Topic: Corporates/Companies
1. POWERGRID launched an e-Tendering Portal ‘PRANIT’.
- Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID) launched an e-tendering Portal, ‘PRANIT’.
- It has been launched for ease of operation and to bring transparency in the tendering process.
- It has been approved by the Standardisation, Testing and Quality Certification Directorate (STQC) of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
- POWERGRID is the only organisation that has an eProcurement solution on SAP Supplier Relationship Management (SRM).
- SAP Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) is an application that enables a company to manage its relationships with its vendors.
- POWERGRID:
- It is a Maharatna company headquartered in Gurugram.
- It is a central PSU under the Ministry of Power.
- It is engaged in the work of power transmission, operation and maintenance of the Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS).
Topic: RBI
2. Standing External Advisory Committee set up by RBI.
- Standing External Advisory Committee has been set up by RBI to evaluate on-tap applications for universal and small finance banks.
- RBI’s former deputy governor, Shyamala Gopinath, is head of the Standing External Advisory Committee.
- In addition to the chairperson, the committee has four other members also. The names of four other members are given below.
- RBI central board director Revathy Iyer
- NPCI chairman B Mahapatra
- Canara Bank’s former chairman T N Manoharan
- SBI’s former MD & PFRDA’s former chairman Hemant Contractor
- In 2016, guidelines for on-tap licensing were announced. Standing committee to evaluate applications has been set up now.
Topic: Indian Economy
3. Finance Bill passed by Lok Sabha.
- Lok Sabha has passed Finance Bill and the bill will now go to Rajya Sabha.
- On 23 March, Finance Minister proposed amendments in Budget proposals.
- On the issue of equalization levy, the minister said that the calculation of levy would not be applicable for goods owned by Indians.
- Government has raised Rs 2.5-lakh limit for EPFO taxation to Rs 5 lakh. Now interest earned on contributions above Rs 5 lakh will be taxable.
- Government has announced tax benefits for the proposed Development Financial Institution.
- Government-owned institutions would be provided tax benefits for 10 years.
- Income tax benefits will be available for 5 years if the private sector sets up the institution under license from RBI.
Topic: Infrastructure and Energy
4. Rovuma Offshore Area-1 project, Mozambique’s first onshore LNG development satisfies all conditions for first debt drawdown of project financing.
- Rovuma Offshore Area-1 project, Mozambique’s first onshore LNG development, satisfies all conditions for the first debt drawdown of project financing.
- This announcement was recently made by Oil India Limited (OIL). First debt drawdown of project financing will be in April 2021.
- OIL holds 40% shareholding in Beas Rovuma Energy Mozambique (BREML). ONGC Videsh holds 60% in BREML.
Topic: Infrastructure and Energy
5. Government brings a bill to amend Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act 2008.
- Government has brought a bill to amend Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act 2008.
- Through this bill, the government aims to amend the definition of a major airport.
- Currently, an airport with an annual passenger in excess of three and a half million is called major airport.
- Airports Economic Regulatory Authority is a statutory body formed under the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act 2008.
- It monitors the performance standards of airports. It also regulates tariffs and other charges for aeronautical services rendered at airports.
Topic: Taxation
6. The amendment in Budget provision related to capping of EPF contribution for tax exemption is only meant for the subscribers of GPF/SPF.
- The amendment in Budget provision related to capping of EPF contribution for tax exemption is only meant for the subscribers of General Provident Fund/Statutory Provident Fund. This will benefit the government employees on a large scale.
- Under GPF, the employee is the sole contributor with the government only paying interest.
- Government has raised Rs 2.5-lakh limit on the interest earned to Rs 5 lakh only in cases where the employer does not contribute to that fund.
- Rs. 2.5 lakh limit will be applicable for normal EPFO subscribers where both employee and employer at least contribute 12% each of basic plus Dearness Allowance (DA).
Topic: Reports and Indices/Rankings
7. Fitch ratings revises India’s GDP growth projection for 2021-2022 from 11% to 12.8%.
- In its latest Global Economic Outlook (GEO), American credit rating agency Fitch has revised India’s GDP growth projection for 2021-2022 from 11% to 12.8%.
- The agency further said that recovery of India’s GDP growth from lockdown-induced recession has been faster than expected.
- However, GDP is expected to remain below pre-pandemic forecast trajectory of Fitch.
- As per Fitch, recovery of GDP during the second half of 2020 reached above the pre-pandemic level.
- S&P, Moody’s Investors Service and Fitch Ratings are known as Big Three credit-rating agencies.
Topic: Reports and Indices/Rankings
8. DGFT to assist states and Union Territories in preparing an annual export-ranking index.
- Commerce Ministry has said that the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) will assist states and Union Territories in preparing an annual export-ranking index.
- Annual export-ranking index of different districts will be prepared to rank each district on its export competitiveness.
- Central government is working on developing districts as export hubs to decentralize export promotion activities.
- A district export action plan will be prepared. Under this plan, goods and services with export potential in the district will be identified.
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