New Delhi, Nov 26,2024: The existing PAN (Permanent Account Number) card holders are not required to apply for new PAN under the upgraded system (PAN 2.0) which has been approved by the central government, apex direct tax policy-making body Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said on Tuesday.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 25, 2024 approved the Income Tax Department’s PAN 2.0 project aimed at upgrading the existing PAN system and making it more user-friendly.
The CBDT said in a press release on Tuesday that the PAN 2.0 project aims to streamline and modernize the process of issuing and managing PAN and TAN (Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number), making it more user-friendly and efficient.
“The existing PAN card holders are not required to apply for new PAN under the upgraded system (PAN 2.0),” the CBDT said in a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) released today.
The apex direct tax body said that with an existing PAN database of 78 crore PANs and 73.28 lakh TANs, the PAN 2.0 project addresses the requirements of taxpayers, focusing on consolidation of multiple platforms/portals and efficient services to PAN/ TAN holders.
Currently, PAN-related services are spread across three different platforms. With the implementation of PAN 2.0, all these services will be integrated into a single, unified portal.
“This one-stop platform will handle comprehensively issues/matters related to PAN and TAN, including application, updates, corrections, Aadhaar-PAN linking, re-issuance requests, and even online PAN validation,” the CBDT said.
It added, “By doing so, the Income Tax Department endeavours to simplify processes, eliminate delays, and improve grievance redressal mechanisms.”
New Delhi, Nov 23,2024: The National Cadet Corps (NCC), will celebrate its 76th raising day with traditional fervour on Sunday.
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh laid wreath and paid homage to the fallen heroes on behalf of the entire NCC fraternity at the National War Memorial, India Gate, here, an official statement said on Saturday.
Speaking on the occasion, the Defence Secretary said that NCC has made commendable efforts in increasing the strength of cadets by three lakh and will be touching the strength of 20 lakhs in coming years.
He emphasised the role of NCC in the Viksit Bharat Campaign, a pivotal initiative by the Government of India.
Singh said, “NCC continues its relentless efforts, towards moulding the present day youth into responsible citizens of tomorrow in order to achieve the objective of ‘Yuva Shakti – Viksit Bharat’.”
Cadets, besides participating in march past and cultural activities at various cities, ‘Blood Donation Camp’ are also being organised. The quantum of blood donation this year is likely to exceed the mark of 50,000 blood units donation achieved last year.
Apart from this, various social activities and cultural awareness programs are being organized like tree plantation drive, cleaning of statues, swachhta hi sewa, nasha mukti abhiyaan and others.
United Nations, Nov 22,2024: UN humanitarians said on Thursday that evacuation orders and air strikes forced more than 880,000 people from their homes in Lebanon, with more than 500,000 of them fleeing into Syria.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said those remaining in Lebanon face deteriorating food security.
The International Organisation for Migration reported that more than 880,000 people were displaced within the country, including more than 20,000 migrants who have been forced to flee both their homes and workplaces.
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported that more than 500,000 people left Lebanon for Syria and that more than half of them were children. UNHCR is supporting them, among others, by providing psychosocial support to help them deal with trauma and emotional impact of displacement.
OCHA reminded that civilians must be protected regardless of their choice to stay in their homes or to flee.
The office also said the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) warn that food security in Lebanon is expected to worsen.
“The ongoing escalation of conflict since September 2024 has severely disrupted supply chains, and deepened food insecurity, which now affects more than 1.2 million people,” WFP and FAO said.
“With nearly a quarter of the Lebanese population already suffering from inadequate food consumption, the situation is set to deteriorate further as food prices remain high.”
As an example, OCHA said WFP used 12 convoys to deliver food to more than 65,000 people, mostly in South and Baalbek-Hermel governorates, since September of this year in response to the challenging food security situation.
SYDNEY, Nov 21,2024: Australia’s centre-left government on Thursday introduced a bill in parliament that aims to ban social media for children under 16 and proposed fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million) for social media platforms for systemic breaches.
Australia plans to trial an age-verification system that may include biometrics or government identification to enforce a social media age cut-off, some of the toughest controls imposed by any country to date.
The proposals are the highest age limit set by any country, and would have no exemption for parental consent and no exemption for pre-existing accounts.
“This is a landmark reform. We know some kids will find workarounds, but we’re sending a message to social media companies to clean up their act,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement.
The opposition Liberal party plans to support the bill though independents and the Green party have demanded more details on the proposed law, which would impact Meta Platforms’
But Albanese said children will have access to messaging, online gaming, and health and education related services, such as youth mental health support platform Headspace, and Alphabet’s
The Albanese-led Labor government has been arguing excessive use of social media poses risks to physical and mental health of children, in particular the risks to girls from harmful depictions of body image, and misogynist content aimed at boys.
A number of countries have already vowed to curb social media use by children through legislation, but Australia’s policy is one of the most stringent.
France last year proposed a ban on social media for those under 15 but users were able to avoid the ban with parental consent. The United States has for decades required technology companies to seek parental consent to access the data of children under 13.
“For too many young Australians, social media can be harmful. Almost two-thirds of 14 to 17-year-old Australians have viewed extremely harmful content online, including drug abuse, suicide or self-harm,” Communications Minister Michelle Rowland told parliament on Thursday.
The law would force social media platforms, and not parents or young people, to take reasonable steps to ensure the age-verification protections are in place.
The proposed law will contain robust privacy provisions, including requiring platforms to destroy any information collected to safeguard the personal data of users, Rowland said.
