• In billiards, India’s leading cueist, Pankaj Advani has claimed his 25th gold medal on the world stage, winning the 2022 IBSF World Billiards Championship in Kuala Lumpur. He outclassed compatriot Sourav Kothari 4-0 in a one-sided final to defend the title for the fifth time in a row.
• Advani’s last world title came over 12 months ago in Qatar where he won the IBSF 6-Red Snooker World Cup. With 25 world titles, Advani has extended his record-breaking success as India’s winner of the most gold medals in world championships across all sports.

• The National Security Guard (NSG) is holding a multinational joint anti-terror exercise (JATE) at its campus at Manesar in Gurugram under the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) framework.
• The JATE “Manesar Anti-Terror 2022” is aimed at exchanging expertise and best practices and building synergy between the Counter Terrorism Forces of the SCO RATS member countries to enhance capabilities for conducting anti-terrorist operations and countering other security threats collectively, the NSG said in a statement.
• Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) is one of the permanent organs of the SCO and is Headquartered in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
• The objective of SCO RATS is to facilitate cooperation and coordination against Terrorism, Extremism and Separatism. India assumed the chairmanship of the Council of SCO RATS in Oct 2021. JATE is an annual Counter Terrorist Exercise held within the framework of the SCO RATS.
• The Stage 1 of the Exercise was conducted from July 27 to August 1 by the National Counter Terrorist Forces of SCO member countries in their respective territories.
• The Stage 2 of the Exercise is being conducted from October 8 to October 13, at NSG Manesar Garrison, in which eight representatives from National Counter Terrorism Forces of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Uzbekistan, Russian Federation and NSG of India are participating.
• During the exercise, nuances of planning, preparation and conduct of Counter Terrorist Operations will be discussed and deliberated upon. The Exercise will be witnessed by four “observers” from the Executive Committee of RATS, SCO and one observer from the State Committee for National Security of Tajikistan.
• The Exercise will provide a platform to the participating member countries to enhance their operational capabilities and exchange experience in combating terrorism, separatism and extremism, which are common regional security challenges.
• The Exercise will culminate in a closing ceremony which will be attended by high-level delegations from EC RATS SCO including Permanent Representatives, delegates from SCO member countries, representatives of the diplomatic missions of the SCO member countries in India, representatives of International organisations collaborating with RATS SCO and national delegates from India.
• During the Closing Ceremony, besides presenting the outcome of Stage-1 and Stage-2 by all SCO Member Countries, tactical demonstrations highlighting the operational capabilities of NSG to mitigate the terrorist threats will be showcased.

• The Election Commission has sent a communication to the Ministry of Law & Justice proposing that one candidate should be allowed to contest from one constituency only in a particular election.
• Sources in the poll panel said though this was not among the proposals sent to the Ministry on electoral reforms, the fresh move gained momentum after Rajiv Kumar was appointed as the Chief Election Commissioner.
• The proposal was sent to the Law Ministry and the government is in discussion with the Commission regarding the proposed electoral reforms. A meeting between senior officials of the government and the Commission is likely to take place soon on the issue, they added.
• According to the existing provisions, a candidate is permitted to contest from two different constituencies in a general election or a group of bye-elections or biennial elections. If a person is elected from more than one seat, then the person can hold on to one of the seats.
• The Commission is of the view that when a candidate contests from two seats, it is imperative that he has to vacate one of the two seats if he wins from both. This, apart from the consequent unavoidable financial burden on the public exchequer and the manpower and other resources for holding bye-election against the resultant vacancy, would be an injustice to the voters of the constituency which the candidate is quitting from, it said.
• In 1996, the Representation of the People Act was amended to restrict a person from contesting polls from more than two seats. Before the amendment, there was no bar on the number of constituencies from which a candidate could contest.
• As per the proposal, the Commission has recommended that the law must be amended to provide that a person cannot contest from more than one constituency at a time for conduct and better management of elections.
• In case the provision needs to be retained, then there is a need for an express provision in law requiring person who contests and wins election from two seats, resulting in bye-elections from one of the two constituencies, to deposit in the government account an appropriate amount of money being expenditure for holding the bye-election, the EC has proposed.

Election Commission of India

• It is a permanent constitutional body.
• Article 324of the constitution establishes the Election Commission of India.
• It was established on 25th January 1950.

The Chief Election Commissioner has suggested 6 key electoral reforms to the Union Law Ministry.

• Issue guidelines for the linking of Aadhaar with voter IDs.
• The election commission has asked the Powers to deregister political parties.
• Mandatory disclosure of all donations above Rs 2,000.
• Empowers the commission to register associations and bodies as political parties.
• Restrict the number of seats a candidate can contest from.
• Ban on exit polls and opinion polls

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declared Modhera in Gujarat’s Mehsana district as India’s first 24×7 solar-powered village.
• PM Modi offered prayers at Modheshwari goddess Temple at Modhera. He also witnessed the beautiful 3d projection mapping and heritage light and sound show at iconic Modhera Sun temple.
• Modhera was well known for the Sun temple, now it will also be known as solar-powered village.
• The 80 crore rupees project in Modhera is the first solar-powered village is a joint effort by the central and state governments.
• Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) has also been installed at nearby Sajjanpura village for the storage of solar power that can be utilised during night.

