Comprehensive News Analysis - 15 December 2016

A. GS1 Related

Nothing here today folks!

B. GS2 Related

1. Rajya Sabha passes Disabilities Bill with more benefits

Category: Polity and Governance   

Topic: Government Initiatives  

Key Points:

• The Rajya Sabha on 14th Dec,2016 passed the Disabilities Bill with the list of ‘disabilities’ expanded from seven to 21 and the quantum of reservation increased for people suffering from disabilities from three per cent to four per cent in government jobs.
• Significantly, in higher education institutions, the quota has been increased from three per cent to five percent.
• It is important to note that in the Bill, disability has been defined based on an evolving and dynamic concept.
• The types of disabilities now include mental illness, autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, chronic neurological conditions.

2. NSG waiver has attendant risks, govt. tells Lok Sabha

Category: International Relations 

Topic: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests

Key Points:

• The government told the Lok Sabha on 14th Dec, 2016 that India wants full membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) as the current arrangement with the elite club carries “attendant risks”.
• It is important to note that India is currently engaged in nuclear trade with international partners based on a waiver from the NSG in 2008.
• This waiver is in the form of a concession without according India the status of a full member and therefore has an element of unpredictability and attendant risks in the long run for India’s long-term nuclear power programme.
• Significantly, this is the first time the government has declared the waiver in such terms.
• It is important to note that full membership of the NSG would enable India to have enhanced and predictable global access to nuclear technology, fuel, materials and components required for her expanding civil nuclear programme.
• It would advance energy security, contribute to India’s growth strategy based on clean energy to combat climate change, and strengthen global nuclear non-proliferation.

3. GOP veterans endorse Tillerson

Category: International Relations 

Topic: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests

Key Points:

• Republican national security veterans  appear to be lining up to endorse Rex Tillerson, Donald Trump’s choice for Secretary of State.
• Rex Tillerson has close links with Russia and President Vladimir Putin.

C. GS3 Related

1. Cabinet clears Bill to give autonomy to 12 major ports

Category: Indian Economy 

Topic: Government Policy, Infrastructure- Ports  

Key Points:

• The Union Cabinet on 14th Dec, 2016 approved the draft Major Port Authorities Bill, 2016 to replace the existing Major Port Trusts Act, 1963 in a bid to empower 12 major ports to perform with greater efficiency on account of full autonomy in decision-making.
• Under the proposed Bill, all PPP operators will be free to fix tariffs based on market conditions.

D. GS4 Related

E. Important Editorials: A Quick Glance

1. Demonetisation’s deflationary shock?

Category: Indian Economy  

Topic: Government Policy  

Key Points:

• It was never in doubt that the Centre’s decision to withdraw high-denomination banknotes was going to impact economic activity in the short term.
• As the demand for a range of goods and services has been damped, the deflationary shock has manifested itself in a deceleration in retail inflation.

Note to candidates:

Aspirants are advised to read about the impacts of demonetization. Kindly refer to the below video on demonetization.

Indian Express

1. 1971 in 2016

Category: International Relations 

Topic: India and the Neighbourhood

Key Points:

• It is important to note that despite India’s well-known role in the creation of Bangladesh, the 45 years have not always been spent in neighbourly bonhomie.
• There have been disputes over territory, water-sharing rights, illegal immigration, cross-border insurgency and terrorism have dogged Indo-Bangladesh relations.
• Just three years after the birth of Bangladesh as an independent nation, its then prime minister, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, signed a Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) with then Indian PM, Indira Gandhi, to exchange enclaves and simplify the international border between the two countries.
• Unfortunately, it took 41 years for a revised version of this agreement to be adopted.

Promising Signs

• However, in the past seven years, India and Bangladesh have shown intent in developing good relations.
• Bangladesh features prominently in India’s Act East Policy and both countries are willing to look beyond the SAARC by being part of groupings such as BCIM (Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar) and BIMSTEC (the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) that extend South Asia’s connectivity with Southeast Asia and China.
• Bangladesh has witnessed a steady economic growth over the past decade. 
• India’s relations with Bangladesh have gone well, but much more needs to be done.

PIB

1. Filing of Revised Income Tax Returns by the Tax Payers Post De-Monetisation of Currency

Category: Indian Economy

Topic: Government Policy

Key Points:

• Under the existing provisions of Section 139(5) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (‘Act’), Revised Return can only be filed if any person, who has filed a return under Section 139(1) of the Act or in response to notice u/s 142(1), discovers any omission or any wrong statement therein.
• Post demonetization of the currency on 8th November, 2016, some taxpayers may misuse this provision to revise the return-of-income filed by them for the earlier assessment year, for manipulating the figures of income, cash-in-hand, profits etc. with an intention to show the current year’s undisclosed income (including the unaccounted income held in the form of demonetized currency in current year) in the earlier return.
• It is hereby clarified that the provision to file a revised return of income u/s 139(5) of the Act has been stipulated for revising any omission or wrong statement made in the original return of income and not for resorting to make changes in the income initially declared so as to drastically alter the form, substance and quantum of the earlier disclosed income.
• It is brought to the notice of tax payers that any instance coming to the notice of Income-tax Department which reflects manipulation in the amount of income, cash-in-hand, profits etc. and fudging of accounts may necessitate scrutiny of such cases so as to ascertain the correct income of the year and may also attract penalty/prosecution in appropriate cases as per provision of law.

