Why in news:

• The state government of Himachal Pradesh has announced various policy decisions to tackle the growing menace of cybercrime in the state.

Key Points:

• With an average of 5,000 complaints pertaining to cyberfraud being reported every month, the state government has proposed to set up cybercrime police stations in 10 districts.
• The state police force has also launched a first-of-its-kind initiative to reward officers who make an effort to learn the technicalities and excel in investigating such crimes.
• The increase in cases of online and cyber frauds has been termed as a serious issue by the concerned officials. As per the state government’s plans in this regard, the specialized police stations will come up as a proper avenue for public to seek help against cybercrimes. The majority of the cases being reported include that of financial fraud. Most cyber fraud cases are being reported from Shimla followed by Kangra .
• The police department has sent a proposal to the government for sanctioning cybercrime police stations in 10 districts. The proposal has excluded Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti districts.
• A centralised cyber station has already been sanctioned in Shimla, which handles cases from across the state. The police force has divided cyber jurisdiction into three ranges — Southern, Central and Northern with headquarters at Shimla, Mandi and Dharamshala, respectively.
• Meanwhile, state government has also announced that with an aim to strengthen policing of cybercrime, they have launched a scheme to reward officers who excel in investigation. Under the scheme, ‘Cyber Crime Investigator Badge’ will be awarded to officers who excel in the field of cybercrime investigation. The badge will be given by the state Director General of Police twice a year.

Why in news:

• Several academic and research institutions from Himachal Pradesh and outside would prepare a report on landslides and assist the state government in adopting scientific mitigation measures.

Key Points:

• According to the Chief Secretary of Himachal Pradesh, Prabodh Saxena, the report, to be submitted in two or three months, would also suggest some prominent and vulnerable locations for further detailed investigation taking geological, geotechnical and geophysical parameters into consideration for proper scientific management of landslides.
• As per the state government’s plans envisaged in this regard, considering the topographical locations, fragile environment and vulnerable ecology, experts have been roped in to carry out preliminary geological investigations at 10-15 most vulnerable sites in each district and suggest mitigation measures.
• Every year, the state experiences the fury of nature in various forms such as cloudbursts, flash floods, landslides, earthquakes, avalanches and droughts and due to sharp increase in landslides in different districts, the government has involved research institutions for conducting a study.
• In the ongoing monsoon season, 112 people were killed in 166 landslides from June 24 till September 15, according to the state emergency operation centre. There are 17,120 landslide-prone sites in the state, of which 675 are near critical infrastructure and habitations.
• As per the official mandate, the Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) will conduct the study in Shimla and Kinnaur districts excluding Shimla city, National Institute of Technology (NIT) Hamirpur in Una, Bilaspur and Hamirpur, Central University in Chamba and Kangra, and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi in Kullu, Mandi and Lahaul and Spiti districts.
• The Geological Survey of India (GIS) Chandigarh will conduct the study in Shimla City besides Shimla-Kalka, Mandi-Kullu and Jeori-Sando National Highways, while Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology in Dheradhun and Central Building Research Institute in Roorkee have been allocated Solan and Sirmaur districts respectively.

Context:

• The state government of Himachal Pradesh has announced measures for increasing the avenues for participative governance, by using knowledge bank of local communities towards biodiversity management measures.

Key Points:

• Taking active steps in the direction, the state government’s Department of Environment Science and Technology has started enrolling villagers at the gram panchayat-level biodiversity committees in order to rope them in for the conservation of endangered species of plants and animals.
• According to the concerned officials, in addition to that, people’s Biodiversity Registers have been created in the gram panchayats to document folk knowledge of biodiversity resources besides people’s perceptions of how these resources should be managed.
• In this regard, residents having knowledge of the flora and fauna are enlisted as the members of the biodiversity management committees at the gram panchayat level. They are supposed to share information about the drastic changes in the local flora and fauna. An effort thereby is being made to conserve the plants and animals using local knowledge.
• In the year 2009, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of India had identified as many as 57 species of medicinal plants in the state that are on the verge of extinction. The ministry had also identified eight species of other plants and 10 of animal species which are on the verge of extinction. The state Biodiversity Board has banned their collection in live or dead condition, except for select purposes like scientific research and propagation etc., after seeking the approval.

Context:

• The state government of Himachal Pradesh has announced various measures to put the state on higher economic growth pedestal, while taking into account the available resources, manpower and the region’s distinct ecology.

