All India Radio News Summary: 12 OCTOBER 2017
- Finance Minister says, Supreme Court’s judgment on right to privacy protects Aadhaar.
Finance Minister has said that the recent Supreme Court order on the Right to Privacy has laid down the correct exemptions, which protect Aadhaar.
- FM believes that the Supreme Court verdict in accordance with the current timing is a correct judgement.
- He said some of the judges also went into what would be the exceptions to the law of privacy.
- He said that the first exception the judges say is national security. The second exception is detection and prevention of crime and the third exception is distribution of socio-economic benefits.
- The Minister said the third exception was carved out specifically to protect Aadhar.
- He also said that there is a chapter in the Aadhaar law which deals with certain aspects like the manner in which data is to be protected and the consequences of violation. Those entire safeguard provisions have been brought into the law.
The apex court judgement has been interpreted by many as a setback to the Aadhar card, under which the government collects vital personal information of the citizens. In its judgement in August, the Supreme Court decreed that the right to privacy is part of the fundamental right to life and liberty enshrined in the Constitution.
- Direct tax collections in the first half of the current financial year rise 15.8 percent.
The Direct Tax Collections in the first half of the current fiscal shows growth of 15.8 per cent.
- The Finance Ministry said, the provisional figures of Direct Tax collections up to September, 2017 show that net collections are at 3.86 lakh crore rupees which is higher than the corresponding period of last year.
- Net Direct Tax collections represent 39.4 per cent of the total budget estimates of Direct Taxes for Financial year 2017-18.
- The Ministry said, an amount of 1.77 lakh crore rupees has been received as Advance Tax up to the 30th of September this year, reflecting a growth of 11.5 per cent over the corresponding period of last year.
- Government need to stick to its fiscal consolidation road map says EAC-PM
The Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) wants the government to stick to its fiscal consolidation road map and has suggested that stimulus to the industry should not be at the cost of fiscal prudence.
The council will come out with implementable solutions for economic problems and present them to the Prime Minister.
- One lakh youth to get on the job training for 3 to 5 years in Japan as part of government’s skill development program.
India will send one lakh youths to Japan for on the job training for three to five years as part of the government’s skill development programme.
- The Cabinet has approved signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation, MoC between India and Japan on the ‘Technical Intern Training Program.
- The MoC is expected to be signed during his three-day visit to Tokyo starting from 16th of October.
- President Ram says, Governors play important role as a bridge between Centre and states under co-operative federalism; Stresses the need for New India by 2022.
President presided over a two-day Conference of Governors beginning at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Twenty-seven Governors and three Lieutenant Governors of States and Union Territories attended the Conference.
- President said Governors play an important role as a bridge between the Centre and the states under co-operative federalism.
- He stressed the need for New India by 2022 where there will be no place for corruption, poverty and illiteracy.
- The theme of the opening session is New India-2022.
- Being an intrinsic part of the legislative system in their States, Governors can provide a new dimension to the development of their States by communicating with legislators, and inviting them to Raj Bhavan to deliberate on subjects related to public well-being.
- The President said that in today’s digital era, people expect public services to be simple, transparent and there should be appropriate provisions for accountability.
- He called for embracing new technology and innovation to adapt to the changing global scenario.
- President said, it is essential to link the youth with the process of nation building.
- The future of the country depends on the capacities, moral values and compassion of the younger generation. So special attention needs to be paid to higher education and skill development at the level of States.
- The President pointed out that 69 per cent of Universities in the country fall under the purview of State Governments, and 94 per cent of all college and university students study in these institutions.
- Governors can also help raise the quality of discussion and debate and provide an impetus to society and the State government by establishing communication with University Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors, academicians and social workers in the States.
- President Ram stressed the need to trust citizens more and cited the example of self-attestation of documents required in government works like issuance of passports.
- President urged the replication of these ideas at the level of states, since much of a citizen’s interaction with government agencies is at the level of states.
Governors can become catalytic agents for change in society, while upholding the sanctity of the Constitution. The target of New India by 2022 can be achieved by making it a people’s movement. Governors need to interact at length with students and teachers in this regard. For example, the recent Hackathon conducted by the Union Government, where students had proposed technology solutions to several problems. Universities should be centres of innovation.
PM said youth in every State must focus on one sport.
