i. The Indian Air Force (IAF) is celebrating its 85th anniversary on 08th October 2017. The celebrations would be marked by a stellar show in the skies by various aircraft at the Hindon Air Force Station in Ghaziabad. President Ram Nath Kovind has greeted the Indian Air Force on its 85th Anniversary.
ii. Defence Ministry stated that the air display has commenced with flag bearing skydivers of famous AKASH GANGA Team dropping out of AN-32 aircraft in their colourful canopies.
Must Do Takeaways from the Above News:
- The Indian Air Force was officially established on 08th October 1932. Its first ac flight came into being on 01st April 1933.
- Birender Singh Dhanoa is present Air Chief Marshal of Indian Air Force. He assumed the post after Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha retired.
i. Coffee output in India is pegged to be a record 3.50 lakh tonnes in the 2017-18 marketing year started this month on higher acreage. According to the Coffee Board, the final output stood lower by 10.34 percent at 3.12 lakh tonnes in 2016-17 marketing year from 3.48 lakh tonnes in the previous year.
ii. Coffee Board stated that the crop's forecast for 2017-18 is placed at 3.50 lakh tonnes, comprising 1.03 lakh tonnes of Arabica and 2.47 lakh tonnes of Robusta varieties. Higher output is mainly attributed to the additional bearing area of about 13,500 hectares in traditional growing areas of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Must Do Takeaways from the Above News:
- Karnataka is the largest producer of coffee in India.
- Coffee output in Karnataka is pegged at 2.51 lakh tonnes in 2017-18 as against 2.21 lakh tonnes last year.
- The government of India established the ‘Coffee Board’ through a constitutional act “Coffee Act VII of 1942” under the administrative control of Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
i. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has laid the foundation stone for Bhadbhut Barrage to be built over Narmada River in Bharuch Gujarat. Mr Modi also flagged off the Antyodaya Express between Udhna in Surat and Jaynagar in Bihar.
ii. Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister has inaugurated a new 500-crore rupees civil hospital and a medical college in Vadnagar, Gujarat. The Prime Minister, in his hometown (Vadnagar), also launched the intensified mission Indradhanush to accelerate progress towards the goal of full immunization coverage.
Must Do Takeaways from the Above News:
- Om Prakash Kohli is present Governor of Gujarat and a former member of Rajya Sabha.
- Vijay Ramniklal Rupani is the incumbent Chief Minister of Gujarat.
- The Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is a forest and wildlife sanctuary near Talala Gir in Gujarat.
i. President Ram Nath Kovind has launched 100 crore rupees Mata Amritanandamayi Math Project "Jeevamritham "to provide the filtration system for cleaning drinking water to 5000 villages across India, in Kollam district in Kerala.
ii. The President also distributed the certificates to three villages out of 12 villages in the States of Bihar, UP, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra and Kerala, which were adopted by the Math, verified as Open Defecation Free by Swatch Bharat Abhiyan.
i. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is to launch a financial literacy drive in 80 blocks in nine states on the pilot basis to educate people on e-transactions, formal sector borrowings and insurance purchases. The pilot project, according to RBI will be commissioned in the 9 states of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Odisha, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh by the 6 NGOs in collaboration with the sponsor Banks.
ii. The aim of this drive is to inculcate the habit of making a household budget and recording financial transactions, encourage transactions in savings accounts, and active saving by depositing in banks through fixed deposits and recurring deposits.
i. Prasar Bharati Chairman A Surya Prakash has launched an online application system for music auditions across all genres for the All India Radio.
ii. The initiative was launched on the occasion of 64th Akashvani Sangeet Sammelan in New Delhi. It is believed that with the introduction of this facility, the aspirants who want to apply and get themselves graded will have a better experience in terms of accessibility and availability.
i. India and Ethiopia has signed agreements on trade, communication and media to boost bilateral ties. The agreements were signed after wide-ranging talks between President Ram Nath Kovind and his Ethiopian counterpart Mulatu Teshome at Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.
ii. The two leaders discussed economic relations between the two countries and also support to Ethiopia in the power healthcare, and education sectors. The President also thanked Ethiopia for its participation in the International Solar Alliance (ISA), established in 2015.
Must Do Takeaways from the Above News:
- Addis Ababa is Capital city of Ethiopia.
- The Ethiopian Birr is the currency of Ethiopia.
- Ethiopia is an East African Country.
i. The government was appointed Committee on Haj Policy has recommended phasing out of subsidy for Haj pilgrims and allowing women devotees above 45 years of age to travel in a group of at least four without a male. The Committee presented its report on New Haj policy 2018-22 to Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi in Mumbai.
ii. In view of the Supreme Court direction, the Ministry had set up the Panel under the Chairmanship of former Secretary Afzal Amanullah to review the existing Haj Policy and to suggest a framework for new Haj policy 2018-22.
Must Do Takeaways from the Above News:
- Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi is a member of Rajya Sabha from Jharkhand (From 08th July 2016 onwards).
- Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi is Union Minister of Minority Affairs.
i. In the United States, hurricane Nate has made landfall near the mouth of the Mississippi River in Louisiana. According to the US National Hurricane Center, the storm with maximum sustained winds of 137 kilometres per hour is moving north and a second landfall is expected on the Mississippi coast later.
ii. A state of emergency has been declared in four southern US states with Hurricane Nate gathering strength. Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and parts of Florida have issued hurricane warnings and evacuation orders. The measures apply to parts of the city of New Orleans, which was devastated by Hurricane Katrina 12 years ago.
