October 2024 Indian News Summary PDF

Contents National....................................................................... 2 International.............................................................. 11 Defence.................................................................... 16 Appointments or Resign/Retired........................

Contents National....................................................................... 2 International.............................................................. 11 Defence.................................................................... 16 Appointments or Resign/Retired............................. 20 Honours / Awards..................................................... 26 Sports......................................................................... 33 Obituaries.................................................................. 39 Important Days with Theme.................................... 41 Page 1  National PERIODIC LABOUR FORCE SURVEY: JULY 2023- JUNE 2024: LAKSHADWEEP, ANDAMAN & KERALA TOPS IN YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT RATE According to the 7th Annual report “Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) July 2023- June 2024)” of National Sample Survey Office(NSSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Lakshadweep has the highest Unemployment Rate (UR) among youths (individuals aged 15-29 ). Youth UR in Lakshadweep stands at 36.2% which includes 79.7% UR among among young women and 26.2% UR among young men. Lakshadweep is followed by Andaman and Nicobar Island with 33.6% (49.5% women and 24% men) and Kerala with 29.9% (47.1% women and 19.3% men). The national average for youth unemployment is 10.2%, with females facing a higher rate of 11% compared to 9.8% for males. Madhya Pradesh(MP) has the lowest unemployment rate of 2.6%, among states in India followed by Gujarat with 3.1% and Jharkhand with 3.6%. SHANKH AIR, INDIA’S NEWEST AIRLINE, GETS APPROVAL FROM MOCA Shankh Air, owned by Shankh Aviation Private Limited, has received the No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Civil Aviation(MoCA) valid for 3 years. Shankh Air will be the 1st Schedule airline to launch from Uttar Pradesh(UP). It is yet to receive clearance from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to begin operations. About Shankh Air: i.Shankh Air will hub over Lucknow and Noida to enable connections to all major cities in India. ii.The airline aims to connect major cities across India by offering both interstate and intrastate routes and focusing on areas with high demand and restricted direct flight options. Note: India is currently the third-largest domestic aviation market globally, recording a 15% year-on-year increase in air passenger traffic. India handles 376 million passengers in FY24. About Shankh Aviation Private Limited: Chairman– K.Vishwakarma Headquarters– Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh Page 2 SQUADRON LEADER MOHANA SINGH BECOMES 1ST WOMAN FIGHTER PILOT IN LCA TEJAS FIGHTER FLEET Squadron Leader Mohana Singh has become the 1st woman fighter pilot to join the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) 18 Flying Bullets squadron, which operates India’s indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas fighter jets. The Flying Bullets squadron is stationed at Naliya Air Base in the Gujarat sector, along the border with Pakistan. Mohana Singh was among the first 3 female fighter pilots commissioned into the IAF in 2016, alongside Squadron Leaders Bhawana Kanth and Avani Chaturvedi. She made history as the first woman in the IAF to fly a “Hawk” aircraft during daylight hours in 2019. She was earlier part of the No 3 fighter squadron which is based at NAL Air Force Station, in Rajasthan. She was flying MiG-21 Bison as part of the No 3 squadron. She was honoured with the Naari Shakti Award in 2020, recognizing her achievements alongside Avani Chaturvedi and Bhawna Kanth. Note: Since the fighter stream opened to women in 2016, the IAF now has around 20 women fighter pilots. ARUNDHATI ROY’S FIRST MEMOIR ‘MOTHER MARY COMES TO ME’ TO RELEASE IN SEPTEMBER 2025 Renowned Indian Author and 1997 Booker Prize winner Arundhati Roy, is set to publish her first memoir titled “Mother Mary Comes to Me” in September 2025. The book will be published by Penguin Random House. The book offers an intimate account of how she became the person and the writer she is. The book was inspired by the death of her mother and women’s rights activist Mary Roy in September 2022. The book will be simultaneously published in the United Kingdom (UK) (Hamish Hamilton), the United States of America (USA) & Canada (Scribner), Germany (Fischer), France (Gallimard), Italy (Guanda), Spain (Alfaguara/PRH), the Netherlands (Park Uitgevers), Sweden (Bromberg), Finland (Otava) and Norway (Pax). Note: She received the Booker Prize for The God of Small Things in 1997. Her other noted works include ‘The Ministry of Utmost Happiness’; ‘The End of Imagination’; ‘The Doctor and The Saint’ and ‘The Algebra of Infinite Justice’. Page 3 MAKE IN INDIA CELEBRATES 10 YEARS: A DECADE OF TRANSFORMATIONAL GROWTH “Make in India”, the flagship programme of the Government of India (GoI), completed a decade (10 years) of empowering India to become a global manufacturing hub. It has played a crucial role in boosting domestic manufacturing, fostering innovation, enhancing skill development, and facilitating foreign investment. Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi launched the “Make in India” initiative on 25th September, 2014 at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, Delhi. It is being implemented by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MoC&I). DGCA APPROVES MERGER OF AIX CONNECT AND AIR INDIA EXPRESS The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has approved the merger of AIX Connect (formerly AirAsia) with Air India Express (AIX), w.e.f. October 1, 2024. This strategic move aims to create a unified low-cost carrier operating under the name ‘Air India Express’ with a single airline code, IX. Key Points: i.The merger was initially announced in 2022, with approval from the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on June 12, 2024. ii.All AIXC aircraft have been transferred to AIX’s Air Operator Certificate, ensuring uninterrupted operations. iii.The approval process involved detailed assessments of organizational structures and personnel to ensure a smooth transition and safety in operations. iv.The merger received backing from the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA), Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), and other key stakeholders. v.This merger will be followed by the upcoming integration of Vistara into Air India on November 12, 2024. GOV LAUNCHED PRIME MINISTER’S INTERNSHIP SCHEME 2024 On October 3 2024, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is collaborating with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) to roll out the pilot phase of ‘Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme 2024’, a key initiative from the 2024-2025 budget, aimed at providing 1.25 lakh internships for Indian youth, with a budget of approximately Rs 800 crore in the Financial Year 2024-25(FY25). The aim of the PM Internship Scheme is to generate one crore internships by March 2029. It will provide financial assistance of Rs 60,000 per annum over a period of five years. The scheme is implemented in two phases, through an online portal(www.pminternship.mca.gov.in.) managed by the MCA, and registration is scheduled to open between October 12 and October 25, 2024. Page 4 PM MODI CELEBRATED 10 YEARS OF SWACHH BHARAT ABHIYAN Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi participated in the Swachh Bharat Diwas program held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, Delhi on the occasion of 155th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The program was organised to commemorate the successful completion of 10 years of Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), one of the most significant mass movements for cleanliness in India. i.During the event, PM Modi launched and laid the foundation stone for several projects related to sanitation and cleanliness, worth more than Rs 9,600 crore. ii.The SHS 2024 campaign which was observed across India from 17th September, 2024 to 2nd October, 2024, successfully culminated in the Swachh Bharat Diwas programme. OVERVIEW OF STATE VISIT OF MOHAMED MUIZZU, PRESIDENT OF MALDIVES, TO INDIA: 6-10 OCTOBER 2024 Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, President of Maldives, visited India from 6th to 10th October 2024, marking a significant milestone in the relationship between India and Maldives. This marks his first official visit as President. i.NarendraModi, Prime Minister (PM) of India, and Dr. Mohamed Muizzu met on 7th October 2024 and comprehensively reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral ties. ii.The Indian government announced that India will undertake the repairs and refit of the Maldives Coast Guard ship (MCGS) Huravee, a patrol vessel which was gifted by India to Maldives in 2006. About Maldives: President– Mohamed Muizzu Capital– Malé Currency– Maldivian Rufiyaa INDIA RANKED 105TH IN GLOBAL HUNGER INDEX 2024, PLACED UNDER “SERIOUS” CATEGORY According to the 19th edition of ‘Global Hunger Index (GHI 2024): How Gender Justice Can Advance Climate Resilience and Zero Hunger’, India has been ranked at 105th position among 127 countries with an overall score of 27.3. India has improved its ranking by 6 places, from 111th (2023). As per the report, India is among 42 countries that have been placed under the “serious” category for hunger levels, alongside Pakistan (109th) and Afghanistan (116th). Key Points: i.The 2024 GHI score for the world is 18.3, which is considered moderate, has decreased marginally from the 2016 GHI score of 18.8. ii.Top 5 worst performing countries: Somalia (127th), Yemen (126th), Chad (125th), Page 5 Madagascar (124th), Democratic Republic of Congo (123rd). About Welthungerhilfe (WHH): It is one of the largest private aid organisations in Germany, without political or religious affiliation. President- MarlehnThieme Headquarters- Bonn, Germany DAE INAUGURATES MACE OBSERVATORY: ASIA’S LARGEST AND HIGHEST IMAGING TELESCOPE IN LADAKH On 4th October 2024, Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission(AEC), inaugurated the Major Atmospheric Cherenkov Experiment (MACE) Observatory at Hanle, Ladakh. The project aims to foster collaborations with other countries, strengthening India’s role in global space research. The event was part of the DAE’s 75th anniversary celebrations, where Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty unveiled special plaques to mark the occasion. The event also featured a pictorial compilation documenting the MACE project’s journey and a screening of a film showcasing the telescope’s scientific and technological milestones. Key Dignitaries: A.R. Sule, Additional Secretary of DAE ; Hussain Mufti, Chief Conservator of Forests, Union Territory(UT) of Ladakh; AnnapurniSubramaniam, Director of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) and S. M. Yusuf, Director of the Physics Group at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) was also present at an event. About Major Atmospheric Cherenkov Experiment (MACE): i.MACE is the biggest Cherenkov telescope in Asia and is located at around 4,300 meters(m) above sea level, making it the highest in the world. ii.It is indigenously built by Mumbai(Maharashtra) based Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), with help from Hyderabad Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) and other Indian