TODAYS (18 OCT 2024) TOP NEWS

1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs conclave of NDA Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers in
Chandigarh. The meeting focused on national development issues. It also included discussions on the
observance of the Samvidhan Ka Amrut Mahotsav.

2. BJP leader Nayab Singh Saini took oath as the Chief Minister of Haryana for the second consecutive
term in a grand oath-taking ceremony in Panchkula. Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya
administered him the oath in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

3. The Government has decided to reduce the existing time limit for advance reservations in trains from
120 days to 60 days. The Ministry of Railway said, the new rule will come into effect from the 1st of
November. However, all the bookings made till 31st October will remain intact. The Ministry said, there
will be no change in the case of limit of 365 days for Foreign Tourists.

4. Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan held discussions with farmers,
farmers’ organizations, and their members and representatives from different states in New Delhi.

5. The Union Government has approved the budget for the upgradation of highways in Madhya
Pradesh, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh. Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, in a social
media post, announced that the Bhopal-Kanpur Economic Corridor in Madhya Pradesh has been
approved for upgradation to four lanes.

6. The Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud inaugurated the international conference Advancements
of Research and Global Opportunities for Holistic Ayurveda (AROHA-2024) in New Delhi. The three-day
event primarily aims to position Ayurveda as a key pillar of global health and wellness.

7. Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Minister of State for Coal and
Mines Satish Chandra Dubey unveiled the first-ever coal gallery at the National Science Centre in New
Delhi.

8. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar said the government is committed to working for the
development of tribal communities. Speaking at a tribal art exhibition in New Delhi organized by the
National Tiger Conservation Authority and Sankala Foundation, the Minister said the Centre is
committed to Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, with a focus on uplifting marginalized communities, especially
tribal populations.

9. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar will be on a day long visit to Sikar, Rajasthan on Saturday. During
the visit, he will preside as Chief Guest at the Silver Jubilee Annual Function of Sobhasaria Group of
Institutions in Sikar.

10. Arunkumar Namboothiri selected new chief priest of Sabarimala,Vasudevan Namboothiri chosen for
Malikappuram. The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) selected him for the position by drawing lots
from a panel of 24 priests shortlisted.

11. Kaziranga National Park, renowned for its iconic one-horned rhinoceros, has now gained recognition
as India’s second-largest butterfly diversity hub. Following Namdapha National Park in Arunachal
Pradesh, Kaziranga is home to an impressive 446 butterfly species.

12. Justice Sanjiv Khanna is set to become the 51st Chief Justice of India (CJI), following the
recommendation by current CJI DY Chandrachud in a letter to the Union law ministry. Justice Khanna,
the second-most senior judge of the Supreme Court, will take over the position after Justice
Chandrachud’s retirement on 10 November 2024.

FINANCE

 USD ₹ 84 (Approx)

💷 GBP ₹110(Approx)

€ Euro : ₹ 93(Approx)

🇨🇳 Yuan ¥ : ₹ 12

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BSE SENSEX

81,006.61 −494.75 (0.61%)🔻

NIFTY
24,749.85 −221.45 (0.89%)🔻

*********

Rates in Financial Capital Mumbai

GOLD : ₹ 77,600/ 10gm (24 krt)

SILVER : ₹ 97,000/KG

1. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has notified amendments to income tax rules to simplify the
process of claiming credit for TCS collected and TDS deducted for salaried employees and to enable the
claiming of TCS credit for minors in the hands of their parents. The Income Tax Act rules have been
amended to include any tax deducted or collected at source to make tax deductions in the case of
salaried employees.

2. SEBI has introduced measures to speed up the availability of sale proceeds for FPIs, bringing them on
par in this regard with domestic institutional investors. FPIs previously reported delays in their access to
sale proceeds beyond the standard ‘T+1’ settlement date. These delays were primarily due to the
erstwhile process adopted for obtaining tax clearance on their net sale proceeds, to ensure compliance
with FEMA Regulations.

