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Preliminary Pointers

PM Modi to inaugurate 57,000 crore projects 

News:Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh on 14 September to initiate projects worth over 50,700 crores.

• In Madhya Pradesh,the foundation stone for projects worth 50,700 crore rupees.
• These projects include a Petrochemical Complex at Bina Refinery by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and ten industrial initiatives spread across the state.
• Additionally, the ‘Power and Renewable Energy Manufacturing Zone, Narmadapuram,’ costing over 460 crore rupees,
• It will stimulate economic growth and generate employment opportunities in the area.
• In Chhattisgarh, PM Modi will inaugurate rail projects worth 6,350 crore rupees
• He willlaunch construction of 50-bed critical care blocks across nine districts under Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission,
• Demonstrating the government’s dedication to infrastructure and healthcare development in both states.

Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (ABHIM)

Key Focus – Critical care facilities and primary care in both urban and rural areas.

Key objectives of ABHIM

• To create 17,788 rural health and wellness centers and 11,024 urban health and wellness centers.
• To establish 35,000 new critical care beds in 600 districts across the nation.
• To strengthen the public health surveillance
• To improve the capacity of the health workforce.
• To promote digital health.

IAF receives first C-295 aircraft 

News: India is set to receive its first C-295 MW transport aircraft, marking a significant step in modernizing the Indian Air Force’s fleet.

• This acquisition involves 56 Airbus C-295 aircraft, aimed at replacing the aging AVRO fleet.
• Airbus will provide the first 16 aircraft directly from its Seville assembly line
• Tata Advanced Systems will manufacture and assemble the remaining 40 in India, promoting the “Make in India” initiative.
• These aircraft will be equipped with an indigenous Electronic Warfare Suite.
• The C-295 will serve crucial roles in tactical transport, carrying troops, paratroopers, and conducting logistical missions to remote locations.

C-295 MW transport aircraft

• The C-295MW aircraft can carry 5-10 tonnes or approximately 70 soldiers
• Will replace the Avro aircraft in the Indian Air Force’s fleet.
• With an 11-hour flight duration at 480 km/h
• This project marks India’s first military aircraft manufacturing initiative
• Aligning with Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan
• Reducing import reliance while boosting domestic aviation manufacturing.

DSPE Act 2014 ruling has retrospective effect 

News: Supreme Court: 2014 verdict on DSPE Act immunity provision applies retrospectively, impacting officers.

• The Supreme Court ruled that its 2014 decision, which declared Section 6A(1) of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act invalid, will apply retrospectively.
• This means CBI can act without prior sanction for cases involving senior officers.

Delhi Special Police Establishment Act 1946

• Establishment of CBI: The Act established the CBI, a premier investigative agency in India, primarily responsible for investigating corruption cases and other specialcrimes at the request of the central government.
• Role of CVC: The Act empowers the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) to superintend over the functioning of the CBI.
• The CVC ensures that the CBI operates independently and effectively in its investigations, particularly related to corruption.
• Section 6A: This provision, now held invalid, required the CBI to obtain prior sanction from the government to investigate or prosecute officers of the rank of joint secretary and above.
• The Supreme Court declared this provision unconstitutional in 2014.
• Retrospective Effect: As per a recent Supreme Court ruling, the invalidation of Section 6A has retrospective effect, allowing the CBI to act without prior sanction for cases involving senior officers.
• Anti-Corruption Measures: The Act plays a crucial role in the fight against corruption by providing a legal framework for the CBI to operate and investigate cases involving public servants. 

Tax evasion and tax avoidance

News: Income Tax department conducts raids in UP, MP & Mumbai in tax evasion probe.

Tax Evasion:

• Illegal method to reduce tax liability through fraudulent techniques.
• Involves deliberate underreporting of taxable income and inflating expenses.
• Unlawful attempt to minimize tax burden by showing lower profits.
• Includes illegal practices like false statements, hiding documents, and incomplete transaction records.
• Involves concealing income, overstating tax credits, and presenting personal expenses as business costs.
• Considered a crime and punishable by law.

Tax Avoidance:

• Legally reducing tax liability through permissible methods.
• Utilizes the tax system within a single jurisdiction for personal benefit.
• Legal but not always advisable.
• Involves exploiting tax rules’ limitations to find lawful ways to reduce taxes.
• Accomplished by adjusting accounts within the boundaries of tax laws.
• Generally lawful, but in certain cases, it may cross into the realm of illegal activity.

Tax Planning:

• Efficiently analyzing one’s financial situation to reduce tax liability.
• Legal process involving income planning to utilize exemptions and deductions.
• Section 80C allows tax deduction for specific investments, up to Rs 1,50,000.
• Common methods include investing in PPF, National Savings Certificates, Fixed Deposits, Mutual Funds, and Provident Funds.
• Tax planning utilizes legal provisions for deductions, credits, concessions, rebates, and exemptions.
• Involves logically arranging financial affairs to maximize eligible tax benefits.
• An honest approach within the framework of taxation laws.

South Korea is eager to join the Quad and enhance its trading relations with India, a “strategic partner.”

News:  Yoon Suk Yeol, the president of South Korea, paid his first visit to India for the just finished G20 Summit, where he also had a side meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

• South Korean Ambassador to India Chang Jae-bok stated that South Korea would like to be a participant in the Quad as Korea is already a vital partner for all four Quad countries.