partners. UP CM YOGI ADITYANATH UNVEILED MULTI-COLOURED LOGO & APP FOR MAHAKUMBH 2025 Uttar Pradesh(UP) Chief Minister(CM) Yogi Adityanath unveiled the new multi-coloured logo for Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 in Prayagraj (earlier Allahabad),UP. During the event, the CM launched the website and application(app) for Kumbh Mela 2025. The Kumbh Mela 2025 is one such festival admired by the Hindus and scheduled to take place in Prayagraj from January 13th to February 26th, 2025. Mahakumbh is a Persian name that is derived from Sanskrit. Symbolism of the Mahakumbh Logo :- i.The design of the logo features a temple, a seer, an urn, the Akshayvat tree and an image of Lord Hanuman, representing the confluence of nature and humanity in the Page 6 Sanatana civilization. ii.The logo prominently features the city’s most sacred site, the Triveni Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers. iii.The logo symbolizes both religious and economic prosperity, featuring the Amrit Kalash, represents the sacred vessel that symbolizes the nectar(Amrit) of immortality in Hindu mythology. Facts About Kumbh Mela Kumbh Mela is a Hindu religious festival celebrated four times over 12 years, rotating among four sacred pilgrimage sites along major rivers. The festival takes place at Haridwar (Uttarakhand) on the Ganges River, Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh) on the Shipra, Nashik (Maharashtra) on the Godavari, and Prayag (modern Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh) at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Sarasvati. With the motto “Sarvasiddhipradah Kumbhah” (Kumbh bestows all types of spiritual powers), the Maha Kumbh serves as a profound symbol of spiritual significance. BIHAR GETS GREEN LIGHT FOR SECOND TIGER RESERVE IN KAIMUR The central government (CG) has approved the establishment of Bihar’s second tiger reserve in the Kaimur district. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and a technical committee granted their approval during its 12th meeting. This approval is significant for wildlife conservation efforts, particularly in managing the rising tiger population that has exceeded the capacity of the existing Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) in the West Champaran District, Bihar. Key Points: i The plan includes converting the Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary (KWLS) into a tiger reserve, with potential relocation of some tigers from VTR to help maintain ecological balance and reduce overcrowding in the existing reserve. The VTR currently houses 54 tigers, surpassing the ideal limit of 45. ii.TheKaimur Tiger Reserve will include a buffer zone that surrounds Shergarh Fort, a popular tourist attraction, along with 58 nearby villages. iii. The forest department has been working to convert the Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary (KWLS) into a tiger reserve for several years. Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary (KWLS): i.The Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary, covering about 1,134 square kilometers(km2), is the largest wildlife sanctuary in Bihar, with the highest green cover in the state at 34%. ii.It was established in 1979 and is home to various wildlife, including tigers. The sanctuary has seen signs of tiger activity, which led experts to propose its designation as a tiger reserve. Page 7 INDIA, JAPAN, US & AUSTRALIA HOLD 28TH MALABAR NAVAL EXERCISE OFF THE INDIAN COAST The 28th edition of the multi-national maritime exercise MALABAR(2024) commenced off the coast of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh(AP) under the Eastern Naval Command (ENC). The exercise saw participation from the Indian Navy (IN), the United States Navy (USN), the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) from October 8-18, 2024. The MALABAR 2024 Exercise is hosted by the IN to enhance interoperability and strengthen maritime cooperation. About MALABAR Exercise : i.The MALABAR Exercise began in 1992 as a bilateral exercise between India and the United States of America (USA). ii.Over the years, it has expanded to include Japan, which became a permanent member in 2015, and Australia, which joined permanently in 2020, made it a four Quad coalition. ii.In 2023, it was hosted by RAN at the East coast of Australia off Sydney. Representatives from India: i.Indian Naval Ship (INS) Delhi (D 61)– The first-in-class guided-missile destroyer leads India’s fleet in the exercise. ii.The IN’s contingent includes at least four other surface combatants and various aircraft, showcasing its maritime strength and capabilities in regional defense. MALABAR 2024: The MALABAR -2024 is conducted in two phases, Harbor and Sea i.The Harbor Phase takes place at Visakhapatnam, focusing on planning sessions, cultural exchanges, and briefings for operational coordination. ii.The Sea Phase occurs in the Bay of Bengal, where participating navies engage in anti- submarine warfare (ASW) exercises, surface and air defense operations, and joint tactical maneuvers. SUPREME COURT OF INDIA UPHOLDS SECTION 6A OF CITIZENSHIP ACT AS VALID LAW i.The Supreme Court of India (SCI) upheld the constitutionality of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955, with a majority of 4:1. As per it, Section 6A does not violate Articles 6 and 7 of the Constitution, which pertain to citizenship rights established at the Constitution’s commencement in 1950. ii.Instead, Section 6A addresses migrants from erstwhile East Pakistan (Present Bangladesh), specifically those who entered Assam between January 1, 1966, and March 24, 1971. iii.The majority judges, which includes Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Yeshwant (DY) Chandrachud and Justices Surya Kant, M.M. Sundresh, and Manoj Misra, upheld Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955. iv.The Court ruled that changes in demographics do not violate cultural rights protected under Article 29(1). It highlighted that different cultures can coexist peacefully in Indian society. Page 8 RBI CENSUS: USA CONTINUES TO BE LARGEST SOURCE OF FDI IN INDIA According to the annual Census on Foreign Liabilities and Assets of Indian Direct Investment Entities for 2023-24 from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the United States of America (USA) continued to be the largest source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in India, followed by Mauritius, Singapore and the United Kingdom (UK). The latest census has covered a total 41,653 entities, of which, 37,407 reported FDI and/or Overseas Direct Investment (ODI) in their balance sheets for March 2024. i.As per the RBI census, Non-Financial Companies(NFC)constituted for approximately 90% of the total FDI equity at face value. ii.It showed that total FDI in India increased by 23.3% at market-value in rupee terms during the Financial Year 2023-24(FY24), mainly due to large valuation gains as well as fresh FDI inflows while, the ODI growth was much lower at 3.4%. PM MODI INAUGURATES ITU WORLD TELECOMMUNICATION STANDARDIZATION ASSEMBLY 2024 IN NEW DELHI On 15th October 2024, Narendra Modi, Prime Minister(PM) of India, inaugurated the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)– World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) 2024 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Delhi. PM Modi also inaugurated the 8th edition of India Mobile Congress(IMC 2024), Asia’s largest digital technology forum during the programme. ITU-WTSA 2024 was held from 15th to 24th October 2024 hosted by India in New Delhi, Delhi. WTSA was hosted in India for the first time in ITU’s history of 150 years. This also marks the first WTSA hosted in the Asia-Pacific. PM NARENDRA MODI LAUNCHED “BHARATVAKYA”, A BIOGRAPHY OF CLASSICAL MUSICIAN BHARAT BALVALLI Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi launched the book titled ‘Bharatvakya’, the biography of renowned classical musician Dr. Bharat Balvalli written by Pravin Vitthal Tarde, an eminent actor and screenwriter. i.This bilingual book, published by Sakal Media News Publication, is available in both Marathi and English. ii.The book aims to intertwine music, spirituality, and a commitment to nation-building. Page 9 FORMER INDIAN WRESTLER SAKSHI MALIK UNVEILS MEMOIR TITLED ‘WITNESS’ Sakshi Malik, former Indian freestyle wrestler, and Olympic bronze medalist, has unveiled her memoir titled “Witness” co-authored by journalist Jonathan Selvaraj, offering readers an intimate glimpse into her life, struggles, triumphs, and an unwavering refection on her journey, both in and out of the wrestling ring. The book, published by Juggernaut Books, chronicles Malik’s ascent to prominence, beginning with her childhood in Rohtak, Haryana, and leading to her role as a trailblazer for women in sports. About Sakshi Malik: i.Sakshi Malik won the bronze medal in 58 kg category at the 2016 Rio Olympics (Brazil) and became the 1st Indian female wrestler to win a medal at the Olympics. ii.In 2023, She retired from wrestling in protest of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh winning Wrestling Federation Of India (WFI) election. ii.Government of India (GoI) honoured her with Arjuna Award(wrestling) in 2016; Padma Shri(Sports) in 2017. iii.She has also won the Gold in 2022 Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham, England and 2017 Commonwealth Championships held in Johannesburg, South Africa. Page 10  International INDIA RANKED 3RD IN ASIA POWER INDEX 2024; USA TOPPED According to the ‘Asia Power Index 2024 Edition‘ released by Lowy institute, based in Sydney, Australia, India is ranked 3rd with score of 39.1 out of 100 surpassing Japan amid strong post-COVID 19 economic growth. The 2024 index is topped by the United States of America (USA) with a score of 81.7, followed by China at 2nd place (72.7). Papua New Guinea, ranked last at 27th with a score of 4.2. India’s rank i.e. comprehensive power ranking rose by 1 in 2024, with a 2.8-point (+8%) score increase. This marks the first edition of the Asia Power Index where India has raised its power score, though still below 2018-2019 levels. About Asia Power Index: i.The Asia Power Index annually measures resources and influence to assess state power in Asia since 2018. The index consists of 8 measures of power, 30 thematic sub-measures and 131 indicators. ii.It ranks 27 countries and territories based on their resources and how they use them. INDIA RANKED 39TH IN GLOBAL INNOVATION INDEX 2024; SWITZERLAND TOPS FOR 14TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR According to the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) report titled 17th edition of the ‘Global Innovation Index (GII – 2024)– Unlocking the Promise of Social Entrepreneurship’, India secured the 39th position out of a total of 133 economies with a score of 38.3. In GII 2023, India’s rank was 40th with a score of 38.1. The index has been topped by Switzerland for the 14th consecutive year. It is followed by Sweden at 2nd rank and the United States of America (USA) at 3rd. The GII has been co-published annually since 2007 by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), INSEAD( Paris, France), Cornell University( New York, the United States of America, USA). It ranks the world economies according to their innovation capabilities on the basis of 80 indicators. About World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO): It is the global forum for Intellectual Property (IP) services, policy, information and cooperation with 193 member states (as of October 1, 2024). Director General– Daren Tang Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland Establishment– 1967 Page 11 PM MODI VISITED THE USA FROM 21ST-23RD SEPTEMBER 2024: ATTENDED QUAD SUMMIT & ADDRESSED