Daily CurrentTitle Affairs Capsule th Title 28 October 2019

Indo-French Joint Exercise ‘Shakti-2019’

Series of 'Exercise SHAKTI' between India and France commenced in the year 2011.

 As part of Exercise SHAKTI - 2019, French Army troops arrived in India on 26 October 2019 for training with Indian Troops.  The bilateral training exercise will be conducted at the Foreign Training Node at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges, Rajasthan.  A contingent of the Sikh Regiment of Sapta Shakti Command will represent Indian Army in this exercise.  The bilateral exercise will be conducted from 31 October 2019 to 13 November 2019.

PM Modi embarks on 2-day visit to Saudi Arabia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia.

 He looks forward to his participation in the Future Investment Initiative (FII) Forum where he would be speaking about the growing trade and investment opportunities for the global investors in India as the country marches forward to a USD 5 trillion economy by 2024.  The FII Forum is also known as the 'Davos in the Desert' which has been hosted by Riyadh since 2017 to project the Kingdom as a potential investment hub in the region.  Modi is paying a visit to the Kingdom at the invitation of Saudi King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.  The visit would witness the Prime Minister holding talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and launching the RuPay card in the country.

World Bank Group President David Malpass calls on PM Narendra Modi

The President of the World Bank Group David Malpass called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.

 Mr Malpass is on a four-day visit to India.  He delivered the keynote address on the role of the financial sector in development at the fifth edition of the NITI Aayog Lecture series in New Delhi.  This is the first trip of Mr Malpass to India after assuming charge in April this year.

Gujarati community across the globe celebrates the new year- Bestu Varas

Gujarati community across the globe is celebrating New year Bestu Varas.

 As per Gujarati calendar Vikram Samvat, New year is celebrated on the first day of Kartik month.  Bestu Varas also marks the day to forgive others and forget bad memories and start with new enthusiasm.

Air quality in Delhi deteriorates to a hazardous level

The air quality turned hazardous in Delhi as the citizens defied the Supreme Court-enforced two-hour limit for bursting crackers on Diwali.

 According to government agencies, at 11 p.m., Delhi's overall Air Quality Index, AQI, stood at 327.  AQI at Mother Dairy in Patparganj area and National Malaria Institute, Dwarka was recorded at 999 and 763 respectively.  The levels of PM 10 tiny particulate matter had reached as high as 515 micro-grams per cubic metre in Anand Vihar during the day.  An AQI between 301-400 is considered very poor, and 401-500 severe. Above 500 is a severe-plus emergency category.  Twenty-five of the 37 air quality monitoring stations in the capital recorded their AQI in the very poor category or beyond.

CVC observes vigilance awareness week from Oct 28 to Nov 2

The Central Vigilance Commission, CVC is observing vigilance awareness week starting from Oct 28 till 2nd November, to promote probity in public life through citizen participation.

 The theme for the vigilance awareness week is 'Integrity - A way of life'.  This theme would help to draw the attention of all sections of society especially the youth to the significance of ethical conduct in the building of honest, non-discriminatory and corruption-free society.  The CVC has requested all the central government Ministries and organisations to conduct activities relevant to the theme both within their organisation and as outreach activities for citizens.

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy- bag silver in the doubles event at

In , India's top men's doubles pair of and Chirag Shetty lost to world No.1 pair of and in the finals of the French Open in Paris.

 The Indian duo settled for silver after losing the final 18-21, 16-21.  Satwik and Chirag had won their maiden Super 500 title at the Thailand Open earlier in August this year.  It was the first time that an Indian men's doubles pair reached a World Tour 750 final.