The Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian led panel submitted its report on Possible Tax rates under Goods and Services Tax (GST) to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley
Union government had set up the committee under chairmanship of CEA Dr. Subramanian in June 2015 to arrive at GST rates by factoring in the economic growth rate, taxpayer base and tax compliance levels
Recommendations:
Standard GST rate of 17-18%- It is the rate at which most products would likely be taxed
Not to specify GST rate in Constitutional Amendment Bill
Revenue-neutral rate of 15-15.5%- It is a single rate at which there will be no revenue loss to the centre and states in the GST regime
Eliminate all taxes on inter-state trade including one per cent inter-state tax on transfer of goods
Two options for states: Single rate of 1% or a range of 17-18%
Allocation to states will depend on revenues raised by Centre and states
Three-tier GST rate structure:
Essential goods will be taxed at a lower rate of 12%
Demerit goods such as luxury cars, aerated beverages, pan masala and tobacco products will be taxed at 40%
Remaining all goods will be taxed at a standard rate of 17-18%
Excluded real estate, electricity and alcohol and petroleum products while calculating tax rates but suggests bringing them under the ambit of GST soon
Chief Justice of India crying, farmers committing suicide, half of India reeling under severe drought, unprecedented rural-urban migration, job growth lowest in six years, 8.32 crore under-age married girls, poor women being trapped and forced into slavery, Kashmir witnessing unrest, tribal women being raped and molested in Chhattisgarh and the list goes on.
Saying Bharat Mata Ki Jai, spending crores to install flags in universities, debating useless nationalism and standing up to national anthem are the most nonsensical things you can do today. Go ahead !
1. A Money bill can be introduced in either house of the Parliament.
2. The President cannot withhold his/her accent to the Money bill.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Q2. Which of the following writs can be issued by the Supreme Court to restrain a person from holding a public office to which she/he is not entitled?
(a) Prohibition
(b) Certiorari
(c) Quo Warranto
(d) Mandamus
Q3. The Model Code of Conduct comes into force
(a) forty eight hours before the polling commences
(b) when the Election Commission so declares
(c) after the parties declare the list of their candidates
(d) immediately after the election schedule is announced
Q4. Apart from the nominated members, other members of the Rajya Sabha are indirectly elected by
(a) the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies
(b) the elected as well as nominated members of the State Legislative Assemblies
(c) the elected members of the Lok Sabha and the State Legislative Assemblies
(d) the elected members of the Lok Sabha
Q5. Consider the following statements:
1. Unlike Lok Sabha, there are no nominated members in a State Legislative Assembly.
2. The Constitutional bench of Supreme Court is always headed by the Chief Justice of India.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
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Role: A worldwide organization for the protection of the rights of prisoners of conscience
Amnesty International was founded in 1961 by the British lawyer Peter Benenson.
It was originally his intention to launch an appeal in Britain with the aim of obtaining an amnesty for prisoners of conscience all over the world.
Amnesty International is a worldwide human rights organization run by its members. It is independent of all governments and all financial players. It is also independent of political convictions and religious faiths.
Organization’s logo – the lit candle surrounded by barbed wire – from a Chinese proverb,“It is better to light a light than to curse the darkness”.
#2. Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative
Focus: Human Rights
The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative is an international non-governmental organisation formed to support Human Rights and particularly to support the implementation of the Harare Declaration in the countries of the Commonwealth of Nations.
What was Harare declaration?
The Harare Commonwealth Declaration sets the association’s priorities for the 1990’s and beyond. Strengthened emphasis on Commonwealth contribution to democracy, human rights and equality.
#3. CARE International
Focus: Multiple Interdisciplinary Projects
CARE International is a large humanitarian INGO that is committed to fighting poverty. They take a special interest in empowering poor women because “women have the power to help whole families and entire communities escape poverty”. Explicit goals:
Strengthening capacity for self-help
Providing economic opportunity
Delivering relief in emergencies
Influencing policy decisions at all levels
Addressing discrimination in all its forms
#4. OXFAM
Focus: Multiple Interdisciplinary Projects
Oxfam works on trade justice, fair trade, education, debt and aid, livelihoods, health, HIV/AIDS, gender equality, conflict (campaigning for an international arms trade treaty) and natural disasters, democracy and human rights, and climate change. That’s pretty much everything!
