GS- 2nd Paper
Topic- Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
Goods and Service Tax Identification Number (GSTIN)
Context
The GST Council resolved that GSTN will be converted into a 100% Government-owned entity.
About
- The GST Council resolved that GSTN will be converted into a 100% Government-owned entity by 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 Government and the balance 50% to be held by various States and Union Territories.
What is the 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 GST in 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 from the 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 rates with 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 of Arunachal 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- 2nd Paper
Topic- Development processes and the development industry —the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme
Context
Grant Released under NCLP Scheme State-wise during 2018-19
About NCLP
The National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme is a Central Sector Scheme.
Under this Scheme the District Project Societies (DPS) are set up at the district level under the Chairmanship of the Collector/District Magistrate for overseeing the implementation of the project.
What the NCLP Scheme is for?
- Under this Scheme, the children in the age group of 9-14 years are withdrawn from work.
- These children put into NCLP Special Training Centres, where they are provided with bridge education, vocational training, mid-day meal, stipend, health care etc. before being mainstreamed into formal education system.
- The children in the age group of 5-8 years are directly linked to the formal education system through a close coordination with the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.
PENCiL palteform
- A dedicated online portal named PENCiL (Platform for Effective Enforcement for No Child Labour) is developed in order to make the NCLP successful.
- It will monitor and implement the timely disposal of work with transparency.
- PENCiL will ensure the effective enforcement of the provisions of the Child Labour Act and smooth implementation of NCLP Scheme,
Objectives of The NCLP Scheme
- To eliminate all forms of child labour through identification and withdrawal of all children in the Project Area from child labour,
- Preparing children withdrawn from work for mainstream education along with vocational training
- Ensuring convergence of services provided by different government departments/agencies for the benefit of child and their family
- To contribute to the withdrawal of all adolescent workers from Hazardous Occupations/ Processes and their Skilling and integration in appropriate occupations.
- Creation of a Child Labour Monitoring, Tracking and Reporting System.
Funds
- Under this Scheme, funds are provided directly to the District Project Societies who in turn engage and allocate the funds to NGOs/Voluntary Agencies/Civil Societies Organisation etc. for running of Special Training Centres.
GS- 2nd Paper
Topic- Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes.
Revised Integrated Housing Scheme (RIHS)
Context
The Revised Integrated Housing Scheme (RIHS), was implemented for construction of house by the beedi workers.
About
- The Revised Integrated Housing Scheme (RIHS), 2007, was implemented for construction of house by the beedi workers.
- Later it was revised in 2016.
Features of RIHS
- The scheme provides housing subsidy of Rs. 1, 50,000/- per worker for construction of a house to be paid in three instalments directly into the bank account of the beneficiaries.
- The workers engaged in Beedi/Iron Ore Mines, Manganese Ore & Chrome Ore Mines (IOMC)/Limestone Ore Mines, Dolomite Ore Mines (LSDM) /Mica Mines and Cine Industries, registered with the Labour Welfare Organisation (LWO) are eligible under this scheme.
- The registered worker under LWO should be engaged for one year or more in the respective industry.
- They should have Aadhar registration and Jan Dhan / Bank account number.
- The applicants should have a homestead land in their name or jointly/severally own with other members of the family or land allotted/leased by State Government/Gram Sabha.
For Prelims
Constitution Day of India
Context
Films Division, GOI, Mumbai is celebrating as part of “ Constitution Day “ on 26th November 2019.
About Constitution day
- Constitution day is also known as the Samvidhan Divas.
- It is celebrated every year on November 26 to mark the day on which the Constitution of India was adopted.
- On this day, 26 November, 1949, constitution of India was adopted and came into force on January 26, 1950.
- The draft of the constitution was prepared by the drafting committee under BR Ambedkar’s aegis.
- According to the government notification, the Constitution Day was also a tribute to Ambedkar.
Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana
Highlights
- The total number of Insured Persons covered under Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) scheme as on is 3.49 crores.
- All Insured Persons (IPs) fulfilling the contributory and other conditions under Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana are eligible for availing relief under this scheme.
- 58 number of Insured Persons have availed relief of Rs. 4,53,009/- under the Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana till September, 2019.
