Current Affairs October 2013

: Current Affairs October 2013 :

: National :

• All India Football Federation signed an agreement with Football Federation of Australia (FFA) to support AIFF’s Grass _roots Programme

• World’s First Bitcoin ATM Launched in Vancouver, Canada

• The Union Cabinet of India Declares the Bhubaneswar and Imphal airports as international airports

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the launch of the new Integrated Processing Development Scheme (IPDS) for Textiles Industry

• Railways Minister Mallikarjun Kharge Launched the High Speed Rail Corporation of India Ltd (HSRC) on 29 October 2013

• Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh inaugurated the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Museum at Ahmedabad, Gujarat on 29 october 2013

• Global Gender Gap Report 2013: India was ranked 101 out of 136 countries.

• India slips to 134th spot in ease of doing Business list: World Bank

• Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh was on a 3-day Official Visit to Moscow to attend the 14th India-Russian Annual Summit

• The United Nations Day was observed across the world on 24 October 2013

• Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Suraksha Yojana Scheme was launched by the Union Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, Vyalar Ravi in Dubai

• India signed an agreement with World Bank for credit of 360 million US Dollar for the second phase of Uttar Pradesh Water Sector Restructuring Project

• Himachal Pradesh became the second state after Haryana to introduce Union National Vocational Qualitative Framework (NVQF)

• Indian shooters bagged 37 medals at Tehran Air Gun Shooting Championship

• WHO Report: 1.3 million people Died of Tuberculosis (TB) disease worldwide in 2012

• Ancient Mummies Discovered from the Excavation Site in Lima Suburb

• Union Ministry of Sports and FICCI launched ‘India Sports 2014′ to promote sports among youth in the country

• National Museum Institute begins Documenting India’s Cultural heritage

• The MoU was signed between Central Public Works Department (CPWD) and IIM Tiruchirappalli (IIM Trichy) for construction of a permanent campus

• All India Post Graduate Medical Entrance Examinations to be held online from 2014

• Scientists Discovered the First Venomous crustacean called Remipede, living in underwater caves

• Indian Railways Decided to increase the speed of the superfast trains to 160-200Kmph

• Researchers from (CSIRO) Discovered Tiny particles of Gold Growing in the Eucalyptus Trees.

• Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) signed a Gas Cooperation Agreement with Bihar Government

• Foreign Investment Promotion Board [FIPB] approves Tata-Singapore Airlines Joint Venture

• Moscow hosted the 14th India-Russia Annual Summit

• India and China signed 9 MoUs Including the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA) on 23 October 2013

• India Post Released postage stamp on the Golden Jubilee of Bhakra Dam on 22 October 2013

• The 14th India-Russia Annual Summit was held at Moscow on 21 October 2013

• Police Commemoration Day was observed on 21 October 2013

• Bangalore Ranked India’s Top Business Destination

• ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL) acquires Two oil blocks in Myanmar

• Eminent Telugu Writer Dr. Ravuri Bharadwaja Passed away

• The largest Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower of India inaugurated at Mumbai Airport.

• Scientists Discovered New Species of Dragon Tree [Dracaena Kaweesakii] in Thailand

• The Sixth India- Brazil Joint Commission Meeting was held in Brasilia

• World Osteoporosis day was observed across the world on 20 October 2013

• Global Iodine Deficiency Disorders Prevention Day was observed across the world on 21 October 2013

• Exhibition on Development of the Hungarian Cultural Roots Inaugurated at National Gallery of Modern Art [NGMA] on 17 October 2013

• India and Hungary signed Memorandum of Understanding [MoU] for the Promotion and Development of Traditional systems of medicine

• P N Narayanan Namboothiri Selected as New Sabarimala Melsanthi for one year period.

• The government of Canada announced Honorary Canadian citizenship for Malala Yousafzai on 16 October 2013

• The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty was observed on 17 October 2013

• Liverpool-DSK launches Football Academy in India

• World Food Day observed across the world on 16 October 2013

• The 2013 Global Hunger Index (GHI), released On 14 October 2013: India Ranked 63rd Position

• Total Broadband Subscriber Base in India increased to 15.24 Million

• The Indian Navy on 15 October 2013 inducted into service its largest offshore patrol vessel (OPV), INS Sunayna

• International Day of Rural women was observed across the world on 15 October 2013

• The Union Government of India Decided to Bring All the Post offices across India under the core Banking system

• International Day of the Girl Child observed across the world on 11 October 2013

• Government of India signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with seven countries for Nalanda University project in Bihar.

