Must Read News Articles – March 17

The Hindu

Front Page / NATIONAL

Health spending to be 2.5% of GDP: The Centre cleared the long-awaited National Health Policy 2017, which promises to increase public health spending to 2.5% of GDP in a time-bound manner and guarantees health care services to all Indian citizens, particularly the underprivileged.

GST laws ready for Parliament, State Assemblies: 15 per cent cap on cess rate for aerated drinks, luxury cars.

Industries get 6 months for retrospective green nod: Union Environment Ministry has given a six-month window and a “one-time opportunity” to industrial projects functioning without environmental clearance (EC) to apply for a back-dated green certificate.

CAG pulls up I-T Dept. on shell companies: The Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG) has pulled up the Income Tax Department for not putting to use the tools at its disposal for effective action against shell companies that conceal unaccounted-for income and generate black money.

Editorial/OPINION

Leaving no one behind: The Vision 2030 document should formulate a disability-inclusive development agenda.

Economy

Start-up firms may soon find it easy to wind up: To enable faster exit for start-ups and to bring the winding up process in line with global best practices, the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) has written to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) to notify start-ups as ‘Fast Track firms.’