Current Affairs 2 October 2024 By GkSeries

Current Affairs is the most important area in all competitive exams. But the difficulty level is very high. That’s why; many aspirants get confused, how to select Current Affairs for Preparation of Competitive Examination? In this Post, Daily Current Affairs 2 October 2024, we have tried to cover each and every point and also included all important facts from National/ International news that are useful for upcoming competitive examinations such as UPSC, SSC, Railway, State Govt. etc.

Ishpreet Singh Chadha beat the four time world champion Mark Selby in the Pro circuit snooker to make place in the semi final of that tournament. He became the first player from his country to make the semi-finals of a ranking tournament since Aditya Mehta reached the last four of the 2013 Indian Open.

Highlights

• It had looked as if it would be a comfortable evening for Singh Chadha when breaks of 73 and 114 helped him into a 4-1 advantage.
• Typically, four-time World Champion Selby refused to give up and roared back into contention. Trailing 4-3 and with his opponent starting to falter, Selby piled on the pressure with a break of 96 to force a decider.
• Selby had opportunities to complete the comeback in the final frame, but couldn’t convert them. Singh Chadha eventually got his chance after depositing an incredible opening red. He held himself together with a break of 41 to win on the final black.

Remarks by him

• I think some qualities from gaming have really helped me in snooker. 
• I can handle pressure much better when I’m playing well. I was known to win deciders in India as well and I am happy to have won this game.
• I am so happy I could win in front of my mum. I wouldn’t be playing snooker if it wasn’t for her. She has given me so much freedom to do whatever I want. 
• So much hard work has gone in. There have been so many sacrifices from her to let me live my life.

Achievements by him

• At the 2024 English Open in Brentwood in September 2024, he reached the semi final with wins against He Guoqiang, Jak Jones, Hossein Vafaei.
• Also beat former world champion Graeme Dott, and four-time world champion Mark Selby.
• In doing so, he became the first Indian player to reach a ranking event semi final since Aditya Mehta in 2013.
• He defeated Pankaj Advani to win the 6-Red Snooker National Championships in Indore.

The Indian Army hosted the much-anticipated “Army Sports Conclave” today, highlighting the role of the Indian Army in India’s sporting ecosystem. As India sets its sight on hosting the 2036 Olympics, the Army Sports Conclave serves as a crucial platform to align efforts and contribute to this national mission.

Collaboration Partner

• A fostering collaboration with various national stakeholders, stressed the importance of drawing up collaborative strategies with the Indian Olympics Association, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and National Sports Federations to enhance India’s global sporting aspirations.

Army’s Contribution In Sports

• Legacy of Tradition : The Indian Armed Forces have a long and distinguished tradition of contributing to the country’s sporting achievements, particularly in prestigious international competitions such as the Asian Games and the Olympics. 
• Role : Recognising the critical role played by the sports in promoting national pride, fitness, and international prestige, the Armed Forces have consistently invested in nurturing athletes. 

Sports Infrastructure and Wings By Army

• Indian Army’s Mission Olympics Wing was established in 2001, under which a total of 9000 sportspersons are training at 28 different sports nodes. 
• In collaboration with SAI, there are a total of 18 Boys Sports companies and two Girls Sports Companies across India for nurturing the talent from young age (09 to 16 Years). 
• Additionally, a Paralympic Node is established to motivate and train the disabled soldiers with disability for paralympic sports. 
• Through the establishment of specialized, comprehensive training regimes, and infrastructure, the Indian Army has supported the careers of numerous athletes and sportspersons who have won accolades on the global platforms.

Attendees of the Event

• The event was graced by the presence of Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Hon’ble Minister of Labour and Employment & Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, AVSM (Retd).
• Hon’ble Minister of Industry & Commerce and Minister of Youth Affairs, Government of Rajasthan. General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff also graced the event.

Address by Mansukh Mandaviya

• Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, praised the Indian Army for its indispensable contribution to India’s sports ecosystem. 
• He highlighted the necessity of a joint multi-agency effort to promote sports across the country. Dr. Mandaviya discussed the creation of a comprehensive roadmap for success in the Olympics, which includes both short-term five-year plans and long-term 25-year strategies to nurture talent from grassroots to elite levels.

Expectations from Conclave

• Valuable lessons and experiences : The conclave drew valuable insights from former athletes and Olympians, including celebrated personalities such as Anju Bobby George, Mary Kom, and Tarundeep Rai, all of whom shared their personal experiences and perspectives on what it takes to excel at the highest levels of sports. 
• Drawing from their experiences, the conclave underscored the need for sports education, sharing of resources at national level and best practices across the sports ecosystem. 
• Sports Modernization : The deliberations were carried out for integration of sports science at grassroot level, harnessing of talent of retired athletes and a multi-pronged approach custom made for Indian Sports integrating both physical and mental preparation of athletes aspiring to compete in the 2036 Olympics.  