The program’s additional elements

• • There are initiatives to improve the current Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). India and Korea signed CEPA in 2009, and it went into force in 2010.
  • The respective countries’ ministries of trade have held 10 rounds of negotiations as of right now.
  • This round of discussions and the countries’ pursuit of a strategic partner are both anticipated to gain momentum from the meeting between the two leaders.
  • South Korea praised the New Delhi Leaders Declaration as well, noting that the PM’s remark that “this is not an era of war” was included in paragraph 14 was regarded to be the most effective way to reach a consensus.
  • For cultural reasons, South Korea is also eager to attend the dedication of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya as this location has enormous significance and according to mythology, a Korean Prince married a princess from Ayutha (which we translate as Ayodhya).

India-Korea partnership

• • Bilateral ties between India and South Korea, officially known as the Republic of Korea, were established in 1962 and raised to the level of Ambassador in 1973.
  • India’s economic liberalisation and its “look east” and “act east” strategies found resonance with South Korea’s open market policies.
  • In May 2015, the two countries upgraded their relations to a “Special Strategic Partnership” during PM Modi’s visit to the ROK.
  • The 45th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties was commemorated by President Moon’s visit to India.
  • There is also a defence partnership between the two countries, as well as technology transfer from Korea to India.
  • The Economic Development Fund run by South Korea’s economy ministry has also approved a $4 billion loan for India’s infrastructure development.
  • This loan has a low interest rate (less than 1% percent), and it has funded some projects like the installation of the Mumbai-Nagpur intelligent traffic system.

Singapore’s New president

News: Tharman, Shanmugaratnam, an Indian-origin Singapore-born economist, to be sworn in as Singapore’s ninth president.

• Prior roles include senior minister and Deputy Prime Minister from May 2011 to May 2019.
• He also serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of the World Economic Forum.
• He won the presidential election on September 1 with 70.4% of 2.48 million votes.
• Rivals Ng Kok Song and Tan Kin Lian, both of Chinese origin, received 15.72% and 13.88% of the votes, respectively.
• This marks the first contested presidential election since 2011.
• Incumbent President Halimah Yacob’s term will conclude on September 13.
• The elected president serves a six-year term.

India Singapore

• India and Singapore have a long history of close ties, dating back to the early Chola era.
• India is Singapore’s largest trading partner in South Asia, and Singapore is the largest foreign investor in India.
• India and Singapore signed the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), which is a free trade agreement that has boosted economic ties between the two countries.
• In 2023, India and Singapore launched a real-time link to facilitate easier cross-border money transfers between the two countries.
• The two countries also have strong people-to-people ties, with over 60,000 Indians living in Singapore and over 10,000 Singaporeans living in India.
• Singapore’s participates in IONS and multilateral Exercise MILAN hosted by Indian Navy.

Novak Djokovic beat Daniil Medvedev in US Open final

 News: Novak Djokovic made tennis history at the US Open by capturing his 24th Grand Slam championship. 

• He defeated Russia’s Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 in the final of the US Open 2023 Men’s Singles at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Victory and Record of Djokovic: With this win, he also equaled Margaret Court of Australia for the most Grand Slam singles titles in history.
• Women’s Doubles title: The 16th seeded New Zealand-Canadian combination of Erin Routliffe and Gabriela Dabrowski defeated the 12th seed pair of German-Russian tandem Laura Siegemund and Vera Zvonareva7-6, 6-3.
• Women’s Singles title: American teenage tennis prodigy Coco Gauff defeated Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 to win her first title.

History of US Open

• The US Open is an international tennis championship and competition, officially known as the United States open tennis championship.
• The annual grand slam in tennis tournament history is made up of the fourth major championship. Every year, this competition lasts for two weeks in late August and early September.
• Since 1978, this championship competition has been held in the US. The US Tennis Association’s Acrylic hard court served as the venue for the competition.
• The US Open final so features five major categories from the US Tennis Championshipe., Men’s singles and doubles, women’s singles and doubles, and mixed doubles fall under these categories.

Nipah virus

News: In Kerala, the Nipah virus caused two deaths, and two additional people, including a 9-year-old child. The two deceased people have been identified as residents of Kozhikode’s Ayanchery and Maruthonkara regions.

About the virus

• Nipah virus (NiV) infection is a zoonotic disease that can be passed from infected animals to people.
• Fruit bats are considered to be the Nipah virus’ natural host, and it can spread through contaminated food or directly between people.
• Estimated case fatality rates range from 40% to 75%. This varies based on regional capacity for clinical care and surveillance.
• In May 2018, the Kozhikode district in the state announced the first Nipah epidemic.

NATO Countries to hold biggest military exercise

News: NATO nations are to conduct the largest military exercise since the end of the Cold War.

About the exercise

• NATO member countries are planning the largest military drill since the Cold War and it is expected he next year in spring.
• A total of 50 or more ships, 41,000 troops, and 500 to 700 air combat missions are projected.
• The exercise is intended to simulate hypothetical moves against an opponent modeled on a coalition commanded by Russia, nicknamed Occasus for the sake of the drill.
• Its purpose is to rehearse repelling a Russian attack on an alliance member.

The “Steadfast Defender” exercise: It is an integral part of NATO’s effort to transition from a crisis-response alliance to a war-fighting one. The drills will take place on the territory of Germany, Poland, and the Baltic states. Sweden, whose full membership in NATO has not yet been confirmed, is anticipated to take part in the exercises. This brings the total number of participating countries to 32.