Current Affairs - October 21, 2023 Current Affairs

Google launched the DigiKavach program in India in October 2023 to combat online financial fraud. The program aims to understand the strategies employed by scammers and implement countermeasures to protect people from scams, malware, and online fraud.

The Indian Navy received the third guided missile destroyer Imphal on October 20, 2023. This is a significant development for the Indian Navy, as it marks a major milestone in India's indigenous shipbuilding capabilities and enhances its maritime strength in the Indian Ocean region.

Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty was honoured with the 'Durga Bharat Samman' for his significant contributions to music and the heritage of Indian classical music.

Dhordo Village in Gujarat has been awarded the UNWTO's Best Tourism Village 2023. This is a significant achievement for India, as it is the first time that an Indian village has won this award. Dhordo is known for its Rann of Kutch festival, which attracts tourists from all over the world. The village is also home to several other tourist attractions, such as the White Desert, the Kutch Museum, and the Aina Mahal.

IRCTC has partnered with Zomato to offer pre-booked meals to railway passengers. This partnership will allow passengers to order food from a variety of restaurants and have it delivered to their train seats. This is a significant development for train travellers in India, as it will give them more options and control over their dining experience.

The Indian Navy is all set to host the Mid-Planning Conference for MILAN 24 (Multilateral Naval Exercise- 2024) at Visakhapatnam from 19th February to 27th February 2024. This event follows a long-standing tradition of hosting the MILAN exercise, showcasing India’s commitment to fostering international maritime cooperation.

Namo Bharat is the name of India's first semi-high-speed regional rail service. It was formerly known as RapidX. Namo Bharat is a groundbreaking initiative that aims to enhance regional connectivity in India. The project is on the cusp of revolutionizing regional travel and is a significant step towards improving India's transportation infrastructure.

Kotak Mahindra Bank has received the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) approval to acquire a 100% stake in micro-lender Sonata Finance valued at approximately Rs 537 crore. This acquisition is expected to help Kotak Mahindra Bank expand its reach in the microfinance sector and offer a wider range of products and services to its customers.

Japan became the first country to launch an electromagnetic railgun from an offshore vessel on October 17, 2023. The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) in collaboration with the Acquisition Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA), a division of the Japanese Ministry of Defense, successfully test-fired a medium-calibre maritime electromagnetic railgun from an offshore platform.

The RBI's pilot run of the E-Rupee is to test the CBDC for inter-bank borrowing. Interbank borrowing is the process by which banks borrow money from each other to meet their short-term liquidity needs. The E-Rupee pilot project is expected to improve the efficiency and transparency of inter-bank borrowing transactions.