UNGA SESSION NarendraModi, Prime Minister (PM) of India, made a 3-day visit to the United States of America (USA) from 21st to 23rd September 2024. i.On 21st September 2024, PM Modi attended the 4th Quad(Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) Leaders’ Summit held in Wilmington, Delaware and hosted by Joseph R. Biden, Jr., the President of the USA. ii.On 22nd September 2024, He also addressed the “Summit of the Future” at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Session held in New York, USA. iii.PMModi met with the US President Biden on the sidelines of the Quad Summit in Delaware and discussed ways to improve bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest. About United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) President– Philemon Yang Headquarters– New York, The United States of America (USA) Founded– 1945 IMD WORLD TALENT RANKING 2024: SWITZERLAND LEADS, INDIA SLIPS TO 58TH SPOT According to Switzerland based Institute for Management Development (IMD)’s ‘World Talent Ranking (WTR) 2024: The Socio-Economic Implications of AI in the Workplace’, Switzerland has topped the list as the world’s most competitive country for the 11th consecutive year, with overall score of 100. i.As per the report, India’s ranking at 2024 IMD WTR has dropped by 2 places, from 56th position (in 2023) to 58th position (in 2024), with overall score of 40.7. ii.Singapore has been ranked at 2nd position with overall score of 85.65, followed by Luxembourg, Sweden and Denmark, ranked at 3rd, 4th and 5th position respectively. About the International Institute for Management Development (IMD): President– David Bach Headquarters– Lausanne, Switzerland OVERVIEW OF 79TH SESSION OF UNGA HELD FROM 10 TO 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 The 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 79) was held from 10th to 30th September 2024 at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York, the United States of America (USA). Philemon Yang, the former Prime Minister of Cameroon, was the President of the 79th session of UNGA. Highlights of UNGA 79: i.The 79th session of UNGA commenced on 10th September 2024. ii.The general debate of the UNGA 79 was held from 24th to 28th September 2024 under the theme “Leaving no one behind: acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations”. The debate closed on 30th September 2024. Page 12 iii.The “Summit of the Future” was held from 22nd – 23rd September 2024. 3 agreements – Pact for the Future, Global Digital Compact, and Declaration on Future Generations – were adopted during the summit. About United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) President– Philemon Yang Headquarters– New York City, United States (US) TRINIDADIAN CRICKETER, BRIAN LARA PENNED HIS MEMOIR TITLED “LARA: THE ENGLAND CHRONICLES” Former Trinidadian cricketer, Brian Charles Lara, nicknamed “The Prince of Port of Spain” or “The Prince”, has penned his memoir titled “LARA: The England Chronicles”. The book is published by the American publishing house Simon & Schuster LLC. The book offers insight into Brian Lara’s childhood, his ambitions of playing for the West Indies, his batting highs, and his captaincy. It also offers readers a microscopic look at cricket in Trinidad and Tobago. About Brian Charles Lara: i.Brian Lara played for the West Indies from 1990 to 2007. He announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket in 2007. ii.He captained the West Indies to victory in the 2004 International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy. This was the first major ICC trophy the West Indies had won since the 1979 Cricket World Cup iii.He holds the record for the highest individual score in first-class cricket, with 501 not out for Warwickshire against Durham at Edgbaston in 1994. iv.He was inducted to the ICC’s Hall of Fame as a 2012–13 season inductee INDIA’S JUBILANT INGREVIA JOINS WEF’S GLOBAL LIGHTHOUSE NETWORK Noida, Uttar Pradesh (UP)-based Jubilant Ingrevia Limited, science products and innovative solutions provider, has become the latest Indian firm to join as the member of the Global Lighthouse Network (GLN) of the World Economic Forum (WEF). Jubilant Ingrevia is the only Indian firm among the cohort of 2024 welcomed by the WEF. In 2024, A total of 22 innovative manufacturers have joined GLN as members. Significance: i.Jubilant Ingrevia’s inclusion in this prestigious network underscores its innovative approaches in integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Internet of Things (IoT) into its operations. ii.Jubilant Ingrevia has implemented over 30 integrated use cases of 4IR technologies in its Bharuch, Gujarat facility. Page 13  This has led to 60% reduction in process variability and nearly doubled production volume iii.The company aims to reduce its emissions by 20% over the next three years and is committed to institutionalizing digital interventions across all its plants. About GLN: i.GLN is an initiative co-founded by the WEF and McKinsey & Company in 2018, aimed at recognizing leading manufacturing facilities ii.It is a community of 172 industry leaders pioneering the use of cutting-edge Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies in manufacturing. iii.The notable companies in this cohort include AstraZeneca and Coca-Cola. MONITORED WILDLIFE POPULATIONS DECREASED BY 73% IN 50 YEARS: WWF REPORT i.The World Wide Fund for Nature/WWF (Formerly World Wildlife Fund), released 15th edition of its biennial assessment ‘2024 Living Planet Report- A system in Peril‘ stating that the average size of monitored wildlife populations has decreased by 73% in just 50 years (1970-2020). ii.The WWF uses the Living Planet Index (LPI), provided by ZSL (Zoological Society of London), to track wildlife population trends, covering nearly 35,000 populations of 5,495 species from 1970 to 2020. iii.The steepest declines in wildlife populations are in Latin America and the Caribbean (95%), Africa (76%), and Asia-Pacific (60%). About World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF): President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– Carter Roberts Headquarters– Gland, Switzerland Established -1961 INDIA BECOMES FOURTH COUNTRY TO CROSS $700 BILLION IN FOREIGN RESERVES According to the Reserve Bank of India(RBI)’s data, India’s foreign exchange reserves surpassed $700 billion for the first time ever in September 2024. This milestone makes India, the fourth country in the world , alongside China, Japan, and Switzerland, to reach this level of reserves. i.The foreign exchange reserves increased by USD 12.59 billion to hit an all-time high of USD 704.885 billion in the week ended September 27, 2024. ii.The Foreign Currency Assets (FCA), a large component of the overall reserves, gained by USD 10.46 billion to USD 616.154 billion. The Gold reserves also increased by USD 2.184 billion to USD 65.796 billion in the RBI’s data. FCA are maintained as a multi-currency portfolio comprising major currencies, such as, US Dollar(USD), Euro, Pound Sterling, Japanese Yen, and are valued in terms of USD. iii.The increase in reserves is due to several factors, including USD 30 billion in foreign inflows this year, primarily driven by investments in local bonds following India’s inclusion in a significant J.P. Morgan index. Page 14 INDIA & UAE TO INTERLINK UPI & AANI FOR SEAMLESS CROSS-BORDER TRANSACTIONS The Government of India and the United Arab Emirates(UAE) are working on interlinking India’s Unified Payment Interface (UPI) with UAE’s instant payments platform AANI to enable seamless cross-border transactions between the two countries. This will benefit over 3 million Indians residing in the UAE enabling them to use the power of UPI and AANI. i.It was discussed during the 12th Meeting of the India-UAE High Level Joint Task Force on Investments (HLJTFI) took place in Mumbai, Maharashtra. ii.The meeting was co-chaired by Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce & Industry (MoCI), GoI and His Highness Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Managing Director(MD) of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA). ii.The two government representatives also signed off on collaborating on a card payment service by utilizing the resources of India’s National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), via its international subsidiary NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) with the UAE’s payments entity Al Etihad Payments (AEP), to enable creation of domestic card scheme JAYWAN in the UAE. ISLAMABAD HOSTED 23RD SCO CHG MEETING FOCUSED ON TRADE AND ECONOMIC AGENDA The 23rd Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of Government (CHG) was held on 16th October 2024, in Islamabad, Pakistan under the leadership of the Pakistan Prime Minister(PM) Shehbaz Sharif. i.The summit focused on regional security, trade, economic collaboration, and the fight against terrorism. ii.Union Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Ministry of External Affairs(MEA), Government of India(GoI), addressed the 23rd SCO CHG in Islamabad. He became the first Indian foreign minister to visit Pakistan in nearly a decade. Note: The SCO CHG will be hosted by Russia in 2025. About Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO): Secretary-General – Zhang Ming Members– Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan Headquarters – Beijing, China Page 15  Defence KAZIND-2024 : JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE BETWEEN INDIA & KAZAKHSTAN BEGINS AT AULI, UTTARAKHAND The 8th edition of India-Kazakhstan Joint Military ‘Exercise KAZIND’, an annual bilateral exercise, commenced on 30th September 2024 at Surya Foreign Training Node, Auli, Uttarakhand. The exercise is being held from 30th September to 13th October 2024. The Exercise KAZIND 2024 is based on the theme of conducting Joint Subconventional Operations under Chapter VII of the United Nations Mandate. The objective of the exercise is to strengthening interoperability and cooperation, particularly in the context of counter-terrorism operations. Note : Last edition of the Exercise KAZIND was held at Otar, Kazakhstan from 30th October to 11th November 2023. Background : i.In 2016, joint exercise between India and Kazakhstan was instituted as “ Exercise PrabalDostyk”. ii.The exercise was renamed as “Exercise KAZIND” after the second edition. In 2023, the exercise includes Air Force personnel, making it a Bi-service Exercise. Participants: i.120 personnel, represented by a battalion of the KUMAON Regiment of Indian Army(IA), along with personnel from Indian Air Force, have participated in the exercise. ii.The Kazakhstan contingent is represented by personnel from Land Forces and Air Borne Assault Troopers. LOKESH MACHINES DELIVERS INDIA’S FIRST INDIGENOUS SMGS TO INDIAN ARMY Hyderabad, Telangana based Lokesh Machines Limited has successfully delivered the first major order for its 9×19 millimeter(mm) Sub-Machine Gun (SMG) “Asmi” to the Northern Command of the Indian Army(IA). This is India’s first SMG developed indigenously by the private sector. The delivery was part of a contract valued at approximately USD 550,000 for 550 ASMI 9×19-millimeter SMGs. The consignment was flagged off by Maj Gen RakeshManocha, General Officer Commanding of the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh sub-area, IA. Key Points: i.This order represents the first large-scale acquisition of an indigenous firearm since the Indian Small Arms System (INSAS) rifle. ii.The ASMI, acronym for Ashmita meaning “pride,” weighs 2.4 kg (5.3 lbs), making it 10- 15% lighter than comparable SMGs. iii.It features a magazine capacity of 32 rounds and a maximum firing rate of 800 rounds per minute. Page 16 iv.The design