- He encouraged Governors to lead by example on the cause of Swachhata, or cleanliness.
- He said Mahatma Gandhi, whose 150th birth anniversary will be celebrated in 2019, is a source of inspiration, as we work towards an Open Defecation Free India.
- The Prime Minister said, festivals and anniversaries can be great motivators and energizers in the quest for change.
- He said Governors can also motivate banks to give loans under Mudra to tribals, Dalits and women, especially in the period between Constitution Day on November 26th, and Ambedkar Mahaparinirvana Diwas on December 6th.
- Finance Minister says, GST Council will discuss bringing real estate in its ambit.
Finance Minister said, GST Council will discuss bringing real estate under its ambit.
- The real estate sector in India is one such sector, where maximum amount of tax evasion and cash generation takes place and which is still outside the GST.
- The matter will be discussed in the next GST meeting which will be held on 9th November, in Guwahati.
- The move will benefit consumers who will only have to pay one final tax on the whole product.
- FM said, Indian government is working on a plan to rebuild the capacity of the banking sector so that it could support growth. He said that reforming the banking system is the top agenda of the government.
- The Defence Ministry has dispelled the mis-apprehension regarding status of service units of Indian Army
The Defence Ministry has dispelled the mis-apprehension regarding status of service units of Indian Army saying each Arm and Service has designated role and function.
- The Army performs its role in war and peace operations as a whole and not in isolated compartments.
- Some personnel from Army Service Corps expressed apprehensions that since they are non-combatants they should not be considered for posting to field areas.
- The Ministry said Combat Arms, Combat Support Arms and Services are operational entities of Army which has clear and defined role and it was never in dispute that all arms and services are combatants.
- It said that at no stage has the Army referred to the Services Units being non-combatant Units.
- Himachal Pradesh to go to polls on 9th of next month in a single phase; Model code of conduct comes into force with immediate effect;
Himachal Pradesh will go to polls on 9th of next month in a single phase.
- The model code of conduct for the Himalayan state has come into force with immediate effect.
- All the provisions of the model code will apply to the whole state of Himachal Pradesh and will be applicable to all candidates, political parties and the state government of Himachal Pradesh.
- The model code of conduct shall also be applicable to the union government regarding policy decisions pertaining to the state is concerned.
Electronic Voting Machines with VVPAT will be used in all the constituencies and voters will be able to see to whom they have cast their votes. The CEC said, Election Commission has made elaborate arrangement for conduct of free and fair polls.
- The commission has already made arrangements to ensure availability of required number of EVMs and VVPATs for the smooth conduct of elections.
- Robust performance of mining and power sectors help Industrial production grow at nine-month high of 4.3 per cent in August this year
The country’s industrial production grew at a nine-month high of 4.3 per cent in August this year. This was mainly due to a robust performance of the mining and power sectors.
- Factory output measured in terms of the Index of Industrial Production had grown 4 per cent in August last year.
- According to a data released by the Central Statistics Office, manufacturing sector output grew 3.1 per cent in August, mining sector output surged 9.4 percent, and electricity generation increased 8.3 per cent.
- Production of capital good rose 5.4 per cent in August. Consumer durables output increased 1.6 percent, and consumer non-durables output rose 6.9 per cent during the month.
- According to Central Statistics Office data, overall food inflation moderated to 1.25 per cent in September.
- Retail inflation in vegetables softened to 3.92 percent.
- Pulses and products saw deflation or a fall in prices of 22.51 per cent during the month under review.
- The Government is open to considering amendments to existing laws and enactment of new laws to help change societal mindset towards the girl child
The Government is open to considering amendments to existing laws and enactment of new laws to help change societal mindset towards the girl child.
- There are proposals before the Women and Child development Ministry to declare marriages of minor girls under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act as void instead of the current provision which makes such marriages voidable.
- Under the prevention of child marriage act, the marriage of a girl who is below 18 years of age is voidable whereas Karnataka has made it void.
- United States says it will withdraw from UNESCO; Accuses the body of anti-Israel bias.
The United States announced that it will withdraw from the United Nations Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, accusing the body of anti-Israel bias.
- Washington will establish an observer mission to replace its representation at the Paris-based agency.
- UNESCO Head has regretted the US decision, and called it a loss to multilateralism.
