1st Oct to 15th Oct

AWARDS & HONOURS

Kannada journalist Gauri Lankesh, a strident critic of religious extremism who was shot dead this year, was
awarded a prestigious global award - Reach All Women in WAR (RAW in WAR) Anna Politkovskaya Award-
given in the memory of a slain Russian reporter and political activist. Lankesh, 55, shared the with Gulalai Ismail,
31, a Pakistani peace activist who has faced death threats for speaking out against the Taliban.

Carnatic vocalist T M Krishna won the Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration for 2015 -16 for his
services in promoting and preserving national integration in the country.

Birendra Sasmal, CEO of Subah, bagged the International Business Person of the Year at the Asian Achievers
Awards in London, for turning the company into a thriving IT, telecoms and manufacturing success story with
operations across West Africa.

Eminent critic, biographer and orator M K Sanu was chosen for the Mathrubhumi Literary Award for 2016 in
recognition of his rich contribution to the Malayalam literature.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2017 was awarded to Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank and Richard Henderson
for developing cryo-electron microscopy for the high-resolution structure determination of bio molecules in
solution.

The 2017 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences was awarded to Richard H. Thaler for his contributions to
behavioural economics.

British writer Kazuo Ishiguro won the 2017 Nobel Prize for Literature. The novelist was praised by the Swedish
Academy as a writer "who, in novels of great emotional force, has uncovered the abyss beneath our illusory sense
of connection with the world". His most famous novels The Remains of the Day and Never Let Me Go were
adapted into highly acclaimed films. He has written eight books, which have been translated into over 40
languages.

The 2017 Nobel Prize for Peace was awarded to International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), a
coalition of non-governmental organisations from over 100 countries around the globe, headquartered at Geneva
in Switzerland. The Norwegian Nobel Committee honoured the group for its work to draw attention to the
catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons and for its ground-breaking efforts to
achieve a treaty-based prohibition of such weapons.

The 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics was jointly awarded to three US scientists Rainer Weiss, Kip S. Thorne and
Barry C. Barish for the detection of gravitational waves.

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2017 was jointly awarded to Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash and
Michael W. Young for their discoveries on how plants, animals and humans adapt their biological rhythm so that it
is synchronised with the Earths revolutions.

Rajesh Nath, the managing director of VDMA India, was conferred the Cross of the Order of Merit, the highest
civilian honour awarded to individuals for their services to Germany.

T D Ramakrishnan was chosen for the 2017 Vayalar Ramavarma Literary Prize for his novel Sugandhi Enna
Andal Devanayaki.
 BUSINESS & CORPORATE
The Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd (GCMMF), which markets the Amul brand of
milk/milk products, was recognized as Indias best Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) Company in the food
sector by the International Advertising Association (IAA).

HDFC Life Insurance Company launched Neo a servicing bot for Twitter that uses artificial intelligence for
customer service.

The Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL), became the first Oil Marketing Company (OMC) from India
that has started marketing lubricants in Myanmar.

Global payments network Visa signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Andhra Pradesh
government to help transform Vishakhapatnam into India's first 'less cash' city. This initiative is designed to
provide the foundation for the city to emerge as India's 'Fintech Valley'.

BILLS / ACTS / COMMITTEES / SCHEMES / POLICIES

The Union Cabinet approved the signing of "Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC)" between India and Japan
on the "Technical Intern Training Program (TITP)". The Technical Intern Training Program (TITP) is an
ambitious program to send Indian technical interns to Japan for on the job training for a period of three to
five years. It is expected that the MoC will pave the way for bilateral cooperation between the two
countries in the area of skill development.

The Union Cabinet approved the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between India and
Japan on establishing a liquid, flexible and global LNG Market. The MoC will promote bilateral relationship
between India and Japan in the energy sector. It will contribute to the diversification of gas supplies for
India.

The Union Cabinet gave its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India
and Morocco on cooperation in the field of water resources. The MoU intends to enhance cooperation in
the field of water resources development and management within the framework of their expertise and
their respective legislations.

The Himachal Pradesh Government implemented the Senior Citizen Health Insurance Scheme (SCHIS) in
the state with an aim to provide access to curative geriatric health care services by way of additional
insurance cover.

