CURRENT AFFAIRS 28 October, 2024

CURRENT AFFAIRS 28 October, 2024

1. RBI’S DIWALI’S PLAN TRANSPORTING 102 TONNES FROM ENGLAND –

• On Dhanteras, October 29, 2024, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) revealed that it successfully transported an impressive 102 tonnes of gold from the Bank of England to secure storage facilities in India.
• This strategic move was part of the RBI’s meticulous planning to ensure the safe and discreet transfer of such a significant quantity of gold, reinforcing the nation’s reserves while aligning with the festive spirit of the occasion.
• This transfer aimed to reinforce India’s gold reserves and ensure the safety of the nation’s financial assets amid global geopolitical tensions.
• The RBI’s total gold reserves amounted to 854.73 metric tonnes as of the 43rd Half-Yearly Report on Management of Foreign Exchange Reserves (April-September 2024).

2. GUINNESS RECORDS SET IN AYODHYA OVER 25 LAKHS DIYAS ON DEEPOTSAV 2024 –

• During the grand ‘Deepotsav 2024‘ celebrations, Ayodhya made history by setting two Guinness World Records on 30th October evening. In a dazzling spectacle, the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department, alongside the district administration, illuminated the banks of the Saryu River with over 25 lakh diyas (earthen lamps), creating the world’s largest display of oil lamps.
• Celebrated in Ayodhya, the five-day Deepotsav festival honors Lord Ram’s return to Ayodhya after his 14-year exile.
• This year’s festival holds special importance as it is the first since the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ (consecration) ceremony of Ram Lala at the Ayodhya temple.

3. NATIONAL UNITY DAY 2024 A TRIBUTE TO THE IRON MAN, NATION CELEBRATED –

• October 31st, India celebrates National Unity Day to honor the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, a key figure in the nation’s independence movement and its first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister. Known as the “Iron Man of India,” Patel was instrumental in uniting the country’s diverse princely states into a single, independent nation.
• Significance: Commemorates the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, a key leader in India’s independence struggle and the country’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister.
• Purpose: Serves as a reminder of Patel’s efforts to unite India’s diverse princely states into a single nation, promoting a spirit of national unity and solidarity.

4. LAHORE DECLARED THE MOST POLLUTED CITY IN THE WORLD AGAIN –

• Lahore has once again claimed the title of the most polluted city globally, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) soaring to alarming levels. Recently recorded at a staggering 708, the PM2.5 levels reached an unprecedented 431 µg/m³, significantly exceeding the World Health Organization’s recommended annual limit by 86 times.
• This crisis, attributed to unchecked vehicular emissions, outdated industrial practices, and ineffective environmental policies, creates a hazardous smog that engulfs the city year-round, posing severe health risks to its residents.

5. SHEIKH NAIM QASSEM: HEZBOLLAH’S NEW CHIEF AMID TENSIONS –

• In a rare public move, Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shia paramilitary and political group, announced the appointment of Sheikh Naim Qassem as its new secretary-general following the recent assassination of Hassan Nasrallah by Israel on September 27.
• Known for his deep ties to Hezbollah and decades of political activism, Qassem’s leadership marks a critical transition for the organization amid ongoing Israeli conflicts and internal shifts within Hezbollah’s regional influence.