• 02 May 2024

Madhya Pradesh Tops April GST Collection

Why in News?

Madhya Pradesh has secured the top position among states in India for achieving a 30% increase in Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection in April 2024 fiscal year compared to the corresponding period of 2023.

Key Points

• In April, the nation witnessed an 11% increase in GST revenue collection.
• The country achieved a historic milestone with total GST collections reaching Rs 2.10 lakh crore in the initial month of the fiscal year.
• Total number of registered GST payers in the state has increased to more than 5 lakh.

The Goods and Services Tax (GST)

• It is a value-added tax levied on most goods and services sold for domestic consumption. The GST is paid by consumers, but it is remitted to the government by the businesses selling the goods and services.
• Features of GST:
  • Applicable On Supply Side: GST is applicable on ‘supply’ of goods or services as against the old concept on the manufacture of goods or on sale of goods or on provision of services.
  • Destination Based Taxation: GST is based on the principle of destination-based consumption taxation as against the present principle of origin-based taxation.
  • Dual GST: It is a dual GST with the Centre and the States simultaneously levying tax on a common base. The GST to be levied by the Centre is called Central GST (CGST) and that to be levied by the States is called State GST (SGST).
    • Import of goods or services would be treated as inter-state supplies and would be subject to Integrated Goods & Services Tax (IGST) in addition to the applicable customs duties.
  • GST Rates to be Mutually Decided: CGST, SGST & IGST are levied at rates to be mutually agreed upon by the Centre and the States. The rates are notified on the recommendation of the GST Council.
  • Multiple Rates: Initially GST was levied at four rates viz. 5%, 12%, 16% and 28%. The schedule or list of items that would fall under these multiple slabs are worked out by the GST council.

Investors’ Summit 2024

Why in News?

The Rajasthan government is planning to host a three-day Investors' Summit in December 2024. The state government plans to organise these summits annually to speed up industrialization.

Key Points

• The business sector in the state believes that the regular occurrence of such incidents could potentially draw attention, effort, and funds away from the industries department's other responsibilities, as organising these events involves extensive year-round planning and preparation.
• The task of providing an industry-friendly environment rigorous engagement starting from policymaking to implementation, infrastructure development, administration and monitoring, dispute resolution and host of other responsibilities.
• The main emphasis should be on developing an attractive industrial policy to attract investments from other states to the region.

Great Indian Travel Bazaar

Why in News?

The tourism department of Rajasthan will host the 13th Great Indian Travel Bazaar (GITB) in Jaipur from 5th to 7th May, 2024 to promote tourism in the state.

Key Points

• The department is organising the event jointly with the Centre’s tourism ministry and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci).
  • The state would showcase cultural events based on art, tourism and history of Rajasthan.
  • A 'Wed in India Expo' will take place on the first day of the event with the objective to encourage tourists from India and abroad to get married in Rajasthan.
  • On the second and third day of the event, business-to-business meetings will be organised with foreign tour operators. They will also be offered tours across Rajasthan.
• According to the general secretary of All Wedding Industries Federation, Rajasthan, 1.5 to 2 million weddings take place every year in Rajasthan.
  • If efforts are made by the tourism industry and the state government collectively, Rajasthan can be promoted as a destination wedding spot. This may increase destination weddings by 5-10%.
  • This will provide new employment opportunities to lakhs of people. The government will also get revenue and people associated with the hotels and tourism sector will get good business.

Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI)

• FICCI is a non-government, not-for-profit organisation established in 1927.
• It is the largest and oldest apex business organisation in India whose history is closely interwoven with India's struggle for independence, its industrialization, and its emergence as one of the most rapidly growing global economies.

Chakravyuh: The Escape Room

Why in News?

Recently, the Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau (HSNCB) has launched a pioneering project called ‘Chakravyuh: The escape room’ which aims to keep teenagers away from narcotics addiction.

Key Points

• Chakravyuh, meaning labyrinth, is an “anti-drug escape room” experience designed to simulate real-life challenges through immersive and interactive learning environments.
• The first functional smart classroom has been launched in DAV Public School, Ambala, and the project will be replicated in other government and private schools across the state.
• It is designed to simulate realistic scenarios in a controlled environment where participants must use their intellect and moral judgment to navigate the situations.
  • The setup is equipped with modern technologies such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) to create engaging and captivating scenarios that grab the attention and interest of young people.
  • The activity involves solving a set of challenges, each representing a different life scenario, including the urge to take drugs.
• The escape room educates participants about the consequences of drug abuse and the importance of good decision-making skills. It immerses them in scenarios that require quick thinking and effective communication, reflecting real-life situations. The initiative enhances teamwork and peer support mechanisms by requiring a collaborative effort to progress through challenges.
• The HSNCB is also working on digitising this experience so that the children interested in gaming can also play this game online and gain knowledge about the adverse impact of narcotic abuse.

