1) 1st Mega Food Park Inaugurated In Maharashtra
•This is the 10th Mega Food Park being operationalized in the country and the 8th operationalized during the tenure of the present government. Satara Mega Food Park has been set up in 64 acres of land at a cost of Rs. 139.30 crore.
2) Union Cabinet Approves Anti-Trafficking Bill Draft
•The apex anti-terror body National Investigation Agency (NIA) will be the nodal authority for probing cases of human trafficking after the government approved a proposal in this regard.
•The Union Cabinet okayed the draft Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, which also proposes a punishment of life imprisonment for repeat offenders. The draft Bill divides various offences into "trafficking" and "aggravated trafficking".
3) Union Textile Minister Smriti Irani Attends 27th IJIRA In Kolkata
•Union Textile Minister Smriti Irani attended the 27th Technological Conference of Indian Jute Industries' Research Association (IJIRA) on Shaping the Future of Jute in Kolkata.
•The function was focused on the promotion of geotextiles in the northeast region. Geotextiles are absorbent fabrics which, when used in association with soil, have the ability to separate, filter, reinforce, protect or drain.
4) India To Grow 7.6% In 2018: Moody's
•Moody's Investors Service estimated that India will grow 7.6% in the calendar year 2018 and 7.5% in 2019, amid signs of economic recovery from the impact of demonetisation and GST.
•In its global growth forecasts for 2018 and 2019, Moody’s stated the Budget for fiscal year beginning April 1 (2018-19) includes some measures to stabilise rural economy that was disproportionately hit by the scrapping of high denomination 500 and 1000 rupee notes.
5) India’s GDP Growth Rises To 7.2% In December Quarter
•The Indian economy grew at a five-quarter high of 7.2% in the October-December period reflecting overall recovery due to good show by agriculture, manufacturing, construction and certain services. The economy is expected to grow at 6.6% in the current fiscal ending March 31, as per the second advanced estimates of the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
•The earlier estimate was 6.5%. The growth for the second quarter (July-September) has been revised upwards to 6.5%, from 6.3% estimated earlier by the CSO. The previous high was recorded at 7.5% in the July-September quarter of 2016-17.
6) Tokyo Unveils Mascots For 2020 Olympics And Paralympics
•Tokyo unveiled its long-awaited mascot for the 2020 Olympic Games: a futuristic blue-checked, doe-eyed character with pointy ears and “special powers” that was picked by schoolchildren across mascot-mad Japan.
•One has an athletic figure and a strong sense of justice. The other is a cherry blossom-inspired superhero.