• On Indian Air Force raising day, the Government has approved the creation of a new Weapon Systems branch in the Indian Air Force.
• The Chief of Air Staff said, the branch will enhance the war-fighting capability of the Force.
• The Ministry of Defence said the branch would encompass operators in four specialised streams of Surface-to-Surface missiles, Surface-to-Air missiles, Remotely Piloted Aircraft, and Weapon System Operators in twin-multi-crew aircraft.
• Terming this a historic step for the IAF, the Ministry said, creation of Weapon System branch would entail the unification of all weapon system operators under one entity.
• The IAF Chief of Air Staff also unveiled the new combat uniform for air force personnel.
• The new combat uniform is believed to borrow features that were unveiled earlier this year by the Army.
• This news uniform’s versatility also means it can be worn in different terrains – from the mountainous terrain of Kashmir to the vast coast of the peninsula.
• From the jungles of the northeast to the deserts of Rajasthan. With this, all three arms of the Indian military have upgraded to disruptive digital patterns for camouflage uniforms.

• India will host diplomats of the UN Security Council along with other member states for a key meeting of Counter-Terrorism Committee in Mumbai and New Delhi on October 28-29. The Special Meeting will specifically focus on new and emerging technologies.
• India is currently the Chair of the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee for the year 2022.
• India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj in her capacity as Chair of the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee, told reporters that this meeting will be a tribute and statement to the horrific 26/11 terror attacks.
• Members of the United Nations Security Council will place a wreath in memory of the victims of the attack. 2008 Mumbai terror attacks were carried out by Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba that killed more than 160 people.
• Kamboj said, an outcome document is expected after the special meeting of the Counter-Terrorism Committee.
• India’s two-year tenure as an elected non-permanent member of the 15-nation UN Security Council will end in December this year.
• India will also preside as President of the powerful UN organ in December.
• Current members of the Security Council are Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana, India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Norway and UAE, along with five permanent members China, France, Russia, the U.K. and the U.S.

• Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship is organizing Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Melas across 280 locations in 28 states and Union Territories.
• Several local businesses have been invited to be part of the Mela to provide local youth with the opportunity to shape their careers through apprenticeship training. Participating companies will have the chance to meet potential apprentices on a single platform and choose applicants on the spot.
• Apprenticeship Melas are held on the second Monday of each month to increase the employability of India’s youth. Following the completion of the programmes, the company which is providing the training is likely to hire the student as an employee.
• Individuals can register for the Mela by visiting www.apprenticeshipindia.gov.in and to find the Mela’s nearest location.
• To be eligible to apply, the students must have a 5th to 12th-grade pass certificate, a skill training certificate, an ITI Diploma or a graduate degree to participate. Those who have already enrolled have been requested to reach the venue with all the relevant documents.
• Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Atul Kumar Tiwari said that, Apprenticeship Melas have a significant impact on the expanding numbers of apprenticeships and their successful execution across the country.
• He said, upgrading the Apprenticeship Act 1961 not only ensured that the programmes provide additional job opportunities for talented individuals, but also there is a smooth transition from school to work life for young adults, who join the workforce.
• The government is striving to train one million youth per annum through apprenticeship training and to fulfill this mission, Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Mela is being used as a platform to increase the participation of establishments and students.

• Shimla residents will get round the clock high-pressure tap water supply by 2025. The Board of Directors of Shimla Jal Prabandhan Nigam Limited (SJPNL) awarded the tender for the project to Suez India for Rs 683 crore. The company will complete the project by 2025.
• In addition, the company will also operate and maintain the water distribution system for the next 15 years,” said SJPNL Independent Director Dijvijay Chauhan. It has been learnt that the government will lay the foundation stone of the project in the next couple of days.
• The round the clock water supply is one of the three components of the over Rs 1,800 crore World Bank-funded Shimla Water Supply and Sewerage Services.
• The other two components are Bulk Water Supply from the Sutlej river and strengthening and extension of sewerage services in the city and nearby areas. While the work on bulk water supply has already begun, tenders for augmentation of sewerage services will be floated shortly.
• To ensure round the clock water supply, around 70 per cent of the pipes of the current distribution network will be replaced with broader pipes. Also, around 40 storage tanks up to the capacity of 5 million litre will be built across the city to ensure regular and smooth distribution. Besides, the distribution system will be digitalised.
• Besides, the BoD also approved the construction of check dams at its silt-prone Giri Water Scheme.
• According to the SJPNL, check dams will help reduce the silt and turbidity at the pumping station. “Around Rs 30 crore has been approved for building the dams,” said Chauhan.
• Meanwhile, former Deputy Mayor Tikender Panwar has shot off a letter to Chief Secretary RD Dhiman, who is also the chairman of Board of Directors of SJPNL, questioning the award of work and the cost involved.

• Solan resident Baljeet Kaur has became the first Indian women to scale the summit of 8,163 metre high Mount Manaslu in Nepal without oxygen. She scaled the summit on September 30 at 7:40 AM. At the age of 26 years, she is also the youngest woman to accomplish this feat. She is a resident of Panjrol village in Solan.
• Mount Manaslu is the eighth highest peak in the world. She has also achieved the feat of being the first Indian to climb seven of the 8,000 metre and above high peaks in the world and the fastest to climb six of these in 5 months and 2 days.
• Baljeet Kaur is also the first Indian woman mountaineer to scale the 7,161 metre high Pumori peak and 8,167 meters high Mount Dhaulagiri.
• She also has the distinction of scaling three mountain peaks in seven days. These include Mount Everest (8,848.86 m), the highest mountain on the planet, Mount Lhotse (8,517 m), the fourth highest mountain on the planet, and Mt Makalu (8,485 m).

• At the 36th National Games, Pooja Patel of Gujarat has become the first athlete to win gold in Yogasana.
• Yogasana is one of the five sports to be played at the National Games this year for the first time.
• This Indian indigenous sport made its debut at the Khelo India University Games earlier this year.
• Other Indian indigenous sport is Mallakhamb is also played in the 36th National Games.
• Mallakhamba is the display of aerial yoga and wrestling grips with vertical stationary or hanging wooden pole performed by a gymnast.