Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2023

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:
Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying- Parshottam Rupala inaugurated the 16th Agricultural Science Congress (ASC) at Kochi, Kerala.
Renowned agricultural economists, scientists, policymakers, academicians, farmers and entrepreneurs attended the event. Organised by the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), the Congress is being held for the first time in Kerala, hosted by the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI).

Notes:
The Tamil Nadu government announced a new Samadhan scheme with waivers and concessions for the settlement of the pending tax dues of about ₹25,000 crore, of which a majority are under the erstwhile Tamil Nadu Value Added Tax and other legacy tax legislations.
The new Samadhan scheme, seeks to put an end to the pending tax arrears, disputes and appeals between the traders and the State commercial tax department.

Notes:
The World Meteorological Organization recently stated that climate change is causing an imbalance in the hydrological cycle and urged a fundamental change in policies to enhance monitoring.
The organization revealed that more than 50% of global catchment areas were witnessing deviations from typical river discharge patterns, with many of them being drier than usual, citing China’s Yangtze River as an example.

Notes:
The 8th BRICS International Competition Conference 2023 (BRICS ICC 2023), was hosted by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) in New Delhi.
Joint Statement signed by the BRICS competition authorities called for alignment towards fostering competition-driven growth and socio-economic progress. CCI handed over the baton to South Africa for the 9th BRICS International Competition Conference to be held in 2025.

Notes:
Positive cases of African Swine Fever among the pigs have been reported in Manipur. Samples of the Pigs reared in Imphal were sent to the North Eastern Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory for testing. The samples were confirmed positive.
Following confirmation of African Swine Fever, as a containment measure of the disease, the Manipur Government has restricted the movement of Pigs from the affected area.

Notes:
The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) announced a partnership with Coca-Cola India to launch the Super Power Retailer Program under the Skill India Mission.
The program is being piloted in the state of Odisha. It will be extended to Uttar Pradesh.

Notes:
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma inaugurated the CM-ELEVATE Integrated event.
The program’s primary objective is to provide employment opportunities to, and empower the youth of Meghalaya through entrepreneurship. Rs. 300 crores have been allotted to support approximately 20,000 beneficiaries.

Notes:
The report titled “The Impact of Disasters on Agriculture and Food Security” was released recently by the Food and Agriculture Organisation.
It indicates that natural disasters have caused approximately $3.8 trillion in losses in crop and livestock production over the past three decades, with the largest portion of these economic losses occurring in Asia.

Notes:
The wholesale price index (WPI) is published by the Economic Adviser in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
India’s wholesale prices stayed in deflationary mode for the sixth month in a row this September, at -0.26%. The dip in the deflation rate from previous month was largely driven by fuel and power prices.