Best IAS Coaching in Kolkata | Chahal Academy

1. 19 September 2020: Daily Current Affairs for UPSC Exam General Studies – I (Indian Heritage & Culture, History & Geography of the World & Society) Topic: Festival 1) Mahalaya Prime Minister Narendra Modi has greeted the people on the occasion of Mahalaya.  Mahalaya is celebrated at the end of Shradh or Pitru Paksha, a 16-day period when Hindus pay homage to their ancestors. It is believed that goddess Durga descended the Earth on Mahalaya which is celebrated by the Bengalis across the globe with much fervour and zeal. Bengali people traditionally wake up early in the morning on Mahalaya to recite hymns from the Devi Mahatmya (Chandi) scripture. Offerings to the ancestors are made in homes and at puja mandaps (temporary shrines).   Source: PIB General Constitution, International Relations) Studies – II (Governance, Justice Polity, Social & Topic: Polity

2. 2) Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation & Amendment of Certain Provisions) Bill, 2020 In News FinMin introduced the Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of Certain Provisions) Bill, 2020 in the Lok Sabha for consideration.  The bill will replace the ordinance which was promulgated to provide relaxations related to compliance by extending the time limit and waiving penalty in relation to certain specified laws. These laws include the Income Tax Act, 1961 (IT Act), some Finance Acts, the Central Excise Act, 1944, the Customs Act, 1962, and the Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988. The ordinance which was brought earlier also extended the deadline for filing declaration and due amount under the Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme. The bill provides these relaxations in view of spread of the coronavirus pandemic in India. The bill proposes amendment in the IT Act to provide that donations made by a person to the PM CARES Fund will be eligible for 100 per cent deduction in the taxable income.     The Bill seeks to achieve the aforesaid objectives:  Clause 4 of the Bill seeks to amend certain provisions relating to Income-Tax Act, 1961. The proposed amendment to clause (4D) of section 10 provides for calculation of income of non-resident in the prescribed manner. The proposed amendment of the clause (23C) of section 10 empowers the Board to prescribed form and manner for application for approval to funds or trust or institution or any university or other educational institutions or any hospital or other medical institutions. The proposed insertion of new section 12AB relating to procedure for fresh registration empowers the Board to provide by rules the form and the manner in which the order under the said sub-section shall be passed. The proposed amendment to section 35 seeks to insert new proviso to subsection (1) which empowers the Board to provide by rules the form and manner of giving intimation by the research association, university, college or company, to the prescribed authority. The proposed amendment to sub-section (5) of section 80G empowers the Board to provide by rules the statement, time period, form and manner of verification, particulars and time for delivery of correction statement for rectification of any mistake in the information furnished in the said statement. It further proposes to empower the Board to make rules with regard to the manner, particulars and time for certificate of donation.     

3.  The proposed insertion of sub-section (1A) in section 115AD provides for calculation of income that is attributable to units held by non-resident in the prescribed manner. The matters in respect of which rules may be made are matters of procedure and administrative detail and it is not practicable to provide for them in the Bill itself. The delegation of legislative power is, therefore, of a normal character.  Additional Information Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme  This is a direct tax scheme announced in Budget 2020, for settling tax disputes between individuals and the income tax department. Earlier, the scheme offered complete waiver on interest and penalty to the taxpayers with a full and final settlement of the dispute if the scheme was availed by March 31, 2020. An individual opting for settlement after March 31, 2020 was required to pay additional 10 per cent penalty on the disputed tax amount.   Objectives of Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme 2020:    Reduce income tax pending litigation Generate timely revenues for the Government Help taxpayers end their tax disputes with the department by paying disputed tax and get waiver from payment of interest and penalty. Also get immunity from prosecution. Source: News on Air 3) National Generic Document Registration System In News Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir launched the National Generic Document Registration System for the union territory.

