NATIONAL:
1. Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS)
Why in news – M/o Statistics and Programme Implementation released the results of PLFS for the period July 2022 to June 2023.
Key Points –
Findings –
Value Addition -
• It is the 6th PLFS report and each tracks a 12-month period between July and June.
• Conducted by - National Sample Survey Office.
• Aim - to get an understanding about the state of employment in India.
• It provides data on different metrics –
(a) proportion of people demanding work
(b) proportion of people who failed to get a job
(c) gender differences in employment
(d) differences in wages
(e) sectoral distribution of workers (e.g., agriculture)
(f) type of work people do (casual labour, regular salaried jobs etc).
• PLFS collects data in two ways - Usual Status (US) and Current Weekly Status (CWS).
(a) Usual Status (US) - recall employment details from the last one year
(b) Current Weekly Status (CWS) - recall the details over the past one week.
2. India-Sri Lanka Ferry Service
Why in news - India-Sri Lanka ferry service restarted after 40 years.
Key Points –
• It connects Nagapattinam (Tamil Nadu) to Kankesanthurai (Jaffna, Northern Sri Lanka).
• Name of the vessel – Cheriyapani.
• It was halted in 1982 due to civil war in Sri Lanka.
3. Rabindranath Tagore Bust
Why in news – Dr. S. Jaishankar unveiled the bust of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore in Vietnam (Bac Ninh province).
Key Points –
• Gurudev’s works are widely known and appreciated throughout Vietnam.
• Dr. Jaishankar visited the historical Tran Quoc Pagoda in Hanoi.
• In 1959, President Rajendra Prasad gifted a Bodhi tree to Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Martti Ahtisaari
Why in news – Former Finland President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Martti Ahtisaari dies at 86.
Key Points –
• He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2008 for his work to resolve international conflicts.
• He had advanced Alzheimer’s disease.
• His most notable achievements –
(a) Serbia’s withdrawal from Kosovo (late 1990s).
(b) Namibia’s bid for independence (1980s).
(c) Autonomy for Aceh province in Indonesia (2005).
(d) Northern Ireland peace process (late 1990s).
• He founded the Helsinki-based Crisis Management Initiative, aimed at preventing and resolving violent conflicts through informal dialogue and mediation.
ECONOMY:
1. Angel Tax
Why in news – DPIIT recognized start-ups not to face verification on account of angel taxation.
Key Points –
• Section 56 (2) (viib) of the Income-tax Act was amended in the Finance Act, 2023 bringing in non-resident investors also under the angel tax levy.
About Angel Tax (2012) –
• It is levied when an unlisted company issues shares to an investor at a price higher than its fair market value.
• It is income tax at the rate of 30.6%.
• Aim - to deter the generation and use of unaccounted money through the subscription of shares of a closely held company.
• Amount that exceeds the face value of such shares is counted as ‘Income from other Sources’ and thus subject to income tax.
• Earlier, it was imposed only on investments made by a resident investor.
• Finance Act 2023 extended angel tax even to non-resident investors from April 1, 2023.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. Global Partnership on AI Summit
Why in news – PM Narendra Modi invited Google to “contribute” to the upcoming Global Partnership on AI Summit.
Key Points –
• Venue - New Delhi (December).
• Google’s plans to open its global fintech operations center at the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT) in Gandhinagar.
2. India-UK 2+2 Dialogue
Why in news – The inaugural India-UK 2+2 Foreign and Defence Dialogue was held in New Delhi on 16 October 2023.
Key Points –
• Indian co-chair –
(a) Piyush Srivastava (Ministry of External Affairs)
(b) Vishwesh Negi (Ministry of Defence).
• India-UK Roadmap 2030 – to elevate the India-UK relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).
Value Addition –
• India has a 2+2 dialogue with close strategic partners such as the US, Japan, Australia and Russia.
SECURITY:
1. USS Dwight D Eisenhower
Why in news – US Navy’s ‘finest 5-star aircraft carrier’ has been sent to Israel.
Key Points –
• It is a nuclear-powered Carrier Strike Group (CSG).
• It will join the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group.
• Aim – to deter hostile actions against Israel and prevent wider conflict.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. Nawanpind Sardaran Village
Why in news – Nawanpind Sardaran village was awarded ‘Best Tourism Village of India’ 2023.
Key Points –
• Location – Gurdaspur, Punjab.
• Reason - for protecting and advancing Punjab's cultural heritage and sustainable development.
• Given by - Tourism Ministry.
APPOINTMENTS:
1. Arindam Bagchi
Why in news – Arindam Bagchi appointed as India’s ambassador to the United Nations (UN) in Geneva.
Key Points –
• He would succeed Indra Mani Pandey.
• Currently, he is spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 2023
Why in news – It is celebrated on October 17.
Key Points –
• Theme - Decent Work and Social Protection: Putting dignity in practice for all.
• SDG 1 - End poverty in all its forms everywhere.
BIHAR:
1. Agricultural Road Map
Why in news – State has achieved a number of milestones between 2008 and 2023.
Key Points –
• Increase in Maize processing capacity by 3.54 lakh metric tonnes annually.
• Increase in storage capacity by 3.26 lakh metric tonnes. Investment – 155.50 crores.
• Approval for the establishment of 651 rise mills.
POINTERS:
• Which state has declared the Gangetic dolphin (IUCN - Endangered) as the state aquatic animal - Uttar Pradesh.
• Who has assumed the charge of National President of Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC) - Pankaj Bohra.
• Recently which state government has approved the allocation of Rs 3000 crore for the Economic Corridor Project – Assam.
• Which is the only Indian PSU company included in the list of 'World Best Employers 2023' recently released by Forbes – NTPC.
• What is India's position in the medal table of the recently concluded Asian Games 2023 in China – Fourth.
• In which city has the 'INFINITY 2023' on digital transformation for futuristic Businesses: Emerging technologies leading growth and sustainability been organized – Noida.
• Recently, 18 captive-bred pygmy hogs were released in which protected area - Manas National Park, Assam (their historical home).
• Which state's Kendrapara Rasabali got GI tag – Odisha.
• Who has been given the Satyajit Ray Excellence in Film Lifetime Award at the International Film Festival of India- Michael Douglas.
• Who was bestowed with the esteemed 'Saraswati Samman' 2022 for her memoir, “Surya Vamsam" – Sivasankari (Tamil Author).
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