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Subject: Polity

Topic: Seventh Schedule and Taxation Powers

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The authority to levy a tax is derived from the Constitution of India which allocates the power to levy various taxes between the Centre and the State. An important restriction on this power is Article 265 of the Constitution which states that “No tax shall be levied or collected except by the authority of law.” Therefore each tax levied or collected has to be backed by an accompanying law, passed either by the Parliament or the State Legislature.

Article 246 of the Indian Constitution, distributes legislative powers including taxation, between the Parliament and the State Legislature. Schedule VII (based on Art.246) enumerates these subject matters. Separate heads of taxation are provided under lists I and II . There is no head of taxation in the concurrent List (Union and the States have no concurrent power of taxation). The list of fourteen Union heads of taxation and the list of nineteen State heads are given below:

Parliament

1. Taxes on income other than agricultural income (List I, Entry 82)

2. Duties of customs including export duties (List 1, Entry 83)

3. Duties of excise on tobacco and other goods manufactured or produced in India except (i) alcoholic liquor for human consumption, and (ii) opium, Indian hemp and other nareotic drugs and nareotics, but including medicinal and toilet preparations containing alcohol or any substance included in (ii). (List I, Entry 84)

4. Corporation Tax (List I, Entry 85)

5. Taxes on capital value of assets, exclusive of agricultural land, of individuals and companies, taxes on capital of companies (List I, Entry 86)

6. Estate duty in respect of property other than agricultural land (List I, Entry 87)

7. Duties in respect of succession to property other than agricultural land (List I, Entry 88)

8. Terminal taxes on goods or passengers, carried by railway, sea or air; taxes on railway fares and freight (List I, Entry 89)

9. Taxes other than stamp duties on transactions in stock exchanges and futures markets (List I, Entry- 90).

10. Taxes on the sale or purchase of newspapers and on advertisements published therein (List I, Entry 92)

सामान्य अध्ययन ऑनलाइन प्रशिक्षण कार्यक्रम का (Sample Material)

विषय: भारत और विश्व का भूगोल

जलवायु

पूर्ण सामग्री के लिए ऑनलाइन कोचिंग मे शामिल हो

हार्ड कॉपी (Hard Copy) में जीएस पेपर 1 (GS Paper - 1) अध्ययन किट खरीदने के लिए यहां क्लिक करें

मानसूनी जलवायविक एकता में विविधता (Diversity in the Unity of Indian Monsoon Climate)

भारत के सभी भागों में मानसूनी जलवायु पाई जाती है जो सम्पूर्ण भारत को एकता का स्वरूप प्रदान करती है। परन्तु व्यापक जलवायविक एकता के हेतु हुए भी भारत की जलवायु में प्रादेशिक स्वरूप पाए जाते हैं। ये प्रादेशिक विविधताएँ वायु, तापमान, वर्षा, शुष्कता एवं आर्द्रता के रूप में पाई जाती हैं। अवस्थिति, समुद्रतल से ऊँचाई, समुद्र से दूरी, पर्वतों की दिशा तथा उच्चावच इन विविधताओं को जन्म देते हैं। इन विविधताओं के प्रमुख उदारहण निम्नलिखित हैं।

Daily Answer Writing Challenge for UPSC Mains General Studies (20 March 2017)

Write and Discuss Your Answer with Q.No in Comment Box at the Bottom of Post.

General Studies - I "Syllabus Topic – Post- Independence India"

1. The S-GST will allow states to levy the tax after VAT and other state levies are subsumed in the GST. Comment.

• Source: The Hindu
   

General Studies - II "Syllabus Topic – Polity”

2. Discuss Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) for appointment of judges that has been cleared by the Supreme Court Collegium.

• Source: The Hindu
   

General Studies - III "Syllabus Topic- Science and Technology"

3. A new wireless Internet based on infrared rays is reportedly 100 times faster than existing Wi-Fi networks. Comment.

• Source: The Hindu
   

General Studies - IV "Syllabus Topic – Probity in Governance"

4. The undisciplined government spending and social engineering has undermined economy. (Stockwell Day). Examine the statement

• Source: The Hindu

Write Your Answer in Comment Box at Bottom of this Page.

