1. India is likely to overtake Japan as Asia's second-largest economy by 2030 when its GDP is likely to surpass that of Germany and the UK to rank as world's No.3. Currently, India is the sixth-largest economy in the world, behind the US, China, Japan, Germany and the United Kingdom.
2. India’s renewable energy generation is expected to increase by 30 per cent by 2024 compared to 2021, according to recent report by IEA (International Energy agency). India is world's 3rd largest consumer of electricity and world's 3rd largest renewable energy producer with 38% of energy capacity installed in the year 2020 coming from renewable sources.
3. The year 2022 is expected to be eventful for India as the country's armed forces are set to induct the first indegenuously developed aircraft carrier (IAC-I), while the MK-1A variant of the Tejas Light combat Aircraft (LCA) will take to the skies by June 2022.
4. S Somnath, an eminent rocket scientist, has been appointed as the chairperson of the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), replacing K Sivan. Previously he was serving as the Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC).
5. India’s Adani Group and South Korea’s largest steelmaker Posco, have signed a pact to explore business opportunities in India, including setting up of a integrated green steel mill in Gujarat. The investment is estimated to be up to $5billion. They intend to collaborate in various industries such as renewable energy, hydrogen & logistics.
6. India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has flight-tested its indigenously developed Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) recently. The indigenously developed anti-tank missile is a low weight, fire & forget missile and is launched from a man portable launcher, integrated with thermal sight having range of 2.5kms.
7. Despite growing tensions between India & China, the two way trade between the two nations in 2021 stood at $125.66 billion, up 43.3% from 2020 when bilateral trade was worth $87.6 billion.
8. Philippines has officially become the first foreign nation to acquire the potent Indian-Russian BrahMos supersonic anti-ship missile from India, strengthening its navy’s ability to safeguard its claims in the South China Sea. The deal is around $375 million & is the first major military export by India.
9. The navies of India and Russia have conducted a passing exercise in the Arabian Sea recently. Indian Navy's indigenously designed and built guided missile destroyer INS Kochi exercised with Russian Federation Navy's destroyer Admiral Tributs.
10. Shuttler Lakshya Sen defeated current World Champion Loh Kean Yew of Singapore to win his first India Open title in the men's singles. It is the first time that an Indian has won the tournament on Indian Open debut.