Union Government constitutes Munialappa Committee to monitor bird flu situation
Terms of reference of the committee
• Munialappa will be the nodal officer and will be available to provide advice and help round the clock.
• A control room, with telephone numbers 011-23384190 and 09448324121, will provide advice and help round the clock.
• Besides monitoring the situation, the committee will assist the state governments in taking steps to contain the spread of avian influenza.
• The committee will have representatives from Ministry of Health, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Department of Agriculture Research and Extension (DARE) and the Delhi government.
• National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Indian Veterinary Research Institute and four regional laboratories will assist the state governments and will get samples tested in an emergency response manner.
Railway Minister launches a new train service between Anand Vihar to Ballia
Railway minister Suresh Prabhu has launched a new train service through video conferencing between Anand Vihar to Ballia in Uttar Pradesh.
- It will run weekly between these two destinations.
- It was a long pending demand of the Ballia people to introduce a direct train between Ballia and Delhi.
Fix minimum wage for unskilled agricultural labour in C-class towns in central sphere
The Union govt. has decided to fix the minimum wage for unskilled agricultural labour in C-class towns in central sphere at 350 rupees per day to be effective from 1st November.
- At present, agriculture workers in the central sphere are paid as per the rates prescribed under the national floor level minimum wage (160 rupees per day).
Microsoft launches India’s first Cybersecurity Engagement Center in Delhi
Microsoft has launched its first full-scale Cybersecurity Engagement Center (CSEC) in Delhi.
- It is first-of-its-kind Cybersecurity Centre in India and overall 7th in the world after Tokyo, Seoul, Beijing, Singapore, Berlin and Washington DC.
- It will bring together Microsoft capabilities to foster deeper Cybersecurity collaborations with public and private sector organisations.
Country’s Forex Reserves rises by USD 1 billion to USD 367.14 billion 
Country’s Forex Reserves rose by USD 1 billion to USD 367.14 billion for the last week ended (21st Oct)on the back of the increase in the core currency assets.
- According to The Reserve Bank Foreign Currency Assets (FCAs) a major component of the overall reserves, increased by USD 1.015 billion to USD 341.923 billion.
- Gold reserves remained steady at USD 21.406 billion.
- The special drawing rights with the International Monetary Fund declined by USD 5.4 million to USD 1.463 billion.