CURRENT AFFAIRS - 16th October 2024

NATIONAL
❖ NASA launches Europa Clipper to examine Jupiter’s moon
➢ Nasa launched the Europa Clipper to search for life on Jupiter and its moon,
Europa.
➢ It will travel nearly 1.8 billion miles (2.9 billion kilometres) to reach Jupiter’s orbit
after five and a half years (expected to reach Jupiter in 2030).
➢ It was launched from a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space
Center.
➢ Nasa's spacecraft has been designed to study Jupiter's Europa moon's icy surface and the subsurface ocean
believed to exist beneath.
➢ Europa Clipper will not directly search for life, but it will examine whether Europa's environment could
support it or not.
➢ Europa is one of Jupiter’s 95 known moons. It is slightly smaller than Earth’s moon.
➢ Discovered by Galileo in 1610, Europa is part of the four Galilean moons of Jupiter, which also include
Ganymede, Io, and Callisto.
➢ It is covered by an ice sheet estimated to be 10 to 15 miles (15 to 24 km) thick.
➢ The Europa Clipper is the Nasa’s largest spacecraft has built for planetary exploration. The total cost of
the mission is $5.2 billion.
➢ Scientists believe that a vast ocean exists under this frozen surface. This ocean could be a rich environment
for life due to the presence of water.
❖ Rajkumar Hirani received the National Kishore Kumar Award
➢ Popular film Producer and director Rajkumar Hirani has been conferred the
National Kishore Kumar Award in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh.
➢ On the occasion of the 37th death anniversary of Kishore Kumar, the award
is given to Rajkumar Hirani.
➢ Rajkumar Hirani reached the Samadhi of Kishore Kumar and paid tribute to
him before receiving the award.
➢ Many famous Bollywood actors, writers, and producer-directors have received this award to date.
➢ The award has been given every year to an eminent artist by the Directorate of Culture, Madhya Pradesh
Government since 1997.
❖ IAF World Space Award presented to ISRO Chairman S. Somnath for the
remarkable achievement of Chandrayaan-3
➢ ISRO Chairman S. Somnath received the prestigious World Space Award
of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) for the remarkable
achievement of Chandrayaan-3.
➢ He received the award during the opening ceremony of the 75th International
Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Milan, Italy.
➢ On August 23, 2023, Chandrayaan-3's historic landing near the Moon's south pole marked India the first
country to achieve this feat, joining an elite group of countries capable of lunar landing.
➢ In June 2024, The International Astronautical Federation (IAF) had announced the award for
outstanding contributions to space science and space technology.
➢ In 2023, the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) had presented this award to Elon Musk for
his contribution in the field of space science as the head of SpaceX.
❖ Navy’s 2nd VLF radar station foundation stone has been laid in Telangana
➢ Defense Minister Rajnath Singh laid the foundation stone for the
Indian Navy’s second Very Low Frequency (VLF) Naval Station in
Vikarabad district.
➢ This facility will be operational by 2027. It will enhance the Indian
Navy’s communication with ships and submarines.
➢ After the VLF station becomes operational, it will significantly support the armed forces.
➢ A robust military communication system will be crucial for securing the transmission of command orders
to the field.
➢ It is India’s second such station and the first, INS Kattabomman, has been operational in Tirunelveli,
Tamil Nadu, since 1990.
➢ A naval township with essential amenities such as schools, hospitals, banks and markets will also be
developed.
STATE
❖ Omar Abdullah took oath as Chief Minister of J&K
➢ Omar Abdullah is a leader of National Conference. He took the oath
as the Chief Minister of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir on 16
October 2024.
➢ Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha administered the oath to him along
with Council of Ministers at the Sher-e-Kashmir International
Convention Centre in Srinagar.
➢ Mr. Abdullah was invited to form the government after his party won in the recent Assembly Elections,
which were held after the gap of 10 years.
➢ The J&K Legislative Assembly held its last Assembly Elections in 2014.
➢ His party secured 42 out of 90 Assembly seats in the recently held elections.
➢ NC’s pre-poll ally, Congress, won six seats. CPI (M), Aam Aadmi Party, and Independent Legislators, have
confirmed support for the NC-Congress alliance government.
❖ Odisha wins best state in 5th National Water Awards 2023
➢ Union minister of Jal Shakti CR Paatil announced the list of winners of 5th
National Water Awards, at Shram Shakti Bhawan New Delhi on October 14.
➢ The Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga
Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD &GR), under the Ministry of Jal Shakti announced
the 38 winners, including joint winners.
➢ Aim: To create awareness among people about the importance of water and
to motivate people to adopt best water use practices.
➢ In the best state category, Odisha bagged the first prize, while Uttar Pradesh got the second position.
➢ Gujarat and Puducherry jointly secured the third position.
➢ On October 22, the 5th National Water Awards 2023 will be presented by President Draupadi Murmu in
New Delhi.
➢ The 1st National Water Awards were instituted in 2018 by the Department of Water Resources, River
Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.
➢ The National Water Awards (NWA) focus on the good work and efforts done by individuals and
organizations across the country towards realizing the Government’s dream of a ‘Water Prosperous India’.
INTERNATIONAL
❖ Islamabad will host 23rd SCO Meeting on 16 October
➢ Islamabad will host 23rd Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation
Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government (CHG) on
October 16.
➢ Focus: To strengthening the trade and economic cooperation among
member states.
➢ The SCO CHG meeting is held annually. At the 23rd Meeting of the SCO, Indian delegation will be led
by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
➢ Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will chair the CHG meeting.
➢ Oher attendees will be Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Belarusian
Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko, and the heads of government from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
➢ First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber will represent Iran.
➢ Mongolia’s Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai will attend as an observer.
 DAYS & THEMES 
❖ World Anaesthesia Day 2024
➢ Every year 16 October, World Anaesthesia Day is observed.
➢ To commemorates the birth of anaesthesia on 16 October 1846.
➢ When doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital demonstrated the use of
ether for the first time on a patient.
➢ Theme 2024: Workforce Well-Being.
➢ Anesthesia is a medical procedure that uses medicines to prevent pain and loss of awareness during
procedures like surgery, dental work, and diagnostic tests.
❖ World Food Day 2024
➢ World Food Day is observed every year worldwide on October 16.
➢ World Food Day is observed to raise awareness about the importance
of good food and nutrition.
➢ Theme: “Right to Foods for a Better Life and a Better Future”.
➢ This day was established by FAO in 1979.
➢ World Food Day was established by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in 1979 to
commemorate its founding in 1945.
➢ According to the Global Hunger Index 2024, Somalia, Yemen, Chad, Madagascar, and the Democratic
Republic of Congo are the five countries which are mostly affected from hunger and malnutrition.
➢ More than 2.8 billion people in the world are unable to afford a healthy diet.
APPOINTMENTS
❖ Manoj Kumar Dubey assumed charge as CMD & CEO of IRFC
➢ Manoj Kumar Dubey appointed as its Chairman & Managing
Director (CMD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the of the Indian
Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC).
➢ Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) is a schedule a
miniratna public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Railways.
➢ Prior to this, Dubey was serving as Director (Finance) and Chief Financial Officer of Container Corporation
of India (Concor).
➢ IRFC has total assets of Rs 50,755 crore and over 51 lakh shareholders - the highest for any company in
India.
➢ With a market capitalisation of over Rs 2 lakh crore, IRFC ranks among the top public sector companies
and undertakings in the country.
➢ Established in 1986, IRFC raises funds from both domestic and international markets to meet the extra
budgetary resource (EBR) requirements of Indian Railways.