Current Affairs for Competitive Examinations: October 25, 2022
The section on current affairs is included in the question paper for almost every competitive examination like UPSC, SSC, IAS, Railway-RRB, UPPSC, UGC NET, SBI, MPPSC, and so on. Furthermore, if we have an effective preparation strategy, scoring high in this section is not difficult. Any exam’s current events section may be aced by candidates with the correct resources and daily news analysis.
Our experts at Embibe have chosen the most current occurrences from across the world and have put them in this article. To provide students with the most recent current affairs, we analysed the day’s most recent news, from The Hindu to the BBC.
Current Affairs: Internal Security, Geopolitics
1267-Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UNSC
China once again blocked proposals by India and the United States to designate Pakistan-based terrorists on the UN Security Council’s 1267 list of terror entities.
This is the fourth time in as many months that China has put a hold on listing proposals to designate Pakistan-based terrorists under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee regime.
Current Status:
India and the United States had proposed that Lashkar-e-Taiba leader Shahid Mahmood be blacklisted by the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee and subjected to an assetsze, travel ban and arms embargo.
All decisions of the UNSC panel are taken by consensus.
What is the UNSC 1267 committee, and how does it work?
It was first set up in 1999 and strengthened after the September 2001 attacks. It is now known as the Da’esh and Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee.
It comprises all permanent and non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
The 1267 list of terrorists is a global list with a UNSC stamp. It is full of Pakistani nationals and residents.
It is one of the most important and active UN subsidiary bodies working on efforts to combat terrorism, particularly in relation to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State group.
It discusses UN efforts to limit the movement of terrorists, especially those related to travel bans,zing assets and arms embargoes for terrorism.
India has made at least three attempts in the last decade — in 2009, 2016 and 2017 to list the JeM chief as a “global terrorist”. All attempts have been blocked by China at Pakistan’s behest.
Current Affairs: Economy
India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) and Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) Collaboration
India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) and Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) have teamed up to enhance the reach of financial solutions to large sections of society across India and enable frictionless finance to a billion Indians.
About the collaboration:
The collaboration between IPPB and RBIH will explore projects which will have an impact on the masses by leveraging the deep rural reach of IPPB-Department of Posts (DoP) to take rural finance to a billion Indians.
Besides, it will enable access to sustainable and secure financial services to every segment of society through research and innovation.
Additionally, IPPB will be an active participant and partner with RBIH on initiatives of national importance led by RBIH.
IPPB and RBIH will plan, design and execute innovative products and offerings to bridge the existing gap by bringing digitalised services to the customer’s doorstep.
What is RBIH Reserve Bank Innovation Hub?
The Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) set up to promote and facilitate an environment that accelerates innovation across the financial sector.
RBIH will provide the platform to anchor a shared vision among all financial ecosystem stakeholders and aid them in crafting forward-looking innovation strategies while addressing the most pressing issues in the Indian financial sector.
The organisation serves as a focal point to position India as a global innovation hub for a network of financial services providers, fintech innovation hubs, policymakers, technologists, academia, and the investor community.
The network will be empowered to ideate, incubate new capabilities, and enable access to sustainable, secure, and frictionless financial services for over a billion Indians.
What is India Post Payments Bank?
India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has been established under the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communication, with 100% equity owned by the Government of India.
IPPB was launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on 1st September 2018. The bank has been set up with the vision to build the most accessible, affordable and trusted bank for the common man in India.
The fundamental mandate of IPPB is to remove barriers for the unbanked and under-banked and reach the last mile by leveraging a network comprising 160,000 post offices (145,000 in rural areas) and 400,000 postal employees.
IPPB’s reach and its operating model is built on the key pillars of India Stack – enabling Paperless, Cashless and Presence-less banking in a simple and secure manner at the customers’ doorstep through a CBS-integrated smartphone and biometric device.
IPPB delivers simple and affordable banking solutions through intuitive interfaces available in 13 languages, leveraging frugal innovation and a high focus on ease of banking for the masses.
IPPB is committed to providing a fillip to a less cash economy and contributing to the vision of Digital India.
India will prosper when every citizen has an equal opportunity to become financially secure and empowered.
Our motto stands true – Every customer is important, every transaction is significant, and every deposit is valuable.
Question:
Reserve Bank Innovation Hub has recently collaborated with which of the following entities to enhance the reach of financial solutions to large sections of society across India?
A. India Post Payments Bank
B. Infrastructure Development Finance Company.
C. IRDA
D. SEBI
Answer: A
Current Affairs: National, Security
Multi-Disciplinary Monitoring Agency Banned
The Central government has closed the Multi-Disciplinary Monitoring Agency (MDMA), which was constituted about 24 years ago to investigate the larger conspiracy behind the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
MDMA was working under the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and comprised officers from multiple central security agencies.
The order to disband the agency was issued in May, and the pending investigation has been handed over to a different unit of the CBI, the officials said.
The MDMA Agency:
The agency was set up in 1998 for two years on the recommendation of the MC Jain Commission and was given annual extensions, but it failed to achieve any major breakthrough.
