11th January 2021
Topic: Social Issue
Sub Topic: Gender Ratio
What is the news?
- Through concerted efforts under the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao initiative, there has been a steady increase in the State’s Gender at Birth Ratio (SRB)-Aruna Chaudhary, Minister of Social Welfare, Women and Child Development.
- Statistics reported through the Health Management Information System of the Department of Health and Family Welfare:
- The male-female ratio improved by 19 points, i.e. 901 girls for every 1,000 boys in 2018-2019 to 920 girls in 2019-2020.
Important:
- This improvement was observed starting in 2013-14. The SRB increased to 901/1,000 during 2018-19 fiscal from 890/1,000 in 2013-14.
What is the Sex Ratio at Birth?
- Sex ratio is used to describe the number of females per 1000 of males.
About Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao:
- Save the girl child, educate the girl child) is a campaign of the Government of India that aims to generate awareness and improve the efficiency of welfare services intended for girls in India.
(Source: The Tribune)
Topic: Economy
Sub Topic: Scheme for Traders
What is the news?
- To settle outstanding C form cases prior to the GST era, the Punjab government approved on Monday a single settlement system for merchants to compensate their outstanding arrears.
Reason:
- Various trade associations had urged the state government to introduce a one-time scheme (OTS) for the clearance and settlement of outstanding arrears under the Punjab Value Added Tax Act, 2005 and Central Sales-tax Act, 1956, as per an official statement.
- The GST came into effect July 1st, 2017. There were several pending tax cases prior to the GST. To ensure the proper functioning of the GST system, it is necessary and appropriate to terminate the contributions pending under the Punjab VAT Act 2005 and the CST-1956 Act.
(Source: Indian Express)
Topic: Scheme for Ex-Servicemen
What is the news?
- The cabinet also gave a nod to amend the policy of ‘Appointments of Honor and Gratitude to the War Heroes or their Dependents’ to mitigate the problems being faced by dependents of martyred/disabled soldiers in getting the jobs in line with the existing policy.
How this will help?
- The amendments to the policy will now allow the family of a martyr to reserve the job for a minor child in case the widow of the soldier does not wish to take up the job herself.
- Another provision has been inserted whereby widows of martyrs, who had been constrained to take up Group D posts due to extreme financial hardship, would be allowed to take a fresh Group C appointment provided they had upgraded their educational qualifications accordingly.
- These amendments, along with certain others, would pave the way for the next of kin to avail the benefits being provided to them in recognition of the valor and bravery shown by the martyr.
(Source: Indian Express)
Topic: Punjab’s Art & Culture
What is the news?
- The cabinet approved the purchase, preservation and use of the Mubarik Manzil Palace.
Where is this Palace, located?
- To facilitate the acquisition, the state will provide Rs 3 crore to the landlord Begum Munawwar-ul-Nisa as consideration for the transfer of ownership with all its rights to the state government.
Purpose:
- This decision would help preserve the State’s rich legacy and reconnect the younger generations with the glorious past.
- Begum Munawwar-ul-Nisa, the successor of Nawab Sher Mohammad Khan of Malerkotla, had written to the state government saying that the more than 150-years old palace, spread over an area of 32,400 sq ft, is a valuable heritage property and needs to be properly conserved for future as an integral part of the history of erstwhile Malerkotla state and Punjab.
(Source: Indian Express)
Important Day:
9th January
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.
- Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is a celebratory day observed on 9 January by the Republic of India to mark the contribution of the overseas Indian community towards the development of India.
- This day celebrates the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to Mumbai on January 9, 1915.