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UPSC Interview by Kumar Vivek (Chhattar Singh Board)

Name: Kumar Vivek

Date of Interview: 17th April, 2014

Attempt: 1st

Board: Chhattar Singh

Exam Name: CSE

Educational Background: Engineer

Optional: Geography

One thing that I have learnt from my interview experience is that one has to be ready with respect to any possibility. I could never imagine that my interview would be based almost on my Graduation subject (Civil Engineering). Although I answered most of the questions, I wonder whether I was convincing enough to the Board. No question was asked from current issues, international affairs, my profile and biodata. I do not know how UPSC is going to judge my personality on the basis of a Q&A session on my engineering subject!! But as we know UPSC has always been unpredictable, there is no need of speculations. The following transcript may help those who are going to attend the interview in the near future.

Chairman: So, are you Kumar Vivek or Vivek Kumar?
Me: Sir I am Kumar Vivek.

Chairman: Is this your photograph (pointing at my passport size photograph)?
Me: Yes Sir. That's me.

Chairman: So we have two Kumar Viveks in the room. HeHeHe (All board members accompany him in his laughter)
Chairman: What have you been doing off late?
Me: Sir after completing my graduation from Delhi College of Engineering, I started preparing for UPSC and gave my first attempt in 2013.

Chairman: What was your graduation subject?
Me: Sir, I pursued Civil Engineering.

Chairman: Are Mechanical Engineers uncivilized?
Me: No Sir! It is not so. We are called Civil Engineers because we have been building civilizations in the form of buildings, roads, bridges, dwellings and so on. All these are part of human civilization.

Chairman: How do you see the future of concrete?
Me: We are experimenting with new materials and also trying to employ recycled debris from buildings to be used in place of concrete. Since the aggregates used in RCC are excavated from mountains, they are not going to last forever, we have to look other substitutes as well. Also in order to improve the durability of concrete structures, we are employing improved admixtures.

Chairman: On the historical timescale of civilization, at about what time concrete was used?
Me: On the historical time scale, the use of concrete has been a recent phenomenon.

Chairman: How much recent? Recent can be 1000 years also.
Me: Sir! I guess it has been in use for about 100 years or so.

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Study Material for IAS (UPSC) Pre: General Studies (Paper-1) + CSAT (Paper - 2)

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Current Affairs MCQ for UPSC Exams – 20 March 2017

Q.1- Which of the following places and laboratory are not correctly matched?

1. CERN : Germany
2. LIGO : Louisiana
3. India based Neutrino observatory : Tamil Nadu

A. 1,2
B. 2,3
C. 1,3
D. All

Q.2- Consider the following statements and mark the correct option.

1. LCA Tejas is smallest and lightest fighter aircraft of its class
2. It is subsonic in speed
3. It is developed by HAL

Which among the following statements are correct?

A. 1, 2
B. 2, 3
C. 1, 3
D. All

Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 20 March 2017

:: National ::

Parliamentary panel described the traffic situation in the national capital as “alarming”

• A Parliamentary panel has described the traffic situation in the national capital as “alarming” and said that the Delhi Police has “failed” to improve it.

• The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs has observed that a large number of vehicles get registered in Delhi everyday and the roundabouts at various crossroads, instead of traffic signals, caused congestion.

• In its report submitted to the Parliament, the panel headed by former Home and Finance Minister P Chidambaram has taken note of the choked roads in Delhi which make evacuation of “protected persons” difficult during a traffic congestion.

• The committee has recommended that the Delhi Police needs to prepare a meticulous traffic management plan and allocate adequate funds to address the issue.

• Urgent measures should be taken for managing the city traffic in a better way such as construction of more arterial roads and parking bays, declaring some roads as one-way.

• Also coming up with effective emergency evacuation measures for protected persons and stringent measures against traffic violators,” the panel has recommended.