One would hear a lot about Oxfam in news related to Nepal’s earthquake and regeneration efforts. Latest news – Reuters
Greenpeace is a non-governmental environmental organization with offices in over forty countries and with an international coordinating body in Amsterdam, the Netherlands
It uses direct action, lobbying, and research to achieve its goals.
Question: What do we mean by “direct action” of an NGO?
Watch this 3 minute video to know about (pretty interesting) history behind Greenpeace
If we missed an important NGO, do let us know. It is important to know the area of work, HQ and recent focus of important NGOs for IAS Prelims purposes.
Q3. If ABA × BAB = BCDCB, where A, B, C and D are different digits, what are the values of C and D?
(a) C = 6, D = 7
(b) C = 7, D = 6
(c) C = 6, D = 5
(d) C = 5, D = 6
Q4. A man’s present age is equal to the sum of the present ages of his six children. After 10 years his age shall be half of the sum of ages of his children at that time. What is the present age of the man?
(a) 30 years
(b) 40 years
(c) 45 years
(d) Insufficient data
Q5. If the length of a rectangle is reduced by 10% and its breadth increased by 20% then its area
(a) increases by 8%
(b) increases by 12%
(c) decreases by 12%
(d) decreases by 8%
Q1. Who were ‘uparikas’ under the Gupta administration?
(a) Military Commanders
(b) Provincial Governors
(c) Revenue Collectors
(d) Chief spies
Q2. What is ‘Brasilia Declaration’, which has recently been in news?
(a) a IMF backed initiative to curb black money menace.
(b) a WHO co-sponsored agenda on road safety
(c) a WTO initiative to bring down trade barriers
(d) a WIPO authored declaration on intellectual property rights
Q3. Which of the following is/are correctly matched?
Religious Centre : Geographical feature
1. Trimbakeshwar : Tungabhadra River
2. Ujjain : Satmala Hills
3. Shingnapur : Malwa Plateau
Choose the correct alternative using the codes given below.
(a) 2 and 3 only
(b) 1 only
(c) 1 and 2 only
(d) None
Q4. In which one of the following states locals are known to construct their dwellings over floating vegetative masses called ‘phumdis’ for fishing and other livelihood uses?
1. Carbon dioxide and methane are the two most prominent gases that emanate from
land-fill sites.
2. These are produced by the fungal disintegration of the organic waste.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Q1. Ecuador and Chile have been hit by high magnitude earthquakes in recent times. What could be the possible explanation for the same?
(a) Large scale extraction of natural gas and oil have induced powerful earthquakes
(b) These countries are situated along a constructive plate boundary
(c) Vulcanicity in the Andean mountains has caused earthquakes in these countries
(d) These countries are situated along a convergent plate boundary
Q2. Which of the following pairs are correctly matched?
1. Niagara Falls : Between Lake Erie and Lake Huron
2. River Vaal : Tributary of Orange River
3. Lake Victoria : Rift Valley Lake
Choose the correct alternative using the codes given below.
(a) 2 and 3 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Q3. If the revolutionary motion of the earth were to cease which of the following phenomenon shall still be observed?
1. Tides
2. Day and Night
3. Ocean currents
Choose the correct alternative using the codes given below.
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Q4. If you are visiting western Rajasthan, which of the following landforms are you most likely to observe?
1. Fiords
2. Blind Valleys
3. Barchans
Choose the correct alternative using the codes given below.
(a) 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Q5. Which of the following rivers flow through the state of Punjab as well as Haryana?
1. Beas
2. Satluj
3. Yamuna
Choose the correct alternative using the codes given below.
