IMF Raises India's GDP Growth Projection To 6.8% For FY 2024-25

• The International Monetary Fund, IMF raised India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth projection to 6.8 percent for the financial year (FY) 2024-25.
• In its update to the World Economic Outlook, the IMF has raised 30 basis points from its January forecast of 6.5 percent.
• In its report the IMF said, Growth in India is projected to remain strong at 6.8 percent in FY 2024-25, and 6.5 percent in FY 2025-26 with the robustness reflecting continuing strength in domestic demand and a rising working-age population.
• It also said that the Global growth, estimated at 3 .2 percent in 2023, is projected to continue at the same pace in FY 2024-25 and FY 2025-26.
• With this, India continues to be the fastest growing economy of the world, ahead of China’s growth projection of 4.6 percent during the same period.

Ekta Vishnoi, 50, Wins Medals In National Powerlifting Championship

• Ekta Vishnoi, Deputy Director General at Sports Authority of India (SAi) and the brains behind the famous Fit India Movement, who was already making waves in fitness, is now creating records in power lifting.
• She has bagged medals at the recent National Senior Powerlifting Championship in Hyderabad.
• At 50, Vishnoi won a silver in a deadlift with the best lift of 165kg and a Bronze overall with the best lifts of 132.5 kg in squat, 70 kg in bench press and 165 kg in a deadlift. With these lifts, she also broke all records of the Master 2 category in the competition.
• Before this, Vishnoi clinched gold in the national masters powerlifting championship and struck gold and silver in the Commonwealth Powerlifting Championship and Asian Power lifting Championship, 2022.

Kuwait's Emir Appoints Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah As New Prime Minister Of Kuwait

• Kuwait’s Emir has appointed Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah al-Ahmad al-Sabah as the new prime minister of Kuwait.
• This decision follows the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammad Sabah Al­Salem Al-Sabah.
• Sheikh Mohammad submitted his cabinet’s resignation, following the election of a new parliament. His resignation was a procedural move after a new parliament was elected.
• The new prime minister Sheikh Ahmad is a Kuwaiti economist and has served as Minister of Finance and Communications from 1999 to 2005, before serving as Minister of Health, Minister of oil and Minister of Information from 2006 to 2011.

Kuwait:

• Capital: Kuwait City
• Currency: Kuwaiti dinar

UP now has the most GI-tagged items in the country

• Six more products from Uttar Pradesh have been given the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
• These include the famous ‘Tirangi Barfi’ of Kashi, a tricoloured sweet that was sold to prove a point by freedom fighters during the Quit India Movement.
• The GI Registry awarded the certification to the Banaras Tirangi Barfi and the five other Uttar Pradesh products.
• With these six new additions, Uttar Pradesh retains its position as the state with the most GI-tagged products in India, reaching a total of 7 5.
• Tamil Nadu follows behind with 58 GI products.
• The other products that received the certification in Uttar Pradesh include Banaras Metal Casting Craft, Lakhimpur Kheri Tham Embroidery, Bareilly Cane and Bamboo Craft, Bareilly Zardozi Craft, and Pilkhuwa Hand Block Print Textile.
• In 2008-09, the state had only one GI product, the ‘Allahabad Surkha Amrood’.

Rohit Sharma becomes first Indian to hit 500 sixes in T20 cricket

• Former MI captain Ro hit Sharma became the first Indian player to reach the milestone of 500 sixes in T20 cricket.
• This historic achievement was reached during Rohit’s stellar performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) match against Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium.
• Rohit Sharma is the 5th player overall to attain the milestone of 500 sixes.
• The highest number of sixes in T20 cricket is by West Indies legend Chris Gayle (1,056 sixes), fallowed by WI all-rounder Kieron Pollard (860 sixes), Andre Russell ( 678 sixes) and Colin Munro (548 sixes).

