Showing posts with label National News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label National News. Show all posts

Thursday, 4 September 2025

56th Meeting of GST Council : Press Release

 

▪️ Recommendations of the 56th Meeting of the GSTCouncil held at New Delhi

๐Ÿ”ฐGST Council approves reforms with a multi-sectoral and multi-thematic focus on improving the lives of all citizens and ensuring ease of doing business for all, including small traders and businessmen

๐Ÿ”ฐ GST Council approves rate rationalisation with a focus on Common-man, Labour-intensive Industries, Farmers and Agriculture, Health, Key Drivers of the economy

๐Ÿ”ฐ Exemption of GST on all individual life insurance policies whether term life, ULIP or endowment policies and reinsurance thereof to make insurance affordable for the common man and increase the insurance coverage in the country 

๐Ÿ”ฐ Exemption of GST on all individual health insurance policies (including family floater policies and policies for senior citizens) and reinsurance thereof to make insurance affordable for the common man and increase the insurance coverage in the country

๐Ÿ”ฐ Rationalisation of the current 4-tiered tax rate structure into a citizen-friendly ‘Simple Tax’ - a 2 rate structure with a Standard Rate of 18% and a Merit Rate of 5%; a special de-merit rate of 40% for a select few goods and services

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๐Ÿ”ฐ Reduction of #GST from 18% OR 12% to 5% on a host of common man items such as, hair oil, toilet soap bars, shampoos, toothbrushes, toothpaste, Bicycles, Tableware, kitchenware, other household articles, et al

๐Ÿ”ฐ Reduction of GST from 5% to NIL on Ultra-High Temperature (UHT) milk, Prepackaged and labelled chena or paneer; All the Indian Breads will see NIL rates (Chapati or roti, paratha, parotta, etc)

๐Ÿ”ฐ Reduction of GST from 12% OR 18% to 5% on almost all of the food items such as packaged namkeens, Bhujia, Sauces, Pasta, Instant Noodles, Chocolates, Coffee, Preserved Meat, Cornflakes, Butter, Ghee, etc.  

๐Ÿ”ฐ Reduction of GST from 28% to 18% on Air-conditioning machines, TVs~32 inch (all TVs now at 18%), Dishwashing machines, Small cars, Motorcycles equal to or less than 350 CC

๐Ÿ”ฐ Reduction of GST from 12% to 5% on agricultural goods, such as tractors, agricultural, horticultural or forestry machinery for soil preparation or cultivation, harvesting or threshing machinery, including straw or fodder balers, grass or hay mowers, composting machines etc

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the decisions of the 56th #GSTCouncil held in New Delhi  

➔ When will the changes in GST rates come into force ❓ 

๐Ÿ’  As per recommendations of the GST Council in its 56th meeting, the changes in GST rates on services and goods other than cigarettes, chewing tobacco products like zarda, unmanufactured tobacco and beedi will be effective from 22nd September, 2025. For the specified goods namely, cigarettes, chewing tobacco products like zarda, unmanufactured tobacco and beedi, the existing rates of GST and compensation cess will continue to apply and the new rates will be implemented at a later date to be notified, based on discharging of entire loan and interest liabilities on account of compensation cess

➔ Is there any change in threshold of the registration required for goods under CGST Act, 2017❓

๐Ÿ’  No, there is no change in threshold of the registration required for goods under CGST Act, 2017

➔ Which notification provides for the revised rates❓

๐Ÿ’  The changes in GST rates will be notified in the rate notification. The notification would be placed on #CBIC website

➔ What would be the #GST rate applicable if I have received advances for supply of goods/services or both but supply has not been completed or invoice is not issued❓

๐Ÿ’  The GST rate will be determined as per the time of supply provisions. (Refer Section 14 of the CGST Act, 2017)

➔ What will be the impact on the IGST rate on import of goods❓

๐Ÿ’  The IGST on imported goods will be the GST rates as notified in the rate notification except where IGST rate has been exempted separately


PRESS RELEASE 

Visit : X@pib_india

Thursday, 21 August 2025

Online Gaming Bill 2025 passed in the parliament

The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025 passed by the Parliament.

The Bill takes a balanced approach – promoting what’s good, prohibiting what’s harmful for middle-class and youth.

๐ŸŽฎOnline gaming is an important sector of Digital Bharat.