The Uttarakhand Government and a charitable funding agency, Swan Cultural Center and Foundation,
launched 'Solar Briefcase' in Kedarnath Dham. The initiative was taken to provide electricity to far flung
areas in the hill state.

President Ram Nath Kovind launched the Rs 100 crore Mata Amritanandamayi Math Project
Jeevamritham in Kollam district of Kerala to provide the filtration system for cleaning drinking water to
5000 villages across India.

The Uttar Pradesh government approved the 'Mukhyamantri Samoohik Vivaah Yojana', a mass marriage
scheme, wherein Rs 35,000 will be spent on each couple, besides gifting them mobile phones and
household items.

The Karnataka government launched Mathru Poorna scheme to meet the nutritional needs of pregnant
and lactating women in rural areas.

The Bihar government launched a state-wide campaign against child marriage and dowry on the occasion
of Mahatma Gandhis birth anniversary.

ECONOMY & FINANCE

India was ranked 100th out of 119 countries in the 2017 Global Hunger Index (GHI) report, released by
Washington-based International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

The World Bank (WB), in its biannual economic update South Asia Economic Focus (Fall 2017), reduced
Indias GDP growth forecast to 7.0% for 2017-18 from 7.2% estimated earlier.

While projecting a more optimistic picture of the global economy, the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
slashed Indias growth forecast by 0.5 percentage points to 6.7 per cent in 2017.

The Union Cabinet gave its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and Financial Services Commission (FSC), Gibraltar for
mutual co-operation and technical assistance. The MoU is likely to promote further development of
economic links and cooperation between the two regulators and aims at creating conditions for an
effective development of securities markets in the two countries.

The Union Cabinet gave its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by Securities
and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) with Capital Markets Authority (CMA), Kuwait for mutual co-operation
and technical assistance. The MoU is likely to promote further development of economic links and
cooperation between the two regulators, and aims at creating conditions for an effective development of
securities markets in the two countries.

India was ranked 8th out of 100 countries on a list of most valuable nation brands, according to Brand
Finances Nation Brands 2017 report. The list is topped by US, followed by China, Germany, Japan and
United Kingdom.

Bangladesh signed $4.5 billion third line of credit (LoC) agreement with India for its infrastructure and
social sector development.

Government of India and European Investment Bank (EIB) signed the Finance Contract for lending of
300 million for Bangalore Metro Rail Project Phase II Line R6.

On the basis of an assessment of the current and evolving macroeconomic situation, the Monetary Policy
Committee (MPC) decided to keep the policy repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF)
unchanged at 6.0 per cent. Consequently, the reverse repo rate under the LAF remains at 5.75 per cent,
and the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate at 6.25 per cent. The decision of the MPC
is consistent with a neutral stance of monetary policy in consonance with the objective of achieving the
medium-term target for consumer price index (CPI) inflation of 4 per cent within a band of +/- 2 per cent,
while supporting growth.
 PEOPLE IN NEWS
The Supreme Court of India appointed senior advocate and former additional solicitor general Amrender Sharan
as amicus curiae on a petition seeking reprobe into the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.

Film actor and Padma Shri/ Padma Bhushan awardee Anupam Kher was appointed as the new chairman of the
Film and Television Institute of India (FTII).

French candidate Audrey Azoulay, a 45-year-old former French minister of culture, was elected to become the
next director-general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) after
elections in Paris .

President Ram Nath Kovind appointed new Governors for five states, including Tamil Nadu, which got its first full-
time Governor, Banwarilal Purohit (Congress-turned BJP leader) in a year amid the continuing political crisis.
BJP leader Satya Pal Malik will hold charge in Bihar, where Kovind was Governor before he became President,
former Delhi BJP MLA Jagdish Mukhi is Governor in Assam, Bihar BJP leader Ganga Prasad in Meghalaya and
Brigadier (retd) B.D. Mishra, a war veteran, in Arunachal Pradesh. Former Navy chief Admiral (retd) D.K. Joshi was
named as the new Lt. Governor of Andaman and Nicobar islands.

The first meeting of the newly-constituted Economic Advisory Council to Prime Minister Narendra Modi (EAC-PM)
was held at the NITI Aayog. It was chaired by Dr. Bibey Debroy.

