Current affairs 31 October 2024

PM Modi Launches India’s First Heli Ambulance Service "Sanjeevani".

• PM Modi inaugurated Sanjeevani, India's first heli ambulance, operated by AIIMS Rishikesh, on Dhanvantari Jayanti, enhancing emergency care in Uttarakhand.
• The service aims to reach remote areas quickly, increasing the chance of saving lives in emergencies like heart attacks and accidents.
• Uttarakhand Chief Minister - Pushkar Singh Dhami

Indian scientists discovered new planet, five times larger than Earth.

• Indian researchers from the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) discovered TOI-6651b, a Saturn-sized exoplanet with a mass 60 times that of Earth and a radius five times larger, orbiting a Sun-like star.
• The planet orbits in a 5.06-day cycle, placing it on the edge of the Neptunian desert, a region with few planets of this mass, offering insights into planetary formation.

Indian Railways Partnered with Switzerland for Modernization Boost.

• Indian Railways signed an MoU with Switzerland’s Department of the Environment, Transport and Communications (DETEC) to enhance technical cooperation, focusing on technology sharing, track maintenance, and infrastructure modernization.
• The collaboration aims to improve operational efficiency, safety standards, and service quality.

Lahore becomes most polluted city in the world again.

• Lahore, a city in the Punjab province of Pakistan recorded an Air Quality Index of 708, with PM2.5 levels at 431 µg/m³, primarily due to vehicle emissions, outdated industries, and weak environmental policies.
• PM2.5 levels at 431 µg/m³ is an alarming 86 times above the World Health Organization’s recommended annual limit.

DBS Bank India Recognized for Gender Diversity and Inclusion.

• DBS Bank India was named one of the Best Companies for Women in India (BCWI) 2024 for the ninth consecutive year by Avtar and Seramount, placing it in the Best Companies - Hall of Fame.
• The bank aims to increase female representation in its workforce from 31% to 35% over the next three years, supported by its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Council and DEI Champions.