Daily Current Affairs October 15 & 16 2023 | Latest News | Download PDF

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CURRENT AFFAIRS : BANKING & FINANCE

RBI Imposes Penalties on Union Bank, RBL Bank, and Bajaj Finance for Non-Compliance of guidelines                  

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed penalties on Union Bank of India (UBI), RBL Bank (formerly known as Ratnakar Bank), and Bajaj Finance Limited for non-compliance with regulatory norms.

Penalty on Union Bank of India :

• Union Bank of India has been fined Rs 1 Crore for non-compliance with directions related to ‘Loans and Advances – Statutory and Other Restrictions.’
• The penalty on Union Bank of India is due to identified deficiencies in regulatory compliance.
• It does not determine the validity of any specific transactions or agreements with the bank’s customers.
• The RBI has imposed these penalties using the powers vested in it under Section 47 A (1) (c) in conjunction with Sections 46 (4) (i) and 51(1) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

Penalty on RBL Bank :

• RBL Bank has received a penalty of Rs 64 lakhs.
• This is because the bank failed to obtain an annual declaration in Form B from one of its major shareholders within one month of the close of the financial years ending on March 31, 2018, March 31, 2019, and March 31, 2020.

Penalty on Bajaj Finance Limited :

• Bajaj Finance Ltd has been penalised with a fine of Rs 8.5 lakh for non-compliance with the ‘Monitoring of Frauds in NBFCs (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2016.

About RBL Bank :

• Founded : 1943
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra
• MD & CEO : R. Subramania kumar

About UBI :

• Founded : 11 November 1919
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra
• MD & CEO : A. Manimekhalai

SEBI Extends Deadline for Companies to Authenticate Market Rumors by 4 Months

• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has extended the deadline for mandatory confirmation or denial of market rumours by listed companies.
• The deadline extension applies to the top 100 listed companies by market capitalization.
• It has been extended to February 1, 2024, from the previous deadline of October 1, 2023 (4 months) which is in effect at present.
• Similarly, for the top 250 listed entities, the rule will come into effect on August 1, 2024, rather than the previous requirement of April 1, 2024.
• The primary aim of this rule is to enhance the corporate governance of listed entities by ensuring transparency in dealing with market rumours.

Recent News :

• In June, 2023 SEBI introduced rules that required the listed companies with the highest market capitalization to confirm, deny, or provide clarifications regarding any market rumours reported in the mainstream media.

About SEBI :

• Established : 12 April 1988 as an executive body and was given statutory powers on 30 January 1992 through the SEBI Act, 1992
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Chairman : Madhabi Puri Buch (first woman to lead the SEBI)
• SEBI is the regulatory body for securities and commodity markets in India under the ownership of the Ministry of Finance (MoF), GoI.

ICICI Bank Introduces ‘iFinance’: A Unified View of Savings and Current Accounts from Multiple Banks

• ICICI Bank has introduced ‘iFinance,’ a service that allows millions of customers, including retail customers and sole proprietors, to access a consolidated view of their savings and current accounts in one place.
• This facility is not limited to ICICI Bank customers; even customers of other banks can benefit from ‘iFinance.’
• ICICI Bank leverages the Account Aggregator ecosystem to provide this service through its digital platforms, including the iMobile Pay app, Retail Internet Banking (RIB), Corporate Internet Banking (CIB), and InstaBIZ, the Bank’s mobile app for businesses.

About ‘iFinance’ :

• ‘iFinance’ offers a single-view dashboard for all linked accounts, allowing users to check their account balances, gain insights into their spending patterns, download statements, and more.
• The dashboard offers significant convenience to users and assists them to exercise better control over expenses and monitor their finances in a seamless manner.

