India Ranked 39th in the Travel and Tourism Development Index 2024

Overview of the 2024 TTDI

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has released the Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI) for 2024, providing a detailed evaluation of India’s position in the global tourism sector. This index serves as a crucial benchmark for assessing the competitiveness and sustainability of tourism sectors around the world.

2024 Overall Rankings

Top 10 Countries in TTDI

Rank	Country	Score
1	United States	5.24
2	Spain	5.18
3	Japan	5.09
4	France	5.07
5	Australia	5.00
6	Germany	5.00
7	United Kingdom	4.96
8	China	4.94
9	Italy	4.90
10	Switzerland	4.81
39	India	4.25

Key Findings from the 2024 TTDI Report

India’s Current Ranking

India has achieved the 39th position among 119 countries in the 2024 TTDI. This ranking showcases India’s performance across various indicators that contribute to a robust and sustainable tourism sector.

Historical Comparison

In the previous TTDI published in 2021, India ranked 54th. This notable improvement of 15 places over three years illustrates significant advancements in India’s tourism ecosystem.

Methodological Adjustments

The WEF updated its methodology for the TTDI, which retrospectively adjusted India’s 2021 rank to 38th place. This adjustment offers a more accurate comparison, revealing that India has maintained a relatively stable position, with a slight improvement from 38th to 39th.

Conclusion

India’s progress in the Travel and Tourism Development Index 2024 highlights the country’s commitment to enhancing its tourism sector’s competitiveness and sustainability, reflecting ongoing developments in infrastructure, policy, and visitor experience.

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National Affairs Highlights

Major Developments

Honoring Global Icons

• Mahatma Gandhi Bust in Tokyo: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar unveiled a bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Tokyo’s Edogawa ward, celebrating his legacy of peace and non-violence.

Remembering Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

• 9th Death Anniversary: July 27 marks the 9th death anniversary of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, the “Missile Man of India,” known for his contributions to aerospace engineering and defense technology.

Commemorative Initiatives

Commemorative Stamp in Laos

• Ram Lalla Idol Stamp: During his visit to Laos, Minister S. Jaishankar unveiled a special stamp set showcasing Ram Lalla’s idol from Ayodhya.

Foundation Day Celebrations

• MoES Foundation Day: The Ministry of Earth Sciences celebrated its 18th Foundation Day on July 27, highlighting two decades of contributions to Earth system sciences.

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Weekly Highlights

New Initiatives and Programs

• ‘One DAE One Subscription’ Launch: The inaugural ceremony for this initiative took place at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, on July 29.
• Ideas4LiFE Portal: Launched by Union Minister Bhupender Yadav at IIT Delhi, aimed at promoting environmental awareness.

Economic and Agricultural Progress

• PMFBY Benefits: Over 3,49,633 farmers received ₹563 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana for FY 2022-23.
• WTO Report on Tariffs: India’s average tariffs decreased from 18.1% in 2022 to 17% in 2023.

Empowering Women

• Women Entrepreneurship Program: Launched by NSDC to empower women entrepreneurs and boost economic growth.

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Cultural and Heritage Milestones

UNESCO World Heritage Committee

• 46th Session in New Delhi: From July 21 to 31, 2024, India hosted this session, adding 24 new sites to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Defense Dialogue

• India-Vietnam Defense Policy Meeting: The 14th India-Vietnam Defence Policy Dialogue focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation.

Technological Advances

• NIT Calicut’s New Portal: The National Institute of Technology Calicut launched ‘Nivahika,’ a cutting-edge web portal for data management.

This week in national affairs encapsulates significant cultural, political, and environmental developments, showcasing India’s ongoing commitment to progress and global engagement.

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States in the News

Legislative Changes in Uttar Pradesh

• UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill: On July 30, the Uttar Pradesh Assembly passed this amendment bill, which strengthens penalties for forced conversions.

New Initiatives in Gujarat

• Gujarat State Institution for Transformation (GRIT): Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announced the establishment of this state-level think tank, modeled after NITI Aayog.

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International Affairs

TIME Magazine Recognition

• Indian Destinations Featured: Three Indian locations have been highlighted in TIME magazine’s prestigious list of ‘World’s Greatest Places of 2024.’

Hosting Agricultural Conference

• ICAE in New Delhi: India will host the 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists from August 2-7, 2024, marking its first hosting since 1958.

Maritime Heritage Collaboration

• India-Vietnam Partnership: India and Vietnam have joined forces to develop the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) in Lothal, Gujarat, reflecting their strong maritime ties.

Social Media Restrictions in Turkey

• Instagram Access Blocked: Turkey’s Information and Communication Technologies Authority announced the blocking of Instagram access for its 85 million citizens on August 2.

