These current affairs are written in a easy to remember format and are useful for competitive exams like - UPSC Civil Services, UPPSC, BPSC, MPPPSC, State PSCs and other competitive examinations.
India, Australia "2+2" Ministerial meeting
India and Australia will hold the inaugural "2+2" Ministerial meeting during the upcoming visit of Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Minister of Defence Peter Dutton.
The Australia-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is founded on a shared commitment to a secure, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
The discussion is likely to include a bilateral free trade agreement - India and Australia have been in negotiation over a possible free trade deal, which has so far not yielded a positive result.
Both sides have signed a Joint Guidance for Navy to Navy Relationship Document.
India and Australia also signed Mutual Logistics Support Agreement.
Australia has also deployed a Liaison Officer at the Indian Navy's Information Fusion Centre for Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR).
International Relations
Production-linked incentive (PLI) for the "Textile Sector"
The Central government approved production-linked incentive (PLI) for the textile sector with a budgetary outlay of Rs 10,683 crore.
The scheme is for man-made fibre (MMF) apparel, MMF fabrics and 10 segments/products of technical textiles.
Two types of investment:
1) Any person or firm/company willing to invest minimum Rs 300 crore in plant, machinery, and civil works (excluding land and administrative building cost) to produce the notified products will be able to participate in the scheme.
2) Investors willing to spend a minimum of Rs 100 crore under the same conditions shall be eligible to apply in the second part of the scheme.
Priority will be given for investment in aspirational districts, tier-three, tier-four towns and rural areas.
The scheme will benefit States such as Gujarat, U.P., Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Odisha.
It will create additional 7.5 lakh jobs in the sector.
The government has already launched a National Technical Textiles Mission to promote research and development.
Economy
What is "GST Tribunal" ?
The Supreme Court said the government had no option but to constitute the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Appellate Tribunal.
The tribunal has not been constituted even four years after the central GST law was passed in 2016.
Section 109 of the GST Act mandates the constitution of the Tribunal.
GST Tribunal
Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal is the forum of second appeal in GST laws.It is common under the Central as well as State GST Acts and the appeals against the orders in first appeals issued by the Appellate Authorities under the Central and State GST Acts lie before this Tribunal.
It is also the first common forum of dispute resolution between Centre and States.
Section 109 of Chapter XVIII of the CGST Act empowers the Central Government to constitute, on the recommendation of Council, an Appellate Tribunal known as the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal for hearing appeals against the orders passed by the Appellate Authority or the Revisional Authority.
Economy
Chandigarh gets first pollen calendar
Chandigarh now has its first pollen calendar which can identify potential allergy triggers and provide a clear understanding for allergy sufferers about their exposure during high pollen loads.
Pollens are considered major outdoor airborne allergens responsible for allergic rhinitis, asthma and atopic dermatitis in humans.
Pollen calendars represent the time dynamics of airborne pollen taxa in graphical form in a particular geographical area.
Social Issues
What is "Right to sit" ?
Tamil Nadu government tabled a Bill in the Legislative Assembly making it mandatory for establishments to provide seating facilities for employees.
A few years ago, workers of textile showrooms in Kerala had gone on a protest demanding the "Right to Sit".
This prompted the Kerala government to amend the Kerala Shops and Establishments Act in 2018 to provide seating arrangements for them.
The Right to Sit is a novel step in pursuance of Article 42 of Indian Constitution (part of Directive principles of State Policy) which prompts the State to make provisions for just and humane conditions at work.
Polity