Daily Current Affairs 21 January 2019: We have collected the latest current affairs for 21 January 2019 that are important for all competitive exams like bank, ssc, ibps, sbi exams. The GK current affairs will help you score more in these competitive exams. Improve your general knowledge with our daily online current affairs. You can also read the current affairs on our mobile app.
Current Affairs 21 January 2019
3 Days Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Commences in Varanasi
- The 15th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas celebrations began in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh on January 21, 2019 at the Bachelor Trade Facilitation Center.
- The theme of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2019 is “Role of Indian Diaspora in building New India”.
- On Day 1 (January 21), the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was inaugurated by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
- The programme will be officially inaugurated on January 22, 2019 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth who is the Chief Guest of the event.
- On the concluding day (January 23), Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards will be given by President Ram Nath Kovind.
India’s first all-women’s party launched in Mumbai
- India’s first-ever all-women political party — the National Women’s Party (NWP) has been launched on January 21, 2019 in Mumbai. It will contest election on 283 seats of the 545 Lok Sabha seats in the 2019 elections.
- The NWP has been founded Dr Shwetha Shetty, a medical professional and a social activist.The party will strive for 50 per cent reservation for women in the lower House. The NWP isdescribed as “a party of mothers”.
- The NWP will soon launch a mobile app called “Mahila Rakshak” which would provide assistance to women in distress during emergencies, since “safety is of utmost importance considering the growing incidents of crimes against them”.
Nitin Gadkari Inaugurates 39 National Highways Projects in Andhra Pradesh
- The Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 39 National Highways Projects in Andhra Pradesh on January 21, 2019.
- These projects are part of the Setu Bhartam programme and include construction of eleven Road Over Bridges(ROBs).
- The project having a length of 1384 kms is estimated to involve investment of Rs 16,878 crore.
India Steel 2019 Exhibition and Conference to Be Held in Mumbai
- The 4 edition of the International Exhibition & Conference On Steel Industry “India Steel 2019” will be held at Mumbai Exhibition Center, Mumbai on January 22-24, 2019.
- The three-day event is a joint initiative taken by the Ministry of Steel, Government of India and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
- The conference, which is organised once in two years, provide a platform to all the Participants, Delegates, Business Visitors and other key decision maker from the Steel and other related industry to interact with/and explore new business avenues.
India pips Japan to be second largest global steel producer
- India has surged past Japan to become the second largest steel producer in the world with expansion in output backed by a sound growth in demand.
- According to World Steel Association, India produced 96.92 million tonnes of crude steel during the first eleven months of 2018 compared to 92. 39 million tonnes during the same period of 2017, representing a growth of 4.9 per cent.
- Japan recorded a dip of 0.1 per cent in steel output in the same period at 95 .86 million tonnes while China maintained its position at the top with 857 million tonnes of steel production.
India grants US$ 1.5 million to Modernize Facilities at Vipulananda Institute of Aesthetic Studies in Sri Lanka
- A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between India and Sri Lanka on January 21, 2019 to help in providing modern infrastructural facilities to Swami Vipulananda Institute of Aesthetic Studies of Eastern University in Batticaloa district of Sri Lanka.
- Under the MoU, the Government of India will provide a grant of SLR 275 million (USD 1.51 million) to Sri Lanka.
- The project involves refurbishment of the auditorium and construction of a modern building complex with recording cum editing facilities and supply vehicles to the institute.
IMF predicts India’s GDP growth for 2019 and 2020 at 7.5% and 7.7% resp; cuts global growth rate
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) has predicted India’s GDP growth rate at 7.5 per cent in 2019 and 7.7 per cent in 2020. The IMF said India’s growth rate in 2018 was 7.3 per cent.
- IMF has lowered its global GDP growth projections for 2019 to 3.5% and for 2020 to 3.6%. Earlier the prediction by IMF for both 2019 and 2020 was 3.7%.
- The International Monetary Fund in its January World Economy Outlook update made these announcements.
China’s economy grew at 6.6 per cent in 2018; slowest since 1990
- China’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on January 21, 2019 announced that Chinese economy grew at 6.6 per cent in 2018. This is the slowest rate since 1990. In 1990 it was 3.9%.
- Recently China announced its growth rate at 6.8 per cent in 2017.
Maruti Suzuki India launches MAIL initiative to promote innovation in the automobile sector
- Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) has launched an initiative Mobility & Automobile Innovation Lab (MAIL) to promote innovation in the automobile and mobility space.
- Under the initiative the company will identify innovative and cutting-edge solutions through startups, which are futuristic and customer oriented.
- Through MAIL, the company offers a platform for startups to showcase their capabilities and come up with next generation ideas in the areas of connected cars, shared mobility ,autonomous cars, electric vehicle and its infrastructure
LIC completes the acquisition of 51% stake in IDBI Bank; IDBI Bank to continue with the existing MD
- IDBI Bank on January 21, 2019 announced that LIC has completed acquisition of 51 per cent controlling stake in the bank. The merger was announced in June 2018.
- The present MD & CEO of IDBI bank Rakesh Sharma will continue to be the managing director and CEO of the bank.
- Apart from this the bank’s board has approved the appointment of Rajesh Kandwal as an additional director and LIC’s nominee director on the board of IDBI Bank. Kandwal is the director and the chief executive officer of LICHFL Care Homes Ltd.
ICICI Bank launches premium savings account for men – named ‘The ONE’
- 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.
Shivakumara Swami – Head of Sree Siddaganga Mutt in Karnataka – Dies at 111
- Dr Shivakumara Swami, the head pontiff of five-centuries-old Sree Siddaganga Mutt in Tumakuru, Karnataka passed away at the age of 111.
- The Indian spiritual leader, humanitarian and educationist, Sree Sivakumara Swamigalu, was a Lingayat seer.
- He was often known as “the walking god” in the state.