CURRENT AFFAIRS 03 October, 2024
- WITHDRAWAL OF ₹2,000 NOTES: 98% RETURNED, RBI REPORTS –
- In a major update, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced that 98% of the ₹2,000 notes have been returned since their withdrawal in May 2023. This has led to the total value of the denomination in circulation dropping significantly from ₹3.56 lakh crore to ₹7,117 crore as of September 2023. The withdrawal was initiated due to concerns about the quality of the notes, introduced after the 2016 demonetization.
- The ₹2,000 note was introduced post-demonetization in November 2016 to manage cash shortages. By 2023, the RBI deemed its purpose fulfilled and moved to withdraw it, citing concerns about the denomination’s quality.
- Although withdrawn from circulation, ₹2,000 notes remain legal tender. These can be exchanged physically at 19 RBI issue offices or sent via post for credit into bank accounts.
- UN CHIEF GUTERRES BANNED TO ENTER IN THE ISRAEL –
- Foreign Minister of Israel Katz announced that they decided to declare the U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres an undesirable personality in Israel and to ban his entry into Israel.
- Israel has declared UN chief António Guterres banning him from entry for “failing” to condemn Iran’s missile attacks on Israel.
- Israel has banned UN secretary-general António Guterres from entering the country because, according to foreign minister Israel Katz, Guterres failed to unequivocally condemn Iran’s missile attack on Israel.
- SWACHH BHARAT MISSION COMPLETES 10 YEARS SINCE ITS IMPLEMENTATION –
- A clean India (Swachh Bharat) would be the best tribute India could pay to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150 birth anniversary in 2019,” said Shri Narendra Modi as he launched the Swachh Bharat Mission at Rajpath in New Delhi.
- On 2nd October 2014, Swachh Bharat Mission was launched throughout the length and breadth of the country as a national movement.
Components
- The mission covers all rural and urban areas.
- The urban component of the mission is implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, and the rural component by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
Objectives
- Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) Urban
- Elimination of open defecation
- Conversion of unsanitary toilets to pour flush toilets
- Eradication of manual scavenging
- Municipal solid waste management and
- Bringing about a behavioral change in people regarding healthy sanitation practices.
- LAUNCH OF PM E-DRIVE SCHEME: A NEW MILESTONE IN INDIA’S ELECTRIC MOBILITY –
- The Ministry of Heavy Industries launched the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) Scheme on 11th September 2024, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, marking a pivotal shift in India’s electric mobility efforts.
- The scheme, with a financial outlay of ₹10,900 crore for two years, aims to accelerate EV adoption and build critical infrastructure nationwide, aligning with Prime Minister Modi’s vision for net-zero emissions by 2070.
- The transition from FAME and the Electric Vehicle Promotion Scheme (EMPS) to PM E-DRIVE signals a focused push towards cleaner and more sustainable transportation under the ‘Swachh Vahan’ initiative.
- INDIA TO HOST HISTORIC FIRST-EVER KHO KHO WORLD CUP IN 2025 –
- Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI) in collaboration with the International Kho Kho Federation revealed plans to organize the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup in India come 2025.
- This historic event marks a significant milestone in the journey of this traditional Indian sport toward global recognition.
The groundbreaking championship will feature-
- 24 countries from six continents
- 16 men’s teams and 16 women’s teams
- A week-long series of high-intensity matches
- This diverse participation underscores the growing international appeal of Kho Kho, which has evolved from its humble beginnings on mud grounds to now being played on professional mats across 54 countries worldwide.