MADHYA PRADESH
· $40K per annum scholarship to be given to meritorious students for studying abroad
- Scholarship of 40,000 dollar per annum will be given by the State Government for pursuing 2 years PG course and research course in foreign countries by selecting 20 meritorious students every year. Total 38,000 dollar annually in the form of scholarship and 2,000 dollar for books, necessary equipments, typing and binding of research material besides other expenses has been included under this.
- It is mandatory for the applicant to secure over 75 per cent marks in UG/ PG course for pursuing studies abroad. Age limit of 25 years and 35 years has been fixed for PG student and research degree respectively for scholarship.
- Total annual income of parents, guardian, wife/husband of applicants from all the sources should not exceed Rs 5 lakh.
- Applicants can pursue studies in recognized institutions of such countries which have diplomatic relations with the Government of India. Students are required to make efforts themselves for the courses mentioned under the scheme.
INTERNATIONAL
· 2 February: World Wetlands Day
- World Wetlands Day was celebrated on February 2nd with the theme of “Wetlands and Climate Change”. The theme signifies the importance of healthy and intact wetlands to one of the most pressing challenges of our times, climate change. The theme has been chosen to initiate action against the drainage of wetlands.
- The theme Wetlands and Climate Change is aimed at increasing awareness of the importance of wetlands, such as swamps, marshes, mangroves or peatlands, to help us cope with and mitigate global warming.
- World Wetlands Day is celebrated on 2 February 1971 to commemorate the signing of the Convention on Wetlands, called the Ramsar Convention at the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea. The two-fold objectives of the Ramsar Convention are Conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands and stop the encroachment and loss of wetlands.
NATIONAL
· Union Budget 2019 highlights
ð Individual taxpayers with annual income up to 5 lakh rupees to get full tax rebate.
ð Individuals with gross income up to 6.5 lakh rupees will not need to pay any tax if they make investments in provident funds and prescribed equities.
ð Tax slabs for those with income over Rs 5 lakh remain unchanged
ð Standard tax deduction for salaried persons raised from 40,000 rupees to 50,000 rupees.
(It is a fixed amount of deduction – in this case, an amount of Rs 50,000 which can be reduced by salaried taxpayers, from their gross salary.
They are usually deducted from the gross salary and claimed as an exemption.)
- TDS threshold on rental income raised from 8 lakh to 2.4 lakh rupees.
- Gratuity limit increased from 10 lakh to 30 lakh rupees.
- TDS on interest income from deposit in banks and post-offices up to Rs 40,000 against Rs 10,000 earlier.
(TDS is calculated at a rate and is directly related to one’s income level. The govt. has fixed a certain level of income which is not taxable. Any income earned post that level is chargeable and taxable.)