for the same was provided by Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE) Pune, Maharashtra, and IA. About Lokesh Machines Limited: Managing Director (MD)– MullapudiLokeswaraRao Headquartres– Hyderabad, Telangana Incorporated– 1983 IRAN UNVEILS POWERFUL SUICIDE DRONE ‘SHAHED- 136B’ Iran, for the first time, showcased “Shahed 136B”, a one-way attack drone which is also known as a ‘kamikaze’ drone or ‘suicide’ drones , and “Jihad”, a single-stage liquid-fuel ballistic missile, at the Armed Forces military parade held in September 2024, marking the anniversary of the start of the 1980-88 war with Iraq. i.Shahed 136B, the latest Iran-made drone, is an upgraded version of the Shahed-136, with new features and an operational range of more than 4,000 kilometres(Km). ii.Jihad is a ballistic missile with a high-explosive detachable warhead and a range of 1,000 km. The missile was designed and manufactured by the aerospace arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. INS TALWAR ARRIVES IN SOUTH AFRICA TO JOIN IBSAMAR VIII On 6th October 2024, Indian Naval Ship (INS) Talwar, frontline stealth frigate of Indian Navy (IN) arrived at Simon’s Town in South Africa (SA) to participate in the 8th edition of India-Brazil-South Africa Maritime (IBSAMAR VIII), a joint multinational maritime exercise among the navies of India, Brazil and South Africa. The trilateral maritime exercise ,which commenced on 6th October 2024, will run till 18th October 2024. The exercise aims to improve interoperability and strengthen ties between the navies of 3 countries. This exercise takes place right before the upcoming 2024 BRICS Summit in Russia. Note: The 7th edition of IBSAMAR was held at Port Gqeberha (also known as Port Elizabeth) in South Africa in 2022. About IBSAMAR VIII: i.The exercise is based on Blue Water Naval Warfare, covering the dimensions of Surface and Anti-Air Warfare. ii.The harbour phase of exercise includes professional exchanges, Damage Control & Firefighting drills, Visit, Board, Search and Seizure drills (VBSS), cross-boarding, aviation safety lectures, joint diving operations, an Ocean Governance seminar, sports interactions, cross-deck visits, and interaction among Special Forces and Junior Officers. Page 17 INDIAN ARMY UNVEILS ITS FIRST UPGRADED T-90 ‘BHISHMA’ TANK On 7 October 2024, the Indian Army (IA) unveiled its first upgraded T-90 ‘Bhishma’ tank, marking a significant move toward enhancing the operational capabilities of its armored units. The rollout ceremony was attended by the Chief of the Army Staff(CoAS) of the IA, Upendra Dwivedi. This initiative is part of the Army’s ambitious “Decade of Transformation,” reflecting India’s growing indigenous capability to maintain and enhance critical military platforms. Overview of the T-90 Tanks: i.The T-90 tanks, manufactured under a license agreement with Russia, are produced at the Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) in Avadi, near Chennai, Tamil Nadu(TN). ii.The IA has ordered 1,657 T-90 tanks and currently operates around 1,300 units. The first set is now undergoing a significant overhaul. iii.The overhaul, showcasing the Army’s technical prowess, was carried out by the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers at the 505 Army Base Workshop in Delhi Cantonment, New Delhi(Delhi). Key Points: i.The next round of testing for the upgraded T-90 ‘Bhishma’ tank will include missile firing. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) plans to complete various trials by January 2025. ii.The user trials are anticipated to last between 12 to 18 months, during which the IA will assess the tank’s performance in different conditions, including summer, winter, and high- altitude environments. IN LAUNCHES MISSILE-CUM-AMMUNITION BARGE LSAM 12 The Indian Navy (IN) launched the ‘Missile Cum Ammunition Barge, LSAM 12 (Landing Ship Ammunition) (Yard 80)’, which will enhance its naval logistics and firepower. This is the sixth vessel of 8 Missile Cum Ammunition Barge project, aimed at strengthening the Navy’s operational capabilities. It is built by M/s SECON Engineering Projects Pvt Ltd (SEPPL), Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (AP). Note: The launch, presided over by Commodore MV Raj Krishna, Company Commander, Mumbai (CoY-Mbi), was conducted by the SEPPL at its launch site M/s Vinayaga Marine Petro Ltd, Mira Bhayandar, Maharashtra. Key Points: i.On 19th February 2021 Ministry of Defence (MoD) and SEPPL, signed the contract for the construction of 8 Missile Cum Ammunition Barges. ii.These barges facilitate transportation, embarkation, and disembarkation of ammunition to naval platforms. Page 18 INDIAN ARMY LAUNCHES MULTI-TARGET DETONATION DEVICE “AGNIASTRA” IN GANGTOK On 11th October 2024, Indian Army (IA)’s Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), General Upendra Dwivedi launched the “Agniastra,” a multi-target portable detonation device (WEDC), during the Army Commanders Conference (ACC) held in Gangtok, Sikkim. It was developed by Major Rajprasad RS from the Indian Army’s Corps of Engineers. About Agniastra (WEDC): i.Agniastra was developed to address the critical operational needs in military engagement. ii.The device was patented on 19th March 2024, reflecting its innovative design and technology. Key Features: i.WEDC was created to improve the safety and reliability of executing multiple-target detonations, addressing shortcomings of older systems like the Exploder Dynamo Capacitor. ii.The device significantly increases the operational range to 2.5 kilometers, compared to the limited 400-meter range of its predecessor. This allows for greater tactical flexibility.. 2024 Army Commanders Conference (ACC): i.2024 Army Commanders Conference (ACC) is the first ACC hosted outside of Delhi. This reflects the strategic importance of Sikkim. ii.The 2024 ACC is a two-phase event. The first phase was held from 10th to 11th October 2024, in Gangtok and the 2nd phase is scheduled to be held from 28th to 29th October 2024 in Delhi. INDIAN NAVY LAUNCHED 4TH NUCLEAR-POWERED SUBMARINE ‘S4*’ IN VISAKHAPATNAM, AP The Indian Navy(IN) has launched its 4th nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (also known as Ship, Submersible, Ballistic, Nuclear, SSBN) under the code name “S4*” at the Ship Building Centre (SBC) in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (AP). This marks a significant milestone in India’s efforts to enhance its naval capabilities and maintain strategic stability in the Indo-Pacific region. The launch of S4* follows the commissioning of Indian Naval Ship (INS) Arighaat (2nd SSBN) by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on 29th August, 2024, while INS Aridhaman(3rd SSBN) is expected to be commissioned in 2025. It is equipped with K-4 ballistic missiles that have a target range of 3,500 kilometers (kms) and can be launched through vertical systems, compared to 1st SSBN, INS Arihant which carries K-15 nuclear missiles with a range of 750 kms. Page 19 Appointments or Resign/Retired SHIGERU ISHIBA SET TO BECOME THE NEW PRIME MINISTER OF JAPAN On 27 September 2024, Former Defence Minister Shigeru Ishiba (67 years old) is set to become the next Prime Minister(PM) of Japan after being elected as the leader of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) which holds a majority in the parliament. He will assume PM office from October 1, 2024 by replacing incumbent PM Fumio Kishida. Shigeru Ishiba won by 215 votes, defeating SanaeTakaichi(194 votes), in the leadership election of the LDP in Tokyo, Japan. Nine candidates including two women had competed in the elections. About Shigeru Ishiba i.ShigeruIshiba is an idealistic reformer and had worked in a bank before joining politics. ii.He won his first parliamentary election in 1986 with LDP. This year was his fifth attempt to become the leader of LDP, which is the largest party in parliament and has been ruling Japan for most of the past seven decades. iii.He served as the Minister of Defense from 2007 to 2008, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries from 2008 to 2009, and the Secretary-General of the LDP from 2012 to 2014. iv.He also served as the chairman of LDP’s Policy Research Council from 2009 to 2011 and its secretary-general from 2012 to 2014. SCOTLAND AGREED TO HOST 2026 COMMONWEALTH GAMES AFTER AUSTRALIA BACKED OUT Glasgow, the capital of Scotland, has been announced as the host city of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, the 23rd edition of the Commonwealth Games(CWG) after Australian state of Victoria decided to withdraw from hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games due to projected exceeding expenditures. Glasgow is set to host the games for the 2nd time in 12 years. The city previously hosted the event in 2014. The Commonwealth Game Federation (CGF) pledged to provide financial of 100 million pounds and also the United Kingdom (UK) government agreed to financial support. About CWG: i.It is a quadrennial international multisport event among athletes from the Commonwealth nations. The 1st CWG was held in 1930 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. ii.So far, India hosted the CWG only once in 2010 in New Delhi, Delhi. Page 20 UDHAYANIDHI STALIN TAKES OATH AS DEPUTY CHIEF MINISTER OF TAMIL NADU On 29th September 2024, Tamil Nadu(TN)’s Minister of Youth Welfare and Sports Development, Udhayanidhi Stalin took oath as the Deputy Chief Minister(Dy CM) of TN. The post has been vacant since 2021. Udhayanidhi was sworn in as Dy CM by TN Governor R.N. Ravi. He became the youngest person in TN’s history to hold the post of Dy CM. i.Udhayanidhi Stalin, son of TN Chief Minister (CM) MK Stalin, made his political debut in 2019 as the youth wing secretary of DMK. ii.In 2021, he was elected as the Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Chepauk- Tiruvallikeni constituency and later sworn in as Minister of Youth Welfare and Sports Development in 2022. iii.Before joining politics, Udhayanidhi had a career in the Tamil Film industry as a film producer and an actor. He started his career as a Film distributor and later founded the “Red Giant Movies”, a film production house. SONY PICTURES APPOINTS RAVI AHUJA AS NEW CEO; TONY VINCIQUERRA TO STEP DOWN On 1st October 2024, Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), a subsidiary of Tokyo(Japan)- based Sony Group Corporation, announced that Tony Vinciquerra, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SPE will step down from his role as SPE CEO on 2nd January 2025. Vinciquerra will remain in an advisory role for SPE as non-executive Chairman until December 2025. Ravi Ahuja, the Chairman of Global Television Studios and the President & Chief Operating Officer (COO) of SPE, will take charge as the President and CEO of SPE with effect from 2nd January 2025. Ahuja, based in Los Angeles(California, the United States of America-USA), will report to Kenichiro Yoshida, Chairman and CEO of Sony Group Corporation and Hiroki Totoki, President, COO and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Sony Group Corporation. OMAR ABDULLAH SWORN-IN AS NEW CM OF UT J&K; SURINDER KUMAR CHOUDHARY AS DEPUTY CM On 16th October 2024, Omar Abdullah (54 years old), Vice President (VP)of Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) was officially sworn-in as new Chief Minister (CM) of Union Territory (UT) Jammu & Kashmir (J&K). He became the CM of J&K for the 2nd time. Along with him, Surinder Kumar Choudhary took oath as the Deputy CM of UT J&K. Page 21 i.Manoj Sinha, the Lieutenant Governor of UT J&K administered the oath of office and secrecy to Omar Abdullah and his 5 Council of Ministers during the swearing-in ceremony held at Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar, J&K. ii.The JKNC-INC alliance won the elections by securing 48 out of 90 assembly seats which went for elections. JKNC emerged as the single largest party with 42 seats, of which 35 seats won from Kashmir valley and 7 seats won from Jammu division. While, its alliance partner INC won 6 seats. NAYAB SINGH SAINI TOOK OATH AS HARYANA CM FOR SECOND TERM On 17th October 2024, Nayab Singh Saini took oath as the Chief Minister (CM) of Haryana at the swearing-in ceremony in Panchkula, Haryana. This marks his 2nd tenure as CM of Haryana. Previously served as the CM of Haryana from March 2024 to October 2024 after Manohar Lal Khattar resigned ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Along with the CM, 13 legislators, including two women, were also inducted in the state cabinet. Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya administered the oath of office and secrecy to all of them. Key People: Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi along with leaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) were present during the ceremony. Highlights: i.Haryana Assembly elections was held on 5th October 2024 where BJP won 48 out of 90 seats. This is BJP’s 3rd straight win in Haryana State Assembly elections. ii.Nayab Singh Saini secured his seat from the Ladwa constituency (Kurukshetra district), defeating Congress candidate Mewa Singh Singroha by a margin of 16,054 votes. About Nayab Singh Saini: i.Nayab Singh Saini hailing from Ambala, Haryana, served as the general secretary of the BJP’s youth wing in Ambala and district president (Ambala). ii.He has also served as the president of the Haryana state unit BJP. iii.He was elected to the 17th Lok Sabha as Member of Parliament (MP)from Kurukshetra, (Haryana) from 2019 to 2024. PARAMESH SIVAMANI TAKES OVER AS 26TH DIRECTOR GENERAL OF ICG On 16th October 2024, Paramesh Sivamani has took over as the 26th Director General (DG) of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). He has been serving as the DG (additional charge) of ICG since August 2024 after the death of then DG Rakesh Pal. Paramesh Sivamani has been serving as the Additional DG of ICG since September 2022. About Paramesh Sivamani: i.Paramesh Sivamani has Commanded all major vessels of the ICG, including Advanced Page 22 Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) Samar and OPV Vishwast, and also led the Eastern and Western Coast Guard Regions. ii.He is regarded as a specialist in Navigation & Direction, a critical area for ensuring maritime safety. iii.He has received the Tatrakshak Medal (2014), President’s Tatrakshak Medal (2019), DG Coast Guard Commendation (2012), and Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (East) Commendation (2009). About Indian Coast Guard (ICG): It was established by the Coast Guard Act, 1978 on February 1, 1977. Director General (DG)– Paramesh Sivamani Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi PRABOWO SUBIANTO SWORN IN AS 8TH PRESIDENT OF INDONESIA Former general Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo (73) of Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra Party) was appointed as the 8th President of Indonesia (2024-2029). He succeeded Joko Widodo, who served as the President of Indonesia from 2014 to 2024. Gibran Rakabuming, son of Joko Widodo, was appointed as the Vice President of Indonesia. Prabowo Subianto served as the Defence Minister of Indonesia from 2019 to 2024. Key People: Union Minister of State (MoS) Pabitra Margherita, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India (GoI) and leaders and officials from around 40 countries were present during the swearing-in ceremony held in Jakarta, Indonesia. 2024 Election: i.2024 General elections in Indonesia to elect the president, vice president, and People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) was held on 14th February 2024. ii.Prabowo Subianto secured a decisive victory by winning around 59% of the votes in first round of presidential election. About Prabowo Subianto: i.Prabowo Subianto is a retired general and has held various military positions, including commander of the Army Strategic Reserve Command (Kostrad). ii.He was honoured with the Collar of the Order of Zayed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2024, and Distinguished Service Order (Military) by Singapore in 2023. iii.Among National Honors, he received the Star of the Republic of Indonesia, 1st Class; Star of Mahaputera, 1st Class, and Star of Mahaputera, 2nd Class, among others. NOEL NAVAL TATA SUCCEEDS RATAN TATA AS CHAIRMAN OF SIR RATAN TATA TRUSTS Noel Naval Tata, half-brother of Ratan Tata, has been selected unanimously by the Board members of Sir Ratan Tata Trusts as the chairman and all trusts covered under it. He will succeed Ratan Tata who passed away at the age of 86 on October 9, 2024. Page 23  Noel Naval Tata is currently the chairman of Trent Limited, Tata International Ltd, Voltas Ltd and Tata Investment Corporation Ltd. He is also the vice chairman of Tata Steel Ltd and Titan Company Ltd. Note: Tata Trusts has a 66% stake in Tata Sons, while 12.87% is owned by several Tata Group companies, and 18.4% by the Shapoorji Pallonji family. About Noel Naval Tata: i.Noel Naval Tata started his career at Tata International and later became Managing Director(MD) of Trent in 1999. He has been involved with various companies within the Tata Group for many years. ii.He served as the Managing Director (MD) of Tata International, significantly increasing revenue from USD 500 million to over USD 3 billion during his tenure. iii.As Chairman of Trent Limited since 2014, he has expanded its operations, which include popular brands like Westside and Zudio. TV NARENDRAN ELECTED AS CHAIRMAN OF WORLDSTEEL; BECOMES 2ND INDIAN TO HOLD THE POST Thachat Viswanath (TV) Narendran, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director (MD) of Tata Steel, was elected as the chairman of the World Steel Association (Worldsteel) for the term 2024-25. He will succeed Leon Topalian, CEO of the United States of America (USA)- based Nucor Corporation, who served as Chairman of Worldsteel (2023-24). He became the 2nd Indian to hold the position as the Chairman of Worldsteel after Sajjan Jindal, the chairman of JSW Group, who served as the chairman from 2021-22. Key Points: i.As Chairman, TV Narendran will oversee key decisions and initiatives that impact the steel sector globally. ii.He will also be a member of the 17-member Executive Committee, along with other industry leaders. About TV Narendran: i.TV Narendran joined Tata steel in 1988 and worked in its International Trading Division. ii.He was appointed as MD of Tata Steel for India and South East Asia in 2013. iii.He has served as the President of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) from 2021 to 2022 and President of the Indian Institute of Metals from 2021 to 2022. About World Steel Association (Worldsteel): It is an association that represents over 160 steel producers, research institutes, and national and regional industry associations. It accounts for nearly 85% of the world’s steel production Headquarters– Brussels, Belgium Establishment– 1967 Page 24 GENERAL LUONG CUONG ELECTED AS THE NEW PRESIDENT OF VIETNAM Vietnam’s National Assembly elected General Luong Cuong(67-year-old) as the 14th president of Vietnam, during a session held in Hanoi, Vietnam. He replaced To Lam, who served as the 13th President of Vietnam from May 2024 to October 2024. To Lam was appointed as the general secretary of the ruling Communist Party in August 2024. About Luong Cuong: i.Luong Cuong joined the army in 1975 and rose through the ranks, becoming a Major General by 2006. He also served as the Chief of the General Department of Politics under the Vietnam People’s Army. ii.Luong Cuong has been a key figure in Vietnam’s Politburo (Communist Party of Vietnam) since 2021. iii.He has been serving as a Permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat since May 2024. INDIAN NEUROSCIENTIST SHUBHA TOLE APPOINTED AS PRESIDENT-ELECT IN IBRO Indian neuroscientist Shubha Tole has been appointed as the president-elect of the International Brain Research Organisation (IBRO), marking her as the first scientist from a developing country to attain this prestigious position. She will replace Tracy Bale, an American neuroscientist. It was announced at the IBRO’s annual assembly in Chicago, the United States of America(USA). Shubha Tole will join the IBRO advisory board on January 1, 2025 for one year term and will assume her role as president on January 1, 2026. Her tenure will end on December 31, 2028, after which she will also serve a two-year term on the IBRO advisory board as past president. About Shubha Tole: i.She currently serves as the dean of graduate studies at Mumbai(Maharashtra) based Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR). ii.She has held several positions within the IBRO Asia-Pacific Regional Committee and the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) and is currently the President of the International Society for Developmental Neuroscience (ISDN). About IBRO: i.Paris(France) based the IBRO is a global federation of neuroscience organizations that promotes and supports neuroscience worldwide through training, education, collaborative research, advocacy, and outreach initiatives. ii.The IBRO governing council, which represents 69 scientific societies and federations across 57 countries. iii.The current IBRO president Tracy Bale will continue to serve her term until December 2025. Page 25  Honours/ Awards ALEXANDER DUNN AWARDED 2024 SASTRA RAMANUJAN PRIZE Alexander Dunn, a prominent mathematician from Georgia Institute of Technology, the United States of America (USA), has been awarded the 2024 SASTRA Ramanujan Prize instituted by the Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy (SASTRA), a private deemed university in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu (TN). He is recognized for his significant work in analytic number theory, especially his collaboration with Maksym Radziwill in solving the Kummer-Patterson Conjecture, which pertains to bias in cubic Gauss sums. Note: The award will be presented during the International Conference on Number Theory at SASTRA University in Kumbakonam, Thanjavur from 20-22 December 2024. About Alexander Dunn: Alexander Dunn has made notable strides in mathematics, particularly in analytic number theory. His work is characterized by its depth and innovation, contributing to solving longstanding problems in the field. About SASTRA Ramanujan Prize: i.SASTRARamanujan Prize was established in 2005 by SASTRA University to honour young mathematicians who have made significant contributions to areas influenced by the works of legendary Indian mathematician SrinivasaRamanujan. ii.The prize is awarded annually to mathematicians under 32 years of age. iii.The recipient receives a cash award of USD 10,000. In 2023, it was awarded to Ruixiang Zhang, Assistant Professor, University of California, Berkeley, the USA. 75TH IAC HELD IN MILAN, ITALY ; ISRO’S DR. S. SOMANATH RECEIVED IAF WORLD SPACE AWARD The 75th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2024) was held from October 14 to 18, 2024 at the Milano Congress Center (Allianz MiCo), Europe’s largest conference venue in Milan, Italy. It was organized by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) and co- hosted by the Italian Association of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIDAA) and the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and Leonardo. The theme of IAC 2024 is “Responsible Space for Sustainability“, highlighted the urgent need for responsible use to ensure safety, minimize overcrowding, and reduce light pollution as the space economy expands. The significant highlights of the congress included the the awarding of the IAF World Space Award 2024 to ISRO Chairman Dr. S. Somanath, launch of ESA’s Moonlight Programme for lunar communication, and the unveiling of the AxEMU spacesuit by Axiom Space and Prada. Page 26 Note: The IAC 2025 will be held in Sydney, Australia from September 29 to October 3, 2025. About International Astronautical Federation (IAF): President – Eugene Clayton Mowry Headquarters – Paris, France Founded – 1951 HURUN INDIA UNDER-35 LIST: ISHA AMBANI, PARITA PAREKH, GHAZAL ALAGH A MONG TOP YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS According to the Hurun India’s latest inaugural edition of the “2024 Hurun India under 35s”, Isha Ambani, Non-Executive Director, Reliance Retail, Parita Parekh, co-founder of Toddle, an online platform for educators, Ghazal Alagh, founder of Mamaearth are among the top young entrepreneurs featured on the list. i.The list is topped by Ankush Sachdeva (31 years old) an Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur Graduate, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), ShareChat and Moj, India’s leading social media applications (app). He is also the youngest entrepreneur featured on the list. ii.Other noted names on the list are: Aakash Ambani (32nd ), Chairman of Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (RJIL); Alakh Pandey, the founder ed-tech company Physics Wallah (23rd ); Roman Saini (38th ), founder of ed-tech company Unacademy, Vidit Aatrey (78th ), CEO of e-commerce company Meesho, among others. About Hurun Report Inc. (Hurun Report): It is a leading research, luxury publishing and events group established in 1998 in London, the United Kingdom (UK). Hurun India was launched in 2012. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Rupert Hoogewerf Managing Director (MD) and Chief Researcher (Hurun India)- Anas Rahman Junaid Headquarters (Hurun India)- Mumbai, Maharashtra LEGENDARY ACTOR MITHUN CHAKRABORTY TO BE HONOURED WITH DADA SAHEB PHALKE AWARD Veteran Indian Actor-turned-Politician and Padma Bhushan Awardee Mithun Chakraborty will be honoured with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award for his lifetime contribution to Indian cinema for the year 2022. He will be the 54th recipient of this award. It was announced by Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Information and Broadcasting(MoI&B). He will be presented with the Dada Saheb Phalke award at the 70th National Film Awards ceremony scheduled to be held on 8th October, 2024 at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, Delhi. Note: In 2023, veteran actress Waheeda Rehman honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award for the year 2021. About Mithun Chakraborty: i.Mithun Chakraborty, also known as Mithun Da, was born on 16th June, 1950 in Kolkata, West Bengal (WB). During his long career in film industry, he has acted in more than 350 films including, Bengali, Hindi, Odia, Bhojpuri, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, among others. ii.He debuted in Hindi cinema with the film Mrigayaa directed by Mrinal Sen in 1976. Page 27 iii.He holds a world record in the Limca Book of Records for releasing most films in a single year i.e. 19 films were released in 1989, a record which is still unbroken. iv.He started his political career by joining All India Trinamool Congress (AITMC) and later, he was nominated for Rajya Sabha from West Bengal by AITMC in 2014. In 2016, he resigned as Member of Parliament (MP) from Rajya Sabha. Later, he joined Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) in 2021. Awards: i.He won his 1st National Film Award for “Best Actor” in 1976 for his debut film Mrigyaa. Later, he won National Film Award for film Tahader Katha (1992) and Swami Vivekananda (1998). ii.In 2024, He was honoured with the Padma Bhushna, India’s 3rd highest civilian award in the category of Arts, presented by President Droupadi Murmu during a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi, Delhi. About Dada Saheb Phalke Award: i. It was instituted in 1969 by the Government of India (GoI) to commemorate the contribution of Dhudiraj Govind Phalke(Dada Saheb Phalke) to Indian cinema. Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, considered as the Father of Indian cinema, had directed India’s 1st full-length feature film named “Raja Harishchandra” in 1913. ii.The award recognizes the outstanding contribution of an individual to the growth and development of Indian cinema. iii.The 1st Dada Saheb Phalke Award was received by Devika Rani Roerich in 1969. AMERICAN BIOLOGISTS VICTOR AMBROS& GARY RUVKUN WINS NOBEL PRIZE IN PHYSIOLOGY OR MEDICINE 2024 Victor Ambros, an American developmental biologist, and Gary Bruce Ruvkun, an American molecular biologist, were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2024 by the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. They were honoured “for the discovery of microRNA and its role in post- transcriptional gene regulation”. The award was announced by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences on 7th October 2024. JOHN J. HOPFIELD & GEOFFREY E. HINTON WON THE NOBEL PRIZE IN PHYSICS 2024 American physicist John J. Hopfield and British-Canadian Computer scientist Geoffrey E. Hinton were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics 2024 by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm, Sweden on 8th October 2024. They were awarded “for foundational discoveries and inventions that enable machine learning with artificial neural networks”. Page 28  Prize amount: 11 million Swedish kronor will be shared equally between the laureates. DAVID BAKER, DEMISHASSABIS, AND JOHN JUMPER WON NOBEL PRIZE IN CHEMISTRY 2024 American biochemist David Baker, Demis Hassabis, the Chief Executive Office (CEO ) of DeepMind Technologies Limited, a subsidiary of Google, and American chemist John Jumper were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2024 by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm, Sweden on 9th October 2024. The Nobel Prize is awarded to David Baker “for computational protein design” and to Demis Hassabis and John Jumper “for protein structure prediction”. Prize amount: 11 million Swedish kronor, with one half to David Baker and the other half jointly to Demis Hassabis and John Jumper. FORMER INDIAN SPINNER NEETU DAVID ALONG WITH AB DE VILLERS, ALASTAIR COOK INDUCTED INTO ICC HALL OF FAME Former Indian spinner Neetu Lawrence David, along with South Africa’s legendary cricketer Abraham Benjamin de Villiers and former England Cricket team Captain Sir Alastair Nathan Cook were inducted into the International Cricket Council (ICC)’s Hall of Fame as the Class of 2024. With this, Alastair Cook, Neetu David and AB de Villiers became 113rd, 114th and 115th inductee in the long list of cricket legends in the Hall of Fame. The Class of 2024 will held in Dubai, the United Arab of Emirates (UAE), which will coincide with the conclusion of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. About International Cricket Council (ICC): Chairman- Greg Barclay Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Geoffrey John Allardice Headquarters- Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) SOUTH KOREAN NOVELIST HAN KANG WON NOBEL PRIZE IN LITERATURE 2024 South Korean writer & novelist Han Kang won the Nobel Prize in Literature 2024 “for her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life.” She became the first South Korean to win a Nobel prize in literature and the 2nd Nobel laureate from South Korea after Former South Korean President Kim Dae Jung, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000. Page 29  The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm, Sweden announced the award on 10th October 2024. PRITPAL KAUR SELECTED AS ‘2024 IACP 40 UNDER 40’ FOR EXEMPLIFYING LEADERSHIP AND LAW ENFORCEMENT The United States of America (USA) based International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) selected an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Pritpal Kaur, Superintendent of Police (SP) of the Phek district (Nagaland) for ‘2024 IACP 40 Under 40’ award. She is the only Indian selected for this year award. PritpalKaur is among 40 police officers selected from 6 countries around the world for the award. She has been invited to Boston, Massachusetts (the USA) to receive the ‘2024 IACP 40 Under 40’ award on October 22, 2024. About IACP 40 Under 40 Award: i.The professionals chosen as the ‘40 Under 40’ awardees represent the rising leaders of policing, regardless of rank or title, and have served their agencies, colleagues, and communities with excellence, whether they are professional staff, patrol officers, investigators, supervisors, or chiefs of police. ii.Each winner was chosen for demonstrating strong values, leadership capability, and commitment to the law enforcement field. About PritpalKaur: i.PritpalKaur is a 2016 batch IPS officer and a social contributor. She was a dentist and won the gold medal in dentistry. ii.Earlier, she had served as the police chief of the Noklak and Longeng districts in Nagaland. Awards: She has won several awards, including International Inspiration Women Award (2023), Skoch Gold Award (2023), Director General of Police(DGP) Disc Award, Women Power India Award (2023), and Global Women Leader Award (2024). TN CM M.K. STALIN HONOURED WITH ASIA HRD LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin (MK Stalin), Chief Minister (CM) of Tamil Nadu (TN), was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement award by the Asia Human Resource Development (Asia HRD) Academy in recognistion of his exceptional contributions to Human Resource (HR) management. The award was presented by FahmiJowder, Former Minister of Bahrain and Chairman of Asia HRD Award Committee and Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik, Vice Chairman of Asia HRD Awards Committee, and former President of Maldives, at the Chief Secretariat in Chennai, TN. About Asia HRD Awards: i.The Awards are presented in 5 categories – Lifetime Achievement, Contribution to Society, Contribution to Organisation, Contribution to HR Community, Movers and Shakers — of which, each has its own set of criteria. Page 30 ii.The recipients of each category are decided based on the detailed biography, occupation and achievement record of the nominees. JAPANESE NGO NIHON HIDANKYO WON THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE 2024 Japanese Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots movement of Hibakusha- the atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2024 by the Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo, Norway. The award recognised their efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons and for demonstrating through witness testimony that nuclear weapons must never be used again. Prize Amount: 11 million Swedish Kronor. Note: The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded on the day of Alfred Nobel’s death, the 10th of December, a time-honoured tradition since 1901. FORTUNE RELEASED THE 2024 100 MOST POWERFUL WOMEN IN BUSINESS; TOPPED BY MARY BARRA On 2nd October 2024, Fortune, an American global business magazine, released the latest list of ‘2024 100 Most Powerful Women (MPW) in Business’, which has featured 100 leading business women across various sectors of business such as: finance, technology, health care, telecommunication, retail, energy, and other industries. It is the 27th edition of the Fortune MPW in business, and has featured women from 6 continents, 19 countries and territories, and 14 different industries. i.Mary Barra, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the United States of America (USA)-based General