Daily GK Update: 18th September 2021

National & International Appointments

The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) appointed Justice (Retd.) Indu Malhotra (65-years), former judge of the Supreme Court of India, as the Ombudsman cum Ethics Officer for a period of one year.
Malhotra was designated senior advocate by the Supreme Court in 2007.
She has been appointed amicus curiae by different benches of the Supreme Court in some matters.
The DDCA's general body, headed by its president Rohan Jaitley.

Important Dates

World Bamboo Day is observed every year on 18 September to raise awareness about the benefits of bamboo promoting its use in everyday products.
The theme for the 12th edition of WBD 2021 is ‘#PlantBamboo: It Is Time To Plant Bamboo’
World Bamboo Organisation (WBO) declared the day officially on September 18 at the 8th World Bamboo Congress held in Bangkok in 2009.
Bamboo is a tall, tree-like grass of the family Poaceae. It comprises more than 115 genera and 1,400 species.

National & International Appointments

Ravindra Narayan Ravi (69-years) was sworn in as the Governor of Tamil Nadu.
He succeeded Banwarilal Purohit who has since been shifted to Punjab.
Sanjib Banerjee (Chief Justice of the Madras High Court) administered the oath of office to Ravi at an official ceremony held at the Raj Bhavan in Chennai.
The Governors of the states of India have similar powers and functions at the state level as those of the President of India at the Central level.

National Affairs

IRCTC has started a brand new executive lounge at the New Delhi Railway Station.
It would be operational round the clock providing the passengers with recliners, entertainment rooms, massage chairs, multi-cuisine buffet, wash-n-change facilities, business centre and even massage chairs.
People can avail of the mentioned facilities at a nominal price of Rs 150 plus taxes for the first hour with an additional Rs 99 for every added hour, as per an official.

National & International Appointments

Seasoned administrator Raninder Singh has been re-elected as the president of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) for the fourth term.
Kunwar Sultan Singh was elected unopposed as the secretary-general.
The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) was founded in 1951 with a view to promote and popularize the shooting sports in India.

Important Dates

The United Nations observes the International Equal Pay Day on September 18 each year to build momentum around the urgent need to address the gender pay gap.
This day draws attention to the gender pay gap-the difference between what a woman earns as compared to a man, for work of equal value.
The first-ever (IEPD) was celebrated by United Nations in 2020.

Schemes

The Ministry of Law and Justice has launched a Pan-India Special Campaign “Ek Pahal Drive” for Justice Delivery at the doorstep
It was launched in a bid to encourage mass registration under Tele-Law.
The campaign was launched by Department of Justice and NALSA
This campaign seeks to actualize the aspiration of access to justice for citizens in India
The highlights of this campaign include the deployment of 185 vehicles to showcase films and documentaries.

National Affairs

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal jointly inaugurated (via video-conference link) Delhi Metro's Najafgarh-Dhansa Bus Stand extension of iGrey Line.
At present, around 740 km Metro line is operational in the country and with the Metro system seeing a massive surge in its network it will be more than 900 km by 2022.
Length between Najafgarh and Dhansa Bus Stand: 1.2 kms.
Gauge: Standard Gauge
Colour Code: Grey

National & International Appointments

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has tendered his resignation letter to the Governor of Punjab Banwari Lal Purohit.
Mr Singh had been in Congress Party for the past 52 years and served as the Chief Minister of Punjab for nine and half years.
His father was the last Maharaja of the princely state of Patiala.
Singh served in the Indian Army from June 1963 to December 1966 after graduating from the National Defence Academy and the Indian Military Academy.

Sports

Punjab's Harmilan Kaur Bains stole the thunder from the sprinters by breaking Sunita Rani's long-standing national record in the 1,500 metres at the 60th National Open Athletics Championships in the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Hanamkonda in Telangana.
Delhi's K. M. Chanda gamely shadowed Harmilan until the Punjab runner sped away at the bell to win by a sizable margin.
Harmilan, undefeated in eight national-level 1,500 metres races since January 2020.