Kerala Becomes the First State to Have Hallmarking Centres in All Districts
Kerala has become the first state in India to have hallmarking centers in all of its 14 districts. This wasachieved after the inauguration of a hallmarking center in Adimali, Idukki district, Kerala.This will make Kerala a hub of gold business and strengthen its claim to being the most reliable market in India.
Key Points:
- The gold business in Kerala is worth more than Rs 1 lakh crore with annual sales of around 250 tonnes
- In Kerala, there are about 12,000 gold merchants and majority of them are holding Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) registration.
- Hallmarking is a system of certifying the purity of gold and silver jewellery/artefacts in India.
- The hallmarking system is administered by the BIS, which is the National Standard Body of India established under ‘Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Act 2016’.
- The hallmark will contain the purity of the metal, the name of the assaying and hallmarking center, and a unique identification number.
- BIS hallmarking is voluntary for gold jewellery below 2 grams in weight, but it is compulsory for all gold jewellery above 2 grams in weight.
IAF Signs Contract with Indian Manufacturer for Procurement of Automatic Weather Stations
- The Indian Air Force(IAF)has signed a contract with an Indian manufacturer for the procurement of automatic weather stations at 82 IAF locations.
- This technology advancement will significantly improve aerospace safety by providing real-time weather updates throughout flight operations and training.
- This procurement is especially crucial for India’s strategic positions, including Daulat Beg Oldie(Ladakh), the highest airstrip at 16,700 feet, as well as Fukche and Nyoma in Ladakh, which have been approved for conversion into fully operational fighter bases.
- This procurement will also help several advanced landing grounds (ALGS) in Ladakh, including Tuting, Vijaynagar, Walong, Ziro, and Tawang, as well as various highaltitude helipads.
India-EU’s First Joint Naval Exercise Held in Gulf of Guinea
India and the European Union(EU) conducted their first joint naval exercise in the Gulf of Guinea on 24th October 2023. The exercise was designed to uphold the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea(UNCLOS).
The exercise took place after the third meeting ofthe EU-India Maritime Security Dialogue, which was held in Brussels on October 5, 2023
Key Points:
- The exercise included a variety of activities, including tactical maneuvers, boarding exercises, and flying exercises using the helicopters embarked on FS Ventôse and INS Sumedha and the transfer of personnel between ships
- It was designed to reinforce naval maritime security cooperation in support of the region.
- These activities showcase the shared commitment of India and the EU to supporting coastal States and the Yaoundé Architecture in ensuring maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.
About Ghana:
President – Nana Akufo-Addo
Capital – Accra
Currency – Ghanaian Cedi
Sporanaerobium hydrogeniformans: An Anaerobic, Hydrogen-Producing Bacterium Found in Aravali Hot Spring, Maharashtra
- Scientists under the Bioenergy Group at the Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) in Maharashtra,identified a New Genus of anaerobic lignocellulose-degrading bacteria called Sporanaerobium hydrogeniformans in the hot spring of Aravali, located in Ratnagiri district (Maharashtra). This bacteria has a remarkable ability to produce hydrogen gas as a byproduct of its metabolic processes.
- The hydrogen generated by this bacteria could be a source of clean and Renewable Energy. The findings are published in the journal Archives of Microbiology.
- Sporanaerobium hydrogeniformans is part of the Lachnospiraceae family, renowned for its polysaccharide degradation capabilities to synthesise free or complicated hydrolytic enzymes
- Sporanaerobium hydrogeniformans is crucial for breaking down cellulose and xylan, the key components of lignocellulosic agricultural waste.
- A collection of thermostable hydrolytic enzymes reported in Sporanaerobium hydrogeniformans makes the bacterium significant for use in industry.
- The researchers also discovered that the bacteria can grow optimally at high temperatures of 45–50°C and an alkaline pH of 8.0.
Ex-RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan & Economist Rohit Lamba authored a new book “Breaking the Mould”
Raghuram Rajan, Former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and Economist Rohit Lamba has authored a new book titled “Breaking the Mould: Reimagining India’s Economic Future”.The book, published by Penguin Business, an imprint of Penguin Random House India (PRHI), is set to be released in December 2023.
Key Points:
- Through this book, the authors provides an idea about the economic future of India.
- The book examines crucial policy choices relevant to every Indian, offering valuable insights on economic development.
- The book seeks to delve into some of the critical questions surrounding India’s economic trajectory.
77th Infantry Day – 27th October 2023
Infantry Day is annually observed across the nation on 27th October by Indian Army to commemorate the contributions of the Infantry, the largest fighting arm of the Indian Army.27th October 2023 marks the observance of the 77th Infantry Day.
- On 27th October 1947, 1st military event of Independent India which took place in the Kashmir Valley against Pakistani invaders.
- The Infantry (popularly known as the ‘Queen of the Battle’) is one among the four major combat arms of the Indian Army
About Indian Army:
Chief of the Army Staff – General Manoj Pande
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established – 1895