The proposed march of Jat protesters to Delhi called off

• The proposed march of Jat protesters to Delhi in support of their demands, including reservation under the Other Backward Classes, was called off after the government promised to expedite the process of granting reservation to the community

• The decision was taken following a marathon meeting of Jat leaders with Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Union Ministers at Haryana Bhawan.

• Few token dharnas by members of the samiti would continue till their demands were actually met.

• Meanwhile, 18 police personnel, including an SP and a DSP, were among 35 injured when Jat protesters clashed with the police on being prevented from marching towards Delhi.

The four-month economic blockade in Manipur lifted (Register and Login to read Full News)

Recreation of  the lost manuscript writing using ancient herbal ink (Register and Login to read Full News)

:: Science and Technology ::

Air Force will have 123 Tejas jets by 2024-25

• If the present development and capacity enhancement plans go as scheduled, the Indian Air Force will have 123 Tejas jets, indigenously made light combat aircraft, on its fleet by 2024-25.

• To enable this, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) is in the process of setting up a new assembly line for the jets and is involving the private sector in a big way.

• The IAF has placed orders for 40 jets in two batches of which the first 20 are in the initial operational configuration (IOC) and the remaining 20 in the final operational configuration (FOC).

• Last July, the IAF operationalised the first Tejas squadron, 45 Flying Daggers, with three aircraft. Two more aircraft will join the squadron shortly.

• Last November, the Defence Acquisition Council gave initial clearance for 83 aircraft in the Mk-1A configuration with specific improvements sought by the IAF.

• Apart from the development, the low production rate of eight aircraft a year is delaying the induction of Tejas into the IAF.

• The government recently gave sanction for setting up another assembly line to increase the production rate to 16 a year.

• The IAF is in urgent need of new fighters and the LCAs will replace the MiG fighters which are being phased out. The IAF is scheduled to phase out all 11 squadrons of MiG-21 and MiG-27 fighters by 2024 on completion of their technical life.

Scientists have developed a new wireless Internet based on infrared rays

• Scientists have developed a new wireless Internet based on infrared rays that is reportedly 100 times faster than existing Wi-Fi networks.

• The wireless network developed by researchers at Eindhoven University of Technology in The Netherlands not only has a huge capacity — more than 40 Gbit/s but does away with the need to share Wi-Fi as every device gets its own ray of light.

• The wireless data comes from a few central ‘light antennas’, which can be mounted on the ceiling, that are able to precisely direct the rays of light supplied by an optical fibre.

• The antennas contain a pair of gratings that radiate light rays of different wavelengths at different angles (‘passive diffraction gratings’).

• Changing the light wavelengths also changes the direction of the ray of light. A safe infrared wavelength is used that does not reach the retina in the eye.

• If a user is walking about and a smartphone or tablet moves out of the light antenna’s direction, then another light antenna takes over, researchers said.

• The network tracks the precise location of every wireless device using its radio signal transmitted in the return direction, they said.

• Current Wi-Fi uses radio signals with a frequency of 2.5 or five gigahertz. The new system uses infrared light with wavelengths of 1,500 nanometres and higher.

• Researchers managed to achieve a speed of 42.8 Gbit/s over a distance of 2.5 metres.

• The system has so far used the light rays only to download; uploads are still done using radio signals since in most applications much less capacity is needed for uploading.

Current Affairs Daily Voice Notes

Spotlight/News Analysis (21 March 2017):

• Topic of Discussion:  Discussion on cabinet approval of draft GST bill
• Expert Panel:  Ashok Dasgupta ( Financial Analyst), Jayanto Roy Chowdhury (Senior Journalist)

(VIDEO) Lok Sabha TV : Insight Discussion "Indo-US Defence Ties & Moving Forward With Myanmar"

Topic of Discussion: Indo-US Defence Ties & Moving Forward With Myanmar

(VIDEO) Rajya Sabha TV : ''New BJP government in Manipur"

• Topic of Discussion: New BJP government in Manipur

Expert Panel Members:

• Deepak Diwan, (Editor, North East Sun),
• Balmiki Prasad Singh, (Former Home Sect, Govt. of India),
• Pradip Phanjoubam, (Editor, Imphal Free Press),
• Kalyan Baruah, (Chief of Bureau, Assam Tribune)

Anchor: Vishal Dahiya

Sample Material of Our Online Coaching Programme

Subject: Polity

Topic: Professional Tax

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Professional tax is levied by state governments or local municipal bodies and is in addition to the income tax that the central government collects.