• Olympics Target : Thoroughly explored strategies for harnessing India’s sports potential with a focus on future Olympics, emphasizing the need to elevate technical standards for achieving excellence. 
• The collective discussions laid the groundwork for actionable steps to ensure India’s success on the global stage.

Virat Kohli completed 27000 international runs and became the fastest cricketer to reach that milestone and broke the record of Sachin Tendulkar who earlier held the record. Virat achieved this feat against Bangladesh in the 2nd test match in Kanpur.

Glimpse

• The 35-year-old Kohli completed 27,000 runs across all formats, joining an exclusive club of batters which includes Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting and Kumar Sangakkara.
• Kohli also broke Tendulkar’s record to become the quickest batter to reach 27,000 runs in only his 594th innings, 29 innings faster than Tendulkar, who got there in 623 innings in 2007. 
• Sri Lankan Sangakkara achieved the mark in 2015 in his 648th innings.
• Rickey Ponting scaled the mark in his 650th outing for Australia.

Runs Breakup

• He boasts 27,012 international runs, the fastest by any player in the history of cricket. Kohli has a little over 8,870 runs in Tests. 
• 13,906 runs in 295 ODIs.
• 4,188 runs in 125 T20Is, a format from which he retired after helping India win the T20 World Cup in June this year.

Earlier

• In February 2023, Kohli had become the fastest batter to 25,000 runs, reaching the mark in 549 innings, 28 quicker than Tendulkar. 
• In October 2023, Kohli went past 26,000 runs as the quickest to the landmark, again bettering Tendulkar by 13 innings.

Marking the completion of a decade of the Swachh Bharat Mission, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the Swachh Bharat Diwas 2024 on 2nd October, Gandhi Jayanti, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. He will inaugurate and lay the foundation for several projects worth over Rs 9,600 crore related to sanitation and cleanliness, which includes Rs 6,800 crore for urban water and sewage systems under AMRUT and AMRUT 2.0, Rs 1,550 crore for water quality and waste management in Ganga basin areas under the National Mission for Clean Ganga, and Rs 1,332 crore for 15 Compressed Biogas (CBG) Plant projects under the GOBARdhan Scheme.

‘Waste to Wealth’ Mantra

Celebrating the 10-year milestone of the Swachh Bharat Mission, PM Modi noted the growing popularity of the ‘Waste to Wealth’ mantra, with increased awareness about the principles of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle across the nation.

On September 30, 2024, BharatGen was inaugurated in New Delhi, marking a significant step in India’s commitment to generative AI. The initiative aims to enhance public service delivery and citizen engagement by developing foundational models in language, speech, and computer vision. Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for various portfolios, emphasized BharatGen’s role in positioning India as a global leader in generative AI, similar to the transformative impact of UPI.

Key Objectives

BharatGen, led by IIT Bombay under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS), focuses on creating generative AI systems that produce high-quality text and multimodal content in various Indian languages. The project is implemented by the TIH Foundation for IoT and IOE at IIT Bombay, with contributions from several premier institutions, including IIIT Hyderabad and IIM Indore.

Core Features

The initiative is distinguished by four key features:

Multilingual and Multimodal Models: BharatGen will create foundational models that cater to diverse Indian languages and formats.

Bhartiya Dataset: The project will prioritize the development and training of AI systems using India-centric datasets.

Open-Source Platform: BharatGen will promote an open-source ecosystem for generative AI research in India.

Focus on Data Sovereignty: The initiative emphasizes collecting and curating data that accurately represents India’s linguistic and cultural diversity.

Social Impact

BharatGen is designed to ensure that generative AI serves as a public good, promoting social equity and cultural preservation. The project aims to make AI accessible across various segments of society, addressing national priorities such as inclusive technology development.

Atmanirbhar Bharat Vision

Aligned with the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, BharatGen seeks to develop foundational AI models tailored specifically for India, reducing reliance on foreign technologies. By fostering a robust domestic AI ecosystem, it aims to empower startups, industries, and government agencies.

Data-Efficient Learning

A significant focus of BharatGen is on data-efficient learning, particularly for languages with limited digital representation. The initiative aims to create effective AI models that require minimal data, addressing the needs of underserved languages through collaborative research with academic institutions.

Future Roadmap

BharatGen’s roadmap extends to July 2026, encompassing milestones like extensive AI model development, experimentation, and the establishment of benchmarks suited to Indian requirements. The project also aims to facilitate the scaling of AI adoption across various industries and public initiatives.

