Weekly Current Affairs: March 22 To March 31 2019

Global Economic Outlook by Fitch

As per the Global Economic Outlook by Fitch, India’s economic growth forecast has been reduced to 6.8% from 7% earlier for FY19-20 (1 April 2019 – 31 March 2020).
The GDP forecast for FY19 (ending March 2019) has been slashed to 7.2% from 7.8%.
The Indian economy is expected to do better in FY 21, with growth rate expected at 7.1%

Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) has now become the world's 12th busiest airport according to the preliminary World Airport Traffic Rankings 2018 released by Airports Council International.
The ACI report states that the IGI airport witnessed 6.9 crore domestic and international flyers in 2018
Atlanta-Hartsfield-Jackson Airport kept the top place and handled over 107 million passengers.
Beijing Airport was at the second position

According to the Global Multidimensional Poverty Index 2018 Report prepared by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative, India has reduced its poverty rate drastically from 55% to 28% in 10 years.
The country still has the largest number of people living in multidimensional poverty in the world – 364 million people and Bihar was the poorest state in 2015-16.
The report which covers 105 countries states that, 1.3 billion people in the world live in multidimensional poverty

India has secured rank 76th on a Global Energy Transition Index compiled by Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEF)
The index ranked 115 economies on how well they are able to balance energy security and access with environmental sustainability and affordability.
Sweden remains on the top on this annual list followed by Switzerland and Norway in the top three

Indian Space Research Organisation has launched a special programme for School Children called "Young Scientist Programme" "YUva VIgyani KAryakram" from this year, in tune with the Government's vision "Jai Vigyan, Jai Anusandhan".
The Program aims at imparting basic knowledge on Space Technology, Space Science and Space Applications to the younger ones with the intent of arousing their interest in the emerging areas of Space activities.
The programme will be of two weeks duration during summer holidays (second half of May 2019) and the schedule will include invited talks, experience sharing by the eminent scientists, facility and lab visits, exclusive sessions for discussions with experts, practical and feedback sessions.
It is proposed to select 3 students each from each State/ Union Territory to participate in this programme covering CBSE, ICSE and State syllabus
Students belonging to the rural area have been given special weightage (20%) in the selection criteria.

With an aim to promote clinical research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has notified The Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019
The time for approving applications for drugs manufactured in India has been reduced to 30 days and 90 days for those developed outside the country.

India has become the fourth nation that has anti-satellite missile technology with successful completion of Mission Shakti that took just three minutes to complete.
Anti-satellite weapons (ASAT) are space weapons designed to incapacitate or destroy satellites for strategic military purposes.
Now, India is in league with United Nations, Russia and China

India clinched South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Women’s Championship 2019 by defeating Nepal in Nepal.
Veselin Matic is set to be appointed as the new head coach of the Indian men's basketball team.
Paralympic torch was unveiled by the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020) to depict the torch relay. It is in line with the concept ‘Share Your Light’. It is modelled after the Japanese Cherry Blossom or “sakura”.
International Olympics Committee (IOC) gave provisional approval for the inclusion of Breakdancing in the Paris Olympics 2024. Apart from this, Surfing, climbing and skateboarding will make their Olympic debuts at the Tokyo 2020 Games

23 March	Shaheed Divas or Martyr’s Day	-
23 March	World Meteorological Day	The Sun, the Earth and the Weather”
24 March	World Tuberculosis Day	‘It’s time
27 March	. World Theatre Day	-

Saina Nehwal	Sportsperson of the Year’ at the annual Telangana Sports Journalists Association
President Ram Nath Kovind	Grand Order of the King of Tomislav
Amartya Sen	Oxford University's Bodley award
Manu Gulati	Martha Farrell Award

Former Chief Election Commissioner of India Navin Chawla has launched its book ‘Every Vote Counts’.
Book - “The Great Disappointment: How Narendra Modi Squandered a Unique Opportunity to Transform the Indian Economy” – has been released by author Salman Anees Soz.
India emitted 2,299 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2018, a 4.8% rise from last year, according to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA).