NATIONAL NEWS

QCI hosts 3^rd ICSTS

· The Quality Council of India (QCI), an autonomous organization of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry hosted the 3rd International Convention on Sustainable Trade and Standards (ICSTS) in New Delhi.

· ICSTS, a two-day event, has been organized by the India National Platform on Private Sustainability Standards (India PSS Platform) and hosted by QCI in collaboration with the United Nations Forum on Sustainability Standards (UNFSS).

·The ICSTS aims to raise awareness and foster dialogue on the challenges and opportunities of voluntary sustainability standards (VSS), which are tools to improve the environmental and social aspects of global value chains.

·Sustainability Standards are special rules that guarantee the products you buy do not hurt the environment and the people who make them.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

World Telecommunication Standardisation Assembly

·         India is set to host the prestigious World Telecommunication Standardisation Assembly (WTSA) in 2024.

·         It will mark a significant step towards the advancements of 5G and 6G networks. 

·         Union Communication and IT Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, made this announcement at the India Mobile Congress 2023, emphasizing the country’s growing importance in the global technology landscape.

·         It is one of the three world conferences organized by the International Telecommunication Union, an entity within the United Nations system.

·          This event plays a pivotal role in setting global telecommunication standards, making India’s hosting of the WTSA a significant milestone.

SPORTS

Suyash Jadhav Received Asian Para Games Gold Medal

·         Suyash Jadhav, an Indian para swimmer, revealed his experience obtaining the Asian Para Games gold medal autographed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

·         Suyash was the sole Indian swimmer to earn a medal in the Hangzhou - Asian Para Games in October 2023.

·         Suyash received a bronze medal from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Hangzhou, China. 

·         Suyash Yadav is a swimmer in the S7 category.

RANKS, INDICES & REPORTS

State Food Safety Index 2022- 2023

·         The State Food Safety Index (SFSI) 2022- 2023 released by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) sheds light on the performance of Indian states in ensuring food safety.

·         The 2022- 2023 index introduced a new parameter, 'Improvement in SFSI Rank', which assessed a state's progress from the previous year. To accommodate this change, weights of other parameters were adjusted.

·         Over the past five years, 19 out of 20 large Indian states, including Maharashtra, Bihar, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh, have experienced a decline in their 2022 - 2023 SFSI scores compared to 2019.

·         After adjusting for a new parameter introduced in the 2022- 2023 index, 15 out of 20 states recorded lower SFSI scores in 2022 - 2023 compared to 2019.

·         States' Overall Rankings in their Respective Categories:

·         Union Territories-Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and Chandigarh secured first, second and third place respectively.

·         Small States- Goa, Manipur and Sikkim secured first, second and third place respectively.

·         Large States- Kerala, Punjab and Tamil Nadu secured first, second and third place respectively.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

BoB Appointed -Head Of Digital Channels

·         BOB appointed Kadgatoor Sheetal Venkatesmurt to take over the charge of digital lending in addition to her role as the head of digital channels and operations.

·         Bank of Baroda (BOB) is facing a significant change in its digital leadership as Akhil Handa, the head of digital lending, has decided to leave the organization.

·         Akhil Handa had been associated with Bank of Baroda since 2015 and played a pivotal role in shaping the bank’s digital strategy.

·         Handa was a key figure in the development of BOB’s mobile banking application ‘bob World,’ but his departure comes in the wake of regulatory restrictions  imposed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

·         The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently imposed curbs on BOB, preventing the bank from onboarding new customers on the ‘bob World’ mobile application. 

Chairman of Shree Somnath Trust

·         Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been elected as the chairman of the Shree Somnath Trust (SST) for a five-year term, marking a significant departure from the traditional one-year tenure for the trust’s chairman.

·         The decision, approved by the charity commissioner of Gujarat, underscores the importance of continuity and leadership in managing the iconic Somnath temple near Veraval.

·         Prior to this amendment, the chairman of the trust had served a one-year term.

DEFENCE

Exercise Poorvi Akash

·         The Eastern Air Command (EAC) of the Indian Air Force (IAF) is conducting its annual command-level exercise, 'Exercise Poorvi Akash' from October 30 to November 5. During this period, the Indian Air Force is fully demonstrating its readiness and capabilities.

·         The exercise holds special significance as it marks the first time the indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas has been deployed in the eastern region of India.

·         The primary objective of Exercise Poorvi Akash is to demonstrate the application of air power in all its roles.

·         This includes offensive and defensive operations, aerial reconnaissance and quick response to various threats, all being conducted both day and night, highlighting the IAF's ability to operate in a variety of conditions.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Biosphere Reserve Day 2023

·         International Biosphere Reserve Day is celebrated on 03 November.

·         The day highlights the critical importance of biosphere reserves(BR) in safeguarding our environment and promoting sustainability.

·         The day also aims to raise awareness, share best practices, and showcase achievements of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR).

·         The day was established by UNESCO in 2022.

OBITUTARY

NASA Apollo Astronaut Thomas Kenneth Mattingly II

·         Ken Mattingly, the renowned astronaut best known for his vital role in the safe return of the damaged Apollo 13 spacecraft to Earth, has passed away at the age of 87.

·         His contributions to space exploration, both on the ground and in orbit, have left an incredible mark on NASA’s history.

·         Being a former Navy pilot, he began his journey with NASA in 1966, dedicating himself to the cause of space exploration.

·         His early work included contributions to the development of the spacesuit and backpack used during the Apollo moon missions, showcasing his commitment to astronaut safety.