1st, June, 2023

Topic: HP State Taxes and Excise department registers 13% growth in Revenue generation.

 

Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains are essential.

Importance for  Prelims: Economic and social development – sustainable development poverty, inclusion, demographics, social sector initiatives, etc.

Significance for the Mains Exam:

• PAPER-VI: GENERAL STUDIES-III: UNIT I: Tax Base

 

What is the news?

• The Department of State Taxes has collected Rs.1004 crore in the current fiscal till 31st May against Rs. 890 crore collected during the same period in the last financial year, thereby registering a growth of 13 percent in the first two months of 2023, stated Commissioner, State Taxes and Excise, Yunus here today.

Steps taken towards this:

• The department is continuously monitoring the speedy scrutiny of returns, timely completion of GST audits and capacity building of the tax officers to improve GST collection. The department has targeted verifications of 13 lakh e-way bills during the current financial year. The departmental officers in the first two months of the current financial year verified 1.85 lakh e-way bills and collected a penalty of Rs. 92 lakh from violators, he said.

 

Campaign towards fraudulent taxpayers:

• The department has been focusing on fraudulent taxpayers and has detected several non- existing registrations in the past few months. A two-month-long PAN India special drive against fraudulent GST registration has been initiated on 15th May 2023.

 

Objective of the Campaign:

• The objective of the campaign is to uncover fraudulent GST registrations and track to prevent false input tax credit (ITC) claims from being made through fake or non-genuine GST registrations. This drive will help in plugging in revenue leakages in the State. In the first phase of the campaign, the department has identified eight fake firms out of 129 under suspicion thereby evading taxes to the tune of Rs. 10.49. The department had earlier inspected a few firms suspected to be involved in passing on fraudulent Input Tax Credit. Strong action is being taken against the fraudulent taxpayers.
• The department is in the process of implementation of GST revenue enhancement and capacity augmentation project. The project expects to improve the data analysis capabilities of the department significantly, he said.

 

Lets understand about State Taxes:

• State taxes in India are taxes that people and companies have to pay to the government of their state. There are many different kinds of state taxes in India.

 

Value-added tax, or VAT, is a tax on things and services that are sold. VAT rates change based on what kind of goods or services are being sold and in which state they are being sold.

Excise duty is a tax that is put on things when they are made, sold, or used. The rates of excise charge depend on the type of good and the state where it is made, sold, or used.

Stamp duty is a tax that is paid when land or buildings are sold or bought. Stamp duty rates change based on how much the land is worth and where it is in the country.
Aside from these taxes, state governments can also charge taxes on things like motor cars, electricity, and water.

• State taxes are used to pay for a wide range of state government services, such as education, health care, and building new roads and bridges.

 

Here are a few good things about state taxes:

• State taxes can bring in money for the state government that can be used to pay for important services and programs.
  By giving money from people with more money to people with less money, state taxes can help reduce income inequality.
  State taxes can help protect the environment by making it less likely that people will buy things that are bad for the environment.

 

But there are some bad things about state taxes:

• State taxes can be regressive, which means that they are harder on people with lower incomes than on people with higher incomes.
  State taxes can be hard to understand and follow.
• Because state taxes make it more expensive to do business in the state, they can slow down economic growth.
• Overall, state taxes can be a good way for governments to bring in more money, make sure everyone has the same amount of money, and protect the environment. But state tax systems need to be carefully made so that taxes have as few bad effects as possible.

(Source: HP Government)

Topic: HP to have heliport in Chandigarh linking all 12 districts.

 

Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains are essential.

Importance for  Prelims: Economic and social development – sustainable development poverty, inclusion, demographics, social sector initiatives, etc.

Significance for the Mains Exam:

• PAPER-VI: GENERAL STUDIES-III: UNIT I: Tourism policy, potential and initiative in Himachal Pradesh.

 

What is the news?

• With the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) simplifying the process for grant of heliport licence, the Himachal Pradesh Government is planning to set up one in Chandigarh connecting all heliports in the hill state.
• The Chandigarh heliport, said sources, would serve as a base for all heliports in Himachal.

Purpose:

• The move is expected to boost tourism, which is the mainstay of the state’s economy. The government would also set up heliports in all 12 districts and upgrade facilities in the districts that already had one, said an official.