Key Points:

• State Government has announced that it will set up a department of nuclear medicine in one of the medical colleges of the state so that facility of radiation therapy could be provided to cancer patients saving their time and resources. 
• In this regard, the concerned officials have further underlined that the need of the hour is to adopt modern scientific methodology of farming instead of practising traditional methods. In this regard, he urged for providing technological support for undertaking these activities.
• Underlining the absence of resources with the state government, the state is looking forward to centre’s assistance in achievement of its ambitious targets. Taking active steps in the direction, the state government has held deliberations with the Union Ministry of State, Science & Technology, Space and Atomic Energy regarding strengthening of agriculture, horticulture and health sector by adopting modern techniques and by making the best use of science and technology.
• In this regard, the state has also requested providing support to the officers of the horticulture and agriculture departments of the state besides organising orientation programmes for them, so as to enable them to be more familiar with new innovative technology.  Further, the state government has also requested the Union government to get organised training for the farmers and horticulturists to make them acquainted with the new techniques. These new techniques will help farmer and horticulturalists in improving the quality of their produce.
• Further, the state government has pushed its case with the centre government for including Chamba district under 'Aroma Mission' for cultivation of Lavender plants and to provide technological support to the farmers for the same. Keeping in view the vulnerability of the state to earthquakes, the state government has requested for establishing a high-tech seismic laboratory cum data analysis centre in Kangra and Hamirpur seismic zone.

Shiv Bajrang Singh assumed charge as the Executive Director of Indian Bank .

• Prior to his elevation, Mr. Singh was the Chief General Manager at Bank of India. He has served as Zonal Manager of Ludhiana and Raigad Zones of the Bank and also as Chairman of Aryavart Bank(RRB).
• During his career, he has contributed to various aspects of banking, including HRM, MSME, business process re-engineering, branch banking and treasury, the public sector lender said in a statement.
• Mr. Singh possesses extensive banking experience acquired both in India and internationally, including his tenure at Bank of India’s New York Branch

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session on 14th October 2023 at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai.

• The IOC session serves as a key meeting of the members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Important decisions regarding the future of Olympic games are made at the IOC Sessions. India is hosting the IOC session for the second time and after a gap of about 40 years. The IOC’s 86th session was last held in New Delhi in 1983.
• The 141st IOC Session, being held in India, embodies the nation’s dedication to fostering global cooperation, celebrating sporting excellence, and furthering the Olympic ideals of friendship, respect, and excellence. It provides an opportunity for interaction and knowledge sharing among the various sports related stakeholders.
• The session will also be attended by President of the International Olympic Committee, Mr. Thomas Bach and other members of IOC, along with prominent Indian sports personalities and representatives from various sports federations, including the Indian Olympic Association.

Nasa’s Parker Solar Probe has broken its own record. Achieving a speed of 635,266 kilometres (394,736 miles) per hour, it’s now the fastest thing to be built by humans. On 27 September, during its 17th loop around the sun, it broke its 2021 record of 586,000 kilometres (364,621 miles) per hour achieved during its 10th solar flyby.

• The Parker Solar Probe was launched in 2018 to collect data about the outer corona, the outermost layer of the Sun.
• The corona is hotter than the layer immediately below it. The reason for this coronal heating has been an unsolved puzzle for scientists.
• By 2025, the probe is scheduled to complete 24 loops around the sun. At its closest approach, the spacecraft will come within about 3.8 million miles of the Sun. “If the distance between Earth and the Sun was the length of a football field, the spacecraft would be around 4 yards from the end zone,” Nasa explains in a press statement.

The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction was started in 1989, after a call by the United Nations General Assembly for a day to promote a global culture of risk-awareness and disaster reduction.

• Held on every 13 October, the day celebrates how people and communities around the world are reducing their exposure to disasters and raising awareness about the importance of reining in the risks that they face.
• In 2015 at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai, Japan, the international community was reminded that disasters hit hardest at the local level with the potential to cause loss of life and great social and economic upheaval. Sudden onset disasters displace millions of people every year.
• Theme for 2023 : Fighting inequality for a resilient future. Let’s Break the Cycle! 

Pankaj Bohra, a chartered accountant from Ahmedabad, has assumed the role of national president of the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC). 

• IACC, a 55-year-old chamber of commerce with 14 offices in India and 27 partner organisations in the US, is engaged in the promotion of bilateral trade and investments between India and the US. “Today bilateral trade between India and USA emerging as the largest trading partner of India.
• The bonds between the two nations are stronger than ever and are ready to enter into a new orbit,' said Bohra (59).
• With a professional experience spanning over four decades, Bohra currently serves as the senior partner at Pankaj Bohra & Co., Chartered Accountants.

India has been ranked 111th out of 125 countries in the Global Hunger Index-2023, a stark decline from its 107th position in 2022.

• The index highlights a concerning statistic – India reports the world’s highest child wasting rate at a staggering 18.7 percent.
• Interestingly, India’s neighboring countries, including Pakistan (102nd), Bangladesh (81st), Nepal (69th), and Sri Lanka (60th), have performed comparatively better in the index.
• Global Hunger Index (GHI) is Jointly published annually by Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe.
  It Measures hunger on a 100-point scale, with 0 as the best (no hunger) and 100 as the worst score.
  Aim of GHI: Comprehensively measures and tracks hunger globally, regionally, and at the country level. Aims to trigger action to reduce hunger worldwide.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to inaugurate the 9th G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit (P20) in the national capital today, October 13, Friday. Notably, Canada is missing from the P20 and Parliamentary Forum program list. 

