MARCH

Ø INDIA & WORLD

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Ø  India and China agree roadmap for addressing Trade Imbalance

Ø  The eleventh session of the China-India joint-group on Economic Relations, Trade, Science & Technology was held in New Delhi. The session was co-chaired by Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Suresh Prabhu and China’s Minister of Commerce Mr. Zhong Shan.

Ø  India is now the 4th largest Automobile Market Globally

Ø  According to the latest 2018 global data show, India has overtaken Germany and has become the fourth largest automobile market in the world. Automobile sales, including passenger and commercial vehicles, in Asia’s third largest economy grew 9.5%. China topped the list followed by USA and Japan.

Ø  India becomes 3rd largest Electricity Producer in the World

Ø  India has become the 3rd largest electricity producer in the world as its electricity production grew 34% over seven years to 2017. Electricity production stood at 1,003.525 Billion Unit between April 2017-January 2018, according to a February 2018 report by India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), a trust established by the commerce ministry.

Ø  The top 3 Producers of Electricity in the world are:
1. China
2. The USA
3. India.

Ø  New Delhi ranked 22nd globally as top destination: TripAdvisor

Ø  New Delhi has been ranked 22nd in the world and eighth in Asia in the top destination for 2018, Travellers’ Choice awards for Destinations by TripAdvisor. Paris in France topped the list of Travellers’ Choice awards for Destinations followed by London (UK), Rome (Italy), Bali (Indonesia), Crete (Greece).

Ø  Singapore Airport rated World’s best, Mumbai ranked 63rd

Ø  The Singapore Changi Airport has been named the world’s best airport for the sixth consecutive year by consultancy firm Skytrax. The Incheon International Airport in South Korea and Haneda Airport in Japan were placed second and third respectively. The Mumbai airport has been ranked 63rd, the airports in Bangalore and Delhi are at 64th and 66th place respectively.

Ø  Varuna 2018: Indian Navy hosts bilateral naval exercise with French Navy

Ø  The Indo-French joint naval exercise Varuna-18 was held in Arabian Sea off Goa coast. It was aimed to explore measures to facilitate operational-level interactions between their armed forces and increase mutual cooperation, considering the common global threats.

Ø  India ranks 78th on WEF Energy Transition Index

Ø  India has been ranked at 78th among 114 countries on the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) energy transition index. The index listed countries based on their ability to balance energy security, environmental sustainability and affordability. The overall list was topped by Sweden, followed by Norway at the 2nd position and Switzerland at the 3rd rank.

Ø  India ranks 133rd in 2018 global happiness index

Ø  India ranked 133rd in the World Happiness report 2018. The report ranks 156 countries by their happiness levels, and 117 countries by the happiness of their immigrants. Burundi ranked last in the index.

Ø  India tops list of arm buyer

Ø  Arms import by India increased by 24% between 2008-2012 and 2013-2017 period as per data on international arms transfers released by International Peace Research Institute. India is followed by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE, China, Austrailia, Algeria, Iraq, Pakistan and Indonesia as the world top importers. The largest arms suppliers to India are Russia (62%), US (15%) and Israel (11%).

Ø  Samvedna 2018: IAF’s first multilateral HADR air exercise in South Asia

Ø  Samvedna 2018, the first multilateral Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise of Indian Air Force (IAF) in association with South Asian Region nations was held off the coast of Kerala. The multilateral exercise was spearheaded by IAF and conducted by Southern Air Command (SAC) and involved representatives from air forces of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and UAE.

Ø  1st ever Multi-Nation Naval Exercise at sea begins in Andaman

Ø  The first-ever multi-nation naval exercise at sea, MILES-18, began at the Andaman sea. 11 naval ships of 8 countries and nine Indian ships are participating in the three-day exercise. Apart from enhancing inter-operability, the exercise aims to hone search and rescue procedures, maritime interdiction operations, core operational skills and exercise a variety of maritime security scenarios.

