What is the India's GDP growth forecast for 2018, according to UNCTAD's latest report "Trade and Development Report"?

Finance ministry has approved Rs 850 crore investment to upgrade Doordarshan (DD) and All India Radio (AIR). The sanctioned amount will be invested over FY19 and FY20. Decision came after Centre has started a manpower audit of Prasar Bharati, acting on the recommendation of an expert committee in 2014 led by Sam Pitroda which recommended that Prasar Bharati 'undertake a comprehensive manpower audit and human resources planning exercise to map workforce requirements for the future, in line with the public broadcaster's mandate'.

The government has approved the continuation of the centrally-sponsored umbrella scheme of Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (CSS-IDWH) till 2019-20. The total outlay is Rs. 1731.72 crore for 2017-18 to 2019-20. The main aim of this scheme is to boost tiger and elephant conservation efforts. The scheme consists of centrally sponsored schemes of Project Tiger (CSS-PT), Development of Wildlife Habitats (CSS-DWH) and Project Elephant (CSS-PE).

The Chandra Narayan Yadav Memorial Maternity Hospital built on an Indian grant of Nepalese Rupees 26.90 million, was inaugurated by Ambassador of India to Nepal, Manjeev Singh Puri. The hospital has been built under the Government of India's Small Development Projects Scheme. The hospital is being run by the Chandra Narayan Yadav Memorial Trust under the principle of no profit/no loss basis. The 25-bedded maternity hospital will provide maternity and health care services to the people of 50 village development committees (VDC) in and around the district of Siraha. The hospital is equipped with ultrasound facilities, a blood bank, an emergency room, ICU, CCU, major OT, a minor OT, and other basic facilities.

According to the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) data, after a very low growth phase, life and non-life premium income of insurance companies have registered substantial growth in financial year 2019. Life insurer's premium income grew 11% in FY19 over 2018 and non-life insurance firms witnessed a 13% rise in their total premium income to Rs 1.70 lakh crore in the financial year ended March 2019. 25 are general insurers: whose collective gross premium in 2018-19 was Rs 1.50 lakh crore, up by around 13% from Rs 1.33 lakh crore in 2018. 7 are standalone private sector insurers: they had a rise of 37% in their combined premium to Rs 11,368.82 crore in the financial year ended March 2019, against Rs 8,314.27 crore in 2018. 2 are government-owned specialised insurers: among them, Agricultural Insurance Company of India and ECGC Ltd registered a dip of 7.75% in premium at Rs 8,425.75 crore during the fiscal ended March 2019, as against Rs 9,133.78 crore in 2018.

The government of India has doubled the monetary limit to 20 lakh rupees for filing loan recovery application in the Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRT) by banks and financial institutions. As per the Finance Ministry, the move is aimed at helping reduce pendency of cases in DRTs. There are 39 DRTs in the country. To make the tribunals more effective and to facilitate fast disposal of debt recovery cases, the government has made several amendments in different laws, including the SARFAESI Act.

Swargate Multimodal Hub' in Pune, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis arrived at Jalgaon, attending the Jan Jati Sammelan organised by Krantikari Khajyaji Naik Smruti Sanstha at Dharangaon. Kranti Kari Khajyaji Naik gave immense contribution during the freedom struggle. CM Fadnavis approves Rs 15 crores for the memorial of Krantikari Khajyaji Naik in Maharashtra.

The CCEA has approved Rs 2,790 crore interest subvention for extending loans by banks to sugar mills. This is in addition to Rs 1,332 crore already approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in June 2018. The interest subvention is for extending loans of Rs 12,900 crore by banks to sugar mills under the scheme for extending financial assistance to sugar mills for enhancement and augmentation of ethanol production capacity.

Stock market of Hong Kong has surpassed Japan to become the world's third most valuable market. Now Hong Kong's stock market is behind the US and China. Hong Kong's market value stood at $5.78 trillion, surpassing Japan's market value at $5.76 trillion tally for the first time since 2015. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index has increased by 17 percent this year. Topix Index of Japan advanced at 8.3 percent in this period.

Thirty-eight pacts worth $5 billion were signed among 20 technology providers, capital goods manufacturers and steel producers, which will give impetus to the manufacturing of capital goods for the iron and steel industry. Of the 20 companies who exchanged the MoUs, about 12 are foreign players. The MoUs were signed at a conclave on Capital Goods for Steel Sector, manufacture in India, organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) jointly with Mecon and Steel Ministry.

An Interactive session was held between India and ambassadors & High Commissioners of European and Oceania Countries in New Delhi. The aim of the interactive session was to take economic ties with European and Oceania countries to a next level. Various trade negotiations were also discussed in the session. Bilateral trade between India and Europe is of USD 130.1 Billion and import and export between the countries has registered double digit growth. India is the fifth largest exporter for Australia and major exports from India to Australia include refined Petroleum, Business services and Pharmaceutical.