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 AFFAIRSCLOUD TODAY
Current Affairs 1,2&3 October 2023 : Headlines

❖ Ministry of I&B Made Significant Revisions to the Cable Television Network Rules of 1994
❖ DEA hikes interest rate on 5-year Recurring Deposit Scheme to 6.7% for Q3FY24
❖ India retains 40th rank in Global Innovation Index 2023: Innovation in the face of uncertainty
❖ India, Argentina sign Social Security Agreement for Professionals
❖ ADB Capital Management Reforms Bring $100 Billion Benefits Over Next Decade to Asia-Pacific
❖ SEBI extends deadline to add nominees for demat account holders till December 31
❖ President of India Presents National Service Scheme Awards for the Year 2021-2022
❖ 2023 SASTRA Ramanujan Prize awarded to Mathematician Ruixiang Zhang
❖ International Olympic Committee Announced the Winners of the Inaugural IOC Climate Action
Awards
❖ IFC Received RBI’s Approval for Acquiring 9.7% stake in Federal Bank
❖ Air India Completes Acquisition of its 1st A350-900 Aircraft through GIFT City
❖ MoS Dr Jitendra Singh Launches IGMS 2.0 Public Grievance portal & Automated Analysis in Tree
Dashboard Portal of DARPG
❖ IAF inducts 1st of 6 Dornier Do-228 aircraft Manufactured by HAL
❖ Protosticta Armageddonia: Pune researchers found new Damselfly Species in Western Ghats,
Kerala
❖ PM Modi Releases 4 Books Showcasing G20’s Presidency Success
❖ International Translation Day 2023- September 30
❖ Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel Inaugurates various Schemes and Infrastructural Projects
Worth Rs 1021.59 Crore
❖ Tripura Became 4th State in India to Introduce E-Cabinet System

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 NATIONAL AFFAIRS
Ministry of I&B Made Significant Revisions to the Cable Television Network Rules of 1994
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) issued a notification amending the Cable Television
Network(CTN) Rules of 1994. Moreover, a new provision has been added, enabling Cable Operators to
share infrastructure with Broadband Service providers.

• This amendment introduces a formal procedure for the renewal of registrations for Multi-
System Operators (MSOs). This significant change updates the rules which previously only
allowed for fresh registrations.
Key Points:
i.Following are the amended rules:
• MSOs will be required to submit their registration or renewal applications online
through Broadcast Seva Portal of MIB.
• Registrations for MSOs will be approved or renewed for a duration of ten years.
• A processing fee of Rs. One lakh will be applicable for the renewal of registration.
• Request for the renewal of registration must be made within seven to two months prior to the
expiration of the current registration.
ii.The Ministry has provided a dedicated helpline number and email address (sodas-moiab[at]gov[dot]in)
for any necessary assistance.
iii.This initiative ensures continuity of services for cable operators without interruptions, enhancing the
sector’s appeal for foreign investment.
What is A “Multi-System Operator (MSO)” ?– It is referring to a cable operator who receives
programming services from a broadcaster or their authorized agents. The MSO then re-transmits these
services or transmits their own programming simultaneously to multiple subscribers. This transmission
can occur either directly or through one or more local cable operators (LCOs). The definition of MSO also
encompasses their authorized distribution agencies, regardless of the terminology used to refer to these
entities.
About Broadcast Seva Portal
Launched By – Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
It is a centralized platform where multiple stakeholders and applicants submits their requests for various
activities issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) in the field of broadcasting.

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About Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Union Minister – Anurag Thakur (Lok Sabha – Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh)
Minster of State (MoS) – Dr. L. Murugan

DEA hikes interest rate on 5-year Recurring Deposit Scheme to 6.7% for Q3FY24
The Department of Economic Affairs (DEA-Budget Division), Ministry of Finance, has increased the
interest rate on the 5-year recurring deposit scheme by 20 basis points to 6.7% from 6.5% for the 3rd
quarter (October-December) of 2023-2024 i.e. Q3FY24.

• The rates of other small savings schemes remained unchanged.

Interest Rates on Small Savings Schemes for Q3FY24
Rate of interest from October 1, Rate of interest from July 1, 2023
Instruments 2023 to December 31, 2023 to September 30, 2023
Savings Deposit 4 4
1-Year Post Office Time
Deposits 6.9 6.9
2-Year Post Office Time
Deposits 7 7
3-Year Post Office Time
Deposits 7 7
5-Year Post Office Time
Deposits 7.5 7.5
5-Year Recurring
Deposits 6.7 6.5
National Saving
Certificates (NSC) 7.7 7.7
Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP) 7.5 (will mature in 115 months) 7.5 (will mature in 115 months)
Public Provident Fund
(PPF) Scheme 7.1 7.1
Sukanya Samriddhi
Account Scheme 8 8
Senior Citizens Savings
Scheme 8.2 8.2
Monthly Income Account 7.4 7.4
Key Points:
i.According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data, in FY23, household net financial savings rate hit a
historic low at 5.1% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), down from 7.2% in FY22.
ii.Surging small savings collections in FY24 (48% growth in Q1FY24 compared to 9.9% in Q1FY23)

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showing reduced reliance on market borrowings for the Central Government.
About Small Savings Schemes:
i.Small Savings Schemes are savings instruments managed by the government to encourage citizens to
save regularly.
ii.The small savings schemes have three categories- savings deposits, social security schemes, and monthly
income plan.
iii.Interest rates for small savings schemes are notified on a quarterly basis by the government.
• The formula to arrive at the interest rates for small savings scheme was given by
the Shyamala Gopinath Committee in January 2023.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
India retains 40th rank in Global Innovation Index 2023: Innovation in the face of uncertainty
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), an agency of the United Nations, published
the 16th edition of the Global Innovation Index (2023). India retains 40th rank among 132 economies.
While Switzerland secured the top spot in the rankings, with Sweden and the United States of America
(USA) following closely.