4.  Marking a major shift from the existing manual registration system to online registration for transactions in sale-purchase/ transfer of land and the stamp papers have been replaced by e-stamps which have been incorporated in coordination with Stockholding Corporation of India. This is a big step towards national integration and a leap towards “One Nation One Software.”  National Generic Document Registration System  The system was generated by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) to address the diversity and variations that prevails across the states on account of formats, languages, processes and formulae. The software enables “anywhere access” to information and data to both the Enforcement Agencies and to common man. The system has so far been adopted in three states namely, Punjab, Rajasthan and Maharashtra. Six more states and union territories such as Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Goa, Bihar, Manipur, Jharkhand and Mizoram are moving towards the system.   Features        The software is configurable as per State specific Property Registration Act. Facility for Online document entry by citizen. Online valuation module with stamp duty calculation. Role-based access to citizens and Department users. SMS facility to send alerts to citizens & departmental users. Hierarchy based maker/checker facility. eKYC - UID based authentication with the help of biometric or iris at the time of Admission. Linkage with Land records system. Interface for Online payment facility. Linkage with stamp inventory software to avoid duplicate usage of used stamp paper. Storage of copy of registered documents using scanning technology. View, download scanned documents to generate certified copy for an authorized user. Unicode based Local Language support. Registration anywhere within concurrent jurisdiction. Single log in credentials for all modules. Daily, Monthly & yearly MIS reports with cash book & other account related reports.          Benefits  It reduces the administrative overhead of Government departments by minimizing the use of paper, registration time and appointments prior proceeding to the SR office.

5.   All registration stake holders are on a single platform. Citizen empowerment by enabling property valuation on a click achieving easy of doing business. Security features  The NGDRS application has been security audited by empanelled audit agency and the application security audit, the certificate has been obtained. Aadhaar authentication / OTP based login facility is provided.  Source: Business World General Studies - III (Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Security and Disaster Management) Environment, Topic: Environment 4) World Bamboo Day In News World Bamboo Day is celebrated on 18th September every year. It is a day of celebration to increase the awareness of bamboo globally.  The theme for 11th edition of WBD 2020 is ‘BAMBOO NOW.’ Background  World Bamboo Day was established on September 18 at the 8th World Bamboo Congress held in Bangkok in 2009 and declared by the Thai Royal Forest Department. The World Bamboo Organization aims to bring the potential of bamboo to a more elevated exposure – to protect natural resources and the environment, to ensure sustainable utilization, to promote new cultivation of bamboo for new industries in regions around the world, as well as promote traditional uses locally for community economic development. 

6. Bamboo   Bamboos are evergreen perennial flowering plants. Bamboos include some of the fastest-growing plants in the world, due to a unique rhizome-dependent system. This rapid growth and tolerance for marginal land, make bamboo a good candidate for afforestation, carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation. Bamboos are of notable economic and cultural significance in South Asia, Southeast Asia and East Asia, being used for building materials, as a food source, and as a versatile raw product. Bamboo, is a natural composite material with a high strength-to-weight ratio useful for structures. Bamboo's strength-to-weight ratio is similar to timber, and its strength is generally similar to a strong softwood or hardwood timber.     Measures taken by government to boost Bamboo production  The Government of India has amended the century old Indian Forest Act to boost bamboo production and exploitation in the country. According to the amendment, Bamboo has been listed under grass. Earlier it was listed as trees which restricted its exploitation from forests, especially in the north east. The Government of India increased the import duty of raw bamboo items. This will help the domestic bamboo industries such as handicrafts, furniture and Agarbatti to make big way in the country. The GoI launched restructured National Bamboo Mission to promote growth of bamboo sector.    World Bamboo Organization  The World Bamboo Organization is a diverse group consisting of individual people, commercial businesses, non-profit associations, institutions, and allied trade corporations that all share a common interest = BAMBOO. Originally founded as the International Bamboo Association (IBA), the idea for an international coordinating body for bamboo practitioners was born out of discussions at the 1991 International Bamboo Workshop in Chiangmai, Thailand. The IBA was consequently established at the 1992 International Bamboo Congress in Japan. Through 1998 the IBA had been the coordinating platform for bamboo people around the world, with its primary responsibility being the International Bamboo Congress & International Bamboo Workshop.    Source: World Bamboo

7. Topic: Defence 5) Indian Navy aircraft carrier 'Viraat' In News Viraat, the decommissioned aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy, will begin its last journey today from Mumbai's Naval Dockyard to Alang in Gujarat. INS Viraat   INS Viraat (Giant) was a Centaur-class aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy. INS Viraat was the flagship of the Indian Navy before INS Vikramaditya was commissioned in 2013. The ship was completed and commissioned in 1959 as the Royal Navy's HMS Hermes, and decommissioned in 1984. It was sold to India in 1987. INS Viraat was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 12 May 1987, and served for almost 30 years. The last British-built ship serving with the Indian Navy, she was the oldest aircraft carrier in service in the world.    Preservation plans and scrapping  In July 2015, it was announced that the ship would be transferred to the Government of Andhra Pradesh for conversion into a museum ship. On 1 November 2018 the Maharashtra cabinet approved the conversion of Viraat into India's first moored maritime museum and marine adventure centre, to be located near Nivati, Sindhudurg district. The union government decided to scrap Viraat and held an online auction in August 2020, Gujarat-based shipping firm Shri Ram Shipping purchased the ship from the Metal Scrap Corporation. She was to be dismantled at Alang starting in September 2020.   Source: News on Air Topic: Economic Development 6) International Finance Corporation In News The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has said that two trillion dollars will be provided to India to develop green buildings, improve public transport and to expand renewable sources of energy.

