Syllabus subtopic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources, issues relating to poverty and hunger.
News: Data released by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on enforcement of norms has noted that 3.7% of the samples collected and analysed were found unsafe, 15.8% substandard and 9% samples had labelling defects.
Prelims and Mains focus: About the key findings of the report and its significance
Key findings of the report:
Source: The Hindu
Syllabus subtopic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
News: The Finance Minister introduced two Bills in the Lok Sabha viz International Financial Authority Bill, 2019 and the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019,
Prelims and Mains focus: About the details of the Bills introduced and their significance
Context: It was noticed that many countries, the world over, had reduced corporate income-tax to attract investments and create employment opportunities, thus, necessitating the need of similar measures in the form of reduction of corporate income-tax payable by domestic companies in order to make Indian industry more competitive. Therefore, it was felt that a fiscal stimulus through reduction of corporate income-tax rate of domestic companies may be provided so as to attract the investment, generate employment and boost the economy of the country.
International Financial Authority Bill, 2019
Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019
Source: Indian Express
Syllabus subtopic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
News: The last remaining engine of India’s capital expenditure cycle, state government capex, is losing steam and could slow down further as state finances come under increasing strain, posing a risk to a capex revival in the country.
Prelims and Mains focus: about capital expenditure; the recent economic slowdown and its impact on various sectors of Indian economy
Background:
Over the past two decades, state governments have led public investments in India. As private investments dried up in the past few years, the role of state governments became even more central to sustain investments in the country.
However, with state finances under stress, state capex plans have been trimmed, further dampening a subdued capex cycle in the country. Rising expenditure on the revenue account, including populist spending on farm loan waivers, has crimped the ability of state governments to drive the capex cycle. The past couple of quarters saw a sharp drop in new project announcements, data from the project tracking database of the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) shows .
The value of new state government projects saw a 75% decline from the year-ago period in the June-ended quarter of 2019, settling at the lowest in 15 years.
If the 15th Finance Commission decides to give in to the exorbitant demands of the central government, state finances would be hit badly and their capex plans will likely be trimmed further.
Why is state govt led capex expenditure crucial?
Reasons for downfall in investments:
Conclusion:
With state finances being hit because of UDAY-related as well as other commitments, room for capex funding is likely to remain low. With the last remaining capex driver in the country being hit, a sustained revival in India’s investment cycle is likely to be further delayed.
Source: Livemint
Syllabus subtopic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
News: The Supreme Court on Monday lashed out at the Punjab and Haryana governments for their inability to prevent pollution from stubble burning despite orders from the court, saying the smog from the fires had made Delhi a living hell.
Prelims and Mains focus: about delhi’s pollution and the impact of stubble burning, challenges to tackle it
Remarks of the judges:
What is suo motu cognisance?
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB):
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), statutory organisation, was constituted in September, 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. Further, CPCB was entrusted with the powers and functions under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
Functions:
Source: The Hindu
Syllabus subtopic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
News: Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere hit a new record in 2018, exceeding the average yearly increase of the last decade and reinforcing increasingly damaging weather patterns, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Monday.
Prelims and Mains focus: About WMO, green house gases and their impact on the environment, ways to tackle their harmful effects
Key highlights of the report:
About WMO:
Reports published by WMO:
Functions:
Source: The Hindu
Syllabus subtopic: Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate
News: Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy on Monday introduced the Special Protection Group (Amendment) Bill, 2019 in the Lok Sabha
Prelims and Mains focus: about the key features of the Bill and its significance
Purpose of the Bill:
The statement of objects and reasons of the Bill said that it is “considered to amend the Act to focus on core mandate, as the security of the Prime Minister, as Head of the Government, is of paramount importance for Government, governance and national security.”
Key features of the amending Bill:
Origins of SPG:
Categories of security:
Besides the SPG, VIPs in India are protected by other security forces as well. The levels of security cover are determined by the threat perception around the individual.
Source: The Hindu
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