Recently,the Mumbai Customs department has stopped clearing parcels under the gifts and samples route. According to the Foreign Trade Act,gift items of a value of up to ₹5,000 received from foreign countries to people residing in India are exempted from customs duty. However,there is no cap on the number of gifts an individual can receive.… Continue reading CBIC seeks inputs to combat ‘gift’ import duty loophole
Author: ForumIAS
Plastics industry seeks export schemes, tax benefits for MSMEs
All India Plastics Manufacturers’ Association(AIPMA) has said that plastics industry is under severe stress due to environmental challenges. They have asked the government for export promotion schemes for Micro,Small, Medium Enterprises(MSMEs) in the plastic sector and removal of anti-dumping duty on machines not made in India. The industry has sought allocation of 25% of the… Continue reading Plastics industry seeks export schemes, tax benefits for MSMEs
Explained: PM Modi called for ‘One Nation, One Election’. What does this idea mean?
Prime Minister has called for ‘one nation,one election’.He said that a committee would be formed to discuss the idea with all political parties. One nation,One Election is the method of holding single elections for both Lok Sabha and States instead of separate and continuous elections. Simultaneous elections are not new to India.They were the norm… Continue reading Explained: PM Modi called for ‘One Nation, One Election’. What does this idea mean?
Chhattisgarh doubles OBC quota, hikes SC benefits
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister has announced an increase in reservations for OBCs and Scheduled Castes in state government jobs and education. The government has decided to increase the quota for Scheduled Castes by 1% (at present it is 12%) The reservation for OBCs will be increased from 14% to 27%. The quota for Scheduled Tribes will… Continue reading Chhattisgarh doubles OBC quota, hikes SC benefits
Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019
Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill 2019 aims at the social, economic and educational empowerment of transgender persons. Under the bill, transgender persons are defined as those “whose gender does not match the gender assigned to that person at birth and includes trans-men or trans-women, persons with intersex variations, gender-queers, and persons having socio-cultural identities”… Continue reading Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019
Government to launch Jal Jeevan Mission to bring piped water to households: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day speech, has said that Rs 3.5 lakh crore will be spent in the coming years under the Jal Jeevan Mission to bring piped water to households. Jal Jeevan Mission seeks to provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections (HarGharJal) to all rural households… Continue reading Government to launch Jal Jeevan Mission to bring piped water to households: PM Modi
Microplastics in snow raise pollution worries
Scientists have detected microplastic particles in the Arctic and the Alps. The microplastics had been carried by the wind and later washed out in the snow. The study has been published in the journal Science Advances. The high microplastic concentrations in snow has indicated significant contamination of the atmosphere. This has raised concerns about potential… Continue reading Microplastics in snow raise pollution worries
July hottest month on record for the earth
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has announced that July was the hottest month on record (records date to 1880). The global average surface temperature in July 2019 was 0.95 degree Celsius warmer than the 20th century average. The previous hottest month on record was July 2016. The areas that had the most notable… Continue reading July hottest month on record for the earth
Fusarium (TR4) fungus
Colombia has declared a national emergency after Fusarium (TR4) fungus was detected in soil in La Guajira. Fusarium (TR4) fungus causes Fusarium wilt disease in banana plants. It is also known as Panama disease. The fungus attacks the roots and blocks the plants’ vascular systems Fusarium (TR4) was first detected in the 1990s in Malaysia… Continue reading Fusarium (TR4) fungus
Answers: Mains Marathon – UPSC Mains Current Affairs Questions – August 14, 2019
Q.1) “Although development of tolerance is the first step for unity in India, what required is a positive celebration of cultural differences in India.” Comment. Answers Q.2) “In the era of growing social media tentacles across the globe, scrutiny of the facts and data is need of the hour.” Discuss. Answers Q.3) Discuss various provisions… Continue reading Answers: Mains Marathon – UPSC Mains Current Affairs Questions – August 14, 2019
