Latest Current Affairs – January 21 2019
1. India’s first all-woman party launched, to contest Lok Sabha polls
India’s first-ever all-women political party — the National Women’s Party (NWP) — was launched in Mumbai and it will contest half — 283 — of the 545 Lok Sabha seats in the 2019 elections. The NWP, described as “a party of mothers”, has been founded by a medico and social activist, (Dr) Shwetha Shetty, and will strive for 50 per cent reservation for women in the lower House.
“This party is a historic step in our mission to ensure equal representation for women in Parliament. Our ideology is to remove gender disparity in politics and thus create equal importance for females in the patriarchal Indian society,” Shetty told the media persons at the formal kick-start here.
2. Nitin Gadkari Inaugurates and Lays Foundation Stone of 39 National Highways Projects in Andhra Pradesh
Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Shri Nitin Gadkari inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 39 National Highways Projects in Andhra Pradesh .These include construction of eleven ROBs under Setu Bhartam programme. These projects have a length of 1384 kms, and involve investment of Rs 16,878 crore.
The length of National Highways in Andhra Pradesh before May 2014 was 4193 Km which has now increased to 7246 Km (including In-principle NHs). Thus, there has been increase of 3053 Km length in NHs. Total likely investment in Andhra Pradesh is Rs 1,00,000 cr for development of National Highways. Under Bharatmala about 2,520 Km of roads amounting to Rs 44,000 crore have been envisaged. Under SethuBhartam, 31 ROBs have been approved with cost of about Rs 2,500 crore.
3. India grants US$ 1.5 million to modernize facilities at Vipulananda Institute of Aesthetic Studies in Batticaloa
India and Sri Lanka signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide modern infrastructural facilities to the Swami Vipulananda Institute of Aesthetic Studies, Eastern University in Batticaloa District of Sri Lanka.
The project involves refurbishment of the Auditorium and construction of a modern Building Complex with Audio & Video Recording Cum Editing Facilities and supply vehicles to Swami Vipulananda Institute in Eastern University Batticaloa through a grant of SLR 275 million from the Government of India.
The MoU was signed by H. E. Mr. Taranjit Singh Sandhu, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka and Mr. M.M.P.K. Mayadunne, Secretary, Minister of City Planning, Water Supply and Higher Education, in the presence of Hon. Mr. Abdul Rauff Hibbathul Hakeem, Minister of City Planning, Water Supply and Higher Education and senior officials of Government of Sri Lanka.
4. BJP MP Anurag Thakur honoured with Sansad Ratna Award
Anurag Thakur, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and party’s chief whip in the Lok Sabha, was bestowed with Sansad Ratna Award for distinguished performance as a parliamentarian.
He is the first MP from the BJP, besides being the only Member of Parliament from north India, to have been awarded the Jury Committee Special Award. The Sansad Ratna Awards was set up in 2010 upon the suggestion of former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who himself launched the first edition of awards in May 2010, with the purpose of celebrating the performers of Indian Parliamentarians.
5. Nepal bank announces ban of Indian notes above Rs 100
Nepal’s central bank has announced the ban of Indian currency notes with denominations above Rs 100.The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) on Sunday issued a circular for the institutions licensed by it notifying them about the ban, reports Xinhua news agency. Nepal’s cabinet in December had decided to ban the use of these currency notes.
The decision to ban these notes has come a time when the NRB has requested the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) arequesting the latter to allow Nepal to use currency notes with all denominations. Currently, only the notes with a denomination of Rs 100 and below are freely exchangeable in Nepal.
6. Group insolvency: UK Sinha-headed working group to suggest suitable framework
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has set up a 11-member working group under the Chairmanship of former SEBI chief UK Sinha to go into the concept of ‘Group Insolvency’ and suggest a suitable framework. This Working Group has been tasked to submit a report — within two months — recommending a complete regulatory framework to facilitate insolvency resolution and liquidation of corporate debtors in a Group.
7. The Government of India and JICA sign Loan Agreements on Japan’s Official Development Assistance Loan to India
The Loan Agreements were signed here today in New Delhi between the Government of India and JICA, New Delhi under Japanese Official Development Assistance Loan Program. The Project for the Construction of Chennai Peripheral Ring Road (Phase 1) aims to meet increasing traffic demands in Chennai metropolitan area by constructing the Chennai Peripheral Ring Road (Section 1) and installing Intelligent Transport Systems, thereby contributing to mitigation of Traffic Congestion and promoting Regional Economic Development.
The Program for Japan-India Cooperative Actions towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in India aims to contribute to promotion of SDGs in India especially in social development by supporting the efforts by the Government of India to strengthen the Policy Framework and Implementation Mechanism, thereby supporting India in achieving SDGs by 2030.
8. Maruti Suzuki India Launches Programme to Promote Innovation in Mobility Space
The country’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) launched an initiative to promote innovation in the automobile and mobility space. Under the programme — Mobility & Automobile Innovation Lab (MAIL) –
the company will identify innovative and cutting-edge solutions through startups, which are futuristic and customer oriented. The initiative will provide a platform to budding talent in the country to showcase their entrepreneurial capabilities at a national level.
9. Lingayat seer Shivakumara Swami dies at 111, Karnataka declares 3-day state mourning
Shivakumara Swami, a much revered seer in Karnataka, died. Shivakumara Swami, who was a seer at the Siddaganga Mutt, was on life support at the mutt, which is located in Tumakuru. He was said to be suffering from a lung infection. He was 111 years old.
10. ICICI Bank launches premium savings account for men
ICICI Bank has launched a new premium savings account for upwardly-mobile male customers, named ‘The ONE’. It is available in two variants – Magnum and Titanium. It offers the account holder with a range of benefits including the option of opting for health and term life insurance. It also waives the processing fees for home loans for account holders.
When the customer opens the account, the bank provides an Amazon Gift Card on specified debit card spends, using which they can join Amazon Prime. The account holders of the Titanium variant will also recieve a complimentary one-year subscription of Zomato Gold.
11. Arab Economic And Social Development Summit Held In Beirut
The Arab Economic and Social Development Summit held in Lebanon’s capital Beirut. The leaders of many Arab countries took part in the summit aimed to make a joint statement on a 29-item agenda that ranges from discussions on an Arab free trade zone and the economic effect of Syrian refugees on host countries. The economic meeting is a prelude to the actual Arab League summit taking place in Tunisia in March.
12. India Steel 2019 – Exhibition and Conference begins in Mumbai
India Steel 2019 Exhibition and Conference will be held in Mumbai from 22nd to 24th January, 2019. The three-day event organised by Ministry of Steel will help chart out the future growth path of the steel industry. The event will witness the participation of the companies across the industrial spectrum ranging from MSMEs to the biggest names in the Indian and international steel sector. The event provides an opportunity for all the stakeholders to deliberate and identify ways to contribute towards building a robust roadmap for the further growth of the steel sector. Over 250 exhibiting companies from 15 countries, over 200 International hosted buyers and large number of delegates are expected to hold business meetings during this event. More than 10,000 business visitors both from India and abroad are expected to visit.
India has become the second largest producer of crude steel during 2018. The country is also the largest producer of sponge iron in the world and the 3rd largest steel consumer in the world after China and USA. The National Steel Policy 2017 announced by Ministry of Steel envisages production of 300 million tonnes by 2030-31.
