UDAN Scheme:
- Prime Minister Modi said that aviation in India has become accessible to all with the ‘UDAN’ project to improve air transport at the regional level.
- The regional air connectivity project ‘UDAN’ (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) was launched by the Central Government on 21st October 2016.
- UDAN is a regional connectivity program led by the Government of India.
- UDAN aims to create ‘Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagarik’ and small regional airports for easy access to air services by general citizens.
- Under this scheme, more than 2.8 lakh flights have been operated and air services have been provided to 1.5 crore passengers at low fares.
- It has operationalized 86 airports and established 617 routes, significantly improving air transport across the country.
- UDAN project has increased the number of airports and air routes and ensured air services to crores of poor people.
- At the same time, it has had a major impact on increasing trade and increasing the growth of the region.
BRICS Summit:
- The 16th BRICS summit begins in Kazan, Russia.
- Brazil, Russia, India, South Africa, China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates are members of BRICS.
- The 16th Summit of the Federation is being held under the leadership of Russia in Kazan, the cultural and educational center of the country.
- The theme of the summit is ‘Strengthening Multilateral Advocacy for Global Development and Security’.
- Leaders of member states including Prime Minister Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Massoud Rajavi are participating in the conference.
- The leaders discussed foreign policy, BRICS cooperation and development, and mutual issues.
- Covering around 30 per cent of the world’s land area and 45 per cent of the world’s population, the BRICS grouping is seen as a rival to the ‘G7’ group of leading Western countries in geopolitics.
- India plays a key role in leading the Alliance’s efforts in areas such as economic, sustainable development and global governance reforms.
Supreme Court says secularism a core part of the Constitution:
- The Supreme Court ruled that ‘Secularism’ has always been part of the basic structure of the Indian Constitution.
- The 42nd Amendment to the Constitution of 1976, led by the late former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, inserted the words ‘equality’ and ‘secularism’ in the preamble of the Constitution.
- ‘Socialism’ is mentioned in the Preamble of the Constitution based on B.R Ambedkar’s idea.
- The preamble read ‘Sovereign, Democratic Republic’, which was changed to ‘Sovereign, Socialistic, Secular, Democratic Republic’ through the amendment.
October 22: International Stuttering Awareness Day
- International Stuttering Awareness Day is observed on October 22 every year.
Important Facts:
- Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan held a consultation on enhancing cooperation in education, vocational training and research between the two countries.
- India has signed an agreement with China to conduct patrolling along the Line of Control in eastern Ladakh.
- According to the state government, Tamil Nadu ranks 2nd in terms of GDP.
- Tamil Nadu’s inflation rates were 5.97 percent in FY 2022-23 and 5.37 percent in 2023-24.
- Tamil Nadu ranks second in road accident fatalities across the country, followed by Uttar Pradesh.
- India’s Deepika Kumari wins silver medal in Archery World Cup