Syllabus subtopic: Government Policies and Interventions for Development in various sectors and Issues arising out of their Design and Implementation.
Prelims and Mains focus: about the move: need, objective and significance; case of dumping solar equipment and measures taken to curb it; about DGTR; BIS
News: The government has proposed to amend the Customs Act, 1962.
Background
Present Scenario
So far, the government had powers to only ban imports and exports of gold and silver under the Customs Act, 1962.
Need for the amendment
The steps come amid a global rise in protectionist policies to shield home-grown companies amid slowing economic growth.
Objective of the amendment
Other reforms proposed
The government also proposes to amend the Customs Tariff Act of 1975 to strengthen the mechanism to prevent dumping of cheap goods in the domestic market.
Case of Solar Equipments and measures taken by the govt.
About Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR)
About Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
Keeping in view, the interest of consumers as well as the industry, BIS is involved in various activities as given below:
Source: Livemint
Syllabus subtopic: India and its Neighborhood- Relations.
Prelims and Mains focus: about the move of Bhutan’s govt and its implications on Bhutan-India relations;
News: The National Assembly of Bhutan has passed a legislation named ‘Tourism Levy and Exemption Bill of Bhutan’, 2020.
What is it about?
Reason
Concerns raised against the move
‘Regional Tourists’ in Bhutan
Note: to read about India-Bhutan relations in detail, click on the link below.
http://www.southasiaathudson.org/blog/2018/3/6/india-bhutan-relations-past-present-and-future
Source: The Hindu
Syllabus subtopic: Important International Institutions, agencies and fora - their Structure, Mandate.
Prelims and Mains focus: about the certificate; about Intangible Heritage Promotion Project
News: Rajasthan Chief Minister will dedicate the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) world heritage site certificate for Jaipur to the people. A brochure on “intangible heritage promotion project” would also be released at the function.
Background
About Intangible Heritage Promotion Project
About Jaipur: capital of Rajasthan
Source: The Hindu
Syllabus subtopic: Government Policies and Interventions for Development in various sectors and Issues arising out of their Design and Implementation.
Prelims and Mains focus: about the move and its significance; about GST and GST Council
News: The government is planning to introduce lottery offers between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 1 crore under the GST to encourage customers to take bills while making purchases.
About the move
About GST
Other measures to be taken
Source: Indian Express
Syllabus subtopic: Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources, Growth, Development and Employment
Prelims and Mains focus: about the declining savings rate in India and its causes
Context: India has been witnessing a slowdown in consumption as well as savings for a while now, raising questions over the growth of real income in the economy.
Why are savings so important?
What has been the trend in savings rate?
India is not alone when it comes to a declining savings rate. Brazil, China and South Africa too witnessed a substantial decline in gross savings as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) since 2011. The decline came amid the slowest growth in world trade. In India, the savings rate as a percentage of GDP has declined by nearly 5% between 2011 and 2018.
Why cut exemptions amid falling savings?
Why is India’s savings rate going down?
Source: Livemint
Syllabus subtopic: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, Robotics, Nano-technology, Bio-technology and issues relating to Intellectual Property Rights.
Prelims and Mains focus: about the move and its significance; about quantum computing and its applications
News: The Union Budget 2020-21 proposal to earmark Rs.8,000 crore for quantum computing over the next five years can boost critical areas of the Indian economy, including space research and defence capabilities.
About the move
Need
The announcement is significant as the scale of investments necessary to make headway in quantum computing is not possible without the support of the government or large corporations. It should boost attempts of domestic technology providers, who have been keen to enter this field, but did not have the necessary scale or resources.
Significance of Quantum computing for India
Quantum Computing: Global scenario
What is quantum computing?
What's the difference?
Why do these quantum effects matter?
Applications
Source: Livemint
Syllabus subtopic: Basics of Cyber Security
Prelims and Mains focus: about the report: its findings and concerns associated; about PACS
News: Greenbone Sustainable Resilience, a German cybersecurity firm recently published an updated report on medical data leaks.
About the report
Key findings of the report
Why is it a concern?
How was the data leaked?
About PACS
Source: The Hindu
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