Daily GK Updates - 20th March, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Gauri Sawant becomes first transgender election ambassador : The Election Commission of India (ECI) has appointed transgender social activist Gauri Sawant, as one of the 12 election ambassadors from Maharashtra. According to the Election Commission, Gauri Sawant's appointment would help in more people from this category getting registered during the final phase of voter’s enrolment. Following the Supreme Court order, transgenders got the right to vote for the first time in 2014.In 2019, 2,086 (2014-918 voters) were registered in this third category.

2. Indian writer Raghu Karnad wins Windham-Campbell Prize :  An Indian journalist, author and chief of The Wire, ‘Raghu Karnad’ received the prestigious Windham-Campbell Literature prize (USD 165,000) for non-fiction category. He is the son of Girish Karnad(actor, film director, Kannada writer). He won the award for his debut book, ‘Farthest Field: An Indian story of Second World War’ published in the year 2015.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Pune-based firm developing software to operate the world’s largest ground telescope in Hawaii :  A Pune-based IT firm is developing software for the world’s largest ground-based telescope ‘Thirty Metre Telescope (TMT)’, likely to come up on Mauna Kea in Hawaii. The telescope is being constructed jointly by India, US, China, Japan and Canada and is likely to become operational in the mid-2020s.India is building the telescope’s complex optical structure, called the Segment Support Assembly (SSA).

2. International Day of Happiness being observed :  The 'International Day of Happiness' is celebrated throughout the world on the 20th of March. The day was founded by United Nations adviser ‘Jayme Illien’ on June 28, 2012.

3. Kazakhstan President resigns after nearly 30 years in power : Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev (78-year) has announced his resignation after nearly 30 years in power. Mr Nazarbayev had ruled the country since it emerged from the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. GST council approves transition plan for new GST rates on residential properties :  GST council approved a transition plan for new goods and services tax rates on residential properties under which developers of under-construction buildings may either opt to shift to the revised lower rates without input tax credit or stick to the previous rates. For housing projects launched on or after the first of April this year, the developers will have to adhere to the new GST rates recommended by the council last month.

DEFENCE:

1. Indian Army holds Military Exercise with 17 African Nations  : The Indian Army began a 10-day military exercise with armed forces of 17 African nations ‘AFINDEX-19’ at Aundh Military Station, Pune (Maharashtra).A flypast by a set of Advanced Light Helicopters and Cheetah Helicopter of the Indian Army carrying the flags of United Nations, India and the AFINDEX was the highlight of the opening ceremony.The countries participating in the inaugural edition of the Africa-India Field Training Exercise (AFINDEX) include Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Benin and Botswana.

SPORTS:

1. India won 188 medals at Special Olympics World Games :  India has won a total of 188 medals (50 gold, 63 silver and 75 bronze) at the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. In the women’s singles event, Anu Chennekota’s won her maiden Special Olympics World Games gold in the 16-21 years’ division-3 category, another Indian Sabita Yadav won a singles gold in division-4 category and Reshma Shaikh claimed silver following a narrow loss to Sabita in the final.

OBITUARIES:

1. Famed Economist Alan Krueger passes away : Former White House economist and Princeton University professor Alan Krueger (58-years) passed away. Mr. Krueger served as chief economist at the Department of Labor under President Bill Clinton and chair of the Council of Economic Advisers from 2011 to 2013 under former President Barack Obama.