Current Affairs Assam – December 2017 eMagazine
December 22
Indo-Swiss deal on data sharing
In a move aimed at combating black money stashed abroad, India signed an agreement with Switzerland that would allow automatic sharing of tax- related information from January 1 next year, the CBDT said. “With the completion of the parliamentary procedure in Switzerland and signing of mutual agreement, India and Switzerland are set for automatic exchange of information for the period beginning from January 1, 2018,” the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said.
The policy-making body for the Income Tax Department said the agreement was signed by CBDT chairman Sushil Chandra and Swiss Ambassador to India Andreas Baum at the North Block.
A huge global pressure has resulted in Switzerland relenting on the tough secrecy clauses its local laws gave to the banks. Official sources said that several information requests on details about Indians who had accounts in Swiss banks were still pending.
The AEOI conforms to a norm set by global economic body the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development for tax transparency.
Sahitya Akademi awards announced
Assamese novelist Jayanta Madhab Bora and Bodo writer Rita Boro have been chosen for the Sahitya Akademi Awards 2017 for their novels.The award winning novels of Bora and Boro are Moriahola and Thwisam respectively.
Mamang Dai of Arunachal Pradesh who writes in English has also been chosen for the award in the same category (English) for her novel The Black Hill.
FACTFILE – Sahitya Akademi Award
- The Sahitya Akademi Award is a literary honour in India, which the Sahitya Akademi, India’s National Academy of Letters, annually confers on writers of the most outstanding books of literary merit published in any of the major Indian languages (24 languages, including the 22 listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, along with English and Rajasthani) recognised by the Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi.
- Established in 1954, the award comprises a plaque and a cash prize of 100000rupees.
- The award’s purpose is to recognize and promote excellence in Indian writing and also acknowledge new trends.
Role of small growers expanding in made tea production
Of the country’s total made tea in 2016-17, 46 per cent is produced from green leaves supplied by small tea growers. The small tea growers of the country are now inching towards attaining the 50 per cent mark in this respect, said sources in the Tea Board. The small tea growers sector now occupies a very important place in the tea industry of the country.
It is worth mentioning here that of the total 1250.49 million kg of made tea produced by the country in 2016-17, 575.22 million kg were produced from green leaves supplied by the small tea growers sector.
In case of Assam, the small tea growers supplied green leaves for manufacturing 264.25 million kg in 2016-17, which was 40.21 per cent of the total 657.24 million kg of made tea produced by the State that year.
Tea Production in the year 2016-17
- Assam 657.24 million kg
- West Bengal 357 million kg
- Tamil Nadu 143.67 million kg
- Kerala 58.61 million kg
- Arunachal Pradesh produced 12.14 million kg
December 23
Kumi Naidoo appointed new Secretary General of Amnesty International
Kumi Naidoo has been appointed as the new Secretary General of Amnesty International. The South African Human Rights activist will succeed Salil Shetty from India in August 2018.
FACTFILE – Amnesty International
- Amnesty International (commonly known as Amnesty or AI) is a London-based non-governmental organization focused on human rights. The organization claims to have over 7 million members and supporters around the world.
- The stated objective of the organization is “to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated. “
- Amnesty International was founded in London in 1961, following the publication of the article “The Forgotten Prisoners” in The Observer on 28 May 1961, by the lawyer Peter Benenson.
National Farmer’s Day observed on 23rd December
National Farmer’s Day or Kisan Diwas is observed every year on 23rd December to commemorate the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister of India Chaudhary Charan Singh.
Famous with the name of ‘Kisan Neta’, Chaudhary Charan Singh strived for the welfare of the farmers in the country.
December 24
Government launches Ganga Gram Project
With an aim to provide all round sanitation development in the villages on the banks of River Ganga, Union Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation has launched Ganga Gram Project at the Ganga Gram Swachata Sammelan in New Delhi.
The Project has been launched under the Clean Ganga Programme also known as Namami Gange Programme.
In August, the Centre declared all 4,470 villages on the banks of the Ganges, located in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal, open defecation-free (ODF).
Vijay Rupani reappointed as Gujarat CM
As BJP has retained power in Gujarat, Vijay Rupani has been reappointed as the Chief Minister of the state. Nitin Patel will be the Deputy Chief Minister.
Governor O P Kohli had dissolved the Assembly following the declaration of election results, where BJP retained power by winning 99 seats in the 182-member Assembly, while the Congress bagged 77. Six seats were won by others.
