16 Apr 2024: PIB Summary for UPSC

16 Apr 2024 PIB
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Model Code of Conduct (MCC)
2. Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT)

1. Model Code of Conduct (MCC)

Syllabus: GS-2, Polity

Prelims/Mains: Model Code of Conduct (MCC), Election Commission of India, Electoral reforms in India

Context:

ECI states position on enforcement of MCC during first month.

Background:

• The Model Code of Conduct is a regulatory framework though without legal backing in the strict sense, designed to ensure a level playing field and uphold the principles of ethical campaigning. 
• The ECI reinforces the democratic ideals of transparency, fairness, accountability, and a level playing field through the effective implementation of the MCC.

Details:

• ECI has decided to place in the public domain its enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) during the first month of its operation, along with certain action details, so that misgivings and insinuations are addressed and stopped. 
• The Election Commission is engaging in this act to enhance transparency in the process.
• With a month completed since the MCC came into effect, the ECI is broadly satisfied with the compliance of the code by political parties and states that campaigns by various parties and candidates have remained largely clutter-free.
• The Model Code came into effect on 16th March 2024 with the announcement of the general elections to the Lok Sabha. 
• The Commission has specifically taken a firm stand in the matter of dignity and honour of women by issuing notices to leaders of parties who made derogatory and offensive remarks against women.

2. Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT)

Syllabus: GS-2, Polity & Governance

Prelims: Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT)

Mains: Taxation in India

Context:

CBDT signed a record number of 125 Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs) in FY 2023-24.

Details:

• This marks the highest-ever APA signings in any financial year since the launch of the APA programme.
• This includes 86 Unilateral APAs (UAPAs) and 39 Bilateral APAs (BAPAs). 
• This is a 31% increase compared to the 95 APAs signed during the preceding financial year. 
• The BAPAs were signed as a consequence of entering into Mutual Agreements with India’s treaty partners namely Australia, Canada, Denmark, Japan, Singapore, the UK and the US.

APA Programme:

• The Indian government introduced the Advance Pricing Agreement (APA) programme to provide much-needed tax certainty to multinational enterprises (MNEs) operating in India, particularly on their intra-group transactions, and in the process, adopt global best practices.
• It aims to provide certainty to taxpayers in the domain of transfer pricing by specifying the methods of pricing and determining the arm’s length price of international transactions in advance for a maximum of five future years. 
• With the taxpayer having the option to roll back the APA for four preceding years, tax certainty is provided for nine years. 
• The signing of bilateral APAs also protects taxpayers from any anticipated or actual double taxation.
• APAs have stood out as a model for dispute prevention. 
• They have greatly promoted the country’s ease of doing business, especially for MNEs with a huge number of cross-border transactions.

Read previous PIB articles here.