It is a chemical compound which has been found to be highly effective in removing fluoride and metal ions from drinking water.
The metal ions include lead, mercury, cadmium, copper, and iron.
It is formed through the single step synthesis through mixing of two chemicals at room temperature.
It repels water by nature. Thus a polystyrene sponge becomes a water repelling material when coated with this compound.
It enables the sponge to absorb a wide variety of oils and organic solvents from water.
It has negative and positive charged parts and this helps it absorb metal ion pollutants and fluoride from water.
INSPIRE 2017
International Symposium to Promote Innovation & Research in Energy Efficiency (INSPIRE 2017) is an International conference that brings various stakeholders to showcase best practices in Energy Efficiency sector.
The first edition of INSPIRE 2017 was recently held in Jaipur.
It is being organized by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) in partnership with The World Bank, and Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE).
Bilateral Transfer Pricing Agreements
Mutual agreement procedures (MAPs) and advance pricing agreements (APAs) are the bilateral transfer pricing agreements to solve the income tax dispute between IT department and foreign corporate.
APAs are meant to settle potential disputes in advance, while MAPs to settle a dispute once it has happened.
Both these agreements are applicable to a country only when the DTAA with a particular country contains a ‘corresponding adjustment’ clause.
The clause would allow the tax disputes through bilateral arbitration instead of domestic litigation
Now, IT department has issued a notification which allows MAP and APA with all countries irrespective of ‘corresponding adjustment’ clause in the treaty.
It helps important trade partners such as France, Germany, Italy, Singapore and South Korea which did not get the benefit of MAP and APA in the previously held stance.
Mount Agung Volcano
The volcano is located in Bali, Indonesia.
Indonesian government has issued a warning of the “imminent” risk of a larger eruption and top level four alert.
Residents were warned to immediately evacuate a danger zone that circles Agung in a radius of 8-10 km.
It was erupted last time in 1963.
Shifting of Tigers
The Rajasthan government has asked for permission to bring tigers from other States for their rehabilitation and cross-mating in order to develop strong breeds of the big cat.
Previously, National Tiger Conservation Authority has given nod for shifting tigers from Ranthambhore National Park to Mukundara Hills tiger reserve.
The Mukundara Hills tiger reserve is located in the south-eastern Rajasthan covering the existing darrah, Chambal and jawahar sagar wildlife sanctuary.
It is the third notified tiger habitat in the State, after Ranthambhore and Sariska.
It was established in 2013 to cater to the spillover tiger population from Ranthambhore.
Finance Commission
Former Planning Commission member N.K. Singh was appointed chairman of the 15th Finance Commission.
Finance Commission is a quasi judicial body, constituted by the president of India every fifth year or at such earlier time as he considers necessary.
It consists of a Chairman and four other members.
They hold office for such period as specified by the president in his order.
They are eligible for reappointment.
As per Article 280 of the Constitution, the commission is required to make recommendations on the distribution of the net proceeds of taxes between the centre and the states.
It suggests the principles which should govern the grants in aid of the revenues of the states out of the consolidated fund of India.
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