APPOINTMENTS

UNICEF India Appointed Kareena As National Ambassador

• Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor Khan has been appointed as the National Ambassador for UNICEF India.

• This prestigious role comes as a recognition of her long-standing association with the organization since 2014, where she has served as a Celebrity Advocate.

• As a national ambassador, She will support the UNICEF India campaign to further every child’s right to early childhood development, health, education, and gender equality.

• Along with Kareena's appointment, UNICEF India unveiled its first-ever Youth Advocates, a group of four extraordinary people who would act as peer leaders and advocates for critical problems affecting children and young people.

• The Youth Advocates' respective causes are-

•Gauranshi Sharma of Madhya Pradesh advocates for a right to play and disability inclusion.

• Kartik Verma of Uttar Pradesh is an advocate for climate action and children's rights.

• Nahid Afrin of Assam is promoting awareness about mental health and early childhood development.

• Vinisha Umashankar from Tamil Nadu is a young innovator and STEM pioneer.

STATE NEWS

Uttarakhand Tourism Announced India’s First Astro Tourism Campaign Named ‘Nakshatra Sabha’

• Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board collaborates with Starscapes to launch Nakshatra Sabha, an innovative astro-tourism initiative.

• Nakshatra Sabha offers more than stargazing, providing participants with opportunities for solar observations, astrophotography contests, and camping experiences.

• The initiative aims to attract astronomy enthusiasts, adventurers, and travellers to Uttarakhand, offering them a unique platform to explore the cosmos amidst the state's natural splendor.

SPORTS

National Women’s Hockey League 2024 Begins in Ranchi

• The 2024 National Women’s Hockey League kicked off in Jharkhand with the participation of eight teams, signaling a significant milestone for women's hockey in India and demonstrating the growing interest and backing for the sport at the national level.

• The opening match took place at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Astro Turf Stadium in Ranchi, featuring a showdown between the host team, Jharkhand, and Mizoram.

• This match highlighted the competitive zeal and enthusiasm among players from various regions of the country to excel in hockey.

• The presence of officials from Hockey India, including Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh and Treasurer Sekar J Manoharan, alongside Sports Authority of India’s Director General Sandeep Pradhan, emphasized the collaborative endeavors and institutional support aimed at fostering hockey development in India.

SUMMIT AND CONFERENCES

Neeru Yadav will represent India at the United Nations Food Programme (UNFPA) meeting

• The government of India has selected three elected women representatives Neeru Yadav, Supriya Das Datta, and Kunuku Hema Kumari, to represent India at the United Nations' “Localising the SDGs: Women in Local Governance in India Lead the Way” event.

• The event will be held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on 3 May 2024.

• Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India, is leading the Indian delegation to the United Nations event.

• The “Localising the SDGs: Women in Local Governance in India Lead the Way” event in New York is being organised by the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj, the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations, along with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

• The Indian-organised event will be held alongside during the 57th Session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD57), which will be held from 29 April - 3 May 2024 in New York, United States of America.

BANKING, ECONOMY AND FINANCE

OECD raises India's FY25 GDP growth projection by 40 basis points to 6.6%

• The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has adjusted its economic growth rate forecast for India, upwardly revising it to 6.6% for the fiscal year 2024-25. This represents a notable increase from its previous projection of 6.2%.

• Furthermore, the OECD has predicted a growth rate of 6.6% for the Indian economy in the subsequent fiscal year 2025-26, indicating a sustained positive trajectory in India's economic growth.

• This upward revision by the OECD aligns with recent trends, where several international institutions, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), have raised their growth rate expectations for India.

• The IMF, for instance, recently increased its forecast for India's 2024-25 growth rate to 6.8%, reflecting growing confidence in India's economic prospects amidst global economic recovery.

• The OECD attributes the anticipated faster growth of the Indian economy in 2024-25 to increased public investment and improved business confidence.