DAILY GK 18 AUG 2019

DAILY GK 18 AUG 2019

1. SC CLEARS CHARDHAM PROJECT, WHICH WILL CONNECT 4 HOLY PLACES IN UTTARAKHAND

✔The Supreme Court bench comprising of Justices Rohinton Fali Nariman and Surya Kant has cleared the Chardham highway project, which will connect 4 holy places of Uttarakhand (Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri) through 900 km all-weather roads by modifying an NGT order to form a committee to look into environmental concerns.

2. CHINA SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED A NEW ROCKET FOR COMMERCIAL USE NAMED SMART DRAGON-1

✔A new rocket for commercial use named Smart Dragon-1 with 3 satellites, developed by the China Rocket Company affiliated to the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology was launched successfully from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China.

✔SD-1 has a total length of 19.5 metres, a diameter of 1.2 metres and a take-off weight of about 23.1 tonnes.

✔It is a small-scale solid-propellant carrier rocket capable of sending 200 kg payloads to the solar synchronous orbit at an altitude of 500 km.

3. RAVI SHASTRI RE-APPOINTED AS HEAD COACH OF INDIAN MEN’S CRICKET TEAM

✔Former all-rounder Ravi Shastri has been appointed as the head coach of Indian cricket team for another two years. Cricket Advisory Committee led by former Indian Cricket captain Kapil Dev along with Anshuman Gaekwad and Shantha Rangaswamy conducted interviews of shortlisted candidates for Indian cricket team’s head coach.

✔Shastri has also played the role of the Team Director earlier and is currently the head coach of the Indian team after given a 45-day extension following the World Cup.

4. FORMER DIPLOMAT RAJIV DOGRA PENS LATEST NOVEL “SECOND NIGHT”

✔Former Indian diplomat, Television commentator, writer and artist Rajiv Dogra wrote his latest (third) novel “Second Night” published by Rupa.

✔This novel describes and focuses on friendship, love and loss in the life of a woman.

✔Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh) born Rajiv Dogra has previously penned two books on the Indo-Pak relations named “Where borders bleed: An insider’s account of Indo-Pak Relation” and on the Durand Line(border line between Pakistan and Afghanistan) named “Durand’s curse: A line across Pathan Heart”.

5. DELHI GOVERNMENT TO OFFER FREE RIDE FOR WOMEN ON GOVERNMENT BUSES

✔Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal in his independence day speech at Chhatrasal Stadium, New Delhi, announced to offer free ride for women on Delhi Transport Corporation, cluster scheme buses and metro trains starting October 29, 2019. It will be available in both AC (Air Conditioner) and non-AC buses.