Three segments of online games:
1️⃣e-Sports - Training-based, often played between teams
2️⃣Online Social Games - Fun, educational, community-based
3️⃣Online Money Games - involve financial stakes, addictive, and harmful

e-Sports PROMOTED :

Just like cricket or football, e-Sports require strategy, reflexes & teamwork.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Bill gives legal recognition to e-Sports.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Government will launch schemes & programs to promote them

Online Social Games PROMOTED :
Think Angry Birds, card games, casual brain games.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Recognized as a safe way to interact & learn.
๐Ÿ‘‰ Government to support game makers & creators – part of India’s creator economy & software growth

Online Money Games → PROHIBITED

❌Youth and children addicted, families ruined.

❌Massive frauds, credit card debt, even suicides.

❌Money laundering & terror financing concerns.

❌Misleading celeb ads giving false legitimacy

Balanced approach of the Bill:

✅ Players = Victims (no punishment).

❌ Service providers, advertisers, fund transfer platforms = Penalized


Why this Bill?

๐Ÿ”นCrores of families destroyed by online money games.
๐Ÿ”นMiddle-class savings wiped out.
๐Ÿ”นThousands of complaints & grievances from across India.

Government chose safety of families over any other interests

When it comes to choosing between society’s welfare & government revenue, PM @narendramodi Ji has always chosen middle-class families.

This Bill follows the same principle. It’s about protecting society while encouraging e-Sports & online social game creators as engines of innovation.

@Ashwinivaishnaw

Tuesday, 22 July 2025

Friday, 7 February 2025

Recognition of Bali Jatra as a National Fair

 Ministry of Culture 

Bali Jatra commemorates rich maritime heritage and culture of Odisha

Posted On: 06 FEB 2025 5:53PM by PIB Delhi

Bali Jatra is a festival that commemorates the maritime trade and cultural exchange between Odisha and Southeast Asian countries, particularly Bali. The festival is celebrated annually in Cuttack, Odisha, and attracts million of visitors. The term Bali Jatra literally means ‘Voyage to Bali’. Every year Kartika Purnima marks the day that the seafaring traders departed for the Indonesian islands. For this festival, people of Odisha gather in large numbers in colourful attire to celebrate their glorious maritime history. The celebration features grand fairs, elaborate rides, food and dance. Indian women perform ‘Boita Bandana’, they make boats of paper or banana leaf (sholapith) with lighted lamps inside and float them down the Mahanadi as a part of the celebrations. The Bali Jatra celebrates the ingenuity and skill of those expert sailors who made Kalinga, one of the most prosperous empires of its time.

The festival is organized by Department of Culture and Tourism, Govt. of Odisha. Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC), Kolkata, an autonomous organization under Ministry of Culture, participates in this event by way of providing cultural troupes during the Jatra for organizing cultural programmes, the details of which are as under:

Under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, a three-day National Dhara event ‘Samudramanthan’ was organized at the Odisha Maritime Museum at Cuttack to focus on the State’s glorious seafaring history, coinciding with the inauguration of the historic Bali Jatra. The event included panel and round-table discussions on the country’s maritime history locations, traditions, ship building, navigation, trade and cultural exchange, maritime security and international law.

The Jatra facilitates cultural exchange between Odisha and other States, promoting cross-cultural understanding. The Jatra also provides a platform for traditional Odia artists, craftsmen and musicians to showcase their skills which help to revive and promote Odia Culture.

This information was given by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

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Sunil Kumar Tiwari

E-mail: - pibculture[at]gmail[dot]com

(Release ID: 2100365)

Thursday, 17 October 2024

Railway Advance Reservation Period (ARP) reduced to 60 days w.e.f. November 1

Indian Railways has shortened the Advance Reservation Period (ARP) from 120 to 60 days, effective from November 1.l

  • All the bookings done up to 31st October this year will remain intact.
  • There will be no change in the case of limit of 365 days for Foreign Tourists.

Monday, 10 June 2024

PRESS COMMUNIQUE

 President's Secretariat
PRESS COMMUNIQUE
Posted On: 09 JUN 2024 11:09PM by PIB Delhi

The President of India has appointed Shri Narendra Damodardas Modi as the Prime Minister of India. Further, as advised by the Prime Minister, the President has appointed the following as members of the Council of Ministers:-


Cabinet Ministers

  1. Shri Raj Nath Singh
  2. Shri Amit Shah
  3. Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari
  4. Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda
  5. Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan
  6. Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman
  7. Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar
  8. Shri Manohar Lal
  9. Shri H. D. Kumaraswamy
  10. Shri Piyush Goyal

Tuesday, 12 March 2024

Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) notified


Highlights:

Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024

The law does not deprive anyone of citizenship nor does it grant citizenship to anyone. 

It merely modifies the category of people who can apply (for citizenship). 

It does this by exempting the applicants from the definition of “illegal migrant" – any person who belongs to the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian community and is from Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan, who has entered India on or before the 31st day of December, 2014, and who has been exempted by the Central Government or the Foreigners Act, under clause (c) of sub-section (2) of section 3 of the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920, or the provisions of 1946 or under any rule.

