National

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) on 29 October 2024. This scheme provides free annual health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh for every citizen aged 70 and above, regardless of income. It aims to ease healthcare expenses for the elderly and support their well-being.

The scheme has already helped 4 crore people, and the new card specifically targets senior citizens to expand healthcare access. To use the card, beneficiaries must register through the PM-JAY portal or app and complete eKYC.

This expansion will cost ₹3,437 crore and aims to address India’s rapidly aging population. By 2050, around 19.5% of Indians will be elderly. Nearly 6 crore elderly people are expected to benefit, including those already covered by existing schemes like CGHS and ECHS.

On October 28, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez inaugurated the Tata Aircraft Complex in Vadodara, India, to build C-295 military aircraft. This complex is India’s first private-sector assembly line for making military planes.

The project includes many Indian defense companies, like Bharat Electronics Ltd., Bharat Dynamics Ltd., and various smaller businesses. Out of the 56 C-295 aircraft for India, Tata will make 40 in Vadodara, while Airbus will supply 16 from Spain.

The leaders also visited the Laxmi Vilas Palace in Vadodara and held talks. They announced that 2026 will be celebrated as the Year of Cultural Tourism and Artificial Intelligence between India and Spain.

Cyclone ‘Dana’ made landfall early morning on October 25, 2024, between Bhitarkanika in Kendrapara district and Dhamra in Bhadrak district, Odisha.

• Wind speeds reached approximately 110 kmph along the Odisha coast, causing damage across Kendrapara, Bhadrak, and Balasore districts.
• Power lines were snapped, large trees uprooted, and thatched and asbestos houses and paddy crops sustained significant damage.
• No casualties have been reported, aligning with the state’s ‘Zero Casualty Mission’.
• Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi reviewed the situation, instructed district collectors to assess damage, and conducted an aerial survey of affected areas.
• Roads were cleared by disaster response teams, and power restoration is expected by the afternoon.
• Residents who took shelter in cyclone centers are returning home, and services at Bhubaneswar’s airport and railway station have resumed.
• The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) downgraded ‘Dana’ to a deep depression as it moves further inland.

India and Pakistan have agreed to extend the validity of the Agreement on the Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor for an additional five years. The original agreement, signed on October 24, 2019, allows Indian pilgrims to visit the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Pakistan, through the corridor.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that the extension ensures uninterrupted access for pilgrims. India has also requested Pakistan to remove the $20 service fee per pilgrim per visit, responding to continued requests from pilgrims. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar reaffirmed the Modi government’s commitment to facilitating Sikh pilgrims’ access to their holy sites.

Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud has recommended Justice Sanjiv Khanna, the second-most senior judge of the Supreme Court, as his successor. Upon approval by the government, Justice Khanna will become the 51st Chief Justice of India.

• Justice Khanna will serve a six-month tenure, ending on May 13, 2025.
• Supreme Court judges retire at the age of 65, and CJI Chandrachud will retire on November 10, 2024.
• The outgoing CJI traditionally nominates the second-most senior judge as the next CJI.
• Justice Khanna was born on May 14, 1960, and enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of Delhi in 1983.
• He practiced at district courts, the Delhi High Court, and various tribunals.
• Justice Khanna was appointed as an additional judge of the Delhi High Court in 2005 and became a permanent judge in 2006.
• He was elevated to the Supreme Court on January 18, 2019.

On 16 October 2024, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by PM Modi, approved an increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for all mandated Rabi crops for the 2025-26 marketing season.

The highest MSP increase is for rapeseed and mustard at Rs 300 per quintal, followed by lentils (masur) at Rs 275 per quintal. MSP for gram, wheat, safflower, and barley is increase of Rs.210 per quintal, Rs.150 per quintal, Rs.140 per quintal and Rs.130 per quintal respectively. The new MSP of wheat for 2025-26 marketing season is 2425.

This decision ensures farmers get at least 1.5 times the all-India weighted average cost of production, with expected margins ranging from 50% to 105%. It aims to provide fair prices to farmers and encourage crop diversification.

On 16 October 2024, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a 3% increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) for central government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) for pensioners, effective from 1 July 2024. This raises the DA and DR from 50% to 53% of the basic pay/pension, aiming to offset the effects of inflation.

The increase benefits around 49.18 lakh employees and 64.89 lakh pensioners, with a total financial burden of ₹9,448.35 crore annually. Employees will also receive arrears for July, August, and September with their revised payments. DA/DR adjustments are made biannually based on inflation data.