• China passed USA to Become World’s biggest oil importer in September 2013

• The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) won the Nobel Peace Prize for the year 2013

• Tata Motors Launched a Bi-Fuel variant of Nano on 8 October 2013

• The Queen’s Baton Relay was Launched at the Buckingham Palace, London on 9 October 2013

• 64th Raising Anniversary of Territorial Army Celebrated in New Delhi on 9 October 2013

• National Payments Corporation of India [NPCI] Launched Aadhaar-based Remittance Service [ABRS] and a Query Service on Aadhaar Mapper [QSAM] on 9 October 2013

• The Ministry of Science and Technology Launched Electronic Management of INSPIRE Award Scheme [E-MIAS] on 10 October 2013

• World Mental Health Day Observed across the world on 10 October 2013

• The Government of India proposed to set up of Plastic Parks for the promotion of downstream plastic processing industries on 9 October 2013

• The Union Cabinet of India approved the National Identification Authority of India Bill on 8 October 2013

• First Mega Food Park in Uttar Pradesh Established at Jagdispur

• President of India Pranab Mukherjee visited Belgium and Turkey

• The 81st anniversary of The Indian Air Force Day is celebrated Across India on 8 October 2013.

• India and Bangladesh on 5 October 2013 jointly inaugurated the India-Bangladesh Grid Inter-connection

• External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid announced India and Russia will strengthen cooperation in civil nuclear energy

• World Habitat day is observed across the world on 7 October 2013

• The Union Cabinet of India approved the proposal to establish a Central Armed Police Forces Institute of Medical Sciences (CAPFILMS)

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved continuation of the scheme for Integrated Textile Parks in the 12th five year plan on 3 October 2013

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs Approved the gross Budgetary Support of 8632.77 crore for National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) Phase-IV

• The Indian Railways signed a pact with Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) to set up India’s Biggest Forged Wheel plant in Uttar Pradesh

• Union Cabinet on 2 October 2013 decided to withdraw the ordinance and the Bill Relating to Representation of the People‘s Act

• Fodder scam: Lalu Prasad Yaduv jailed for 5 years, fined Rs 25 lakh

• Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) signed an agreement with Google for Launching of 100 of India’s most important heritage sites

• Sun Pharmaceutical Industries India’s biggest drug maker by market capital Entered in to Joint Venture with USA based Intrexon Corporation

• Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot launched Food Security scheme on 2 October 2013

• World’s largest Auto Markets : India ranks 7

• The Minister of Shipping GK Vasan Inaugurated the Fifth Edition of the India International Regatta Competition in Chennai on 30 September 2013

• The Minister of State for Commerce and Industry D. Purandeswari on 30 September 2013 presented the (EPCES) Export Awards to EOUs and SEZs.

• The Vice President of India, M. Hamid Ansari released a commemorative postage stamp in the memory of Baba Jumdev

• International Day of Older Persons observed on 1 October since 1991

• 19th Meeting of the Governing Council of the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) Inaugurated By President of India on 30 September 2013

• The National Voluntary Blood Donation Day observed on 1 October

• The Union HRD Minister MM Pallam Raju Inaugurated the National Workshop on Skilling India for the Next Decade through NVEQF (National Vocational Education Qualification. Framework)

                                       : Sports :

• Sebastian Vettel won the F1 Indian Grand Prix 2013

• Ding Junhui of China won the Indian Open Snooker Title 2013

• Virat Kohli Became Fastest ODL century scorer (in 52 balls) of India on 16 October 2013

• The Wankhede stadium, Mumbai to host Sachin Tendulkar’s Landmark 200th and Final Test

• Indian Wrestler Satyavrat Won the 9th Roustam-E-International Indian Style wrestling Title

• Sanam Singh and Vijayant Malik Won the Doubles Title in ITF Men’s Futures Tennis Tournament in Houston, USA

• Indian cyclist Deborah won Two Gold Medals at Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC) Track Asia Cup

• Pakistan Won Under-19 Asian Rugby Championship 2013

• Mumbai Indians clinched the Champions League Twenty-20 title by defeating Rajasthan Royals by 33 runs

• Novak Djokovic clinched his fourth China Open title against Rafael Nadal, 6-3 6-4 in the final

• The Marylebone Cricket Club on 1 October 2013 released the 5th edition of the 2000 Code for Laws of Cricket.

