28th MARCH 2024 ENGLISH TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS PDF TNPSC SHOUTERS
Composite index of major eight industries February 2024
- The composite index of eight major industries increased by 6.7 percent in February 2024 compared to the February 2023 index. Production of coal, natural gas, cement, steel, crude oil, electricity and refined products recorded positive growth in February 2024.
- ICI measures the combined and individual performance of eight major industries: cement, coal, crude oil, power, fertilizers, natural gas, refineries and steel. The eight major industries included in the IIP account for 40.27 percent of the index of industrial production.
- The final growth rate of the index of eight core industries for November 2023 has been revised to 7.9 percent. ICI's overall growth rate for the period April to February 2023-24 is 7.7 percent compared to the same period last year.
- Consolidated Statements of Central Government Monthly Accounts till February 2024 have been released.
- Government of India has received Rs.22,45,922 crore (81.5% of total receipts corresponding to RI 2023-24) till February 2024. Of this, tax revenue of Rs.18,49,452 crore (net to central government), Rs. 3,60,330 crore in non-tax revenue and Rs. 36,140 crore includes non-debt capital receipts.
- Non-loan capital receipts of Rs. 23,480 crore includes recovery of loans and other capital receipts of Rs.12,660 crore. Up to this period the Government of India has transferred Rs 10,33,433 crore as share of taxes to the State Governments, which is Rs 2,25,345 crore more than the previous year.
- The total expenditure of the Government of India is Rs 37,47,287 crore (83.4% of the corresponding RE 2023-24), of which Rs 29,41,674 crore is on revenue account and Rs 8,05,613 crore on capital account. Of the total revenue expenditure, Rs.8,80,788 crore has been provided for interest payments and Rs.3,60,997 crore for major grants.
- Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawadhana is on an official visit to China as part of efforts to revive his country's ailing economy. He met President Xi Jinping in Beijing and held talks. Then, 9 new agreements were signed to improve bilateral relations.
- China is the largest lender to Sri Lanka. When Sri Lanka declared bankruptcy in 2022, the country owed $4,000 crore (about Rs. 3.33 lakh crore) to China. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has recently completed its 2nd round analysis of a 290 crore loan for Sri Lanka's economic recovery.
- At that time, the IMF had said that their financing would be possible only if they entered into an agreement with their lenders, foreign creditors, and the China Development Bank. In this context, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawadhana toured China and made related agreements.
