Daily Current Affairs 14th October 2024, Important News Headlines (Daily GK Update)

National News

RSS Marks 100 Years on Vijayadashami

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the world’s largest voluntary organization, is entering its 100th year on the auspicious occasion of Vijayadashami. Founded on this very day in 1925, also known as Dussehra, the RSS has grown exponentially over the past nine decades, expanding its reach across India and abroad.

International News

Nicaragua Cuts Diplomatic Ties with Israel Amid Ongoing Conflict

Nicaragua has officially severed diplomatic relations with Israel, a move announced by Vice President Rosario Murillo following a congressional resolution. This decision aligns with Nicaragua’s leftist government, led by President Daniel Ortega, which has condemned Israel’s actions in the ongoing Gaza conflict and labeled its government as “fascist and genocidal.” While the announcement is largely symbolic, as there are minimal existing relations between the two nations, it underscores a broader trend in Latin America where countries with leftist ideologies are increasingly showing solidarity with the Palestinian cause.

Appointments News

Noel Tata a New Leader of Tata Group’s Charitable Efforts

The Tata Trusts, holding a significant 66% ownership of Tata Sons, wields immense influence over the strategic, investment, and philanthropic directions of one of India’s largest conglomerates. Recently, Noel Tata was appointed chairman of this philanthropic arm, following the death of his half-brother, Ratan Tata. 

L Satya Srinivas Appointed CEO of GeM Portal

The Indian government has appointed L Satya Srinivas, currently serving as Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce, as the additional CEO of the Government e Marketplace (GeM). This decision follows the recent appointment of the previous CEO, P K Singh, as secretary of the renewable energy ministry. Srinivas, an officer from the 1991 batch of the Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Indirect Taxes), will take on this crucial role, overseeing online procurement processes for all central government ministries and departments. The GeM portal, launched on August 9, 2016, aims to streamline and enhance the public procurement process.

States News

Wayanad Gets Advanced X-Band Radar

After devastating floods and landslides claimed over 200 lives in Kerala’s Wayanad district in July 2024, the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences took a crucial step to bolster disaster preparedness by approving the installation of an X-band radar in the region. The torrential rains, which triggered a massive landslide in the valley above Punchirimattom near the Mundakkai area, led to catastrophic debris flows, intensifying the destruction.

Summits and Conferences News

ASEAN Summit: Enhancing Regional Ties and Connectivity

The recently concluded 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits in Vientiane, Laos (October 8-11) brought together leaders from ASEAN countries and partners, emphasizing resilience and connectivity across key areas. With nearly 90 documents adopted, the summits focused on strengthening ASEAN’s role in the Indo-Pacific, addressing supply chain connectivity, sustainable agriculture, and climate change. New cooperation fields like digital economy and green transition were also highlighted.

India Digital Agri Conference 2024

The India Digital Agri Conference 2024, co-organized by the Indian Chamber of Food and Agriculture (ICFA) and IIT Ropar TIF – AWaDH in New Delhi, marked a significant milestone in revolutionizing Indian agriculture. The event focused on leveraging digital technologies like AI, IoT, drones, and data analytics to address challenges such as climate change, food security, and sustainable resource management. By modernizing farming practices, enhancing productivity, and fostering cross-sector collaboration, the conference laid the foundation for India’s leadership in Agri-tech.

Business News

HAL Becomes 14th Maharatna Company

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has been upgraded to the status of Maharatna, making it the 14th Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) to receive this prestigious classification from the Government of India. This announcement, made on October 12, enhances HAL’s operational autonomy and financial capabilities, allowing it to invest up to 15% of its net worth in projects and up to ₹5,000 crore in foreign ventures without government approval. The stock price responded positively, trading at ₹4,510, reflecting a 1.42% increase.

India’s Vaccine Regulatory System Declared Functional by WHO

India’s vaccine regulatory system has been recognized as “functional” by the World Health Organization (WHO) following an evaluation from September 16-20, 2024. The WHO assessment team confirmed that India meets global standards for ensuring vaccine safety, quality, and efficacy. This recognition reaffirms India’s significant role in the global pharmaceutical industry, especially in vaccine production, while showcasing its regulatory strength through Maturity Level 3 certification in the WHO Global Benchmarking Tool.

