Current Affairs for IAS Exams

Current Affairs for IAS Exams – 20 October 2016

The GST Council’s third round of deliberations ended without a decision on the rates structure after most States objected to a proposal to levy an additional cess on demerit goods.
The proposal from the Centre that triggered objections was for the imposition of a cess over and above the Goods and Services Tax on ultra luxury and demerit goods such as big cars, aerated beverages and tobacco products.
Finance Minister told that the GST Council — comprising Ministers from all the States and headed by him — will meet next on November 3-4 to decide on the GST rates structure.
The Centre had proposed the cess as a means to finance the compensation it will have to pay States.

India extended support to Myanmar for a “better connected” future while welcoming State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.
Both countries agreed to cooperate in security and strategic issues and signed three agreements.
Both sides signed three agreements following a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ms. Suu Kyi, to assist insurance, power and banking sectors.
Reflecting on the agreements, Mr. Modi said the power agreement would help create a framework for advancing linkages between India and Myanmar.
The meeting between the two delegations was held three days after Ms. Suu Kyi attended the BRICS-BIMSTEC meet in Goa where she spoke about the “common concern” of terrorism.
Myanmar’s western province of Rakhine has been facing unrest since October 9 when a major terror strike killed several security personnel. Subsequently a major military campaign has begun to deal with the militants.
Mr. Modi’s comment on security cooperation between two countries came more than a year after India carried out military operation against militants along the Myanmar border.