31 Oct 2025: PRELIMS CURRENT AFFAIRS

Prelims Current Affairs includes World Thrift Day, Rashtriya Ekta Diwas / National Unity Day, World Food Prize Honour To Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, Amazon Face Project, 20th East Asia Summit, Model Youth Gram Sabha, Niti Aayog Reports On India’s Services Sector.

IMPORTANT DAY

1. WORLD THRIFT DAY

Current Context: Observed globally on 31 October, while India celebrates it on 30 October every year.

Purpose:

To promote the habit of saving and ensure financial stability among individuals and families.
To spread financial literacy and awareness on responsible resource use.

Established: 1924 by Filippo Ravizza during the First International Thrift Congress in Milan, Italy.

India’s Observance:
Celebrated on 30 October in memory of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

2. RASHTRIYA EKTA DIWAS / NATIONAL UNITY DAY

Current Context: Observed annually on 31 October to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s Iron Man.

Instituted by: Government of India in 2014.

Purpose:

To honour Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s contribution to national integration and unity.
To promote the spirit of oneness and patriotism.

Significance of Patel:

Integrated over 560 princely states into the Indian Union post-independence.
Served as India’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister.

Major Events:

Run for Unity marathon across India.
Parades, school activities, and educational programs on Patel’s legacy.

Symbolic Location:

Statue of Unity, Gujarat — the world’s tallest statue dedicated to Sardar Patel.

AWARDS

3. WORLD FOOD PRIZE HONOUR TO CHEF SANJEEV KAPOOR

Current Context: Padma Shri awardee Chef Sanjeev Kapoor has been honoured by the World Food Prize Foundation (WFPF) as one of its 2025 Top Agri-Food Pioneers (TAP).

ABOUT CHEF SANJEEV KAPOOR’S RECOGNITION

Recognised for linking culinary expertise with nutrition advocacy and agricultural innovation.
Delivered over 2.5 million nutrient-rich meals to schoolchildren.
Championed bio-fortified crops like iron-rich pearl millet and zinc-rich wheat to combat malnutrition.

ABOUT WORLD FOOD PRIZE FOUNDATION

Founded by: Dr. Norman Borlaug (Nobel Peace Prize laureate).
Established in: 1986.
Headquarters: Des Moines, Iowa, USA.
Objective: To honour individuals advancing food security, nutrition, sustainable agriculture, and innovation in food systems.

INTERNATIONAL

4. AMAZON FACE PROJECT

Current Context: Scientists in Brazil have launched the AmazonFACE Project near Manaus to study how tropical forests respond to increased carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels.

ABOUT AMAZONFACE PROJECT

Exposes mature tropical trees to future CO₂ concentrations in the Amazon rainforest.
First-ever experiment of this scale in tropical forests.
Supported by: Government of Brazil and the United Kingdom.
Technology Used: Free-Air CO₂ Enrichment (FACE) system to simulate future atmospheric CO₂ conditions.

WORKING OF THE PROJECT

Comprises six steel tower rings surrounding groups of 50–70 mature trees.
Three rings are fumigated with CO₂, while others serve as control samples.
Equipped with sensors recording CO₂ absorption, oxygen release, and water vapour every 10 minutes.
Aims to assess the carbon absorption capacity of tropical forests under climate change scenarios.

INTERNATIONAL

5. 20TH EAST ASIA SUMMIT

Current Context: The 20th East Asia Summit (EAS) adopted the Kuala Lumpur Declaration, reinforcing cooperation among member nations on peace, security, and sustainable growth.

ABOUT EAST ASIA SUMMIT

Established in: 2005 (First Summit held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia).
Members:
- ASEAN countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam.
- Dialogue Partners: Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, USA, and Russia.
Membership Conditions:
- Must sign the ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC).
- Must be a formal dialogue partner of ASEAN.
- Must maintain substantive cooperative relations with ASEAN.

PRIORITY AREAS OF COOPERATION

Environment and Energy
Education
Finance
Global Health & Pandemic Diseases
Natural Disaster Management
ASEAN Connectivity

POLICY AND PROGRAMME

6. MODEL YOUTH GRAM SABHA (MYGS)

Current Context: The Ministry of Panchayati Raj, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Tribal Affairs, has launched the Model Youth Gram Sabha (MYGS) in New Delhi.

ABOUT MODEL YOUTH GRAM SABHA

A simulated forum for school students (Classes 9–12) to participate in mock Gram Sabha sessions.
Inspired by the Model United Nations (MUN) concept.
Coverage: Over 1,000 schools including Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs), and State Government Schools.
Support: ₹20,000 financial aid to each school for conducting sessions.

KEY FEATURES

Students play roles such as Sarpanch, Ward Members, Village Secretary, and Anganwadi Worker.
Discuss local issues, prepare budgets, and draft village development plans.
Promotes Janbhagidari (public participation) and strengthens grassroots democracy.

REPORT

7. NITI AAYOG REPORTS ON INDIA’S SERVICES SECTOR

Current Context: NITI Aayog released two analytical reports highlighting the evolving role of the Services Sector in India’s economy and employment:

Insights from GVA Trends and State-level Dynamics
Insights from Employment Trends and State-level Dynamics

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Services Sector and Employment

Employs 188 million workers (2023–24) — second-largest employer after agriculture.
Contributes 55% of Gross Value Added (GVA) in 2024–25.
Added ~40 million jobs in six years, second only to the construction sector.

Sectoral Divide

High-Value Services: IT, finance, healthcare — high productivity, low employment.
Traditional Services: Trade, transport — major employers but highly informal.

Demographic and Spatial Trends

Urban Workers: 60% in services; Rural: <20%.
Women: 10.5% of rural women in services vs. 60% urban women.
Informality: 87% lack social security; rural women earn <50% of men’s wages.

Roadmap for Transformation

Formalisation and social protection for gig and MSME workers.
Digital access for women and rural youth.
Tech-led skilling for green and digital jobs.
Promote Tier-2 and Tier-3 city hubs for balanced growth.

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