NATIONAL NEWS

Himachal Pradesh CM Launches Sankalp Initiative to Tackle Drug Menace

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has launched a state government initiative, ‘Sankalp', to tackle drug trafficking and support the rehabilitation of drug addicts in the state.

The Sankalp initiative was announced by the chief minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, at an event organised by Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan in the state capital, Shimla, on 6 October 2024.

The state government will set up a state-level model of de-addiction and rehabilitation center under the Sankalp initiative at Kotla Barog in the Pachhad subdivision of the Sirmaur district.

The model center will assist drug addicts in de-addiction and help them reintegrate into mainstream society.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced that the state government has set a goal of making Himachal Pradesh a Green Energy State by 31 March 2026.

A green hydrogen plant with a capacity of one megawatt is being set up in Nalagarh, which is expected to be operational by July 2025.

The state government is also setting up a Center of Excellence at Kandaghat in Solan district to provide higher education to 9,000 specially-abled children in the state.

Under the Ekal Nari scheme of the state government, free education is being provided to 23,000 children of widows and single women.

Assam Chief Minister Sets Target to Eliminate Child Marriage By 2026

Assam Chief Minister (CM) Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the government's target to eradicate child marriage in Assam by 2026.

The announcement coincided with the disbursement of the first instalment under the Mukha Mantri Nijut Moina scheme, which provides monthly financial assistance to girls pursuing higher education.

The scheme has a projected outlay of ₹1,500 crore and aims to benefit 10 lakh girl students. Girls must remain unmarried until they complete their degree courses to qualify for the payments.

The scheme excludes daughters of Ministers, MPs, and MLAs.

Beneficiaries will receive ₹1,000 for class XII, ₹1,250 for the first year of graduation, and ₹2,500 for the first year of post-graduation for 10 months.

Payments will be credited to students' accounts on the 11th of every month, starting in November.

The scheme aims to alleviate the economic burden on parents or guardians, thereby encouraging girls to pursue higher education and combat child marriage.

Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh Collaborate to Develop 8 GW Solar Power Projects

Madhya Pradesh (MP) and Uttar Pradesh (UP) governments have partnered to develop 8 gigawatts (GW) of solar power plants.

This renewable energy initiative marks a unique collaboration between two Indian states for solar power development.

The solar power generated will be shared between MP and UP, alternating every six months based on peak demand seasons:

Madhya Pradesh: Peak demand from October to March (aligned with the rabi crop season).

Uttar Pradesh: Peak demand from April to September (aligned with the kharif crop season).

Initial Phase: A 2 GW solar project will be developed in the first phase, with Morena (MP) identified as a potential site.

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Mr.Joseph R.Biden Hosts Sixth Quad Leaders’ Summit

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. hosted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia, Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India in Wilmington, Delaware, for the 6th Quad or Quadrilateral Security Dialogue Leaders’ Summit.

The grouping of four democracies –India, Australia, US and Japan is known as the quadrilateral security dialogue or quad.

The aim of this grouping is to ensure a free and open international order based on the rule of law in the Indo-Pacific.

Over the past four years, Quad Leaders have met six times, including twice virtually.

The Quad is launching the historic Quad Cancer Moonshot, a collective effort to leverage public and private resources to reduce the number of lives lost to cancer in the Indo-Pacific, with an initial focus on cervical cancer.

The Quad leaders announced the Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific (MAITRI) to help regional partners effectively utilize tools from the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) and other Quad initiatives.

IPMDA is a cooperative initiative that aims to improve maritime awareness and response capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region.

 

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Government Allocates ₹1,000 Crore Venture Fund for Space Startups

The Indian government has earmarked ₹1,000 crore for a Venture Fund dedicated to space startups, as announced by Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, during a media briefing.

This initiative is part of the first 100 days of the Modi 3.0 government, highlighting the government's commitment to prioritizing the space sector.

The space sector is identified as one of the top priorities of the government in its third term (3.0).

Four years ago, a revolutionary step was taken to open the space sector to private players.

New India Space Limited (NISL) was established as a new PSU, and IN-SPACe India serves as the interface with the private sector.

The government allows 100% FDI in the space sector, providing a significant boost to new initiatives and entrepreneurs.

Space technology is increasingly contributing to various sectors, including agriculture, infrastructure, urban development, and healthcare.

 

DEFENCE

92nd Indian Air Force Day Celebration at Marina Beach, Chennai

The Indian Air Force celebrated its 92nd foundation day on 8 October 2024 with a grand show at Marina Beach in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

The Indian Air Force was founded by the British on 8 October 1932. Air Force Day is observed to honour the sacrifice of Indian Air Force personnel, celebrate the Indian Air Force's achievements, and acknowledge its role in protecting and safeguarding the nation's skies from enemies.