Motors (GM) has topped the 2024 MPW in Business list and has featured on the list for the 13th time. ii.As per the latest rankings, Karen S. Lynch, President and CEO of Customer Value Store (CVS) Health Corporation, a leading health solution company in the USA, has been ranked at 2nd position globally, followed by Jane Fraser, CEO of Citigroup Inc., a multinational investment bank and financial services company based in the New York City, the USA, Julie Sweet, Chair and CEO of Accenture Plc (the USA) ranked at 3rd and 4th position respectively. DARON ACEMOGLU; SIMON JOHNSON; & JAMES A. ROBINSON WON THE SVERIGES RIKSBANK PRIZE IN ECONOMIC SCIENCES 2024 The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has honoured Turkish-American economist, DaronAcemoglu; British American economist, Simon Johnson; and British economist and political scientist, James A. Robinson with the SverigesRiksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2024 on 14th October 2024. Page 31  They were awarded “for studies of how institutions are formed and affect prosperity”. Prize amount: 11 million Swedish kronor, to be shared equally between the laureates. MUKESH AMBANI TOPS FORBES’ INDIA’S 100 RICHEST 2024 LIST; GAUTAM ADANI RANKED 2ND Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), has retained the top spot on Forbes India’s 100 Richest 2024 List with an estimated net worth of USD 119.5 billion across diversified assets, up by USD 27.5 billion compared to USD 92 billion in 2023. Gautam Adani, Chairman of Adani Group , was ranked 2nd on the list with an estimated net worth of USD 116 billion. He is followed by Savitri Jindal, the matriarch of the OP Jindal Group, jumped by 1 place to 3rd position on the list for the 1st time with a net worth of USD 43.7 billion, up by USD 19.7 billion from 2023. Biggest Gainers: i.Gautam Adani’s net worth increased to USD 116 billion in 2024, an increase of USD 48 billion compared to his 2023 net worth. This is the highest increase by any Indian in a year. ii.Mukesh Ambani is the 2nd biggest gainer on the list. His net worth increased by USD 27.5 billion compared to his 2023 net worth. Page 32  Sports LAY’S NAMED OFFICIAL SPONSOR OF FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 & FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP 2027 Lay’s, a global snack brand owned by Frito-Lay, Inc., becomes the official sponsor for the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) World Cup 2026 and FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027. This marks a global extension of Frito-Lay’s successful role as a Regional Supporter for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and Tournament Supporter for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. FIFA World Cup 2026 will be the 1st edition to feature 48 teams and will be hosted across 3 countries, Canada, Mexico, and the United States of America (USA). The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 will be held in Brazil in 2027. i.The sponsorship aims to bring fans closer to the game through exclusive experiences, merchandise, and consumer activations. ii.Lay’s will introduce “Fan of the Match” recognition at every match of both tournaments, rewarding fans with unique experiences. iii.The partnership includes not just Lay’s, but also other Frito-Lay brands like Doritos, Cheetos, Tostitos, Ruffles, Cracker Jack, PopCorners, Quaker, and Gamesa. Note: Texas (the USA)-based Frito-Lay, Inc. is a packaged snack food company and a subsidiary of PepsiCo. DWAYNE BRAVO RETIRES FROM ALL FORMS OF CRICKET; JOINS KKR AS MENTOR West Indies cricketer Dwayne Bravo(40-year-old), two-time Men’s Twenty20 (T20) World Cup winner, has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. He retired from international cricket in 2021. He has completed a 21-year journey in the field of cricket. His final appearance was cut short by an injury during the 2024 Caribbean Premier League (CPL). Dwayne Bravo joins KKR as Mentor; Replaced GautamGambhir Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), a professional franchise cricket team of the Indian Premier League (IPL), has announced Dwayne Bravo as KKR’s new mentor succeeding Gautam Gambhir. GautamGambhir, who led the KKR since since 2014, was appointed as the head coach of India national cricket team for 3 years (till 2027).. Bravo has previously worked as the bowling coach of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). About Dwayne Bravo i.Dwayne John Bravo made his One Day International (ODI) debut in 2004 and T20I debut in 2006. He served as the limited-overs captain of West Indies from 2013 to 2014. Page 33 ii.In domestic cricket, Bravo has played for his native Trinidad and Tobago since 2002. iii.He was a key member of the West Indies team that won the International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy 2004 and the ICC World T20 World Cup in 2012 and 2016. iv.He has played 582 T20 matches, taken 631 wickets, and scored nearly 7,000 runs. IPL Carrer: i. As a part of the IPL team CSK, he has also won four IPL titles in different roles – 2011, 2018, 2021 as a player and 2023 as a coach. He has also played for other IPL teams such as Mumbai Indians (2008, 2009, 2010) and Gujarat Lions (2016). ii..He is the third-highest wicket-taker in IPL history with 183 wickets and also the first player to win two purple caps in the tournament, in 2013 and 2015. BANGLADESH TOUR OF INDIA TEST SERIES 2024: INDIA WON THE 2-MATCH SERIES The Bangladesh cricket team captained by NajmulHossainShanto are touring India in September and October 2024 to play against India. The tour includes 2 Test matches and 3 Twenty20 International (T20I) matches. Indian Men’s Cricket team captained by Rohit Sharma won the Two-match test series against Bangladesh (2-0). This marks Team India’s 180th win in Test history. With this, India secured the 4th Place in the list of most Test wins. the list is topped by Australia (414) followed by England (397) and West Indies (183). INDIA IS SET TO HOST THE INAUGURAL KHOKHO WORLD CUP IN 2025 The KhoKho Federation of India (KKFI), in association with the International KhoKho Federation, announced that India is set to host the inaugural KhoKho World Cup in 2025 and will feature 16 men’s and women’s teams from 24 countries and six continents. i.The aim of the KhoKho World Cup 2025 is to elevate this indigenous Indian sport to an international stage and to unite nations, promote cultural exchange, and showcase the beauty and intensity of KhoKho to the world. ii.The tournament will feature a week-long series of matches, with top-tier athletes from across the globe demonstrating their skills, agility, and teamwork. iii.The KKFI aspires to secure KhoKho’s place in the 2032 Olympic Games. 2024-25 IRANI CUP: MUMBAI CRICKET TEAM WON THE TITLE FOR 15TH TIME Mumbai Cricket team captained by AjinkyaRahane won the 2024–25 Irani Cup, the 61st edition of the first-class cricket tournament in India, by defeating the Rest of India Team captained by RuturajGaikwad, based on the first-innings lead. This marks Mumbai’s 15th Irani Cup title and the first title since 1997. Page 34  The 2024–25 Irani Cup was held from 1st to 5th October 2024 at the Bharat RatnaAtalBihari Vajpayee Eakana Stadium in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh(UP). About Irani Cup: i.TheIrani Cup, also known as the IDFC First Bank Irani Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is annually organised by the BCCI. ii.Irani Cup is an annual first-class cricket tournament played between the Ranji Trophy champions and the multi-state Rest of India team which includes players from other state teams. iii.The first edition was played in March 1960 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Ranji Trophy. Highlights of 2024-25 Irani Cup: i.Mumbai won the tournament through their first innings lead over the Rest of India on the 5th and final day. ii.Mumbai made a total of 537 runs and 329/8 declared in 78 overs and stopped the Rest of India at 416 runs in total. iii.Sarfaraz Khan (Mumbai) was declared the Player of the Match. BIHAR CM NITISH KUMAR UNVEILS LOGO, MASCOT FOR WOMEN’S ASIAN CHAMPIONS TROPHY-2024 Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister (CM) of Bihar, unveiled the Logo and mascot named “Gudiya” of the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy-2024 which is scheduled to be held from 11th to 20th November 2024 in Rajgir, Bihar. Note: The Bihar cabinet has scanctionedRs 10 crore to Hockey India for hosting the 2024 Championship. About Mascot – Gudiya: i.Gudiya is the term of endearment in Bihar for young girls. ii.The Mascot is inspired by the house sparrow, an endangered species and the state bird of Bihar. It represents resilience, strength, and natural heritage. iii.Gudiya, holding a hockey stick, symbolizes the sport, while the goalkeeper’s glove and nearby hockey ball represent strategy and teamwork, emphasizing the government’s commitment to women’s empowerment. About Logo: i.The logo featurs the Bodhi tree and a hockey stick. ii.The Bodhi tree symbolizes knowledge, power, harmony, tolerance, and development, connecting people to Bihar’s rich spiritual and cultural history, while the hockey stick represents India’s national sport. About Women’s Asian Champions Trophy-2024: i.2024 Women’s Asian Champions Trophy is the 8th edition of the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy, a biennial field hockey tournament for the six best Asian women’s national teams. ii.The event was orgnised by Hockey India and Bihar Governemnt with the support from the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF). iii.Participating countries– India(host and defending champion), China, Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan. Page 35 INDIAN OLYMPIAN GYMNAST DIPA KARMAKAR ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT Dipa Karmakar, India’s first female gymnastics Olympian, announced her retirement from professional competition at the age of 31. She had a career of 25 years in this professional sport. About Dipa Karmakar: i.Dipa Karmakar won a bronze medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the United Kingdom (UK), becoming the first Indian female gymnast to do so in the Commonwealth Games. ii.She also won a bronze at the Asian Championships and secured the 5th spot at the 2015 World Championships at Glasgow both of which were the first time for any Indian athlete. iii.Dipa represented India in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil becoming the 1st Indian female gymnast ever to compete in the Olympics. She secured 4th place in the vault. She was also the first Indian gymnast in any discipline to compete at the Olympics since the 1964 Summer Olympics. At 2016 Olympic games, She became the 5th woman in gymnastics history to successfully execute the challenging Produnova vault. Awards: The government of India(GoI) has honoured her with Padma Shri (Sports) in 2017; Arjuna Award (Gymnastics) in 2015 and Major Dhyan Chand KhelRatna Award in 2016. SPANISH TENNIS PLAYER RAFAEL NADAL ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT AFTER 2024 SEASON On 10th October, 2024, Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal (38 years old) announced that he will be retiring from professional tennis at the end of 2024. Nadal’s final tournament will be the Davis Cup 2024 which is scheduled to be held in November 2024 in Malaga, Spain. About Rafael Nadal: i.Rafael Nadal started his professional career in 2001 at just 15 years of age. He has won a total of 92 Singles career titles including 22 Grand Slam, 11 doubles and 6 team titles. ii.He became the world No. 1 for the first time in 2008 after defeating Roger Federer in a 2008 Wimbledon final. iii.In 2008, He completed the