Daily updates 31 October 2019

National

1.India now has 28 states and 9 UTs

• According to the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, the appointed day for the two Union Territories J&K and Ladakh was October 31.
• This is for the first time that a state is converted into two Union Territories. The total number of states in the country will now be 28 while the total Union Territories will go up to nine.

For Complete list of 28 states and 9 Union Territories of India Click here

State News

2. TN becomes first State to enact law on contract farming

• President of India Ram Nath Kovind has approved the Tamil Nadu Agricultural Produce and Livestock Contract Farming and Services (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2019.
• Now Tamil Nadu has become the first state in the country to enact a law on contract farming.
• The aims of this Act is to set a policy framework and institutional mechanism on agricultural produce and livestock contract farming.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/SSC CGL:

• Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu: Edappadi K. Palaniswami; Governor: Banwarilal Purohit.
• Capital of Tamil Nadu: Chennai.

International

3. Sheikh Sultan inaugurates Sharjah International Book Fair 2019

• The 38th edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) 2019 was inaugurated by Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, UAE.
• Nearly 1800 exhibitors from 77 countries are participating in the Fair.
• The fair will showcase 987 activities presenting scientific, knowledge and literary themes.
• The Republic of Mexico has been declared as the Guest of Honour at the 38th edition of SIBF.
• The theme of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) 2019 is 'Open Books Open Minds', to promote books and reading across age groups and communities.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/SSC CGL:

• Capital of the UAE: Abu Dhabi; Currency of the UAE: Dirham.

4. Saad Hariri resigns as Prime Minister of Lebanon

• Prime Minister of Lebanon, Saad Hariri has resigned from the portfolio amid anti-government protests.
• He resigned bowing to one of the central demands of anti-government demonstrators shortly after baton-wielding Hezbollah supporters rampaged through the main protest camp in Beirut.
• The protests has paralyzed the country for nearly two weeks. Lebanon is facing a deep-running fiscal crisis as it staggers under one of the highest debt ratios in the world $86 billion, or more than 150% of the country’s gross domestic product.

Appointments

5. Rafael Grossi elected as the new IAEA head

• Rafael Mariano Grossi of Argentina has been elected as the new Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
• He succeeds Yukiya Amano of Japan, who passed away in July. He will be the 6th head of IAEA since it was founded more than six decades ago in 1957.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RBI Grade ‘B’ 2019:

• Headquarters IAEA: Vienna, Austria; Membership: 171 Member States.

6. Former Mumbai Police Commissioner Datta Padsalgikar appointed as Deputy NSA

• Former Mumbai Police Commissioner and Maharashtra DGP Datta Padsalgikar have been appointed as Deputy National Security Advisor (NSA).
• The 1982-batch IPS officer had earlier served in the Intelligence Bureau (IB).
• He had also served as DCP (Detection) in crime branch, and in EOW (Economic Offences Wing). He retired as the Director-General of Police (DGP) in 2018.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/SSC CGL:

• Present National Security Advisor (NSA): Ajit Doval.

Sports

7. Shiva Thapa, Pooja Rani clinch gold in Olympic Test event for Boxing

• Indian boxer Shiva Thapa and Pooja Rani clinched gold medals in Olympic Test Event for Boxing in Tokyo, Japan.
• While Ashish settled for a silver, ending India's brilliant campaign at the Olympic Test Event.
• Four-time Asian medallist Thapa outpunched Kazakhstan's national champion and Asian bronze-winner Sanatali Toltayev 5-0 to claim the top honours in the 63-kilogram category.
• Former Asian Games bronze-medallist Pooja Rani edged past Australia's Caitlin Parker in 75-kilogram category to ensure that the Indian women's contingent also had gold in its kitty.
• In 69 kilogram category, Ashish, however, lost to Japan's Sewon Okazawa to sign off with a silver medal.

Defence

8. Indo-French joint exercise 'Shakti-2019'

• The bilateral 'Exercise SHAKTI' between the armies of India and France will be conducted from 31st October to 13th November 2019 at Foreign Training Node in Mahajan Field Firing Ranges, Rajasthan.
• The joint exercise will focus on counter-terrorism operations in semi-desert terrain.
• The exercise aims at enhancing understanding, cooperation and interoperability between the two armies.
• While a contingent of the Sikh Regiment of Sapta Shakti Command will represent Indian Army in this exercise, the French Army delegation will be represented by troops of 21st Marine Infantry Regiment of 6th Armoured Brigade.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RBI Grade ‘B’ 2019:

• Chief of the Army Staff: General Bipin Rawat.

