• 01 Jan 2024

Proposal to Develop Wetlands as Ramsar Sites

Why in News?

Recently, the Rajasthan government has sent a proposal to the Union environment ministry to develop 5 Wetlands in the state as Ramsar sites.

• Before this, Sambhar Lake was declared as a Ramsar site in march 1990 and Keoladeo Ghana National Park declared in October 1981.

Key Points

• The State Wetland Authority has proposed Khinchan bird sanctuary in Jodhpur, Chandlai in Jaipur, Kanwas Pakshi Vihar in Kota, Lunkaransar in Bikaner, and Menar Lake in Udaipur district.
  • According to the officials, all 5 wetlands fall into the Central Asian Flyway, which is used by migratory birds that start flying to this region from November onwards till February for warmer temperatures.
• At these sites, the state pollution control board is taking action to stop industrial effluents from being released into the water. Efforts to stop encroachment are also being done.

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

• It is an intergovernmental treaty, adopted on February 2, 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar, on the southern shore of the Caspian Sea.
• In India, it came into force on February 1, 1982, under which wetlands of international importance are declared as Ramsar sites.
  • As of 2023, the total Ramsar sites in India are 75.
• The Ramsar tag helps in better maintenance and management of a wetland and aids tourism for the region.

UCC in Uttarakhand

Why in News?

According to the Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will soon be implemented in Uttarakhand.

• The bill for the implementation of UCC will be tabled in the assembly soon.

Key Points

• UCC is envisaged to provide for one law for the entire country, applicable to all religious communities in their personal matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption etc.
• Article 44 of the Constitution lays down that the state shall endeavor to secure a UCC for the citizens throughout the territory of India.
  • Article 44 is one of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP).
  • The purpose behind Article 44 is to strengthen the object of "secular democratic republic" as enshrined in the Preamble of the Constitution.
• As of now, Goa is the only state in India with a UCC.

Earthquake in Singrauli

Why in News?

According to the National Centre of Seismology (NCS), an earthquake of 3.6 magnitude was recorded in the Singrauli district of Madhya Pradesh.

Key Points

• The NCS comes under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
• The earthquake events are scaled either according to the magnitude or intensity of the shock. The magnitude scale is known as the Richter scale.
  • The magnitude relates to the energy released during the quake and is expressed in absolute numbers, i.e., 0-10.

Aromatic Rice for Ram Temple

Why in News?

Recently, Chhattisgarh dispatched aromatic rice to Ayodhya for the consecration ceremony in the Ram temple scheduled to be held on January 22.

Key Points

• 11 trucks carrying the rice consignment were flagged off by Chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai for the "Ramji Bhog and Bhandara" in Ayodhya Ram temple for the occasion.
• A function was organized at Sri Ram Mandir by the ‘the rice millers association of Chhattisgarh’ to dispatch the rice consignment to Ayodhya Ram temple.
• The best variety of aromatic rice, RB Gold, produced in Chhattisgarh is offered for the consecration ceremony of Ram temple in Ayodhya.
• Chhattisgarh has a mythological link to Lord Ram. Chandkhuri on the outskirts of Raipur is believed to be the birthplace of Kaushalya Devi, mother of Lord Ram. There is a temple dedicated to Kaushalya Devi, the only such shrine in the world, in Chandkhuri.
• It is believed that Lord Ram have spent some days in Chhattisgarh during his 14-year-exile period, being developed by the state government as "Ram Gaman Path".
  • Under the ‘Ram Gaman Path’ project the Chhattisgarh government has identified and will develop 248 places in the state, where Lord Ram, his wife Devi Sita and brother Laxman lived during their exile period.

OTS Scheme for Pre-GST Tax

Why in News?

In Gurugram, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar launched One Time Settlement-2023 (OTS) scheme to settle pending tax payments pertaining to pre-GST regime.

• This scheme will be operational from January 1 to March 30, 2024.

Key Points

• During the event, the CM also announced the opening of a GST training institute in collaboration with Haryana Institute of Public Administration (HIPA), Gurugram.
• The government plans to establish branches of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Tribunal in Gurugram and Hisar to respond to the demands of traders and industry organizations.
• Under the OTS scheme, the tax amount will be divided into four categories, starting with an undisputed fee category for cases without dispute.
  • Taxpayers will pay 100% of the amount in this category, with no penalties or interest.
  • In case of disputed taxes under ₹50 lakh, taxpayers will pay 30% of the outstanding amount and if the disputed tax amount is above ₹50 lakh, they will pay 50%.
  • In the third category, undisputed taxes will be assessed by the department where no appeal was made. Taxpayers will pay 40% if the amount is below ₹50 lakh and 60% if it is above ₹50 lakh. There will be relief from penalties and interest.
  • The fourth category includes outstanding amounts due to differences in tax rates. Here, the government has discounted the amount, requiring taxpayers to pay only 30% of the total.
• If the outstanding amount is between ₹10 lakh and ₹25 lakh, the amount can be paid in two installments.
  • If the outstanding is more than ₹25 lakh, the payment can be spread across three installments: 40% in the first 90 days, 30% in the next 90 days, and 30% in the final 90 days.
• OTS scheme addresses outstanding tax issues pertaining to the excise and taxation department until June 30, 2017. It specifically resolves concerns related to seven VAT-related acts.