Current Affairs August 2019 - Committees
1 - Committee recommends CSR expenditure to be made tax deductible expenditure
A High Level Committee on CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) under the Chairmanship of Injeti Srinivas, Secretary (Corporate Affairs), presented the report to the Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman.
The key recommendations of the committee are
making CSR expenditure tax deductible
provision for carry forward of unspent balance for a period of 3 – 5 years
aligning Schedule 7 with the SDGs by adopting a SDG plus framework
balancing local area preferences with national priorities
introducing impact assessment studies for CSR obligation of 5 crore or more
registration of implementation agencies on MCA portal
2 - India, Bangladesh to set up committee for optimum utilisation of water resources
India and Bangladesh have agreed to set up a Joint Technical committee for optimum utilisation of Ganges water as being received by Bangladesh under the Ganga Water Sharing Treaty 1996.
Both the countries also agreed to prepare a framework for interim water-sharing agreement for eight rivers including Feni, Gumti and Teesta. The Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna mega-basin is the second largest hydraulic region in the world. Within this basin, fifty-four rivers cross the border between upstream India and downstream Bangladesh.
3 - Inter-State Council reconstituted with PM Modi as chairman
The government reconstituted the Inter State Council and the Standing Committee of the Inter State Council. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the Chairman of the Inter State Council and Chief Ministers of all States and six Union Ministers will be the members of the Council.
Home Minister Amit Shah will be the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Inter State Council. Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Narendra Singh Tomar, Thaawar Chand Gehlot and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and eight State Chief Ministers will be its members. These States are Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.
4 - Rajnath Singh approved setting up of committee to review Defence Procurement Procedure
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved the setting up of a Committee under the Chairmanship of Director General (Acquisition) Shri Apurva Chandra to review the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2016 and Defence Procurement Manual (DPM) 2009. 11 other members, not below the rank of Joint Secretary/Major General equivalent, are part of this high-level committee.
The Committee will revise and align the procedures with the aim of ensuring seamless flow from asset acquisition to life cycle support and submit its recommendations in 6 months.
5 - High-level meeting held between Indian, Sri Lankan Coast Guards over security concerns
The Indian Coast Guard held a High-Level Meeting (HLM) with the Sri Lanka Coast Guard at Coast Guard Headquarters in New Delhi.
The meeting took place under the provisions of the MoU signed between the two sides for the establishment of a collaborative relationship to combat transnational illegal activities at sea and develop regional co-operation. Both sides agreed to strengthen co-operation in addressing a spectrum of maritime issues concerning safety and security.
6 - NGT forms panel to examine allegations of illegal sand mining in River Yamuna
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has formed a committee to examine allegations of illegal sand mining in the Yamuna River made by Delhi Jal Board. NGT Chairperson, Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, headed the NCT bench. The bench has asked to submit the report within a month.
The panel consists of Delhi District Magistrate, Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and Central Pollution Control Board. The DPCC will be the nodal agency for coordination and compliance.
7 - Amit Shah presided over the 24th meeting of Western Zonal Council
Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired the 24th meeting of Western Zonal Council held in Panaji. The other key participants were - Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadanavis, Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani, Goa CM Pramod Sawant and administrators from Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
Western Zonal Council is a forum for the Centre and the states to cooperate and exchange ideas and experiences on issues related to health, security and social welfare.
8 - CBDT constituted Start-up Cell for redressal of grievances related to Start-ups
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has notified creation of a five-member special cell to address grievances of startups with relation to angel tax and other tax-related issues. The member (Income Tax and Computerisation) of the board will head it.
The cell will work towards redressal of grievances and mitigate tax-related issues in case of startup entities with respect to administration of Income-tax Act, 1961. Start-up entities can approach the Cell for speedy resolution of their grievances.
