KERALA
- Kerala’s flood cess comes into effect
- The State government of Kerala will start levying 1% flood cess on goods and services transacted within the State from August 1.
- The proceeds from the cess will be used for funding the post-flood rebuilding projects. The GST Council had permitted the government to levy 1% cess on goods and services within the State to mobilise resources for rebuilding the State.
- The cess has not been imposed on goods and services that figure in the tax slabs below 5%. Traders who have opted for composition tax also have been excluded from the cess.
- The cess would trigger inflation and impose an additional burden of ₹1,200 crore on the people. Already, the State government had imposed a burden of ₹1,785 crore through the budget. All these come in addition to the ₹1 each additional cess and excise duty on petrol slammed by the Centre
INTERNATIONAL
- London named worlds best student city in new rankings
- London named the world’s best city for students. According to the rankings, India’s best student city is Bengaluru at 81st. It is followed by Mumbai (85th) and Delhi at 113 and Chennai at 115. There are a total of 120 cities in the list. This report is released for the second consecutive year. London beat Tokyo and Melbourne and came second and third respectively on new worldwide rankings.
- The QS Best Student Cities ranking was done by global education consultancy QSQuacquarelli Symonds. It mainly highlights each city’s performance across different categories. The number of Indians moving to London for higher studies rose by 20% in 2017-18. They marked an increase from 4,545 in 2016-17 to 5,455 in the fiscal year 2017-18. The numbers are below the mark than could be achieved considering India’s vast student base. The Top 10 in QS Best Student Cities Ranking 2019 are listed below.
NATIONAL
- Infosys launches Cyber Defence Center in Romania
- Infosys announced the launch of its state-of-the-art Cyber Defence Centerin Bucharest, Romania.The Defence Center is an expansion of services delivered through Infosys Digital Innovation Center which opened in Bucharest.
- They will provide end-to-end, real-time, 24/7 cyber security monitoring and protection services to support European and global businesses on their digital transformation journey. They including security monitoring, management and remediation, threat hunting, security analytics, incident discovery, and response will be delivered by certified and highly skilled cyber security professionals. The services offered comply with country-specific regulatory requirements.
- Cabinet approves ISRO Technical Liaison Unit at Moscow
- Cabinet has given nod to the setting up of ISRO Technical Liaison Unit (ITLU) at Moscow in Russia.
- The unit will collaborate with Space agencies and industries in Russia and neighbouring countries for mutually synergetic outcomes.
- ITLU will also support the ongoing bilateral programmes of cooperation in space technology and act on behalf of ISRO.
- The Cabinet also approved MoU between ISRO and the Bolivian Space Agency on Cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes.
- Rajya Sabha passed the triple talaq Muslim Women Protection of Rights on Marriage Bill
- The Rajya Sabhapassed the triple talaq Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019. The bill makes the declaration of triple talaq means the police can arrest an accused without a warrant. It is the government’s attempt to protect the rights of married Muslim women.
- The Bill makes the instant triple talaq a criminal offence. It provides a jail term to a Muslim man for the crime that prohibits divorce by pronouncing talaq thrice in one go.
- If the woman misuses the law, the man should have theright to appeal.
- The Bill makes declaration of talaq a cognizable offence, attracting up to three years’ imprisonment with a fine.
- Rajya Sabha passed the IBC amendment Bill
- The Rajya Sabha approved the amendments to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2019 provides clarity about preference to secured lenders over operational creditors.
- The amendments gives a loan defaulting companyexplicit authority over the distribution of proceeds of an auction in the resolution process.
With reference to the IBC, it has fixed a firm timeline of 330 days for resolving cases.
- Rajya Sabha passed the Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill
- TheRajya Sabha has passed the Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2019. The Bill aims to introduce a mechanism that will curb the ponzi schemes. It will protect the interest of depositors. The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on July 24, 2019. The Bill will now replaced the Ordinance promulgated on February 21, 2019.
- The bill curb the menace ofillicit deposit-taking activities in the country. It provides strict administrative measures to dupe gullible people of their hard-earned savings.
- Under the Bill, thecentre and state is allowed to frame rules
The Bill ensures to protect the genuine businesses or individuals who borrow money from their relatives or friends for personal reasons or to tide over a crisis.
- Cabinet nod to increasing SC judges from 31 to 34
- Against the backdrop of rising cases in the Supreme Court, the Union cabinet on Wednesday approved increasing the number of judges in the top court from the present 30 to 33, excluding the chief justice of India.
- The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956 was last amended in 2009 to increase the judges’ strength from 25 to 30 (excluding the CJI).
- The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956 originally provided for a maximum of ten judges (excluding the CJI).
- This number was increased to 13 by the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Act, 1960, and to 17 in 1977. In 1986, the strength of the top court was increased to 25.