TNPSC Current Affairs March 2017 10 for Group 1 and 2 Mains(ALL)

TNPSC Current Affairs March 2017

1.   1.New Canyon found in In Bay of Bengal Close to Kovvda, Andhra Pradesh

Three New Canyon has been found by Scientists of CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography (NIO). It found in the depths of Bay of Bengal close to Kovvada in Srikakulam District, Andhra Pradesh. It is Very huge Canyon and probably formed from river Kandivalasa     

This is the first time in 50 years, scientist has been clearly mapped the Ocean floor between Vishakhapatnam  and Srikakulam by sending 32 high density beams to depth of sea.

The Last Canyon system discovered in Vishakhapatnam is on 1963 by American Geologist E.C Lafond.

What is Canyons and how it Formed?

Canyons are deep narrow valley which is formed by movement of rivers, processes of weathering, erosion and by tectonic activity.

The Most familiar type of canyon is river Canyon. The water pressure of a river cut deep into a river bed and carries the sediments downstream creating a deep , narrow channel.

Canyons are characterised by steep step-like slide slopes and may be as deep as a Gorge. Gorge is almost has equal width in top and in bottom, but canyon is wider at top than at bottom. Canyons form in horizontal bedded sedimentary rocks and gorges from hard rocks

2.India-Belgium singed Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement(DTAA) and Protocol.

India and Belgium have signed a Agreement and protocol for amending the existing Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) between both the countries.

It is signed by Chirman of Central Board of Direct Taxes, Sushil Chandra on behalf of India and Ambassador of Belgium, Jan Luykx behalf of Belgium

Official Release:

An official Statement, The Protocol seeks to broaden the scope of the existing framework of exchange of tax related information. This in turn will help curb tax evasion and avoidance between both the countries and also enable mutual assistance in collection of taxes .

India has signed or amended international agreements on Avoidance of double taxation and Prevention of Fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and for the exchange of information with Austria, Singapore, Kazakhstan, Switzerland, Cyprus, Japan, Republic of Korea in financial year 2016-17 to curb Black Money.

About Double Taxation :

DTAA is also referred as Tax Treaty which is a bilateral economic agreement between 2 nations that aims to avoid double taxation for the same income in Two Countries

3.Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, 2016 passed in Lokh Sabha.

Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill 2016 has been passed in Lokh Sabha after Rajya Sabha approved one month before. So the amended bill has approved in both houses of Parliament and has been passed.

As per the amendment women working in organised sector now entitle to get 26 weeks of maternity leave.

With this Amendment India is now in 3^rd Position in terms of number of weeks for Maternity leave after Canada(50 Weeks) and Norway(44 Weeks).

About Maternity Benefit Act 1961

AS per the Maternity Benefit Act 1961, it protects all the women employment during the time of their maternity and entitles their full pay in absence from work to take care of their child.

Important Features of Amendment:

• Maternity leave has been increased from 12 weeks to 26 weeks for Working Women.
• It provides 12 weeks of maternity leave to a women who legally adopts a child below 3 months and commissioning mother( Means bilological mother who uses her egg to create an embryo planted in any other woman) .
• All Company should give this benefit to all women employees from the time of appointment.
• If possible employer can allow the women employee to work from home.

4. No change in India's stance on UNSC veto:India.

Syed Akbaruddin , India’s Permanent representative to the united nation has said that India will temporarily suspend its veto rights for 15 years if it is elected as permanent member to the United Nations Security council .

Even other G4 Countries include  Japan, Germany and Brazil are willing to consider the temporarily suspending its veto rights for 15 years if it is elected as permanent member to the United Nations Security Council. (G4 Countries are India, Japan, Germany, Brazil)   

About Veto Power:

Veto power has been given to P5 (Five Permanent) Countries include USA, Russia, China, Britain, and France of the united nation security council by which they can reject or say “NO” to any decision taken by other member nations

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