Schemes News

PM GatiShakti: Three Years of Infrastructure Transformation

The PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, launched on October 13, 2021, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marks three years of transformative achievements in India’s infrastructure landscape. The initiative has significantly improved project execution by integrating data from over 44 central ministries and 36 states and union territories, leading to reduced logistics costs and enhanced service delivery. As of now, over 200 major infrastructure projects have been assessed, focusing on multimodal connectivity and efficient resource allocation.

Ranks and Reports News

Significant Income Rise for Rural Households NABARD Reports 57.6% Increase

A recent survey by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) highlights a remarkable increase in the average monthly income of rural households, which rose by 57.6% over the past five years. The second ‘All India Rural Financial Inclusion Survey (NAFIS) 2021-22’ reports that the average monthly income grew from ₹8,059 in 2016-17 to ₹12,698 in 2021-22, indicating a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.5%.

Sports News

Asian Table Tennis Championships 2024 Men’s and Women’s Wins Bronze

The Indian men’s table tennis team secured a bronze medal at the Asian Table Tennis Championships 2024 held in Astana, Kazakhstan, marking their third consecutive bronze in this event. India’s top-ranked women’s doubles duo, Ayhika Mukherjee and Sutirtha Mukherjee, achieved a remarkable milestone by claiming a bronze medal at the Asian Table Tennis Championships 2024. Ayhika and Sutirtha became the first all-Indian women’s doubles pair to win a medal at the Asian Championships, following Gool Nasikwala’s gold medal win with Japan’s Yoshiko Tanaka in 1952.  India’s total medal tally at the Asian Championships now stands at eight, all of which are bronze medals. The Indian men’s team clinched the bronze medal after losing in the semi-finals to Chinese Taipei with a score of 3-0.

Important Days

International Day of Rural Women 2024, Date, Theme and Significance

The International Day of Rural Women is celebrated annually on October 15, recognizing the critical role rural women play in the advancement of agriculture, rural development, and poverty eradication. In 2024, the theme for this significant day is “Rural Women Sustaining Nature for Our Collective Future: Building climate resilience, conserving biodiversity, and caring for land towards gender equality and empowerment of women and girls.” This theme underlines the importance of rural women as key actors in promoting environmental sustainability and climate resilience while also emphasizing the need for gender equality.

Breast Cancer Awareness Day 2024, Date, Theme, History & Significance

Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM), observed every October, is an annual global campaign designed to raise awareness about breast cancer, its symptoms, and the importance of early detection. This initiative brings attention to the impact of breast cancer on individuals, families, and communities, while also emphasizing the need for timely diagnosis and treatment. In the United States, October 13 is nationally recognized as Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day, a day dedicated to increasing awareness about metastatic (stage four) breast cancer. In 2024, the campaign’s theme is “No one should face breast cancer alone”, underscoring the importance of peer support for patients and survivors, many of whom experience feelings of isolation during their cancer journey.

World Standards Day 2024, Date, History, Theme and Significance

World Standards Day, celebrated every year on October 14, honors the immense contributions of individuals and organizations involved in the development and implementation of international standards. These standards play a critical role in shaping various industries by ensuring safety, quality, efficiency, and interoperability in products and services worldwide. The day serves to raise awareness about the value of standardization in facilitating international trade, economic development, and improving quality of life.

Obituaries News

Indranand Singh Jha, Akashvani Darbhanga Radio Presenter, Dies at 77

Indranand Singh Jha, a celebrated former radio presenter and compere of Akashvani Darbhanga, passed away at the age of 77 in his ancestral village, Chanaur, Darbhanga. Known affectionately as Khur Khur Bhai , Jha gained immense popularity for his rural radio talk program Gamghar, which resonated with listeners throughout his career. His distinctive voice and engaging style made him a beloved figure in the world of radio broadcasting. Following his death, social and cultural organizations have expressed their condolences and paid heartfelt tributes to Jha, reflecting on his lasting impact on the radio community and the hearts of many.

Miscellaneous News

J and K Set for New Government as President’s Rule is Lifted

The Central Government has officially revoked President’s Rule in Jammu and Kashmir, paving the way for the appointment of a new Chief Minister. In a notification issued by President Droupadi Murmu, the revocation was enacted under the powers granted by the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, and relevant constitutional provisions.