The key features of ‘iFinance’ facility are:

• Linking and viewing of all accounts: Users can securely link their savings and current accounts with all banks and view account balances in one place
• Summary of income and expenditure: The facility allows users to get an insightful summary of their income and expenditure which helps them monitor their finances properly.
• Track spending / payments: Users can track their spending and get category-wise information on their expenses. This helps them in managing their expenses and overall financial health.
• Complete user control: The facility also provides increased convenience as the users can link and de-link accounts on a real-time basis
• Detailed statement(s): With this facility, users can also download consolidated account statement(s) of all linked Bank accounts

About ICICI Bank :

• Founded : 5 January 1994
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra
• MD & CEO : Sandeep Bakhshi

SIDBI Collaborates with Indian Post Payments Bank to Aid Rural and Informal Micro Enterprises

• Indian Post Payments Bank (IPPB), a division of the Indian Post, under the ownership of the Department of Post and Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), the principal financial institution for the promotion of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs have tied up to accelerate formal financial services in rural India and among smaller companies.
• The agreement is to leverage India Post’s deep connection with rural India and SIDBI’s lending and credit risk assessment models that could help millions get formal credit.
• Furthermore, the release states the announcement of a hackathon for Fintechs to be organised under the partnership for innovation in the financial services in rural areas to promote rural livelihood.

About IPPB :

• Founded : 1 September 2018
• Headquarters : New Delhi, Delhi, India
• MD & CEO : Venkatram Jayanthy

About SIDBI :

• Founded : 2 April 1990
• Headquarters : Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
• MD & CEO : Sivasubramanian Ramann
• SIDBI is the apex regulatory body for overall licensing and regulation of micro, small and medium enterprise finance companies in India.
• It is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance , Government of India (GoI).

Mudra Loans Experience Remarkable 38% Growth in H1, Reaching ₹1.92-Lakh Crore

• The disbursal of small business loans under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) achieved a remarkable 38% growth during the first half of the current financial year, which concluded in September 2023.

About PMMY :

• The Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY) was inaugurated in 2015 to provide easy collateral-free microcredit of up to Rs 10 lakh available to non-corporate, non-farm small and micro-entrepreneurs for income-generating activities.
• Loans under PMMY are made available by Member Lending Institutions (MLIs), which include banks, non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), microfinance institutions (MFIs), and other financial intermediaries.
• There are 3 types of loans under PMMY:

1. Shishu: Providing microcredit up to Rs. 50,000.
2. Kishore: Offering loans ranging from Rs. 50,001 to Rs. 5 lakh.
3. Tarun: Providing loans from Rs. 500,001 to Rs. 10,00,000.

• The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) plays a crucial role in implementing the PMMY scheme, facilitating access to microcredit for small and micro-entrepreneurs.

SEBI tweaks anti-money laundering guidelines

• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) tweaked guidelines pertaining to anti-money laundering standards, whereby partners holding a 10% stake in a firm will come under the definition of beneficial owners.
• Earlier, the requirement was 15%.
• This change is a response to the government’s amendment of the Prevention of Money Laundering (Maintenance of Records) Rules (PMLA rules) in September 2023.

Key Highlights :

• To ensure that registered intermediaries fulfil their legal obligations for reporting suspicious transactions, SEBI has designated the Principal Officer as the responsible individual for providing information to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-IND).
• Registered entities must provide the names, designations, and addresses of their Principal Officer, along with any changes, to the Office of the Director-FIU-IND.

What is FIU-IND?

• FIU-IND, the central national agency of India, is responsible for receiving, processing, analysing, and disseminating information related to suspect financial transactions.
• The Indian government has been strengthening anti-money laundering provisions in preparation for an assessment by the global watchdog on terror financing and money laundering, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
• In March 2023 the PMLA rules were amended making it mandatory for banks and financial institutions to record financial transactions of politically exposed persons.
• Also, financial institutions or reporting agencies were mandated to collect information about the financial transactions of the non-profit organisations or NGOs under the PMLA.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya lays the foundation stone and inaugurates infrastructure projects under PM-ABHIM, NHM and XV-FC Health Grants

• Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr Mansukh Mandaviya as he laid the foundation stone and inaugurated various health infrastructure projects under Pradhan Mantri- Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), National Health Mission (NHM) and XV Financ e Commission Health Grants in the presence of Shri. Keshab Mahanta, State Health Minister, Assam, in Guwahati, Assam and delivered a keynote address on the Transformation of Healthcare in Amrit Kaal while chairing the Amrit Kaal Vimarsh Viksit Bharat @2047, Development Dialogue.
• Shri Rameshwar Teli, Minister of State, Petroleum and Natural Gas and Labour and Employment joined the event through virtual mode.
• L.S Changsen, AS & MD, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, Shri Avinash Joshi, State Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, Government of Assam, government officials from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. M.S. Lakshmi Priya, Mission Director, NHM Assam, Representatives from AIIMS, IIT Guwahati were present at the event.
• Several Members of the Legislative Assembly and Members of Parliament joined the event through virtual mode.

