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Thursday, 6 July 2017

#current #affairs #for #ias

Linking Aadhaar and PAN is not mandatory for all

It has now become mandatory for everyone to link their PAN with Aadhaar with effect from July 1, 2017, as per the income tax laws. However, the government has exempted certain class of individuals from linking these two documents subject to certain conditions.

CBDT has notified that Section 139AA of the Income Tax Act is not applicable to the following individuals:

Those categorised as Non-resident Indians as per the Income Tax Laws.
Not a citizen of India.
Is of age 80 years or more at any time during the tax year.
Residents of the states of Assam, Meghalaya and Jammu and Kashmir.

However, it should be noted here that the above mentioned categories of Individuals are exempted from the purview of section 139AA i.e. exempted from compulsory linking of PAN and Aadhaar, only if they do not possess Aadhaar or Aadhaar Enrolment ID.

What is section 139AA is about?
The newly introduced section 139AA of the Income Tax Act states that every person who has been allotted PAN as on July 1, 2017 and who is eligible to obtain Aadhaar Number shall intimate the same to the tax authorities. The PAN of those who fail to do so will become invalid on a date to be notified later by the department.

Background:
The Aadhaar (Target Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 states that every resident shall be entitled to obtain Aadhaar number by submitting his demographic and biometric information by undergoing the process of enrolment. The Act has also defined the eligibility conditions for Aadhaar.

Tuesday, 4 July 2017

#Current #affairs #for #IAS

Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM)

It is an indigenously developed short range surface to air missile.
The missile has the strike range of 25 to 30 km.
It has an all- weather weapon system capable of tracking and firing and it was the second developmental trial of the state-of-the-art missile with an aerial target.
Recently, it was successfully test-fired from a test range from the launch pad Chandipur along the Odisha coast.

Monday, 3 July 2017

#Current #Affairs #for #IAS

Land diversion to DRDO

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has issued forest clearance to DRDO, approving diversion of 150 hectares of forest land which includes Krishna wildlife sanctuary in A.P.
The notification says that DRDO should transfer the funds for the net present value of the forest to be diverted to CAMPA and design a comprehensive wildlife management plan.
And also, the area diverted for DRDO, an equivalent mangrove and mudflat area contiguous to the sanctuary should be notified and the work should be halted during the nesting season of olive ridley turtles.

Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary

The sanctuary is also an estuary, located in the coastal plain of Krishna Delta.
The sanctuary is part of mangrove wetland which spreads across Krishna and Guntur districts of A.P.
The region potentially holds one of the most significant populations of fishing cats in the world and it has the potential to become world's first reserve for IUCN identified endangered species including the fishing cat.
Recently, Smooth-coated otter was sighted for the first time in the mangrove forest adjacent to the Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary.

Sunday, 2 July 2017

#CURRENT #AFFAIRS #FOR #IAS

India and US – Maritime Cooperation

What is the issue?

In the recently concluded Modi-Trump interface, maritime security was stressed thrice by the US president.
The joint statement acknowledged the need for both countries to play meaningful and legitimate roles in the ‘Indo-Pacific’ and to ensure freedom of movement at sea consistent with international norms.

What does it mean for India?

The term “Indo-Pacific” was first coined by then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2008.
The Americans soon shied away from it and put out the more convoluted terminology of “Indo-Asia-Pacific”.
By using the old term again, it seems that the US recognises India’s legitimate role in waters stretching from the Suez Canal to the waters of the western Pacific.
India is an Indian Ocean Region (IOR) player, but given its size, interests and growing maritime trade, its concerns extend beyond it.
So, even though India is not a South China Sea littoral state, it cannot remain excluded from developments that are taking place there.
Its inclusion as party to the Indo-Pacific provides exactly that recognition. And, this is fully consistent with our long-term interests.

How cooperation at sea should be?

Cooperation at sea involves not just ships carrying out exercises over a couple of days, but understanding the whys and the wherefores.
This can come about only if there is some degree of synergy of doctrines, and for this to happen information sharing is important. So, some compromise seems necessary.
In the IOR, India has to become a net security provider and that will often require joint operations with the US.
Also, the Malabar series is clearly an Indo-Pacific event and lends credibility to India’s aspirations and potential.
Meanwhile, these elements must be added the American clearance for the supply of nearly two dozen Guardian drones for the Indian Navy.
The Indian Navy also has an enquiry ongoing for nearly five dozen fighter aircraft to operate from aircraft carriers at sea.
Procurement of major military hardware must always be seen through the prism of geopolitical interests more than just financial cost.
The dialogue just concluded gives India an opportunity to make the required course correction.

It is the new cross-bred pig which suits the agro-climatic conditions of Andhra Pradesh.
It is the product of cross breeding between indigenous pigs and Large White Yorkshire (LWY) for efficiency of feed conversion, production and reproduction.
It is developed by the All India Coordinated Research Project, a unit of Indian Council of Agricultural Research.
Its characteristics will soon be registered with the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources.