India and the UK have reaffirmed their commitment to advancing their bilateral relations in the face of the shifting global trade system. This includes accelerating discussions for a mutually advantageous Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT).

This was the primary outcome of the “13th Economic and Financial Dialogue” held in London, which was co-chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves.

A joint statement released following the event read, “The UK side was pleased to update on its forthcoming Industrial Strategy, where partnership can support the Industrial Strategy’s priority growth-driving sectors, such as advanced manufacturing and life sciences, where UK expertise and research capability can complement India’s emerging role as a global manufacturing hub, as well as in clean energy, professional and business services, financial services, the creative industries, and defense to support jobs and economic growth.”

In order to improve connections between industrial sectors and boost supply chains, both parties are eager for the “India-UK Defence Industrial Roadmap” to be signed.

In recent years, India and the UK have embraced the financial services industry and pledged to cooperate to expand it even further. The joint statement read, “Our teams will meet for the next Financial Markets Dialogue (FMD) in London later this year. The FMD held in GIFT City IFSC, India, in December 2024, provided an opportunity to deepen our cooperation across banking, insurance, pensions, capital markets, and sustainable finance.”

The UK applauded the authorization given to GIFT IFSC insurance businesses to make foreign investments as well as the proposal being considered to allow GIFT IFSC pension companies to do the same.

Both parties agreed to cooperate in order to increase opportunities and establish a supportive policy environment for further expansion of the role that UK bond markets may play in assisting Indian corporations with capital-raising, especially through rupee-denominated Masala Bonds.

In addition, they welcomed India’s decision to allow the opening of rupee accounts in foreign countries, talked about the possibility of further internationalization of the Indian rupee, and decided to investigate how London, a major international financial hub and hub for foreign exchange, might help with the internationalization of India’s currency.

We came to the conclusion that the UK asset management industry can assist growing opportunities for Indian investors to access international capital and supplement the UK-India Infrastructure Financing Bridge. According to the joint statement, “both sides agree to work together on a supportive policy framework and to use the next Financial Markets Dialogue to discuss this further.”

Both India and the UK acknowledged the value of transition financing in raising funds to promote sustainable development. Both parties applauded each other’s efforts on this matter, including the Transition Finance Market Review, which was commissioned by the UK government.

“Our shared goals are to boost investment, maintain economic stability, and change our economies to promote growth and prosperity in both of our nations. With bilateral trade of over 40 billion pounds and substantial foreign direct investment stocks in both directions, we are proud of our robust economic alliance,” the statement read.

Due to global trade and policy uncertainty following the US tariff hikes, the RBI’s monetary policy committee has lowered its estimate for India’s GDP growth in 2025–2026 by 20 basis points, from 6.7% to 6.5%, Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra announced on Wednesday.

The governor of the RBI stated, “First and foremost, uncertainty in and of itself slows growth by influencing corporate and family spending and investment decisions. Second, the slowdown in global economy brought on by trade frictions would hinder growth at home. Third, net exports will suffer from increased tariffs.

The impact of relative tariffs, the elasticities of our import and export demand, and the government’s policy initiatives, such as the proposed Foreign Trade Agreement with the US, are some of the known unknowns, he said.

He noted that this makes it challenging to precisely quantify the negative impact.

The RBI Governor stated that after accounting for all of these variables, the real GDP growth for 2025–2026 is now expected to be 6.5%, with Q1 at 6.5%, Q2 at 6.7%, Q3 at 6.6%, and Q4 at 6.3%.

Even while the risks are evenly distributed around these baseline estimates, he noted, there are still a lot of unknowns with the recent surge in global volatility.

India’s real GDP is predicted to increase by 6.5% in 2024–2025, on top of the 9.2% growth rate that was recorded the year before. Malhotra noted that the agriculture sector’s prospects for 2025–2026 are still promising due to stable reservoir levels and strong crop production.

According to him, corporate expectations are still high and manufacturing activity is showing indications of recovery, while the services sector is also doing well.

On the demand side, the agriculture sector’s promising future portends well for rural demand, which is still robust, while urban consumption is progressively increasing due to an increase in discretionary expenditure.