The agency, headed by a deputy inspector general of police-ranked officer, had sent 24 Letters Rogatory to countries like Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom and Malaysia seeking information on various aspects of the case, including banking transactions.
The assassination:
Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by an LTTE suicide bomber named Dhanu during an election rally in Tamil Nadu’s Sriperumbudur on 21st May 1991.
Question:
The Multi-Disciplinary Monitoring Agency was set up to investigate the conspiracy behind the assassination of which leader?
A. Lal Bahadur Shastri
B. Rajiv Gandhi
C. Indira Gandhi
D. Subash Chandra Bose
Answer: B
Current Affairs: Defence
Indigenous trainer aircraft ‘HTT-40’
With a move to boost the Aatmanirbhar Bharat mission, PM Narendra Modi unveiled the indigenous trainer aircraft, HTT-40, at the India Pavilion on October 19.
It is indigenously designed and developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), equipped with modern, cutting-edge systems and has been designed with pilot-friendly features.
The event took place during the 12th DefExpo 2022 at Mahatma Mandir Convention and Exhibition Centre in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
What is HTT-40 aircraft?
It is evidence of the state-of-the-art technology created to satisfy the fundamental training needs of the Indian defence services.
This indigenously built Basic Trainer Aircraft (HTT-40) will be powered by the TPE331-12 family of engines from Honeywell.
Earlier in July 2022, HAL signed a contract worth over $100 million for supplying and manufacturing of 88 TPE331-12B engines/kits, along with maintenance and support services to power the HTT-40.
Utility:
The HTT-40 would be utilised for basic flight training, instrument flying, night flying, close formation flying, aerobatics, and basic flight training.
A pilot must complete three steps before operating a fighter jet. HTT-40 was created by HAL for the IAF as the foundational trainer aircraft. The flight is being created for new pilots in their initial stages. The Kiran Mark II jet trainer is used for stage two training, and the Hawk advanced jet aircraft are used for stage three.
This aircraft has the following Technical Parameters:
Max TOW: 2800 kg
Speed: 450 km/hr
Range: 1000 km
Engine Thrust: 950 SHP
Cockpit: Tandem seating, Air conditioned cockpit
Modern Aircraft System: All metal, FADEC control TurboProp trainer aircraft with Zero-Zero ejection seats and Multifunction displays
Question:
Which of the following is an indigenously built trainer aircraft that PM Modi recently unveiled at the 12th defence expo in Gandhinagar, Gujarat?
A. Aero Ae‑45
B. Antonov An-12
C. HTT-40
D. de Havilland Vampire T.11
Answer: C
Current Affairs: National
Swadesh Darshan 2 scheme
Prayagraj, Chitrakoot, and Gwalior are among the cities identified in 15 states across the country to be promoted as part of India’s new domestic tourism policy which moves away from theme-based tourist circuits and focuses on revving up destination tourism.
The initiative is being taken as part of the first phase of the ‘Swadesh Darshan 2’ which will be kicked off in January.
Some of the prominent places identified are Jhansi and Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh; Gwalior, Chitrakoot and Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh; and Ajanta and Ellora in Maharashtra.
What is the Swadesh Darshan Scheme?
The Swadesh Darshan Scheme was launched by the Centre in 2014-15 for the integrated development of theme-based tourist circuits.
Under the scheme, the Ministry of Tourism provides financial assistance to State governments, Union Territory Administrations or Central Agencies for the development of tourism infrastructure in the country.
Rationale of the scheme:
The scheme was envisioned to synergise with other government schemes such as Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Skill India, and Make in India, with the idea of positioning the tourism sector as a major engine for job creation, driving force for economic growth, and building synergy with various sectors to enable tourism to realise its potential.
Circuits under the scheme:
There are 13 tourist circuits that have been identified under this scheme.
Buddhist Circuit
Coastal Circuit
Krishna Circuit
Ramayana Circuit
Desert Circuit
Spiritual Circuit
North-East Circuit
Himalayan Circuit
Heritage Circuit
Tribal Circuit
Rural Circuit
Eco Circuit
Wildlife Circuit
Facts:
According to the third Tourism Satellite Account for 2017-18, 2018-19, and 2019-20, the contribution of tourism to the employment of the country is 14.78%, 14.87% and 15.34%, respectively.
The total jobs generated by tourism are 72.69 million (2017-18), 75.85 million (2018-19) and 79.86 million (2019-20).
Some of the prominent circuits launched under this were the Buddhist tourist circle, Ambedkar Tourist Circle and the North-East Tourist Circle.
Question:
Which of the following tourist circuits is not featured under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme?
A. Buddhist Tourist Circuit
B. Ambedkar Tourist Circuit
C. North-East Tourist Circuit
D. Golden Triangle Circuit
Answer: D
Current Affairs: Defence, Internal Security
AK-203 assault rifles
An Indo-Russian joint venture will begin manufacturing AK-203 assault rifles at a facility in Uttar Pradesh by the end of this year.
The Indo-Russia Rifles Private Limited was set up in 2019 to produce the Russian-origin Kalashnikov assault rifles at Korwa Ordnance Factory in Amethi district.
