GUJARAT

Over 40,000 units in Gujarat owe Rs 29,000 cr in taxes

Over 40,000 business units in the state owe the government more than Rs 29,000 crore by way of taxes including VAT, sales tax and GST. Of these, 6,393 units owe more than Rs 10 lakh each. The figures were revealed in reply to various queries made by MLAs in the state assembly. The state government also revealed that the units, in total, owed Rs 29,560 crore by way of taxes and so far, the government has not managed to recover the dues.
Of the total number of units that owe money to the state by way of taxes, the highest is from Surat followed by Vadodara. In Vadodara, 7,377 units owe the state while 7,583 units in Surat are yet to pay their tax dues.

INTERNATIONAL

US withdraws from Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty with Russia

The US has formally withdrawn from Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) with Russia.

The INF was signed by then US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1987.

It banned missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 km.

But earlier this year the US and NATO accused Russia of violating the pact by deploying a new type of cruise missile, which Moscow has denied.

The 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treatyrequired the United States and the Soviet Union to eliminate and permanently forswear all of their nuclear and conventional ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges of 500 to 5,500 kilometers. The treaty marked the first time the superpowers had agreed to reduce their nuclear arsenals, eliminate an entire category of nuclear weapons, and utilize extensive on-site inspections for verification.

NATIONAL

WCD Ministry observes World Breastfeeding Week

The Women and Child Development Ministry is observing the World Breastfeeding Week with a focus on protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding.

The week, which is being observed till 7th of the month, aims to create awareness among parents about breastfeeding, the importance of initiation, exclusive breastfeeding, and adequate and appropriate complementary feeding.

The ministry is organizing a number of activities on the theme “Empower Parents, Enable Breastfeeding”.

· One Nation One Ration Card scheme launched in 4 States

Government has launched theOne Nation-One Ration Card scheme in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat. The scheme aims to boost to national food security. Each beneficiary would be given 5kg rice at ₹3 a kg and wheat at ₹2 a kg.
The Centre has formed the State Apex Committee under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary of the State and the State Project e-Mission Team.

· LS passed the 2019 Dam Safety Bill

ð The Lok Sabha passed the Dam Safety Bill, 2019. The Bill aims to provide an uniform safety procedures for the specified 5,600 dams in the country. It will also enhance the security of citizens. The introduction of the Bill will not take away the rights of the States.

ð The Bill was introduced in 2010. It was opposed in various edition in the State and has never been successfully passed until now.

ð The bill stressed the establishment of the National Dam Safety Authority as a regulatory body. The regulator will implement the policy, guidelines, and standards on dam safety in the country.

ð It also entails the setting up of State committee on dam safety and State Dam Safety Organisation. It will be manned by officers from the field dam safety.
The Bill will set up a national committee on dam safety. It will be set up to introduce safety policies and recommend necessary regulations.

ð As several dams does not have the emergency action plan, the government has provide safety measures to around 180 dams.

ð For example, Centre has alloted Rs.600 crore to repair the gates of Hirakud dam. Centre has also taken efforts to change the gates of Farakka barrage. 80% of the work had been completed so far.

ð Indian journalist Ravish Kumar was awarded the 2019 Ramon Magsaysay Award

ð NDTV journalist Ravish Kumar was awarded the 2019 Ramon Magsaysay Award. The award recognizes the greatness of spirit and transformative leadership in Asia. It is the highest honour given to Asian individuals and organisations. The award is often referred to as the Asian version of the Nobel Prize.
Ravish Kumar was honoured for his dedicated commitment to a professional, ethical journalism of the highest standard. It also recognised his moral courage in standing up for truth, integrity, and independence.

ð The Ramon Magsaysay Award was established in April 1957. It is awarded every year. The was instituted to continue the former Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay’s example of integrity, courage in servicing the people, community leadership. It was instituted by the New York based Rockefeller Brothers Fund along with the Philippine government.

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