Today's Current Affairs 19th October 2023

INTERNATIONAL

Power Minister R.K. Singh To conduct ISA’s Sixth Assembly In New Delhi From October 30

• The ISA, a pivotal international initiative, was jointly launched by India and France following the COP21 summit in Paris.

 NATIONAL

India’s First Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) To Be Launched In UP

• Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is all set to mark a historic moment in India’s transportation landscape.
• Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) Corridor and simultaneously launches the RapidX train connecting Sahibabad to the Duhai Depot, symbolizing the beginning of RRTS operations in India.
• Foundation stone for the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor was laid by the Prime Minister on March 8, 2019.

Tamil Nadu’s AI-Powered Elephant Protection System Aims to Prevent Train Collisions

• This innovative project is being implemented along the Ettimadai–Walayar railway section.

About Tamil Nadu:

Formation – 26 January 1950;

Capital – Chennai;

Chief Minister – M K Stalin;

Governor – R N Ravi.

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS

Presidential Appointments: New Governors for Odisha and Tripura

Odisha’s New Governor: Raghubar Das

Raghubar Das served as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand from 2014 to 2019.

Tripura’s New Governor: Indra Sena Reddy Nallu

Sanjay Kulshreshtha named as new Chairman and Managing Director of HUDCO

• Sanjay Kulshrestha has joined as the Chairman & Managing Director of the HUDCO from 16th October 2023.

About HUDCO:

Founded: 25 April 1970;

Headquarters: New Delhi

 Arindam Bagchi Appointed as India’s Ambassador to UN in Geneva

• Arindam Bagchi, currently serving as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, has been appointed as India’s next Ambassador/Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Geneva.
• Arindam Bagchi is set to succeed the incumbent Indian envoy to the UN in Geneva, Indra Mani Pandey, who assumed the role in July 2020.

 SUMMITS AND MOU’S

Google and Qualcomm partner to make RISC-V chip for wearable devices

• The partnership between Qualcomm and Google to produce wearable devices based on RISC-V technology.

About Google:

Founders: Larry Page, Sergey Brin

Parent organization: Alphabet Inc.

Founded: 4 September 1998, Menlo Park, California, United States

Headquarters: Mountain View, California, United States

CEO: Sundar Pichai (2 Oct 2015–)

About Qualcomm:

Headquarters: San Diego, California, United States

CEO: Cristiano Amon (30 Jun 2021–)

President: Cristiano Amon

Founded: July 1985, San Diego, California, United States

 RANKING

Global Pension Index 2023: Countries With The Best Pension System

• The 15th annual Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index (MCGPI) recently revealed the ranking of retirement income systems in various countries.
• The Netherlands secured the top position, followed by Iceland and Denmark.
• India showed improvement, moving up to the 45th rank out of 47 systems analyzed.

 BANKING AND ECONOMY

Federal Bank Launched ‘Mookkannoor Mission’ Initiative At Its Founder’s Village

• On the occasion of the 106th birth anniversary of its visionary founder, K.P Hormis yesterday, the Federal Bank recently inaugurated the ‘Mookkannoor Mission.
• Mookkannoor, located in the Ernakulam district of Kerala.

About Federal Bank:

Headquarters: Aluva

CEO: Shyam Srinivasan (23 Sept 2010–)

Founded: 23 April 1931, Nedumpuram

Founder: K. P. Hormis

 Centre approves 4% hike in DA for central govt employees

• Central government employees and pensioners by increasing the Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) by 4%. This increase will be effective from July 1, 2023.
• The DA will go up from 42% to 46%.
• This decision benefits a large number of people, including 48.67 lakh central government employees and 67.95 lakh pensioners.