S&P maintains growth forecast for 2024-25 at 6.8 percent

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1 S&P maintains growth forecast for 2024-25 at 6.8 percent

Credit rating agency  S&P Global Ratings  has  maintained  India’s gross domestic product (GDP)  forecast   for  the current financial year 2024-25 at 6.8 per cent  while cutting  economic growth  forecasts for the next two financial years 2025-26 and 2026-27  . The rating agency on Monday updated its economic forecast for Asia-Pacific economies after the US election results, projecting GDP growth to be 6.7 per cent in the financial year 2025-26 (April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026) and 6.8 per cent in the next financial year 2026-27, which is 20 basis points (100 basis points equals 1 percentage point) lower than the previous estimates of 6.9 per cent and seven per cent respectively. However, the agency has kept the economic growth forecast for the financial year 2027-28 at seven per cent.

2 Union Minister Annapurna Devi launched ‘No more excuses’ campaign

 

On 25 November,  Union Minister for Women and Child Development  Annapurna Devi  launched  a national campaign titled   ‘ Ab Koi Bahane Nahi ‘ in New Delhi . The main objective of this campaign is to appeal to all stakeholders, such as the public and the government, to take active steps to end gender-based violence  . This campaign will spread awareness in the society and motivate people to consider this serious issue. This initiative is a collaborative effort between the Ministries of Women and Child Development and Rural Development. It is also supported by UN Women, a United Nations body dedicated to gender equality. This campaign has been launched along with the ‘ Nai Chetna 3.0 Abhiyaan ‘ to widely spread the call for action to end gender-based violence. Globally, every year a 16-day activism campaign is observed to raise awareness about ending gender-based violence from International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women i.e. 25 November to Human Rights Day i.e. 10 December to raise awareness about ending gender-based violence.  A film on #AbKoiBahanaNahi  was also released, which highlights the need for accountability of all stakeholders including every citizen to end gender-based violence.

 

3rd India Global Forum Middle East and Africa: 2024 launches in Dubai

 

India Global Forum Middle East and Africa 2024-IGF ME&A   started in Dubai . The theme of the forum is ‘ Unlimited Horizons ‘. The two-day forum aims to strengthen partnerships in key areas including technology, finance, sustainability and innovation. It will have more than 200 speakers and 1,000 participants. The fourth edition of this forum reflects significant development in India-UAE relations. India and Dubai have recently signed a historic agreement on bilateral investment treaty and civil nuclear cooperation. Dubai is India’s third largest trading partner. Trade between the two countries reached $ 83.65 billion in 2023-24. This reflects the strengthening economic relations between the two countries.

4 Cabinet: PAN 2.0 project approved, Rs 1435 crore allocated for the project

 

The central government  has brought the PAN 2.0 project  to enable the use of  PAN card  as a common identity  for all digital systems of government agencies. Rs 1435 crore has been allocated  for the project.   No fee will be charged from PAN holders for upgrading PAN. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) headed by PM Modi today approved the PAN 2.0 project of the Income Tax Department. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav said that the PAN 2.0 project will change the technology associated with taxpayer registration services. This will enable ease of access and quick service delivery with better quality. A single source of truth and data consistency will be created. A more secure basic digital infrastructure will be created along with easier processes and cost optimization.

5 National Natural Farming Mission launched

The Central Government has approved the launch of  National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF)  as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme  . The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi  approved the proposal of  the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare . The total outlay of this scheme till the 15th Finance Commission (2025-26) is  Rs 2481 crore  (Government of India’s share – Rs 1584 crore; State share – Rs 897 crore). Union Minister  Ashwini Vaishnav  said that  the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) has been launched to promote natural farming in mission mode  . The objective of NMNF is to promote NF working systems to provide safe and nutritious food for all. The mission aims to help farmers reduce the cost of farming and reduce dependence on resources purchased from outside. Natural farming will create and maintain healthy soil ecosystems, promote biodiversity and encourage diverse cropping systems to increase resilience suitable for beneficial local sustainable farming according to natural farming. In the next two years, NMNF will be implemented in 15 thousand groups of willing Gram Panchayats and will reach to 01 crore farmers and Natural Farming (NF) will be started in 7.5 lakh hectare area.

6 Union Cabinet approves continuation of Atal Innovation Mission till March 31, 2028

The Union Cabinet  has approved the  continuation of its flagship initiative  Atal Innovation Mission-AIM  till  March 31, 2028. A budget of Rs 2,750 crore  has been allocated for this. The second phase of the mission is to expand, strengthen and deepen the innovation and entrepreneurship environment in the country. This mission will provide better jobs, innovative products and high-impact services in all sectors.

7 Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan unveiled the Teacher App in New Delhi

Union Education Minister  Dharmendra Pradhan  unveiled  the Teacher App  in   New  Delhi . The aim of this app is to bring a revolution in the field of education in the future by teachers  . Speaking on the occasion, Shri Pradhan said that this app will empower teachers by leveraging continuous capacity building, innovative curriculum content, technology and community-building features. Shri Pradhan emphasized that teachers are the real Karmayogis who shape the future generation. He said that the government is focusing on their continuous capacity building in the spirit of National Education Policy 2020.

8 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Global Cooperative Conference at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi

Prime Minister  Narendra Modi  inaugurated  the International Cooperative  Alliance (ICA)  Global Cooperative Conference  at  Bharat Mandapam , New Delhi  .   The International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) Global Cooperative Conference and General Assembly is being held in India. Bhutan Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay and Fiji Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica are also participating in the conference. The Global Conference is being hosted by ICA and Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Limited in collaboration with Government of India and Indian cooperatives AMUL and KRIBHCO. The International Cooperative Alliance was founded in 1895. It represents 3 million cooperative enterprises worldwide. It has over one billion cooperative members.

9 13 year old Vaibhav Suryavanshi became the youngest player in IPL

13-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi has become  the youngest player  in  the Indian Premier League – IPL  . For IPL-2025,  Rajasthan Royals  included   him  in their team at a price of Rs 1 crore 10 lakh . Bihar Cricket Association  President  Rakesh Tiwari  has congratulated Vaibhav Suryavanshi on this achievement. Vaibhav recently  became the youngest player to score a century in an international match  . He scored 104 runs in 62 balls against Australia in the Youth Test for players under 19 years of age in Chennai. Earlier this year, Vaibhav   made it to the Ranji Trophy for Bihar at the age of just 12 and  became  the youngest player in the Ranji Trophy .

10 Rishabh Pant became the most expensive player in IPL history so far

The mega auction held in Jeddah,  Saudi Arabia  before   IPL  2025 is now over.  10 franchises  made purchases in this auction which lasted for 2 days . All the teams spent Rs 639.15 crore in 2 days. A total of 182 players were sold in the auction. These include 62 foreign players as well.  Rishabh Pant has become  the most expensive player in IPL history  . Lucknow Super Giants bought  him   for  27 crores on the first day of the auction. Punjab Kings  added  Shreyas Iyer  to  their team by bidding Rs 26 crore 75 lakh  . Venkatesh Iyer was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL auction by paying a huge amount of Rs 23.75 crore. Punjab Kings bought Arshdeep Singh for Rs 18 crore. Apart from this, Punjab also spent Rs 18 crore on Yuzvendra Chahal.