Ø  India ranks 52 in Mastercard Women entrepreneurs index

Ø  India ranked 52 among 57 countries studied for the Mastercard Index of Women Entrepreneurs (MIWE), according to the findings of its second edition. Ghana (46.4 percent) ranks first in the world with the highest number of women business owners, followed by Russia (34.6 percent), Uganda (33.8 percent), New Zealand (33 percent) and Australia (32.1 percent).

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Ø  ‘Vision for Future’ event to marks 70 years of Indo-Russia ties held In New Delhi

Ø  An event named ‘Vision for Future’ was held in New Delhi to commemorate 70 years of the Indo-Russia ties. The event sought to expose the youth to the dynamic opportunities of cooperation between the two countries. The program inaugurated at the Pravasi Bhartiya Kendra was organised by the Ministry of External Affairs (Eurasia Division) and the International Federation of Indo-Russian Youth Clubs.

Ø  European Development Bank approves India’s Membership

Ø  India is all set to become the 69th member of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) after shareholders of the international financial institution gave their nod to the country’s candidature. The formal membership process will now get underway, which includes the purchase of shares by India at an estimated cost of around 1 million euros. The EBRD’s Board of Governors, which represents all the existing shareholders of the UK-based bank, voted in favor of India’s membership application.

Ø  Myanmar puts off border agreement with India

Ø  Myanmar has indefinitely deferred signing agreement with India to streamline the free movement of people within 16 km along the open border between two countries. It has cited domestic compulsions and has asked for more time for the agreement to be sealed. Background India and Myanmar share 1,643 km unfenced border along four states viz. Arunachal Pradesh (520 km), Nagaland (215 km), Manipur (398 km) and Mizoram (510 km) and permit free movement regime.

Ø  Iraq overtakes Saudi Arabia as India’s biggest Oil Supplier

Ø  Iraq overtook Saudi Arabia to become India’s top crude oil supplier by supplying 38.9 million tonnes (MT) crude oil in the current financial year. It was fifth of India’s oil needs. India is 80% dependent on imports to meet its oil needs. India had imported 184.4 MT of crude oil during April. Saudi Arabia traditionally has been India’s top oil source but Iraq dethroned it. Saudi Arabia supplied 30.9 MT of crude oil in first 10 months.

Ø  Indian Military Ranked 4th Strongest In World, USA Tops

Ø  Out of 133 countries, India is ranked fourth on a global index for its military strength, only the United States, Russia and China are ranked above India on the list, according to the latest report of the Global Firepower index 2017. Neighbouring Pakistan is ranked 13th. India maintained its position above France in the top five military powers in the world. The Indian Army is equipped with 4,426 combat tanks, 6,704 armoured fighting vehicles, and 7,414 towed artillery guns, as per the list.

Ø  Top 5 countries in the list are-
1. The USA,
2. Russia,
3. China,
4. India,
5. France.

Ø  India-US team test-fires M777 ultra-light howitzers in Pokhran

Ø  Joint investigation committee (JIC) comprising US and Indian officials has test-fired M777 ultra-light howitzers (ULH) at Pokhran firing range in Rajasthan. The team will review results of this test soon. The test was conducted in the wake of accident during its trial in September 2017.

Ø  India and Vietnam inked three pacts

Ø  Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang also vowed to expand bilateral cooperation in several key sectors, including defence, oil and gas, and agriculture. The three pacts signed after the talks between the two leaders would provide for cooperation in areas of nuclear energy, trade and agriculture.

Ø  India-Jordan sign 12 Agreements

Ø  India and Jordan has renewed their support to the Palestinian cause as the two sides signed 12 agreements, including one on defence cooperation, following a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and King of Jordan Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein. These include agreement on Defence Co-operation, Visa waiver of Diplomatic & Official Passport holders, Cultural Exchange Programme, Manpower Co-operation agreement, Co-operation in field of Health and Medicine. Setting up of Next Generation Centre of Excellence. MoU for long term supply of Rock Phosphate and Fertilizer/NPK, Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement.