Service Tax revenue grew over 300 times in past two decades
Finance Ministry is focusing on service tax revenue which has grown significantly by over 300 times in past about two decades. As per official data, the finance ministry has earned revenue of about Rs 1.32 lakh crore in 2012-13 (provisional figures) compared to Rs 407 crore in 1994-95.
The ministry had set a target for 2012-13 to collect Rs 1,32,697 crore but the actual realization was Rs 1,32,518 crore. The number of assessees have also increased by over 400 times since 1994-95.
Revenue from service tax has witnessed such a tremendous growth on account of surge in number of services being covered which led to increase in number of assessees under service taxation. During 2012-13, there were about 17.12 lakh registered assessees for the levy compared to only 3,943 in 1994-95 when service tax was brought in. The total number of taxable services has also increased from 3 in 1994 to 119 in 2012.
It is worth recalling that on July 1, 2012, the finance ministry had introduced the concept of taxation of service tax based on the ‘negative list’ which authorized government to tax almost all the services mentioned in Section 66D of the Finance Act.
Voluntary Compliance Encouragement Scheme (VCES)
The Finance Ministry is implementing VCES which allows a service tax defaulter to pay dues without any penalty or late payment charges. Under VCES, an individual may make a declaration to the designated authority on or before December 31, 2013.
Why Voluntary Compliance Encouragement Scheme (VCES)?
It has come to the notice of the government that of the 17 lakh people who voluntarily registered themselves as service tax providers only 7 lakh actually paid service tax, the remaining 10 lakh did not. Though these people have charged the service tax from their customers but have not These non-payers are classified as no-filers or stop-filers. No-filers are those who have never filed service tax whereas stop- filers are those who have paid for a year or two but later stopped filing service tax. In order to make these evaders pay the due service tax the government has chosen VCES path rather than forcing them through punitive action.
The ministry has set an indirect tax collection target of Rs 5.65 lakh crore for 2013-14, through customs, excise and service tax. That figure is up from the Rs 4.73 lakh crore collected in the fiscal 2012-13.
Australian school introduces world’s first standing classroom to combat childhood obesity
As part of a novel experiment, Mont Albert Primary School in Australia has launched the world’s first standing classroom which aims to combat the menace of childhood obesity. In this experiment being conducted by the researchers of Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, a grade six class at this school has been fitted with height-adjustable desks to allow the student to sit or stand.
The researchers will monitor the standing students with an objective to know if being upright can improve their health, fitness, learning and memory. Pupils will also be fitted with devices to measure how long they spend sitting, with lesson plans revised to reduce the time students are idle.
Why this experiment?
As per scientists, prolonged sitting during the school hours poses health risk by contributing to obesity in students as during these hours children perform less physical activity. Earlier studies have shown students spent two-thirds of a school day sitting, and long hours of childhood sitting can contribute to the onset of such diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity.
In this experiment in which students are required to attend school hours standing they will engage more muscles that are likely to be of great benefit for keeping the blood flowing throughout their body and reducing the level of fatigue. If researchers find this exercise beneficial for the cardiovascular health, learning and memory of the standing students compared to a traditional class, this pilot study would be expanded to a much larger trial to find if it can make an impact on lessons across Australia.
State civil services officers to face UPSC test for promotion to AIS
State civil services officers will have to face a Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) test and interview for their promotion to the three All India Services (AIS). The Ministry of Personnel recently changed the rules for promotion from state services. The move was opposed by some states including Tamil Nadu.
The selection to IAS, IPS and IFoS from states’ services will be made through a 1000 marks four-stage process including a written exam and interview.
The new norms are
A state civil services officer will have to face the written examination comprising two papers – on aptitude test; and general studies in addition to state-specific questions.
There will be a third written paper on essay, comprehension and precis type only for non-state civil services officers in addition to two papers.
Successful candidates will face an interview and their Annual Confidential Report (ACR) will be assessed by a board.
The final merit list will be based on the marks obtained in four components – written exam, length of service, assessment of ACR and interview.
No cap on the number of attempts.
The scheme might be reviewed after its implementation for 3 years.
Note: So far, the selection of state services officers into the three All-India Services – Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFoS) – was done on the basis of review of their seniority and ACRs.
SBI to act as lead bank for four newly-formed Meghalaya districts
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) designated SBI to act as the lead bank in four newly constructed districts in Meghalaya. The central bank also assigned State Bank of India (SBI), the district working codes for the purpose of Basic Statistical Returns (BSR) reporting. The four new districts of Meghalaya are North Garo Hills, East Jaintia Hills, South West Khasi Hills and South West Garo Hills.
What is a Lead Bank Scheme (LBS)?
The RBI introduced ‘Lead Bank Scheme’ in 1969, based on the recommendations of the Gadgil Study Group.
The basic idea was to have an “area approach” for targeted and focused banking.
Under the Scheme, each district had been assigned to different banks (public and private) to act as a consortium leader to coordinate the efforts of banks in the district particularly in matters like branch expansion and credit planning.
The Lead Bank was to act as a consortium leader for coordinating the efforts of all credit institutions in each of the allotted districts for expansion of branch banking facilities and for meeting the credit needs of the rural economy.
Indians consume double the recommended salt intake: Study
As per a study, the intake of salt by Indians is nearly twice the amount recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Indians consume about 3.7 grams of sodium, corresponding to about 9.3 grams of salt per day. The positive thing is that salt (or sodium) intake has decreased slightly in Indiabetween 1990 and 2010.
As per the research by the University of Cambridge and Harvard School of Public Health:
- The global average salt consumption in 2010 was around 10 grams per person per day, corresponding to 4 grams per day of sodium.
- In 181 of 187 nations studied, national intakes exceeded the WHO recommended intake of 2 grams per day of sodium (about 5 grams per day of salt).
- In 119 countries (88.3% of the world’s adult population), the national intake exceeded this recommended amount by more than 1 gram per day of sodium.
- There are also major regional variations around this global average. Highest intakes are found in regions lying along the old Silk Road – from East Asia, through Central Asia to Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
Is excess consumption of Common Salt (NaCl) harmful?
Yes. Earlier sudies have found that high or low salt diets are both harmful. The risk of heart attacks, strokes, congestive heart failure, and death from heartdisease, increases considerably when people consume more than 7 grams or less than 3 grams of sodium a day. A recent study by the US based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had found that there is no benefit of reducing salt intake to below 2.3 g per day. The study could not find any consistent evidence to support a link between sodium intake and either a beneficial or adverse effect on health.
Deepika Kumari clinches 34th National Archery Championship
Ace archer Deepika Kumari created history by clinching her sixth consecutive title at the 34th National Archery Championships held at JRD Tata Stadium, Jamshedpur. With this achievement, Deepika now holds more individual titles at the national meet than Dola Banerjee, who won 5 national titles. However, the record of winning most individual titles is still held by Bengal archer Krishna Ghatak, with seven consecutive titles between 1975 and 1982.
Top Achievers at the National Meet:
Jharkhand (Gold-10, Silver-2, Bronze-5. Total: 17)
SSCB (Gold-3, Silver-3, Bronze-4. Total: 9)
Punjab (Gold-1, Silver-3, Bronze-4. Total: 8)
CCEA nod to continuation of National Scheme for Welfare of Fishermen during 12th Plan
The ‘National Scheme for Welfare of Fishermen’ will continue during the 12th Plan Period as the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved for the same.
National Scheme for Welfare of Fishermen (NSWF):
Devised by: The Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture.
Objectives: Provision of basic amenities like drinking water and sanitation in fishing villages, better living standards for fishermen and their families. It also envisages social security for active fishermen and their dependants, and strives to ensure their economic security.
Key benefits to be provided under this scheme in 12th Plan Period:
Outlay: Rs 640 crore
Construction of additional 4,600 houses per year
Coverage of 3.5 lakh fishermen under saving-cum-relief every year
Additional coverage of 3 lakh fishermen under group accident insurance
Amount of assistance and compensation to fishermen for the cost of construction of a house has been enhanced from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000.
Cost of the construction of a tubewell has been increased to Rs 40,000 from Rs 30,000 for all states and Union territories, and Rs 45,000 from Rs 35,000 for North Eastern states.
Legal wing of CBI brought under agency director
In a bid to provide more autonomy to CBI, government has brought the agency’s directorate of prosecution or the legal wing, which used to report to Law Ministry, under the command of the CBI director, making his orders final in probes.
With this change, the agency director will not only oversee the promotions and postings but also write the Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs), as done earlier by law ministry.
What is the responsibility of Directorate of Prosecution (DoP) in CBI?
The DoP in CBI is responsible for conducting and supervising cases pending trial, appeal and revision in courts. It oversees and monitors the conduct of prosecution in courts and gives advice to CBI officers on all legal matters of general or specific importance and on issues coming up during probe or trial.
The DoP was the chief functionary of CBI’s prosecution wing and was vested with powers of direction and control over prosecuting officers. Those powers have now been transferred to the CBI director.
How would placing the legal wing of CBI under the command of CBI director change things?
It was observed that in a number of cases, the investigation by the CBI was overturned by the DoP; but under the new structure the CBI director will have the authority to take a final view on probes and, subsequently, the charge sheets.
The Lokpal Bill, which has been passed by both Houses of Parliament, also provides for the DoP chaired by the DoP to be placed under the CBI director. As per the Lokpal Bill, the DoP will be appointed in consultation with the Lokpal and CVC.
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