CURRENT GK
- World Kidney Day 2018: 8 March :-
World Kidney Day is observed annually on the 2nd Thursday in March. World Kidney Day (WKD) is a global health awareness campaign focusing on the importance of the kidneys and reducing the frequency and impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems worldwide. World Kidney Day is a joint initiative of the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations (IFKF).
- Multilateral naval exercise begins in Andamans :-
The Indian Navy began an eight-day-long mega naval exercise along with leading maritime powers of the region at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The biennial exercise — Milan — is taking place in the backdrop of imposition of state of emergency in Maldives and Sri Lanka, two of India’s maritime neighbours. 28 warships including 17 from India and 11 from Australia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand are participating in the 10th exercise.
- Shivraj Singh Chouhan Announces Pension For Single Women :-
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Women’s day announced ‘Mukhyamantri Mahila Kosh’ scheme under which women who aren’t married and are above the age of 50 will be given pension. Chouhan also took the occasion to assert that any person who will misbehave with women will be hanged in public.
- Diu becomes first UT to run 100% on solar power :-
The harnessing of solar energy has made Diu the country’s first energy surplus Union territory and a model for an effective way for people to harness this renewable energy source. In just three years, Diu has made rapid progress in solar power generation. Diu generates a total of 13 megawatts of electricity from solar power generating facilities daily. Around 3 MW is generated by rooftop solar plants and 10 MW by its other solar power plants.
- India’s top court allows passive euthanasia :-
Over a decade after NGO Common Clause filed a petition seeking the right for terminally-ill patients “to die with dignity,” India’s Supreme Court has decreed that passive euthanasia is legally valid across the country. In a judgment delivered on March 09, the court said patients have the right to refuse life-support instead of prolonging their pain, and that a “living will,” in which they can authorise family members in advance to let them die, should be recognised. The judgment was made by a bench consisting of chief justice Dipak Misra and justices AK Sikri, AM Khanwilkar, DY Chandrachud, and Ashok Bhushanin. India is 22nd country to legalize passive euthanasia.
- CSO projects the growth of GDP to be 6.6 per cent in 2017-18 :-
As per the Second Advance estimates released by Central Statistics Office (CSO) the growth of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is estimated to be 6.6 per cent in 2017-18, which is same as the annual average GDP growth rate during last 30 years, starting from 1987-88 to 2016-17. However, it may be mentioned that the growth rate of GDP from 2012-13 may not be strictly comparable with the growth rate prior to that period.
- Virat Kohli named Uber India’s first brand ambassador :-
Popular ridesharing app Uber has announced the appointment of Indian skipper Virat Kohli as its first brand ambassador in India. This partnership will see Uber and Virat Kohli joining hands to underscore the company’s commitment to serve billions in the country, in the years to come.
- Sufi singer Pyarelal Wadali passes away :-
The Sufi singing pair of Wadali Brothers was broken as Pyarelal Wadali, the younger brother, passed away at the age of 65 in Amritsar. Besides Sufi kalaam and qawwali, they sang bhajan, ghazal and kaafi forms. The duo got Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1992, Tulsi Award in 1998, and Punjabi Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2003.
- The central government has given special emphasis on animal husbandry in the budget :-
Shri Radha Mohan Singh, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has said that for the last 20 years, our country has become the world’s largest milk producing country. In order to achieve this achievement, research institutions such as NDRI have been contributing, which have come to meet the technical and human resources requirements of the dairy sector. The Union Agriculture Minister further said that in the last three years the milk production has increased from 137.7 million tonnes to 165.4 million tonnes. The increase between the years 2014 to 2017 has been more than 20%. Similarly, availability of per capita milk has increased from 357 grams in 2013-14 to 355 grams in 2016-17, which is an increase of 15.6%. Similarly 2011-14 Dairy farmers’ income increased by 23.77% compared to that of 2014-17. Shri Singh said that the Government of India is committed to ensuring that the farmers of the country earn as much income as possible, get jobs for the youth, get financially backward people their right, better education and health facilities.
- The Prime Minister addressed the National Public Representative Conference in the Central Hall of Parliament :-
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the National People’s Representative Conference in the Central Hall of Parliament today. The Prime Minister said , ” There are some districts in every state where the development standard is strong. We should learn from them and work on weak districts. The spirit of competitive and cooperative federalism is very good for the country. Public participation always helps. Wherever officials have worked together with the people and they are connected with the process of development , the results have been transformative.
- Prime Minister congratulated CISF personnel on CISF’s Foundation Day :-
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated CISF personnel on the Foundation Day of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). The Prime Minister said, ‘ Congratulations to CISF personnel on the Foundation Day of Central Industrial Security Force and best wishes. CISF vital installations , which are inspired to add several Indian revival and nation , has carved out a unique place to effectively meet security requirements. ‘
