Notes:
The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying has recently released the 20th Livestock Census -2019. As per latest census, India’s livestock population has increased to over 535 million showing an increase of 4.6% over Livestock Census-2012. Among the States, Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of livestock of 67.8 million, followed by Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal. The livestock census is conducted across the country periodically since 1919. The census usually covers all domesticated animals and headcounts of these animals are taken. The 20th Livestock Census was carried out in about 6.6 lakh villages and 89 thousand urban wards across the country.

Notes:
The 3rd edition of the Shirui Lily Festival 2019 has recently started at Shirui Vangayan Ground of Ukhrul in Manipur. The 4-day state festival was inaugurated  by Union Tourism Minister  Prahlad Singh Patel along with State Chief Minister N. Biren Singh. Folk dances and folk songs of different ethnic groups and performance by rock bands are the main attractions of the Festival which will showcase the rich cultural heritage of the State.

Notes:
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has started its bilateral joint exercise “Ex-Eastern Bridge-V “ with Royal Air Force Oman (RAFO) at Air Force Base Masirah in Oman on October 17 & will continue till Oct 26. For the first time, MiG-29 fighter aircraft is participating in an International Exercise outside India. 

Notes:
The 129th death anniversary of the mystic bard Fakir Lalon Shah is observed in Bangladesh on October 17, 2019. The devotees of Lalon from across the country and the world have congregated at the shrine to participate in the 3-day-long programme which is being organised by the Lalon academy and the culture ministry of Bangladesh. Lalon is believed to be born in 1774 though no written records exist. He died in 1890. His songs talk about humanism, love and equality going beyond the limitations imposed by religion, caste and creed.  His contemporary Gurudev Rabindra Nath Tagore got some of his songs transcribed and published.

Notes:
The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is celebrated every year on October 17 for eradication of poverty. The day also reflects the willingness of people living in poverty to use their expertise to contribute to the eradication of povertyThe 2019 theme is “Acting Together to Empower Children, their Families and Communities to End Poverty”.