Due to the government’s ongoing emphasis on infrastructure spending, the steady increase in capacity utilization, the sound balance sheets of banks and corporations, and the relaxation of financial conditions, investment activity has accelerated and is predicted to continue improving.

While services exports are predicted to continue to be resilient, merchandise exports will be burdened by global uncertainties. Sanjay Malhotra noted that downside risks are still present due to headwinds from interruptions in global commerce.

Every year on April 7, we commemorate World Health Day, which draws attention to urgent global health concerns and inspires action to enhance public health outcomes. Established in 1950 by the World Health Organization (WHO), it brings together communities, governments, and organizations to address important health issues annually.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and other relevant organizations host World Health Day, a global health awareness event. The WHO hosted the First World Health Assembly in 1948.

Every year, a particular global health theme is chosen to highlight a particular issue. “Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures” is the theme of the annual celebration, on World Health day today. The day is a potent reminder to coordinate international efforts and focus emphasis on creating stronger, healthier communities everywhere.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on Indians to embrace a healthier lifestyle and strive toward an obesity-free future in honor of World Health Day. He underlined that staying physically healthy would significantly advance India’s aspirations to become a developed country—Vikasit Bharat.

Taking to X, PM Modi posted, “On World Health Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to building a healthier world. Our Government will keep focusing on healthcare and invest in different aspects of people’s well-being. Good health is the foundation of every thriving society!”

The Prime Minister emphasized the traditional saying that “health is the ultimate fortune and the ultimate wealth” in a video message posted on the site, while also raising concerns about India’s escalating obesity problem.

PM Modi reaffirmed in his message that changing to a healthier diet, including cutting back on oil use, is not only a personal choice but also a social one.

“I want to take a promise from you today that we all should reduce our cooking oil by 10%,” PM said, calling for quick action to avoid such a situation. This will be a significant step in the fight against obesity.

The prime minister has consistently argued against obesity and diseases linked to a sedentary lifestyle. He also urged individuals to make regular exercise a part of their everyday schedules.

“In addition, we must incorporate exercise into our daily routines. We will make a significant contribution to the path of a Viksit Bharat if we maintain our physical fitness,” he continued.

Obesity can result in serious health problems like diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure, the prime minister said. But he insisted that minor but significant lifestyle adjustments could help reduce the dangers.

PM Modi invited 10 well-known individuals to participate in a national campaign to promote healthy eating and increase awareness of obesity in an effort to spread the word. He urged them all to suggest 10 additional people in order to increase the movement’s visibility and influence on society.

They included Omar Abdullah, the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir; Anand Mahindra, an industrialist; Olympic medalists Manu Bhaker and Mirabai Chanu; actors Mohanlal and R. Madhavan; singer Shreya Ghoshal; philanthropist and Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murthy; and Nandan Nilekani, a co-founder of Infosys.

Manoj Kumar, a renowned actor and filmmaker, died on Friday at the age of 87 at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai. He had been ill for some time and was admitted to the hospital on February 21 as his condition deteriorated.

Dr. Santosh Shetty, CEO and Executive Director of Kokilaben Ambani Hospital, said in an official release, “Veteran actor Shri Manoj Kumarji died peacefully at the Kokilaben Ambani Hospital early this morning at around 3:30 AM, due to age-related health concerns. He had been hospitalized for several weeks.”

The renowned actor was awarded the Padma Shri in 1992 for his contributions to Bollywood. In 2015, he received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, which established his legend even further. He was well-known as ‘Bharat Kumar‘ for his nationalistic flicks.

He created a name for himself with classics such as Shaheed, ‘Hariyali Aur Raasta’, ‘Woh Kaun Thi’, ‘Himalaya Ki God Mein’, ‘Do Badan’, ‘Patthar Ke Sanam’, ‘Neel Kamal’, and ‘Kranti’, ‘Upkar’, ‘Roti Kapda Aur Makaan’, and countless other films that are recognized as outstanding works of cinema.

