Daily Current Affairs- 24 October 2023

Today's Current Affairs 24th October 2023

INTERNATIONAL

Sri Lanka announces free visas for Indians to boost tourism

• Sri Lanka, in a bid to revitalize its tourism sector, has taken a significant step by waiving visa fees for tourists from seven countries (China, India, Russia, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Japan).

About Sri Lanka:

Capitals: Colombo, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte

Prime minister: Dinesh Gunawardena 

NATIONAL

Amit Shah to inaugurate India's first nano DAP plant in Gandhinagar

• Addressing a large number of farmers after inaugurating the Country’s first Nano DAP plant by IFFCO near Kalol in Gandhinagar.
• The Nano liquid dap plant in Kalol has been set up by IFFCO at the cost of 300 crore rupees.
• The plant has been developed in tune with the Aatmnirbhar Bharat vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

About IFFCO:

Headquarters: New Delhi

Founded: 3 November 1967, New Delhi

CEO: Dr. Udai Shanker Awasthi (1993–)

Founder: Udaybhansinhji Natwarsinhji Jethwa

About Gujarat:

Chief Minister: Bhupendrabhai Patel

Governor: Acharya Devvrat 

SPORTS

India’s Unnati Hooda wins Abu Dhabi Masters 2023

• At the Abu Dhabi Masters 2023, young Indian badminton talent Unnati Hooda emerged as the champion in the women’s singles event.
• This remarkable win marks her second BWF Super 100 World Tour title.
• Final match held at the ADNEC Marina Hall in the UAE capital. 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Skyroot Aerospace unveils Vikram-1 rocket, scheduled for full launch next year

• Jitendra Singh, the Union Minister of Science and Technology, unveiled Skyroot’s Vikram-1 orbital rocket in Hyderabad.
• Skyroot’s co-founder and CEO, Pawan Kumar Chandana, has emphasized the partly commercial nature of Vikram-1’s inaugural launch.
• Vikram-1 is designed to place multiple satellites into orbit, a first for India and one of the first globally.
• This rocket represents Skyroot’s second successful project following the Vikram-S rocket’s triumphant launch on November 18th, 2022. 

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Development Information Day 2023: 24th October

• Established in 1972.
• Coinciding with United Nations Day, this occasion carries historical significance, commemorating the UN’s beginning in 1945. 

United Nations Day 2023:24 October

• Anniversary of the entry into force of the UN Charter in 1945.
• On October 24, 1945, the United Nations came into existence as the UN Charter was ratified.

About United Nations

Founded: 24 October 1945, San Francisco, California, United States;

Headquarters: New York, New York, United States;

Founders: United States, Brazil, United Kingdom, India, France, Iran;

Secretary General: António Guterres. 

BANKING AND ECONOMY

India to surpass Japan in 2030 to become 2nd largest economy of Asia, says S&P Global

• In 2030, India’s GDP is expected to surpass even Germany.
• India’s GDP had already outgrown that of the United Kingdom and France.
• India to become the third-largest economy in Asia-Pacific and the fifth-largest in the world.
• Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is predicted to reach a whopping $7.3 trillion.
• Making it the second-largest economy in the Asia-Pacific region, just after China. 

ONGC Secures Bid To Purchase PTC’s Wind Power Division For Rs 925 crore

• Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has successfully secured a bid to acquire PTC India Ltd’s wind power unit for Rs 925 crore.
• Board of PTC approved ONGC’s bid to acquire a 100% equity stake in PEL, valuing the equity at Rs 925 crore.
• PEL was incorporated on August 1, 2008, and boasts a renewable energy portfolio with a total capacity of 288.8 MW.
• This portfolio includes 50 MW wind power projects in Madhya Pradesh, 50 MW wind power projects in Karnataka, and 188.8 MW wind power projects in Andhra Pradesh. 

MeitY urges RBI to design more detailed KYC to ensure traceability

• Illegal instant loan apps have become a significant problem in India.
• Leading to financial scams and even driving some victims to suicide.
• These apps offer quick money but compromise users’ privacy and security.

About RBI:

Governor: Shaktikanta Das

Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata

Founder: British Raj

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India