Daily GK Updates - 11th October, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Tushar Mehta appointed as the new Solicitor General of India : Senior Advocate Tushar Mehta has been appointed as the new Solicitor General of India till 30^th June 2020.Currently, He is serving as the Additional Solicitor General (since 2014).The Solicitor General of India (below the Attorney General for India) is the Indian government's chief legal advisor.

2. BPCL to set up country’s first biofuel plant in Odisha : The Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) has commissioned a second generation (2G) Ethanol Bio-Refinery (estimated cost of Rs1000 crore) at Baulsingha village in Odisha’s Bargarh district (by December 2020).It will be the first biofuel plant in the country at which ethanol will be produced from rice straw.The refinery will have a capacity to produce 30 million litres (3-crores) of fuel-grade ethanol annually.

3. Maharashtra approves Rs. 1,610 cr for 'Tarli' irrigation project : The Maharashtra government has approved the Tarli Irrigation Project (cost- Rs 1,610 crore) in the state's Satara district.The project will bring 6,507 hectares in the Tarli Valley and 8,876 hectares in the Maan and Khatav talukas of Satara district under irrigation.This is the fourth time that the state government has given a revised administrative approval for the project.

4. External Affairs Ministry launches India for Humanity initiative : The union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has launched the ‘India for Humanity’ initiative, a year-long series of artificial limb fitment camps.The limb fitment camps aim to provide physical, economic and social rehabilitation of the differently-abled around the world.The camps will help such individuals regain their mobility and dignity in order to become self-respecting and productive members of society.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. International Day of the Girl Child being observed today : The International Day of the Girl Child (IDGC) is observed every year across the world on 11th October (7^th- edition) to recognize girls’ rights and challenges girls face around the world.

The theme of 2018 is “With Her: A Skilled GirlForce ".The main aims of the day are to promote girl's empowerment and fulfilment of their human rights while also highlighting the challenges that girls all over the world face.

2.  UNICEF & NASSCOM sign MoU to strengthen child rights : UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) and NASSCOM Foundation have signed a Memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen child rights through "meaningful business interventions.Now, the two organisations will work collaboratively on two key areas including national sensitisation on child online protection and encouraging innovations for child rights' in the country.

3. Rabindranath Tagore Memorial Auditorium dedicated to people in Sri Lanka : The Rabindranath Tagore Memorial Auditorium built with Indian grant assistance of 30 crore Sri Lankan rupees has been dedicated to the people in a special function in Sri Lanka.The auditorium is largest in any of the universities in Sri Lanka at the University of Ruhuna, Matara in Southern Province. The state of art auditorium with 1500 seating capacity has been designed by the famous Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa to conform to the philosophy of “Tropical Modernism”.

4. Japanese passport named as the world’s most powerful passport : According to the 2018 Henley Passport Index, The Japanese passport has been declared the most powerful passport across the world in this year.The Japanese people can travel without a Visa (or on-arrival Visa) across 190 countries.The passport of Singapore allows visa-free or on-arrival visa travel to 189 countries.Japanese citizens do not need a visa to enter any of China, India, Uzbekistan, Vietnam or Myanmar, while Americans need a visa for all of them.India stands at the 81st number, grants access to 60 destinations.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1.  Dakar to host 2022 Youth Olympic Games : According to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the fourth edition of the Youth Olympic Games will be held in Dakar, Senegal.The IOC selected the Dakar candidacy by acclamation based on the recommendation of the Evaluation Commission.The Dakar 2022 Youth Games will be the first-ever Olympic event in Africa.

2. Youth Olympic Games: Saurabh Chaudhary bags Gold in 10-m air pistol : Pistol shooter Saurabh Chaudhary (16-year) has bagged the Gold Medal in the 10 metre air pistol event in the Youth Olympic Games in Argentina.He finished a massive Seven and a half points ahead of his closest rival. It is India’s third gold medal in the history of Youth Olympic Games.