer federation president Luis Rubiales from the sport for three years for misconduct at the Women’s World Cup final where he forcibly kissed a player on the lips at the trophy ceremony.
- Fédération internationale de football association FIFA (International Association Football Federation) – 21/05/1904 (Founded) – Zurich, Switzerland (HQ) – Gianni Infantino (President)
Important Days
World Thrift Day
- World Thrift Day is annually observed on October 30.
- In 1934, at the first International Savings Bank Congress, Filipo Ravizza – an Italian professor – proposed the idea of World Thrift Day.
- The aim of this day is to emphasise on the significance of saving money and achieving financial security.
- It was established to teach people the importance of depositing their money in banks so that it can be accessed during times of need.
Vigilance Awareness Week
- Vigilance Awareness Week is observed every year during the week in which the birthday of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (31st October).
- This year Vigilance Awareness Week would be observed from 30th October to 5th November, 2023 with the theme – “Say no to corruption; commit to the Nation”
- The Central Vigilance Commission, as the apex integrity organization of India, adopts different initiatives to strive towards ensuring integrity in public administration.
- Vigilance Awareness Week is one of the tools of the Commission in increasing public awareness about the perils of corruption.
- Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) – 1964 (Created) – New Delhi – Praveen Kumar Srivastava (Head)
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas
- The Government of India declared in 2014 that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary on October 31 will be celebrated as National Unity Day or Rashtriya Ekta Diwas.
- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was born in Nadiad, Kheda district on October 31 1875.
- He served as the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of India from 1947 to 1950.
- He was awarded with Bharat Ratna posthumously in 1991.
World Cities Day
- World Cities Day is annually observed on October 31.
- The day highlight the urgency of international cooperation to address the challenges of urbanisation globally.
- During its session dated December 27, 2013, the UNGA passed a resolution establishing World Cities Day.
- The day was established by the United Nations in 2014.
- The host city for World Cities Day 2023 event is the Municipality of Uskudar in Istanbul, Turkiye.
- Theme – ‘Financing a Sustainable Urban Future for all’
- United Nations (UN) – 24/10/1945 (Founded) – New York (HQ) – António Guterres (Secretary General) – 193 member states & 2 observer states
Defence
25T Bollard Pull (BP) Tug, ‘Mahabali’
- Commodore Sunil Kaushik, NM, WPS(Mbi) had launched 25T Bollard Pull (BP) Tug, ‘Mahabali’ At M/s Shoft Shipyard Pvt Ltd, Bharuch, Gujarat.
- This Tug is proud flag bearer of “Make in India” initiative of Ministry of Defence.
- Contract for construction and delivery of three 25T BP Tug was concluded with M/s Shoft Shipyard Pvt Ltd (SSPL), an MSME, in consonance with “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiative of the Government of India.
- These Tugs are built under the classification rules of Indian Register of Shipping (IRS).
Daily Current Affairs - October 31, 2023 - Consolidated
- Nitin Gadkari announced road projects for Mizoram
- Aurionpro partnered with MasterCard for contactless payments
- IndusInd Bank collaboration with Viamericas
- Punjab Energy Development Agency signed MoU with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited
- Global Conference on Cooperation in Enforcement Matters (GCCEM)
- New mushroom species
- New assistant chief UNDP’s Bureau of Policy and Programme Support
- 26th Governor of Odisha
- Women in India’s Start-up Ecosystem Report (WISER)
- Ballon d”Or Award
- International Jury of 54th International Film Festival of India, Goa
- Union Home Minister’s “Special Operation Medal” for the year 2023
- Asian Shooting Championship
- FIFA banned Luis Rubiales
- World Thrift Day
- Vigilance Awareness Week
- Rashtriya Ekta Diwas
- World Cities Day
- 25T Bollard Pull (BP) Tug, ‘Mahabali’
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