PAN 2.0 |
Why in News: The Cabinet has given its approval for the Income Tax Department’s PAN 2.0 Project, with an allocated budget of ₹1,435 crore.
Background
- The PAN 2.0 Project is designed to modernize and streamline the issuance and management of Permanent Account Numbers (PAN) and Tax Deduction and Collection Account Numbers (TAN).
- The project focuses on making the system more user-friendly and efficient.
Key Takeaways
- Objective:PAN 2.0 is an e-Governance initiative by the Income Tax Department to re-engineer the taxpayer registration services.
- System Overhaul:The project involves a complete upgrade of the existing PAN system, revamping the IT infrastructure, and positioning PAN as a universal business identifier across specified government agency digital systems.
How PAN 2.0 Will Be Different
Integration of Platforms
- Currently, PAN-related services are distributed across the e-Filing Portal, UTIITSL Portal, and Protean e-Gov Portal.
- PAN 2.0 will integrate all these services into a single unified platform, providing a one-stop solution for all PAN and TAN-related processes, including applications, updates, Aadhaar linking, and online validation.
Paperless Processes
- A fully online and paperless process will replace the existing hybrid system, making the procedure more efficient and eco-friendly.
Taxpayer Facilitation
- PAN allotment, updates, and corrections will be provided free of cost, and an electronic PAN (e-PAN) will be sent to the registered email ID.
- Physical PAN cards can still be requested by paying a prescribed fee.
About PAN and TAN
PAN (Permanent Account Number)
- A 10-digit alphanumeric identifier used by the Income Tax Department to track all transactions, such as tax payments, TDS/TCS credits, and income tax returns.
- Once issued, a PAN remains valid for a lifetime. It is mandatory to quote PAN when filing an income tax return.
TAN (Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number)
- A 10-digit alphanumeric identifier issued to individuals or entities responsible for deducting or collecting tax at source.
- It is mandatory to quote TAN in TDS/TCS returns, payment challans, and certificates.
DESIGN LAW TREATY (DLT) |
Why in News: India has become a signatory to the Riyadh Design Law Treaty, aimed at unifying procedures and streamlining the registration of industrial designs across multiple countries.
Background
- After nearly two decades of negotiations, member states of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) adopted the landmark Design Law Treaty (DLT).
- This treaty, also referred to as the Riyadh Design Law Treaty, was finalized on November 22, 2024, in Riyadh.
Key Takeaways
- Adoption:The DLT is an international legal framework developed by WIPO to streamline industrial design protection processes worldwide.
- Purpose:It aims to create a standardized system that simplifies and reduces the cost of registering industrial designs across countries.
Objectives
Harmonizing Procedural Frameworks
- The treaty seeks to align procedural aspects of industrial design protection globally, making the process consistent and efficient.
- It simplifies registration to assist designers in securing protection for their designs both nationally and internationally.
Promoting Innovation
- By removing procedural hurdles, the treaty encourages innovation and creativity.
- It particularly benefits small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), startups, and independent designers.
Key Provisions
- Relaxed Time Limits:Provides more flexible deadlines for filings and submissions, giving applicants greater convenience.
- Restoration of Lost Rights:Introduces mechanisms to restore rights in case of lapses, ensuring applicants can recover missed opportunities.
- Priority Claims:Simplifies the process of correcting or adding priority claims to applications.
- Multiple Designs in One Application:Allows filing for multiple designs under a single application, reducing administrative effort and costs.
- Adoption of Electronic Systems:Encourages the implementation of digital systems for design registration and promotes the electronic exchange of priority documents.
GURU GHASIDAS – TAMOR PINGLA TIGER RESERVE |
Why in News: The Chhattisgarh government has officially declared the Guru Ghasidas National Park and Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary as a new tiger reserve. Named the Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve, it becomes the fourth tiger reserve in the state.
Background
In 2021, the National Tiger Conservation Authority granted final approval for notifying the Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve.
Key Takeaways
- The Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve is the 56th tiger reserve in India.
- It is located across the Chota Nagpur Plateau and partially in the Baghelkhand Plateau.
- It is the third-largest tiger reserve in India, following Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh and Manas in Assam.
- Conservation Landscape: Aligned with India’s National Wildlife Action Plan, the reserve forms a contiguous landscape of nearly 4,500 sq. km with the Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh.
- It is also connected to:
- Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh (to the west).
- Palamau Tiger Reserve in Jharkhand (to the east).
EXERCISE SEA VIGIL |
Why in News: The Indian Navy is scheduled to conduct the fourth edition of the nationwide Coastal Defence Exercise ‘Sea Vigil-24’
Background
- Coastal security exercises are routinely conducted by individual coastal states and maritime security agencies. However, Exercise Sea Vigil, coordinated by the Indian Navy, is a national-level initiative designed to holistically evaluate India’s maritime defence and security framework.
Key Takeaways
Origin and Purpose
- Conceptualized in 2018 after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks to address gaps in coastal defence.
- Aims to validate and enhance the measures implemented for coastal security.
Comprehensive Coverage
- The exercise spans India’s 11,098 km coastline and its vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 2.4 million square kilometres.
- Involves the entire coastal security apparatus, engaging stakeholders like maritime agencies, the fishing community, and coastal residents.
- One of its objectives is to raise awareness among coastal communities about maritime security.
‘Sea Vigil-24’ Overview
- Schedule: Planned for November 20-21, 2024, covering the entire Indian coastline.
- Scale and Participation:The largest edition to date, featuring participation from six ministries and 21 agencies/organizations.
Focus Areas:
- Strengthening the security of key coastal assets, including:
- Ports, oil rigs, and Single Point Moorings (SPMs).
- Cable Landing Points and other critical coastal infrastructure.
- Coastal populations and their role in security awareness.
CENTRAL ADOPTION RESOURCE AUTHORITY (CARA) |
Why in News: The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, observes November as National Adoption Awareness Month to encourage legal adoptions across the nation.
Background
The theme for Adoption Awareness Month 2024 is “Rehabilitation of Older Children through Foster Care and Foster Adoption.”
About CARA
- Statutory Body:The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) operates under the Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India.
- Established in 1990:It functions as the nodal agency for the adoption of Indian children, managing both domestic and international adoptions.
Key Functions of CARA
- Regulation of Adoption Procedures: CARA oversees the adoption of orphaned, abandoned, and surrendered children, ensuring standardized and ethical processes.
- Implementation of the Hague Convention:As the Central Authority under the Hague Convention on Inter-country Adoption (1993), CARA ensures compliance with international standards for cross-border adoptions.
- Accreditation of Adoption Agencies:It accredits and monitors Specialised Adoption Agencies (SAAs) to uphold quality standards in child care and adoption services.
- Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System (CARINGS): Operates CARINGS, an online platform that enhances transparency and efficiency by linking prospective adoptive parents with children eligible for adoption.