Govt extends 20% export duty on parboiled rice until March 2024

• The Centre has extended the 20 per cent export duty on parboiled rice until March 31, 2024, as it was to expire on October 15.
• The step has been taken to check domestic prices of rice amid state elections in some states scheduled next month.
• The government has yet to release the output estimates of kharif crops, which are normally announced in the third or fourth week of September.
• The export duty was imposed with immediate effect in August this year to curb a surge in shipments, and a month before the decision, a ban was imposed on the export of (non-basmati) white rice.
• With these curbs, India has now imposed restrictions on all varieties on non-basmati rice.
• Non-basmati white rice constitutes about 25 per cent of the total rice exported from the country.
• In September last year, exports of broken rice were prohibited.
• India’s retail inflation eased to 5.02 per cent in September on an annual basis as against 6.83 per cent in August.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : INTERNATIONAL NEWS

European Union Approves World’s 1st Green Bond Standards

• The European Union (EU) has given its approval for the world’s first green bond standards.
• These standards are designed to guide companies that issue green bonds, helping investors identify sustainable companies and investments.

Key Highlights :

• One of the objectives of these standards is to prevent greenwashing, which involves making misleading or false claims about the climate-friendliness of investments
• Europe is a global leader in issuing green bonds, contributing to more than half of the global volume of green bonds issued in 2021.
• Companies seeking the EU’s classification of their bonds as “green” must clearly specify the purpose of the bond’s proceeds.
• Companies are required to allocate a minimum of 85% of the funds raised from green bonds to activities that align with the EU’s “taxonomy” of sustainable activities.

What are Green Bonds?

• Green bonds are financial instruments used to generate proceeds that are dedicated to investments in environmentally sustainable and climate-appropriate projects.

India and Tanzania Upgrade Relations to a Strategic Partnership with Focus on Expanding Defense Cooperation

• India and Tanzania announced the elevation of their relations to a strategic partnership and agreed on a five-year roadmap to significantly expand defence cooperation.
• Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan paid a state visit to India from 8 to 10 October 2023.

Key Highlights :

• During her visit, 6 Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) were signed in the fields of sports, maritime industry, and cultural exchanges.
• This also includes setting up an industrial park in Tanzania, sharing successful digital solutions implemented at the population scale for digital transformation, and sharing white shipping information.
• Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned that both countries are working on an agreement to increase trade conducted in local currencies.
• Prime Minister Modi highlighted that the five-year roadmap will enhance cooperation in various areas, including military training, the maritime sector, and the defence industry.

About Tanzania :

• President : Samia Suluhu Hassan
• Prime Minister : Kassim Majaliwa
• Capital : Dodoma
• Currency : Tanzanian shilling

India and Argentina Ink Agreement on Social Security for Professionals                               

• India and Argentina have entered into a Social Security Agreement (SSA) with the aim of safeguarding the legal rights of professionals working in each other’s countries.
• This agreement is expected to ease the international mobility of professionals from both India and Argentina, providing them with a secure and protected work environment in each other’s domains.
• The SSA covers various aspects of social security legislation in both countries, including provisions related to old age benefits, survivor’s pension, and permanent total disability pension for employed individuals.
• The agreement was signed by the Indian ambassador to Argentina, Dinesh Bhatia, and Argentina’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, and Worship, Santiago Cafiero.

About Argentina :

• President : Alberto Fernández
• Capital: Buenos Aires.
• Currency : Argentine peso

Israel formally declares war against Hamas                           

• Israel has officially declared war against Hamas, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the two parties.
• The conflict between the Israeli army and the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas has intensified, leading to Israel’s declaration of war.
• On October 7,2023 Hamas terrorists launched rocket attacks on Israel, and their fighters crossed into Israeli territory.
• In response to the surprise attack by Hamas, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) initiated “Operation Iron Swords” as a retaliatory measure.
• On October 8,2023 Israel’s Cabinet invoked Article 40 Aleph, officially declaring war against Hamas.
• This marks the first such declaration since the Yom Kippur War in 1973.
• Hamas is a Palestinian Islamic terrorist organization that governs the Gaza Strip.
• It has repeatedly stated its goal of Israel’s destruction and has engaged in multiple conflicts with Israel since taking control of Gaza in 2007.
• The Gaza Strip is a narrow territory approximately 41 kilometres long and 10 kilometres wide, situated between Israel, Egypt, and the Mediterranean Sea.

