Daily Mains Practice Questions 07-01-2023

KINDLY REVIEW

KINDLY REVIEW

KINDLY REVIEW

1) KEY POINTS

·        The electoral verdict in Nepal reflected a clear emergence of voter preference for more responsive governance

·        India’s focus for many years has been on non-partisan support for inclusive economic development, interdependence, communication links, people-to-people contacts.

·        Public opinion in Nepal is now alert to the reality of Chinese intentions, the risks of falling into a debt trap, and the limitations in terms of Chinese capacities in comparison to India’s.

·        India, however, cannot be complacent. Traditional irritants such as the 1950 India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship and the border issue need not be kept festering but should be sorted out in an open and transparent manner.

·        India and Nepal are uniquely positioned, because of the breadth and depth of ties between them, to jointly rethink economic governance with a view to enhancing human welfare.

·        Now is the time for fresh thinking on a host of issues, including economic recovery; bilateral, sub-regional and regional cooperation; restructuring supply chains.

·        India has a range of policy drivers with huge combined understanding and sensitivity as far as relations with Nepal are concerned.

·        This should stand both countries and the region in good stead in the challenging times ahead.

2) KEY POINTS

·        The Goods and Services Tax (GST) law has come a long way since its inception.

·        It has evolved through a long winding and rigorous path to effectuate critical legislative changes and its efficient administration.

·        Taxpayers are served notices on various disputed questions including inadvertent procedural errors (e.g., non-updation of Part B of the E-way bill] where there exists no mala fide intention.

·        An expeditious constitution of an appropriate appellate structure in the form of National and Sub-national Benches of the Tribunal is the need of the hour to provide an effective and speedy resolution of disputes.

·        Currently, taxpayers who are aggrieved by adverse orders passed by the authorities are compelled to approach High Courts for redress.

·        The expeditious constitution of GSTAT is expected to guarantee uniformity pan India and faster redress of grievances.

·        Matters involving the interpretation of law or industry-specific practices have found their way to High Courts through writ in absence of GST Tribunals.

·        Without an ultimate fact-finding authority in the form of GTAT in place, knocking on the doors of High Courts is not viable.

·        It is time that the GST Tribunal takes birth without further delay and starts addressing the mounting litigations, expeditiously.

3) KEY POINTS

·        As of now, forests are the most common sources of carbon offsets and have the greatest potential for carbon sequestration through forest restoration.

·        Counting negative emissions from this forest is simply fraudulent. This is common and expected in rural contexts in India.

·        The fuelwood has to come from somewhere, and all that changes is that the women have to walk farther, spend more time, and face more harassment. Total emissions remain the same.

·        Permanence is the most severe challenge. With climate change, we can expect more heat waves, dry spells, and more frequent and intense forest fires.

·        Forests will be protected and restored when communities living near these forests expect to derive direct material benefits. India’s Forest Rights Act 2006 allows communities to own and manage their forests.

·        Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Jharkhand have already recognised this opportunity to create jobs and wealth. But this opportunity requires the private sector to step up and support the process.

·        If communities protect forests because they get better prices for Sal seeds, Mahua flowers, or Tendu leaves, they will protect them from fires as well as any other threats that come along. Carbon sequestration will be a side benefit.

Q.2) GST APPELLATE AUTHORITY