India and the US have signed a contract for the procurement of 31 MQ-9B Predator drones, marking a major step in strengthening India’s defense capabilities. The deal includes tri-service acquisition of the MQ-9B Sky Guardian and Sea Guardian drones.

The Ministry of Defence, along with Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane, formalized the agreement in New Delhi. A separate contract with General Atomics Global India ensures maintenance and repair within India.

These next-generation drones, with an operational altitude above 40,000 feet and a speed of 400 km/h, will enhance India’s intelligence, surveillance, and strike capabilities, proving to be a significant asset for the defense forces.

On 15 October 2024, Paramesh Sivamani assumed charge as the 26th Director General of the Indian Coast Guard. A specialist in navigation and direction, he has commanded all major vessels of the Coast Guard.

He is an alumnus of the National Defence College, New Delhi, and the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. Mr. Sivamani has received several prestigious honors, including the Tatrakshak Medal in 2014, the President’s Tatrakshak Medal in 2019, and the Director General Coast Guard Commendation in 2012, recognizing his distinguished service.

On October 14, 2024, the Indian Navy achieved a major milestone with the launch of Samarthak, the first vessel under its Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV) project. Built by L&T Shipyard at Kattupalli, the launch reflects India’s progress in indigenous shipbuilding. The ceremony was presided over by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi.

Samarthak, meaning “Supporter,” is a versatile vessel designed for towing, launching and recovering targets, operating unmanned vehicles, and testing indigenous weapons. The 106-meter-long vessel can reach speeds of up to 15 knots. This project, contracted on March 25, 2022, marks the Navy’s ongoing efforts to enhance self-reliance in maritime defense and strengthen indigenous shipbuilding capabilities through collaboration with private Indian shipyards.

The government has approved the upgradation of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to the status of the 14th Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE). The announcement was made by the Department of Public Enterprises, stating that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman gave the final approval.

The decision followed recommendations from the Inter-Ministerial Committee, chaired by the Finance Secretary, and the Apex Committee, led by the Cabinet Secretary.

Renowned industrialist Ratan Tata passed away peacefully in Mumbai on 9 October 2024 at the age of 86. His demise marks the end of an era that witnessed the Tata Group’s meteoric rise to prominence.

Tata, who served as the chairman of the Tata Group from 1991 to 2012, is credited with transforming the conglomerate into a global industrial powerhouse. Under his leadership, the Tata Group expanded its operations into diverse sectors such as automobiles, steel, hospitality, and information technology.

The Central Government has extended the tenure of Mr. M. Rajeshwar Rao as Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India for one more year, starting from October 9, 2024, or until further orders.

This is his second one-year extension, following his initial appointment in October 2020 for a three-year term. Mr. Rao will continue overseeing the Department of Regulation, Department of Communication, Enforcement Department, Legal Department, and Risk Monitoring Department.

On October 7, 2024, India successfully conducted three flight tests of the indigenously developed Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) missiles at the Pokhran firing ranges in Rajasthan. These tests, conducted by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), were part of development trials aimed at enhancing India’s ability to counter aerial threats, including enemy aircraft and drones.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised the success, highlighting the technological edge the VSHORADS system will provide to the Indian Armed Forces. This advanced, 4th-generation weapon system is expected to replace the aging Russian Igla missiles, addressing the long-standing need for modernization in India’s short-range air defense. Two private companies have been key partners in the project, reflecting India’s growing focus on indigenous defense technology development.

On 3 October 2024, the Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved conferring the status of classical language to Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali. Classical languages are recognized as custodians of India’s ancient cultural heritage, representing the historical and cultural achievements of their respective communities.

The classical language category was created on October 12, 2004, with Tamil being the first to receive this status. The criteria for classical status include the language’s high antiquity, a recorded history of over a thousand years, and a significant body of original ancient literature. This recognition is expected to create employment opportunities in academia, research, archiving, translation, and digital media through the preservation and digitisation of ancient texts.

The Eighth edition of the India-Kazakhstan Joint Military Exercise KAZIND-2024 began on 30 September 2024 in Uttarakhand. The Indian Armed Forces, represented by a battalion of the KUMAON Regiment with 120 personnel, are participating. The joint military exercise will be conducted from up to 13 October 2024.

The exercise aims to improve the joint military capability of both nations for counter-terrorism operations, focusing on semi-urban and mountainous terrain. It also promotes sharing of best practices, enhances defence cooperation, and strengthens interoperability and camaraderie between the two armies.