• Notably, India has made significant progress, climbing 26 places from its 2013 ranking when it
stood at 66th place. India was at 81st place in 2015.
• NITI Aayog, in partnership with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and WIPO, has hosted
the virtual India Launch of Global Innovation Index (GII) on September 29, 2023.
• Published annually, It reveals the ranking of this year’s most innovative economies in the world
amongst 132 economies and localizes the top 100 science and technology innovation clusters.
Key points:
i.Apart from India, only four other middle-income economies are among the top 40, namely, China (12th),
Malaysia (36th), Bulgaria (38th), and Türkiye (39th).
ii.India was also highlighted as the top innovation economy among the lower-middle-income countries,
followed by Viet Nam and Ukraine.
iii.India, the Republic of Moldova, and Viet Nam continue to set records by being innovation
overperformers for a 13th consecutive year.
iv.For the 13th year in a row, Switzerland is the most innovative economy in 2023 followed by Sweden,
the United States, the United Kingdom and Singapore.

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v.This year, Sweden has overtaken the United States and has climbed to second position. Singapore has
entered the top five, and has taken the leading position among South East Asia, East Asia and Oceania
(SEAO) region economies.
Top 5 countries:
Ranking Country Score
1 Switzerland 67.6
2 Sweden 64.2
3 United States 63.5
4 United Kingdom (UK) 62.4
5 Singapore 61.5
40 India 38.1
The lowest-ranked countries in the Global Innovation Index 2023 are: 128th Guinea (Score 13.3), 129th
Mali (Score 12.9), 130th Burundi (Score 12.5), 131th Niger (Score 12.4), and 132nd Angola (Score 10.3)
India’s position in different categories:
• India emerges as the number 1 among 37
lower-middle-income group economies and
the number one innovation performer among
the 10 economies in Central and Southern
Asia.
• India ranks highest in the Market
Sophistication (input pillar) and Knowledge
and Technology Outputs (output pillar)
categories. It ranks amongst the top 10 in the
Infrastructure and Institutions pillars (input
pillars).
• India secures the top spot in the “Domestic
market scale, bn PPP$” indicator.
Furthermore, India is ranked in the top 10 in
six additional indicators: “ICT Services
exports, % total trade,” “Venture capital received, value, % GDP,” “Finance for startups and
scaleups,” “Domestic industry diversification,” “Unicorn valuation, % GDP,” and “Intangible
asset intensity, top 15, %.”
• India records 34% of total tertiary graduates in science and engineering in 2021, ranking 11th
in this indicator.
• India’s finance for startups and scaleups earns it 9th position in this category, while the Venture
Capital Performance, though slightly lower than 2022, secures the 6th position.
• India demonstrates growth in domestic industry diversification, reflecting a 0.46% increase
from the prior year, and ranks 10th in this indicator.
• India shows a substantial growth in patents by origin, ranking 28th globally. Additionally, it
achieved the 20th rank in the citable documents H-index in 2022.
• High-tech manufacturing contributed to 34.23% of the total manufacturing output in 2019, with
India ranking 35th in this category.
• India achieved an impressive 8th position in intangible asset intensity, and maintains a Global
Brand Value of 210.907 billion USD in 2023, ranking 31st globally.

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 • India’s cultural and creative services exports soared in 2021, up by a substantial 21.4% from the
prior year, securing the 18th position in this thriving sector.
• India’s unicorn valuation stands at 5.04% of GDP in 2023, securing the 9th position in this
indicator.
• India ranks 35th in innovation outputs, marking an improvement from the previous year.
• In human capital and research, it stood at 48th; in business sophistication, it ranked 57th; and it
secured the 22nd spot in knowledge and technology outputs.
• Strong indicators include information and communication technology (ICT) services exports
(5th), and global corporate research and development (R&D) investors (13th)
Unicorn Presence:
i.Five economies host 80% of the world’s unicorns: USA (54%), China (14%), India (6%), UK (4%), and
Germany (2%).
ii.Out of a total unicorn valuation of USD 3.8 trillion in 2023, US unicorns accounted for USD 2 trillion,
followed by China with USD 736 billion and India with USD 193 billion.
NITI Aayog has been working diligently to optimise national efforts for bringing policy-led innovation in
various areas such as electric vehicles, biotechnology, nanotechnology, space, alternative energy sources.
Global Innovation Tracker 2023
The Global Innovation Tracker captures key trends in innovation investments, measures the pace of
technological progress and adoption, as well as the resulting socioeconomic impact.
According to this year’s Global Innovation Tracker, new breakthrough technologies continue to provide
novel opportunities but the societal impact of innovation remains low.
The top Science and Technology Clusters in the world in 2023
• Also referred to as “Science and Technology hubs”, S&T clusters are the areas in the world
where the highest density of inventors and scientific authors are located.
• Tokyo–Yokohama (Japan) continues to lead, followed by Shenzhen–Hong Kong–
Guangzhou (China and Hong Kong, China), Seoul (Republic of Korea) and then China’s Beijing
and Shanghai–Suzhou clusters.
• China now has the largest number of clusters in the world, overtaking the United States.
Click Here for Official GII 2023
About GII:
Initiated in 2007, GII is published annually by WIPO, in partnership with the Portulans Institute and with
the support of our Corporate Network partners: the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the Brazilian
National Confederation of Industry (CNI), Ecopetrol (Colombia), and the Turkish Exporters Assembly
(TİM).
About World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO):
It is the global forum for intellectual property (IP) services, policy, information and cooperation
with 193 member states (as of 30 September 2023).
Establishment– 1967
Director General– Daren Tang
Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland

India, Argentina sign Social Security Agreement for Professionals

On September 29, 2023, a Social Security Agreement (SSA) was signed between India and Argentina to
ensure professionals and workers retain benefits and contributions made toward social security,
promoting easier mobility between countries.
Signatories:
SSA was signed by Dinesh Bhatia, India’s Ambassador to Argentina; and Santiago Cafiero, Argentina’s

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Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship in the presence of Raquel Kismer de
Olmos, Argentine Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security.

Key Points:
i.This SSA covers Indian laws on old age, survivor’s pension and permanent, total disability pension for
employed persons, and includes Argentina’s contributory benefits under their Social Security System.
ii.The agreement grants temporary overseas workers and their families full rights to contributory benefits
such as cash allowance for retirement or pension, rent, subsidy or lump sum payments, without reduction,
modification, or suspension.
iii.It establishes the legal framework regulating insurance period i.e., period of services credited with
contributions, contributory benefits and export thereof, in respect of detached workers, including crew
members of airlines and ships.
iv.It sets the legal framework for insurance period, contributory benefits, and export rights for detached
workers, including airline and ship crew members detached workers, i.e., employees working in another
country on a temporary basis.
About Argentina:
President– Alberto Angel Fernandez
Capital– Buenos Aires
Currency– Argentine Peso

BANKING & FINANCE

ADB Capital Management Reforms Bring $100 Billion Benefits Over Next Decade to Asia-Pacific
Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced the approval of capital management reforms that are set to
release approximately USD($)100 billion in fresh funding capacity over the next decades for financing
projects in Asia-Pacific region.

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 • People in Asia and the Pacific, especially those who are poor and vulnerable, are facing severe
challenges due to escalating and interconnected crises.An estimated 155 million people, or 3.9%
of the region’s population, lived in extreme poverty as per the report in 2022.
Key Points:
i.This funding is intended to tackle significant Asian
challenges, notably climate change.
ii.These reforms were implemented by updating
the ADB’s Capital Adequacy Framework (CAF).
iii.These reforms significantly enhance the bank’s
capacity for new commitments, allowing it to commit
to projects and initiatives totaling more than USD 36
billion annually.
iv.This represents a substantial increase of
approximately USD10 billion, which representing
about a 40% rise in the ADB’s capability to fund
various projects, initiatives ,infrastructure, and other
essential sectors in the Asia-Pacific region.
v.ADB’s strategic measures enable $360 billion
financing for member countries and private clients.
Safeguarding AAA credit rating, they ensure affordable, long-term funding, sustaining developmental
support for member countries.”
Role of ADB’s Capital Adequacy Framework (CAF)
• CAF evaluates assets, liabilities, and risks to ensure the bank maintains enough capital to meet
obligations, even in defaults or asset depreciation and ensuring financial stability.
• ADB reviews its CAF every 3 years to ensure it is benchmarked against best practices and
aligned with the evolution of ADB’s operations.
Additional Information
• Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) such as ADB and World Bank are advised to raise their
yearly expenditures by USD 3 trillion by 2030. This includes USD 1.8 trillion for additional
climate action and USD 1.2 trillion for achieving other sustainable development goals (SDGs).
These suggestions come from a committee led by N.K. Singh and Lawrence Summers, co-
conveners of the G20 expert group on strengthening MDBs.
• In May 2023, ADB established the Innovative Finance Facility for Climate in Asia and the Pacific
(IF-CAP).
About Asian Development Bank:
President – Masatsugu Asakawa
Headquarters – Manila, Philippines
Establishment – 1966
Members – 68 members (49 from Asian and the Pacific and 19 outside)

SEBI Extends Demat Account and Mutual Fund Unit Holder Nominations Deadlines Until
December 2023
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) extended the deadline for adding nominees to demat
accounts and submitting PAN and KYC details for physical security holders until December 31, 2023.SEBI
also extended the nomination deadline specifically for mutual fund unit holders until January 1, 2024.
Extension Deadline for Current Demat Account Holders
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has announced an extension of the deadline for

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current demat account holders to select their nominees for an additional three months, now ending
on December 31, 2023.

• Sebi’s circular on March 16, 2023, required submission of PAN, nomination, contact, bank, and
signature details for physical securities by September 30, 2023. The deadline has been extended
to December 31, 2023, preventing folio freezing.
• Sebi extended the deadline for Demat account holders to make their ‘choice of
nomination’ until December 31, 2023.
• This extension applies to both new and existing Demat accounts. The goal of this initiative is to
guarantee that the assets held in these accounts are transferred to the rightful beneficiaries in
the event of the account holder’s passing.
• Sebi has directed stock exchanges, depositories, Registrar and Transfer Agents (RTAs), and
listed companies to implement the provisions outlined in its recent circular.
Demat Account
• A Demat account or Dematerialized account, is an electronic account used for holding and
trading financial securities such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, government securities, and
exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in electronic format.
• Demat accounts simplify the process of trading, eliminating the risks associated with physical
certificates, such as theft, loss, or forgery. When an investor buys or sells securities, the changes
are reflected electronically in the Demat account.
Extension Deadline for Mutual Fund Unit Holders
i.SEBI has extended the deadline to another three months for mutual fund account holders to nominate a
beneficiary or opt out until January 1,2024. If investors fail to comply, their folios will be frozen with
effective from January 1,2024. Earlier, the deadline for existing mutual fund holders to provide a choice of
nomination was September 30.
ii.SEBI has directed asset management companies (AMCs) and registrar and transfer agents (RTAs) to
regularly remind investors via email and SMS to fulfil the nomination requirements.
iii.This mandate, introduced on June 15, 2022, required mutual fund holders to submit nomination details
or opt-out declarations starting from August 1, 2022, with multiple deadline extensions since.
About SEBI
Chairman- Madhabi Puri Buch
Headquarters- Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established- constituted as a non-statutory body on April 12, 1988 and it was established as a statutory
body in the 1992.

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 AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
President of India Presents National Service Scheme Awards for the Year 2021-2022
On 29 September 2023, the President of India, Droupadi Murmu presented the National Service
Scheme Awards for the year 2021-2022 at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, Delhi. The award was

given to 52 persons to recognize their outstanding contributions towards voluntary community social
services.
• The awards included 3 categories namely Universities/+ 2 Council (2 Awards); NSS units and
their Programme Officers (10 NSS Units + 10 Programme Officers); and NSS volunteers (30
Awards).
Key People:
Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MoYAS), and Nisith Pramanik,
Minister of State (MoS), MoYAS also attended the award ceremony.
NSS Awards:
i.MoYAS, Government of India (GoI) instituted the NSS Awards during 1992-93.
ii.The awards are conferred by the ministry annually in 3 categories to recognize voluntary services to
promote NSS in India.
Winners under Programme coordinator/Officer category:
No. Name Institution
Dr. Ramvir Singh
1 Chauhan Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Agra (Uttar Pradesh)
2 Dr. Mitali Kathkatia Dakshin Kamrup Girls’ College, Mirza (Assam)
3 Dr. Ranjana Sharma Post Graduate Govt. College for Girls, Chandigarh
Government Degree College, Dharamshala, Kangra (Himachal
4 Dr. Malkiat Singh Pradesh)
5 Dr. Raghavendra R Seshadripuram Degree College, Mysuru (Karnataka)
6 Dr. S. Lekshmi Sanatana Dharma College, Alappuzha (Kerala)
Institute for Excellence in Higher Education, Bhopal (Madhya
7 Dr. Indira Barman Pradesh)
8 Dr. Pawan Ramesh Naik Kewalramji Harde Mahavidyalaya, Chamorshi (Maharashtra)
9 Joseph Vanlalhuraia Sailo Synod Higher Secondary School, Aizawl (Mizoram)
10 Dr. Renu Bisht Bhartiya Shaheed Sainik Vidhyalaya, Nainital (Uttarakhand)
11 Babita Prasad Surya Sen Mahavidyalaya, Siliguri (West Bengal)

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Value of Awards:
Number of
Award Category awards Value
First Award:
Rs.5 Lakhs (for NSS Programme Development) with a
Trophy to the University/ +2 Council.
A Certificate and a Silver Medal to the Programme
Coordinator.
Second Award:
Rs.3 Lakhs (for NSS Programme Development) with a
Trophy to the University/ +2 Council.
A Certificate and a Silver Medal to the Programme
University/ +2 Council 2 Coordinator.
For NSS Units: Rs.2 Lakhs for each unit (For NSS
Programme Development), with a Trophy
NSS Units and For Officer: Rs. 1.5 Lakhs to each with a Certificate and a
Programme Officers (10 + 10) Silver Medal.
Rs 1 lakh to each Volunteer, with a Certificate and a Silver
NSS Volunteers 30 Medal.
National Service Scheme (NSS):
i.NSS is a Central Sector Scheme of MoYAS, GoI, launched in 1969. The ideological orientation of the NSS is
inspired by the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi.
Objective: The primary objective is to develop the personality and character of the student/youth
through voluntary community service.
ii.It provides opportunities to the student youth of 11th & 12th Class of schools at:
• +2 Board level and student youth of Technical Institutions; Graduate & Post Graduate at colleges
and University level of India to take part in various Government led community service
activities & programmes.
Note: Currently, there are over 39 lakh NSS volunteers in India.
Recent related News:
On July 24, 2023, the President of India Droupadi Murmu conferred the National Geoscience Awards- 2022
(NGA) of the Ministry of Mines on 22 Geoscientists during an event organized at Rashtrapati Bhavan
Cultural Centre in New Delhi, Delhi.
About National Service Scheme (NSS):
Director– Pankaj Kumar Singh
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi
Launched on– 24th September, 1969
The Motto or watchword of the NSS: “NOT ME BUT YOU”.