3. The Government is working to reduce the cost of the construction of bridges and metros by 25
percent with the use of ultra-enforcement concrete, a technology adapted from Malaysia. This was
stated by Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, while inaugurating the International
Methanol Conference in New Delhi organized by NITI Aayog.

4. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has taken stringent action against four Non-Banking Financial
Companies (NBFCs), including NBFC-MFIs, in exercise of its powers under Section 45L(1)(b) of the
Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.
The RBI has issued directions to Asirvad Micro Finance Limited, Arohan Financial Services Limited, DMI
Finance Private Limited and Navi Finserv Limited, to cease and desist from sanction and disbursal of
loans, effective from close of business of 21 October 2024.

5. The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a 3% increase in Dearness
Allowance (DA) for central government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) for pensioners, raising the
DA from 50% to 53% of Basic Pay/Pension, effective 1 July 2024.

6. HDFC Bank has officially opened its first branch in Singapore as part of its strategy to expand its
international operations.

DEFENCE News

1. The Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan underscored the urgent need to incorporate
trustworthy Artificial Intelligence. He pointed out that recent global conflicts have demonstrated how AI
is revolutionizing modern warfare. He made these remarks while launching the Evaluating Trustworthy
Artificial Intelligence (ETAI) Framework and Guidelines for the Armed Forces in Delhi.

2. GE Aerospace on Thursday said its LM2500 engine will power the Indian Navy’s weapon-intense Next
Generation Missile Vessels (NGMV) built by defence PSU Cochin Shipyard Limited Ltd (CSL).

The move comes more than a year after the CSL signed a contract for building six NGMV for Indian Navy
at a cost of ₹9,805 crore.

3. The Indian armed forces will receive the MQ-9B armed High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE)
Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), manufactured by General Atomics, between 2029 and 2030.

4. India reiterated its call for the safety of United Nations peacekeepers, amid escalating conflict in
southern Lebanon with multiple attacks being reported on UNIFIL premises in Lebanon. It also confirmed
that there are no Indian troops stationed at the Blue Line, but stressed the imortance of safety of the
troops deployed.
5. Senior IPS officer Praveen Vashista has been appointed as the new Special Secretary for Internal
Security. This key appointment underscores the government’s focus on strengthening internal security
in the country.

6. Kaksar Bridge has been renamed Capt. Amit Bhardwaj Setu to honor the sacrifice of Capt. Amit
Bhardwaj during the Kargil War. The renaming ceremony was attended by CEC Dr. Mohd Jaffer Akhoon
and Major General K. Mahesh.

Sunita Dhonkaria, Capt. Bhardwaj’s sister, inaugurated a memorial at the bridge, further honoring her
brother’s legacy. Capt. Amit Bhardwaj, serving with the 4 JAT Battalion, made the ultimate sacrifice
during a rescue operation in Kaksar, showcasing unparalleled courage against infiltrators in 1999. The
renaming of the bridge serves as a lasting tribute to his valor and commitment to the nation.

✈ INTERNATIONAL NEWS

1. India has firmly rejected the allegations made by the Canadian government, calling them baseless. In
a media briefing in New Delhi yesterday, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said,
Canada has yet to provide any evidence to support the serious accusations made against India and its
diplomats.

2. President Smt Droupadi Murmu reached Malawi yesterday on the third and final leg of her three
African nation visit. She as said, there is immense scope for enhancing cooperation between India and
Malawi in various fields including agriculture, mining, energy and tourism.

The President is also scheduled to visit places of historical and cultural significance in Malawi such as the
National war memorial, Mausoleum, Shree Radha Krishna Mandir and Lake Malawi.

3. The First ASEAN-India Track 1 Cyber Policy Dialogue was held in Singapore. The Dialogue was co-
chaired by Joint Secretary, Cyber Diplomacy Division, Ministry of External Affairs, Amit A. Shukla. The
Dialogue explored cooperation in capacity building and training to identify specific areas of activities.
4. India has extended a new Line of Credit for 487.60 crore rupees to the Mauritius government for
financing a water pipeline replacement project. This is the first-ever rupee-denominated Line of Credit
to have been extended by India for project financing to any country under the Indian Development and
Economic Assistance Scheme (IDEAS). The project envisages the replacement of approximately 100
kilometres of obsolete water pipeline in Mauritius.