• This came amid the ongoing tensions between India and Canada over the killing of Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
• The summit is being hosted by the Parliament of India under the broader framework of India's G20 Presidency. The theme of the 9th P20 Summit is 'Parliaments for One Earth, One Family, One Future.'
• Prime Minister's Office said that the event will be attended by Speakers of Parliaments of G20 members and invitee countries.
• The P20 Summit will focus on the following four subjects - Transformation in People's Lives through Public Digital Platforms; Women-led development; Accelerating SDGs; and Sustainable Energy Transition.

Udaipur, often referred to as the ‘City of Lakes’, is on the cusp of gaining a prestigious recognition as India’s first wetland city. The Rajasthan government is working diligently to earn this title for the city.

• The Environment and the Forest Department has chosen Udaipur based on the criteria set by the Ramsar Convention of International Importance.
• The city is already a part of the restoration project of the National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP), an initiative of the central government.
• The wetlands and lakes in the Udaipur have traditionally been managed by the tourism and local self-government departments. The Environment and Forest Department is now pursuing international recognition for Udaipur by nominating it to the Ramsar Convention.
• This move is aimed at bringing the city up to international standards in terms of wetland conservation.
• Udaipur is surrounded by five major lakes, namely Pichola, Fateh Sagar, Rang Sagar, Swaroop Nagar and Doodh Talai, justifying its claim to fame as the ‘City of Lakes’.

A forest arena titled ‘Miniature Eastern Ghats’ (MEG) will come up in about 30 acres of reserve land belonging to the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department in the limits of Greter Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) limits.

• The facility is being set up adjacent to the ACA-VDCA cricket stadium along the old NH-16 road. The MEG, a part of the Eastern Ghats Biodiversity Centre project, will be opened for public from November, 2023.
• The main entrance gate, designed with images of animals, welcomes the people to the sprawling green oasis located opposite the newly laid Law College Road towards the Vizag-Bheemili beach road.
• Miniature Eastern Ghats’ is a one-stop place for the flora found in the Eastern Ghats. It is the first such project in Andhra Pradesh to attract the nature lovers and tourists.

India's retail inflation eased to 5.02 per cent in September on an annual basis as against 6.83 per cent in August, showed data released by the ministry of statistics on Thursday.

• On a monthly basis, the prices deflated 1.13 per cent. The food price inflation for September stood at 6.56 per cent as 9.94 per cent in August.
• The rural and urban inflation stood at 5.33 per cent and 4.65 per cent, respectively.
• Inflation rate for vegetable declined significantly to 3.39 per cent in September from 26.14 per cent in August. Cereal inflation stood at 10.95 per cent in the month of September. The fuel and light segment deflated 0.11 per cent in September.

Tamil writer Sivasankari was on Thursday presented with the ‘Saraswati Samman’ 2022 for her book of memoirs Surya Vamsam.

• The award, instituted by the K.K. Birla Foundation, was presented to her by former Union Minister M. Veerappa Moily. It carries a citation, a plaque and prize money of ?15 lakh.
• Surya Vamsam is a book of memoirs in two volumes. These two volumes together present not only the evolution of an innocent child into an acclaimed author but also unfold the transformation society has undergone in these seven decades, the award citation said.
• The work was selected by a Chayan Parishad (Selection Committee), headed by former Supreme Court judge Arjan Kumar Sikri.

The RBI has imposed a penalty of Rs 5.4 crore on Paytm Payments Bank for not complying with KYC directions and other guidelines pertaining to cybersecurity and payments banks.

• RBI had conducted a special scrutiny from a KYC/AML (anti-money laundering) perspective.
• The scrutiny brought out several areas of non-compliance, including failure to identify beneficial owners of entities onboarded for providing payout services, lack of monitoring of payout transactions and risk profiling, breaching regulatory balance ceilings, delayed reporting of a cybersecurity incident, and failure to implement device binding control measures related to SMS delivery receipts.
• RBI also had issues with its video-based customer identification process (V-CIP) infrastructure and could not identify those logging in from outside the country.
• The bank was issued a show-cause notice. After considering its response to the notice and oral submissions during a personal hearing, RBI determined that the charge of non-compliance was substantiated, leading to the imposition of the penalty.

India and France discussed potential collaboration in niche areas such as cyberspace and artificial intelligence with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh saying that strategic partnership between the two nations is more relevant today than ever and both sides are looking forward to taking it to "newer heights".

• Singh and French Minister of Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu held extensive talks at the fifth annual India-France Defence Dialogue in Paris on Wednesday(11-10-2023) evening with a focus on enhancing defence industrial cooperation.
• "The two ministers discussed a wide range of topics from the assessment of regional situation to the ongoing military-to-military engagements, with a focus on enhancing defence industrial cooperation," the defence ministry said on Thursday.
• In a post on X, Singh described his meeting with Lecornu as "excellent".