Observed on October 30 in India and October 31^st in worldwide

• Purpose: Raise awareness about financial security, savings, and economic freedom.
• Established during the 1st International Savings Bank Congress on October 31, 1924, in Milan, Italy.
• Promoted by the World Savings and Retail Banking Institute (WSBI).

Current Context : Recently, Saudi Arabia held military exercises with Iran and other countries in the Sea of Oman.

About Gulf of Oman:

• Location: Western extension of the Arabian Sea, connecting to the Persian Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz.
• Geopolitical Importance: A crucial maritime route for oil exports, with about one-third of global oil passing through.
• Bordering Nations: Pakistan and Iran (north), UAE (west), Oman (south).
• Dimensions: Approximately 560 km long and 320 km wide; narrows to 56 km at the Strait of Hormuz.
• Ports: Includes Port Sultan Qaboos (Oman), Chabahar (Iran), and Fujairah (UAE).
• Historical Significance: An ancient trade route linking the Indian Subcontinent, Middle East, and Mediterranean.

Current Context : Recently, the Nature Conservation Index (2024) was released.

Nature Conservation Index (NCI) 2024

• India’s Ranking: 176th out of 180 countries.
• Developed by: Goldman Sonnenfeldt School of Sustainability and Climate Change (Ben-Gurion University of the Negev) and BioDB.com.
• Purpose: Evaluates countries’ effectiveness in biodiversity conservation and balancing development with nature protection.
• Evaluation Pillars:
  1. Land Management: Measures protected areas and habitat fragmentation.
  2. Threats to Biodiversity: Assesses species risk, habitat loss, and invasive species impact.
  3. Capacity and Governance: Reviews conservation funding, policies, international agreements, and political stability.
  4. Future Trends: Projects long-term readiness for conservation through metrics like the Environmental Performance Index (EPI).

Current Context : Recently, the Asiatic Golden Cat (Catopuma temminckii) was spotted in Assam’s Manas National Park.

About the Asiatic Golden Cat

• Habitat: Found in forests ranging from tropical/subtropical evergreen forests, mixed and dry deciduous forests and tropical rainforests.
• Native Range: Found in northeastern India, Southeast Asia, and China.
• Appearance: Fur color ranges from golden or reddish-brown to grey or dark brown. They have medium builds and long legs for agility.
• Behavior: Primarily nocturnal but can be active during the day depending on conditions.

Conservation Status:

• IUCN Status: Near Threatened due to habitat loss and poaching.
• Legal Protection: Listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, offering the highest legal protection in India.

About Manas National Park

• Location: Situated in Assam, India, near the Bhutan border.
• UNESCO World Heritage Site : Manas National Park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.
• Biosphere Reserve : Manas National Park was designated a Biosphere Reserve in 1989.
• The name of the park originates from the Manas River, which is named after the serpent goddess Manasa.
• The Manas River is a major tributary of Brahmaputra River, which passes through the Manas National Park.

Current Context : Rani Rampal, known as the “Queen of Indian Hockey,” officially announced her retirement from the game at age 30.

• Early Career : Debuted at 14 in the 2008 Olympic qualifiers; recognized as “Young Player of the Tournament” in the 2010 Women’s Hockey World Cup.

Major Achievements:

• Led India to a fourth-place finish at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
• Won silver at the 2018 Asian Games and 2009 Asia Cup; bronze at the 2014 Asian Games
• Awards : Received the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna and Padma Shri in 2020 for her contribution to sports.​

Current Context : During the recent BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented Russian President Vladimir Putin with a traditional Sohrai painting from Jharkhand.

About Sohrai Paintings

• Origin: Created by tribal communities in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, typically during the Sohrai harvest festival.
• Themes: Symbolizes agricultural prosperity, community bonding, and harmony with nature.
• Techniques: Artists use natural colors derived from clay, leaves, and flowers, applied with tools like rice straws, twigs, and fingers.

Cultural Significance: Primarily created by women, these paintings are passed down through generations, representing both art and storytelling​

Current Context : Recently, Union government has increased the maximum loan limit under PMMY  from ₹10 lakh to ₹20 lakh.

1. New Loan Category – ‘Tarun Plus’: A new category, Tarun Plus, has been introduced for loans between ₹10 lakh to ₹20 lakh.
   1. Eligibility for Tarun Plus: Entrepreneurs who have previously availed and repaid a loan under the Tarun category can apply.
   2. Guarantee Coverage: Loans under Tarun Plus up to ₹20 lakh will be covered by the Credit Guarantee Fund for Micro Units (CGFMU).

2. Credit Guarantee Fund for Micro Units (CGFMU):
   1. Established in 2016under the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Ltd. (Government-owned).
   2. It provides a guarantee for loans issued under PMMY, covering eligible institutions and schemes.

About Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY)

1. Launch : Initiated in 2015to promote micro-credit.
2. Objective : Provide collateral-free loans to individuals for non-corporate, non-farm activities like manufacturing, processing, trading, or services.
3. Implementing Agency : MUDRA (Micro Units Development & Refinance Agency Ltd.), which funds financial institutions, including banks, Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), and Microfinance Institutions (MFIs).
4. Loan Categories:
   1. Shishu: Loans up to ₹50,000.
   2. Kishor: Loans from ₹50,001 to ₹5 lakh.
   3. Tarun: Loans from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh.
   4. Tarun Plus(New): Loans from ₹10 lakh to ₹20 lakh

Celebrated annually on October 28.

• Aim : to honour the power of animation to unite and inspire.
• The day was established by the International Animated Film Association (ASIFA) in 2002 to illustrate the impact of animation on entertainment and education.

Current Context : Recently, a study reviled that he Caspian Sea has been shrinking since the mid-1990s, but the rate it’s disappearing has sped up since 2005.

About Caspian Sea

It is the world’s largest inland body of water, with a surface area of about 386,400 sq. km.

Location: Situated between Asia and Europe,

Bordered by:

• West: Russia and Azerbaijan
• North & East: Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan
• South: Iran
• It lies to the east of the Caucasus Mountains and to the west of the vast steppe of Central Asia. 

Major Rivers: The Caspian receives water from three main rivers:

• Volga, Ural, Terek

Notable Cities

• Baku: Capital of Azerbaijan and the largest city on the Caspian Sea.
• Nowshahr: An important city in Iran along the coast.

Current Context : Recently, CWG 2026 (will be held in Glasgow) edition was unveiled which features only 10 sports.

About CWG 2026

• Location: Glasgow, Scotland.
• Sports: The 2026 edition features only 10 sports.

Notable Changes

• Dropped Sports: Six disciplines where India won medals at the 2022 CWG have been removed. These include:
  • Badminton
  • Cricket
  • Hockey
  • Squash
  • Table Tennis
  • Wrestling

Historical Context

• First CWG: The Commonwealth Games started in 1930in Hamilton, Canada.
• Frequency: The games are held every four years.
• India’s Hosting: India hosted the CWG in 2010in Delhi.