Current Affairs - October 28, 2024 Current Affairs

The TATA Aircraft Complex in Vadodara, India, is specifically designed for the manufacturing of C-295 military aircraft. This project marks India's first private sector Final Assembly Line for military aircraft and is a collaborative effort between Tatas, public sector units like Bharat Electronics Ltd and Bharat Dynamics Ltd, and various private Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises. Under the C-295 program, a total of 56 aircraft will be delivered, with 16 being directly delivered by Airbus from Spain and 40 being manufactured in India.

India secured the 79th position out of 142 countries in the 2024 World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index. This ranking reflects India's standing in both global and regional assessments of the rule of law. Regionally, India ranked third among South Asian countries, after Nepal (69th) and Sri Lanka (75th). The Index highlights a decline in the rule of law globally, with 59% of countries surveyed showing a decline since 2016. India's score showed a slight increase from the previous year, placing it eighth among lower-middle-income countries.

Manika Batra achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Indian table tennis player to reach the quarterfinals of the WTT Champions Montpellier 2024 tournament. Ranked 30th globally, Batra showed exceptional skill, defeating higher-ranked opponents, including world No. 14 Bernadette Szocs of Romania and Lily Zhang of the USA. Although she lost to China's Qian Tianyi in the quarterfinals, her impressive performance marked a significant breakthrough for Indian table tennis.

India strengthened its energy cooperation with Sri Lanka by gifting rooftop solar systems to various sacred sites across the island nation. This initiative is a significant component of India's $17 million project, focusing on installing 25 MW of solar energy capacity across 5,000 Buddhist, Hindu, Christian, and Muslim places of worship. This gesture underscores India's commitment to promoting sustainable energy and fostering bilateral ties with its neighbouring countries.

Bhubaneswar received the prestigious 'City with the Best Public Transport System' award at the 17th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference 2024, recognizing its efforts to improve public transportation infrastructure. Additionally, Srinagar was awarded for its non-motorized transport system, while Jammu was acknowledged for having the 'Most Innovative Financing Mechanism.' The conference, which highlights advancements in urban mobility across Indian cities, also announced Gurugram as the host city for the 18th UMI Conference in 2025, reflecting the national focus on sustainable and efficient transportation solutions.

Rushan Abbas was elected as the new Chairperson of the World Uyghur Congress, a global organization advocating for the rights and freedoms of Uyghurs facing oppression in China. Abbas's election comes amid significant challenges, as she committed to taking strong actions to amplify the voices of Uyghurs and to advocate for their freedom, dignity, and peace. Despite ongoing threats, the Uyghur community held these elections as a testament to their resilience and determination for justice.

India secured the bronze medal in the Sultan of Johor Cup Junior Hockey tournament held in Malaysia. After a 2-2 draw in regular play against New Zealand, India triumphed in a tense 3-2 shootout. Goalkeeper Bikramjit Singh played a pivotal role, making three crucial saves, while Gurjot Singh, Manmeet Singh, and Sourabh Anand Kushwaha scored during the shootout, leading India to victory in this prestigious junior hockey event.

Akanksha Salunkhe secured a significant victory in the 2eme Open International Feminin de Couzeix/Limoges squash tournament held in France, claiming her first PSA World Tour title of the year. She demonstrated impressive skills, defeating Malaysia's Yasshmita Jadish Kumar in the final. This win marked a highlight in Salunkhe's squash career, following her semi-final appearance at the ACE Challenger Tour 12k earlier in the year. Salunkhe's success on the international stage contributes to India's growing presence in the squash world.

Indian table tennis players Yashaswini Ghorpade and Krittwika Roy won the women’s doubles title at the WTT Feeder Cagliari 2024, held in Italy. The duo emerged victorious with a 3-1 win over the South Korean team of Yoo Siwoo and Kim Haeun in the final match. Earlier, they secured their spot in the final by defeating the German fourth seeds Sophia Klee and Franziska Schreiner. This win marks a significant achievement for the Indian team in international table tennis.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has appointed Deepak Agarwal, a 2000-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Uttar Pradesh cadre, as the Managing Director of NAFED for a term of five years. This decision brings stability to NAFED's leadership, which temporarily had Pankaj Kumar Bansal from the Ministry of Cooperation in the role. Agarwal's extensive experience in public administration, particularly in the agricultural and cooperative sectors, positions him to lead NAFED in strengthening agricultural marketing and supporting India's agricultural sector.

Abhishek Dhaka made a notable achievement by securing a bronze medal in the Men's 61 kg Freestyle category at the Under-23 Wrestling World Championship 2024 held in Tirana, Albania. He demonstrated impressive skills, defeating Ukraine's Mykyta Abramov 3-0 in the bronze medal match. Abhishek shared the bronze with Ebrahim Mahdi Khari, while Bashir Magomedov from Azerbaijan took the gold and Ruslan Asif Abdullayev secured the silver. This victory highlights Abhishek's potential in the wrestling arena.

International Animation Day (IAD) is commemorated annually on October 28 to honour the origins and influence of animation. This date marks the anniversary of Émile Reynaud's pioneering public projection of animated images, Théâtre Optique, in Paris on October 28, 1892. Established by ASIFA in 2002, IAD celebrates animation as a significant artistic and cultural medium, recognizing its diversity of techniques and universal appeal. The day is observed globally, appreciating animation's power to transcend language and cultural boundaries, and its impact on various media platforms.