Best of PIB: 20 Jan 2017

India concludes MoU on MSME Cooperation with Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Member Countries

  • The MoU will take effect for each party upon signature by 5 countries

The focus areas of the Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) are

  • To finalize linkages and alliances amongst MSMEs organizations, associations and various institutions engaged in MSME development in their countries.
  • Exchange best practices, policies and programs for MSME development
  • Exchange greater involvement of MSMEs in the global supply chain, increase their market access.
  • Promote youth and women’s economic empowerment.
  • Encourage synergies with the IORA forum
  • An IORA special fund has been created for the member countries to use it for to carrying out activities envisaged under this MoU.

About IORA

  • The IORA is formed by 21 member countries
  • Was formed in 1997
  • The present chair is Indonesia

 

Corporate push to Namami Gange

  • The ministry organised a workshop in order to give a corporate push to Namami
  • The representatives from Public sector and private sector attended the workshop

The Clean Ganga Fund

  • Set up in 2014
  • Is a trust chaired by Union Finance Minister
  • The contributions in this fund by corporates are considered as a part of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility)

About National Mission on Clean Ganga (NMCG)

  • It’s a project/programme announced by the central government which focuses on integrating various efforts or earlier missions related to cleaning Ganga
  • The project will cover 8 states
  • The Program will be implemented by NMCG and its state counterpart organisations – SPMGs (State Program Management Groups)
  • The NMCG (National Mission on Clean Ganga) is the implementing authority/arm of the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA)
  • The program has an outlay of Rs 20000 Cr spread across five years (from 2015 to 2020)

 

Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Deposit Scheme (PMGKDS), 2016 – Amendment

  • The government of India has given a clarification that the co-operative banks are not Authorized Banks to collect deposits under the mentioned scheme
  • Under this scheme, any person who has undisclosed income can come forward disclose the income and deposit the tax to the Authorized Banks

About PMGKDS

  • The scheme will be open from December 17, 2016 till 31st March 2017
  • Tax will be levied at 30% of the undisclosed income, surcharge @33% of tax and penalty @10% of such income is payable
  • Also 25% of the undisclosed income will be deposited in Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Deposit Scheme, 2016. The deposits are interest free and have a lock-in period of four years.
  • The income declared under the Scheme shall not be included in the total income of the declarant under the Income-tax Act for any assessment year.
  • The declarations made under the Scheme shall not be admissible as evidence under any Act (eg. Central Excise Act, Wealth-tax Act, Companies Act etc.). However, no immunity will be available under Criminal Acts mentioned in section 199-O of the Scheme
  • If the declarations are not made, then the taxation level may go up to 77.25% of such income and further a penalty of 10% of the income will also be levied.

 

Government to support Tangaliya weavers in purchasing looms

  • The government to provide support/assistance amounting 90% of the looms
  • The minister has announced the formation special association of Tangaliya Workers, which will work in their interest
  • The minister also proposed that the weavers should avail the MUDRA loans

About Tangaliya Weaving tradition

  • It is a 700-year-old indigenous weave of Gujarat which employs an exquisite technique of weaving, using raw wool yarn
  • Tangaliya is a dotted woven textile in Sundernagar District (Saurashtra).
  • It is found only in Gujarat
  • It is worn by the women of Bharwad Shepherd Community

 

CCI (Competition Commission of India)

  • CCI has imposed penalties on three firms for bid rigging of tenders floated by Indian Railways for procurement of Brushless DC fans in the year 2013
  • CCI has imposed penalties on 7 cement companies for bid rigging of a tender floated by the Director, Supplies & Disposals, Haryana, in the year 2012, for procurement of cement to be supplied to Government Departments/ Boards/ Corporations in the State of Haryana

About CCI

  • The act passed in 2002 and became functional in 2009
  • It is a quasi-judicial body

The mandate

  • To prevent practices having adverse effect on competition
  • To promote and sustain competition in markets
  • To protect the interest of the consumers
  • To ensure freedom of trade

In the Indian markets. The act also mandates an extra territorial jurisdiction to the commission

  • The act was amended in 2007, Competition Appellate Tribunal(COMPAT) was set up to hear appeals on the orders of CCI
  • International Competition Network (ICN) has decided that Competition Commission of India would host the 2018 ICN Annual Conference (CCI is a member of ICN since 2003 and last such conference was held in Singapore in 2016, Portugese will hold it in 2017)
  • 28TH Dantan Gramin Mela -2017 inaugrated at Dantan, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal
  • Shri Alok Kumar Verma Appointed as New CBI Director

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