Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Starred Articles

Government set to launch toll free helpline for TB patients
India > Others > Apr 24
The health ministry will launch a toll free helpline to assist Tuberculosis patients across the country. Any person can call or give a missed call on the number and government health workers will get in touch with the person concerned and will provide the required assistance in determining TB and medical assistance. The health ministry is currently working towards building the necessary infrastructure for the service in various states. India accounts for one-fourth of the 8.6 million TB cases reported worldwide and the number of drug resistant TB patients in India are as high as 110,000. The government faces major hurdles in identifying TB patients, through the helpline it intends to tend proper care and medication to the patients.

Nepal hit by deadly earthquake killing more than 3000
World > Nepal Earthquake > Apr 27
Nepal fell victim to one of history's worst earthquakes that killed at least 3,800 and injured 6,500 people. The death toll is expected to rise as more and more bodies are being recovered from the rubble. Neighboring countries, India and China were also affected by the quake which recorded a 7.8 magnitude. Mountainous areas were badly affected with huge number of villages around the mountains being destroyed. The terrific quake was followed by a 6.8 magnitude aftershock that worsened the situation of Nepal. With help pouring in from across the world, people from every corner of the world are stepping up to help in relief efforts. India has scaled up its rescue and relief efforts in Nepal and has named it 'Operation Maitri'. As part of the operation, India has deployed two dozen military aircraft and choppers and is undertaking evacuation through roadways. Nearly 1,000 trained personnel of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were also pressed into service. The rescue teams are also trying to evacuate nationals of other countries with Indians being the obvious priority.

Bhartiya Mahila Bank wins the Asian Banker Achievement Award 2015
World > Banking > Apr 27
The Bhartiya Mahila Bank (BMB) was awarded the Asian Banker Achievement Award 2015 on 23rd April 2015 at a function held in Hong Kong during the Asian Banker Summit 2015. The award was received by Usha Ananthasubramanian, the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of BMB and was presented with respect to technology implementation in the category of the best outsourcing project.

Others

Income Tax department awarded PM's award for excellence in public administration
India > Others > Apr 22
The Income Tax (IT) department was awarded the Prime Minister's award for excellence in public administration for providing quality service in terms of tax compliance. The award was presented on the 21st of April, 2015 at a ceremony held at Vidhan Bhavan by PM Narendra Modi on the occasion of Civil Services Day. The award was conferred on the basis of successful implementation of services such as – Tax Information Network (TIN), e-filing portal, centralised processing cell for tax deducted at source (TDS) statements and centralised processing for income tax returns.

Government removes Minimum Alternate Tax, brings relief to foreign investors
Politics and Government > Minimum Alternate Tax > Apr 23
Foreign funds based in countries having double taxation avoidance agreements (DTAA) with India will now be free of Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT), as directed by the government. The government assurance comes as a relief to the huge number of investors who claimed that they are not liable to pay MAT as many of them do not have operations or offices in India and do not prepare books of accounts as per Indian laws.
Companies find various loop-holes to avoid paying income tax by using several exemptions. MAT is ways of making companies pay a minimum amount of tax.

Government to move Constitution Amendment Bill soon for introducing nationwide GST
Politics and Government > Goods and Services Tax > Apr 23
In a hope to roll out Goods and Services Tax (GST) from April next year, the government is gearing up to move the Constitution Amendment Bill in Parliament for the implementation of GST within a couple of days. According to the finance minister, GST will simplify and harmonize the indirect tax structure, reduce cost of production and inflation in the economy and ensure India becomes a common seamless market. However, the minority of NDA (the ruling party) may make it difficult for the bill to get passed in the upper house.

World Book and Copyright Day celebrated across the world on 23 April 2015
Days > World Book and Copyright Day > Apr 23
United Nations celebrated World Book and Copyright Day across the world on 23 April 2015. The day marks the importance of books in our lives and encourages support for books and those who produce them. It also promotes reading, publishing and copyright. Incheon, South Korea has been named by the UNESCO as the World Book Capital for the year 2015. Also known as International Day of the Book or World Book Day, this day was first celebrated on 23 April 1995 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Mandatory leave for employees of certain banks, decrees RBI
India > Banking > Apr 23
A recent rise in bank frauds has compelled the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to order certain banks to send their employees working in the treasury department, risk management and currency chests on a ten day leave. The order comes after the central bank found that few banks were not following the 'mandatory leave' policy, which increases operational risk for banks. The RBI also asked banks to categorise employees to be covered under 'mandatory leave' and under 'away from desk' requirement and ask such employees to be away from their jobs for a specified number of working days each year without any prior intimation.

10 lakh petitions to 'keep internet free' received by TRAI
India > Net Neutrality > Apr 24
Telecom regulator Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has received over 10 lakh petitions pleading free of charge internet just before the deadline ends for submission of comments on a consultation paper in this regard. The massive response has been rising at a rate that was never before seen in any regulatory consultation in India’s history as TRAI seeks public comments till April 24 before making its recommendations on net neutrality and internet-based calling and messaging applications. Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar also submitted his official response to the consultation paper along with a petition containing 2.88 lakh signatures collected through online platform Change.org in support of ‘keeping internet access free of any restriction’.

World Malaria day observed on 25th April 2015
Days > World Malaria Day > Apr 25
The world observed World Malaria Day on 25th April 2015 under the theme - Invest in the Future, Defeat Malaria. The day is celebrated to acknowledge the global efforts to control malaria. This day brings out the need for continued investment and sustained political commitment to curb malaria. World Malaria Day was instituted by World Health Organization (WHO) Member States during the 2007 World Health Assembly.

National Panchayati Raj Day observed on the 24th April, 2015
India > Important Days > Apr 25
The National Panchayati Raj Day was observed throughout the country on the 24th of April, 2015. The best performing Gram Panchayats and Gram Sabhas were awarded the Panchayat Sashaktikaran Award 2015 and Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Sabha Award 2015. The purpose of the day is to commemorate the passing of the 73rd amendment of the constitution also known as the Constitution Act, 1992, which came into effect from the 24th of April, 1993. The amendment helped in institutionalising Panchayati Rajs through village and district levels, which was seen as a big step towards the decentralisation of power at the grass-root levels.


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