Daily GK Update 29th November 2016, Important Current Affairs

1. Union Government introduces Taxation Laws (Second Amendment) Bill, 2016

i. The Union Government has introduced the Taxation Laws (Second Amendment) Bill, 2016 (‘the Bill’) in the Parliament. The bill amends existing tax laws to impose a higher rate of tax and penalty in respect of undisclosed incomes. It proposes, Taxation and Investment Regime for Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, 2016 (PMGKY), an anti-poverty scheme. 

ii. It seeks to attract more people to disclose their unaccounted cash and also to put in a framework in place to use that for the welfare of the people especially in the rural areas. It also ensures that tax defaulting assessees and black money holders are subjected to tax at a higher rate and stringent penalty provision.

2. Akodara becomes India’s first Digital Village

i. Akodara village in Sabarkantha district of Gujarat has earned the coveted tag of becoming India’s first digital village in India. 

ii. The village with a total population of 1,191 people and 250 households uses a various cashless system for payments of goods and services. All transactions in the village are carried out through digital modes like SMS, net-banking or debit cards.

3. Iranian film Daughter wins Golden Peacock award at 47 IFFI

i. Iranian film “Daughter” has won the coveted Golden Peacock award at the 47th International Film Festival of India (IFFI). It has been directed by Reza Mirkarimi.

ii.  It is a family drama set in southern Iran. It brings out intergenerational conflict between a strict father and a young daughter. Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore conferred these awards during the concluding ceremony of IFFI held in Goa.

4. Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu to head CMs Committee on Demonetisation

i. The Union Government has decided to constitute a sub-committee of Chief Ministers of five states in the wake of demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination notes. The committee will be headed by Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu.

ii.  It will  suggest measures to normalise the situation. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has called up Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, Karnataka CM Siddharamaiah, Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal and Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis to be part of the committee. 

iii. Since demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination notes was announced by the Union Government, Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu government has been effectively tackling the cash crisis in the state.

5. PM Narendra Modi launches Indian Police at Your Call mobile app

i. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently had launched the ‘Indian Police at Your Call’ mobile app at a national police conference held in Hyderabad. 

ii. It was organised by the Intelligence Bureau (IB). The app is a GIS Map based interface for the citizens to locate police stations near to their current location so that they can easily reach the police station in case of emergency.

6. WHO settles India, EU medicine dispute issue

i. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has dropped the term ‘counterfeit’ and retained ‘falsified’ to describe medicines of inferior quality. 

ii. This decision was taken by a WHO’s technical working group on draft working definitions of substandard/spurious /falsely-labelled/falsified/counterfeit (SSFFC) medical products. It settles longstanding India, EU medicine dispute and battle about labelling of drugs. 

iii. It is considered as a significant victory for the global access to medicines campaign.

7. Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board sets up two advisory committees

i. The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has set up two high-level advisory committees to gather inputs from experts, including on service providers and corporate liquidation.

ii.  IBBI has been set up under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 and is expected to soon operationalize. The two committees have begun their deliberations.

8. India hosts golden jubilee celebrations of UNCITRAL in New Delhi

i. India hosted the golden jubilee (50th anniversary) celebrations of United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) in New Delhi. The opening address at international conference of the golden jubilee celebrations of UNCITRAL was given by President Pranab Mukherjee.

9. Government launches e-Pashuhaat portal to connect farmers and breeders of bovine animals

i. The Union Agriculture & Farmers Welfare launched e-pashuhaat portal to connect farmers and breeders of bovine animals.

ii.  The portal will act as a single online e-trading market platform, including availability of bovine germplasm. It will enable the farmers to buy bovine animals, frozen semen and embryo.

10. 51st Annual DGPs Conference held in Hyderabad

i. The 51st Annual Conference of Directors-General of Police of States was held at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) in Hyderabad, Telangana. 

ii. The three day (from November 25-27, 2016) conference was inaugurated by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. It was attended by around 100 DGPs of states, Director Generals of Central paramilitary forces and their Inspectors General.

11. AMU: Prof. Iqtidar Siddiqui passes away

i. Professor Iqtidar Husain Siddiqui, noted historian, an expert in Medieval India’s history and former Chairman of Department of History, Aligarh Muslim University, today passed away on November 28 in Aligarh after a brief illness.

12. Sachin Singh wins gold at the AIBA Youth World Championships

i. In boxing, Sachin Singh became the third Indian boxer ever to bag gold at the AIBA Youth World Championships.

ii. In the 49 kg weight class, Sachin recorded a stunning unanimous victory over Cuban national champion Jorge Grinan in the summit clash at St Peterburg, Russia.

13. India beat England by eight wickets: third Test

i. India lost only two wickets to chase down the 103-run target set by England to win the third Test in Mohali inside four days and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the five-match series.