• Portuguese Luis Leao Pinto Won the 9th MTB Himalaya 2013.

• Star Private Ltd and ESPN on 3 October 2013 Won cricket Sponsorship Rights in India for the year 2013-14

• Swaran Singh Virk Clinched Gold at the 15th Asian Senior Rowing Championship in China

• Former Junior World Champion Nikhat Zareen won silver in the World Youth Boxing Championship at AIBA

:Personalities :

• Subhas Goswami appointed as the Director General (DG) of Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) on 30 October 2013

• Pankaj Razdan appointed as the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the Birla Sun Life Insurance

• Srishti Rana of India Crowned as Miss Asia Pacific World 2013

• Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor honoured in the House of Commons on 29 October 2013

• Ashok Amritraj gets ‘Soul of India Award’

• P.S. Raghvan the Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has been appointed as the next Russian Ambassador

• The Government of India Decided to Appoint Air Marshal Arup Raha as the Chief of the Indian Air Force

• Bharatnatyam dancer Geeta Chandran honoured with the Guru Debaprasad Award on 29 October 2013

• Priyanka Chopra, the Bollywood actress Became the global Brand Ambassador of American fashion brand Guess

• South African cricketer Darryn Randall dies after being hit by ball

• Mukesh Ambani has Retained the top Spot in the Forbes India rich list Yet again

• Sushmita Sen honoured with the Mother Teresa Memorial International Award on 27 October 2013

• Rajendra Yadav, the Noted Hindi Writer Passed Away at 84

• Retired Justice Tarun Chaterjee appointed chairman of the state Human Rights Commission

• R N Mahadevan the Former Director of AIR and Registrar of Newspaper, Passes away at 84

• Harald Sandberg, the Swedish Ambassador inaugurated Nobel Memorial Wall in Kolkata

• French Award Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur for Anjali Gopalan

• British Sculptor Sir Anthony Caro Passed away at 89

• Shah Rukh Khan, the Bollywood actor, appointed as the goodwill ambassador for South Korea on 23 October 2013

• Indian-American Emily Shah crowned Miss New Jersey USA

• Legendary singer Manna Dey Passes away at 94 in Bangalore

• The US comedian Carol Burnett Honoured with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

• Aung Suu Kyi Received the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought on 23 October 2013

• Lawrence R Klein, Nobel Prize winning Economist Died

• Singer Noel Harrison died, Aged 79

• Justice Laxmikanta Mahapatra was sworn in as Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court

• Indian-American Subra Suresh, Elected to top US national Academy

• The Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) Elected Kanwar Deep Singh as the President of the Indian Hockey Federation on 21 October 2013

• Sania Mirza came into the Top 10 of the world women’s Doubles Rankings

• Tarun Chugh Appointed as the Managing Director of PNB Metlife

• Rajendra Kashyap Appointed As the Financial Commissioner (Railways)

• Justice Rajesh Kumar Agrawal, Appointed as the Chief Justice of Madras High Court.

• Bhavina Hashmukhbhai Patel won silver medal at 2013 ITTF PTT Asian Table Tennis championships in Beijing

• Malayalam music legend K. Raghavan Master passes away

• Legendary Singer Lata Mangeshkar conferred the First National Yash Chopra Memorial Award

• Renowned Musician Madhuri Chattopadhyay Died

• Union Government of India Appointed Gireesh B. Pradhan as the Chairperson of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC).

• Sarojini Varadappan, Philanthropist & Renowned social worker, died at 92

• A. Krishnakumar Appointed as the Managing Director and CEO of Philips Electronics India Ltd on 17 October 2013

• Brazilian Football Legend Pele launched a Book Titled 1283

• Terence Walsh appointed as Chief Coach of the Senior Men National Hockey Team

• Rubco (Kerala state Rubber Co-operative Ltd) chairman E Narayanan passes away at 77

• Noted Marathi playwright Govind P Deshpande passes away at 75

• Photographer Greg du Toit was Named Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2013

• Arunendra Kumar Appointed as Chairman of Railway Board on 16 October 2013

• Hilary Clinton got the First founders’ Award for Helping HIV/AIDS victims

• TD Rangaramanujan, the Former Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) president died at 96.

