NATIONAL
UPDATES:
1. New Tourism policy of Assam:
Assam state cabinet has launched a new Tourism
policy- 'Tourism Policy of Assam 2017' with the aim of increasing tourist
inflow in the state two to three folds within the next five years. Its main
focus to make Assam a filmmaking destination by offering a range of incentives
to movie producers to come and shoot in the state. The new policy will be
effective starting January 2018 till December 2022.
2. Loan waiver scheme of
Maharashtra Government:
The Maharashtra Govt. has released the sum of 4,000 crore rupees under the
first phase of the over 34,000 crore rupees farm loan waiver scheme. A list of
8.4 lakh beneficiaries has been uploaded online and it would be sent to banks. From
a single bank account, money will be transferred to banks and they will be
asked to deposit the money in farmers' accounts as per the list.
3.'Online
chat' platform to answer queries
of taxpayers: Income
Tax Department has launched an online chat service for taxpayers. They can get
answers to their basic queries and doubts relating to direct tax issues. A
window has been hosted on the main page of the department's website 'incometaxindia.gov.in' with a prominent icon stating Live Chat Online- ask your query. A person can
enter the 'chat room' by furnishing an email-id and ask questions as a guest. A
team of experts from the department and independent tax practitioners has been
deputed to answer the general queries of a taxpayer.
4. Kamle - 23rd district approved by Arunachal Assembly: The Arunachal Assembly passed a bill
paving way for creation of a new district to be named Kamle (bifurcating
Subansiri districts). Now, the total number of districts in the state shot up
to 23.
It consists of six administrative units, three under
Lower Subansiri and three under Upper Subansiri.
5. Reduction
in
call rates on Satellite Phone used by armed forces: The Union Govt. has abolished the monthly
charges on Digital Satellite Phone Terminal (DSPT) and reduced call rates to 1
rupee per minute to personnel of military and paramilitary. The Defence, as well as paramilitary personel will be
able to make calls to their families using the satellite phone for Rs 1 per
minute (existing Rs 5 per minute). Now, no monthly fee will be taken for using the
service.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. India, Brazil & South
Africa sign IBSA Trust Fund agreement: India, Brazil and South Africa signed the
IBSA Trust Fund Agreement that seeks to fight poverty in developing countries. The agreement was signed by Minister of
State for External Affairs V K Singh who led the Indian side at the 8th IBSA
trilateral Ministerial Commission Meeting in Durban. The IBSA Trust Fund brings together the three emerging
economies of India, Brazil and South Africa to combat poverty in other
developing countries. Each
country contributes USD 1 million annually to this fund which is managed by the
UN Development Programme's (UNDP) Special Unit for South-South Cooperation.
2. South Africa displace India from top of ODI
rankings: India lost their number one status in ICC ODI
rankings to South Africa. Now, India and South Africa have identical 120 points
against their name, India is placed second on the basis of decimal points. Recently,
India had claimed the top spot in the ICC rankings following their 4-1 win over
Australia at home recently.
OTHER UPDATES:
HONOURS/AWARDS:
1. Environmental scientist
Schellnhuber receives Blue Planet Prize: The world’s most prestigious award for
pioneers in environmental science has been given to Hans Joachim Schellnhuber
in Tokyo. The Blue Planet Prize honors outstanding thinkers who help to meet
challenges of planetary dimensions.
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