Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2023

Notes:
As per the Punjab’s ‘Action plan to curb paddy straw burning’, approximately 31 lakh hectares of land in the region are dedicated to paddy cultivation.
This is anticipated to yield roughly 16 million tons of paddy straw (non-basmati), which will be effectively handled through both in-situ techniques (incorporating crop residue into the fields) and ex-situ methods (utilizing stubble as a source of fuel).

Notes:
The ‘India Ageing Report 2023’ was released recently by the International Institute for Population Sciences and the United Nations Population Fund.
It revealed that India’s elderly population could constitute over 20% of the country’s total population by the year 2050. The decadal growth rate of the elderly population of India estimated at 41%.

Notes:
States have rejected nearly 40% of land claims submitted by tribal communities under the Forest Rights Act.
Among these, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and West Bengal have the highest rejection rates, with Uttarakhand denying 97% of tribal claims. The latest statistics, were released by the Ministry of tribal affairs, there were 45,54,603 claims submitted totally.

Notes:
Continental Device India Private Limited (CDIL) achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first company in the nation to produce silicon carbide devices.
They accomplished this by launching a Surface Mount Semiconductor Packaging Line. The facility will supply to makers of electric vehicles, power management devices and solar panels.

Notes:
Recently, a two-day UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime Ministerial Conference was held at Palermo in Italy.
It is organised by the Government of Italy and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNDOC) Secretariat. Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai attended the conference to mark the 20th anniversary of United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crimes (UNTOC).

Notes:
The Ministry of Home Affairs has opened two more border tourist destinations ‘Marsemik La and Sko valley’ for tourists visiting Ladakh.
The previously restricted areas were close to the strategic Chang Chenmo sector north of Pangong lake in Ladakh. Tourists are allowed to trek through this high-altitude valley.

Notes:
The Warehousing Development Regulatory Authority (WDRA) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bank of India to support farmers and traders by providing low-interest rate loans against electronic negotiable warehouse receipts (e-NWRs).
The objective of this partnership is to raise awareness and facilitate funding against e-NWRs.

Notes:
K.N. Shanth Kumar of The Printers (Mysore) was elected Chairman of the Press Trust of India’s Board of Directors for a one-year term.
He was also Chairman of the Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC), a member of the Executive Committee of the Indian Newspaper Society (INS) for more than 20 years. This is the second time that he is serving as the Chairman of the Board of PTI, the last time being 2013 to 2014.

Notes:
Union Ministry of Textiles introduced Quality Control Orders (QCOs) for six medical-textile and 20 agro-textile products.
In Medical textiles like Sanitary Pads and baby diapers, self-help groups are exempted from QCO while Micro and Small units are given relaxation for 1 year.

Notes:
India and Argentina signed an agreement to ensure legal rights of professionals in each other’s domain that will assist in risk-free international mobility.
As per the Embassy of India, the ‘Social Security Agreement’ is aimed at ensuring rights of the growing number of Indian nationals employed in various Indian and international concerns in Argentina as well as for Argentine nationals seeking employment in India.