Headlines at a Glance – 15th January 2022
Defence Ministry launches Raksha Pension Shikayat Nivaran Portal
The Defence Ministry has set up an online portal to resolve pension-related grievances of ex-servicemen (ESM) and their dependents, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced on Friday. The portal will allow them to lodge grievances directly with the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW), he stated on the occasion of Armed Forces Veterans Day. The minister also announced that the DESW has allotted Rs 320 crore to Armed Forces Flag Day Fund (AFFDF) to clear all backlog of pending applications for welfare schemes, especially education and marriage grants for widows or dependent children of ESM. The minister also stated that the Directorate General of Resettlement has issued 22,278 job letters — including 7,898 job letters to freshly retired/first-time entrants — to civil life ESMs in government sector/PSUs/banks and private sector during the year April 2021-December 2021, he stated.
SOURCE: The Hindu
Bilateral trade between India and China at USD 125.66 billion in 2021
Trade between India and China reached a record $125 billion in 2021 despite the worst chill in bilateral ties in decades, Chinese customs data showed on Friday. Two-way trade between India and China in 2021 stood at $125.66 billion, up 43.3 percent from 2020 when bilateral trade was worth $87.6 billion. In 2021, China’s exports to India were $97.52 billion, up 46.2 percent, while China imported $28.14 billion worth of goods from India, up 34.2 percent, according to statistics released by the General Administration of Customs (GAC) and quoted by the tabloid, Global Times, on Friday. Trade deficit between the two countries remained much in favour of China – at $69 billion.
SOURCE: Hindustan Times
Indian economy to grow at 9% in FY22 and 6.7% in FY23: UN
The Indian economy is expected to grow 6.5% in the current financial year ending March 2022, (FY22), down from the earlier forecast of 8.4% amid rapid vaccination progress, the United Nations said. The flagship United Nations World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2022 report, launched, said that “India’s economic recovery is on a solid path, amid rapid vaccination progress, less stringent social restrictions and still supportive fiscal and monetary stances.” India’s GDP may grow 9.2% in the current financial year ending March 2022, according to the first advance estimates. The economy has gained momentum during the July-September period, inching gradually back to normalcy as coronavirus related disruptions eased significantly in the aftermath of a devastating second wave.
SOURCE: Livemint
India gets first BrahMos order worth $374 mn from Philippines
BrahMos, the supersonic cruise missile system jointly made by India and Russia, has been selected by the Philippines under a $374.96 million deal, making it the first export order for the missile. The contract is for purchase of a shore-based anti-ship variant of the missile from India. Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand are other South-East Asian countries that have shown interest in the system. BrahMos is capable of being launched from land, sea, undersea and air against surface and sea-based targets. The range of the missile was capped at 290 km as per Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) regulations. India entered the MTCR regime in June 2016 allowing extension in range beyond 300 km.
SOURCE: The Tribune
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