The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, presented the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award for Excellence in
Public Administration, Academics and Management for the year 2017 to Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak. Dr. Pathak is
the founder of Sulabh International and has developed and implemented, on a pan India scale, a low cost and
appropriate toilet technology popularly known as the Sulabh Shauchalaya system.

President Ram Nath Kovind appointed a Commission to examine the sub-categorisation of the Other Backward
Classes (OBCs). Justice (Retd.) G. Rohini will be the chairperson of the Commission.

Gautam Bambawale, an Indian foreign service officer of the 1984 batch, was appointed as the Indias new
ambassador to China.

H. M. Marathe, a renowned writer and journalist, passed away at 77.

Director Kundan Shah, best-known for making iconic satire Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron, died at 69.

Nisha Biswal, a former US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, will head the US India
Business Council (USIBC). The USIBC, an advocacy group that promotes business and commercial ties between
the US and India, has presence in both the countries.

The Union Law Ministry finalized the appointment of a Second National Judicial Pay Commission to recommend
salary hikes for the 21,000 lower court judges in India. The proposed commission will be headed by former
Supreme Court judge PV Reddi.

Purushottam Lal Kaushik , the former Minister for Information and Broadcasting, passed away at 87. He was
elected to the Lok Sabha twice in 1977 and 1989.
The Union government set up a high-level committee for proper management of water resources in the North-
Eastern region, to be headed by NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar.

Rajni Kant Mishra, a U.P. Cadre IPS officer, took charge as the new Director General of Sashastra Seema Bal
(SSB).

Rajnish Kumar, the Managing Director of SBI, was appointed as the new chairman of the State Bank of India
(SBI) for a period of three years. He will succeed Arundhati Bhattacharya.

A study group was set up by the Indian Government to examine the problems being faced by the people residing
near the International Border and and the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of regular ceasefire
violations by Pakistan. Special secretary in the home ministry Rina Mitra will head the team.

A parliamentary committee has decided to examine the whole gamut of Sino-Indian relations, including the border
situation. The Standing Committee on External Affairs, which will examine the relations between the two Asian
powers, is headed by Shashi Tharoor, Congress member of the Lok Sabha.

Dr Soumya Swaminathan became the first Indian to hold deputy director general post for Programmes at the
World Health Organisation (WHO). Currently, she is the Director General (DG) of the Indian Council of Medical
Research (ICMR).

Ukhnaa Khurelsukh was appointed as the new Prime Minister of Mongolia.

 SPORTS
Anupama Ramachandran from India clinched the World Open Under-16 Snooker Championship title at St.
Petersburg in Russia.

The 2019 AFC Asian Cup football tournament will be hosted by United Arab Emirates (UAE). The winner of the
2019 AFC Asian Cup will earn the right to participate in the 2021 FIFA Confederations Cup.

Long-serving Indian boxing coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu was honoured with the National Awards for senior
citizens by President Ramnath Kovind. Sandhu was Indias longest-serving mens national coach, occupying the
position for two decades before he was handed charge of the women campers earlier this year.

The mixed pair of Jemson Ningthoujam and Ankita Bhakat clinched gold at the 2017 World Archery Youth
Championship in Argentina.

Pooja Kadian became the first Indian to win a Gold medal at Wushu World Championships by defeating Evgeniya
Stepanova in the 75kg womens Sanda category.

Commonwealth Games bronze medalist RMV Gurusaidutt clinched the men's singles title at the Bulgarian
International Future Series tournament.

Rafael Nadal of Spain beat Nick Kyrgios of Australia in the China Open final to win his sixth ATP title of the year.

Indian shuttler Samiya Imad Farooqui clinched gold at the Under-15 womens singles competition in Myanmar.

Indian Cricketer Yuvraj Singh became the first Indian Brand Ambassador of Laureus. The left-hander joins a host
of cricket legends in the Laureus Family, including Indian Academy members Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and
Kapil Dev.
 MISCELLANEOUS
World

The worlds first negative emissions plant (the plant captures more carbon dioxide than it produces) that
turns carbon dioxide (CO2) into stone begun operations in Hellisheidi, Iceland.

The International Day of Rural Women was observed on October 15 with the theme Challenges and
opportunities in climate-resilient agriculture for gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and
girls.

