APRIL

INDIA & WORLD

Ø  World Press Freedom Index Report: India ranks 138th, Norway tops

Ø  According to the 2018 World Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters without Borders (RSF), India has ranked 138th (falling 2 positions down from 136th in 2017). The list has been topped by Norway. North Korea was at the bottom-most position (180th) in the list.

Ø  The Top 3 countries in World Press Freedom Index Report are:
1. Norway
2. Sweden
3. The Netherlands.

Ø  6th Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS)-2018

Ø  The 6th edition of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) and Conclave of Chiefs held in Iran at Tehran. The Chief of the Naval Staff is leading a four member Indian delegation for the event.

Ø  India highest recipient of Remittances in 2017: World Bank

Ø  According to recently released Migration and Development Brief by World Bank, India has retained top position as recipient of remittances with about $69 billion in 2017. India was followed by China ($64 billion), Philippines ($33 billion), Mexico ($31 billion), Nigeria ($22 billion) and Egypt ($20 billion).

Ø  India’s growth rate highest among BRICS nations: KPMG Report

Ø  India has been recording the highest growth rate amongst the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) economies, as per report of KPMG titled “India Soars Higher”.

Ø  India, World’s 6th largest economy at $2.6 Trillion: IMF

Ø  India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the worth of the economy, clocked in at $2.6 trillion for 2017, according to the database of the International Monetary Fund’s World Economic Outlook (WEO) for April 2018. India is now the world’s sixth largest economy, displacing France.

Ø  The Top 5 economies of the world are:
1. The United States,
2. China,
3. Japan,
4. Germany and,
5. The United Kingdom

Ø  India ranks 10th on new Commonwealth innovation index

Ø  India has been ranked 10th in the Commonwealth innovation index. The index was launched as part of a new Commonwealth Innovation Hub on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London.

Ø  India pips Germany to be No. 4 car market

Ø  India has become the fourth-largest passenger vehicle (PV) market globally for the first time ever, unseating Germany, in January and February 2018. India is behind China, US and Japan. Germany in the 5th position, followed by Brazil and France.

Ø  8th Theatre Olympics concludes in Mumbai

Ø  After a glorious run of 51 days across 17 cities of India, the historic event 8th Theatre Olympics drew to a colourful end in Mumbai. The 8th Theatre Olympics aimed to showcase the rich heritage and culture across the length and breadth of the country. At the event, more than 30 countries performed across 17 Indian cities.

Ø  Sahyog- Hyeoblyeog 2018: Indian, Korean Coast Guards hold Joint Exercise

Ø  Indo-Korean joint anti-piracy, search and rescue exercise ‘Sahyog- Hyeoblyeog 2018’ was conducted off the Chennai coast, in Tamil Nadu. The Korean Coast Guard ship ‘Bodaro’ took part in the exercise.

Ø  India becomes second largest manufacturer of crude steel

Ø  According to Steel Users Federation of India (SUFI), India has overtaken Japan to become world’s second largest producer of crude steel in February 2018. China is the largest producer of crude steel in the world, accounting for more than 50% of the production.

Ø  India-Kyrgyzstan military exercise concludes

Ø  The 5th Indo-Kyrgyzstan joint training exercise ‘Khanjar V’ culminated with a ‘Joint Tactical Validation Exercise’ in Mizoram. Kyrgyzstan in the exercise is represented by the military contingent of the military unit of the Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic. The exercise which started on March 16, included understanding tactics of platoon level, developing interoperability.

Ø  India becomes World’s second largest mobile phone producer

Ø  India has replaced Vietnam to become second largest producer of mobile phones in 2017. Currently, China stands at number one in mobile production around the world. The top three mobile producing countries are China, India and Vietnam.

Ø  India receives first US LNG shipment at Dabhol under long-term deal

Ø  India received its first Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) cargo from United States (US) under long-term supply deal. The first US-sourced LNG shipment was imported by state-owned GAIL on board of its chartered LNG ship ‘Meridian Spirit’ from Cheniere Energy’s Sabine Pass LNG export facility in Louisiana.