Constitutional amendment is required to enable any increase in professional tax to amend Clause 2 Article 276.

Article 276 of the Constitution empowers the state to levy the tax in respect of profession, trade, calling and employment, but it also fixes the ceiling that can be amended only through the Constitutional amendment by Parliament.

Currently, 24 Indian states collect revenue through this source and most of them have already imposed the maximum permissible levy of Rs. 2,500 a year. Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Jharkhand and Arunachal Pradesh are the only exceptions and have not levied professional tax.

The original ceiling on the professional tax, as prescribed in the Constitution passed by the Constituent Assembly, was Rs. 250 a year. It was raised to Rs 2,500 a year in 1988 and since then both the 11th and 12th Finance Commission have called for its upward revision.

सामान्य अध्ययन ऑनलाइन प्रशिक्षण कार्यक्रम का (Sample Material)

विषय: भारत और विश्व का भूगोल

प्राकृतिक वनस्पति

पूर्ण सामग्री के लिए ऑनलाइन कोचिंग मे शामिल हो

हार्ड कॉपी (Hard Copy) में जीएस पेपर 1 (GS Paper - 1) अध्ययन किट खरीदने के लिए यहां क्लिक करें

प्राकृतिक वनस्पति

प्राकतिक वनस्पति में वे पौधे सम्मिलित किए जाते है, जो मानव की प्रत्यक्ष अथवा परोक्ष सहायता के बिना उगते हैं और अपने आकार, संरचना तथा अपनी आवश्यकताओं को प्राकृतिक पर्यावरण के अनुसार ढाल लेते हैं। इस दृष्श्टि से कृषि फसलों तथा फलों के बागों को प्राकृतिक वनस्पति के वर्ग में सम्मिलित नहीं किया जा सकता। प्राकतिक वनस्पति का वह भाग जो मानव हस्तक्षेप से रहित है, अक्षत वनस्पति कहलाता है। भारत में अक्षत वनस्पति हिमालय थार मरूस्थल, सुन्दरवन आदि अगम्य क्षेत्रों में पाया जाती है।

वनस्पति और वन में अन्तर

वनों के प्रकार

वनों के प्रकार कई भौगोलिक तत्त्वों पर निर्भर करते हैं जिसमें वश्र्षा, तापमान, आर्द्रता, मिट्टी, समुद्र-तल से उँचाई तथा भूगर्भिक संरचना महत्वपूर्ण हैं। इन तत्त्वों के प्रभावाधीन देश के विभिन्न भागों में भिन्न-भिन्न प्रकार के वन उगते हैं। इस आधार पर वनों का निम्नलिखित वर्गीकरण किया जाता है।

UPSC Interview By Partosh Kumar (Dr.D.K Dewan Board)

I appeared for the personality test for civil services 2013. Below follows a transcript of my interview along with other related details.

Date: 28th April 2014,
Session: Afternoon,
Duration: 35 Minutes,
Board: Mr. D. K. Dewan,
Optional: psychology,
Attempt: First,
Education: Msc IT, ,
Work Experience:  2 Years (Infosys Technology & Hcl InfoTech )

I reached UPSC by Noon as I had to submit the attestation form copies at the DoPT in the North Block. This was the first time I was so close to the Rashtrapati Bhawan. Glancing at it from India Gate doesn’t come anywhere close to the feeling I got while being there. It sort of motivated me to do my best in the interview. After submitting the attestation form, I reached Dholpur House and entered after showing my call letter. The cell phone was collected in the reception area itself.

