National News

Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana 

• On the occasion of Ayurveda Day (29.10.2024), the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi announced that the health coverage under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (ABPM-JAY) will now be available to all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, regardless of their income.

ABPM-JAY

Cyberattacks on India

• A non-government organisation 'Prahar' released the report, titled 'The Invisible Hand', has projected that if unchecked, cyberattacks on India were likely to rise to one trillion per annum by 2033, reaching 17 trillion by 2047.

Initiatives related to cybercrimes

Oath of Unity

• Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda administered the Oath of Unity in New Delhi on the eve of World Unity Day, 2024.

World Unity Day

Exemption of Custom duty: Anti-cancer drugs

• Under the announcement made in the General Budget 2024-25, three anti-cancer drugs (Trastuzumab, Osimertinib and Durvalumab) have been exempted from custom duty.Custom duty:

Custom duty: Indirect taxes

Misuse of Dowry Act

• The Supreme Court has warned State prosecution and the judiciary to guard against the danger of “over-implication” of in-laws in dowry cases under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code.

Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961

International

8th Future Investment Initiative

• Union Minister Piyush Goyal participated in the 8th Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 29th October to 31st October, 2024.

Related Facts

Indian Railways & Switzerland

• The Indian Railways signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Environment, Transport and Communications of Switzerland to enhance technical cooperation between the two nations.

Switzerland

Brazil refused to join BRI

• Brazil has become the second BRICS country after India not to join China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)

Hezbollah new chief: Naim Qassem

• Lebanese Islamist political party and paramilitary group ‘Hezbollah’ has announced that one of its founding members, Naim Qassem, will be its new chief (Former Chief: Hassan Nasrallah).

Lebanon

Economy and Banking

Management of Foreign Exchange Reserves (MFER)

• The Reserve Bank of India on 29th October, 2024 published its 43rd half-yearly report from April to September, 2024 on Management of Foreign Exchange Reserves (MFER).

Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

State Special

Drone  services: AIIMS Bibinagar

• In Telangana, specialised drone services to extend various services to remotely located healthcare facilities were launched at AIIMS Bibinagar on 29th October by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually. 

Run for Unity

• The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath flagged off ‘Run for Unity’ in Lucknow to celebrate Sardar Patel’s 150th birth anniversary.

Veerarkavu Temple: Dedicated to Lord Virupaksha, a form of Shiva

• The Kerala government has constituted a Special Investigation Team to probe the fire accident that injured over 150 people during an event at the Veerarkavu Temple near Neeleswaram in Kasargode.

Art and Culture

8th Deepotsav

• Ayodhya's ‘Deepotsav’ will feature 28 lakh environmentally friendly lamps, with grand decorations at the newly built Ram temple on the night of 30th October,.2024.

Related Facts

Awards

Ballon d'Or award

• The Ballon d'Or award ceremony was organised at the Chatelet Theater in Paris, the capital of France, in which Real Madrid was declared the best men's football club.

Apps & Portals

Civil Registration System (CRS)

• The Union Home Minister Amit Shah on October 29, 2024 launched the Civil Registration System (CRS) mobile application to “integrate technology with governance”. 

Related Facts

Person in News

Tejasvi Surya

• BJP MP Tejasvi Surya has become the first public representative to complete the Ironman 70.3 Challenge in Goa in 8 hours, 27 minutes and 32 seconds.

Rani Rampal

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written to former Indian Hockey legend Rani Rampal, who recently announced her retirement from the sport.

Appointments

VVS Laxman

• Former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman will be the Head Coach of the Senior Men's Cricket Team during their upcoming tour of South Africa.

Environment

Air Quality Index (AQI)

• According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the air quality in Delhi continues to be in the 'poor category'. The Air Quality Index (AQI) of 271 was reported in Delhi on th October, 2024.

Categories under AQI: 6

Extinction of World Trees

• According to Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), more than a third of the world’s trees face extinction.

International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List

Sports

Deepti Sharma

• In Women cricket, Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma has attained a career-best No. 2 spot in the Women's ODI bowlers' rankings in the latest update released by the International Cricket Council.

International Cricket Council (ICC)

India won over New Zealand

• In women's cricket, India won a three match series against New Zealand as the hosts defeated the Kiwis by six wickets in the final match.

Important Days

World Thrift Day (World Savings Day): 30 October

• World Thrift Day or World Savings Day is celebrated each year on 30th October to raise consciousness to people about their financial security, savings, and freedom.

Miscellaneous

Crumbs

• 'Crumbs', the world’s fattest cat (weighed 17 kg) from Russia, died weeks after being put on weight-loss diet.