About Israel :

• President : Isaac Herzog
• Prime Minister : Benjamin Netanyahu
• Capital : Jerusalem
• Currency : New shekel

CURRENT AFFAIRS : STATE NEWS

Two days Ladakh Zanskar Festival 2023 to start at Padum in Zanskar

• The two-day Ladakh Zanskar Festival 2023, which is the 8th edition of the festival, commenced in Padum, Zanskar, Ladakh.
• The festival features exhibition stalls that showcase various aspects of Zanskar’s culture, including traditional cuisine, attire, lifestyle, ethnicity, and unique Zanskar cultural elements.
• Major attractions of the festival will be cultural presentations from famous cultural troops, Folk Songs, and dance.

About Ladakh :

• Governor : D. Mishra
• Capitals : Leh, Kargil

Tamil Nadu Government Initiates Nilgiri Tahr Project for the Conservation of the State’s Native Animal                         

• The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Shri M.K. Stalin initiated ‘The Nilgiri Tahr’ project to conserve the state’s animals.

About Nilgiri Tahr :

• It is an endangered mountain ungulate endemic to the southern part of the Western Ghats.
• Locally, the animal is called ‘Varayaadu’ (Scientific Name: Nilgiritragus hylocrius).
• It is the state animal of Tamil Nadu.
• They are known for their gravity-defying skills in climbing steep cliffs, earning them the nickname Mountain Monarch.
• Mukurthi National Park, located within the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) in the Nilgiris, is one of the four regions identified for study and protection under the ‘Nilgiri Tahr’ project.
• Eravikulam National Park in Kerala has the highest density and largest surviving population of Nilgiri tahr.

Recent News :

• October 7, 2023 has been declared as the Nilgiri Tahr Day in honour of E R C Davidar, who conducted pioneering studies on Nilgiri Tahr in 1975.
• The project will focus on activities at an outlay of Rs 25 crore.

About Tamil Nadu :

• Governor: R. N. Ravi
• Chief minister: M. K. Stalin
• Capital: Chennai
• Dance : Bharatnatyam, Karakattam
• National Park: Mudumalai National Park, Mukurthi National Park, Guindy National Park, Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuaries: Kalakad Wildlife Sanctuary, Karikili Bird Sanctuary, Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
• Tiger Reserve: Anamalai Tiger Reserve
• Biosphere Reserve : Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve

Ayodhya to become the first Solar City of Uttar Pradesh by January 2024

• The Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Department (UPNEDA) is actively working to transform Ayodhya into a solar city.
• The project’s development is expected to be completed before the opening of the Ram Temple.

Key Highlights :

• As part of the initiative, a solar park will be established along the banks of the Saryu River.
• Various solar-powered amenities and infrastructure will be introduced, including solar-powered boats, solar street lights, adoption of solar energy sources in public transport, and the provision of solar-powered amenities like mobile charging points at public places.
• NTPC Green plans to set up a 40 MW solar plant on the banks of the Saryu River as part of this solar city project.
• The Uttar Pradesh (UP) government also has plans to develop 16 municipal corporations and Noida as solar cities, extending the solar initiative to other regions of UP.

Recent News :

• In Sep 2023, Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh’s Raisen district became India’s first solar city.

About UP :

• Governor : Anandiben Patel
• Chief Minister : Yogi Adityanath
• Capital : Lucknow
• National Park : Dudhwa National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuary : Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary, Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary, National Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOUR

Tamil author Sivasankari conferred the 32^nd Saraswati Samman

• Noted author and activist Sivasankari was honoured with the prestigious 32nd Saraswati Samman for the year 2022 at the National Museum in Delhi.
• She has been awarded for her memoir written in Tamil, Surya Vamsam.
• The award was presented to her by former Union Minister M. Veerappa Moily.
• A Chayan Parishad (Selection Committee) headed by former Supreme Court judge Arjan Kumar Sikri selected her work.
• She has written 36 novels, 48 novelettes, 150 short stories, five travelogues, seven essay collections, and three biographies.
• She has compiled two collections of Tamil short stories.
• Many of his works have been translated into several Indian languages and also into English, Japanese, and Ukrainian.