Manoj Kumar, born Harikrishan Giri Goswami on July 24, 1937, in Amritsar, Punjab, has carved out a position for himself in Bollywood.

Aside from the Padma Shri and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Manoj Kumar’s contributions to Indian film garnered him other significant awards, including a National Film Award and 7 Filmfare Awards in various categories.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on social media, saying he was extremely saddened by the departure of the great actor and filmmaker. PM Modi stated that his works inspired a sense of national pride. He stated in a post on X, “Deeply saddened by the passing of legendary actor and filmmaker Shri Manoj Kumar Ji.” He was an icon of Indian cinema, well known for his nationalistic passion, which was mirrored in his films.

“Manoj Ji’s works inspired a sense of national pride and will continue to inspire future generations. In this hour of sadness, my thoughts are with his family and admirers. “Om Shanti,” the Prime Minister added.

Akshay Kumar commented on how he grew up learning from Manoj Kumar that there is “no emotion like love and pride for our country,” a notion that the renowned actor eloquently embodied in his patriotic movies. The Khiladi star stressed the necessity of performers taking the lead while depicting such emotions.

He took to his X Handle to share a black and white photo of the iconic filmmaker and captioned it., “I grew up learning from him that there’s no emotion like love and pride for our country. And if we actors won’t take the lead in showing this emotion, who will? Such a fine person, and one of the biggest assets of our fraternity. RIP Manoj Sir. Om Shanti.”

Industry analysts stated on Thursday that it seems India’s export competitiveness to the US market is significantly less affected on a relative basis than its international counterparts, after US President Donald Trump‘s announcement of reciprocal tariffs on dozens of nations, including India.

Trump’s proposed tariffs would significantly alter global manufacturing value chains and commerce.

Sanjay Nayar, president of Assocham, stated, “India has been placed somewhere in the middle of the tariff rates at 26% in addition to 10% baseline duties, which needs to be assessed for real impact.”

Overall, it seems that, in comparison, India’s export competitiveness to the US market is far less affected. However, in order to lessen the effects of these duties, our industry should work together to improve value addition and export efficiency,” he added in a statement.

Since the majority of the United States’ trading partners have decided to impose reciprocal tariffs, no nation benefits and consumers may have to pay more, which might put pressure on inflation.

Nayar stated that India Inc. would collaborate closely with the government on this issue. “While we wait and watch for global reaction, the way forward for India could be a quick preferential trade deal keeping in mind that President Trump still respects leadership of PM Narendra Modi,” Nayar added.

The US imposing a uniform 26 percent tariff on Indian exports, according to economist Arsh Mogre of PL Capital Institutional Equities Research, represents a significant but strategic recalibration of trade dynamics towards bilateralism and the end of multilateralism. He said the move is more of a high-stakes gambit in trade negotiations than an act of protectionism.

The disruption is sectorally unequal and contextually reduced by India’s emerging relative tariff advantage over Asian counterparts, he said, even though the short-term impact on India’s $75–78 billion US-bound exports is not insignificant.

Ironically, the decision makes India more competitive in high-exposure categories like electronics, textiles, and footwear in a post-China+1 global sourcing environment where barriers for Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand are now 10–20 percentage points higher.

Furthermore, India maintains cost resilience in industries like electronics, chemicals, and auto parts compared to China, which currently faces an exorbitant 54% effective tariff wall, according to Mogre.

Using a stunning Ghibli-style artwork, the Israel Embassy in India sent a touching message on the social networking site “X” on Tuesday, highlighting the friendship between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

With the hashtag #GhibliStudio and the flags of both countries, the tweet encapsulates the relationship between the two leaders and represents the close diplomatic connections between Israel and India.

“A #Ghibli tale of friendship @narendramodi @netanyahu,” the social media post reads.

The Japanese animation company Studio Ghibli, Inc. is situated in Koganei, Tokyo. The company is well-known in the animation sector and has broadened its range of work to encompass short films, TV ads, and other media.

This creative depiction coincides with India and Israel’s ongoing strengthening of their ties in a number of areas, including trade, agriculture, technology, and defense. With common ideals like innovation, entrepreneurship, and support for free markets, the two leaders have played a key role in advancing a developing collaboration.