Obituaries

9. First female UN refugee chief Sadako Ogata passes away

• First female UN refugee chief Sadako Ogata passed away. She served as the Chief of the UN refugees from 1991-2000.
• She had also served as the head of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) from 2003- 2012 and also as the chairman of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) from 1978-1979.

10. Former Karnataka Lokayukta N. Venkatachala passes away

• N. Venkatachala, former judge of the Supreme Court and former Lokayukta of Karnataka passed away.
• Venkatachala was known for bringing to light the existence of Karnataka’s autonomous anti-corruption wing as the Lokayukta by conducting raids on public servants and disclosing their names and particulars of seized assets.
• He also functioned as the head of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, during 1990. He was Lokayukta from July 3, 2001, to July 2, 2006.

11. Actor and comedian John Witherspoon passes away

• Actor and comedian John Witherspoon passed away recently. He was best known best known for the hit Friday franchise and The Wayan Brothers.
• He made his feature debut in the film The Jazz Singer (1980) and entered showbiz through stand-up comedy and started acting in the late 1970s with guest-starring TV roles.

Important Days

12. India celebrates "National Unity Day" on 31st October

• India is celebrating the 144th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel as National Unity Day.
• The birth anniversary of Sardar Patel i.e. 31st October is observed as the National Unity Day every year.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Sardar Patel at the 'Statue of Unity' in Kevadiya, Gujarat and also witnessed the 'Rashtriya Ekta Diwas Parade' by personnel of Gujarat Police and central armed forces.
• Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel is also known as the Iron Man of India. At the time of independence, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel played an instrumental role in India’s struggle for independence, and later during the integration of the country by convincing several princely states to align with the Indian Union.

13. World Cities Day: 31 October

• The United Nations General Assembly has designated the 31st October as World Cities Day.
• The Day is expected to greatly promote the international community’s interest in global urbanization, push forward cooperation among countries in meeting opportunities and addressing challenges of urbanization, and contributing to sustainable urban development around the world.
• This year, the United Nations has selected the theme “Changing the world: innovations and better life for future generations” to discuss how urbanization can be used to achieve sustainable development.

Miscellaneous

14. IIIT Hyderabad create first ever Indian Brain Atlas

• Researchers from the Indian Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad (IIIT-H), Telangana have created the first-ever ‘Indian brain atlas’(IBA).
• The Indian brain atlas was constructed in collaboration with the Department of Imaging Sciences and Interventional Radiology, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
• The study has revealed that the Indian brain, on an average, is smaller in height, width and volume when compared to Western and other Eastern populations.
• This will help in early diagnosis of Alzheimer's and other brain-related ailments.

15. Pak releases coin to commemorate 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak

• The government of Pakistan released a new coin to commemorate the 550th anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak.
• The coin worth Pakistan Rupees 50 will be available at the Kartarpur Sahib along with a postal stamp worth Pakistan Rupees 8 to the travelling pilgrims.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RBI Grade ‘B’ 2019:

• Prime Minister of Pakistan: Imran Khan; President: Arif Alvi.
• Currency: Pakistani rupee; Capital: Islamabad.

Daily updates 30 October 2019

National

1. ‘Aarambh’, common foundation course for IAS probationers held in Statue of Unity

• The Centre’s first-ever common foundation course "Aarambh" (Beginning) for 2019 batch probationer civil servants has begun at the Statue of Unity in Kevadia, Gujarat.
• There are around 500 newly recruited bureaucrats are undergoing six-day training. The theme this year is ‘How to achieve the goal of making India a 5 trillion dollar economy’. 

State News

2. Odisha govt inks LoU for 'drink from tap mission' with UNICEF

• Odisha has inked a Letter of Understanding (LoU) on "drink from tap mission" with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
• The main objective of the mission is to provide piped quality drinking water supply to each household on a 24-hour basis. UNICEF will provide technical cooperation to the government of Odisha.
• The community-based water management system will be adopted at ward-level and in the first phase 1.20 lakh people will be the beneficiaries.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RBI Grade ‘B’ 2019:

• Headquarter of UNICEF: New York, USA; Founded: 11th Dec 1946.

