NATIONAL:
1. National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC)
Why in news – PM Modi reviewed the construction of the NMHC site at Gujarat’s Lothal.
Key Points –
About Lothal (2,200 BC, port city) –
• Located in the Bhāl region of Gujarat.
• Lothal meaning (Gujarati) - “the mound of the dead”. (Mohenjo-daro also means the same in Sindhi).
• It was nominated in April 2014 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Other Indus port towns - Balakot (Pakistan), Khirasa (in Gujarat’s Kutch) and Kuntasi (in Rajkot).
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Blacklisting Terrorists
Why in news – China puts hold on proposal by India, US at UN to blacklist LeT terrorist Hafiz Talah Saeed.
Key Points –
• In April 2022, he had been declared a terrorist by the Indian government.
ECONOMY:
1. Imported Inflation
Why in news - Rupee falls to record 83.02 against the US dollar causing an increased risk of imported inflation.
Key Points –
• Retail inflation hit 7.4% in Sept 2022.
• On Oct 7, 2022, India’s foreign exchange reserve stood at $532.868 billion (depleted by $109.58 bn in the last 13 months).
• India’s import cover (Sept 2022) - about 8.9 months.
Imported Inflation –
• General price level rises in a country because of the rise in prices of imported commodities.
• Causes - Rise in crude oil and gold prices, depleting forex reserves and aggressive global monetary tightening cycle.
SECURITY:
1. Make in India in Defence
Why in news – PM Modi announced the ‘Fourth Positive Indigenisation List’ of 101 items.
Key Points –
• It includes next generation frigates, SAM Pralay and ship-borne unmanned aerial systems.
• All items included in the list will be procured as per provisions in the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020.
2. Deesa Air Base
Why in news – PM Modi laid the foundation stone for IAF’s new airbase at Deesa in Banaskantha district of Gujarat.
Key Points –
• It is 130 kms from the Indo-Pak border.
• It is expected to be operational by 2024.
ENVIRONMENT:
1. Saving Vultures
Why in news – Tamil Nadu has formed a state-level committee for the effective conservation of vultures.
Key Points –
• India’s vulture population declined by 96% between 1993 and 2003.
• IUCN - Critically endangered.
• Ongoing plan at central government - 2020-2025.
SCIENCE–TECH:
1. SemiconIndia Future Design Roadshow
Why in news – Rajeev Chandrasekhar flagged off the first SemiconIndia FutureDesign roadshow in Gujarat.
Key Points –
• He also launched the ISRO tested and qualified NavIC Receiver Chipsets.
IMPORTANT DATES:
1. World Statistics Day 2022
Why in news – It is celebrated on Oct 20 to recognize the importance of statistics in our daily lives.
Key Points –
• Theme - “Data for Sustainable Development”.
• It marks the foundation of the United Nations Statistical Commission in 1947.
• India observes National Statistics Day on June 29 to honour PC Mahalanobis.
FESTIVALS:
1. Kati Bihu Festival 2022
Why in news – It is celebrated on the first day of the Kati month in the Assamese calendar.
Key Points –
• It is also known as Kongali Bihu.
• It marks the fresh start of the harvest season and the relocation time of rice saplings.
BIHAR:
1. Rabi Mahabhiyan 2022
Why in news – Hon’ CM Nitish Kumar launched Rabi Mahabhiyan 2022 on Oct 19, 2022.
Key Points –
• Farmers would be informed about all the schemes of agriculture department related to Rabi season.
• Kisan Choupal would be organized from Nov 15 to Dec 5 in the panchayats of all the districts.
2. Extremely Backward Commission (EBC)
Why in news – The Bihar government informed Patna High Court that it is going to constitute the above commission.
Key Points –
• Headed by - Dr. Naveen Kumar Arya (JDU).
• Other members - Arvind Nishad, Gyanchandra Patel and Tarakeswar Thakur.
• It would recommend reservation for the EBCs in civic elections as per the guidelines of the Supreme Court (triple test criteria).
• Bihar EBC Commission came into existence in 2005.
POINTERS:
• Which actor has been made the brand ambassador of National Basketball Association – Ranbir Singh
• Government and private sector will jointly invest how much rupees in Aviation Sector in next four years - Rs 95 thousand crore
• According to the EY-CII report, India will attract how much FDI in the next five years - $475 billion.
• Boxing Federation of India appointed whom as director of high performance - Bernard Dunne
• First National Coal Conclave & Exhibition held in which city - New Delhi
• Who has launched a unified portal aimed at ensuring “ease of living” for central government pensioners - Jitendra Singh
• Who has topped all the ministries and departments in resolving public grievances for the month of Sept 2022 – UIDAI
• Who has won a Silver in the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Men Junior event of ISSF World Championship in Cairo, Egypt – Sameer
• Who has recently won the Jeev Milkha Singh International Golf Tournament in Chandigarh - Gaganjeet Bhullar.
• Who has released Hindi textbooks for medical studies in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh - Amit Shah.