Daily Current Affairs and GK | 12 and 13 July 2020

1. Income tax department has provided a new facility for banks and post offices.

• Recently the Income Tax Department has provided a new facility for banks and post offices.
• Through this facility banks and post offices can find out the TDS applicability rate on cash withdrawal.
• The bank or post office will have to fill only the PAN of the person withdrawing cash to find out the TDS rate.
• Explaining this facility, the Central Board of Direct Taxes said that the TDS rate will be 2% on cash withdrawals of not more than Rs 20 lakh for non-filing income tax returns and above Rs 1 crore on income tax payers.
• Also, TDS has also been mandated at a higher rate of 5% on cash withdrawals of more than Rs 1 crore by those who do not file income tax.
• This step has been taken to ensure return filing and to monitor cash withdrawals by non-filers, and to curb black money.

• Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT):
  • It is a statutory body under the Central Revenue Act, 1963.
  • It deals with matters related to levy and collection of direct taxes like personal income tax, corporate tax, etc.
  • Current Chairman: Mr. Pramod Chandra Modi

(Source: News on AIR)

2. FASTag details will be captured before NIC issues fitness certificate to vehicles.

• Recently the government has asked NIC to capture FASTag details before issuing fitness certificates to vehicles.
• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has ensured this to be done across the country.
• The Ministry informed that the National Electronic Toll Collection has been fully integrated with the VAHAN Portal.
• Also, the Ministry has asked vehicles crossing the National Highway Toll Plazas to use electronic mode of payment FASTag and avoid cash payment.
• The use of FASTags on the National Highway toll plaza will also help in reducing the chances of spread of Covid-19.
• National Informatics Center (NIC):
  • It is an attached office under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in the Government of India.
  • NIC provides the infrastructure to help in delivery of IT services and some of Digital India initiatives.
  • Its headquarters is located in New Delhi.
  • It was established in 1976.

(Source: News on AIR)

3. ATL App Development Module launched for school students across the country by the Atal Innovation Mission.

• Recently the ATL App Development Module for school students across the country has been launched by NITI Aayog's Atal Innovation Mission.
• ATL App Development Module has been launched in collaboration with Indian startup Plezmo.
• The aim of this module is to improve the skills of school students in the times under AIM's flagship program Atal Tinkering Labs and make them app users to app builders.
• ATL App Development Module is an online course that is completely free.
• Through 6 project-based learning modules and online course sessions in it, young innovators can learn to build mobile apps in various Indian languages ​​and showcase their talent.
• In addition, periodic teacher training sessions will be conducted on AIM App Development syllabus for the capacity and skill-building of app development among school teachers.
• So far, more than 5100 ATLs have been established by the Atal Innovation Mission in more than 660 districts across the country. Over 2 million students have access to Tinkering Labs.

(Source: News on AIR)

4. Indian Coast Guard rescues six Sri Lankan fishermen.

• Recently the Indian Coast Guard has rescued six Sri Lankan fishermen from the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the Andaman Sea.
• During the EEZ surveillance of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, ICG Dornier has rescued Sri Lankan fishermen in distress due to a technical glitch about 190 nautical miles northwest of Port Blair.
• Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ):
  • It is a maritime zone set by the 1982 United Nations Convention on Law of Seas which a sovereign state has exclusive rights regarding the exploration and use of marine resources.
  • This right also includes the production of energy from water and air.
• Indian Coast Guard:
  • It is an armed force, maritime, search and rescue and law enforcement agency.
  • Also protects India's maritime interests.
  • It works under the Ministry of Defense.
  • It is headquartered in New Delhi.
  • It was established on 18 August 1978.

(Source: News on AIR)

5. Indian Railways will be the world's first green railway to run on 100% clean energy by 2030.

• Recently, Minister Piyush Goyal has said that Indian Railways will be the world's first green railway to run on 100% clean energy by 2030.
• Indian Railways will be the largest railway in the world with 100% electrification replacing diesel.
• He said this while addressing India Global Week 2020.
• Also informed that the government has invited private participants to bid for additional 151 trains.
• This will enable the passengers to enjoy world class facilities and high speed travel.

