GS-II

Wonderla, a leading amusement park operator, has threatened to scrap its investment plans in Tamil Nadu if the government does not withdraw the 10% local body tax (LBT). Amusement parks in the State pay a 10% LBT levied by the Tamil Nadu government over and above the 18% Goods and …

The Kerala government has asked the Centre to go by the 2016 National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) while taking a call on the UAE government’s offer of Rs. 700 crore in assistance or compensate the State for the loss of such a hefty sum. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi had welcomed …

Singapore has laws against homosexuality Paris Jackson has apologised for appearing on the front cover ofHarper’s Bazaarmagazine in Singapore, which has laws against homosexuality, after the bisexual actress came under fire for ‘hypocrisy’. She sparked a storm of criticism after posting an Instagram picture of the cover of the September …

Two-day negotiations begin today China said on Tuesday that it remains hopeful of “good results” from trade talks in Washington this week after U.S. President Trump threw cold water on the prospects for a breakthrough. U.S. and Chinese officials are set to hold two days of talks in Washington starting …

‘Terror, not discrimination, behind crisis’ Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday defended her government’s actions in Rakhine State, where about 7,00,000 Rohingya Muslims fled from a brutal counterinsurgency campaign to neighbouring Bangladesh. Ms. Suu Kyi said terrorism, not social discrimination or inequality, triggered the crisis. She made the …

Group has accepted our offer: Russia The Taliban plans to take part in Afghanistan peace talks in Moscow on September 4, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was quoted as saying by Interfax news agency on Tuesday. Mr. Lavrov’s Ministry said in a statement that Russia had invited 12 countries, including …

Official also welcomes Pak. PM’s remark on peace in S. Asia Opening up trade with India is a key priority of the Trump administration, a senior official of the U.S. State Department has said. Briefing reporters on the administration’s Asia-Pacific policy, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian …

‘Maybe Clapper is being nice to me so he doesn’t lose his security clearance’ U.S. President Donald Trump stayed the course of his conflict with professional spies and strategists of the U.S. on Tuesday as debate continued on his decision last week to revoke the security clearance of former Central …

The Centre suggested working together with institutions like the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, National Environment Engineering Research Institute, Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to deal with Diwali pollution. It suggested setting up of Raw Material Characterisation Facilities to check the presence of …

“When Mr. Narendra Modi became Prime Minister of India, he invited heads of SAARC nations including former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for the swearing-in ceremony. Mr. Sharif was accorded a warm welcome when he reached India,” Mr Sidhu said. “Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had gone to Lahore …

SC to hear plea on August 27 Violence-marred Kashmir valley witnessed a rare buzz in the markets on Tuesday, eve of Id-ul-Azha. However, festivities were eclipsed by anxiety about the fate of Article 35A, scheduled for hearing in the Supreme Court on August 27. Women and children were seen swarming …

To coordinate with service providers A high-level meeting was convened on Tuesday to discuss recommendations on ways to curb “sexual violence” videos involving women and children. It was decided in the meeting that the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) would be the designated nodal agency for monitoring the complaints received …

He continued in office after the State was placed under Governor’s rule on June 20 and Centre needed an experienced administrator given the ongoing Amarnath Yatra that concludes on August 28.Mr. Malik started out as a student leader in Meerut. In 1974 he joined Charan Singh’s Lok Dal and was …

The Supreme Court on Tuesday criticised the Election Commission of India for introducing NOTA in Rajya Sabha elections. The poll body should act within the law, it said. A three-judge Bench, led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, which scrapped the use of NOTA (none of the above) option …

Special Assembly session on August 30 to discuss flood havoc The Kerala government is looking forward to imposition of a 10% cess on State GST and rise in its borrowing limit from the present 3% to 4.5% of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) to raise sufficient resources for the …

Not on contract as now, but as permanent teaching staff, recommends council The Human Resource Development Ministry will set the ball rolling on facilitating the recruitment of permanent foreign faculty in the Indian Institutes of Technology.As of now, the IITs can hire foreign faculty only on a contract basis for …

Minister asks him to set up local corporate entity, appoint a grievance officer, curb fake messages Stepping up efforts to clamp down on the spread on “sinister” messages through WhatsApp, the Union government on Tuesday asked the instant messaging platform to implement three measures in India: set up a local …

80 tonnes of pulses will be supplied daily Central assistance of Rs. 600 crore was released to the Kerala government on Tuesday. This includes Rs. 500 crore announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rs. 100 crore announced by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. The National Crisis Management Committee, chaired …

Cleric had allegedly stopped students from singing anthem The Uttar Pradesh government has cancelled the registration of a madrasa in Maharajganj district after the students of the institution were allegedly stopped by a cleric from singing the national anthem on Independence Day. Sedition charges Maulana Junaid Ansari, who allegedly prevented …

EC move will revive ‘Satan of defection’ The Supreme Court on Tuesday scrapped the use of NOTA (none of the above) option for Rajya Sabha polls, saying it would usher back the “Satan of defections.” A three-judge Bench, led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, held that the option …