2023 SASTRA Ramanujan Prize awarded to Mathematician Ruixiang Zhang

The Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy (SASTRA) Ramanujan Prize for
2023 will be awarded to Ruixiang Zhang of China, Assistant Professor at the University of California,
Berkeley, the United States of America(USA) for his contribution to Mathematics from analytic number
theory, combinatorics, Euclidean harmonic analysis to geometry.
• The Prize will be conferred at the International Conference on Number Theory, which will be
held from 20 to 22 December 2023 at SASTRA University in Kumbakonam(birthplace of
Ramanujan) of Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu.

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About Ruixiang Zhang:
i.In 2022, he was awarded Sloan Research Fellowship, one of the most prestigious honors given to early-
career scientific researchers for 2022-24.
ii.His work has appeared in Inventiones Mathematicae in 2019.

iii.In 2008, he received a gold medal at the 49th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), held in
Madrid, Spain.
iv.He contributed to solving two long-standing problems in restriction theory:
• Carleson’s problem on pointwise convergence of solutions to the Schr¨odinger equation.
• The two-dimensional case of Sogge’s local smoothing conjecture for wave equations.
About SASTRA Ramanujan Prize:
i.The SASTRA Ramanujan Prize, instituted by the SASTRA University in 2005 with a cash prize of USD
10,000.
ii.The first SASTRA Ramanujan Prizes were awarded jointly to Professors Manjul Bhargava (Princeton
University) and Kannan Soundararajan (University of Michigan) in 2005.
The criteria for the awardees:
The award is given annually to a mathematician not exceeding the age of 32 for outstanding contributions
in an area of Mathematics.
• The age limit has been set at 32 because Indian mathematical genius Srinivasa Ramanujan
achieved so much in his brief life of 32 years.
SASTRA Ramanujan Prize Committee:
The 2023 SASTRA Ramanujan Prize Committee comprised
• Krishnaswami Alladi -Chair (University of Florida, USA),
• Don Blasius (University of California, Los Angeles, USA)
• Sergei Konyagin (Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russia)
• Jonathan Pila (Oxford University, United Kingdom)
• Bjorn Poonen (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA)
• Zeev Rudnick (Tel Aviv University, Israel), and
• Wadim Zudilin (Radboud University, The Netherlands)
Additional info:
National Mathematics Day is annually celebrated across India on December 22 to mark the birth
anniversary of renowned Indian Mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan.

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International Olympic Committee Announced the Winners of the Inaugural IOC Climate Action
Awards
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced the winners of the inaugural IOC Climate Action
Awards, which recognise athletes, International Federations (IFs), and National Olympic Committees
(NOCs) for their efforts to combat climate change.
• IOC Climate Action Awards 2023 were awarded under 3 categories: sustainable travel,
innovation, and athlete advocacy.

About IOC Climate Action Awards:

The IOC Climate Action Awards was introduced in November 2022, with the goal of highlighting how sport
can play an essential part in addressing the climate issue.
• More than 70 applications were received from across the Olympic Movement.
• The 2023 awards are supported by Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partners Airbnb,
Deloitte and Procter & Gamble (P&G).
Winners of 2023 IOC Climate Action Awards:
Sustainable Travel Award:
The Airbnb supported Climate Action x Sustainable Travel Award acknowledges effective initiatives and
campaigns to travel more sustainably within the sports calendar.
Category Winner Reason for Award
Marcus Mepstead
Fencing, United
Athlete Kingdom (UK) for developing an annual travel plan that reduces emissions.
World Sailing
World Governing for prioritising reducing organisational travel and new policies
body for the sport of encouraging employees to use public transportation to minimise
IF sailing emissions.
for promoting sustainable transportation as part of its strategy,
which included the use of electric and hybrid vehicles from
Spanish Olympic Worldwide Olympic Partner Toyota, as well as public transport for
NOC Committee domestic travel.
Innovation Award:
The Deloitte supported Climate Action x Innovation Award recognises the unique and innovative ideas
presented by athletes, IFs, and NOCs to help promote climate action.

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Category Winner Reason for Award
For implementing a number of waste-reduction measures as a member
Paloma Schmidt of the organising committee of the International Laser Class Association
Athlete (Sailing, Peru) (ILCA) European Championships in Andora, Italy
For launching “The Bag that Builds” in collaboration with the South
African Rugby Union and the Centre for Regenerative Design &
Collaboration (CRDC).
World Rugby i.The innovative concept includes collecting waste generated by fans,
Global governing athletes and operational workers during the Rugby World Cup Sevens
body for rugby 2022 for conversion into an eco-aggregate used for the construction of
IF union social homes in South Africa.
Colombian For creating a pilot effort to regulate, reduce, and advocate for carbon
Olympic emissions during the 2021 National Sea and Beach Games in Tol
NOC Committee (Coveas), Colombia.
Athlete Advocacy Award:
P&G supported Climate Action x Athlete Advocacy Award recognises athletes who actively engage
individuals and communities in the campaign against climate change.
Winner: Ben Blankenship, a middle-distance athlete from the United States of America (USA).
• He was recongnised for his work in promoting sustainability through the Endless Mileage
Project, which plants trees for every American miler who breaks 4 minutes (men) or 4:30
minutes (women) in the event and redistributes used sports clothing and equipment to local
schools.
Recent Related News:
i.International Olympic Day is annually celebrated across the world on 23rd June for the celebration of
sport, health, and being together.The theme for International Olympic Day 2023 is ‘Let’s Move’ which
emphasises daily physical activity to people around the world.
ii.The Indian team won 202 medals (including 76 Gold, 75 Silver, 51 Bronze) in Special Olympics World
Games Berlin 2023 held in Berlin, Germany from 17th June 2023 to 25th June 2023.
About International Olympic Committee:
The International Olympic Committee is the administrator of the Olympic Games and the driving force
behind the Olympic Movement.
President – Thomas Bach
Headquarters – Lausanne, Switzerland
Established – 1894

ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

IFC Received RBI’s Approval for Acquiring 9.7% stake in Federal Bank
International Finance Corporation(IFC) has received approval from Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to acquire
upto 9.7% of the paid-up share capital or voting rights of the in Federal Bank Limited (subject to the
conditions specified therein).
• The approval has been granted by RBI with reference to the application made by IFC.
Key Points:
i.In July 2023, the Federal Bank raised Rs 959 crore from IFC through a preferential issue of shares.
ii.IFC currently holds a 1.34% of the paid-up share capital or voting rights in the bank.

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Followed Regulations:
The approval granted by RBI is subject to the compliance with the relevant provisions of the
• Banking Regulation(BR) Act, 1949.
• RBI’s Master Direction and Guidelines on Acquisition and Holding of Shares or Voting Rights in
Banking Companies dated January 16, 2023 (as amended from time to time).
• Foreign Exchange Management Act(FEMA) 1999.
• Regulation 30 of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) (Listing Obligations and
Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015.
• Any other guidelines, regulations and statutes as applicable.
About International Finance Corporation(IFC):
IFC is one of the members of the World Bank Group(WBG). It is the largest global development institution
focused exclusively on the private sector in developing countries.
Managing Director – Makhtar Diop
Headquarters – Washington DC, United States of America(USA)
Established in – 1956
About Federal Bank Limited:
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Shyam Srinivasan
Headquarters – Aluva, Kerala
Established in 1931
Tagline – Your Perfect Banking Partner

Air India Completes Acquisition of its 1st A350-900 Aircraft through GIFT City
On September 29, 2023, Tata Group owned Air India successfully acquired India’s first Airbus A350-900
aircraft by way of finance lease transaction with HSBC through AI Fleet Services Limited (AIFS), a 100%
subsidiary of Air India, and a Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) International Financial
Services Centre (IFSC)-registered finance company.

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 • Air India is the India’s first scheduled carrier to have acquired an aircraft from an entity
registered in GIFT City.
• It is also its first financing transaction from its orders for 470 aircraft that were made earlier in
2023.
Key Points:
i.Air India has placed orders for six A350-900 planes and five of them are scheduled for delivery through
March 2024.
• Apart from these, it orders 470 new aircraft include 34 A350-1000s, 20 Boeing 787
Dreamliners, 10 Boeing 777Xs, 140 A320 neos, 70 A321 neos and 190 Boeing 737MAXs.
ii.Air India had signed purchase agreements to acquire these aircraft with Airbus and Boeing on the
sidelines of Paris Air Show held in June 2023.
Note:
Tata Sons acquired a 100% stake in loss-making Air India in January 2022 through its fully owned
subsidiary, Talace Private Limited.
About International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA):
IT has been established on April 27, 2020 under the International Financial Services Centres Authority Act,
2019.
Chairperson– K. Rajaraman
Headquarters– Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), Gandhinagar, Gujarat

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

MoS Dr Jitendra Singh Launches IGMS 2.0 Public Grievance portal & Automated Analysis in
Tree Dashboard Portal of DARPG
On September 29, 2023, the Union Minister of State (MoS) Dr Jitendra Singh, Ministry of Personnel, Public
Grievances & Pensions, launched the Intelligent Grievance Monitoring System (IGMS) 2.0 Public
Grievance portal and Automated Analysis in Tree Dashboard portal of the Department of Administrative
Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG).

• He also launched the Swachhata Special Campaign 3.0 and released the Precedent Book (e-
book) prepared by DARPG.
Note: DARPG work under the aegis of Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
About IGMS 2.0:
i.IGMS 2.0 dashboard has been implemented by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, Uttar
Pradesh (UP) following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with DARPG on December 14, 2021 for
upgrading Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) with Artificial
Intelligence (AI) capabilities.

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ii.The IGMS portal provides instant tabular analysis of grievances filed and disposed, enabling officials to
identify root causes.
iii.It automates grievance processing for the 20 lakh annual complaints on CPGRAMS, expediting
resolutions.
• Notably, Reforms led by DARPG have slashed average resolution time from 32 to 18 days, a 50%
decrease.
Launch of Swachhata Special Campaign 3.0
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh also launched the Swachhata Special Campaign 3.0 w.e.f. October 2,
2023 i.e. on the occasion of Birth Anniversary of Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, till 31st October,
2023.
• It is a sequel of the Special campaigns conducted in the last two years.
• DARPG is the Nodal Department for implementation of Special Campaign 3.0.
Key Points:
i.It will focus on field/outstation offices responsible for service delivery or having public interface, in
addition to the Ministries/Departments and their attached/subordinate offices.
ii.DARPG introduced 300 Best Practices for all Ministries, emphasizing a ‘Whole of
Government’ and ‘Whole of Science’ approach, in Special Campaign 3.0.

