Current affairs - July 19, 2016
The Supreme Court has upheld
almost all the recommendations of the R.M. Lodha Committee to overhaul the
cricket administration at the end of a long hearing spanning over two years
during which BCCI and State associations fought tooth-and-nail to protect their
turf. The apex court found no reason to interfere with the recommendations.
- The apex court approved most of the recommendations and has given a time period of six months to BCCI to implement all the changes.
Kerala House adopts
resolution against merger of SBT with SBI
A substantive motion moved by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi
Vijayan, asking the Union government and the RBI to desist from merging the
State Bank of Travancore (SBT) with the State Bank of India (SBI), was recently
adopted by the Assembly.
- SBT was formed way back in 1946 and was the succour of the Kerala government as a huge majority of its transactions was done through the bank.
- The majority union of SBT has already expressed deep concern in the move by the State Bank of India for the acquisition of its five associate banks including SBT.
Central Board of Direct Taxes
(CBDT) signs seven Unilateral Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs)
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has entered into seven Unilateral Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs) with Indian taxpayers. Some of
these agreements also have a “Rollback” provision in them.
- The APAs signed pertain to various sectors of the economy like banking, Information Technology and Automotives. The international transactions covered in these agreements include software development Services, IT enabled Services (BPOs), Engineering Design Services and Administrative & Business Support Services.
- With these signings, the total number of APAs entered into by the CBDT has reached 77. This includes 3 bilateral APAs and 74 Unilateral APAs. In the current financial year, a total of 13 Unilateral APAs have been entered into so far.
Centre releases ₹100 cr for Atal Pension Yojana
The Centre has released nearly ₹100 crore as its share of
contribution for members of the Atal Pension Yojana. The fund has been released
through the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority.
- The scheme has over 30 lakh subscribers and the Finance Ministry estimates that about 5,000 new subscribers are added every day.
High-value transactions under scanner
The CBDT is looking into about nine lakh pieces of information of high-value transactions and planning to send preliminary notices to the suspected cases. Out of the total nine lakh pieces, one lakh cases valued over Rs 1 crore are under the department’s scanner.
- CBDT Chairman- Atulesh Jindal
KTR
for Sri Lanka Human Capital Summit:
Minister for IT, Municipal Administration & Urban
Development and Industries, Telanagana: K.T. Rama Rao has been invited to be the guest of honour at the inaugural session
of the first ever Sri Lanka Human Capital Summit 2016 to be held on August 11
and 12 at the Taj Samundra Hotel, Colombo.
- The Summit is being organised by the Sri Lanka Government in collaboration with the World Bank, ADB and the ILO will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremensinghe, who will speak on ‘Sri Lanka as a Talent Capital’. The deliberations will be on human capital opportunities aiming to develop a national agenda to support Sri Lanka’s economic growth plans.
- Mr. Rao has been asked to talk about ‘Building a future ready workforce’ - how the State Government enhances the employability and competitiveness of employees and job seekers so as to build a workforce to meet the challenging needs of Indian economy.
Koti Lingala on verge of submergence:
Koti Lingala, the shrine of Shiva, as well
as the first capital city of the Satavahana dynasty said to date back to 271 BCE, located on the shores of the Godavari, is on the verge of submergence with the backwaters of the Sripada
Yellampalli project lapping at the temple shrine. Sripada
Yellampalli project is an irrigation project located at Yellampalli Village in
Karimnagar district – Adilabad district in Telangana. The beginning of the
Satavahana rule is dated variously from 271 BCE to 30 BCE. Satavahanas
dominated the Deccan region from the 1st century BCE to the 3rd century CE. The
dynasty reached its zenith under the rule of Gautamiputra
Satakarni and his successor Vasisthiputra
Pulamavi.
National Green Tribunal order:
The National Green Tribunal
(NGT) has ordered Road Transport Offices (RTO) in Delhi to de-register all
diesel vehicles that are over 10 years old and directed it to share data
of the vehicles that will be de-registered. The police in turn are to take
appropriate steps to implement the directions of the green court. These
measures were being brought in to ensure that air quality improves as schemes
run by the state government, including odd-even, weren’t enough. On April 7,
2015, the NGT had ordered a ban on diesel vehicles over 10 years old. The order
was challenged, but the NGT dismissed the appeal.
Clarification from MHA:
The Ministry of Home Affairs
(MHA) has clarified that the Delhi CM does not have the powers to
sign on suspension orders of any Delhi government
official. According to the rules, the Delhi government does not have power to
suspend any All India Services officer. Also, a Chief Minister cannot issue
suspension orders on his own. It is the prerogative of the Home Ministry.
F9Space 'X':
The Falcon 9 Space'X' launched towards the International Space Station from Cape Canaveral, Florida, carrying load of supplies carryiing a load of suppliers for the astronauts living in space.
Person in News:
1. Navjot Singh Sidhu:
- He resigned as a member of Parliament (Rajyasabha)
- Recently, He elected as Rajyasabha member.
2. K J George:
- He resigned as Bengalore city development minister
- Mr.George resignation made after HC ordered the police to file against minister.