I was assigned to table XXII. There were seven groups of six interviewees each. I was the last person to be interviewed by the panel our group was assigned to. The first two members of the group had relatively shorter interviews, the third alright, the fourth seemed to go longer than the others .There were four panel members (M1, M2, M3, M4) in addition to the chairman (C). there was no female member.

Firstly I enter to interview room –

Me-May I come in sir -yes  Wished good afternoon to them

C.P- take your seat

Me- Thanks you Mam

C.P- SO PARTOSH YOU ARE FROM MUZAFFARNAGAR ?

Me –Sir I was born in muzaffarnagar but now stay in New Delhi

C.P- What do you do ?

Me- I was doing job in Infosys technology in gurgaon

Study Material for IAS (UPSC) Pre: General Studies (Paper-1) + CSAT (Paper - 2)

IAS Mains General Studies Study Kit

UPSC परीक्षा ​: दैनिक करंट अफेयर्स, Hindi Current Affairs - 21 March 2017

:: राष्ट्रीय ::

महिलाओं को 90 दिन का पेड लीव

• केंद्र सरकार की ऐसी महिला कर्मचारी जिन्होंने ऑफिस में यौन शोषण की शिकायत दर्ज कराई है, उन्हें मामले की जांच लंबित रहने तक 90 दिन का पेड लीव मिलेगा। कार्मिक एवं प्रशिक्षण विभाग (DOPT) ने इस संबंध में हाल ही में सेवा नियमावली में बदलाव किया है।

• नए नियम में कहा गया है कि कार्यस्थल पर महिलाओं से यौन उत्पीड़न (रोकथाम, निषेध और निवारण) अधिनियम, 2013 के तहत जांच लंबित रहने तक पीड़ित महिला सरकारी कर्मचारी को 90 दिन तक का विशेष अवकाश दिया जा सकता है। इसमें कहा गया कि पीड़ित महिला को दी गई छुट्टी उसके खाते की छुट्टियों से नहीं काटी जायेगी।

• नए प्रावधान को लागू करने के लिए डीओपीटी ने केंद्रीय लोक सेवा (अवकाश) संशोधन नियम, 2017 जारी किया है।

• दिसंबर 2016 में डीओपीटी ने कार्यस्थल पर यौन शोषण का शिकार होने वाली महिलाओं के मामलों को लेकर दिशानिर्देश जारी किए थे, जिसके तहत 30 दिनों में केस की जांच पूरी करने की बात कही गई थी। य़ह भी कहा गया था कि किसी भी सूरत में शिकायत किए जाने के 90 दिनों के भीतर जांच पूरी हो जानी चाहिए।

गंगा -यमुना को वैधानिक व्यक्ति का दर्जा

• नैनीताल हाईकोर्ट ने गंगा और यमुना नदी को वैधानिक व्यक्ति का दर्जा दिया। यानी इन दोनों नदियों को क्षति पहुंचाना किसी इंसान को नुकसान पहुंचाने जैसा माना जाएगा। ऐसे में आईपीसी के तहत मुकदमा चलेगा और व्यक्ति को जेल भी संभव है।
• न्यायमूर्ति राजीव शर्मा और न्यायमूर्ति आलोक सिंह की खंडपीठ ने यूपी और उत्तराखंड की परिसंपत्तियों के बंटवारे से संबंधित जनहित याचिका पर निर्देश जारी किए।
• यह याचिका देहरादून निवासी मोहम्मद सलीम ने दायर की थी।
• गंगा-यमुना को दिए गए अधिकार का उपयोग तीन सदस्यीय समिति करेगी। यानी यह समिति इन नदियों को क्षति पहुंचाए जाने से संबंधित सभी मुकदमों की पैरवी करेगी।
• इसमें उत्तराखंड के मुख्य सचिव, नैनीताल हाईकोर्ट के महाधिवक्ता और नमामी गंगे प्राधिकरण के महानिदेशक शामिल किए गए हैं।

यूपीएससी आईएएस प्रारंभिक परीक्षा के लिए अध्ययन सामग्री (सामान्य अध्ययन पेपर - 1 + सीसैट पेपर - 2)

यूपीएससी आईएएस प्री के लिए क्रैश कोर्स

Daily Answer Writing Challenge for UPSC Mains General Studies (21 March 2017)

Write and Discuss Your Answer with Q.No in Comment Box at the Bottom of Post.

