Daily Current Affairs Capsule 21st January
2019
1. Rio de Janeiro will be World Capital of Architecture for 2020: UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has announced that the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro will be the World Capital of Architecture for 2020.
Having defeated Paris and Melbourne, Rio will be the first city to receive the title under a program launched together by UNESCO and the International Union of Architects (UIA) in November last year. The city will host the World Congress of UIA, in July 2020, an event that occurs every three years.
Points to remember
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations based in Paris.
2. Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura celebrates statehood day
Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura are celebrating their statehood day. On this day in 1972, all the three states became full-fledged states under the North Eastern Region (Reorganization) Act, 1971.
Points to remember
The States in the North Eastern Region were reconstituted by the North Eastern Areas (Re-organisation) Act 1971. This Act provides for the establishment of the States of Manipur and Tripura and the formation of the State of Meghalaya and of the Union territories of Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh by re- organization of the existing State of Assam and matters connected therewith. The Act established a common cadre of the Indian Administrative Service, the Indian Police Service, and the Indian Forest Service for the states of Manipur and Tripura.
3. 15th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas begins at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh
The 15th edition of Pravasi Bhartiya Divas begins at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. It is being organized in Varanasi for the first time.
The theme this year is, 'Role of Indian Diaspora in building New India'.
Points to remember
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated once in two years to strengthen the engagement of the overseas Indian community with the Government, reconnect them with their roots and celebrate their achievements and contributions. These Conferences are chaired by the Minister of External Affairs.
4. India to surpass UK in world's largest economy rankings in 2019: PwC
India is likely to surpass the United Kingdom in the world's largest economy rankings in 2019, to become world's fifth largest economy, according to a report by global consultancy firm PwC.
PwC's Global Economy Watch report projects real GDP growth of 1.6 per cent for the UK, 1.7 per cent for France and 7.6 per cent for India in 2019.
Points to remember
According to World Bank data, India became the world's sixth largest economy in 2017 surpassing France and was likely to go past the UK which stood at the fifth position. The US was the world's largest economy with a size of 19.39 trillion dollars, followed by China at 12.23 trillion dollars at the second place in 2017. 5. Madhu Babu Pension Yojana
The government of Odisha announced a hike of Rs 200 per month in the social security pension under Madhu Babu Pension Yojana (MBPY).
The Madhu Babu Pension Yojana (MBPY) is a pension scheme under the Department of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities for the disabled, old age persons in the state of Odisha. The Scheme was instituted by merging the two pension schemes i.e. namely, Revised Old Age Pension Rules, 1989 and Disability Pension Rules, 1985.
Points to remember
Beneficiaries of the Madhu Babu Pension Yojana are: Person of 60 years of age and above, a widow, an AIDS patient identified by the State/District AIDS Control Society or district AIDS prevention control Unit, an unmarried woman above 30 years belonging to a BPL Family, etc.
6. Ankita Raina wins ITF's tournament in Singapore
India's Ankita Raina has won the International Tennis Federation's 25,000-dollar Women's tournament in Singapore.
Ankita defeated top seed and world number 122 Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands, 6-3, 6-2. She toppled four seeded players in the tournament to win her first title of the season and eighth overall.
Points to remember
The International Tennis Federation is the governing body of world tennis, wheelchair tennis, and beach tennis. It was founded in 1913 as the International Lawn Tennis Federation by twelve national associations, and as of 2016, is affiliated with 211 national tennis associations and six regional associations. It is headquartered in London.
7. Khelo India Youth Games
The Khelo India Youth Games concluded in Pune with the hosts Maharashtra walking away with the overall trophy.
They amassed 228 medals, comprising 85 gold, 62 silver and 81 bronze. Haryana, were second with 62 gold, 56 silver and 60 bronze for a total of 178 medals, while Delhi were third with 48 gold, 37 silver and 51 bronze for a total of 136 medals.
Points to remember
Manush Shah of Gujarat emerged the singles champion in Under-21 table tennis, while Saubhi Patwari of West Bengal won the Girls Under-21 singles.
8. World's oldest man Masazo Nonaka dies at 113
The world's oldest man, Masazo Nonaka of Japan, has died at the age of 113. According to the Kyodo News agency, Nonaka, who was officially recognized as the oldest male in the world by Guinness World Records last April, passed away at his home in the north of Japan's Hokkaido Island.
The record-holder was born in 1905 in the town of Ashoro. The Japanese are traditionally considered to be one of the most long-living people on the planet.