Tuesday, 16 January 2024

Guidelines for Regulation of Coaching Centre:

Guidelines for Regulation of Coaching Centre for consideration by States/UTs by way of appropriate legal framework

Click here to view download PDF

Tuesday, 26 December 2023

Y - Break @ Workplace

Y Break @ Workplace

Click the following links for Youtube Videos;

Yoga at Chair

Yoga for Workaholics 1 (https://youtu.be/2zBEUqc7nCc)

Yoga for Workaholics 2 (https://youtu.be/aqYJR8HnSJI)

Yoga Break

Download "Namaste Yoga App" from Google Playstore.

Tuesday, 21 November 2023

Do not sensationalise ongoing rescue operations at Silkyara, Uttarakhand: MiB Advises TV channels

 Ministry of Information & Broadcasting

Do not sensationalise ongoing rescue operations at Silkyara, Uttarakhand: Ministry of I&B advises TV channels

Posted On: 21 NOV 2023 2:12PM by PIB Delhi

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has today issued an advisory to television channels to refrain from sensationalizing the ongoing rescue operation underway at Silkyara, Uttarakhand and from undertaking any live posts/videos from close proximity of the tunnel site where the rescue operations are underway, and ensure that the human life saving activity by the various agencies is in no way disrupted or disturbed by the very presence of cameramen, reporters or equipment near or around the operations site.

Government is keeping constant communication and making all efforts to keep up the morale of the workers trapped in the 2 km-built tunnel portion. Various Government agencies are working tirelessly for the safe evacuation of 41 workers. The operation underway around the tunnel is of an extremely sensitive nature involving saving so many lives. Telecast of video footages and other pictures relating to the operations by the TV channels specially by placing cameras and other equipment at close proximity to the rescue operations site have the potential to adversely affect the ongoing operations.

The Ministry has advised the TV channels to be cautious and sensitive while reporting on the matter especially in putting out headlines, videos & images and take due care of the sensitive nature of operation, psychological status of the family members and as well as the viewers in general.

The detailed advisory is available at the link below:

https://new.broadcastseva.gov.in

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PPG/SS (Release ID: 1978446)

Wednesday, 8 November 2023

No more spam SMS from companies : consent required

 Ministry of Communication

Implementation of Digital Consent Acquisition (DCA) under TCCCPR-2018

Posted On: 07 NOV 2023 3:50PM by PIB Delhi

Various entities such as banks, other financial institutions, insurance companies, trading companies, business entities, real estate companies, etc. send commercial messages to telecom subscribers thorough SMS or voice calls. These entities are referred to as Principal Entities (Pes) or Senders in Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations, 2018 (TCCCPR-2018).

TRAI in its endeavour to curb the menace of spams through Unsolicited Commercial Communications (UCC) has taken various measures in recent past. In this pursuit, TRAI issued Direction dated 02.06.2023 under TCCCPR-2018 to all the Access Providers to develop and deploy the Digital Consent Acquisition (DCA) facility for creating a unified platform and process to register customers’ consent digitally across all Access Service Providers and Principal Entities.

In the prevalent system, the consent is obtained and maintained by various Pes. Therefore, it is not possible for the Access Providers to check veracity of consents. Further, there is no unified system for customers to provide or revoke the consent. The Digital Consent Acquisition (DCA) process has facility to seek, maintain, and revoke the consents of customers, as per the processes envisaged under TCCCPR-2018. The consent data so collected will be shared on Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) Platform, established under TCCCPR-2018 for Commercial Communications, for scrubbing by all Access Providers.

A common short code 127xxx will be used for sending consent seeking messages. The purpose, scope of consent, and Principal Entity/Brand name shall be mentioned clearly in the consent seeking message sent through the short code. Only whitelisted URLs/APKs/OTT links/Call Back numbers, etc. shall be used in the consent seeking messages. The consent acquisition confirmation message to the customers shall also have information related to revocation of the consent. Further, Access Providers shall develop a SMS/ Online facility to register unwillingness of the customers to receive any consent seeking message initiated by any Principal Entity.

It is specifically highlighted that after implementing DCA, the existing consents, acquired through alternative means, shall be rendered null and void and fresh consents will have to be sought by all Pes through digital means only.

All the Principal Entities are hereby requested to take urgent necessary steps to be onboard the DCA system as per the timelines prescribed in Direction dated 02.06.2023. For any clarification/ information/ details in the matter, Pes may contact the concerned Access Providers.

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RKJ/DK/SMP

(Release ID: 1975372)