3. CM Patnaik launches 'Odisha Mo Parivar' programme

• Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik launched “Odisha Mo Parivar” (Odisha, My Family) programme.
• It is a social service initiative aimed at encouraging environment protection, blood donation and the welfare of Odias in distress.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RBI Grade ‘B’ 2019:

• Governor of Odisha: Ganeshi Lal; Capital: Bhubaneswar.

Awards News

4. President confers first National CSR Awards

• President Ram Nath Kovind conferred the first National Corporate Social Responsibility Awards to the companies for their outstanding contribution in the area of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
• The first National CSR Awards ceremony in New Delhi. The CSR provisions under the Companies Act, 2013 came into force from April 1, 2014.

Banking News

5. RBI Fined Rs 35 lakh penalty on Tamilnad Mercantile Bank

• The Reserve Bank has imposed a penalty of Rs 35 lakh on Tamilnad Mercantile Bank for violating norms on fraud classification and notification.
• It stated that the bank has been penalized for non-compliance with certain provisions of directions issued by RBI on fraud classification and reporting by commercial banks and select FIs directions 2016.

Important Takeaways for IBPS PO/Clerk Mains 2019:

i. Tamilnad Mercantile Bank based in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu.
ii. RBI is India's central bank, which controls the issuance and supply of the Indian rupee.

Appointments

6. Birender Singh Yadav to be next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Iraq

• Birender Singh Yadav has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Iraq.
• The 1997 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, Birender Singh replaced Pradeep Singh Rajpurohit as the ambassador.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/SSC CGL:

• President of Iraq: Barham Salih; Prime minister: Adil Abdul-Mahdi.
• Capital of Iraq: Baghdad; Currency: Iraqi dinar.

7. Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde Appointed as 47th Chief Justice of India

• Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde was appointed as the 47th Chief Justice of India. Justice Bobde will take oath as the CJI on November 18th, a day after incumbent Ranjan Gogoi demits office. He will have a tenure of 17 months and would demit office on 23rd April 2021.
• A judge since 2000, Justice Bobde joined the Bombay High Court as an additional judge. He was appointed as the chief justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court on October 2012. In April 2013, he was elevated to the Supreme Court.

Important Takeaways for RBI Grade-B and LIC Assistant 2019:

• Ranjan Gogoi is the 46th and current Chief Justice of India.
• The Supreme Court of India came into existence on 26th January 1950 and is located in New Delhi.
• KK Venugopal is present Attorney General of India.

8. G C Murmu and R K Mathur appointed as new Lt Governors of J&K and Ladakh respectively

• The Union Government has appointed former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers Girish Chandra Murmu and Radha Krishna Mathur as the first Lieutenant (Lt) Governors of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and Ladakh respectively.
• These newly appointed governors succeed Satya Pal Malik. These Union Territories will come into existence on October 31, 2019.
• Satya Pal Malik has been transferred and appointed as Governor of Goa, succeeding Mridula Sinha. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Kerala state president P S Sreedharan Pillai was appointed as the 15th governor of Mizoram succeeding Jagdish Mukhi.

New Governors

S. No.	State/UT	Governor	Predecessor
1.	J&K	Girish Chandra Murmu	Satya Pal Malik
2.	Ladakh	Radha Krishna Mathur	Satya Pal Malik
3.	Mizoram	P S Sreedharan Pillai	Jagdish Mukhi
4.	Goa	Satya Pal Malik	Mridula Sinha

Summits And Conferences

9. 9th edition of Bangladesh-India Friendship Dialogue

• The 9th edition of Bangladesh-India Friendship Dialogue will be held at Cox Bazar in Bangladesh from November 1, 2019.
• The dialogue aims to draw from learning and experiences in these sectors between India and Bangladesh.
• The two-day dialogue will cover a wide range of issues like trade and investment, connectivity, technology, energy, regional security, extremism, and sustainable development among others.
• The event will be organized jointly by the India Foundation and Bangladesh Foundation for Regional Studies.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RBI Grade ‘B’ 2019:

• Bangladesh Capital: Dhaka; Currency: Taka; PM: Sheikh Hasina.