IAF inducts 1st of 6 Dornier Do-228 aircraft Manufactured by HAL

The Indian Air Force (IAF) inducted the first of six new Dornier Do-228, 19 seater aircraft, manufactured
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), a Public Sector Undertaking(PSU) under the Ministry of
Defence(MoD).
About Dornier Do-228:
i.In March 2023, the MoD signed an agreement with HAL to manufacture these aircraft with a budget of Rs
667 crore.
ii.Dornier Do-228 aircraft has enhanced fuel efficiency engines, five-bladed composite propellers,
advanced avionics, and a modern glass cockpit.
Uses:
i.The Dornier-228 aircraft is a multifunctional, lightweight transport aircraft which can perform functions
from utility and commuter transport to maritime surveillance.
ii.IAF uses the aircraft for Route Transport Role and communication tasks. This also plays a vital role
in training transport pilots.

ENVIRONMENT
Protosticta Armageddonia: Pune researchers found new Damselfly Species in Western Ghats,
Kerala
Researchers from MIT-World Peace University (MIT-WPU) in Pune (Maharashtra) have
discovered Protosticta Armageddonia (Armageddon Reedtail), a new species of damselfly in the
southern Western Ghats of Kerala.
• They name “Armageddon” symbolizes the global crisis of habitat loss and climate change
affecting insect populations.
• The discovery of the new species has been documented in the International Journal
of Odonatology. It has also been recorded and registered with the Zoological Survey of India
(ZSI), Pune.

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 • This new species, with its ominous name, serves as a clear reminder of the ongoing ecological
crisis powered by uncontrolled habitat loss and climate change.
Note: The International Journal of Odonatology is a publication affiliated with the Worldwide Dragonfly
Association based in the United States of America (USA).
Genus and Species:
i.The new damselfly species, P.Armageddonia belongs to the genus ‘Protosticta‘ in the
family Platystictidae, which is endemic to Western Ghats in India.
ii.The genus Protosticta consists of slender-built damselflies commonly called reed-tails or shadow
damsels.
iii.It belongs to the order Odonata (“toothed ones”) and one of its group Zygoptera (which includes
damselflies).
Armageddon:
i.The name, Armageddon Reedtail, is a direct reference to the concept of “Ecological Armageddon”,
which describe the devastating decline of insect populations around the world.
ii.This phenomenon, also called insect apocalypse, affects entire ecosystems because insects pollinate,
cycle nutrients, and provide food for other animals.
Features:
i.The newly found species exhibits a captivating dark brown to black body with vibrant greenish-blue eyes.
ii.It features delicate pale blue markings on half of its eight abdominal segments.
iii.Its exclusive habitat choice is primary montane streams, where it grows beneath dense canopy cover.
iv.The new species is distinguished from its other damselflies by a combination of characteristics,
including:
• A marking on the ventral side of the thorax, structure, and colour of the prothorax.
• Markings on the 8th abdominal segment;
• The structure of caudal appendages and genital ligula.
Note: A new species of Protosticta Selys (1885), is described based on specimens collected from
northeast of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, in the southern parts of the southern Western Ghats of India.
Research Team:
i.Dr. Pankaj Koparde (Lead Researcher for the Armageddon Reedtail), Assistant Professor, Department of
Environmental Studies at MIT-WPU.
ii.Arajush Payra, PhD Scholar, MIT-WPU, entomologist and lead author.
iii.Ameya Deshpande, MSc Environmental Science Student at MIT-WPU.
iv.Mr. Reji Chandran, a prominent wildlife photographer and team member first spotted the species.

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 BOOKS & AUTHORS
PM Modi Releases 4 Books Showcasing G20’s Presidency Success
Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi released four Books revolving around the success of India’s Group 20
(G20) presidency at the G20 University Connect Finale programme held at Bharat Mandapam in New
Delhi, Delhi.
These 4 books are available on the G20 India website and on its application in ebook format.
About released books:
i.The Grand Success of G20 Bharat Presidency: Visionary Leadership, Inclusive Approach.
ii.G20 University Connect Programme: Engaging Young Mind.
• These 2 books are published by New Delhi(Delhi)–based autonomous policy research institute
Research and Information System for Developing Countries(RIS).
iii.India’s G20 Presidency: Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – One Earth, One family, One Future.
• The book features important event held at G20 under India’s Presidency
iv.Showcasing Indian Culture at G20.
• This book showcases the range and diversity of Indian culture through length and breadth of
India

IMPORTANT DAYS
International Translation Day 2023- September 30
The United Nations (UN) International Translation Day (ITD) is annually observed across the globe
on 30 September to recognise and honour the invaluable contributions of translators and language
professionals, who facilitate communication between nations strengthening global peace, cooperation,
understanding, and development.

• The theme of ITD 2023 is, “Translation unveils the many faces of humanity”.
• The annual theme of ITD is chosen by the Fédération Internationale des
Traducteurs/International Federation of Translators (FIT).
Background:
i.Since 1991, the FIT has been annually celebrating the International Translation Day to highlight the
significant role of translators all across the world.
• FIT celebrates the Internatioal Translation Day by creating an annual theme for the celebration.
ii.On 24 May 2017, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in its 71st session adopted the resolution
A/RES/71/288 and declared 30 September of every year as International Translation Day.
iii.The first UN-recognised ITD was observed on 30 September 2017.

