Daily GK Updates - 27th March, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES

1. Mission Sambhav launched in Assam: Assam Chief Minister launched the ‘Mission Sambhav’ campaign, which aims at spreading the message of toilet construction in 33 districts of the state. The central theme of the campaign is to reach out to more than one lakh families without a toilet, on a single day. The scheme aims to promote mass mobilisation through public representatives, local units of security forces, NGOs, and colleges

2. “E-Tribes India” launched: The Ministry of Tribal Affairs launched The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India’s (TRIFED) websites-www.tribesindia.com, www.trifed.in and Retail Inventory Software and M-commerce app. TRIFED has developed its own website i.e., tribesindia.com for sale of all its products and to tap m-commerce. ‘Tribes India’ Banners at Amazon, Snapdeal, Paytm & GeM will be launched.

3. India becomes the 3rd largest electricity producer: India’s electricity production grew 34% from 2010 to 2017, and the country now produces more energy than Japan and Russia. India produced 1,160.10 billion units (BU) of electricity in the financial year (FY) 2017. With a production of 1,423 BU in FY 2016, India was the 3rd largest producer and the third largest consumer of electricity in the world, behind China and the United States.

4. Asia’s largest tulip garden in Srinagar opens to public: Kashmir’s Tulip Garden in Srinagar was opend on March 25. The garden is situated on the foothills of Zabarwan range in Srinagar. The garden was conceived, conceptualized and created by then Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Ghulam Nabi Azad, in 2006-07. In 2014, it was declared as the 2nd best tulip garden in the world by World Tulip Summit Society.

5. India ranks 109th globally in data speed: India, the largest consumer of mobile data in the world, ranks 109th when it comes to mobile Internet download speeds according to Ookla’s Speedtest index. Norway is positioned at the top with an average download speed of 62.07 Mbps. Singapore leads in the fixed broadband front, with a download speed of 161.53 Mbps.

6. India is the 4th largest automobile market: India’s automobile sales, including passenger and commercial vehicles, grew 9.5 percent and more than 4 million units in 2017 were sold, making the country world’s fourth-largest automobile market. India beat Germany to take the 4th position. Maruti Suzuki India, which makes up 80 percent of the market, continues with its lead in passenger vehicles.

7. ‘National Conference on Down Syndrome’ held: A ‘National Conference on Down Syndrome’ was organised by the National Trust under Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on 26th March. Down Syndrome is a chromosomal condition associated with intellectual and learning disabilities. On 19th December 2011, the United Nations General Assembly declared to observe 21st March as World Down Syndrome Day.

8. Vijay Raghavan as Scientific Adviser: Krishnaswamy Vijay Raghavan was appointed Principle Scientific Adviser to the government of India on 26th March. Vijay Raghavan was serving as secretary of the Department of Biotechnology since January 2013. Vijay Raghavan will succeed physicist Rajagopala Chidambaram.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES

1. ISA and India sign host country agreement: The International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), signed the Host Country Agreement. The Agreement will give ISA a juridical personality and gives it power to contract, to acquire and dispose off movable and immovable properties, to institute and defend legal proceedings. Under this agreement, ISA shall enjoy such privileges, applicable tax concessions and immunities as are necessary for ISA’s Headquarter to independently discharge its function and programmes.

OTHER UPDATES

SPORTS:

1. Manu Bhaker-Anmol wins air pistol mixed gold at ISSF: Manu Bhaker and Anmol secured the gold medal in the ISSF Junior World Cup by winning the mixed 10m air pistol event. The silver and bronze medals were both awarded to China. Genemat Sekhon bagged an individual bronze medal in the junior women’s shooting. Overall, India occupied the second placed with 17 medals, including seven gold.

2. Anish Bhanwala won gold in Shooting: Anish Bhanwala secured an individual gold medal at the ISSF Junior World Cup in Sydney. The bronze medal was awarded to another Indian team comprising Sandhu, Japtyesh Singh Jaspal and Mandeep Singh. India is now placed second in the overall standings with 15 medals, comprising 6 gold, 3 silver and 6 bronze.