Madhya Pradesh

Petroleum products will not be brought under GST: MP Fin Min
The Madhya Pradesh government here today made it clear that petroleum products will not be brought under the ambit of Goods and Services Tax (GST).

“The total commercial revenue that we get from petroleum products is about 35 per cent of the total tax (commercial) that government collects.

“Therefore, it is difficult for us to bring it under the GST as we need funds for running the government, development and to fulfill our social obligations,” state finance minister, Jayant Mallaiya told reporters.

However, the minister, who admitted that the rate of tax (VAT and entry tax) on petroleum products in the state is on the higher side also gave a justification for it.

“States like Gujarat and Maharashtra get sufficient revenue from industrial production, but it was not the case with Madhya Pradesh as industrial activities are less here. Therefore, for earning enough funds (revenue) we have to levy tax on petroleum products

The minister said in 2016-17, a total of Rs 29,500 crore commercial tax was collected in the state which means an increase of 14.5 per cent per year.

Madhya Pradesh will get lot of benefit with this new tax regime because it is located centrally. It will also result in enhancement of business activities especially stocking and transportation of goods,” he said.

INTERNATIONAL

World Health Organisation declared Somalia as Free Polio.

The United Nations World Health Organisation (WHO) declared no record of any case of polio disease in Somalia in the last three years declaring the country polio free.
Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan are the remaining countries where polio is still being recorded.
Somalia is still responding to an outbreak of acute watery diarrhea/cholera which began in January 2017.

World’s first plant-based Zika vaccine

Scientists from US have developed the world’s first plant-based Zika vaccine that may be more effective, safer and cheaper than other vaccines against the mosquito-borne Zika virus. The vaccine was developed using proteins derived from Tobacco plant. Currently, there are no licensed vaccines or therapeutics available to combat Zika.

The plant protein-based vaccine uses smallest and most unique part of the Zika virus that can still elicit a potent and robust immune response. It produces a potent protective immune response against Zika Virus and also not produce antibodies that may be cross reactive for West Nile fever, Dengue, Yellow fever or others.

NATIONAL

IONS maiden maritime search and rescue exercise will be held in November

ð Indian Ocean Naval Symposium’s (IONS) maiden International Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise (IMMSAREX) will be held in November 2017 in the Bay of Bengal.

ð The ships and aircraft of the members and observers of the IONS including China, India and Pakistan will participate in the exercise.

ð The IONS is a regional forum of Indian Ocean littoral states launched by India in February 2008.

Gk bit– IONS

ð The IONS is a regional forum of Indian Ocean littoral states launched by India in February 2008. It is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime co-operation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) by providing an open and inclusive forum for discussion of regionally relevant maritime issues.

There are 35members -navies of the IONS which have been geographically grouped into the following four sub-regions:-

South Asian Littorals – Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Pakistan, Seychelles and Sri Lanka

West Asian Littorals – Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Yemen

East African Littorals – Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Eriteria, France, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan and Tanzania

South East Asian and Australian Littorals – Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Timor Leste

PP (Previous Paper) IAS 2017.

Consider the following in respect of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium(IONS):

Inaugural IONS was hold in India in 2015 under the championship of the Indian Navy.
IONS is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime co-operation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer (b)

India’s First Online Course on Infusion Therapy Launched

ð Infusion Nurses Society (INS), a global authority in infusion therapy launched India’s first online course on Infusion Therapy for nurses.

ð It mainly aims to train over 3,000 nurses in the vital medical procedure.

ð It deals with all aspects of fluid and medication infusion, intravenous or subcutaneous application.

· India-ASEAN Youth Summit to be held in Bhopal.

The event is being organised by Foreign Ministry, Madhya Pradesh government and India Foundation.
The exercise will mark the 25th anniversary of the ASEAN-India dialogue partnership in the ongoing year and also the commemorative year’s theme of “Shared Values, Common Destiny”.
Madhya Pradesh has been chosen for this event as the Sanchi stupa here strengthens the state’s cultural affiliation with the ASEAN countries.
Taking into account the “Act East Policy” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the event becomes even more significant. Over 175 delegations of youths from Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and India will attend the Summit.

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