General Studies - I "Syllabus Topic – Post- Independence India"

1. The Supreme Court’s suggested an out-of-court settlement of the Ayodhya dispute keeping in mind its “sensitivity”. Comment.

• Source: The Hindu
   

General Studies - II "Syllabus Topic – International Relations”

2. India’s support for more sustainable fishing practices and deep sea fishing comes even as Sri Lanka’s parliament is considering a bill to ban around the island nation. Discuss

• Source: The Hindu
   

General Studies - III "Syllabus Topic- Economy"

3. The Finance Bill is a key portion of the Union Budget. Explain.

• Source: The Hindu
   

General Studies - IV "Syllabus Topic – Probity in Governance"

4. Successful health systems, the world over, including in entirely free market developed, do not necessarily have the government as a provider. Examine

• Source: The Hindu

Write Your Answer in Comment Box at Bottom of this Page.

Click Here to Join General Studies Test Series for IAS Mains Examination 2017

(Getting Started) All About UPSC Interview Panel Board and Profile 2017

The UPSC has come up with the tentative dates for the Civil Services Personality Test . Those selected must have started their preparations for the interview stage. After giving the general overview of the Personality Test, for the candidates, we now present a picture of the UPSC Board and its members, who would be chairing the IAS interview panels.

Why Should I Know about the UPSC Members?

Having a brief knowledge about the interview panel can prove very helpful for the IAS aspirants. Knowing about the educational and professional background of the Interview Panel members can give you an edge in the interview process. It might help you in knowing what kind of questions might be asked by a particular interview panel. Also, knowledge of the background of the interview panel can help you in communicating better. Once you have a rough idea about the members of the interview panel, you can express yourself tactfully.

Thus, with the aim of the welfare of the Civil Services Aspirants, IASEXAMPORTAL.COM presents a brief overview of the UPSC Board members.

Along with the general profile of the UPSC members, we are also providing the area of expertize of the members, to help you in deducing the areas to focus.

The Union Public Service Commission as on 25-02-2017

:: CHAIRMAN ::

Prof. David R. Syiemlieh

Prof. David R. Syiemlieh studied in St. Edmund’s College, Shillong, where he graduated with Honours in History (1974). He then pursued a Masters programme in History at the North- Eastern Hill University (1974-1976). In 1977 he went back to teach under-graduates in his alma mater before joining the Department of History, NEHU in 1979. He rose to become Professor of History. Concurrent with this position, he held at different times the offices of Dean Students’ Welfare, Proctor, Director, College Development Council, and Head Department of History, NEHU. He was Controller of Examinations, NEHU (2008-2010). He officiated as Registrar of the University (2010). Prof. Syiemlieh was Pro-Vice-Chancellor, North-Eastern Hill University (2010-2011).

Prof. David Syiemlieh taught courses on capitalism and imperialism, modern Indian history and the history of Christianity in North East India. He successfully guided 14 scholars through the M.Phil and 8 scholars for the Ph.D degrees and has been mentor to many more scholars. He has received a number of prestigious academic fellowships including a Senior Fulbright Fellowship to Notre Dame University, USA; a Charles Wallace Grant for research in the UK and an Indo- France Cultural Exchange grant for research in Paris.

Actively engaged in historical research he has published a number of books and papers on the history of the region. His more recent publications are On the Edge of Empire: Four British Plans for North East India, (Sage Publications, 2014) and Layers of History: Essays on the Khasi-Jaintias, Regency Publications, 2015). His research has enabled him to travel extensively in India and abroad. He has given lectures in different Universities in the US while on the Fulbright Fellowship.

Current Affairs MCQ for UPSC Exams – 21 March 2017

Q.1- Which of the following rivers has been recently declared as living persons?