About Saraswati Samman

• Saraswati Samman was started in 1991. It is sponsored by K. K. Birla Foundation. It is given annually for prose or poetry in any one of 22 languages in Schedule VIII of the Indian Constitution.
• It includes a plaque, a citation, and a cash prize of ₹15 lakh. It is given for work published within last 10 years.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

NCLAT Grants Permission for Deepak Chhabria to Continue as Chairman of Finolex Cables

• The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) principal bench in New Delhi has issued an order in favour of Deepak Chhabria, allowing him to continue serving as the chairman of Finolex Cables.
• Despite opposition from Orbit and Finolex Industries, with 72.34% of the votes against Chhabria’s re-appointment, only 27.66% of the votes favored his re-appointment.
• Deepak Chhabria would be the chairman of Finolex Cables as per the Articles of Association that existed before the EGM held in May 2019 and as per the Trust Deed and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Finolex Cables (FCL) and Finolex Industries (FI)

About Finolex Cables :

• Founded : 1958
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• Finolex Cables Limited is an Indian manufacturer of electrical and telecommunication cables.

South Indian Bank Appoints VJ Kurian as its new Chairman

• VJ Kurian has been appointed as the new chairman of South Indian Bank.
• His appointment is set to take effect from November 2, 2023, and will continue until March 22, 2026.
• This development follows regulatory approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and comes as Salim Gangadharan, the current non-executive part-time chairman, is set to retire after the completion of his term on November 1, 2023.

About South Indian Bank :

• Founded : 1929
• Headquarters : Thrissur, Kerala, India
• MD & CEO : P. R. Seshadri
• Tagline : Experience Next Generation Banking

CURRENT AFFAIRS : DEFENCE NEWS

Northeast’s first defence tech show begins in Guwahati

• ‘East Tech ‘, the first-ever defence tech show in Northeast India, has commenced in Guwahati, Assam.
• Aim : To expose manufacturers to the requirements of the armed forces and facilitate direct procurement of their products.
• The Indian Army and the Assam government have jointly organized this tech event.
• The event features participation from a range of entities, including Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), defense Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), and startups.
• These entities are showcasing their defense-related products and technologies.
• ‘East Tech’ has attracted nearly 200 manufacturers who have set up booths to display their products and innovations.
• The event was inaugurated by Lt Gen Rana Pratap Kalita.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Amazon Launches Its 1st Pair Of Prototype Satellites For Internet Network

• Amazon’s (AMZN.O) first pair of prototype satellites for its planned Kuiper internet network were launched into space on from Florida in low Earth orbit (LEO), the company’s first step before it deploys thousands more into orbit to beam internet service globally and compete with SpaceX’s Starlink.
• The launch took place at ULA’s pad SLC-41 in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
• This launch represented a significant test for Amazon’s satellite venture.
• Aim : To test Amazon’s first pieces of technology in space as the e-commerce and web services giant looks to deploy 3,236 more satellites in the next few years and offer broadband internet globally, a feat Elon Musk’s SpaceX is targeting with its nearly 5,000 Starlink satellites in orbit.

Key Highlights :

• The launch live stream was hosted by the United Launch Alliance (ULA), a Boeing-Lockheed joint venture.
• However, it ended shortly after the rocket’s liftoff and did not show the deployment of the satellites.
• To materialize Project Kuiper, Amazon has committed an investment exceeding $10 billion.
• The mission, named “Protoflight,” tasked the United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket with launching two satellites: Kuipersat-1 and Kuipersat-2.
• To deploy the remainder of the Kuiper network, Amazon secured a bulk launch deal for 83 launches, marking the largest commercial rocket procurement ever.
• This deal involves various rocket companies, including Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, ULA, and Europe’s Arianespace.
• Low Earth Orbit (LEO) extends up to 2,000 kilometres (about 1,243 miles) above Earth.
• Project Kuiper’s satellites will orbit between 590 and 630 kilometres (about 367 and 392 miles).

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS NEWS

CM Hemant Soren unveils Mascot and trophy for Asian Women’s Hockey Championship in Ranchi

• Chief Minister Hemant Soren unveiled the mascot- Juhi and the trophy of the Asian Women’s Hockey Championship 2023 in Ranchi.
• Around 13 countries will take part in the international hockey championship beginning from October 27 to November 14 in Ranchi.
• On the occasion, Mr Soren thanked Mohd Taiyab Ekram, President of International Hockey Association and Mr Dilip Tirkey, President of Hockey India to organise the international sporting event in Jharkhand.

