Antyodya Anna Yojna (AAY)

• A recent extension of the sugar subsidy program for Antyodya Anna Yojna (AAY) families was approved by the Union Cabinet.

Context:

• The plan will be extended for a another two years, ending on March 31, 2026, by the Union Cabinet, which is led by Prime Minister Shri Narender Modi.

About Antyodya Anna Yojna (AAY):-

• Initiated in December 2000.
• Ministry: Food, Public Distribution, and Consumer Affairs Ministry.
• The goal is to offer food grains through the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) at a heavily subsidized cost.

Salient Features:-

• Food and other essentials for daily requirements will be provided to all AAY beneficiaries through a subsidized approach.
• Food grains will be distributed to recipients via the public distribution system.
• Rice will cost Rs. 2 per kg and wheat would cost Rs. 3 per kg under the AAY program.
• Families that qualify will receive 35 kg of rice each month.
• Through the ration shop, AAY families can get 1 kg of sugar for Rs. 18.50 per kg.

Identification of beneficiaries:-

• The AAY program’s beneficiaries will be determined by the Indian Central and State Governments.
• Following identification of the Government, the AAY household will receive a ration card in a distinctive color.

Laughing gull

• A laughing gull from North America was recently sighted at Kasaragod’s Chittari estuary, marking a first for the nation.

Background:-

• The bird has migrated thousands of kilometers to reach the southern State and is well-known for its distinctive laughter-like cries.

About :-

• These are coastal species that are rarely observed much farther inland.
• The Atlantic coast of North America, the Caribbean, and northern South America are the primary habitats for these birds.
• gull of medium size, measuring from 16 and 18 inches in length.
• Adults have a reddish bill, dark grey wings, and a black head during the breeding season.
• Adults and youngsters that are not reproducing have a mottled brownish-grey look.
• A long, slender bill that droops somewhat, and a black or dark hood during breeding.(The Bird Sanctuary at Atapaka)

Sada Tanseeq

• Sada Tanseeq, India and Saudi Arabia’s first joint military exercise, was recently held.

Background:-

• The first Joint Military Exercise, called Sada Tanseeq, is being conducted by the forces of Saudi Arabia and India as a significant step toward strengthening bilateral ties.

About Sada Tanseeq:-

• Date: January 29, 2024, to February 10, 2024.
• Location: Mahajan in Rajasthan.
• Saudi Contingent Royal Saudi Land Forces: forty-five soldiers.
• The 45-man Indian Army Contingent was made up of a Battalion from the Guards Brigade (Mechanized Infantry).
• Its goal is to exchange best practices for managing operations in non-conventional domains through strategies, techniques, and procedures.
• Its goal is to facilitate communication between the two contingents.
• It seeks to enable bonho

Other exercises:-

• Exercise Al-Mohad Al-Hindi.

Goods and Services Tax (GST)

• The Delhi High Court has affirmed the Goods and Services Tax’s (GST) anti-profiteering clauses’ constitutional legality.

Background:-

• On Monday, the Delhi High Court affirmed the Goods and Services Tax’s (GST) anti-profiteering measures’ constitutional legality. Over a hundred businesses filed petitions against the provisions, among them Hindustan Unilever, Patanjali, Jubilant Foodworks, and Phillips.

About :-

• 2017 saw its launch.
• India uses the Goods and Services Tax as an indirect tax on the provision of goods and services.
• The majority of products and services sold for domestic use are subject to this value-added tax.
• Initially, it was intended to be a nationwide indirect tax.
• There are three varieties.- Central Government levies CGST, States levies SGST, and all interstate supply of goods and/or services are subject to the Internal Growth Tax (IGST).

GST Council:

• The 122nd Amendment Bill, also known as the 101st Amendment Act of 2016, opened the door for the introduction of the GST. (Tijuana GST Appellate)
• According to Article 279-A of the Constitution, the GST Council is a combined forum of the federal government and the states.
• The President may establish a GST Council by executive order under Article 279-A.
• The Union Minister of State (Finance) from each state and the Union Finance Minister (chairperson) make up the Council’s membership.
• To “make recommendations to the Union and the states on important issues related to GST, like the goods and services that may be subject to or exempt from GST, model GST Laws,” is what Article 279 states.
• It also determines the different GST rate slabs.

Advantages of GST:

• Automated tax ecosystem: It facilitated the nation’s shift to an automated indirect tax environment.
• Improved Compliance: Over the previous four years, GST has reduced tax burden and absorbed numerous levies, which has contributed to improved tax compliance.
• E-invoicing and Increased Income: The E-invoicing technology contributed to a decrease in fraudulent invoices. Technology-enabled online bill production has improved consignment transportation and reduced conflicts with officials.

Gangetic dolphin

• In Odisha, a Gangetic dolphin was just saved.

Context:

• There might be more freshwater dolphins in the river as a result of it.

About Gangetic dolphin:-

• Known as Susu in common
• Platanista gangetica gangetica is the scientific name for dolphins.
• IUCN lists this as endangered.
• Habitat: Deep waters in and around river confluences are preferred by Ganges river dolphins.
• Distribution: Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal are the seven states that make up India.
• The Ganga River, from Varanasi to Patna (Uttar Pradesh and Bihar), Son and Kosi rivers (Bihar), the upper Ganga River (in Uttar Pradesh), the Chambal River (in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh), the Ghaghra and Gandak Rivers (in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh), and the Brahmaputra from Sadia (in the foothills of Arunachal Pradesh) upto Dhubri (on the border with Bangladesh) and the Kulsi River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra
• Compared to men, females are larger.
• They are among the oldest animals on the planet, right up there with some shark, crocodile, and turtle species.
• Generally speaking, Gangetic Dolphins are blind.
• The prey is affected by the ultrasonic sound they release.

Enforcement Directorate (ED)

• Hemant Soren, the current Chief Minister of Jharkhand, was recently taken into custody by Enforcement Directorate (ED) personnel.

Background:-

• However, Hemant Soren has given Governor CP Radhakrishnan his resignation as Jharkhand’s chief minister.

About Enforcement Directorate (ED):-

• Established in 1956, the Enforcement Directorate is a multidisciplinary agency.
• It is an enforcement agency whose job it is to fight economic crime in India, including money laundering and irregularities in foreign exchange, and to enforce laws related to the economy.
• It is operated by the Ministry of Finance’s Department of Revenue.
• Headquarter: New Delhi.
• The Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) (CBI and ED Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 2002) is one of the Directorate’s duties.
• A civil statute known as the Foreign currency Management Act, 1999 (FEMA) authorizes the ED to look into possible violations of foreign currency laws and regulations. Act on Foreign Exchange Management
• The 1974 Foreign Exchange Conservation and Smuggling Activity Prevention Act Sponsoring Organizations under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act of 1973
• The Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 (FEOA) is a law that requires the Directorate to seize the properties of individuals who have fled India and are considered fugitive economic offenders, with the intention of apprehending them and confiscating their assets for the benefit of the Central Government.

Director of Enforcement:-

• appointed by the federal government under the advice of a committee that included the revenue secretary, home secretary, secretary of state, and the central vigilance commissioner. The committee was presided over by the central vigilance commissioner.
• Maximum term of five years.

Recruitment of other officers:-

• It is possible to hire additional officers directly or indirectly from other investigation agency.
• It is composed of delegates from the Indian Revenue Services (IRS), Indian Police Services (IPS), Indian Administrative Services (IAS), and the police, excise, customs, and income tax agencies.