As India prepares to commemorate the 120th birth anniversary of one of its most revered leaders, Lal Bahadur Shastri, on October 2, 2024, the nation reflects on the enduring legacy of a man whose principles and leadership continue to inspire generations. Sharing his birth date with Mahatma Gandhi, Shastri’s life exemplified the values of simplicity, integrity, and unwavering dedication to public service.

Historical Background

Early Life and Education

Born on October 2, 1904, in Mughalsarai, Uttar Pradesh, Lal Bahadur Shastri emerged from humble beginnings. Losing his father at the tender age of one, he was raised in an environment that instilled strong moral values. Despite financial constraints, Shastri pursued his education with determination, graduating from Kashi Vidyapeeth in 1926. It was during his student years that he dropped his caste-based surname ‘Srivastava,’ embodying his commitment to breaking social barriers.

Role in India’s Freedom Struggle

Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s call for non-violent resistance, Shastri became actively involved in the Indian independence movement. His participation in key nationalist campaigns included:

1. The Non-Cooperation Movement (1921)
2. The Civil Disobedience Movement (1930)
3. The Quit India Movement (1942)

During these struggles, he faced multiple imprisonments, using his time in jail to study and strengthen his resolve for the nation’s freedom.

Political Career

Rise to Leadership

Following India’s independence, Shastri’s political career flourished under the mentorship of Jawaharlal Nehru. He served in various crucial positions:

• Minister of Police and Transport in Uttar Pradesh
• Minister of Railways and Transport in the Central Cabinet
• Home Minister of India

His administrative acumen and problem-solving abilities earned him respect across political spectrum.

Prime Ministership

Upon Nehru’s demise in 1964, Shastri emerged as the natural choice for India’s third Prime Minister. His brief yet impactful tenure (1964-1966) was marked by several significant developments:

1. The Green Revolution

Recognizing the importance of agricultural self-sufficiency, Shastri initiated policies that laid the foundation for India’s Green Revolution. He encouraged the adoption of modern farming techniques and high-yielding crop varieties.

2. The White Revolution

Under his leadership, the National Dairy Development Board was established, launching Operation Flood, which transformed India into the world’s largest milk producer.

3. Indo-Pak War of 1965

Shastri’s leadership during the 1965 war with Pakistan showcased his resolve to protect India’s sovereignty. His famous slogan “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan” (Hail the Soldier, Hail the Farmer) resonated deeply with the nation, acknowledging the crucial roles of both military personnel and farmers in nation-building.

Significance of Shastri Jayanti

National Observance

The celebration of Lal Bahadur Shastri Jayanti holds profound significance in India’s national calendar. Various events and activities mark the day:

1. Official Ceremonies: The President and Prime Minister pay homage at Vijay Ghat, Shastri’s memorial in Delhi
2. Educational Programs: Schools and colleges organize debates, essay competitions, and lectures focusing on Shastri’s principles
3. Cultural Events: Performances and exhibitions highlighting his life and contributions

Contemporary Relevance

Shastri’s vision and values continue to be relevant in modern India:

1. Economic Self-reliance: His emphasis on indigenous development aligns with current initiatives like “Make in India”
2. Agricultural Focus: The ongoing importance of supporting farmers and ensuring food security
3. Ethical Leadership: His personal integrity sets a benchmark for public servants

Legacy and Lasting Impact

Governance Model

Shastri’s administrative style, characterized by simplicity, accessibility, and decisive action, remains a blueprint for effective governance. His ability to connect with common citizens while handling complex national issues demonstrated the perfect balance of empathy and leadership.

Social Impact

The principles he lived by continue to influence various aspects of Indian society:

1. Education: Many institutions named after him promote values-based learning
2. Public Service: His life inspires many to choose careers in civil service
3. National Security: The integration of civilian support with military strength.

As India prepares to commemorate the 155th birth anniversary of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, commonly known as Mahatma Gandhi, the significance of Gandhi Jayanti resonates not just throughout the nation but across the globe. Observed annually on October 2nd, this national holiday serves as a profound reminder of the enduring legacy of the man fondly referred to as the ‘Father of the Nation’.

Significance of Gandhi Jayanti

A Day of National Importance

Gandhi Jayanti transcends being merely a holiday; it represents a day of national reflection and commitment to Gandhian principles:

• Truth (Satya)
• Non-violence (Ahimsa)
• Peace (Shanti)

Global Recognition

The United Nations, recognizing the universal relevance of Gandhi’s teachings, has declared October 2nd as the International Day of Non-Violence. This global observance underscores the continuing relevance of Gandhian philosophy in addressing contemporary conflicts and challenges.