GS- 1st Paper
Topic- Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
Zonal Cultural Centers
Context
The Government of India has set up seven Zonal Cultural Centers to promote inter-State cultural development programme.
About
- The Government is taking steps for promoting inter-State cultural development programme with a view to increase harmony among people of various States and communities.
- Zonal Cultural Centers have been conceptualized with the aim of projecting cultural kinships, which transcend territorial boundaries.
- The mandate of the Ministry of Culture is to protect, preserve & promote various forms of folk art and culture throughout the country.
To meet this objective, the Government of India has set up seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs).
Zonal Cultural Centers Headquarter
North Central Zone Cultural Centre Allahabad
North Zone Cultural Centre Patiala
West Zone Cultural Centre Udaipur
North East Zone Cultural Centre Dimapur
Eastern Zone Cultural Centre Kolkata
South Zone Cultural Centre Thanjavur
South Central Zone Cultural Centre Nagpur
Functions
- These ZCCs engage cultural troupes from different States to participate in the major festivals under National Cultural Exchange Programme (NCEP).
- They organize various cultural festivals and programmes on regular basis in all the States/UTs of India including Rajasthan.
GS- 2nd Paper
Topic- Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
GST Seva Kendras
Context
GST Seva Kendras resolve complaints related to GST.
About
- CBEC MITRA, a pan-India helpdesk, a national toll-free number and “GST Seva Kendras” have been established to resolve taxpayer grievances relating to Goods & Service Tax (GST).
- Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) has a helpdesk to redress taxpayer grievances regarding the GST portal.
GSTN will be converted into a Government owned entity
- The GST Council resolved that GSTN will be converted into a 100% Government-owned entityby transferring 51% equity shares held by the Non-Government Institutions to the Centre and States equally.
- The Union Cabinet decided to convert GSTN into a fully-owned Government company.
- 50% equity of the company to be held by the Central Governmentand the balance 50% to be held by various States and Union Territories.
Goods and Service Tax Identification Number (GSTIN)
- The Goods and Service Tax Identification Number (GSTIN) is the unique number each taxpayer will receive once they have registered on the common portal.
- It is based on a taxpayer’s PAN.
- GSTN was set up as not for profit, non-Government, private limited company in 2013.
- It was established primarily to provide IT infrastructure and services to Central and State Governments, tax payers and other stakeholders for implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Structure
- Its 24.5% was owned by central government and similar percentage is held by state governments collectively.
- The remaining 51% owned by five private financial institutions-
- ICICI Bank, NSE, HDFC Ltd, HDFC Bank and LIC Housing Finance Ltd.
- Its revenue model after Goods and Services Tax (GST) was rollout out consisted of User Charge to be paid by stakeholders who will use the system and making it self-sustaining organization.
Functions of GSTN
- GSTN is the backbone of the Common Portal which is the interface between the taxpayers and the government.
- The entire process of GST is online starting from registration to the filing of returns.
- It has to support about 3 billion invoices per month and the subsequent return filing for 65 to 70 lakh taxpayers.
- The GSTN will handle-
- Invoices
- Various returns
- Registrations
- Payments & Refunds
What is the GST Council?
- The GST council is the key decision-making body that will take all important decisions regarding the GST.
- The GST Council dictates tax rate, tax exemption, the due date of forms, tax laws, and tax deadlines, keeping in mind special rates and provisions for some states.
- The predominant responsibility of the GST Council is to ensure to have one uniform tax rate for goods and services across the nation.
Constitutional provisions
- The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is governed by the GST Council.
- The Constitution (122 Amendment) Bill, 2016, for introduction of GSTin the country was accorded assent by the President after it was ratified by 18 states.
- The Constitution (101 Amendment) Act, 2016 adds Article 279A in the Constitution.
- Article 279 (1) of the Indian Constitution states that the GST Council has to be constituted by the President within 60 days of the commencement of the Article 279A.
- GST Council will be a joint forum for the Centre and the States.
Composition of GST Council
It consists of the following members-
- The Union Finance Minister – Chairperson
- As a member, the Union Minister of State will be in charge of Revenue of Finance
- The Minister in charge of finance or taxation or any other Minister nominated by each State government, as members.