The Union Defence Ministry traditionally celebrated Air Force Day at the Hindon Air Base in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.

However, in 2022, the Narendra Modi government decided that the celebration would be rotated across the country every year.

In 2022, the Air Force Day Celebration was held at Chandigarh Air Base.

The 2023 Air Force Day was held at the Prayagraj Air Base, Uttar Pradesh.

The Indian Air Force theme for the 2024 Air Force Day is 'Bhartiya Vayu Sena: Saksham, Sashakt, Atmanirbhar” (potent, powerful, and self-reliant).'

Malabar Maritime Exercise 2024

Maritime Exercise Malabar 2024 is scheduled to take place from 08 to 18 October 2024, beginning with the Harbour Phase in Visakhapatnam, followed by the Sea Phase.

Hosted by India, 2024 exercise will see the participation of Australia, Japan, and the United States of America.

Exercise Malabar originated in 1992 as a bilateral naval drill between the United States and the Indian Navy.

It has since evolved into a key multilateral event aimed at enhancing interoperability and addressing shared maritime challenges in the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific regions.

 

AWARDS & PRIZES

48th Vayalar Ramavarma Memorial Literary Award

Ashokan Charuvil has been awarded the 48th Vayalar Ramavarma Memorial Literary Award for his novel Kattoorkadavu.

This prestigious award, established by the Vayalar Ramavarma Trust, includes a cash prize of ₹1 lakh and a sculpture crafted by renowned artist Kanayi Kunhiraman.

The committee reviewed around 300 books in the initial screening, with six books making it to the final selection round.

Kattoorkadavu delves into the social and political upheavals experienced by a village affected by floods.

Charuvil is also known for his award-winning works, including Oru Rathrikku Oru Pakal, Amazon, and Parichitha Gandhangal.

The award ceremony is set to take place at the Nishagandhi auditorium on October 27.

 

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

President of Tunisia

Tunisian President Kais Saied has been reelected for the second time for a five-year term.

The Independent High Authority for Elections of Tunisia (ISIE) announced the election result on 7 October 2024, with President Saied securing 90.7 per cent of the votes polled.

In the 2019 Presidential election, which Kais Saied won, the voter turnout was 55 per cent.

In the recent Presidential election, two other candidates were Chaab Party leader Zouhair Maghzaoui and businessman Ayachi Zammel.

New Chancellor of Gokhale Institute, Pune

Sanjeev Sanyal, an economist and member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM), has been appointed as the new chancellor of Pune's Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (GIPE).

His term will begin on October 7, 2024, and last for five years.

Bibek Debroy, chairperson of the EAC-PM, resigned from the chancellorship of GIPE amid controversy over the removal of the institute’s Vice-Chancellor (V-C), Ajit Ranade.

Sanyal served as the Principal Economic Adviser to the Finance Minister for five years until February 2022.

He co-authored six economic surveys of the Indian government between 2017 and 2022.

 

SPORTS

ISSF Junior World Championships 2024 Medal Tally

India finished at the top of the medal tally at the 4th ISSF Junior World Championships 2024 with 24 medals -13 golds, three silvers, and eight bronzes.

Italy, with 13 medals-five gold, four silver and five bronze, came second, while Norway came third with 10 medals-four gold, three silver and three bronze.

The 2024 ISSF Junior World Championships, organised by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) and hosted by Peru, was held in Lima, the capital of Peru, from 26 September to 7 October 2024.

Five hundred fifty-three shooters from 53 countries participated in the 2024 ISSF Junior World Championship, with India sending the largest contingent, 61 shooters.

The Indian medal account at the 2024 ISSF Junior World Championship was opened by Kanak, who won the bronze medal in the women’s 10m air pistol individual event.

Mane Parth Prakash won India's first individual gold medal in the Championships. He won the gold medal in the men’s 10m Air Rifle event.

Mukesh Nelavalli won six medals at the Championships: one individual gold, three golds in team events, and two individual bronze medals.

The Indian shooter won 15 medals in the individual event: 5 gold,3 silver, and 5 bronze. In the team event, they won 11 medals: 8 gold and 3 bronze.

 

OBITUTARY

Malayalam Actor Mohan Raj, Known for His Role as 'Keerikkadan Jose

Veteran actor Mohan Raj, popularly known by his stage name Keerikkadan Jose, passed away at the age of 70.

Mohan gained fame for his iconic villainous role as "Keerikkadan Jose" in the film Kireedam, starring Mohanlal.

Over a career spanning more than three decades, Mohan Raj appeared in over 300 films across different languages.

His notable works include Uppukandam Brothers, Chenkol, Aaram Thampuran, and Narasimham, among others.

He widely recognized for his impactful portrayal of villain characters, leaving a lasting legacy in Malayalam cinema.