Ranks And Reports

10. HBR's list of 10 best performing CEOs has 3 Indian-origin CEOs

• The Best-Performing CEOs in the World, 2019' list compiled by the Harvard Business Review (HBR) features 100 CEOs. The list has been topped by American technology company NVIDIA's CEO Jensen Huang. Among the top 10 chief executives on the list, 3 spots have been occupied by the Indian-origin CEOs.
• Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen was ranked 6th, followed by MasterCard CEO Ajay Banga was ranked 7th and Microsoft chief Satya Nadella on the 9th spot. The list also features India-born CEO of DBS Bank Piyush Gupta on the 89th spot. Apple CEO Tim Cook was ranked 62nd in the list. The 2019 list has 4 female CEOs in the top 50 of the rankings.
• The HBR took into account three metrics for each CEO's tenure: the total shareholder return (including dividends reinvested) adjusted by country and by industry and change in market capitalisation (adjusted for dividends, share issues, and share repurchases), measured in inflation-adjusted USD.

Sports

11. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty bags silver medal at French Open

• Indian men's doubles pair Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy has won the silver medal in the men's doubles event at French Open.
• The Indian pair lost the summit clash to the Indonesian pair of Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo by 18-21, 16-21.

12. ICC bans Bangladeshi cricketer Shakib Al Hasan for 2 years

• The International Cricket Council has banned Bangladesh Test and T20 Captain Shakib Al Hasan for 2 years from all forms of cricket. The Bangladeshi cricketer has been banned for not reporting to the ICC that he was approached by the bookies.
• The cricketer was approached by the bookies during the 2018 home tri-series against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. One year of the punishment has been suspended after he accepted three charges of breaching the ICC Anti-Corruption Code.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RBI Grade ‘B’ 2019:

• ICC Chairman: Shashank Manohar; Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
• The 13th edition of ICC Cricket World Cup will be held in India from February 9 to March 26, 2023.

13. Lewis Hamilton wins Mexico Grand Prix 2019

• Mercedes’ driver and 5-time world champion Lewis Hamilton clinched his 10th win of the season for Mercedes at the Mexican Grand Prix 2019.
• Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, a German racing driver, and Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas, a Finnish racing driver, finished second and third respectively.

14. Tiger Woods clinched historic 82nd title with Zozo Championship 2019

• The Zozo Championship 2019 tournament title was clinched by America’s Tiger Woods, aged 43, which was his 82nd PGA Tour crown.
• He sealed a historic three-stroke win to draw level with Sam Snead (America) for the most victories on Tour.
• The Zozo Championship 2019, a professional golf tournament, was held at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club, Chiba, Japan. It was the first event sanctioned tournament by the PGA (Professional Golfers’ Association) Tour in Japan, in a deal that will last until at least 2025.  The prize money of the tournament was US$9.75 million.

Obituaries

15. Padma Shri awardee & India’s oldest Yoga teacher Nanammal passes away

• Padma Shri awardee & India’s oldest Yoga teacher Nanammal passed away at 99. She had bagged 150 awards, 6 national-level gold medals and Yoga Ratna award of the Government of Karnataka in 2014.
• She was also conferred the Padma Shri in January 2019 for her efforts to make people lead a healthy life.

Miscellaneous

16. Facebook launches healthcare tool for check-up reminders

• Facebook has unveiled a ‘Preventive Health’ tool that connects people to health resources and sends check-up reminders. Facebook has launched the tool in the United States.
• The tool is designed to help users of the social networking giant to find affordable places to receive care, set reminders to schedule tests and mark when tests are completed. The recommendations to the users will be provided on the basis on their age and sex.
• The resources available in the tool are provided by the American Cancer Society, the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RBI Grade ‘B’ 2019:

• Facebook Headquarters: California, US; CEO: Mark Zuckerberg.

17. Nirmal Purja climbs world's 14 highest peaks in record-breaking 189 days

• The mountaineer from Nepal, Nirmal Purja, created a new speed record by climbing the world’s 14 highest peaks over 8,000 metres (26,250 feet) in just 189 days.
• The 14th peak which he climbed was Shishapangma, located at Nyalam County, China. The other 13 peaks are Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Kanchenjunga, Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Nanga Parbat, Gasherbrum I, Gasherbrum II, K2, Broad Peak, Cho Oyu and Manaslu.

