Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2023

Notes:
NASA is preparing to launch a cutting-edge spacecraft named Psyche on a groundbreaking mission to study the asteroid named ‘16 Psyche’.
This first-of-its-kind endeavour will explore a metal-rich asteroid, providing valuable insights into the formation of rocky objects in our solar system.

Notes:
At least twenty-two individuals tragically lost their lives in separate incidents while swimming in rivers and ponds in Bihar, due to drowning.
The incident happened when they were bathing in rivers and ponds for Jivitputrika festival. Women in Bihar fast for the well-being of their children during this festival.

Notes:
The Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, has introduced an automated system for issuing ‘Status Holder’ certificates as part of the Foreign Trade Policy 2023.
Exporters will no longer need to submit applications to the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) for a Status Certificate. Instead, the IT system will automatically grant export recognition based on available data from the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS), along with other relevant risk parameters.

Notes:
The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment in India has introduced the “Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas” (SHRESHTA) as a step to encourage education and improve the socio-economic status of Scheduled Castes (SCs).
SHRESHTA’s main goal is to extend the coverage of government development programs and rectify service gaps in areas predominantly inhabited by SCs within the education sector.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet granted approval for the modification of the Second Schedule of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (commonly referred to as the ‘MMDR Act’).
This amendment is focused on establishing royalty rates for three crucial and strategic minerals: Lithium, Niobium, and Rare Earth Elements (REEs).

Notes:
The Indian Ocean Rim Association includes 23 countries from Africa, West Asia, South Asia, South East Asia, Australia and states situated in and around the Indian Ocean.
Sri Lanka took charge as Chair this year from Bangladesh, for a period of two years 2023 to 2025.  India took charge as the Vice-Chair. The 26-year-old organisation is the brainchild of former South African President Nelson Mandela.

Notes:
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Bima Vahak) Guidelines, 2023 shall come into force from the date of launch of Bima Vistaar. It is a comprehensive Insurance product which will be issued in due course.
The main objective of Bima Vahak is to establish women-centric distribution channel that is focused on enhancing insurance inclusion and creating awareness. As per IRDAI, Bima Vahaks have to be deployed in each gram panchayat before December 31, 2024.

Notes:
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on October 10 made an upward revision in its fiscal year 2023-24 growth forecast for India. The country is likely to grow at 6.3 percent, instead of 6.1 percent as projected in the previous forecast.
Earlier, the World Bank in October retained India’s growth forecast at 6.3 percent, citing the robust services activities. In September, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) also predicted India to grow at 6.3 percent.

Notes:
Noted author and activist Sivasankari was honoured with the prestigious Saraswati Samman for the year 2022 for her memoir written in Tamil, Surya Vamsam.
The Saraswati Samman was instituted by the KK Birla Foundation and Sivasankari is the 32nd recipient of the award. The Saraswati Samman, given annually for outstanding literary works in 22 Indian languages in the last 10 years.

Notes:
Azerbaijan announced that it would host military exercises with Turkey. The exercises will take place in several regions. The manoeuvres are to mark the centenary of the Turkish republic. Azerbaijan and Turkey are close allies.
They have an Agreement on Strategic Partnership and Mutual Support. The treaty states that both countries will support each other in the event of a military attack or aggression. Azerbaijan and Turkey share a 15 km border in the south-west.