The Government of India-supported Line of Credit will be financed by the State Bank of India at
concessional terms.

5. NITI Aayog is gearing up to host the Second International Methanol Seminar and Expo 2024 on
October 17-18, 2024, at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi. This two-day event is a significant part of
India’s Methanol Economy Programme, initiated in 2016 in collaboration with the Methanol Institute,
USA.

🌎 WORLD NEWS 🌍

1. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have claimed that it had killed Hussein Muhammad Awada, a
Hezbollah battalion commander in Lebanon.

2. In Yemen, warplanes of the US-UK coalition launched 15 airstrikes on the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, and
the northern city of Saada. According to local media, the strikes hit three Houthi military sites in Al-Jiraf,
Hafa, and Jarban. However there were no reports of casualties.

3. In Bangladesh, a three-member tribunal issued an arrest warrant against ousted Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina and 45 others, including top Awami League leaders, in connection with alleged crimes
against humanity committed during the July-August mass protests.

4. In 🇵🇰Pakistan, the protests against the rape incident in Lahore turned severe as various incidents of
violence, vandalism and arson were reported in various cities. According to media reports, at least 250
protesters were arrested in Rawalpindi.

5. In Sri Lanka, Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has highlighted key economic goals for the
island, emphasizing the need to raise state revenue to 15% of GDP. Mr. Wickremasinghe said that the
revenues need to be raised by 2028 when the country will start repaying its foreign debt.
6. Former One Direction singer Liam Payne has died after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires,
Argentina. The 31-year-old was found outside the Casa Sur Hotel in the city’s Palermo neighborhood.

7. In Bangladesh, the interim government led by Prof Muhammad Yunus announced the cancellation of
eight national holidays introduced by Sheikh Hasina, including the Birth and Death anniversary of Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman on March 17 and August 15 respectively.

The ‘student coordinator’ of and adviser to the interim government Bangladesh, Nahid Islam said in a
statement on Wednesday in Dhaka that the interim government does not recognise Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman as the Father of the Nation.

🚣🚴🏇🏊 SPORTS

1. ICC Womens T20 World Cup, 2024

23 T20s

Oct 01 - Oct 15

Thursday, 17 Oct 2024

1st Semi Final,

Dubai International Cricket Stadium

Australia-women

AUSW: 134-5 (20)

South-africa-women

RSAW: 135-2 (17.2)

South Africa Women won by 8 wkts

2nd Semi Final • Sharjah, Sharjah Cricket Stadium

West Indies Women

Vs

New Zealand Women

Today @ 7:30 PM

2. India vs New Zealand, 1st Test

M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

Day 2: Stumps -

New Zealand lead by 134 runs

NZ: 180-3 (50)

Batters

Rachin Ravindra * 22

Daryl Mitchell 14

3. In shooting, India’s Vivaan Kapoor claimed the silver medal in the trap event at the ISSF World Cup
Final in New Delhi. Vivaan shot 44 in the final to finish behind gold medal winner Ying Qi of China. Earlier
today, Anantjeet Singh Naruka bagged the bronze medal in the Skeet Final Shotgun event.
4. In Badminton, Indian star shuttler and two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu has advanced to the
women's singles quarterfinals at the Denmark Open. Sindhu defeated China's Han Yue 18-21, 21-12, 21-
16 in the round of 16. She is the only Indian left in contention.

5. Union Sports Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya said that the Draft National Sports Governance Bill
2024 represents a transformative step toward establishing a robust and transparent sports governance
structure in the country. Chairing a consultation meeting in New Delhi, Dr Mandaviya highlighted that
the legislation is intended to empower athlete-centric federations, introduce the Safe Sports Policy, and
establish an Appellate Sports Tribunal.