18. Finance Minister releases Commemorative Coin on Paramahansa Yogananda

• The Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman has released a special commemorative coin on Paramahansa Yogananda. The coin has been released to mark Paramahansa Yogananda's 125th birth anniversary.
• Paramahansa Yogananda is known as the Father of Yoga in the West. He was the founder of two organisations: Yogoda Satsanga Society of India and Self-Realisation Fellowship, belongs to the line of gurus whose message is universal transcending nations and religions.

Daily updates 26,27,28 October 2019

National

1. Health Ministry to observe Vigilance Awareness Week

• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will observe the Vigilance Awareness Week from 28th October to 2nd November, 2019.
• The week will be observed with the theme of “Integrity- a way of life”. Vigilance Awareness Week will commence with the administration of ‘Integrity Pledge’ to the officers/staff of the Ministry by the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, to fight against corruption and commit to highest standards of honesty and integrity.
• The week will be observed as per directions of Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), Government of India.
• CVC observes Vigilance Awareness Week every year to promote probity in public life and to achieve a corruption free society.

2. 'Maharatna' status granted to state-owned HPCL & PGCIL

• 'Maharatna' status has been granted by the Government to state-owned Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited and Power Grid Corporation of India Limited.
• The status also comes with greater operational and financial autonomy.
• The grant of Maharatna status to the PSUs will impart enhanced powers to their Boards to take financial decisions.
• The Boards can structure and implement schemes relating to personnel and human resource management and training. They can also enter into technology joint ventures or other strategic alliances, among others.

State News

3. First-ever Ladakh Literature Festival

• Ladakh administration is organizing the first-ever Ladakh Literature festival. The 3-day Literature Festival is being organized from 29 to 31 October 2019.
• The first-ever Ladakh Literature festival aims to celebrate the uniqueness of the region in the fields of Art, Culture and Literature.
• There will be screenings of Ladakhi films, discussions on Heritage and presentations on History and Archeology of Ladakh, during the festival.
• To provide an opportunity to children, youth and women to participate in the 3 Day Ladakh Literature Festival several competitions and events like Calligraphy, Culinary art are also incorporated.

Agreements

4. USD 165 mn loan agreement for Odisha's Integrated Irrigation Project

• The Government of India, Government of Odisha and the World Bank have signed a USD 165 million loan agreement.
• The agreement is signed for Odisha's Integrated Irrigation Project for Climate Resilient Agriculture.
• The project will be implemented in rural areas vulnerable to droughts and largely dependent on rainfed agriculture.
• The project will strengthen the resilience of smallholder farmers against adverse climate by improving access to resilient seed varieties and production technologies, diversifying towards more climate-resilient crops, and improving access to better water management and irrigation services.
• The project will also support aquaculture in rehabilitated tanks, help farmers access affordable and quality fingerlings, and disseminate improved aquaculture practices and post-harvest management.
• The $165 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (Member of World Bank Group), has a 6-year grace period, and a maturity of 24 years.

5. IOB launches health care plus insurance policy

• Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) in association with Universal Sompo General Insurance Co Ltd. has launched upgraded health care plus insurance policy.
• It is a co-branded insurance scheme exclusively designed for IOB customers with a sum insured starting from ₹50,000 and going up to ₹15 lakh.
• The policy issuance will be made on a real-time basis at the IOB branches to its customers. Self, spouse, dependent children, dependent parents can be covered under the policy.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RBI Grade ‘B’ 2019:

• MD & CEO of IOB: Karnam Sekar; Founded: 10 February 1937.
• Headquarters: Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
• Tagline: Good people to grow with.

Appointments

6. Manohar Lal Khattar sworn in as CM of Haryana for a second term

• Senior BJP leader Manohar Lal Khattar was sworn in as the chief minister of Haryana for second straight time, with the support of Dushyant Chautala led Jannayak Janta Party.
• Dushyant Chautala took oath as deputy chief minister of Haryana. Governor administered him the oath of office and secrecy at a function at Raj Bhavan in Chandigarh.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/SSC CGL:

•  Governor of Haryana: Satyadev Narayan Arya.