Career Golden Slam at the age of 24 and became the youngest male player to achieve the feat. He is the only player to achieve Career Golden Slam and win Olympic gold in singles and doubles history. Olympic: i.He won the gold medal in Tennis: Men’s singles event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics ii.He won his 2nd gold medal in men’s doubles, paired with Marc López (Spain) at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Golden Slam: “Golden Slam” means winning all four Grand Slam titles and an Olympic gold. The other players who have completed the Golden Slam are Serena Williams, Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf and Novak Djokovic. Major Titles: Page 36 i.4 Davis Cup – 2004, 2009, 2011, 2019. ii.22 Grand Slam Singles – Australian Open (2009, 2022); French Open (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022); Wimbledon (2008, 2010); US Open (2010, 2013, 2017, 2019). Note: As of 2024, Rafael Nadal had won the most French Open titles, with a total of 14. Awards and Honours: i.ITF World Champion – 2008, 2010, 2017, 2019, 2022. ii.ATP Player of the Year – 2008, 2010, 2013, 2017, 2019. ICC WOMEN’S T20 WORLD CUP 2024: NEW ZEALAND WON ITS MAIDEN TITLE BY DEFEATING SOUTH AFRICA New Zealand’s Women’s Cricket team won their first–ever International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s Twenty20 (T20) World Cup title, by defeating South Africa’s Women’s cricket team by 32 runs in the finals of the ICC Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup 2024 held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, The United Arab Emirates (UAE). New Zealand restricted South Africa to 126-9 in 20 overs against its 158-5 in the finals. This marks New Zealand’s first victory since its One Day International (ODI) World Cup 2000. The 9th edition of the ICC Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup (2024) was held from 3rd to 20th October 2024 in Dubai and Sharjah in the UAE. The New Zealand team (known as Kiwis) was captained by Sophie Devine and South Africa Team (known as Proteas) was captained by Laura Wolvaardt. Cash Prize & Awards: i.The winning team (New Zealand) received a cash prize of USD 2.34 million (Rs 19.6 crore). ii.The first runners-up South Africa received USD 1.17 million (Rs 9.8 crore). iii.Player of the tournament(POT): Amelia Kerr (New Zealand) iv.Player of the match(POM) (Finals): Amelia Kerr Key Highlights: i.Amelia Kerr became the 1st player in history to bag both the POT and POM in the Women’s T20 World Cup. FORMULA 1: FERRARI’S CHARLES LECLERC WON THE 2024 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc (Monaco) won the title at the Formula 1(F1) United States (US) Grand Prix (GP) 2024 held on 20th October 2024 in the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, The United States of America(USA). This marks Charles Leclerc’s 3rd title of the 2024 season after Italy GP and Monaco GP. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz finished 2nd and Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT’s Max Verstappen finished 3rd. Note: US GP 2024 was the 19th round of the 2024 Formula One World Championship. Page 37 Result: Position Winners Team 1 Charles Leclerc (Monaco) Ferrari 2 Carlos Sainz (Spain) Ferrari 3 Max Verstappen (Netherlands) Red Bull Key Highlights i. This also marks Ferrari’sfirst US GP victory since 2018. Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari won the US GP 2018. ii.Max Verstappen currently leads the 2024 F1 Drivers’ Standings followed by Lando Norris (McLaren Mercedes) in the 2nd spot and Charles Leclerc on the 3rd spot. About the United States (US) Grand Prix (GP): i.The United States Grand Prix dates back to 1908, when it was known as the American Grand Prize at Savannah, Georgia. Page 38  Obituaries OSCAR WINNING BRITISH ACTOR & HARRY PORTER STAR DAME MAGGIE SMITH PASSED AWAY British actor Dame Maggie Smith, a double Oscar winner who is well known for her role as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter film series, passed away at the age of 89 in London, the United Kingdom (UK). She was born as ‘Margaret Natalie Smith’ on 28th December 1934 in Ilford, Essex, UK. About Dame Maggie Smith: i.Maggie Smith made her acting debut in 1952 in an uncredited role in the British drama ‘Child in the House’. ii.She made her professional debut in 1956 at the Oxford Playhouse, playing Viola in Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night”. iii.She was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire, the equivalent of a knight, by the late Queen Elizabeth II in 1990. Noted Works and Awards: i.She won the Academy Awards (Oscars) for Best Actress for “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” (1969) and Best Supporting Actress for “California Suite” (1978) ii.She has also won 3 Golden Globe awards which includes Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical for “California Suite”; Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture for “A Room with a View” (1986) and Best Supporting Actress – Television for “Downton Abbey”. iii.She won the 5 The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards PADMA AWARDEE RATAN TATA, CHAIRMAN EMERITUS OF TATA SONS PASSED AWAY Veteran Indian Industrialist & Philanthropist Ratan Naval Tata, Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons, passed away at the age of 86 at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai, Maharashtra. He was born on 28th December, 1937 in Bombay Presidency, British India (now known as Mumbai ). About Ratan Tata: i.He started his career with Tata Group in 1961 by joining the Tata Steel as shop floor manager. ii.In 1971, he was appointed as the director-in-charge of National Radio and Electronics, a company within Tata Group. iii.Following the retirement of Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy (J.R.D.) Tata, he was appointed as the chairman of Tata Sons in 1991 and held that post till 2012, with an interim role in 2016- 17. During his tenure as chairman of Tata Sons, the conglomerate experienced a remarkable transformation and has expanded significantly to over USD 100 billion in revenue by the time he retired in 2012. iv.He led major global acquisitions, including British tea giant Tetley (2000), the British steelmaker Corus(2007) and luxury carmaker Jaguar Land Rover (2008). v.Under the leadership of Ratan Tata, Tata Motors launched Tata Indica, India’s 1st Page 39 indigenously designed passenger car in 1998. Awards and Recognition: i.Ratan Tata was honoured with Padma Bhushan, India’s 3rd highest civilian honour in 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan, India’s 2nd highest civilian honour in 2008 by the Government of India (GoI) for his exceptional contribution to trade and industry. ii.He was bestowed with the Oslo Business for Peace Award in 2010. iii.In 2014, Queen Elizabeth II conferred him with the prestigious Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire, one of the highest civilian honours in the United Kingdom (UK). iv.In 2020, the Government of Singapore awarded him the Honorary Citizen Award, acknowledging his influence and contributions to their society. v.He also honoured with Assam Baibhav in 2022 and Maharashtra Bhushan in 2006. RENOWNED INDIAN ENGLISH POET & FORMER IPS OFFICER KEKI N. DARUWALLA PASSED AWAY Padma Shri Awardee Keki N. Daruwalla, a former Indian Police Services (IPS) officer and a celebrated English Poet, passed away in September 2024, at the age of 87 in New Delhi, Delhi. He was born on 24th January 1937 in Lahore, British India (now in Pakistan). Daruwalla, a 1958 batch IPS officer of the Uttar Pradesh(UP) Cadre, joined the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) and was later promoted to the rank of secretary, R&AW. He retired in 1995 as the chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee(JIC) and later served as a member of the National Commission for Minorities between 2011 and 2014. i.He published his first book of poetry, “Under Orion” in 1970. ii.He received the UP State Award for his 2nd book titled “Apparition in April” in 1972. iii.He received the SahityaAkademi Award (English) in 1984 for “The Keeper of the Dead (Poetry)”. iv.The government of India(GoI) honoured him with the Padma Shri Award (Literature and Education) in 2014. BABA SIDDIQUE SHOT DEAD BY CONTRACT KILLERS The Mumbai Police on Sunday confirmed that the murder of NCP leader and former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique was a contract killing incident. The police are probing the possible involvement of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, as the arrested accused have allegedly claimed they belong to the group, according to sources. The police officials said that their teams are tracing the mastermind behind the murder. The probe has also found that the murder was a pre-planned one and the accused were paid in advance and got delivered their weapons a few days ago. The 66-year-old leader was shot dead while leaving his office for his residence in Bandra West on Saturday night. A total of six rounds of bullets were fired at Baba Siddique, three of which hit him. The NCP leader was declared dead upon being brought to the hospital. Page 40  Important Days with theme WORLD MARITIME DAY 2024 – SEPTEMBER 26 The United Nations (UN)’s World Maritime Day(WMD) is annually observed across the globe on the last Thursday of September to celebrate the importance of maritime activities and to recognise the contribution of the maritime industry towards global development. World Maritime Day 2024 was observed on 26th September 2024. The theme of World Maritime Day 2024 is “Navigating the future: safety first!”. The annual observance of WMD is led by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Background: i.The World Maritime Day was first celebrated on 17th March 1978, to mark the date of the IMO Convention’s entry into force in 1958. ii.Since 1978, the WMD has been celebrated across the globe during the last Thursday of September. About International Maritime Organization (IMO): Secretary-General– Arsenio Dominguez Headquarters– London, The United Kingdom Established– 1958 WORLD TOURISM DAY 2024 – SEPTEMBER 27 The United Nations (UN)’s World Tourism Day (WTD) is annually observed across the world on 27th September to create awareness about the importance of tourism. The day also promotes tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development and environmental sustainability and offers leadership 27th September 2024 marks the observance of the 44th World Tourism Day. The annual observance of WTD is led by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN WTO or UN Tourism). The theme for World Tourism Day 2024 is ‘Tourism and Peace’. The UN WTO has chosen Georgia as the host country of WTD 2024. Background: i.During its 3rd session held in 1979 in Torremolinos, Spain, the UN WTO decided to institute World Tourism Day. ii.The first-ever WTD was observed on 27th September 1980. About United Nations World Tourism Organization(UN WTO): The UN WTO / UN Tourism is the UN agency responsible for promoting responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism. Page 41 WORLD HEART DAY – SEPTEMBER 29 2024 World Heart Day (WHD) is annually observed across the world on 29th September to create awareness about cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) including heart disease & stroke and to promote actions to prevent, detect and manage CVD. The theme of World Heart Day 2024 is “Use Heart for Action”. Background: i.The Idea of World Heart Day(WHD) was introduced by AntoniBaie de Luna, former President of the WHF (1997-1999). ii.In collaboration with the World Health Organization(WHO), World Heart Day was officially est