×

UPSC Courses

DNA banner

DAILY NEWS ANALYSIS

  • 22 January, 2024

  • 2 Min Read

Windfall tax – Petroleum

India cut its windfall tax on petroleum crude to 1,700 rupees ($20.53) a tonne from 2,300 rupees a tonne, according to a recent government notification.

Windfall Tax

It is a tax levied by governments against certain industries when economic conditions allow those industries to experience significantly above-average profits.

  • The term “windfall” refers to an unexpected rise in profits, and the tax on windfall gains is known as the windfall tax.

When is it imposed?

    • When the government notices a sudden increase in an industry's revenue, they impose this tax.
    • However, these revenues cannot be linked to anything the company actively pursues, such as its business strategy or expansion.
    • Rather, it is related to a one-off external event for which the business is not responsible.
    • Consequently, a Windfall Tax is imposed on an industry's profits when it experiences a sharp increase in revenue due to unrelated external events.
    • A recent example is the sudden rise in the profits of the oil and gas industries due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
    • The unexpected windfalls are taxed by the government over and above the normal tax rates.

The most common industries that fall target to windfall gains tax include oil, gas, and mining.

Purpose:

    • Redistribution of unexpected gains when high prices benefit producers at the expense of consumers;
    • To fund social welfare schemes;
    • As a supplementary revenue stream for the government;
    • As a way for the Government to narrow the country’s widening trade deficit.

Source:


Formation Day

On 1st November, eight Indian states—Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Tamil Nadu—along with five Union Territories—Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Delhi, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry—celebrate their Formation Day. This date marks an important milestone in India

Turtle (Kachhua) Wildlife Sanctuary

The Turtle Wildlife Sanctuary, also known as the Kachhua Sanctuary, is located in the Varanasi district of Uttar Pradesh. It is recognised as India’s first freshwater turtle wildlife sanctuary, established to conserve endangered turtle species and support the ecological health of the Ganga River. Location and Extent The sanctuary co

Introduction of AI and Computational Thinking (CT) in

The Ministry of Education plans to introduce Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Computational Thinking (CT) from Class 3 onwards in the 2026–27 academic year. This initiative is part of the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023 and aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The aim is to prepare student

Sal Tree

Scientists from the Environment Department of Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) in Shimla have recently revealed that the Sal tree (Shorea robusta) is the most effective natural air purifier for combating rising pollution levels. Their findings highlight the tree’s superior capacity to trap dust, absorb gases, and cleanse the air compared

US Resumes Nuclear Weapon Testing

The President of the United States has ordered the resumption of nuclear weapon testing after a gap of 33 years, the last test being in 1992. This decision marks a significant shift in global nuclear policy and has far-reaching implications for geopolitics, the environment, and international security. Status of Global Nuclear Weapon Testing

DNA

03 Dec,2025

Toppers

Search By Date

Newsletter Subscription
SMS Alerts

Important Links

UPSC GS Mains Crash Course - RAW Prelims Answer Key 2024