A significant breakthrough in New York on negotiations to expand UN Security Council has once again galvanised Indian efforts with 138 countries giving their consent for the first time to produce a single document with clear options for expansion. This document will be the text on the basis of which the next round of negotiations, expected later this month, will take place.Until now, sharp differences among member countries on the format of negotiations had prevented a consensus to even come up with a text.The breakthrough is being seen as a major victory for the G-4 (India, Brazil, Germany and Japan) which led the effort to organise support for a letter requesting for text-based negotiations so that the matter can then move for consideration of the UN General Assembly this year. Taking note of this letter, signed by 138 countries, Afghanistan Permanent Representative to the UN, Zahir Tanin,who chairs the intergovernmental negotiations on the subject,wrote to the UNGA:" As a chair impartial to any of the positions yet partial to progress, I will study the appeal contained in the said December 23 letter, as well as all other input received, as we move towards a text-based fifth round."
The move has annoyed Pakistan,which had been working hard against taking the negotiations on to the next stage with the help of a group of countries under the umbrella of United for Consensus (UfC), better known as the Coffee Club. It took strong exception at the chair taking note of the letter and then formally informing UNGA about it.Pakistan felt this was a G-4 attempt to "gatecrash" into Security Council as Permanent Members. "We regret to note that our strict adherence to th eformat of negotiations as well as a commitment to progress through flexibility and compromise has not been reciprocated. On the contrary, a group of member states with individual national agendas to gatecrash into UNSC have created a sense of stalemate by their inflexibility," said Pakistan representative Abdullah Hussain Haroon.
What is important from the Indian standpoint is that countries like South Africa which had divergent views too signed on the text. Its representative noted that member countries "must help move the process forward, identifying options for convergence". South Korea, which did not sign on the letter and is usually closer to the UfC position, also voiced support later.
9.2.10
8.2.10
Centre, states finally agree on 16% GST
The long-awaited reform of India’s indirect taxes system is set to get a major fillip, with a broad consensus forming within the finance ministry on a rate of 16% for the proposed Goods and Services Tax (GST) for both Centre and states combined. To be levied on all companies and traders with an annual turnover of Rs 10 lakh and above, this would provide a tax base of 40-45 lakh assessees and ensure that neither the Centre nor the states suffer any revenue loss. Sources said the rates for both the Centre and the states on GST could be 8% each, or the states could get a percentage point more depending on the final negotiations with the empowered committee of state finance ministers after presentation of the Union Budget. However, there is no scope for taking the central government’s threshold limit of annual turnover to Rs 1.5 crore as demanded by the states. The introduction of GST will streamline the movement of goods across India with a single tax structure replacing the current multiple tax system, which includes central excise, state VAT and service tax — the sum of which runs to as high as 30% .
Current multiple-tax system to be replaced by single GST, which should reduce costs for producers and consumers Centre in favour of 16% GST rate. To make it revenue-neutral, moots uniform threshold limit of Rs 10 lakh annual turnover, both for Cente and states .
Alcohol, tobacco to be taxed by Centre and states in addition to GST .
Exemption list to be pruned to 50 and will be common .
GST to be imposed only once on a product
Current multiple-tax system to be replaced by single GST, which should reduce costs for producers and consumers Centre in favour of 16% GST rate. To make it revenue-neutral, moots uniform threshold limit of Rs 10 lakh annual turnover, both for Cente and states .
Alcohol, tobacco to be taxed by Centre and states in addition to GST .
Exemption list to be pruned to 50 and will be common .
GST to be imposed only once on a product
Agni-3 successfully test-fired
The long-range missile, Agni-3, with a 3,500-km range capability was flight tested successfully by DRDO on Sunday from the Wheeler Island in the Bay of Bengal, off the coast of Odisha. The Agni-3 Missile, tested for the full range, hit the target with clinical precision, and met all the mission objectives. Two down-range ships located near the target have tracked and witnessed the missile reaching the target accurately. Agni-3 missile is 17 metres long with two metres in diameter. The missile is a two-stage solid propellant system with a payload capability of 1.5 tonnes. During flight, the missile reached a peak height of 350 km and re-entered the atmosphere successfully tolerating the skin temperatures of nearly 3,000 degrees Celsius. The missile is equipped with a computer system with a navigation system. The launch is part of the pre-induction trial. The Army — the user — has carried out the total launch operations guided by the DRDO scientists. The missile system will be fully inducted into the armed forces.
Seventh Indian Census to start from April
The world’s biggest administrative exercise, Indian Census, will begin on April 15. It will be the seventh since Independence and 15th since 1872 when the first census in India was held. The census, done once every 10 years, will be conducted in two phases—house-listing enumeration and population enumeration. House-listing will begin on April 15 and go on till June 1, 2010. The actual headcount will happen between February 9 and 28, 2011, except in Jammu & Kashmir. Revision of both phases will be done from March 1 to 5, 2011. In the first phase, information on housing and household amenities will be gathered and the houseless households enumerated on the night of February 28, 2011. Registrar-General and Census Commissioner Dr C Chandramouli, who chaired the first state level conference of principal census officers on Saturday, said that the census was not merely a headcount, but a great tool to formulate future planning and policies of the nation as it provides reliable data on population, socio-economic conditions and demography. Over 25 lakh enumerators will be deployed for the drive.
6.2.10
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