Global Hunger Index 2023

• According to the Global Hunger Index (GHI) report of 2023, India's ranking is 111 out of 125 nations.
• In 2022 India was at 107^th place in the list.
• It is published annually by Concern Worldwide, an Irish NGO, and Welt Hunger Hilfe, a German NGO.
• The GHI serves as a global measure of hunger levels.
• In the Global Hunger Index (GHI) of 2023, the leading five positions are secured by Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Chile, China, and Croatia.
• The bottom rankings in the index are occupied by Chad, Niger, Lesotho, Congo, Yemen, Madagascar, and the Central African Republic.

International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2023

• Every year, on October 13^th the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction Day is observed.
• This day acts as a medium for raising consciousness, imparting knowledge to communities, and fostering fortitude in confronting both natural and human-induced calamities.
• The theme of UN International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2023 is “Fighting inequality for a resilient future.”

Operation Ajay

• India launched Operation Ajay to bring back Indians from Israel as the conflict escalated with Israel retaliating against Hamas' attack.
• Capital of Israel: Jerusalem
• President of Israel: Isaac Herzog
• Prime Minister of Israel: Banjamin Netanyahu
• Currency of Israel: Shekel
• Gaza Strip: The Gaza Strip is a densely populated Palestinian enclave on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea that is controlled by Hamas, a militant group that the U.S. and the European Union consider a terrorist organization.

Sivasankari Honored with 32^nd Saraswati Samman 2022

• Tamil writer Sivasankari was on 12^th October 2023, presented with the ‘Saraswati Samman’ 2022 for her book Surya Vamsam.
• This award is instituted by the K.K. Birla Foundation.
• It was presented to her by former Union Minister M. Veerappa Moily. It carries a citation, a plaque and prize money of ₹15 lakh.

Nitin Gadkari Approves 7 Bridge Projects

• Nitin Gadkari, the Minister for Union Road Transport & Highways, has recently announced the sanctioning of seven bridge initiatives in Arunachal Pradesh.
• These projects have an expenditure of Rs 118.5 crore, it forms a part of the Setu Bandhan program.
• They are designed to amplify connectivity and stimulate economic growth within the state.

Setu Bandhan Program:

• Considering the significance of road safety, the Indian Government initiated the Setu Bandhan project.
• This initiative is geared towards establishing robust infrastructure that will facilitate the country's progress, emphasizing the necessity of meticulous planning and effective execution throughout the project.

UP Wins Award for Using Telecommunication Technology in Mental Health

• Uttar Pradesh received the third prize on October 10th for its exceptional implementation of Telemanas, a tele-technology-driven mental health and counseling service.
• Dr. Pinky Joval, the Mission Director of the National Health Mission in Uttar Pradesh, accepted the award from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
• This recognition underscores the state's commitment to mental health and the significant support it extends to its residents.