Reuven Azar, Israel’s ambassador to India, recently emphasized how India is becoming a more significant global force under PM Modi’s direction. He commended India for its accomplishments and said he was impressed by Modi and Netanyahu’s close connection.

“We are genuinely admiring India’s accomplishments under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. We treasure our friendship with him. We noticed that he was the first to contact us after the Hamas attack on October 7. Over the past year and a half, we witnessed his support for us. We are aware that we share numerous opinions. Our perspectives are similar. Our difficulties are comparable. As a result, I have no doubt that we will be able to accomplish a great deal more together in the years to come,” Reuven Azar said.

Since the introduction of OpenAI’s GPT-4o upgrade, Ghibli has become a popular trend on social networking sites like Instagram and X. Known as “Ghibli-style AI images,” the viral phenomena is rapidly spreading across a number of sites.

Originally a Libyan Arabic word meaning a scorching desert breeze, “Ghibli” is now commonly used to refer to the Japanese animation studio “Studio Ghibli,” which is well-known for its classic movies like “My Neighbor Totoro” and “Princess Mononoke.”

The Sanskrit term “utkal” refers to the arts and crafts sector. Odisha is known as “Utkal” since it is a nation that values art and craft. Odisha’s abundance of crafts earned it the nickname Utkala. Odisha, a state in eastern India, has long been known for its rich cultural heritage.

Every year on April 1st, Utkala Dibasa, is observed throughout Odisha. This is a day to honor all Odia citizens who have contributed to the unity of the people. The state commemorated its 89th founding day this year. Odisha’s contributions to art, literature, and spirituality are acknowledged on this day, which pays homage to the state’s cultural, historical, and linguistic legacy.

Perhaps the Odra tribe, who were native to the area, is where the name “Odisha” originates. Numerous geographical divisions in ancient India were named after the local tribes or governing monarchs. Throughout history, Odisha has gone by several names, such as Kalinga, Utkal, Odra Desha, Hirakhanda, Oddiyana, and Mahakantara.

On Tuesday, President Droupadi Murmu prayed for the peace and prosperity of the state while sending warmest greetings to the people of Odisha on the occasion of Odisha Day, also known as Utkal Dibasa. President Murmu was born in Uparbeda village, Odisha, into a Santali family. In 2007, she received the Nilkanth Award for Best MLA of the Odisha Legislative Assembly, marking the beginning of her political career in the state.

Taking to X, the President wrote, “Warm greetings to the people on Odisha Day! It is an occasion to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Odisha and remarkable contribution of its people in various fields. The warm and hospitable people of Odisha have worked hard for the progress of the state while preserving its glorious traditions.Odisha has played an important role in the freedom struggle and produced several makers of modern India. I pray to Mahaprabhu Jagannath for peace and prosperity of Odisha!”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended his wishes, emphasising Odisha’s cultural pride and contributions and stated on X, “Warm wishes on Utkala Dibasa! This day is a fitting tribute to Odisha’s glorious culture. India takes pride in Odisha’s history, literature and music. Odisha’s people are hardworking and have excelled in diverse fields. Over the last year, the Centre and Odisha Governments are working extensively to further the state’s progress. On the occasion of Odisha Day, I extend my warm greetings to our brothers and sisters of this beautiful state. Known for its scenic beauty and vibrant communities, Odisha is scaling new heights of growth and development. May the divine blessings of Mahaprabhu Jagannath continue to guide and bless the people of the state with prosperity and peace.”

The Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi wrote on his X handle in Odia (translated), “”Happy Odisha Day, everyone. Your warmest wishes are appreciated. A modest homage to the great heroes who sacrificed so much to establish a distinct state of Odisha and to elevate our literature, culture, and language. Today, let us reaffirm our commitment to creating a robust and prosperous Odisha.”

According to State Culture Minister Suryavansi Suraj, “Odia Paksha” will be celebrated with tremendous fervor for the first time from April 1 to the Odia New Year on April 14.