🇮🇳 FACTS ABOUT INDIA 🇮🇳

Gol Gumbaz done in India. It has a diameter of 124 feet and is the second-largest dome in the world,
next only to St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

It is the tomb of king Mohammed Adil Shah, Adil Shahi Dynasty. Construction of the tomb, located in
Bijapur , Karnataka, India, was started in 1626 and was completed in 1656. The name is based on "Gol
Gumbadh" derived from "Gola Gummata" meaning "circular dome". It follows the style of culture and
[Indo-Islamic architecture] . Even a slight whisper by someone standing in its gallery can be heard
everywhere else in the gallery, and if somebody claps, the sound of it echoes several times.

😳WHY❓❓❓

Why is broiler chicken white in color rather than country chicken which is multicolor?*

White broilers are white because the original breeding stock was white. They were originally bred
sometime in the 1950s by crossing white Plymouth Rocks with white Cornish, and another name for a
white broiler is a Cornish/Rock Cross or Cornish X. These chickens are not "genetically engineered" --
they are the result of a traditional breeding program, not gene splicing.

Modern Cornish/Rock crosses are quite unlike their Plymouth Rock and Cornish ancestors. They have
been bred for hundreds of generations to produce lots of meat very quickly with a minimum of feed.
The companies that breed these birds keep their genetic lines very carefully guarded, and there is no
way for a backyard breeder to get access to this stock and breed their own birds. The bodies of
Cornish/Rocks produce more breast muscle than other chickens and their feet and legs are larger to
hold up all that weight. Because Cornish/Rock crosses have been bred to be such extreme birds, it takes
very careful management to raise one to breeding age.
 LEARN Sanskrit🙏🏻

संस्कृत I Love You* = अहम् तुभ्यम् स्तुत्यनामि (Aham tubhyam praNyaami)

GK TODAY

Land of Thousand Lakes : Finland

BORN TODAY 🐣💐

Narayan Datt Tiwari (18 October 1925 – 18 October 2018) was an Indian politician.

He was formerly in the Praja Socialist Party and later joined the Indian National Congress. He was a
three-time Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh (1976–77, 1984–85, 1988–89) and served once as Chief
Minister of Uttarakhand (2002–2007).

🙏🏻 IDIOMS & PHRASES

Meaning : Don’t cry over what has happened as it can not be fixed.

Example : Walter failed his examination but his dad came and said just one thing, “Son, Don’t cry over
spilt milk.”

ANTONYMS

Just × Unequal

SYNONYMS

Just: honest

Why you must fast during Navratri.*

ScientificallyEvery Indian festival is not just a reason to enjoy and make merry. There are many scientific
reasons ascertaining the logic behind celebrating festivals on certain times of the year

Navratri is observed, once in the beginning of summer and next in the beginning of winters. If you
observe the pattern, it is celebrated at two junctures of seasonal change. According to Ayurveda, eating
foods like garlic, onion, meat, grains and eggs can make you attract the negative energies from the
surroundings. Another reason is, during this time our body’s immunity is in it’s all time low. Eating such
high-energy foods can make you prone to diseases.

There are two main types of Navratri. One is conducted in the month of Chaitra in April and is known as
Vasantha Navratri and it is mainly celebrated in North India. And in South India, Sharan Navratri is
celebrated in the month of Ashwija in September - October
There are six distortions, or vices of the mind:

Kama (desire),

Krodha (anger),

Lobha (greed),

Moha (infatuation)

Mada (arrogance), and

These distortions can go out of control in any human being, and become an obstacle on the spiritual
path. They can be dissolved during these nine days of Navratri.

🧬 *HEALTH CARE: HOME REMEDIES:-

Nail rubbing* improves the blood flow to the hair follicle, which strengthens it. Stronger hair follicles
drastically reduce hair loss. Those battling patterned baldness claim to have reversed the balding effects
by rubbing their nails. In fact, after a span of 8 to 12 months, hair regrowth is highly possible.

According to acupressure study, the nerve endings in our fingertips are linked to the scalp. When you
rub your nails together, the friction you create affects nerves in the scalp. This, in turn, increases the
blood flow and stimulates hair growth.