Mandate of GST Council
GST Council shall make recommendations to the Union and the States on-
- The taxes, cesses and surcharges levied by the Union, the States and the local bodies which may be subsumed in the goods and services tax;
- the goods and services that may be subjected to, or exempted fromthe goods and services tax;
- model Goods and Services Tax Laws, principles of levy, apportionment of Goods and Services Tax levied on supplies in the course of inter-State trade or commerce under article 269A and the principles that govern the place of supply;
- the rates including floor rateswith bands of goods and services tax;
- any special rate or rates for a specified period, to raise additional resources during any natural calamity or disaster;
- special provision with respect to the States ofArunachal Pradesh, Assam, Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand;
- One-half of the total number of Members of the Goods and Services Tax Council shall constitute the quorum at its meetings.
- The Goods and Services Tax Council shall determine the procedure in the performance of its functions.
GS- 3rd paper
Topic– Security challenges and their management in border areas – linkages of organized crime with terrorism.
Arms (Amendment) Bill, 2019
Context
Lok Sabha passes the Arms (Amendment) Bill, 2019
About
The Arms (Amendment) Bill, 2019 seeks-
- To enhance the punishment for existing offences like illegal manufacture, sale, transfer, etc.;
- Illegal acquiring, possessing or carrying prohibited arms or prohibited ammunition;
- Illegal manufacture, sale, transfer, conversion, import, export, etc., of firearms.
- The Bill seeks to amend the Arms Act, 1959.
- It seeks to decrease the number of licensed firearms allowed per person and increase penalties for certain offences under the Act.
- It also introduces new categories of offences.
Key features of the Bill
License for acquiring firearms
- Under the Act, a license must be obtained to acquire, possess, or carry any firearm.
- A person can obtain a license for up to three firearms (with certain exceptions, such as for licensed firearms dealers).
- The Bill reduces the number of permitted firearms from three to one.
- This includes licenses given on inheritance or heirloom basis.
- The Bill also increases the duration of the validity of a firearm license from three years to five years.
Ban on firearms
- The Act bans manufacture, sale, use, transfer, conversion, testing or proofing of firearms without license.
- It also prohibits shortening of firearm barrel or conversion of imitation firearms into firearms without a license.
- The Bill additionally prohibits obtaining or procuring un-licensed firearms, and the conversion of one category of firearms to another without a license.
Increase in punishment
- The Bill amends the punishment in relation to several offences.
- The Act specifies the punishment for
- dealing in un-licensed firearms, including their manufacture, procurement, sale, transfer, conversion,
- the shortening or conversion of a firearm without a licence,
- Import or export of banned firearms.
- The Bill increases the punishment to between seven years and life imprisonment, along with a fine.
- The Act punishes acquisition, possession or carrying of prohibited ammunition without a license, with imprisonment between five and ten years, along with fine.
New offences
- The Bill adds news offences.
- These include:
- forcefully taking a firearm from police or armed forces
- Using firearms in a celebratory gunfire which endangers human life or personal safety of others,
Celebratory gunfire refers to use of firearms in public gatherings, religious places, marriages or other functions to fire ammunition.
The Bill also defines offences committed by organised crime syndicates and illicit trafficking.
Organised crime
- “Organised crime” refers to continuing unlawful activity by a person, either as a member of a syndicate or on its behalf, by using unlawful means, such as violence or coercion, to gain economic or other benefits.
- An organised crime syndicate refers to two or more persons committing organised crime.
Tracking of firearms
- The central government may make rules to track firearms and ammunition from manufacturer to purchaser to detect, investigate, and analyse illicit manufacturing and trafficking.
GS- 3rd paper
Topic- Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
Green Good Deeds
Context
‘Green Good Deeds’ initiative to promote environmental awareness.
About ‘Green Good Deeds’ initiative
- ‘Green Good Deeds’ is a societal movement, launched by the Union Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change.
- The ‘Green Good Deeds’ initiative is about simple, practical steps that students/teachers/citizens can perform in their day-to-day life towards protection of environment.
- The BRICS Ministerial on Environment at Durban, South Africa, has agreed to include “Green Good Deeds” in its official agenda.
- The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change had drawn up a list of over 500 Green Good Deeds.
- The Ministry asked people to alter their behaviour to Green Good Behaviour to fulfil their Green Social Responsibility.
Objective
The purpose of the people-oriented campaign is to sensitise people and students, in particular about climate change and global warming.
For Prelims
72-metre all weather bridge
Highlights
- Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Shri Girish Chandra Murmu dedicated the 72-metre-long Multi Cell Box Type Load Class 70 Bridge to the Nation in Rajouri.
- The bridge spans over Draj nallah and connected Draj Area to Tehsil Kotranka area under District Rajouri.
- The Bridge is constructed by Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
- Draj bridge is an important bridge for military as well as for socio-economic development of the Rajouri District.
- This bridge will facilitate all weather and speedy movement of Army troops as well as locals.
