Daily GK Updates - 11th April, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES

1. ‘Project Dhoop’ launched by FSSAI: Food safety regulator, FSSAI, launched an initiative Project Dhoop to encourage schools to shift their morning assembly to around noon-time to ensure maximum absorption of Vitamin D in students through natural sunlight. The move comes in the backdrop of rising incidence of Vitamin D deficiency in the country. The initiative urges schools to conduct their morning assembly between 11 am and 1 pm.

2. Government to install water ATMs in Haryana: The Haryana government has prepared Water ATM Policy to provide clean drinking water to people at public places in cities. Under this policy, public places such as bus-stands, railway stations, parks, bus stops, parking areas and markets would be identified. There would be a distance of 400 meters between two water ATMs which could be adjusted according to the convenience of people.

3. Balram Bhargava to be new ICMR chief: Balram Bhargava has been appointed the new Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research and Secretary of the Department of Health Research notification by the appointments committee of the cabinet. Balram Bhargava is currently a senior consultant cardiologist at the AIIMS and will carry out this role until 2021.

4. Rajesh Ranjan appointed DG CISF: Rajesh Ranjan, a 1984 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, has been appointed as the Director General (DG) of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). He is at present Special Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF). The CISF provides security to various government installations including the airports of the country.

5. Rakesh Bharti Mittal new CII President: Bharti Enterprises Vice-Chairman Rakesh Bharti Mittal assumed the office of the President of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) for 2018-19. Uday Kotak, Founder and CEO of Kotak Mahindra Bank took over as President-Designate of CII for 2018-19. Vikram Kirloskar is the new Vice-President of CII for the current fiscal.

6. Rishad Premji appointed as NASSCOM Chairman: IT industry body NASSCOM had appointed Wipro Chief Strategy Officer and board member Rishad Premji as its Chairman for 2018-19. NASSCOM has appointed WNS Group CEO Keshav Murugesh as the Vice Chairman. NASSCOM is a trade association of Indian IT and Business Process Outsourcing industry.

7. Google marks birth anniversary of KL Saigal: Google is marking the 114th birth anniversary of actor – singer Kundan Lal Saigal with a doodle of the late maestro. Saigal was Bollywood’s first legitimate ‘superstar’, and appeared in 36 films made in three languages, and sang 185 songs in his 15 – plus – year career.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES

1. First India-Nordic Summit in Stockholm: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet leaders of Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark & Iceland for the first India-Nordic Summit in Stockholm on April 17. Narendra Modi will be the first Indian PM to visit Stockholm since 1988. The six leaders will exchange views on regional and global issues such as environment and climate, trade and investment and discuss areas of future cooperation.

2. China launches Yaogan-31 remote sensing satellites: China has launched the first group of China’s Yaogan-31 remote sensing satellites into space on 10th April The satellites were carried by a Long March-4C rocket. The mission also sent a micro nanotechnology experiment satellite into orbit. The satellites will be used for electromagnetic environment surveys and other technology tests.

OTHER UPDATES

SPORTS:

1. Shreyasi Singh wins the gold at Double Trap event: Shooter Shreyasi Singh won the gold medal in women’s double trap event at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast. The bronze medal went to Scotland.

2. Ankur Mittal grabs bronze in shooting at CWG:Shooter Ankur Mittal won a bronze medal in the men’s double trap finals at the ongoing 21st Commonwealth Games. Ankur won the silver medal in the World Championships in Moscow 2017 and he also won silver and gold medal in the ISSF World Cup.

3. 2018 Asia Cup moved out from India to UAE: The 2018 Asia Cup, that was earlier scheduled to be held in India, has now been moved out to the United Arab Emirates. The decision was taken following a meeting of the executive board of the Asian Cricket Council held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.