Daily GK Updates - 11th May, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Railways to pay compensation if person dies : The Supreme Court held that the Indian Railways must pay compensation in case of death or injury while boarding or deboarding trains.It added that in case of an accident or untoward incident, the Railways must pay compensation whether or not there has been a wrongful act, neglect or fault on the part of the administration.The railways cannot plead negligence on the part of the victims

2. India’s clean energy capacity touches 70 GW : Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has stated that India’s installed clean energy capacity has already touched 70 GW as per data compiled on March 31, 2018.100 billion units of electricity was generated through renewables during last fiscal, which also is the highest ever so far.R K Singh has reaffirmed government’s commitment to meet target of having 175 GW by 2022

3. Mrinalini Sarabhai’s 100th birth anniversary : Google Doodle on 11th May celebrated the 100th birth anniversary of Mrinalini Sarabhai, the renowned Indian classical dancer. Mrinalini married notable physicist Vikram Sarabhai who is considered to be the Father of the Indian Space Program.Mrinalini was awarded the Padma Shri in 1965 and Padma Bhushan in 1992.She was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship New Delhi in 1994.

4. Pawan Kalyan unfurls ‘largest’ Indian flag : The largest Indian flag was unfurled at NTR Stadium in Hyderabad to pay tribute to martyrs of India’s First War of Independence of 1857.The flag, measuring 183 feet in length and 122 feet in breadth, was unfurled by Tollywood actor and Jana Sena party president Pawan Kalyan.The flag is prepared by an organisation called ‘Vibrants of Kala.

5. Arunachal’s biggest solar plant inaugurated : Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu inaugurated the state’s biggest solar power plant at Energy Awareness Park.The plant, with a capacity of one megawatt, was commissioned on April 1 at an estimated investment of Rs 8.50 crore.With the commissioning of the solar plant, import of energy from other states will reduce considerably.

6. 19th National Technology Day : The country observed 19th National Technology Day on 11th May to commemorate the successful carrying out of the nuclear test at Pokhran in Rajasthan.On the same day, India performed successful test firing of the Trishul Missile and test flying the first indigenous aircraft ‘Hansa-3’.The country started observing the day as National Technology Day every year since 1999.

7.Nirmal Singh elected JK Assembly speaker : BJP legislator & former Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh has been elected as the Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.Singh, who is an MLA from Billawar constituency in Jammu region, was elected as the Speaker by a voice vote in a one-day special session of the J&K Assembly.Singh defeated Congress MLA from Bandipora, Usman Majeed.

8. Green Ambassador of Sikkim : The Sikkim Government has nominated Bollywood singer Mohit Chauhan as the Green Ambassador of the state.Chauhan has been nominated as the Green Ambassador for promoting Sikkim as a Green Destination, nationally and internationally, on a voluntary basis.Sikkim is known for its rich biodiversity and abundant natural resources due to environment-friendly policies.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Israel launched airstrikes against Iran : Israel and Iran were engaged in their most direct confrontation to date after Iranian forces stationed in Syria fired nearly 20 missiles targeting Israel-occupied territory and Israel Defence Forces responded with airstrikes.This marks Israel’s most significant military action in Syria since the civil war started in 2011.The two countries have been engaged in a proxy war for years.

2. World’s second oldest rock is from Odisha : A rock sample was recovered nearly eight years ago from Champua in Odisha’s Kendujhar district.Scientists have found in the rock a grain of magmatic zircon (a mineral that contains traces of radioactive isotopes).It is an estimated to be around 4,240 million years old — a discovery of great promise to study the earth’s early years.

3. First SCO tourism ministerial meeting : 1^st tourism ministerial meeting between the members of Shanghai Cooperation Organization was held in Wuhan, China.The meeting approved an action plan that will serve as a guideline for tourism cooperation between SCO member states from 2019 to 2020.The plan specifies measures taken to improve tourist experience & safety, develop tourist products & promote smart tourism.

4. Mahathir Mohamad sworn in as Malaysia’s PM : Mahathir Mohamad has been sworn in as the Prime Minister of Malaysia again after a shock election victory.Mahathir’s coalition defeated the governing Barisan Nasional coalition, led by PM Najib Razak, which has been in power for more than 60 yrs.The victory capped a dramatic comeback for Mahathir, who ruled the country for 22 yrs.92 year old, Mahathir becomes the oldest PM in the world

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. New monetary limits for public sector banks :Monetary threshold for public sector banks to report frauds to departments of CBI for a probe has been revised.Frauds of min. Rs 3 cr & to Rs 25 cr have to be reported to either CBIs Anti-Corruption Branch or to Economic Offences Wing.According to RBI, cases of frauds involving more than Rs 25 cr & up to Rs 50 cr should be given to CBIs Banking Security & Fraud Cell.

SPORTS:

1. Nadal breaks record : Spanish world number one Rafael Nadal broke a 34-year-old record by winning his 50th straight set on clay, the most consecutive sets won by a player on a surface.Nadal eased past Argentine Diego Schwartzman 6-3 6-4 in the round of 16 of Madrid Open to storm into the quarter-final round and broke John McEnroe’s long-standing record in Open Era.Nadal is a Spanish professional tennis player.