Daily GK Updates - 26th March, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES

1. High Courts to have ‘Justice Clocks’: The Centre will soon install ‘Justice Clocks’ — LED message display boards — in all 24 High Courts. The clocks will display the daily rate of disposal of cases, the number of pending cases and the individual rank of each of these courts. A model of this ‘clock’ was first installed in the Delhi office of the justice department. The aim is also to create a competition among the courts.

2. Foundation stones for 5 projects of NHAI laid: President Ram Nath Kovind visited Varanasi on a one-day visit to Uttar Pradesh. During his temple city visit, Mr. Ram Nath Kovind laid the foundation stone of five projects of the National Highway Authority of India. It includes the second phase of the outer ring of the city and four-lane roads between Varanasi and Rewa in Madhya Pradesh. He was welcomed by State Governor Ram Naik and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at the Varanasi Airport (Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport).

3. West Bengal with highest number of beggars: The Government of India came out with a report stating that there are 4,00,000 beggars in India. West Bengal has the highest number of beggars in India followed by Uttar Pradesh and Bihar at number two and three respectively. Lakshadweep has only two beggars, while Dadra Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu and the Andaman and Nicobar islands have 19, 22 and 56 vagrants respectively.

4. Google celebrates 45th Anniversary of the Chipko movement: Google commemorated the 45th anniversary of the Chipko movement with a doodle on 25th March. In 1973, villagers in Uttar Pradesh’s Chamoli district (now Uttarakhand) took to hugging trees to prevent their felling at the hands of contractors. The whole movement was taken forward by women participants, who became a driving force in educating people on the deleterious effects of deforestation.

5. J S Rajput appointed as India’s representative to the Executive Board of UNESCO: Professor J S Rajput, a former Director NCERT is selected as India’s representative to the Executive Board (EXB) of UNESCO. Notably, Professor J S Rajput is an eminent educationist with rich experience in various fields including UNESCO. The EXB has a four-year term of office and 58 seats. The executive board is one of the constitutional organs of UNESCO and is elected by the General Conference.

6. First International Exhibition Of Graphic Prints Print Biennale India 2018 inaugurated: The country’s National Academy of Art, the Lalit Kala Akademi hosted the first-ever International Print Biennale in the country with a record number of 17 countries taking part in it. The first-ever International Exhibition of Graphic Prints ‘Print Biennale India 2018’ opened, at the Rabindra Bhavan Galleries of the Lalit Kala Akademi in New Delhi.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES

1. World’s largest cruise ship ‘Symphony of the Seas’ sailed: The world’s biggest cruise-liner, “Symphony of the Seas”, has left the shipyard of Saint-Nazaire in France to embark on its maiden voyage in the Mediterranean. The ship weighs 228,000 tonnes and is 362 metres long. The Symphony can hold up to 8,000 people including 2,200 staff.

2. International Day of Remembrance observed: International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade is a United Nations international observance designated in 2007 to be marked on 25 March every year. The day honours and remembers those who suffered and died as a consequence of the transatlantic slave trade. The 2018 theme was ‘Remember Slavery: Triumphs and Struggles for Freedom and Equality’.

OTHER UPDATES

SPORTS:

1. Punjab crowned National hockey champion: Punjab won its first National title in five years, after winning against Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) in the final of the “8th men’s National hockey championships” on 25th March. In the Bronze medal match, Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) defeated Air India Sports Promotion Board. Hockey Punjab defeated Petroleum Sports Promotion Board by 2-1.