2. Skill development and generation of jobs critical for India, says President

Category: Polity and Governance   

Topic: Government Initiatives  

Key Points:

• President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee addressed the Annual Day Celebrations of CII Chhindwara Skill Training Center at Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh on December 14, 2016.
• Speaking on the occasion, the President said India with the second largest population in the world will face a major challenge in the coming years. Half of its population will be below 25 years of age. Our young workforce will be an asset if they have jobs. But, if the country is unable to provide jobs, there will be unrest, and frustration.
• Significantly, the President observed that, “Our universities and colleges produce a large number of graduates every year but most of them are unemployable. Our youth need jobs. On the other hand, our industry has problems finding adequate skilled manpower.”
• The President also observed that the National Skill Development Council was created in 2010 to address this challenge.
• It is important to note that the present Government went on to create a Ministry for Skill Development in 2014 to provide focused attention to the need for large scale skill development.

3. Development of Traditional Dhabas

Category: Polity and Governance   

Topic: Government Initiatives- Tourism

Key Points:

• The standing committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture has emphasised in its 229th report that traditional Dhabas should be developed and maintained with highest cleanliness, hygiene and authenticity of their local cuisine.
• The scheme ‘Hunar Se Rozgar Tak” is very beneficial for training people already employed or self employed in dhabas, restaurants, eateries etc. to learn basis skill of this sector thus making them tourist friendly, cleaner, hygienic with serving local cuisine in local ambience and incentivizing them to serve the tourist better.

4. Cabinet approves signing of an Agreement between India and Kyrgyzstan on cooperation in the field of agriculture and food related industry

Category: International Relations   

Topic: Agreements involving India 

Key Points:

• The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare for Signing of an Agreement between India and Kyrgyzstan on cooperation in the field of agriculture and food related industry.
• The proposed agreement between India and Kyrgyzstan covers various activities in the field of agriculture and allied sector including but not restricted to areas such as exchange of information and experience in the field of research; animal breeding, Avian Influenza and Food & Mouth Disease (FMD); veterinary medicine; plant growing, production of seeds based on modern technology, certification of seed; introduction of different types of irrigation, & establishing Indian Pilot Project; information technology on efficient use of food processing and packaging technology.
• Apart from exchange of information, the MOU also provided for cooperation in the field of protection of plant variety rights; agricultural, food trade and horticulture; agricultural research & education, horticultural research & education and food safety and standards; aquaculture and fisheries, etc.

5. Cabinet approves replacement of ‘Major Port Trusts Act, 1963’ with ‘the Major Port Trust Authorities Bill, 2016’ 

Category: Polity and Governance    

Topic: Government Initiatives  

Key Points:

• The Union Cabinet, has approved the proposal of Ministry of Shipping to replace the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963 by the Major Port Authorities Bill, 2016. 
• This will empower the Major Ports to perform with greater efficiency on account of full autonomy in decision making and by modernizing the Institutional structure of Major Ports.
• With a view to promote the expansion of port infrastructure and facilitate trade and commerce, the proposed bill aims at decentralizing decision making  and   to infuse  professionalism in governance of ports. 
• The new Major Ports Authority Bill, 2016 would help to impart faster and transparent decision making benefiting the stakeholders and better project execution capability.
• The Bill is aimed at reorienting the governance model in central Ports to landlord port model in line with the successful global practice.
• This will also help in bringing transparency in operations of Major Ports.

6. Mahila Police Volunteer Initiative launched in Haryana 

Category: Polity and Governance    

Topic: Government Initiatives  

Key Points:

• The Mahila Police Volunteer initiative was launched in Haryana on 14-December-2016.
• Haryana became the first state to adopt this scheme.
• This scheme was originally conceived by the Union Ministry of Women & Child Development.
• Mahila Police Volunteer is a joint initiative with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
• The Mahila Police Volunteer scheme envisages creation of a link between the police authorities and the local communities in villages through police volunteers who will be women specially trained for this purpose.
• It is important to note that the Ministry of Women and Child Development has undertaken a large number of initiatives for creating a safe and enabling environment for women in India.
• The Mahila Police Volunteers scheme is one such initiative.

7. Cabinet approves protocol amending the agreement between India and Tajikistan for avoidance of double taxation

Category: International Relations  

Topic: Agreements involving India  

Key Points:

• The Union Cabinet has approved the protocol amending the agreement between India and Tajikistan for avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income. 
• It is important to note that the protocol, after it enters into force, will enable sharing of information exchanged under Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement, DTAA with other law enforcement agencies for non tax purposes. 

8. Cabinet approves signing of revised Air Services Agreement between India and Nigeria

Category: International Relations 

Topic: Agreements involving India 

Key Points:

• The Union Cabinet has given its approval for signing of the revised Air Services Agreement (ASA) between India and Nigeria. 
• The revised Agreement signifies an important landmark in the civil aviation relations between India and Nigeria and has the potential to spur greater trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

F. Concepts-in-News: Related Concepts to Revise/Learn:

• The Right of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014
• Air Services Agreement (ASA)
• Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement
• Mahila Police Volunteer Initiative

G. BILLS/ACTS/SCHEMES/ORGS IN NEWS

The Right of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014 

H. Fun with Practice Questions 🙂

Question 1: Consider the following statements,

Question 2: Consider the following statements, 

Question 3: Consider the following statements,

Question 4: Consider the following statements,

Question 5: Consider the following statements,

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