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Why September 30?
The date September 30 was chosen to coincide with
the feast of St. Jerome, the Bible translator, who is
considered the patron saint of archaeologists, Biblical
scholars, librarians, students, and translators.
About St. Jerome:
i.St. Jerome was born around 340 as Eusebius
Hieronymous Sophronius in Stridon, Dalmatia
(present-day Croatia).
ii.He has translated most of the Bible into Latin from
the Greek manuscripts of the New Testament. He has
also translated the Old Testament against the Hebrew
original.
iii.He died on September 30, around 420 near
Bethlehem in Palestine. In 1989, he became a Father
and Doctor of the Church.
Translation at the UN:
i.The UN is one of the world’s largest employers of language professionals, particularly translators.
ii.Translators are one type of language professional employed at the UN in its major offices.
iii.UN documents are issued in 6 official languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and
Spanish), with some core documents also translated into German.
iv.UN language specialists include:
• Editorial and desktop publishing assistants;
• Editors;
• Interpreters;
• Précis-writers;
• Production editors and desktop publishers;
• Translators;
• Verbatim reporters
Key Facts:
i.The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) holds the Guinness World Record as the most
translated document. It exists in more than 500 languages.
ii.The UN is one of the world’s largest employers of language professionals.
ITD 2023 Poster:
FIT Council presented its ITD Poster for 2023 with the theme “Translation unveils the many faces of
humanity”. The 2023 poster pays tribute to the many human faces and stories made visible through
translation.
2023 Events:
FIT organised an International Translation Day Webinar 2023 to commemorate ITD 2023 with a panel
discussion about the value of human interpreting and human translation across the world on 2 October
2023.
About International Federation of Translators (FIT):
President– Alison Rodriguez
Secretary-General– Alexandra Jantscher
Headquarters– Paris, France
Established in– 1953

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FIT is the federation of professional associations of interpreters, translators, and terminologists. 2023
marks the 70th Anniversary of the founding of FIT.

STATE NEWS
Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel Inaugurates various Schemes and Infrastructural Projects
Worth Rs 1021.59 Crore
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister (CM) Bhupesh Baghel virtually inaugurates various schemes and
infrastructural projects worth Rs 1021.59 crore.
• The schemes include the installation of a panic button and Global Positioning System (GPS)
services as part of the Nirbhaya project in every passenger vehicle to locate the vehicle once
the panic button is pressed.
• He inaugurated bio-ethanol demonstration plant, Chhattisgarh Niwas, and launched Chief
Minister Construction Workers Pension Assistance Scheme, Automatic Number Plate
Recognition (ANPR) based e-detection system.
Key Points:
i.The Nirbhaya Command and Control Center was established to ensure women’s safety.
• If the panic button is pressed in case of an emergency, the Command Centre will receive
information through Chhattisgarh’s emergency number (Dial 112) and the location of the
vehicle can be found through the GPS system already installed.

New initiatives launched:

i.CM also inaugurated a state-of-the-art bio-ethanol demonstration plant in Godhi, Durg District to
promote biofuel.
• The Chhattisgarh Biofuel Development Authority has prepared the technical design and
drawings of the plant under the guidance of scientists from the Council of Scientific and
Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute
(CSMRI).
ii.The Chief Minister Construction Workers Pension Assistance Scheme was launched. Under this initiative,
the pension amount of Rs 1,500 per month for life will be given to the construction workers who are
registered for ten years and completed 60 years of age.
iii. Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) based electronic-detection (e-detection) system to take
strict measures against vehicles plying without fitness, tax, and proper documents.
• The implementation of the ANPR system will enable automatic fines for vehicles without fitness
and tax when they pass through the roads.
iv.Baghel also inaugurated the Chhattisgarh Niwas in New Delhi, Delhi.
• It was built at a cost of Rs 60.42 crore on a 43,803-square-foot area.

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v.He also inaugurated the first tennis academy of Chhattisgarh in Labhandi, Raipur at a cost of Rs 18 crore.
About Chhattisgarh:
Chief Minister – Bhupesh Baghel
Governor – Biswa Bhusan Harichandan
Dance Forms – Saila Dance, Karma, Sua Nacha
Festivals: Bastar Dussehra, Bastar Lokotsav, Fagun Wadai

Tripura Became 4th State in India to Introduce E-Cabinet System

Tripura Chief Minister(CM) Manik Saha launched an e-cabinet (electronic cabinet) system at Agartala,
(the capital of) Tripura to promote digital infrastructure development and digitization of government
services and information.
• With this, Tripura has become the 4th state in India (after Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and
Arunachal Pradesh) and 2nd state in northeast to implement the e-cabinet system.
• It is modelled on the e-cabinet system of Uttarakhand.
• The move is aligned with the Digital India initiative.
• The shift will increase transparency, efficiency and accountability of the state government.
About e-cabinet system:
i.The e-cabinet system is a paperless system of conducting cabinet meetings.
ii.All cabinet ministers and bureaucrats will use tablets to access the system, which will contain all the
necessary meeting materials, such as agendas, presentations, and cabinet notes.
iii.Since the process is paperless, this reduces the carbon footprint and environmental degradation.

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examination are covered in Our Daily CA content and Daily CA
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ensure nothing is missed.
Example: In 'Important Days' topics the International
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