Ranks and Report

7. Bill Gates overtakes Jeff Bezos as the world’s richest person

• Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates overtook Jeff Bezos to become the world’s richest person.
• Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos lost the title as the world’s richest man to Bill Gates, after losing nearly $7 billion in stock value leaving his net worth to $103.9 billion.
• Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is currently worth $105.7 billion.
• Bezos ended Gates’ 24-year run as the richest man in 2018 and became the first man on earth with a net worth of $160 billion.
• Bill Gates debuted on Forbes’ first ever billionaire list in 1987 with a net worth of $1.25 billion.

Summit and Conferences

8. “Global Bio-India 2019” Summit to be held in New Delhi

• The Global Bio-India 2019 will be held for the first time in India in New Delhi from 21st to 23rd November, 2019. It is one of the largest biotechnology stakeholders integration programme.
• India is hosting this mega event for the biotech community to attract investments and showcase our indigenous strengths and aspirations of the indigenous talent pool.
• A brochure of GlobalBio-India 2019 was also released at the Curtain Raiser ceremony.
• The DBT, Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India will organize the event with Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council.
• The Summit is one of the largest biotechnology stakeholders conglomerate to be held in India for the first time.
• The event will bring together stakeholders from 30 countries, 250 start-ups, and 200 exhibitors.

Sports

9. Jasprit Bumrah, Smriti Mandhana win Wisden India Almanack Cricketer of the Year award

• Indian Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah and batswoman Smriti Mandhana won the Wisden India Almanack Cricketer of the Year award.
• The other 3 winners are Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman, Sri Lanka’s Dimuth Karunaratne and Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan.
• Smriti Mandhana became the third woman to win ‘Cricketer of the Year’, after Mithali Raj and Deepti Sharma. Former Indian cricketers Gundappa Viswanath and Lala Amarnath were inducted into the Wisden India Hall of Fame.
• Wisden India Almanack, annual cricket publication, also featured the name of Indian cricketer Mayank Agarwal for his splendid performance in the Test match against South Africa in a recently concluded series. 
• The book titled “Cricket Country: The Untold History of the First All India Team” by Prashant Kidambi was adjudged the Wisden India Book of the Year 2019 (Published by Penguin India).

10. Karnataka wins Vijay Hazare Trophy 2019-20

• Karnataka has won the 2019-20 Vijay Hazare Trophy. Karnataka defeated Tamil Nadu by 9 wickets in the finals of Vijay Hazare Trophy at Bengaluru.
• Karnataka won their 4th Vijay Hazare Trophy title with a dominant display against Tamil Nadu. Abhimanyu Mithun took a hat-trick in the summit clash.

11. Prithvi Sekhar wins gold in World Deaf Tennis Championship

• India’s unseeded Prithvi Sekhar beat 3rd seeded Jaroslav Smedek of the Czech Republic by 6-4, 6-3 points and clinched the men’s singles title in World Deaf Tennis Championships 2019.
• The 2nd Edition of World Deaf Tennis Championships 2019 was held in Antalya, Turkey.
• He had also won the men’s doubles bronze medal with Prashanth Dasharath Harsambhavi.

Important Days

12. World Day For Audiovisual Heritage: 27 October

• World Day for Audiovisual Heritage is celebrated all over the world on 27th of October.
• The theme for World Day for Audiovisual Heritage 2019 is “Engage the Past Through Sound and Images”.
• In 2005, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) General Conference declared October 27 as World Day for Audiovisual Heritage.

Obituaries

13. Former Gujarat Chief Minister Dilip Parikh passes away

• Former Gujarat Chief Minister Dilip Parikh passed away. He served as the 13th Chief Minister of Gujarat between October 1997 and March 1998.
• He was an industrialist and also served as president of the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Miscellaneous

14. CBSE & NCERT launches 'Tamanna' test for Class 9 & 10 students

• The Central Board of Secondary Education and National Council for Educational Research and Training have launched an online aptitude test called ‘Tamanna’.
• Tamanna stands for "Try And Measure Aptitude And Natural Abilities". Tamanna is an aptitude test that aims to help students of Class 9 and 10 to make a better choice of subjects, eventually helping them in making an informed decision while choosing subjects in Class 11 and 12.
• Tamanna provides information about strengths of students and there is no pass or fail in this test.