International Olympic Committee approves cricket for 2028 Los Angeles Olympics

• The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has accepted the proposal to include cricket in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
• IOC President Thomas Bach made the announcement after the IOC Executive Board meeting in Mumbai.
• IOC accepted LA organizers’ proposal to include Twenty20 cricket as one of five new sports, along with baseball/softball, flag football (non-contact American football), squash, and lacrosse.
• However, the final choice of which sports to include in the 2028 program will be voted on at the IOC session in Mumbai on October 16.
• Los Angeles Chiefs have proposed a six-team event in both men’s and women’s T20 cricket, with the United States set to take the field as the host nation.
• Cricket last appeared at the 1900 Paris Olympics, when a team from Britain defeated a team representing France.
• However, Cricket has been seen at two editions of the Commonwealth Games, in Kuala Lumpur in 1998 and Birmingham in 2022.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

World Students Day: October 15

• World Students Day 2023 is observed on the 15th of October 2023, to honour the birthday of our former president, the late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
• In 2010, World Students Day was established by the United Nations.
• In honor of former Indian president APJ Abdul Kalam, who was born on the same day in 1931, October 15 of each year is observed as World Students’ Day.
• The purpose of the day is to honour Kalam’s contributions to education and students.

About APJ Abdul Kalam

• Early in his life, Kalam studied science and physics.
• He was born in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu.
• Through his insightful lectures, Kalam devoted his life to teaching and encouraging students to become the best versions of themselves.
• As oversaw the creation of India’s most important missiles and its civilian space programs, he was also known as the “Missile Man of India.”
• The aerospace expert was elected as the nation’s 11th president in 2002.
• After serving in office till 2007, Kalam committed his life to teaching.
• At the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) at Shillong, Ahmedabad, and Indore, he was appointed as a visiting professor.
• Additionally, Dr. Kalam received the Bharat Ratna, which is India’s highest civilian honor.
• In addition, he received the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Vibhushan for his services to the Indian government as a scientific advisor.
• On July 27, 2015, Kalam suffered a heart arrest and passed suddenly.

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day: October 15

• Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day 2023 is observed on the 15th of October 2023.
• Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day (PAILRD) is a memorial day that is annually honoured on October 15 in the United States and Canada.
• In order to honor, commemorate, and remember infants who have died from miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death, and other causes of baby loss, the day was created in 2002.
• Robyn Bear, Lisa Brown, and Tammy Novak started the movement by petitioning the federal government to recognize the particular day on October 15.
• On September 28, 2006, the House of Representatives finally approved National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.
• The month of October had previously been declared to be Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month by President Ronald Reagan.

International Day of Rural Women: October 15

• International Day of Rural Women 2023 is observed on the 15th of October 2023.
• The United Nations (U.N.) has been working to keep the world’s nations peaceful and friendly since its founding in 1945.
• The United Nations has undertaken a number of humanitarian initiatives and adopted resolutions and laws aimed at protecting the environment.
• The U.N.’s efforts to improve the status and well-being of women, particularly those in rural areas, rank among its most impressive accomplishments.
• It was proposed to empower and recognize women in 1995 during the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China.
• In order to recognize the importance of rural women to agriculture, food production, and food safety, it was suggested that October 15 be observed as International Day of Rural Women as October 16 was World Food Day.
• A resolution calling for the development of ICT skills for all, especially women and indigenous people living in remote and rural communities, was adopted in 2003 at the World Summit on the Information Society in Geneva.
• Additionally, this resolution was discussed during the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society in 2005 in Tunis, Tunisia.
• October 15 will be recognized yearly as International Day of Rural Women globally, according to a resolution 62/136 passed by the United Nations General Assembly on December 18, 2007. Since that time, the International Day of Rural Women has been celebrated in many nations throughout the world.

