Today's GK Update: 20th February 2018

Important Dates

1. World Day of Social Justice being observed today

• The United Nations' (UN) World Day of Social Justice is annually observed on 20th February to encourage people to look at how social justice affects poverty eradication.
• It also focuses on the goal of achieving full employment and support for social integration.
• The theme for 2018 is " Workers on the Move: The Quest for Social Justice”.

Note:

• The united nation has approved on 26th November 2007 and starting in 2009, as the World Day of Social Justice.

Honours & Awards

2. Milkbasket recognized as 'Startup of the year- 2017’

• India's first and largest micro-delivery platform ‘Milkbasket’ has been recognized as 'Startup of the Year -2017’ at the 7th Small Business Awards in New Delhi.
• The startup of the year award is dedicated to young SMEs (aged 7 years or less) with great potential to become big in local/international markets.
• Milkbasket has innovated flexi ordering and contactless delivery, both a first in the e-commerce industry and favorites of Milkbasket customers.

Note:

• Milkbasket launched in 2015, fulfilling the entire grocery needs of a household every day.
• Milkbasket founded by INSEAD alumnus Anant Goel with his co-founders Ashish Goel, Anurag Jain and Yatish Talvadia.

Science & Defence

3. India successfully test-fires Agni-II ballistic missile

• India’s Agni-II ballistic missile (Surface-to-surface) test-fired successfully from the Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast.
• The Strategic Forces Command with logistics support from Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) carried out the test.
• The Agni-II missile (21-meter long & weigh17 tonnes) can carry the nuclear payload of 1000 kilograms with a strike range of 2000 kilometers.
• Agni missile series being developed by DRDO as a deterrent against nuclear-armed neighbours are among India’s most sophisticated weapons.

Note:

• The Agni missile is a family of medium to intercontinental range ballistic missiles developed by India, named after one of the five elements of nature.

National Affairs

4. Regional conference of southern states on water resources to be held in Hyderabad

• The Union Water Resources ministry is holding a regional conference of southern states to resolve the pending inter-state water issues in Hyderabad.
• Ministers and Principal Secretaries of Water Resources of Six southern states (Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana) are scheduled to take part in the meeting which will be chaired by Minister of State for Water Resources Arjun Ram Meghwal.
• The objective of the conference is to the implementation of the latest orders of the Supreme Court on sharing of Cauvery waters, interlinking of rivers like Godavari-Cauvery, notification of jurisdiction of Krishna and Godavari Water Management Boards, Polavaram Project.

5. UK, India launch joint research projects on clean water & energy

• The UK- India Joint research projects on Water Quality Research and Energy Demand Reduction in Built Environment were launched in New Delhi.
• The Water Quality Research programme has eight projects and Energy Demand Reduction in Built Environment programme has four projects.
• The objective of the project to address shared global sustainable development goals of clean water and clean energy.
• Total joint investment of up to 15 million British Pound.

6. Jaipur's Gandhi Nagar becomes country’s first all-women railway station

• Jaipur’s Gandhinagar railway station (North Western Railways(NWR) has become the country’s only non-suburban railway station to be entirely run by women.

• All 32 posts at the station from the station (superintendent to head ticket collector, point woman to railway protection force (RPF) constable and station master to ticket reservation clerk) were occupied by women.
• Gandhi Nagar station has a footfall of nearly 7000 passengers dailyand of the 50 trains which pass by, 25 trains halt here.

Note:

• Matunga railway station of Mumbai is also managed by women and it is in the suburban category while our station is first in the mainline category.

7. Govt. constitutes committee to study Brahmaputra and flood control measures in Assam

• The union govt has constituted a committee headed by the Vice Chairman of the NITI Aayog to study the Brahmaputra and flood control measures in Assam and neighbouring states.
• Earlier, PM Narendra Modi has announced to provide 100 Crore rupees to find out the permanent solution of the flood.
• The Assam government has submitted required the report on flood control measures to the committee.
• Measures are being taken by the Water Resource department to repair the damaged river embankment due to flood.

International Affairs

8. Saudi Arabia to host first Arab Fashion Week in Riyadh

• According to the Arab Fashion Council, Saudi Arabia will debut with its first ever Arab Fashion Week in in Riyadh.
• The fashion week would be held in Riyadh from 26 to 31th March.
• This is the latest move by the Kingdom to affirm its vision to transform the fashion and retail sector in Saudi Arabia into both a regional and global destination by encouraging trade exchange and global business in line with the Vision 2030.

Note:

• Arab Fashion Council represents 22 countries across the Arab world has recently set up a regional office in Riyadh.
• It is aiming to use the event as a platform to support local talent, as well as international names looking to enter the Arab market.

Sports

9. Christian Coleman breaks world indoor record in 60 meters

• The World silver medallist track and field sprinter ‘Christian Coleman’(21-year) has set up a world record in 60 meters race at the US indoor national championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
• Coleman (USA) smashed Maurice Greene’s (6.39 second) world indoor 60m record in 6.34 seconds.
• He won the 100-meters silver medal at last year's world championships in London.