21st March 2019 Current Affairs

1. World’s most expensive cities revealed
   It’s the first time three cities have shared the top spot in the 30-year history of the annual Economist Intelligence Unit survey, which compares prices in 133 cities globally. Paris, Singapore, and Hong Kong are the most expensive cities according to the survey. The survey compares the cost of common items, such as bread, haircuts etc in 133 cities.
2. Gauri Sawant Becomes India’s 1st Transgender Election Ambassador
   The Election Commission of India has appointed transgender social activist Gauri Sawant, as one of the 12 election ambassadors from Maharashtra. During 2004 and 2009 Lok Sabha elections there was no record of transgender voters. Following the Supreme Court order, transgenders got the right to vote for the first time in 2014.
3. India ranked 140th in the happiest country in the world 2019 list
   Finland has been ranked as the happiest country in the world 2019 for the second year in succession. The report was released by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network for the United Nations on March 20. India secured 140th place, seven spots down from last year, on UN World Happiness Report- 2019.
4. Rear Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, VSM assumes Charge as FOST
   Rear Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, VSM, has assumed charge as Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) at Kochi. Rear Admiral Swaminathan, a specialist in Communication and Electronic Warfare was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 Jul 1987 and is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla at Pune.
5. 34th GST Council meeting held in New Delhi
   Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley chaired 34th meeting of the Goods and Services Tax Council in New Delhi. It discussed the operational details for implementation of the recommendations made by the 33rd meeting of the council.
6. Mercer Quality of Living Ranking 2019
   The Quality of Living Index 2019 was released by the Consulting Agency Mercer.
   The index was based on the data analyzed between September and November 2018. Austrian capital Vienna tops the Mercer’s index of most liveable cities for the 10th year in a row.
7. South Indian Bank to issue Basel III-compliant bonds
   South Indian Bank plans to raise up to Rs.250 crore by issuing Basel III-compliant bonds. The Committee approved the information memorandum for the issuance of rated, unsecured, redeemable, non-convertible, Basel III compliant, lower tier 2 bonds up to Rs.150 crore with an option to retain an over-subscription aggregating up to Rs.100 crore, aggregating to total issue size of Rs.250 crore.
8. Rock Guitarist, Dick Dale passed away
   Surf guitar pioneer Dick Dale, whose song Misirlou played over the opening credits to Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction, has passed away aged 81. Dale was known for his blindingly fast strumming style, which inspired acts like The Beach Boys and Jimi Hendrix. Widely considered to be the first surf-rock song committed to tape, it was a huge local hit and led to Dale’s first album, Surfer’s Choice.

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