1. PM Modi dedicates Sardar Patel’s ‘Statue of Unity’ to the nation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the ‘Statue of Unity’ (world's tallest Statue) on the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Surat, Gujarat.
The Statue of Unity (bronze statue) is the tallest statue (182-metre) in the world, taller than China's Spring Temple Buddha statue (153-metre) and almost double the height of the Statue of Liberty (93 metres) in the US.
The statue of unity located on the Sadhu Bet island (near Rajpipla) on the Narmada river, located between the Satpura and the Vindhya mountain ranges.
A 3.5 km highway will be used to connect the statue to Gujarat's Kevadia town.
The project cost was Rs 3,050 crore and fully funded by the Gujarat government, built within three-and-a-half years from infrastructure major Larsen & Toubro (L&T).
The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Rashtriya Ekta Trust (SVPRET) arranged around 129 tonnes of iron implements from nearly 100 million farmers (in 169,000 villages) across all states to construct the base of the statue in the 'Loha' campaign.
It was built by Padma Bhushan recipient sculptor Ram V Sutar and intricate bronze cladding work was done by a Chinese foundry, the Jiangxi Toqine Company (JTQ).
The total height of the statue of Unity is 240 and base level of 58 meters.
Tickets of the statue can be booked online at ‘soutickets.in’, open to the public from 3rd November 2018.
Note:
Sardar Patel served as the first Home minister of independent India, credited with uniting all 562 princely states in pre-independent India to build the Republic of India.
Patel was born and raised in the countryside of Gujarat.
In 2014, the Government of India introduced a commemoration of Patel (31st October) and known as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day).
Honours & Awards
2. Malala Yousafzai to be honoured by Harvard University
According to the Harvard’s Kennedy School, Nobel Prize Winner Malala Yousafzai (20-year) will be honoured by Harvard University for her work promoting girls' education.
Yousafzai will be conferred with the Gleitsman Award 2018 at a ceremony on 6th December this year.
The Gleitsman Award provides 125,000 US dollars for activism that has improved quality of life around the world.
Now, Yousafzai is a student at Oxford University in England.
Note: Yousafzai became the youngest person to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 when she was recognized for her global work supporting schooling for all children.
Banking & Finance
3. New SBI ATM withdrawal limits to come into effect from today
The Country’s largest bank SBI has reduced the daily cash withdrawal limit for Classic and Maestro debit cards to Rs. 20,000 per day (earlier, Rs. 40,000).
New ATM cash withdrawal rules for SBI account holders will come into effect from today (31st October).
Now, SBI account holders having higher daily cash withdrawal requirements can apply for other debit card variants that have a higher daily withdrawal limit.
There will be no changes in the daily withdrawal limits on other SBI debit cards.
4. SBI & Hitachi payments form a joint venture
State Bank of India (SBI) and Hitachi Payment Services India (payments solution provider) has entered into an agreement to form a joint venture for establishing a card acceptance and digital payment platform.
SBI will have a majority stake in the proposed joint venture.
Hitachi Payment Services India is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi Group, Japan.
5. IBM acquired Red Hat for USD 34 Billion in its biggest purchase
America's IBM has acquired software company Red Hat in a USD 34 billion cash and debt deal, marking its biggest ever acquisition till date.
The open source, enterprise software maker ‘Red Hat’ founded 25 years ago, valued at about USD 20.5 billion at the end of trading.
6. Seychelles launches world’s first Sovereign Blue bond
The Republic of Seychelles has launched the world’s first Sovereign Blue Bond.
Sovereign Blue Bond is a financial instrument designed to support sustainable marine and fisheries projects.
The bond demonstrates the potential for countries to harness capital markets for financing the sustainable use of marine resources.
The bond raised USD 15 million from international investors.
International Affairs
7. VP Naidu embarks on the seven-day visit to three South African countries
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu embarked on a seven-day visit to three South African countries (Botswana, Zimbabwe and Malawi).
In the first leg of his visit, Mr Naidu will meet his Botswana counterpart Slumber Tsogwane and hold delegation-level talks.
He will also inaugurate the 13th Annual Global Expo Botswana 2018.
During his visit to Zimbabwe, the Vice President will call on President Emerson Mnangagwa.
On his final leg of the visit to Malawi, Mr Naidu will call on its President Peter Arthur Mutharika.
8. World's largest Airport 'under one roof' opened in Istanbul
The world's largest airport terminal "under one roof" has been officially opened in Istanbul, with a capacity to serve 90 million passengers.
Overall the first phase has cost 7.5 billion Euro.
The airport has been envisioned to have a total capacity of up to 200 million passengers (once all four phases are completed) in the next 10 years.
National Affairs
9. UIDAI planning to set up 'Aadhaar Seva Kendras' to ensure ease in services
According to UIDAI CEO Ajay Bhushan Pandey, The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is planning to set up Aadhaar Seva Kendras.
The planned 'Aadhaar Seva Kendras' will offer "hassle-free" enrolment and facility to ensure ease in Aadhaar-related services to residents.
Almost 114 such centres in 53 cities and towns including all state capitals will be established in the first phase.
These Kendras will be in addition to enrolment and updation centres that currently operate in banks, post offices and government premises.
Important Dates
10. 31st October: National Unity Day
The ‘National Unity day’ (Rashtriya Ekta Diwas) is being celebrated every year on 31st October in India.
The objective of this event is to pay tribute to the Iron man Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, on his birth anniversary by remembering his extraordinary works for the country.
The Union Home Minister Raj Nath Singh has flagged off the Run for Unity from Major Dhyanchand Stadium, New Delhi.
It is celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel who really unified the country.
The Human Resource Development Ministry is organising essay competitions, Run for Unity, pledge in 2000 Kendriya and Navodaya Vidyalayas, drawing the participation of a huge number of students.
Note: In 2014, National Unity Day was introduced by the Government of India with the aim of celebrating this event every year on 31st October.
Obituaries
11. Urdu writer Qazi Abdussattar passes away
Noted Urdu writer Professor Qazi Abdussattar (85-years) passed away in Delhi due to illness
He was the former head of Aligarh Muslim University’s Urdu department.
Abdussattar was awarded Padma Shri in 1974.
He was also the first recipient of Ghalib Academy Award in 1978.
Sports
12. Grandmaster B Adhiban finishes 3rd in Isle of Man International Chess tournament
Grandmaster B Adhiban finished tied third at the Isle of Man International tournament after beating Michael Adams (England) in the final round in Isle of Man, United Kingdom.
Poland's Radoslav Wojtaszek emerged the winner of the event.
Seven players finished on 6½: Vladimir Kramnik, Alexander Grischuk (both Russia), Hikaru Nakamura, Jeffery Xiong (both USA), Wang Hao (China), Gawain Jones (England) and Baskaran Adhiban (India).
