All India Radio News Summary: 04 NOVEMBER 2017
- EC directs officials to enhance surveillance on possible interstate movement of free goodies to induce voters.
The Election Commission reviewed the preparation of conduct of forthcoming Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections through video-conferencing. The polling for the 68-member State Assembly will be held next week on Thursday in a single-phase.
- The Election Commission directed officials to enhance surveillance on possible interstate movement of free goodies intended for distribution to induce electors.
- It asked to implement sealing of the interstate border on poll day to prevent any undue influence on polling from outside.
- The Commission directed Chief Secretaries of the neighbouring States to declare paid holidays on 9th November and 18th December for those electors of Himachal Pradesh who work in adjoining areas of the neighbouring states.
- GST is the biggest tax reform which will further improve India’s Ease of Doing Business Ranking – PM
Prime Minister interacted with the CEOs of top companies engaged in food processing and related sectors across the world in New Delhi. The interaction was part of the World Food India 2017.
- PM said, rising middle class and the policy-driven initiatives of the government are opening up several opportunities for all stakeholders in the food processing sector.
- He underlined his government’s resolve to reduce the input costs for farmers and eliminate losses due to wastage of farm produce.
- The CEOs stressed that the food processing sector is vital for raising farm productivity, food and nutrition security, creating jobs, and adding value to agricultural produce. They reaffirmed their commitment to be a part of India’s growth story.
- PM said, starting businesses in India is easier now as procedures have been simplified.
- Prime Minister exuded confidence that India’s ease of doing business ranking will further improve next year when the impact of GST is taken into account.
- India has in three years jumped 42 places to break into top 100 countries on World Bank’s ease of doing business ranking.
- The Prime Minister said,
- This ranking takes into account reforms initiated only till May-end and does not reflect the impact of the GST, which was implemented from 1st of July.
- The GST has not just integrated the nation of 1.2 billion into one market with one tax rate but also provided a stable and transparent taxation regime.
- Ease of Doing Business will lead to Ease of Life for every Indian. GST is a commendable reform done by the country and it will benefit the ease of doing business.
- Use of technology should minimise physical interface and assist time bound decision making. Government departments and state governments’ are deploying technology to improve governments’ and deliver services.
- No tax on cash sales of agricultural produce for less than 2 lakh rupees, says IT department.
The Income Tax Department has clarified that the cash sales of agricultural produce by a cultivator to a trader for less than 2 lakh rupees will not attract tax under the Income Tax Act.
- A circular issued by the Department said, the cultivator and the trader will also not have to provide their Permanent Account Number (PAN) or furnish Form 60.
- The clarification came following representations from stakeholders about applicability of income tax provision to cash sale of farm produce by farmers to traders.
- Urban Mobility India conference, Hyderabad
The Urban Mobility India conference begins in Hyderabad.Around 1,000 policy makers from India and 25 other countries will discuss public transport related issues during the three-day conference.
Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry in coordination with Telangana State Government and the Cooperation for Urban Mobility in the Developing World-CODATU is organising the three-day conference for the second time outside Delhi.
Significance:
- Increasing urban population is posing newer challenges to the policy makers around the world.
- Urban transportation and mobility is one such challenge especially in the wake of urban population likely to touch 50 per cent by 2050.
- Government of India has put in place a policy framework to address the urban transport and mobility issues about a decade ago.
- Experiences relating to urban transportation of 86 cities will be discussed during the conference. Case studies of cities like Bangkok and Santiago will also be discussed.
- Centre will provide seven hundred crore rupees for the development of Maoist-affected districts of Chhattisgarh
The Centre will provide seven hundred crore rupees for the development of Maoist-affected districts of Chhattisgarh.
- The funds will be provided in the next three years under the Special Central Assistance scheme.
- During the meeting, it was decided that more emphasis should be given on finding effective ways to provide maximum benefits of road and telephone connectivityand other public welfare schemes to beneficiaries.
- Digital payments show positive trends across India
Digital payments show positive trends across India, as revealed in the recent Reserve Bank of India statistics.
Cashless transactions in September have registered 13.5 per cent growth in value terms to nearly 125 lakh crore rupees as compared to the previous month.
- The RBI data suggests that people are getting more and more acquainted with digital transactions.
- In Tamil Nadu, State Bank of India witnessed the share of digital transactions increasing from 26 % to 44 % since demonetization that is an increase of 35 lakh transactions per month.
- There is an increase in acceptance by both individuals and institutions for online modes.
Significance:
- Transparency is going up, when the formal economy goes up, the load on the rest of the people for taxations comes down.
- Then the ability of the people to spend goes up and automatically the GDP gets multiplied.
- India created a Guinness world record today by cooking 918 kilograms of khichdi
India created a Guinness world record today by cooking 918 kilograms of khichdi, a traditional multi-grain dish, at the ongoing World Food India event in New Delhi.
- It was prepared by a team of 50 people led by Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, the brand ambassador of The Great India Food Street.
- The minimum requirement to create a world-record was 500 kilogram.
- Khichdi was distributed among ambassadors and other dignitaries who were present at the world-record moment.
- Odisha inaugurated the world famous historic Bali Jatra festival on the auspicious occasion of Kartik Purnima
The annual Bali Jatra festival, which commemorates the ancient maritime traditions of Odisha is being organized on the banks of Mahanadi river near Barabati Fort area in the city.
Bali Jatra:
- Literally means A Voyage to Bali.
- This festival is held in Odishain the city of Cuttack at Gadagadia Ghata of the Mahanadi river, to mark the day when ancient Sadhabas (Oriya mariners) would set sail to distant lands of Bali, as well as Java, Sumatra, Borneo (in Indonesia), and Sri Lanka for trade and cultural expansion.
- They sailed in large vessels called Boitas.
- Syria and Iraq have taken control of Islamic State terror group’s two strongholds in their countries.
Syria and Iraq have taken control of Islamic State terror group’s two strongholds in their countries.
- Syria’s army announced that it has taken Deir al-Zour.
- Iraqi Prime Minister (Haider al-Abadi) said, al-Qaim, across the border, had been recaptured by the government forces.
- Iraqi forces said, they have also seized the last border post between Iraq and Syria that was held by the terror group.
- Last month, a US-backed Syrian alliance took control of Raqqa in Syria, the former capital of Islamic State’s self-styled caliphate.
- In July, Mosul – Iraq’s second-largest city – was taken from IS after months of fighting.