A. Narmada and Tapi
B. Krishna and Godavari
C. Ganga and Yamuna
D. Brahmaputra and Manas

Q.2- Which of the following is correct regarding world happiness report?

1. It is prepared by world bank
2. Norway has become world’s happiest country in this years report

A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both
D. None

Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 21 March 2017

:: National ::

Uttarakhand High court declares Ganga and Yamuna river as living persons

• In a first in the country, the Uttarakhand High Court, declared that the rivers Ganga and Yamuna were “living persons.”On March 15, New Zealand river Whanganui became the first in the world to be granted a legal human status.

• “…to protect the recognition and the faith of society, rivers Ganga and Yamuna are required to be declared as legal persons [or] living persons,” stated the court order.

• “The Ganga and [the] Yamuna, all their tributaries, streams… are declared as juristic [or] legal persons [or] living entities having the status of a legal person with all corresponding rights, duties and liabilities of a living person in order to preserve and conserve river Ganga and Yamuna,” it added.

• The two rivers, which are sacred for the Hindus, sustain millions of people in the country.

• However, they have been in a state of neglect and even though several government initiatives, including the Centre’s NamamiGange programme, are aimed at restoring their health, not much has been achieved yet.

• The court ordered that the Director of the NamamiGange programme, the Uttarakhand Chief Secretary, and the Advocate-General of Uttarakhand would serve as “parents” for the rivers.

• And they would be the human faces to “protect, conserve and preserve” the rivers and their tributaries.

Govt says illegal mining to be controlled through satellite imagery

• Satellite imagery is being used to check illegal mining, which is a major problem, HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar informed the Rajya Sabha.

• He said that river mapping through satellites and licensing of up to 5 hectares of sand mining at the district level is being undertaken.

• To keep track of trucks transporting sand, they are being issued bar-coded receipts, he said.

India and Pakistan began discussions on the Indus Water Commission

• India and Pakistan began discussions on the Indus Water Commission after 22 months amid optimism that the meeting may lead to resumption of the composite dialogue between the neighbours.

• Prior to the meeting, Pakistan’s Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif expressed the hope that both countries would respect the sanctity of the Indus Water Treaty.

• Because of the Pakistani position, Kishenganga and Ratle were not discussed in the latest round of talks. But the designs of the PakalDul, Lower Kalnai and Miyar hydroelectric plants were taken up.

• The talks were suspended in May 2015 after the Pakistani Commissioner objected to the designs of the Kishenganga and the Ratle hydropower projects of India.

• Last year, the secretaries of power of both countries agreed to third-party resolution through the World Bank. But the World Bank announced late last year that Pakistan and India should hold bilateral talks.

• Following the World Bank’s reluctance to pass an order, both sides would meet in Washington in April on the Rutle project.

Gallantry award ‘Kirti Chakra’ went to Major Rohit Suri (Register and Login to read Full News)

AICTE wants internship mandatory for technical education (Register and Login to read Full News)

:: International ::

Official date for triggering Brexit is Mar 29

• The British government is set to officially kick-start the process of exiting the European Union next week. A spokesperson for Downing Street confirmed that the process would commence on March 29.

• Britain would be the first country in the EU to trigger Article 50 — a section of the Lisbon Treaty that sets out how a member state could commence the process.

• A country will cease to be a member of the EU two years after the triggering of Article 50 unless it reaches an agreement with the European Council to extend that period.

• Triggering of Article 50 will take place after a crucial meeting of European heads of government in Rome, for the 60th anniversary of the Rome Treaties at which leaders are expected to adopt a declaration on their vision for the future of the union.

• Britain has set out the parameters of what it hopes to negotiate in a white paper earlier this year, making it clear that it plans to end freedom of movement from the EU and would be willing to end its membership of the single market, and the European customs union to achieve this end.

• The announcement of the timing for triggering Article 50 is likely to offer markets and businesses, preparing for Britain’s exit, a degree of certainty.

(VIDEO) Lok Sabha TV : Insight Discussion "Brazil Impeachment Trial & India-US Dialogue"

Topic of Discussion: Brazil Impeachment Trial & India-US Dialogue