(a) 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) None of these
The Union Government has constituted two new committees:
Tax Policy Research Unit (TPRU)
Tax Policy Council (TPC)
Aim: To streamline the taxation policy and administration
These committees have been constituted based on the recommendation of the Tax Administration Reform Commission (TARC)
Tax Policy Research Unit
The TPRU will be headed by Revenue Secretary
It will carry out studies on various topics of fiscal and tax policies
It will assist the TPC in taking appropriate policy decisions and shall prepare tax proposal and analysis of legislative intent
It will also take decisions on expected increase or decrease in tax collection and economic impact
It will comprise of officers from CBEC, CBDT as well as economists, researchers, statisticians and legal experts
Tax Policy Council
The TPC will help the government in identifying key policy decisions for taxation
It shall aim to have a consistent and coherent approach to the issue of tax policy
It will look at all the research findings coming from TPRU and suggest broad policy measures for taxation
The council will be headed by Union Finance Minister
It shall have 9 members – Minister of State for Finance, Commerce Minister, NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman, Chief Economic Advisor and Finance Secretary
It would also have secretaries from the department of Revenue, DEA, DIPP and Ministry of Commerce
Background:
Presently, taxation policy and administration is handled in the CBDT and the CBEC
But there are also two independent boards Tax Research Unit (TRU) and Tax Policy and Legislation (TPL) wings which are also sending proposals to the Union Finance Minister
TARC in its First Report had identified handling of tax policy and related legislation as one of the areas in need of structural modifications
In order to bring consistency, multidisciplinary inputs and coherence in taxation policy making, it had recommended establishment of Tax Council supported by a common Tax Policy and Analysis (TPA) unit to cater to needs of both direct and indirect taxes
If you have been keeping up with news, then you would know that very recently, PETA issued a statement that government has banned the use of animals in tests for soaps and detergents. This welcome news opens us up to do a quick recap of some of the well known animal welfare organisations in India working for this worthy cause.
#1. Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS)
Founded on 15 September 1883, is one of the largest non-governmental organisations in India engaged in conservation and biodiversity research
Headquarters: Hornbill House, Mumbai
The BNHS logo is the great hornbill, inspired by a great hornbill named William, who lived on the premises of the Society from 1894 until 1920
Trivia:
Due to habitat loss and hunting in some areas, the great hornbill is evaluated as near threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
An isolated protected area of evergreen forest located in Assam, India. The sanctuary was officially constituted and renamed in 1997
The Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary contains India’s only gibbons – the hoolock gibbons, and Northeastern India’s only nocturnal primate – the Bengal slow loris
Trivia:
While the western hoolock gibbon is listed as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the establishment of the Gibbon Conservation Centre in 2004 has made a difference, leading to a considerable increase in its numbers.
#3. Madras Crocodile Bank Trust
A reptile zoo and herpetology research station
What’s herpetology? The branch of zoology concerned with the study of amphibians (including frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, and caecilians (gymnophiona) and reptiles
The bank is the first crocodile breeding centre in Asia and comes under the purview of the Central Zoo Authority, Ministry of Environment and Forests
The core purpose of MCBT was saving 3 Indian endangered species of crocodile—the marsh or mugger crocodile, the saltwater crocodile, and the gharial.
PETA India, based in Mumbai, was launched in January 2000
PETA India operates under the simple principle that animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on or use for entertainment
The group has launched investigations of jallikattu events, circuses that use animals in performances, and filthy horse stables in Mumbai, among others
Trivia:
Aside from the recent news, PETA India has in past also uncovered gruesome abuse, including the live scalding, starvation and mutilation of birds, and conditions that could lead to potential health hazards, including E. coli, salmonella and bird flu.
#5. Wildlife Protection Society of India
WPSI is one of the most respected and effective wildlife conservation organisations in India
Has no direct links to the government
Primary focus has been curbing the illegal poaching of tigers and helping GoI with investigation and crime data regarding that
WPSI is different from theWildlife Institute of India (WII), which is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate change, Government of India.
#6. [Bonus] WWF-India
Parent organisation: World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), which is an international non-governmental organization founded on April 29, 1961
The group’s mission is “to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature.”
WWF’s giant panda logo originated from a panda named Chi Chi that had been transferred from Beijing Zoo to London Zoo in 1958!
Publications: WWF publishes the Living Planet Index in collaboration with the Zoological Society of London.
