Contents
- Transparent Taxation – Honoring the Honest
- Medal for Excellence in Investigation
- International Youth Day
TRANSPARENT TAXATION – HONORING THE HONEST
Focus: GS-III Indian Economy
Why in news?
Prime Minister will launch the platform for “Transparent Taxation – Honoring the Honest”.
Introduction and Background
- The focus of the tax reforms has been on reduction in tax rates and on simplification of direct tax laws.
- The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has carried out several major tax reforms in direct taxes in the recent years, and several initiatives have been taken by the CBDT for bringing in efficiency and transparency in the functioning of the IT Department.
Recent Steps taken so far
- Document Identification Number (DIN) was introduced wherein every communication of the Department would carry a computer-generated unique document identification number, bringing more transparency in official communication.
- IT Department has moved forward with prefilling of income tax returns to make compliance more convenient for individual taxpayers, to increase the ease of compliance for taxpayers.
- IT Department also brought out the Direct Tax “Vivad se Vishwas Act, 2020” to provide for resolution of pending tax disputes.
- To effectively reduce taxpayer grievances / litigation, the monetary thresholds for filing of departmental appeals in various appellate Courts have been raised.
- Digital transactions and electronic modes of payment too have been encouraged to cutdown red tapism.
What is ‘Transparent Taxation- Honoring the Honest’ scheme?
This will reform and simplify the tax system in India to benefit the honest taxpayers of the country, whose hard work powers the progress of the nation. (More information will be released soon).
MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN INVESTIGATION
Focus: GS-II Governance
Why in news?
The “Union Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Investigation” for the year 2020 have been awarded to 121 Police personnel.
Union Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Investigation
- The medal is given to police personnel and members of central investigation agencies in recognition of their outstanding service in investigation and to promote the standard of investigation.
- The objective is to promote high professional standards of investigation of crime and to recognize such excellence in investigation by investigating officers.
- The names will be finalized by the Ministry of Home Affairs based on recommendations made by States/UTs and Central police organizations.
INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY
Focus: GS-III Indian Economy
Why in news?
Union Home Minister conveyed greetings to mark the International Youth Day.
International Youth Day (IYD)
- International Youth Day (IYD), observed on August 12, is an awareness day designated by the UN.
- The purpose of the day is to draw attention to a given set of cultural and legal issues surrounding youngsters.
- The theme of International Youth Day 2020 is – “Youth Engagement for Global Action”.
- The Theme seeks to highlight the ways in which the engagement of young people at the local, national and global levels is enriching national and multilateral institutions and processes, as well as draw lessons on how their representation and engagement in formal institutional politics can be significantly enhanced.
This year’s IYD seeks to put the spotlight on youth engagement through the following three interconnected streams:
- Engagement at the local/community level;
- Engagement at the national level (formulation of laws, policies, and their implementation); and,
- Engagement at the global level.
National Youth Day (NYD) 2020
- National Youth Day (NYD) is observed on Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary on January 12 every year.
- The main objective of NYD is to promote rational thinking among the youth. Youth is expected to rise to the values, principles and beliefs that Vivekananda lived by.
- On the occasion of National Youth Day 2020 the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and Uttar Pradesh government also jointly organized the National Youth Festival (NYF) with the theme “Fit youth, Fit India”.
- The objective of NYF is to provide an arena where youth can interact and exchange their social and cultural uniqueness. This blend of diverse socio-cultural milieu proves belief in ‘Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat’.
