Current Affairs - October 17, 2023 Current Affairs

The FICCI Economic Outlook Survey predicts a 6.3% expansion in India's economy for the fiscal year FY24. This is a slight moderation from the 7.2% growth recorded in FY23, but it is still a healthy rate of growth. The survey attributes the expected slowdown to several factors, including the ongoing global economic uncertainty, the impact of the monsoon on agricultural output, and the rising cost of living.

The World Bank has estimated India's economic growth rate in FY22/23 to be 7.2%. This is a significant achievement, given the global challenges faced by the country during the year. The growth was primarily driven by strong domestic demand and a revival in the services sector. The World Bank has also projected India's economic growth rate to moderate to 6.3% in FY23/24. This is due to several factors, including the ongoing global economic uncertainty, the impact of the monsoon on agricultural output, and the rising cost of living.

President Droupadi Murmu presided over the 69th National Film Awards 2023, which took place on October 17, 2023, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. Best Feature Film: "Rocketry: The Nambi Effect" (directed by R Madhavan), Best Actress: Alia Bhatt (for Gangubai Kathiawadi) and Kriti Sanon (for Mimi).

In 2023, NATO consists of 31 sovereign member countries. While Israel is not counted among these members, it holds the designation of a major non-NATO ally, underscoring its substantial involvement within the alliance's structure. The major non-NATO ally status is a designation conferred by the U.S. government upon select close allies

Jharkhand is the first state in India to take steps to ensure minimum wages for gig workers, such as Swiggy, Zomato, Ola, Uber, and Rapido employees. This is a significant move towards ensuring fair compensation for those in the gig economy.

India's Supreme Court recently declined an appeal to legalize same-sex marriages in the country, dealing a blow to LGBTQ rights in one of the world's most populous nations.

PV Gangadharan was a renowned Malayalam film producer. He produced several critically acclaimed and commercially successful films, including Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha, Angaadi, Ekalavyan, Achuvinte Amma, and Kanaakkinavu. He also served as the director of Mathrubhumi, a leading Malayalam media group.

The Asian Development Bank has approved a $181 million loan to enhance urban living in Ahmedabad, India. The loan will be used to improve urban infrastructure and services in the city's peri-urban areas, which are rapidly growing. The project will include the construction of water distribution networks, sewerage systems, and sewage treatment plants, as well as the improvement of roads and public transportation.

The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is celebrated annually on October 17th. This day is a global initiative aimed at raising awareness and addressing the pressing issue of poverty. The theme for the 2023 observance is "Decent Work and Social Protection: Putting dignity in practice for all".

The 2023 World Health Summit was hosted in Berlin, Germany, and featured online participation from October 15 to October 17, under the theme "A Defining Year for Global Health Action".

The female labour force participation rate in India in 2022-23 is 37.0%, as per the Periodic Labour Force Survey. This is a significant increase of 4.2 percentage points from the previous year. The increase is attributed to several factors, including the government's efforts to promote gender equality and the growing number of women in education and employment.

The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) has partnered with Coca-Cola India to launch the ‘Super Power Retailer Program’ under the Skill India Mission. The program is currently being piloted in Odisha and aims to provide essential training to retailers, equipping them to expand their businesses and enhance consumer experiences.

India and the UK held their first-ever 2+2 foreign affairs and defence dialogue in New Delhi on October 18, 2023. The dialogue was co-chaired by the External Affairs Minister of India, Dr. S. Jaishankar, and the Foreign Secretary of the UK, James Cleverly.

Justice Siddharth Mridul was appointed as the chief justice of the Manipur High Court in October 2023. He was previously a judge of the Delhi High Court.

The Supreme Court has referred challenges against the electoral bond scheme, used for political party funding, to a five-judge Constitution bench. The bench is scheduled to hear the case on October 30, 2023. The electoral bond scheme was introduced by the Indian government in 2018. It allows individuals and organizations to donate money to political parties through bearer bonds. The scheme has been criticized for its lack of transparency, as it does not require donors to disclose their identity.

Poland's liberal opposition, led by Donald Tusk, achieved a historic parliamentary majority in recent elections, ending eight years of populist rule. The victory was seen as a repudiation of the Law and Justice (PiS) party's conservative and nationalist policies.