• Mohan Dharia, the Former Union Minister and an Environmentalist, Passes away at 88

• Eugene Fama, Lars Peter Hansen, Robert Shiller won Nobel Prize for Economics 2013

• Oscar Hijuelos, the Cuban-American writer Dies aged 62

• MS Swaminathan selected for the Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration for the year 2012

• Sachin Tendulkar announced Retirement from Test cricket

• Alice Munro, the First Canadian woman won Nobel Prize 2013 in literature

• Telugu Film Actor Sri Hari Died at Mumbai’s Lilavati hospital on 9 October 2013

• Wilfried Martens, Nine-Time Prime Minister of Belgium Died at age 77

• Michael Levitt, Martin Karplus and Arieh Warshel Won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2013 on 9 October 2013

• Janet L. Yellen Nominated as the New Head of US Federal Reserve Board by President Barack Obama on 9 October 2013

• S. R. Bansal Took the charge as the Chairman and Managing Director of Corporation Bank

• Ethiopia’s parliament Elected Mulatu Teshome as the Country’s New President for a six-year term on 7 October 2013

• Malala Yousafzai Won the European Union’s Sakharov Human Rights Prize 2013.

• Minister of External Affairs of India Salman Khurshid Concluded Two Day Visit to Srilanka

• The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee conferred the Presidential Awards for Classical Tamil on 9 October 2013

• Arundhati Bhattacharya the First woman to took charge as the Chairperson of SBI on 7 October 2013

• Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, the influential spiritual leader of Israel’s Sephardi Jews, Dies at 93

• Ratan Tata, India’s Leading Industrialist Inducted into National Academy of Engineering

• Karan Thapar, Television journalist chosen for the International Press Institute (IPI) – India Award for Excellence in journalism 2013

• General VO Nguyen Giap, the Legendary Vietnam military leader Died at 102

• Kalapana Devi won Bronze Medal at the Judo tournament in Tashkent on 5 October 2013

• S. Varadarajan took over charge as chairman and managing director (CMD) of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL).

• The 32nd Annual Coast Guard Commanders Conference Inaugurated on 3 October 2013 by the Defence Secretary Radha Krishna Mathur

• The International Day of Non-Violence was observed on 2 October on the occasion of birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

• The President of India presented the First National Award for Senior Citizens – Vayoshreshtha Samman, 2013

• Thriller Writer Tom Clancy Died at 66 in Baltimore

• Polly Anthony, the former Epic Records President died at 59

• Rafiq Kathwari, an Indian-American poet on 29 September 2013 Won Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Award for the collection of his debut poems.

• Aga Khan, a Swiss-Born Philanthropist and Muslim Spiritual Leader visited India

• Former Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai Appointed as India’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom

• Ravi Shankar Narsimhan was presented with Friendship Award

                                   :Astronomy :

• ISRO announces India’s Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) will be launched on 5 November 2013

• NASA Scientists Discovered six New Planets with the Shortest Ever Orbit

• India successfully Test-fired Nuclear-Capable Prithvi-II missile from Odisha

• Scientists discover Ancient Supervolcanoes on Mars

:Education :

• The HRD Ministry on 8 October 2013 announced to launch 50 DTH educational channels

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for reforming the state Higher Eduation System.

:Goverment Plans And Schemes :

• The Union government of India launched the Inter Company LPG portability scheme on 5 October 2013

• The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India launched two schemes to Empower the consumers

:Honours And Awards :

• Peter Higgs, United Kingdom and Francois Englert, Belgium Won the Nobel Prize for Physics 2013.

• James Rothman and Randy Schekman of US and German-born Thomas Suedhof won the 2013 Nobel Prize for Medicine and Physiology

: World Organisations :

• India and Cuba signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in broadcasting between Prasar Bharati and Cuban Radio and Television Institute (ICRT).

• India and Peru Jointly celebrated the 50th year of Establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries

• India,Finland sign clean technology pact to produce ethanol

• India and Indonesia Signed Six Memoranda of Understandings [MoUs] to Strengthen cooperation

• India and Japan signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Feasibility study of High Speed Railway system

• India and Turkey Agreed to Resolve Terrorism on 7 October 2013

• All-India Association of Industries (AIAI) and Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Signed MoU for Promotion of Indo-Pak Trade

: Books And Authors :

• The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton Became the Longest Novel to Win the Man Booker Prize 2013.

• The Book Entitled ‘Third Curve’ Written by Film Director Mansoor Khan Released

• The autobiography of Malala Yousafzai entitled I Am Malala Released on 8 October 2013 in London

                                    : Inventions :

• India developed a new tactical surface-to-surface missile ‘Pragati’.

·    Scientists Developed the World’s First Bionic Man walk, talk and breaths.