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GS 2
Effects of developed and developing countries policies
Qatar crisis: mending the rift: (The Hindu, Editorial)
The international community must push for a resolution of the Qatar crisis.
India may ask Myanmar to end ceasefire with NSCN(K): (The Hindu)
India may ask Myanmar to revoke its ceasefire pact with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K).
Government policies
Kasturirangan to head education committee: (The Hindu)
The Council will start its work from immediate effect.
Not for the children: (Indian Express, Editorial)
Our educational system seems tailored for its administrators. Students, teachers take second place. The main problem, as in other fields, is the abysmal quality of governance, with politics permeating every aspect of educational administration.
GS 3
Infrastructure and investment models
Cabinet to consider proposal for outright sale of Air India: (The Hindu)
The Union Cabinet will soon decide the fate of the state-owned carrier Air India by deliberating on three options to divest the government’s majority stake and consider the creation of a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to get rid of a major portion of its more than Rs. 50,000-crore debt.
Pollution and conservation
Motorisation costs to soar in 3 years: (The Hindu)
Larger workforce expected to settle in cities, people will travel longer distances to work; fuel expenses to rise by 34-36%.
India matches the world in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels: (The Hindu)
The first-ever picture of atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration over India shows that it is way above the safety mark and in line with what has been observed in other parts of the world.
Science and Tech
Who’s afraid of neutrinos?: (The Hindu, Editorial)
The India-based Neutrino Observatory would greatly advance scientific research.
Indian Economy. Planning, Growth and Employment
GST, an old new tax: (The Hindu, Editorial)
The GST, to be collected on everything from matchboxes to gold, will touch everyone. A modern tax system should be fair, uncomplicated, transparent and easy to administer.
E-tailers get GST relief, date for TDS deferred: (The Hindu)
Bringing significant relief to small businesses selling their wares on e-marketplaces, the Centre has decided to keep in abeyance the applicability of legal provisions pertaining to such businesses in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime along with requirements for e-commerce portals to deduct tax at source from sellers using their online marketplace.
GST Network open for registrations: (The Hindu)
The Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) portal has begun accepting registration requests from businesses that are yet to enrol themselves on the network that will serve as the back-end for the Goods and Services Tax regime being implemented from July 1.
Task force formed on aviation: (The Hindu)
The U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) have set up a task force for identifying opportunities in India’s civil aviation sector.
NPA resolution: well begun but half done: (Live Mint, Editorial)
The initiation of the NPA resolution process has brought in a certain degree of rigour, but it still lacks the credibility to be called a bold initiative.
Setting up the defence industrial ecosystem: (Live Mint, Editorial)
Much will depend on how the government’s ‘strategic partnership’ model plays out on the ground.
Prelims Related News
DNA used to make nano computers:
Scientists have built simple machines out of DNA, which can be used to make nanotech sensors, amplifiers and even a molecular computer.
Scorpenes to gain in endurance:
The Navy is planning to instal Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) modules on all six Scorpene submarines to extend their endurance.
