Daily Current Affairs - 24 April
💥AFSPA LIFTED IN MEGHALAYA ( INTERNAL SECURITY)
With insurgency-related incidents in the northeast region down by 85% from the levels recorded at the peak of militancy two decades ago, the Centre has withdrawn the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) totally from Meghalaya. Earlier, the Act was effective in the State in the 20 km area along its border with Assam.
AFSPA, which gives special powers and immunity to the armed forces had been in force in Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh for almost 27 years. The two states bordering Assam were declared “disturbed” in 1991 to avoid a spillover effect of insurgency by Assam-based outfits like the United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa)
Along with Meghalaya decision is also taken to limit AFSPA in Arunachal Pradesh to eight police stations, instead of 16 earlier.
In 2015, the Tripura government had lifted AFSPA from the state after 18 years
👉Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA)
The AFSPA was enacted in 1958 to bring ‘disturbed’ areas declared under it under control. It empowers both state and central government to declare areas as ‘disturbed’ due to differences or disputes between members of different religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities.
The Act gives special powers to army and state and central police forces to shoot to kill, search houses and destroy any property used by insurgents in disturbed areas. It also provides army personnel with safeguards against malicious, vindictive and frivolous prosecution.
The Armed Forces Special Powers Act will now be in force in the whole of Assam and Nagaland, all of Manipur (except Imphal municipal area) and in three districts and eight police station areas of Arunachal Pradesh And in J&K.
💥SC NOTICE TO GOVT. ON PETITION TO OUTLAW SECTION 377 ( POLITY)
Acting on a plea challenging the Section 377, the Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Central government, as regarding its stand on striking down the colonial Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code which criminalises homosexuality.
The plea filed in front of Supreme Court is seeking the ‘Right to choice of sexual orientation’ to be declared as part of the fundamental right to life and personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution.
👉What is IPC – Section 377?
Section 377 of IPC — which came into force in 1862 criminalises sexual activities “against the order of nature”, including homosexual sexual activities.
The law says “Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to 10 years, and shall also be liable to fine.”
The section was decriminalized with respect to sex between consenting adults by the High Court of Delhi in Naz Foundation v. Government of NCT of Delhi (2009).
That judgement was overturned by the Supreme Court of India in Suresh Kumar Koushal v. Naz Foundation (2013), with the Court holding that amending or repealing Section 377 should be a matter left to Parliament, not the judiciary.
Hence, same-gender sex remains a crime in the country.
💥INDIA HIGHEST RECIPIENT OF REMITTANCES ( ECONOMY)
According to World Bank India topped as the highest recipient of remittances globally in 2017, with its diaspora sending back $69 billion home last year.
Remittances to India rose sharply by 9.9 per cent in 2017, reversing the previous year’s sharp decline but still remains short of $70.4 billion received in 2014
Remittance inflows improved in all regions and the top remittance recipients were India with $69 billion, followed by China ($64 billion), the Philippines ($33 billion), and Mexico ($31 billion). The stronger-than-expected recovery in remittances was driven by growth in Europe, Russia and the U.S.
The upsurge is likely to continue into 2018 on the back of stronger economic conditions in advanced economies and an increase in oil prices that should have a positive impact on remittance from the GCC countries.
👉Remittances
The money transfer by an individual who is working in a foreign country to a person in his or her home country is called as remittance. In developing countries, remittances made by migrants compete as one among the largest financial inflows, with international aid.
Importance of remittance:-
Remittances has helped lift millions out of poverty and unemployment in the above mentioned low to middle-income countries. It has also enhanced their standard of living and human development.
The positive impact of migration on economic growth and development through increased remittances is hence well established. The experience of Kerala, which receives remittances equalling 36.3% of its state GDP, is a testimony to this.
INTRA-STATE E-WAY BILLS: PHASE 3 TO START APR. 25 (GOVERNANCE)
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) announced that four more states, including Madhya Pradesh, and Union Territory of Puducherry will roll out the e-way bill for intra-state movement of goods from April 25 apart of phase 3 roll out of e-way bill system.
After the roll out of e-way bill for inter-state movement of goods from April 1 and government had decided to roll out intra-state e-way bills on phase manner in different states from April 15.
With the roll-out of the e-way bill system in these States/union territory, it is expected that trade and industry will be further facilitated insofar as the transport of goods is concerned, thereby eventually paving the way for a single e-way bill system
👉About E-way bill system
E-way bill is an electric document generated on the GST Portal, which is a common and shared information technology (IT) infrastructure between the Centre and States; and acts as evidence for movement of goods. The E-way bill must be raised before the goods are shipped and should include details of the goods, their consignor, recipient and transporter
A company or an entity can upload relevant information prior to movement of a goods consignment from one state to another. Subsequently, the E-way bill for that consignment is generated via the GST portal. The transporter is mandated to carry an electronically generated way bill, with every consignment having value exceeding INR 50,000.
The idea behind the e-Way bill is to stop evasion of tax, which will boost collection and in turn help the economy. Besides, the bill ensures goods being transported comply with the GST law and can track movement of goods.
The e-way bill provision of the goods and services tax (GST) was first introduced on February 1, 2018. However due to some technical issues, the GST Council decided to roll-out of the e-way bill starting with inter-state from April 1 and intra-state from April 15, 2018.
THREEFOLD SOLUTION FOR SUGAR PAYMENTS CRISIS (ECONOMY)
👉Context
Last month, the Food Ministry told Parliament that sugar mills had pending dues worth Rs. 13, 899 crore as in march. Then the central government’s threat of strong action against sugar mills for mounting arrears of payment to cane farmers has come along with a sustained fall in the price of sugar.
Sugar mills say they are unable to pay farmers due to a fall in sugar prices in the domestic market as sugar production is up almost 50% at 30 million tonnes this season crossing domestic consumption estimates.
In this context a Group of Ministers has come up with three suggestion to the Union Cabinet in an effort to resolve the crisis.
👉Recommendations
In a statement, Mr. Paswan said that the GoM headed by Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari discussed the three formulas to resolve the crisis;-
- A sugar cess,
- a production subsidy for cane farmers by reducing 18% GST levied on it to 5%
- and a reduction of the Goods and Services Tax on ethanol
Meanwhile the government is also looking for ways to incentivise value-added products, including molasses and ethanol, which could utilise the surplus harvest of sugarcane, and which would reduce the burden on the mills.
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