Current Affairs : 1st October 2013

1. Today, the International Day of Older Persons is being celebrated. The day is celebrated by raising awareness about issues affecting the elderly and to appreciate the contributions that they make to society. The day’s theme for 2013 is ‘The Future we want: What older persons are saying’.

2. Former Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai appointed as India’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. He will succeed noted economist and veteran diplomat Dr Jaimini Bhagwati.

3. A senior Indian journalist, Ravi Shankar Narsimhan, on 29 September 2013 was presented with Friendship award by China-the highest honor given to foreigners. Narsimhan is the executive editor in the overseas edition of the Beijing based China Daily. Ravi Shankar hails from Andhra Pradesh.

4. Finance Ministry on Tuesday said economy will grow by over 5 percent in the current fiscal on back of high farm productivity and investments and promised more steps to boost growth.

5. Former Indian President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed and ex-Prime Minister Gulzarilal Nanda were posthumously conferred with the ‘Bangladesh Liberation War Honour’ on Tuesday in recognition of their outstanding support to the country’s struggle for independence from Pakistan.

6. Trade between India and Mozambique could double to $3 billion by 2016 from the current level of $1.28 billion. This was stated by Commerce Minister Anand Sharma during his meeting with Mozambique’s Industry and Trade Minister Armando Inroga in the Mozambique capital Maputo. India has extended Lines of Credit (LoC) worth $640 million to Mozambique. India is the 8th largest foreign investor in Mozambique with total investments estimated at more than $500 million.

7. The Reserve Bank of India will infuse 10 thousand crore rupees by purchasing government securities on 7 October, to ease liquidity in the market. Open market operations refer to the sale or purchase of government securities with the objective of adjusting rupee liquidity conditions in the market.

8. The CBI has filed a case against the then Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran and BSNL officials for allegedly allotting 300 high-speed telephone lines to Maran’s residence in Chennai which were extended to his brother’s channel.

9. Aga Khan, a Swiss-Born Philanthropist and Muslim Spiritual Leader visited India. During the official visit, Aga Khan the unveiled restored Humayun’s Tomb in New Delhi on 18 September 2013.

10. The Vice President of India, M. Hamid Ansari released a commemorative postage stamp in the memory of Baba Jumdev at a function in Gondia, Maharashtra on 30 September 2013. Baba Jumdev was a prominent spiritual leader and revered social activist.

11. Rajya Sabha member and Congress leader, Rasheed Masood, was sentenced to four years in jail by a Delhi court in a corruption case, becoming the first MP to lose his seat after a recent Supreme Court judgement had removed the immunity for convicted lawmakers.

12. In Tennis Somdev Devvarman qualifies for Singles event at china Open.

13. Indian basketball team has won bronze medal at KFC under-21 3ON3 International Challenge in Beijing. Lovneet also secured a gold medal for India in KFC 3ON3 International Challenge 3-Pointer shooting competition.

14. The Czech Republican tennis player Petra Kvitova defeated Germany’s Angelique Kerber in the final to win singles title at WTA Pan Pacific Open at Tokyo. It was her 11th WTA title and evened her tournament finals appearances at 2-2 in 2013.