GK & Current Affairs Quiz: October 4, 2019

Notes:
As part of the celebration of the 2019 International Day of Older Persons, President Ram Nath Kovind has conferred the Vayoshreshtha Samman-2019 on the eminent senior citizens and institutions in recognition of their services towards the cause of the elderly persons. The Vayoshreshtha Samman is a Scheme of awards instituted by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and  Empowerment  and gradually upgraded to the status of National Awards for institutions involved in rendering distinguished service for the cause of elderly persons. The awards are intended to show-case the government’s concern for senior citizens and its commitment towards them with the aim of strengthening their legitimate place in the society.

Notes:
On the occasion of 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar bagged the ‘Most Effective Swachhata Ambassador’ award by the President Ram Nath Kovind for making use of his popularity and fame to ensure India achieves its goal of a Swachh Bharat. He has been promoting cleanliness drives in India for almost 10 years.

Notes:
According to a report ‘Swachh Rail, Swachh Bharat 2019’ released by Ministry of Railways, the Jaipur station  has topped the list of cleanest railway stations in the non-suburban group of stations with a total score of 931.75, followed by Jodhpur, Durgapura, Jammu Tawi, Gandhinagar-Jp, Suratgarh, Vijayawada, Udaipur city, Ajmer and Haridwar. In the suburban group of stations, Maharashtra’s Andheri station has topped the list. The cleanest railway zone 2019 award has been given to the North Western Railway Zone under which the Jaipur railway station falls. The survey has been carried out by the Quality Council of India (QCI).

Notes:
In a first of its kind offer from any national carrier, IRCTC will compensate passengers of India’s first corporate train – New Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Express – in case of delay in the train schedule. An amount of Rs 100 will be paid in case the delay is for over an hour and Rs 250 for delay of over two hours. The latest offer is in addition to the Rs 25-lakh free insurance that will be given to passengers of the train. This travel insurance also includes coverage of Rs 1 lakh against household theft and robbery during travel period of the passengers, which is again a first for those travelling on board trains. The train will be flagged off on October 4.

Notes:
On the eve of Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary, India’s largest ‘charkha’ (the 1,650-kg spinning wheel) made of used plastic waste was inaugurated by Union Minister Smriti Irani in Noida. The ‘charkha’ symbolizes Gandhi’s dream of Swadeshi (self sufficing and self reliance). It measures 14 ft × 20 ft × 8ft and is made of 1,250 kg of used plastic. The charkha has been recognized as the largest made of used plastic waste in the country by India Book of Records.