21 January 2015 Current Affairs
Union Government Launched HRIDAY scheme
Union government on 21 January launched Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) scheme. HRIDAY was launched by Union Urban Development Minister M.Venkaiah Naidu on 21 January. It seeks to promote an integrated, inclusive and sustainable development of heritage sites, focusing not just on maintenance of monuments but on advancement of the entire ecosystem including its citizens, tourists and local businesses. Under HRIDAY Rs.500 crore would be provided to the 12 cities selected in the first phase and the Central Government will meet the entire expenditure under the scheme. These 12 cities include Varanasi, Amritsar, Warangal, Ajmer, Gaya, Mathura, Kanchipuram, Vellankini, Amaravati, Badami, Dwarka and Puri.
Economist Bibek Debroy Takes Over As Member of NITI Aayog
Well-known economist Bibek Debroy took over as a full-time member of the NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog. Former Defence Research and Development Secretary V K Saraswat is the other full-time member of the body that has renowned economist Arvind Panagariya as its Vice-Chairman. The Prime Minister will be the Chairman of the NITI Aayog. Debroy was till recently serving as a professor at the Centre for Policy Research in New Delhi.
Microsoft Unveils Virtual Assistant Cortana For Windows Handsets
Technology giant Microsoft has unveiled virtual assistant- Cortana for Windows Phone handsets. Cortana is female voice-controlled application. It uses Microsofts search engine Bing and data stored on the handsets to make personalised recommendations and carry out tasks. It is named after AI system in the firm’s Halo video game franchise.