World Food Day: October 16

• World Food Day 2023 is observed annually on the 16th of October 2023.
• The theme of World Food Day is – Water is life, water is food. Leave no one behind. “
• The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), a specialized body of the United Nations, created World Food Day in 1945.
• However, it would take another 34 years until the 20th FAO conference in November 1979, when it was declared a global holiday.
• Following this, 150 nations continued to commemorate the day once it was given official UN recognition.
• Since 2014, the day’s popularity has been exploited to advance the causes of world hunger relief and eradicate poverty in developing countries.

World Anaesthesia Day: October 16

• World Anaesthesia Day 2023 is observed on the 16th of October 2023.
• The theme of this year’s World Anaesthesia Day, is “Anaesthesia and Cancer Care”.
• The purpose of celebrating World Anaesthesia Day is to organise the global anaesthesia community and to act as a potent lobbying tool.
• In addition to this, the day is commemorated to recognise anaesthesia professionals worldwide.
• World Anaesthesia Day is observed on October 16 in remembrance of W.T.G. Morton, who made the first successful official demonstration of ether as an anaesthetic on this date 173 years ago.
• This event ushered in the practice of anesthesiology.
• Since 1903, unique occasions have been planned to commemorate this momentous day.

Daily CA One- Liner: October 15 & 16

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed penalties on Union Bank of India (UBI), RBL Bank (formerly known as Ratnakar Bank), and Bajaj Finance Limited for non-compliance of regulatory norms.
• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has extended the deadline for mandatory confirmation or denial of market rumours by listed companies.
• ICICI Bank has introduced ‘iFinance,’ a service that allows millions of customers, including retail customers and sole proprietors, to access a consolidated view of their savings and current accounts in one place.
• Indian Post Payments Bank (IPPB), a division of the Indian Post, under the ownership of the Department of Post and Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), the principal financial institution for the promotion of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs have tied up to accelerate formal financial services in rural India and among smaller companies.
• The disbursal of small business loans under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) achieved a remarkable 38% growth during the first half of the current financial year, which concluded in September 2023.
• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) tweaked guidelines pertaining to anti-money laundering standards, whereby partners holding a 10% stake in a firm will come under the definition of beneficial owners.
• The European Union (EU) has given its approval for the world’s first green bond standards.
• The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr Mansukh Mandaviya as he laid the foundation stone and inaugurated various health infrastructure projects under Pradhan Mantri- Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), National Health Mission (NHM) and XV Financ e Commission Health Grants.
• The Centre has extended the 20 per cent export duty on parboiled rice until March 31, 2024, as it was to expire on October 15.
• Noted author and activist Sivasankari was honoured with the prestigious 32nd Saraswati Samman for the year 2022 at the National Museum in Delhi.
• Chief Minister Hemant Soren unveiled the mascot- Juhi and the trophy of Asian Women’s Hockey Championship in Ranchi.
• India and Tanzania announced the elevation of their relations to a strategic partnership and agreed on a five-year roadmap to significantly expand defense cooperation.
• India and Argentina have entered into a Social Security Agreement (SSA) with the aim of safeguarding the legal rights of professionals working in each other’s countries.
• Israel has officially declared war against Hamas, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the two parties.
• The two-day Ladakh Zanskar Festival 2023, which is the 8th edition of the festival, commenced in Padum, Zanskar, Ladakh.
• The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Shri M.K. Stalin initiated ‘The Nilgiri Tahr’ project to conserve the state’s animals.
• The Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Department (UPNEDA) is actively working to transform Ayodhya into a solar city.
• The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) principal bench in New Delhi has issued an order in favour of Deepak Chhabria, allowing him to continue serving as the chairman of Finolex Cables.
• VJ Kurian has been appointed as new chairman of South Indian Bank.
• ‘East Tech ‘, the first-ever defense tech show in Northeast India, has commenced in Guwahati, Assam.
• Amazon’s (AMZN.O) first pair of prototype satellites for its planned Kuiper internet network were launched into space on from Florida in low Earth orbit (LEO), the company’s first step before it deploys thousands more into orbit to beam internet service globally and compete with SpaceX’s Starlink.
• The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has accepted the proposal to include cricket in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
• World Students Day 2023 is observed on the 15th of October 2023, to honor the birthday of our former president, the late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
• Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day 2023 is observed on the 15th of October 2023.
• International Day of Rural Women 2023 is observed on the 15th of October 2023.
• World Food Day 2023 is observed annually on the 16th of October 2023.
• World Anaesthesia Day 2023 is observed on the 16th of October 2023.