 

Official shared:

• Poor aerial connectivity has been one of the major hindrances in tourism promotion in Himachal, which has only three airports at Bhuntar (Kullu), Gaggal (Kangra) and Jubbarhatti (near Shimla). The government plans to connect all 12 districts with heli-taxi service,” said the official.
• Before the regulator DGCA simplified the process, applicants had to seek an NOC (no objection certificate) from five organisations— Union Ministries of Home, Defence, Environment and Forest, Airports Authority of India and the local administration. “The government is planning to have a dedicated mega heliport in Chandigarh, which will provide connectivity to all districts of Himachal. It will have more facilities than those available at the Chandigarh airport for heli-taxis,” said Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sunder Singh.
• He said the Chandigarh heliport would facilitate the tourists to reach their preferred destinations in Himachal. “Every year, lakhs of tourists visit Manali and other parts of Himachal and the numbers have been increasing with time. The tourism sector is bound to get a fillip with the construction of the heliport and regular operations by heli-taxis,” he said.

(News Source: The Tribune)

Topic: State farmers encouraged to cultivate millets

 

Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains are essential.

Importance for  Prelims: EHistory, geography, political, art & culture and socio-economic development of Himachal Pradesh.

Significance for the Mains Exam:

• PAPER-VI: GENERAL STUDIES-III: UNIT I: Diversification in Agriculture and allied activities, Land tenure and size of land holdings.

 

What is the news?

• Farmers in the state are being encouraged by the Agriculture Department to grow millets in at least one or two areas and eat them every day to stay healthy. This is happening because this year is the “International Year of Millets.”

The Deputy Director of Agriculture, Dr. Kuldeep Dhiman, told us:

• In the “aspirational” Chamba area, training and awareness camps are being held to teach farmers about new farming techniques and government programs to help the public.
• He said that plans were being made for natural gardening as part of a special action plan. So far, about 1,646 hectares have been used for natural farming by 14,130 farmers in the area, he said.
• Under different farm plans, the Agriculture Department gave Rs 13.87 crore to the farmers in the district.
• He said that farmers in the district had received 1,786 quintals of wheat seeds, 2,246 quintals of corn seeds, and 127.6 quintals of paddy seeds through different programs.
• Millets are a group of plants that are grown as cereal crops. They have small seeds. They are a good source of carbs, protein, and fiber, and they can also handle dry conditions pretty well. Millets can grow in many different kinds of weather, but they do best in warm, dry weather.

 

Here are some of the things you need to do to grow millets:

• Millets are best grown in places with long, hot summers because they grow best during the warm season. They can handle a little bit of dry, but won’t do well in places with a lot of rain.
• Millets can be grown in many different types of soil, but they do best in sandy, well-drained grounds. They don’t like acidic soil, so it’s important to test the soil and add lime if needed.
• Millets can grow in dry conditions for a while, but they do need some water, especially when they are young.
• Fertilizer: Millets don’t need a lot of fertilizer, but a small amount of nitrogen fertilizer might help them grow.
• Pests and diseases: Millets can be affected by insects, worms, and diseases like smut and rust. It’s important to keep an eye on the crop and take steps to keep pests and diseases at bay.
• Millets are usually gathered when the grain is hard and the heads are dry. You can either thresh the grain by hand or with a machine.
  Millets are a crop that can be grown in many different locations. They have a lot of good nutrients and aren’t too hard to grow. Millets may be a good choice for you if you want an easy-to-grow food that can handle drought.

 

Here are some more tips on how to grow millets:

• Sow the seeds at the right time. Millet seeds should be planted when the dirt is at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Millet seeds should be planted about 1/2 inch deep.
• Once the seeds have come up, spread them out so they are about 6 inches apart.
• Millets need about an inch of water a week to grow well.
• Fertilize the crop regularly. Millets don’t need much fertilizer, but a light dose of nitrogen fertilizer every 6 weeks could help them grow.
  Pests and diseases need to be controlled. Pests and diseases should be checked for on the crop regularly. If you see problems, you should do something to fix them.
• When the crop is ready, pick it. For millets, this is usually when the heads are dry and the grain is hard. You can either thresh the grain by hand or with a machine.

(News Source: The Tribune)