(Source: News on AIR)

6. The fourth cycle of All India Tiger Estimation 2018 has been included in the Guinness World Record.

• Recently the fourth cycle of All India Tiger Estimation 2018 has been included in the Guinness World Record.
• It has been included in the Guinness World Record for the world's largest camera trap wildlife survey.
• With this, India has fulfilled its resolve to double the tiger population four years before the target.
• In 2010 in St. Petersburg, India set a target to double the tiger population by 2022. This resolution has been achieved only in 2018.
• According to the latest census of 2018, there are now an estimated 2967 tigers in the country. With this number, India is home to about 75 percent of the global tiger population.
• All India Tiger Estimation:
  • It is conducted in every four years by the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
  • Wildlife Institute of India and State Forest Department are the coordinating agency.

(Source: News on AIR)

7. The Drugs Controller General of India has permitted the use of Itolizumab injection for patients with COVID-19.

• The Drugs Controller General of India has approved the use of Itolizumab injection for patients with COVID-19.
• It can be used only for limited emergencies i.e. moderate to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (cytokine release syndrome).
• The drug is approved only after satisfactory results from clinical trials.
• Itolizumab injection is already an approved drug of Biocon Limited used to treat patients with active moderate to severe psoriasis.

(Source: News on AIR)

8. Government of Madhya Pradesh will conduct a Roko-toko campaign for those who do not wear masks.

• Roko-Toko campaign will be launched in Madhya Pradesh for those who do not wear masks.
• Since the Covid-19 mandates the use of masks at all public places in the state.
• Now the selected voluntary organizations will provide masks created under the Jeevan Shakti scheme to those who do not wear masks in public places and will charge Rs 20 per Mask from the person concerned.
• Collectors will select voluntary organizations in the district for this work.
• The number, reliability and efficiency of the organization's available persons will be taken into consideration while making the selection.
• Collectors will provide suitable locations for the distribution of masks to these organizations.
• Mukhyamantri Jeevan Shakti Yojana:
  • Recently, the scheme was announced by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan.
  • Under this scheme, urban unemployed women can make cotton cloth masks and sell them to the state government at the rate of ₹ 11 per mask.
  • This will help her family financially and people will also get masks at a cheaper rate.

(Source: News on AIR)

9. Veteran Gujarati journalist, writer and political analyst Nagindas Sanghvi died in Surat.

• Recently veteran Gujarati journalist, writer and political analyst Nagindas Sanghvi has died in Surat.
• He was 100 and suffering from acute asthma.
• Shri Sanghvi was awarded the Padma Shri Award in the year 2019.
• He wrote several books on Mahatma Gandhi, Gujarat and other subjects.

(Source: News on AIR)

10. NTPC was awarded the prestigious CII-ITC Sustainability Award 2019.

• Recently NTPC has been conferred the prestigious CII-ITC Sustainability Award 2019.
• NTPC has won this award for outstanding achievement under the Corporate Excellence category.
• At the same time, the company was also lauded for its significant achievement in the CSR category. Under this, a 4-week residential program was launched to benefit school going girls from disadvantaged backgrounds to support their overall development.
• NTPC Limited:
  • It is a Central Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Power.
  • It is the largest power generation company in India.
• The CII-ITC Sustainability Awards recognize and reward outstanding practices across the continuum. It is considered to be the most reliable platform for identifying sustainability in the country.

(Source: News on AIR)

11. In Telangana, the Adivasi Sankshema Parishad campaigned to include the Gondi (Koya) language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.

• Recently in Telangana, the Adivasi Sankshema Parishad (ASP) has campaigned to include the Gondi (Koya) language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
• This tribal organization has been demanding official recognition of Gondi for a long time.
• ASP and other various tribal organizations representing six states including Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha will celebrate Gondi (Koya) Language Day on 21 July.
• The objective of the online campaign is to encourage tribals to raise demand for official recognition by celebrating Vishwa Koya (Gondi) Basha Dinotsavam in their respective villages.
• The online campaign will be intensified before celebration of International Day of the World's indigenous peoples on 9 August 2020.
• Koya or Gondi is a language spoken by crores of tribals of Gondwana region spread over many states of the country.
• The Eighth Schedule to the Constitution currently includes 22 languages.

(Source: The Hindu)