Amitabh Bachchan, A.R. Rahman to be conferred Mangeshkar family awards

• Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan shall be conferred the ‘Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Puraskar’, while music maestro A. R. Rahman shall be bestowed the ‘Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Award.
• The award is given by the Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Smruti Pratisthan, Pune, nurtured by the eminent Mangeshkar family, and shall be given away to Bachchan on his 82nd death anniversary, along with a musical tribute.
• Earlier, the inaugural award was given to Prime Minister Narendra Modi (2022), followed by veteran singer Asha Bhosale (2023 ), for their path-breaking, spectacular and exemplary contributions to the country, its people and society.
• Besides Bachchan and Rahman, the other prominent awardees in different categories are: ‘Ghalib’ as Best Marathi Play of the Year, NGO Deepstambh Foundation Manobal of Jalgaon, litterateur Manjiri Phadke, comedian Ashok Saraf, actress Padmini Kolhapure, singer Roopkumar Rathod, journalist S. B. Torsekar, actor Atul Parchure, producer-actor Randeep Hooda.

Tech firm Sabre appoints Rajiv Bhatia as Executive Director

• Software and technology company Sabre Corporation has announced the appointment of industry leader Rajiv Bhatia as Executive Director to help advance its growth strategy in Asia Pacific (APAC).
• Bhatia, formerly of Bird Group, will be instrumental in further expanding Sabre’s footprint in key growth markets, including India.
• He started his career working for renowned airlines Gulf Air and Thai Airways and most recently served as Chief Commercial Officer of Bird Group’s India GDS business for 16 years.
• Sabre connects travel suppliers and buyers globally and across the ecosystem through innovative products and next-generation technology solutions. The company serves customers in more than 160 countries.

UNCTAD forecasts India's GDP growth at 6.5 pc in 2024

• India’s economy is projected to grow by 6.5 per cent in 2024, according to a report by the UN.
• UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in its report released said that India grew by 6.7 per cent in 2023 and is expected to expand by 6.5 per cent in 2024, continuing to be the fastest-growing major economy in the world.
• ‘2024 Financing for Sustainable Developlllent Report: Financing for Development at a Crossroads’ launched at the world body said that investment in South Asia, particularly in India, remains strong.
• Three countries in the region – Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka – are currently under IMF programmes, the conditionalities of which necessitate the application of tight monetary policies and fiscal austerity measures whose impacts are most severely felt by low-income households.

Noted Carnatic musician K.G. Jayan passes away

• Noted Carnatic musician K.G. Jayan died at Thripunitur in Ernakulam district of Kerala. He was 90.
• Popular Malayalam actor Manoj K. Jayan is his son.
• Born to the late Gopalan Thanthrikal and late Narayan Amma in Kottayam on November 21, 1934, Jayan and hi brother K.G. Vijayan were known as the ‘Jaya-Vijaya’ du in the world of music.
• The Jaya-Vijaya title was suggested by the late Malayala actor Jose Prakash who worked with them in his plays.
• Together, they gave life to over 1,000 compositions i films, plays and devotional albums.
• Though Vijayan died in 1988, Jayan continued his musica journey through devotional songs and Carnatic concerts.
• Some of the movies for which they rendered musi included Bhoomiyile Malakhamar, Dharmasastha Nirakudam, Sneham, Theruvugeetham, Padhapooja Shanmughapriya and Pappathi.
• Jayan won the Padma Shri in 2019. His other accolade include Sangeetha Nataka Akademi award in 1991 an Harivarasanam award in 2013.

Randeep Hooda joins hands with ZEELAB, target - to provide 90% affordable medicines

• According to a report released in 2023, the inflation rate of medical expenses in India has hit the common people hard, reaching 14%, which is one of the main reasons for increasing poverty in the country.
• This is certainly not a good picture for a rapidly developing country.
• With the aim of reducing the burden on people’s pockets due to expensive medicines and providing affordable and good health services to all, ZEELAB Pharmacy has entered the Indian healthcare sector.
• ZEELAB Pharmacy provides medicines to patients at 90% lower prices.
• This New Delhi based company is associated with Randeep Hooda, who was recently seen in the lead role in the film ‘Veer Savarkar’.
• So far, ZEELAB has opened more than 200 company outlets and 2000 franchise stores across the country.
• Founder & CEO: Rohit Mukul