These updates reflect significant political, cultural, and international developments, showcasing ongoing initiatives and collaborations at both state and global levels.

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Agreements/MoUs Signed

Significant International Agreement

• WHO Donor Agreement: On July 31, 2024, the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, and the World Health Organization signed a crucial donor agreement at the WHO Headquarters in Geneva.

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Books and Authors

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Banking/Economy/Business News

Key Financial Updates

Strategic Partnerships

• Karnataka Bank & ICICI Lombard: Announced a partnership to provide a comprehensive range of insurance products to customers.

Major Acquisitions

• UltraTech Cement: Will acquire a 32.72% equity stake in India Cements for ₹3,945 crore.

New Business Ventures

• Aditya Birla Group’s Jewellery Retail Launch: Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla announced the launch of a new jewellery retail business targeting the ₹6.7 lakh crore market.

Payment Companies Licensed

• RBI Licenses: Amazon Pay, Adyen, and BillDesk secured RBI’s cross-border payment aggregator license.

New Asset Reconstruction Company

• Shriram Capital Approval: Received in-principle approval from RBI to establish an Asset Reconstruction Company (ARC).

Agricultural Project Initiative

• Computerization of PACS: The Government of India is implementing a ₹2,516 crore project to computerize functional Primary Agricultural Credit Societies.

Technological Innovations

• SEBI’s ‘SEVA’ Chatbot: Launched on July 29 to assist investors with various functions.

Banking Fees

• Public Sector Bank Charges: Eleven banks, excluding SBI, charged Rs 2,331 crore for minimum balance failures in FY2024.

Industrial Growth

• Core Industries Index: Recorded a provisional 4.0% increase in June 2024 compared to the previous year.

Co-lending Agreement

• UGRO Capital & SIDBI: Entered a co-lending agreement to provide timely credit to MSMEs.

Insurance Milestones

• Covrzy’s License: The Bengaluru-based insurtech startup obtained a direct broking license from IRDAI.

Currency Withdrawals

• ₹2,000 Banknotes: RBI reports nearly 98% of these notes have been withdrawn from circulation as of July 31, 2024.

GST Collections

• July 2024 Revenue: Goods and Services Tax collections rose by 10.3% to ₹1,82,075 crore compared to July 2023.

UPI Transactions

• Monthly UPI Transaction Values: Exceeded ₹20 lakh crore for the third consecutive month in July.

UPI Integration

• RBL Bank Services: Announced integration of UPI and NCMC services on RuPay Credit Cards.

Regulatory Penalties

• HDFC Life Insurance Fine: IRDAI imposed a ₹2 crore fine for regulatory breaches.

Innovative Payment Solutions

• Kotak Mahindra Bank & GOQii: Launched the Kotak – GOQii Smart Vital Plus smartwatch for payment solutions.

These updates reflect significant agreements, book releases, and crucial developments in the banking and economy sectors, showcasing India’s evolving landscape in various domains.

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Appointments/Resignations

Key Appointments

• Preeti Sudan: Former Union Health Secretary set to become the Chairperson of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on August 1, 2024.
• Sanjay Shukla: Officially took over as Managing Director (MD) of the National Housing Bank as of July 30, 2024.
• Inderjit Camotra and Govind Singh: Re-approved by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as MDs and CEOs.

• Santosh Kumar Gangwar: Former Union Minister sworn in as the 12th Governor of Jharkhand on July 31, 2024.

Notable Resignations

• Rohan Bopanna: Acclaimed Indian tennis player announced his retirement from international competition after exiting the Paris 2024 Olympics.

International Political News

• Nicolas Maduro: Venezuela’s National Electoral Council announced his re-election as president, governing from 2025 to 2031.

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Defence News

• Indian Coast Guard: Unveiled its new ‘Suvidha Software Version 1.0’ during the inaugural ‘Annual Operational Sea Training Conference’ in Visakhapatnam on July 30, 2024.
• Multinational Air Exercise: India will host its first multinational air exercise, ‘Tarang Shakti 2024,’ in two phases starting on September 6, 2024, in Sular, Tamil Nadu.

These updates reflect critical changes in leadership across various sectors, alongside significant developments in defense and international relations.

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Awards and Recognitions

Notable Achievements

• Lifetime Achievement Award: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh was honored with this prestigious award during the International Meet of leading medical professionals and medicos from India and abroad.

• International Physics Olympiad Success: Indian students excelled at the 54th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) 2024, held in Isfahan, Iran, securing two gold and three silver medals.
• V Venkayya Epigraphy Award: V. Vedachalam, a renowned Tamil epigrapher and historian, received this prestigious award, marking a significant milestone in the field of Indian epigraphy.