Drug Addiction

• It refers to the condition of being addicted to a drug, particularly narcotic drugs.
• These are generally illegal drugs that affect the mood and behaviour of a person.
• Drug abuse refers to the use of certain chemicals for the purpose of creating pleasurable effects on the brain.
• There are over 190 million drug users around the world and the problem has been increasing at alarming rates, especially among young adults under the age of 30.
• Government Initiatives to Tackle Drug Addiction:
  • It constituted the Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) in November, 2016 and revived the scheme of “Financial Assistance to States for Narcotics Control”.
  • Narcotics Control Bureau has been provided funds for developing a new software i.e. Seizure Information Management System (SIMS) which will create a complete online database of drug offences and offenders.
  • The government has constituted a fund called “National Fund for Control of Drug Abuse” to meet the expenditure incurred in connection with combating illicit traffic in Narcotic Drugs; rehabilitating addicts, and educating the public against drug abuse, etc.
  • The government is also conducting a National Drug Abuse Survey to measure trends of drug abuse in India through the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment with the help of National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre of AIIMS.
  • 'Project Sunrise' was launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2016, to tackle the rising HIV prevalence in north-eastern states in India, especially among people injecting drugs.
  • The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, (NDPS) 1985: It prohibits a person from producing, possessing, selling, purchasing, transporting, storing, and/or consuming any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance.
    • The NDPS Act has since been amended thrice – in 1988, 2001 and 2014.
    • The Act extends to the whole of India and it applies also to all Indian citizens outside India and to all persons on ships and aircraft registered in India.
  • Government has also announced the launch of the ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat’, or Drug-Free India Campaign which focuses on community outreach programs.

Village in Bihar Refuses to Vote

Why in News?

For the past two elections, residents of Khokhanaha village in Supaul’s Kosi region have boycotted the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and the 2020 Bihar Assembly polls in anger against all political parties over lack of government initiative to mitigate their sorrows from Kosi river.

• Due to this Khokhanaha village is also refusing to vote in the 2024 elections.

Key Points

• The Kosi River caused significant damage to the village a few years ago, and a year ago it isolated the village and four others from Supaul.
• These villages are now located on an island between two streams of the Kosi. Despite being only five kilometers away on the map, it takes an entire day to travel to Supaul for basic necessities.
• Residents of Khokhanaha and neighboring villages in the Kosi belt feel neglected by the government.
• They endure recurring floods, which devastate their lives and livelihoods without proper compensation or measures to control the river. Essential services like electricity and healthcare are also lacking in these areas.

The Kosi River

• The Kosi is a trans-boundary river which flows through Tibet, Nepal and India.
• It has its source in Tibet that includes the world's highest upland, it then drains a large part of Nepal before emerging onto the Gangetic plains.
• Its three major tributaries, the Sun Kosi, Arun and Tamur meet at one point just upstream of a 10 km gorge cut through the Himalayan foothills.
• The river crosses into northern Bihar, India where it branches into distributaries before joining the Ganges near Kursela in Katihar district.
• The Kosi carries the maximum amount of silt and sand after the Brahmaputra in India.
• It is also known as the “Sorrow of Bihar” as the annual floods affect about 21,000 sq. km. of fertile agricultural lands thereby disturbing the rural economy.

Severe heatwave hits Jharkhand

Why in News?

Severe Heatwave Conditions gripped parts of Jharkhand with Baharagora in East Singhbhum district recording a maximum temperature of 47.1 degrees Celsius.

Key Points

• The weather department issued an 'Orange Alert' for severe heatwave in 11 Jharkhand districts.
  • These are Sahibganj, Godda, Pakur, Dumka, Jamtara, Deoghar, Dhanbad, Bokaro, Seraikela-Kharswan, East and West Singhbhum.
• According to the Ranchi Meteorological Centre, mining activities and pollution could be one of the reasons for temperatures reaching above 47 degrees Celsius.

Heat Waves

• About:
  • Heatwaves are prolonged periods of excessively hot weather that can cause adverse impacts on human health, the environment, and the economy.
  • India, being a tropical country, is particularly vulnerable to heatwaves, which have become more frequent and intense in recent years.
• IMD Criteria for Declaring Heat Wave in India:
  • Heat Wave need not be considered till the maximum temperature of a station reaches at least 40°C for Plains and at least 30°C for Hilly regions.
  • If the normal maximum temperature of a station is less than or equal to 40°C, then an increase of 5°C to 6°C from the normal temperature is considered to be heat wave condition.
    • Further, an increase of 7°C or more from the normal temperature is considered a severe heat wave condition.
  • If the normal maximum temperature of a station is more than 40°C, then an increase of 4°C to 5°C from the normal temperature is considered to be heat wave condition. Further, an increase of 6°C or more is considered a severe heat wave condition.
    • Additionally, if the actual maximum temperature remains 45°C or more irrespective of normal maximum temperature, a heat wave is declared.