Current affairs 18 October 2023

Bhopal’s Mahila Thana become country’s first to get ISO certification.

• The Mahila thana of Bhopal became the first women-centric police station across the entire country to be conferred with the International Organization for Standardization certificate.
• Bhopal Mahila thana has been improved a lot on its part in registering grievances of the complainants, comforting them and probing cases.
• The ISO certification is a testament to the station’s commitment to improving its services and facilities, ensuring quality, safety, and efficiency.

Female Labour Force Participation Rate Jumps to 37.0%.

• According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey Report 2022-23, the Female Labour Force Participation Rate in the country has improved significantly by 4.2 percentage points to 37.0% in 2023.
• It is an outcome of the decisive agenda set by the Government for ensuring women’s empowerment through policy initiatives aimed at their long-term socio-economic and political development.

Indian Railways’ PSUs, RITES Ltd and IRCON granted Navratna status.

• Ircon International Limited (IRCON) and RITES Ltd both Central Public Sector Enterprise have been announced as 15th and 16thNavratna respectively among CPSEs.
• The Ministry of Finance conferred Navratna status on RITES and IRCON.
• Entering its 50th year of incorporation, RITES Ltd is a leading transport infrastructure consultancy and engineering firm in India.
• The companies should benefit in enhancing the market credibility and in undertaking larger size PPP projects.

India, UK Hold Inaugural "2+2" Foreign, Defence Dialogue In Delhi.

• The inaugural India-UK 2+2 foreign and defence dialogue saw the two sides focusing on ways to boost cooperation in a range of key areas such as trade and investment, defence, critical technologies, civil aviation, health and energy.
• Aim: To discuss and review all aspects of the India-UK comprehensive strategic partnership.
• Discussed international developments including in the Indo-Pacific region and considered the possibility of enhancing anti-terror collaboration.

Rocketry has been adjudged as the Best Feature Film in 69th National Film.

• Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah inaugurated Samau Shaheed Memorial and Library in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• During the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav Modi started initiatives to build memorials of countless unsung martyrs across the country who sacrificed their lives in the 90 years of freedom struggle from 1857 to 1947.
• Aim: To revive their history so that the youth and the new generation could draw inspiration from them.