The International Day for Disaster Reduction (IDDR) was observed on October 13 with the theme Home
Safe Home: Reducing Exposure, Reducing Displacement.

The World Mental Health Day (WMHD) was observed on 10 October with the theme Mental health in the
workplace.

The International Day of the Girl Child was celebrated on October 11 with the theme EmPOWER Girls:
Before, during and after crises.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Ministry of Culture, Government of India, in collaboration with
National Geographic Society hosted an international conference on Dialogue of Civilizations IV from
8th 15th October, 2017 at Delhi, Gandhinagar and Dholavira. This conference was fourth in this series
of dialogues initiated by National Geographic Society in 2013 with an objective to encourage scholarly
and public discourse about the five ancient, literate civilizations of the world, i.e. Egypt, Mesopotamia,
South Asia, China and Mesoamerica and how the study of the past can share our present and future
towards the right direction. The first conference of this series was inaugurated in Guatemala in 2013
followed by Turkey in 2014 and China in 2015. The present conference was the fourth in this series, with
the final dialogue planned in Egypt.

The World Space Week (WSW) - an international celebration of science and technology -was held from
October 4-10 with the theme Exploring New Worlds In Space.

The World Animal Day was observed on October 4.

The World Teachers Day (WTD) was observed on October 5 with the theme Teaching in Freedom,
Empowering Teachers.

The 2017 World Habitat Day (WHD) was observed on October 2 with theme Housing Policies: Affordable
Homes.

The International Day of Older Persons was observed on October 1, 2017 with the theme Stepping into
the Future: Tapping the Talents, Contributions and Participation of Older Persons in Society.

India

National Centre for Combustion Research and Development (NCCRD),the world's largest combustion
research centre which will impart a major boost to the Indian scientific community, was inaugurated at the
Indian Institute of Technology, Madras .

The Indian Air Force (IAF) launched an innovative mobile health App MedWatch to provide authentic
health information to all IAF personnel.

The 5th India-Sri Lanka joint training exercise Mitra Shakti 2017 started at Pune, Maharshtra.

The third edition of the India International Science Festival (IISF-2017) started in Chennai, Tamil Nadu on
October 13, 2017.

The Union Cabinet gave its ex-post facto approval to the renaming of Kandla Port as Deendayal Port.

IIT-Kharagpur signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Samsung India for the setting up of a
digital academy on the institutes campus.

M Venkaiah Naidu, the Vice President of India, inaugurated the 3rd International Conference on Yoga in
New Delhi with theme Yoga for Wellness.

Rajasthan became Indias first state to incorporate skill development programme in higher education.

In an attempt to boost cultural ties, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by Uttar Pradesh,
Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya under the 'Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat' programme.

President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the 5th edition of India Water Week on October 10 with theme
Water and Energy for Inclusive Growth in New Delhi.

Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India in collaboration with Ministry of Culture and Seher
organized the first ever ASEAN-India Music Festival from October 6th-8th 2017 at Purana Quila in New
Delhi. The Festival was organised to celebrate the 25th year anniversary of ASEAN-India Dialogue
Relations.

Tribal dominant Dungarpur district of Udaipur division was declared completely Open Defecation Free,
thus becoming the first Open Defecation Free (ODF) tribe district of the Rajasthan state.

For the first time, Nepal and India will undertake a joint tiger census in their national parks, forests and
protected areas adjoining the two countries using a globally-recognised method.

A new Global Environment Facility (GEF) supported effort to protect the iconic snow leopard and its
natural mountain environment was launched at the start of the Global Wildlife Program (GWP) annual
conference in New Delhi, India. The project, Securing Livelihoods, Conservation, Sustainable Use and
Restoration of High Range Himalayan Ecosystems project (SECURE Himalaya), was launched by Dr. Harsh
Vardhan, Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change of the Government of India and the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It is part of the GWP, a seven-year program funded by the
GEF and led by the World Bank, that was developed as a response to the growing crisis of illegal
trafficking in wildlife.

The Global Wildlife Programme (GWP) conference was held in New Delhi. India hosting the programme
jointly with World Bank (WB) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to address illegal
wildlife trade across 19 Asian and African countries.