PIB – 18 September 2021

MyGov INDIA

Focus: GS II- Governance

 Why in News?

MyGov India, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has launched the Planetarium Innovation Challenge for Indian start-ups and tech entrepreneurs.

• The challenge aims to bring together the tech firms and Start-ups (based out of India) with the potential to build an indigenous planetariums system software using latest technologies including Augmented Reality (A.R.), Virtual Reality (V.R.) and Merged Reality (M.R.).

About MyGov platform:

• MyGov has been established as Government of India’s Citizen Engagement Platform which collaborates with multiple Government bodies/ Ministries to engage with citizens for policy formulation and seeks the opinion of people on issues/ topics of public interest and welfare.
• Since its launch on 26th July 2014, by Hon’ble Prime Minister MyGov has more than 17.5 million registered users.
• Almost all Government Departments leverage MyGov platform for their citizen engagement activities, consultations for policy formulation and also to disseminate information to citizens for various Government schemes and programs.
• MyGov is amongst the most active profiles on Social Media – Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube & LinkedIn with the username @MyGovIndia.
• MyGov has a significant presence on several Indian social media platforms like Koo, Sharechat, Chingari, Roposo, Bolo Indya and Mitron.
• MyGov has adopted multiple engagement methodologies like discussions, tasks, polls, surveys, blogs, talks, pledges, quizzes and on-ground activities by innovatively using internet, mobile apps, IVRS, SMS and outbound dialling (OBD) technologies.
• MyGov is part of Digital India Corporation, a Section 8 company under Ministry of Electronics and IT, Government of India.
• MyGov has had significant success in terms of engaging with citizens.
• Logos and Tagline of key National Projects have been crowdsourced through MyGov.
• Few Notable crowdsourced initiatives are Logo for Swachh Bharat, Logo for National Education Policy, Logo for Digital India Campaign, etc.
• MyGov has time and again solicited inputs of draft policies from citizens few of those are National Education Policy, Data Centre Policy, Data Protection Policy, National Ports Policy, IIM Bill etc.
• MyGov have also been frequently soliciting ideas for Mann Ki Baat, Annual Budget, Pariksha Pe Charcha and many more such initiatives.
• To disseminate authentic, easy to understand and consistent information relating to COVID19, MyGov has been supporting MoHFW for communications on social media.
• With an objective to drive behavioural change, fighting fake news and busting myths, MyGov created a dedicated portal for COVID related information dissemination –  https://www.mygov.in/covid-19.

 GST COUNCIL

Focus: GS III- Indian Economy

 Why in News?

The GST Council’s 45th meeting was held in Lucknow under the chairmanship of the Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Ministry. 

Details:

• Life-saving drugs Zolgensma and Viltepso used in treatment of Spinal-Muscular Atrophy exempted from GST when imported for personal use
• Extension of existing concessional GST rates on certain COVID-19 treatment drugs upto 31st December 2021
• GST rates on 7 other medicines recommended by Department of Pharmaceuticals reduced from 12% to 5% till 31st December 2021
• GST rate on Keytruda medicine for treatment of cancer reduced from 12% to 5%
• GST rates on Retro fitment kits for vehicles used by persons with special abilities reduced to 5%
• GST rates on Fortified Rice kernels for schemes like ICDS reduced from 18% to 5%
• Council also recommends major changes in GST rates and scope of exemption on Services
• Recommends several clarifications in relation to GST rates on Goods and Services
• Council recommends several measures relating to GST law and procedure
• Council decides to set up 2 GoMs to examine issue of correction of inverted duty structure for major sectors and for using technology to further improve compliance, including monitoring

GST Council

• Goods & Services Tax Council is a constitutional body for making recommendations to the Union and State Government on issues related to Goods and Service Tax.
• As per Article 279A (1) of the amended Constitution, the GST Council has to be constituted by the President within 60 days of the commencement of Article 279A.
• The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Second Amendment) Bill, 2016, for the introduction of Goods and Services Tax in the country was introduced in the Parliament and passed by Rajya Sabha on 3rd August 2016 and by Lok Sabha on 8th August 2016.
• GST Council is an apex member committee to modify, reconcile or procure any law or regulation based on the context of goods and services tax in India.
• The GST council is responsible for any revision or enactment of rule or any rate changes of the goods and services in India.
• The council contains the following members:
  • Union Finance Minister (as chairperson)
  • Union Minister of States in charge of revenue or finance (as members)
  • The ministers of states in charge of finance or taxation or other ministers as nominated by each state’s government (as members).

 Matters on which GST Council makes recommendations

• Taxes, cesses, and surcharges levied by the Centre, States and local bodies which may be subsumed in the GST;
• Goods and services which may be subjected to or exempted from GST;
• Model GST laws, principles of levy, apportionment of IGST and principles that govern the place of supply;
• Threshold limit of turnover below which goods and services may be exempted from GST;
• Rates including floor rates with bands of GST;
• Special rates to raise additional resources during any natural calamity;
• Special provision with respect to Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand; and
• Any other matter relating to the goods and services tax, as the Council may decide.

SANKALP PROJECT

Focus: GS III- Growth and Development

 Why in News?

Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship inaugurated Entrepreneurship Development Centre in Kohima under the SANKALP project.

 About Skills Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP)

• Skills Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP) is a Centrally sponsored (World Bank supported) scheme of Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
• It is an outcome focused scheme marking shift in government’s implementation strategy in vocational education and training from inputs to results.
• SANKALP aims to implement the mandate of the National Skill Development Mission (NSDM).
• The objective of SANKALP is to enhance institutional mechanisms for skills development and increase access to quality and market-relevant training for the work force.
• The scheme provides the required impetus to the National Skill Development Mission, 2015 and its various sub missions.
• It is aligned to flagship Government of India programs such as Make in India and Swachhta Abhiyan and aims at developing globally competitive workforce for domestic and overseas requirements.

 Under SANKALP four key result areas have been identified:

• Institutional Strengthening (at National, State & District level)
• Quality Assurance Quality Assurance of skill development programs
• Inclusion of marginalised population in skill development
• Expanding Skills through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs).
• SANKALP aims at:
• Strengthening institutions at the State and National levels
• Monitoring of market relevant training;
• Improving the quality and relevance of skill developed programs;
• Making skills training accessible to female trainees and other underprivileged groups;
• Expanding the scheme’s reach through private-public partnerships (PPPs).