8.  The announcement was made during the “e-DIALOGUE on Ease of Living and Sustainable Development Goals-2020-21", held in Mumbai. International Finance Corporation  IFC is an international financial institution that offers investment, advisory, and asset-management services to encourage private-sector development in less developed countries. The IFC is a member of the World Bank Group and is headquartered in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It was established in 1956, as the private-sector arm of the World Bank Group. The IFC is owned and governed by its member countries but has its own executive leadership and staff that conduct its normal business operations.    Green buildings in less developed countries  The IFC has created a mass-market certification system for fast growing emerging markets called EDGE ("Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies"). IFC and the World Green Building Council have partnered to accelerate green building growth in less developed counties. The target is to scale up green buildings over a seven-year period until 20% of the property market is saturated. Certification occurs when the EDGE standard is met, which requires 20% less energy, water, and materials than conventional homes.    Source: News on Air Topic: Environment 7) Blue Flag international eco-label In News Eight Indian beaches have been recommended for the coveted ‘Blue Flag’ international eco-label.   Blue Flag beaches are considered the cleanest beaches in the world. The eight beaches are - Shivrajpur in Gujarat, Ghoghla in Daman and Diu, Kasarkod and Padubidri beaches in Karnataka, Kappad in Kerala, Rushikonda in Andhra Pradesh, Golden Beach in Odisha and Radhanagar beach in Andaman and Nicobar. The announcement came on the eve of International Coastal Clean-Up Day, which is being celebrated with 100 countries since 1986. 

9. BEAMS (Beach Environment & Aesthetics Management Services)  India has its eco-label called "BEAMS" and is e-hoisting the flag simultaneously at these eight beaches. Beach Environment & Aesthetics Management Services (BEAMS) has been launched by the Society of Integrated Coastal Management (SICOM, MoEFCC) under its Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project (ICZM). It is one of the several other projects of ICZM that GoI is undertaking for the sustainable development of coastal regions striving for globally recognized and the coveted eco-label Blue Flag.   ‘Blue Flag’ certification/tag  The ‘Blue Flag’ is a certification that can be obtained by a beach, marina, or sustainable boating tourism operator, and serves as an eco-label. The certification is awarded by the Denmark-based non-profit Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), which sets stringent environmental, educational, safety-related and access-related criteria that applicants must meet and maintain. It is awarded annually to beaches and marinas in FEE member countries. FEE's Blue Flag criteria include standards for quality, safety, environmental education and information, the provision of services and general environmental management criteria.    Source: D D News Topic: Technology 8) i-ATS (Automatic Train Supervision) In News The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) launches first indigenously-built communication-based train control with the launch of i-ATS Made-in-India signalling system. the first  The ATS (Automatic Train Supervision) is a computer-based system, which manages train operations, including basic functioning such as running and halting. The i-ATS will significantly reduce the dependence of Indian Metros on foreign vendors dealing with such technologies. It can work with train control and signalling systems of different suppliers, which ensures that in case of a snag, the operators will not have to depend on foreign manufacturers. The i-ATS can also work with different levels of technology of train control and signalling systems.   

10.  Technology systems such as the CBTC, which are also currently in use in the Delhi Metro corridors, are primarily controlled by the European countries and Japan. Communications-based train control  CBTC is a railway signaling system that makes use of the telecommunications between the train and track equipment for the traffic management and infrastructure control. By means of the CBTC systems, the exact position of a train is known more accurately than with the traditional signaling systems. This results in a more efficient and safe way to manage the railway traffic. The main objective of CBTC is to increase track capacity by reducing the time interval (headway) between trains.    Source: Hindustan Times

11. Topic: S&T 9) Solar Cycle 25 In News Scientists from NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced their predictions about the new solar cycle, called Solar Cycle 25, which they believe has begun. Solar Cycle  Since the Sun’s surface is a very active space, electrically charged gases on its surface generate areas of powerful magnetic forces, which are called magnetic fields. Since the gases on the Sun’s surface are constantly moving, these magnetic fields can get stretched, twisted and tangled creating motion on the surface, which is referred to as solar activity. Solar activity varied with the stages of the solar cycle, which lasts on average for a period of 11 years. Solar cycles have implications for life and technology on Earth as well as astronauts in space.   How do scientists track solar activity?