About Rifles:
AK-203 rifles are fitted with integral Picatinny rails for convenient and easy mounting of sights and tactical accessories, enabling the effective use of weapons in various conditions.
What was the contract?
Indo-Russia Rifles Private Ltd (IRRPL) was set up jointly between the erstwhile Ordnance Factory Board OFB [now Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL) and Munitions India Limited (MIL)] of India and Rosoboronexport (RoE) and Kalashnikov Concern of Russia.
Facts:
The AK-203 assault rifles will replace the Indian-made INSAS assault rifles and the older AK-47s.
With over ₹5,000 crore contract, over 6.1 lakh AK-203 assault rifles will be manufactured in India with technology transfer from Russia.
Question
Indo-Russian Rifles Private Ltd factory was set up in which of the following states for the manufacture of AK-203 assault rifles?
A. Gujarat
B. Tamil Nadu
C. Uttar Pradesh
D. Andhra Pradesh
Answer: C
Current Affairs: Ecology
Tamil Nadu’s mission to save thecritically endangered vultures
The Tamil Nadu Government recently formed a State-level Committee to set up an institutional framework for the effective conservation of vultures, which almost went extinct in the country at the beginning of the 21st century.
About Vultures and their role in environmental conservation:
Vultures, an exceptionally important species, play the role of natural cleaners of the environment.
Responsible for doing the dirty work in the form of eating dead animal carcasses, vultures the environment from pathogens and toxins.
However, in recent times, their population has suffered changes. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified Indian vultures as critically endangered due to their declining population.
According to IUCN, “The species is placed in the range of 5,000-15,000 mature individuals.
Survey results indicate that the decline throughout the Indian sub-continent probably began in the 1990s and was extremely rapid.”
There are a total of nine vulture species found in India, of which four, namely, White-backed vultures, long-billed vultures, Red-headed vultures and Egyptian vultures can be spotted in Tamil Nadu.
Sigur plateau in Mudumalai is one of the last remaining regions where vultures are found in Tamil Nadu.
Other vulture species found in India are – slender-billed, Himalayan, bearded, cinereous and the Eurasian griffon.
What is Tamil Nadu doing to save Vultures?
In a step to undo and conserve the vulture population, the Tamil Nadu Government has set up a state-level committee to work on an action plan for vulture conservation.
The committee will look at a ban on drugs toxic to vultures, breeding centres, and vulture census, among other issues centring on vultures.
The vulture conservation plan will potentially help in reviving critically endangered vultures.
Issues vultures face in India:
One of the major contributing factors in declining populations of vultures is believed to be the widespread use of drugs such as diclofenac (used for treating cattle), once commonly used as a livestock anti-inflammatory drug.
This drug is extremely toxic to vultures. The veterinary usage of diclofenac has been banned in India since 2006.
Further, increased Feral dog populations have been reported all over India, posing many associated disease risks such as rabies to humans and wildlife.
They also threaten local wildlife through direct predation, competition with other carnivores, and through potential disease transmission.
Among others, vultures typically feed on dead animal carcasses, and habitat loss and food security continue to be a threat that the natural scavengers face.
National Vulture Conservation Action Plan 2020-25
Launched in 2019, the National Vulture Conservation Action Plan 2020-25 was introduced to put a halt to the decline of the vulture population and actively increase the number of vultures in India by 2025.
The Government of India’s “Action Plan for Vulture Conservation (APVC) in India, 2020-2025” aims to create awareness among the general public about the vital role vultures play in keeping the environment clean by removing the putrefying carcasses.
The objective of the Action Plan for Vulture Conservation:
The Action Plan for Vulture Conservation (APVC) in India, 2020-2025, advocates the expansion of the Conservation Breeding Programme of vultures by establishing more centres in different parts of the country.
Red-headed Vultures and Egyptian Vultures are also included in the breeding programme.
It also takes cognizance of the causes of mortality other than veterinary drug poisoning of vulture food.
Question:
Which of the following is a major drug responsible for the decline of the Vulture population in India? A. Diclofenac
B. Enrofloxacin
C. Tulathromycin
D. Florfenicol
Answer: A
Current Affairs: Awards and Recognitions
Sakharov Prize 2022
The European Parliament recently awarded its top human rights prize to the people of Ukraine amid Russia’s ongoing invasion which started in February.
Other nominees this year included WikiLeaks’ founder Julian Assange and Colombia’s “Truth Commission”.
About the Prize:
The Sakharov Prize fordom of Thought, commonly known as the Sakharov Prize, is an honorary award for individuals or groups who have dedicated their lives to the defence of human rights anddom of thought.
Named after the Russian scientist and dissident Andrei Sakharov, the prize was established in December 1988 by the European Parliament.
The first prize was awarded jointly to South African Nelson Mandela and Russian Anatoly Marchenko.
The prize comes with a cash prize of €50,000. Last year, the award was given to Russian dissident and Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.
Question:
Which of the following Persons/Organisations recently received the Sakharov Prize 2022?
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