These awards reflect significant accomplishments across various fields, including medicine, environmental management, education, and heritage preservation.

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Summits and Conferences News

Key Meetings

• NITI Aayog Governing Council Meeting: Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the 9th Governing Council Meeting on July 28, 2024, held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre in New Delhi.

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Ranks and Reports

Industry Insights

• Top FMCG Brand: Parle, known for its biscuits, retains its status as India’s leading fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) brand, as per Kantar Worldpanel’s latest Brand Footprint ranking.

• Agricultural Exports: Despite a decline in agricultural exports from $55 billion in 2022 to $51 billion in 2023, India remains the world’s eighth-largest exporter of agricultural products.

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Sports News

Highlights from Recent Events

• Paris Olympics Preparations: With the 2024 Paris Olympics underway, Indian athletes are poised for success, aiming for medal victories.
• Olympic Medal Standings: As of July 28, 2024, Australia leads the Olympic medal table with three golds, followed closely by China and the USA.
• Asia Cup Announcement: India has been confirmed as the host for the Men’s Asia Cup cricket tournament in 2025.

• Basketball Academy Launch: The Basketball Federation of India (BFI) has established a National Basketball Academy in Mumbai in partnership with Corvuss American Academy.
• Olympic Referee Milestone: Lieutenant Colonel Kabilan Sai Ashok has made history as the youngest Olympic referee in boxing from India at the Paris Olympics 2024.

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Schemes and Committees News

Recent Initiatives

• Sustainable Energy Initiative: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant introduced the ‘Goem Vinamulya Vij Yevjan’ scheme to promote sustainable energy, complementing the Prime Minister’s Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.

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Science and Technology News

Space Exploration Updates

• Crew-9 Mission: SpaceX and NASA announced plans for the Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), set to launch no earlier than August 18.

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Important Days News

Notable Observances

• International Tiger Day: A global initiative aimed at raising awareness about tiger conservation and protecting their habitats.
• International Day of Friendship: Celebrated on July 30 each year to promote friendship among individuals and communities.
• World Day Against Trafficking in Persons: Observed on July 30, this day focuses on combating human trafficking.
• World Nature Conservation Day: Celebrated on July 28 to emphasize the importance of preserving the environment.
• World Ranger Day: On July 31, this day honors those dedicated to protecting wildlife and natural habitats.
• National Mountain Climbing Day: Celebrated on August 1, recognizing the spirit of adventure in mountaineering.
• World Lung Cancer Day: Observed on August 1, highlighting the importance of awareness and research in lung cancer.
• World Wide Web Day: August 1 marks the celebration of the World Wide Web’s creation and its impact on connectivity.
• World Breastfeeding Week: Held from August 1 to 7, this week promotes the importance of breastfeeding for newborns and mothers.
• Friendship Day in India: Celebrated on August 4, following the tradition of the first Sunday of August.

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Obituaries News

Notable Losses

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Miscellaneous News

Significant Events

• World Craft City Recognition: Kashmir City received the Certificate of World Craft City from the World Crafts Council International in a ceremony in Srinagar.

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SpaceX

• CEO: Elon Musk
• Headquarters: Hawthorne, California, USA
• Established: 2002

NASA

• Administrator: Bill Nelson
• Headquarters: Washington, D.C., USA
• Established: 1958

Basketball Federation of India

• President: Dr. K. Govindaraj
• Headquarters: New Delhi, India
• Established: 1950

Indian Coast Guard

• Director General: Rakesh Pal
• Headquarters: New Delhi, India
• Established: 1977

National Housing Bank (NHB)

• Managing Director: Sarada Kumar Hota
• Headquarters: New Delhi, India
• Established: 1988

Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)

• Chairman & Managing Director: Sivasubramanian Ramann
• Headquarters: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
• Established: 1990

Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

• Governor: Shaktikanta Das
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• Established: 1935

Asian Development Bank (ADB)

• President: Masatsugu Asakawa
• Headquarters: Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines
• Established: 1966

Karnataka Bank

• Managing Director & CEO: Sekhar Rao
• Headquarters: Mangalore, Karnataka, India
• Established: 1924

Vietnam

• President: Vo Van Thuong
• Prime Minister: Pham Minh Chinh
• Capital: Hanoi
• Independence Year: 1945

National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC)

• Chairman: A.M. Naik
• Headquarters: New Delhi, India
• Established: 2008

World Trade Organization (WTO)

• Director-General: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
• Established: 1995

This summary provides key details about each organization, including leadership, location, and year of establishment.

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