12.  Scientists track a solar cycle by using sunspots, which are the dark blotches on the Sun that are associated with solar activity. Sunspots are associated as the origins for giant explosions such as solar flares that can spew light, energy and solar material into space.  What are Sunspots?  A Sunspot is an area on the Sun that appears dark on the surface and is relatively cooler than the surrounding parts. These spots, some as large as 50,000 km in diameter, are the visible markers of the Sun’s magnetic field, which forms a blanket that protects the solar system from harmful cosmic radiation. When a Sunspot reaches up to 50,000 km in diameter, it may release a huge amount of energy that can lead to solar flares. The beginning of a solar cycle is typically characterised by only a few sunspots and is therefore referred to as a solar minimum. The experts announced that the solar minimum for Solar Cycle 25 occurred in December 2019. Scientists predict a solar maximum (middle of the solar cycle) will be reached by July 2025 and that this solar cycle will be as strong as the last solar cycle, which was a “below-average cycle” but not without risks.      Why do scientists track solar activity?   Scientists track solar activity because it can have effects on Earth. For example, when charged particles from coronal mass ejections (CMEs) reach areas near the Earth, they can trigger intense lightning in the skies referred to as auroras. When CMEs are particularly strong, they can also interfere with the power grids, which can cause electricity shortages and power outages. Solar flares can have a major effect on radio communications, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) connectivity, power grids, and satellites.   Way ahead Scientists have developed a new model that can successfully predict seven of the Sun’s biggest flares from the last solar cycle, out of a set of nine with the help of NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory. Source: Indian Express Topic: Development 10) 11 industrial corridors to be developed by 2024-25

13. In News The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) said that 11 industrial corridors are being developed in the country and would comprise 30 projects that would come up in four phases till 2024-25.  Industrial Corridor Projects are being developed as part of the National Industrial Corridor programme aimed at development of futuristic industrial cities and create employment opportunities. The 11 industrial corridors include the Delhi-Nagpur Industrial Corridor (DNIC).  Details  Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) has been considered as the transportation backbone for the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) project. Eastern DFC is the backbone for Amritsar Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC) project. For Chennai Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC) and Bengaluru Mumbai Industrial Corridor (BMIC), NH-4 has been considered as the backbone. For the East Coast Economic Corridor (ECEC), NH-5 which is part of the Golden Quadrilateral, the Kolkata– Chennai rail route has been considered as the transport backbone. The proposed North South East-West and East Coast Dedicated Freight Corridors will further supplement the existing transportation backbone for the corresponding Industrial Corridors.    

14. Source: Economic Times Topic: Biodiversity 11) Biodiversity index map In News Kochi became the first city in the state to be included in the biodiversity index.  The index is part of the ‘INTERACT-Bio’ project implemented with the help of the Centre for Heritage, Environment and Development through ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability. INTERACT-Bio: Integrated Subnational Action for Biodiversity (Interact-Bio)  Aim

15. It aims at developing the city’s biodiversity index and estimating the green cover in urban areas. The results will help the Kochi Corporation to plan and better conserve urban biodiversity. Details  The project was executed with the help of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The index took into account 18 biodiversity indicators that measure the city’s native biodiversity, the ecosystem services provided and biodiversity governance to give the city a score of 45 out of 72. The preparation of the index was mentioned in the corporation’s 2019-20 budget. Only about 1.8% of the city’s total budget allocation for 2019-20 was for biodiversity. This includes canal rejuvenation and fisheries and animal husbandry projects.    Tree cover  The report on the index says that the total tree cover in the city is only 6.655 sqkm, which is less than 10% of the total terrestrial area of 78.31 sqkm and suggests plantation of native trees and community participation in restoring green spaces. An illustrated natural asset map of the city, prepared earlier as part of the same project, was also launched on the day.  Way Ahead  The city needs to strengthen mechanisms in biodiversity governance and management, though concrete steps such as the development of a local biodiversity strategy and action plan, and inclusion of biodiversity in the municipal budget were already being done. The city also needs to take greater ownership for the protection of the backwaters.  Source: The Hindu To know more visit our website https://chahalacademy.com/best-ias-coaching-in-kolkata