Today's Current Affairs 18th October 2023

INTERNATIONAL

India-Sri Lanka Ferry Service Reopens after Four Decades

• The passenger ferry service, named ‘Cheriyapani,’ was officially launched.
• Sea route between India and Sri Lanka has been rejuvenated with the inauguration of a passenger ferry service from Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu to Kankesanthurai in Jaffna, Northern Sri Lanka.
• Indo-Ceylon Express or Boat Mail operated between Chennai and Colombo via the Thoothukudi port from the early 1900s until 1982.

 NATIONAL

Dharmendra Pradhan Launched IndiaSkills 2023-24 in New Delhi

• Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship unveiled the IndiaSkills 2023-24 program.
• India, secured the 11th position in the global competition last year.

 Kati Bihu festival 2023:18th October

• Kati Bihu, also known as Kongali Bihu.
• It falls on the first day of the ‘Kati’ month, which typically occurs in the middle of October.

About Assam:

Chief Minister: Himanta Biswa Sarma

Governor: Gulab Chand Kataria

 India to Invest ₹143 Lakh Crore in Infrastructure by 2030

• The rating agency CRISIL shared this information in its Infrastructure Yearbook 2023.
• CRISIL Ltd.’s Managing Director and CEO is Amish Mehta.
• He predicts a significant increase in per capita income, rising from $2,500 to $4,500 by fiscal year 2031.

About:

CEO: Amish Mehta (1 Oct 2021)

Headquarters: Mumbai

Founded: 1987

 SPORTS

India’s represent his Contingent for the Asian Para Games

• India is set to be well-represented at the fourth Asian Para Games scheduled to take place in Hangzhou, China, from October 22 to 28.

About China:

President: Xi Jinping 

Capital: Beijing

 IMPORTANT DAYS

World Trauma Day 2023: 17th October

• The Day was first observed in 2011 in New Delhi.
• Theme for World Trauma Day 2023 is "Embracing, Resilience, Overcoming Trauma's Impact".

 RANKING

Cirium’s report: Kempegowda International Airport tops global on-time performance rankings

• Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru, also known as the Bengaluru International Airport.
• It has been recognized as the “world’s most punctual airport” for the past three consecutive months.
• Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport was the only other Indian airport listed among the top five punctual airports globally.

About Karnataka:

Chief Minister: Siddaramaiah

Governor: Thawar Chand Gehlot

Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Annual Report 2022-2023 Released

• In April 2017, the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) launched the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS).

About NSSO:

Director General: Shri Bivas Chaudhuri

 BANKING AND ECONOMY

Govt To Sell 7% Equity Stake In Hudco Through OFS

• GOI has announced its plans to divest 7% equity in Housing and Urban Development Corp. Ltd (Hudco) via an offer for sale (OFS) scheduled for October 18-19. This strategic move is expected to ₹1,100 crore in revenue.
• Secretary of the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management: Tuhin Kanta Pandey

 PM Modi unveils long term blueprint for India’s maritime economy

• These initiatives are aligned with the ‘Amrit Kaal Vision 2047’ for the Indian maritime blue economy.
• The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of the Tuna-Tekra all-weather deep-draft terminal, to be built at a cost of more than Rs 4,500 crore at Deendayal Port Authority in Gujarat.

About Gujarat:

Chief Minister: Bhupendrabhai Patel

Governor: Acharya Devvrat

IDFC gets CCI nod for merger with IDFC First Bank

• Competition Commission of India (CCI) has given its approval for the merger of the Infrastructure Development Finance Company (IDFC) and IDFC First Bank.
• These include the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).
• As of June 30, 2023, IDFC held a 30.93 percent stake in IDFC First Bank through its non-financial holding company.
• IDFC Limited was set up in 1997

About IDFC FIRST Bank:

CEO: V. Vaidyanathan (19 Dec 2018)

Founded: October 2015

Headquarters: Mumbai