“Social media has a social responsibility … that’s why we are making big changes to hold platforms to account for user safety,” Rowland said.
New Delhi, Nov 19,2024: Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) Abhay Karandikar on Tuesday said that India has witnessed the rise of more than 10,000 deep-tech startups across key sectors such as artificial intelligence, clean energy, and biotechnology many of which are translating academic research into commercial success.
The Secretary’s remarks came , while speaking at a summit organised by the Nadar University, Delhi-NCR in partnership with the Global Trade and Innovation Policy Alliance (GTIPA) and the Institute for Competitiveness here.
Sharing the valuable insights into the India’s rapidly expanding “innovation ecosystem”, he said “The Ministry is actively supporting by offering the provision of funding to approximately 700 startups in these critical sectors”.
During the event, Karandikar expressed optimism that increased private sector investment in research and development would further drive India’s ascent as a global innovation powerhouse over the next decade.
The two-day summit, themed “India: The Innovation Hub for Tomorrow,” is spotlighting leaders from over 35 countries, including diplomats, bureaucrats, industry CEOs, startup founders, and investors.
Montek Singh Ahluwalia, former Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission of India, spoke about the role of institutions to foster the innovation in start-ups and said the Institutions like Shiv Nadar University play a crucial role in nurturing talent and fostering the kind of innovation that will shape the industries of the future.”
“India’s strength in software and emerging sectors like drones offers a unique opportunity to build globally competitive products” he added.
Dr. Rajat Kathuria, Dean, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, mentioned, “India stands at the confluence of technological progress and societal transformation, driving innovation not only in advanced technologies but in tackling global challenges like climate change, healthcare, and economic equity.
“True innovation shapes a better tomorrow by addressing today’s challenges with inclusivity and sustainability”, he said.
New Delhi, Nov 14,2024: The Central Government has declared Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) along with all its factions, wings and front organisations of Meghalaya as an unlawful association with immediate effect for a period of five years.
The Ministry of Home Affairs through a Gazette Notification dated November 13 said, “The Central Government declares the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), along with all its factions, wings and front organisations as an unlawful association with immediate effect.”
“(The Government) In exercise of the powers conferred by the proviso to sub-section (3) of section 3 of the said Act, hereby directs that this notification shall, subject to any order that may be made under section 4 of the said Act, have immediate effect from the November, 16, 2024 for a period of five years,” the notification said.
The notification said that HNLC along with all its factions, wings and front organisations has been involved in activities which are prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India.
The notification further said that the Government is of the opinion that the HNLC has declared objective for secession of areas in Meghalaya, largely inhabited by Khasi and Jaintia tribes from India.
The Meghalaya Government had also recommended that HNLC be declared as an unlawful association under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967), it said.
The Government is also of the opinion that the activities of HNLC are detrimental to the sovereignty and integrity of India, and if these are not immediately curbed and controlled, the HNLC may regroup and rearm itself, expand its cadres, procure sophisticated weapons, cause loss of lives of civilians and security forces and properties and thereby accelerate its anti-national activities, the notification added.
Nov 11,2024: Saudi Arabia’s top military official has visited Tehran for talks with Iranian officials in a rare high-level meeting since the countries restored ties last year, Iran’s state media reported,
General Chief of Staff Fayyad al-Ruwaili of the Saudi armed forces met his Iranian counterpart, General Mohammad Bagheri, at the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff Headquarters in Tehran on Sunday, Iran’s official news agency IRNA reported.
“The development of defence diplomacy and the expansion of bilateral cooperation are among the main topics of this meeting,” it added.
The country’s Fars news agency said that Bagheri called for increased security cooperation between the two countries at the meeting.
“We would like the Saudi navy to join Iranian naval exercises next year, either as participants or observers,” Fars quoted Bagheri as saying.
Separately, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the phone, Iranian media said.
New Delhi, November 11,2024: At a time when defence forces are looking at creating a rocket force, India is all set to soon test fire a new long-range anti-ship ballistic missile which would be able to hit moving warships or aircraft carriers at distances of over 1,000 kms.
The ballistic missile is expected to be tested in the next few days by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, defence sources told ANI.
The anti-ship ballistic missile would be capable of being launched from both warships and shore-based locations, the sources said.
The missile system is being developed for the Indian Navy and would give it the capability to take out enemy vessels from a long-range, the sources said.
Indian forces have been increasing the number of ballistic missiles in their inventory with Pralay ballistic missiles being ordered by both Indian Army and Indian Air Force.
The numbers are going to be gradually increased with the induction of short and medium-range missiles in the three services which would give them the capability to sustain long-term conflicts.
In recent times, there has been a large-scale use of ballistic missiles in conflicts where even non-state actors have been seen firing hundreds of ballistic missiles on enemy locations in just one night.
The Indian forces have been in conflict with China in northern borders which has a huge rocket force and which has a huge inventory of such long-range weapons in conventional or non-nuclear roles.
Indian forces have held detailed discussions on the need for the creation of such an organisation with a large size inventory to meet all security challenges.
Tokyo, Nov 11,2024: Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba resigned with his cabinet on Monday ahead of a parliament vote later the day to select the country’s next prime minister following the general election last month.
Cabinet ministers of the Ishiba administration submitted letters of resignation en masse at a cabinet meeting Monday morning.
As the ruling bloc of LDP and Komeito holds less than a majority in the House of Representatives, Monday’s vote is likely to head to a runoff between Ishiba and major opposition Constitutional Democratic Party leader Yoshihiko Noda.
It will mark the first runoff in nearly 30 years.