Table of Contents
Balancing conflicting claims
15th Finance Commission
Context of the Terms of Reference (ToR) of the 15th FC, certain key aspects
(a) The mandate for using the 2011 population;
(b) „Whether revenue deficit grants‟ be given at all;
(c) The impact of the goods and services tax (GST) on the finances of the Centre and States;
(d) The reference to „conditionalities‟ on State borrowing; and
(e) Providing performance incentives in respect of some contentious indicators
Shift from 1971 to 2011- The southern States- for years beyond 1971 was always an artificial
exercise- No other major federation uses such a practice.
Major federations like Canada and Australia with well established fiscal transfer principles
use all relevant information that is up-to-date as much as possible.
In fact, there is a strong case to discontinue revenue deficit grants based on gap filling but
continue to recommend grants under Article 275M(1) based on more acceptable principle
GST- For the mineral-rich States, the cost of their environmental load should be incorporated.
Providing performance incentives – some contentious indicators.
A chance in Srinagar
Ramzan – Security forces not to launch operations in the State during this period
While allowing them to reserve “the right to retaliate if attacked or if it is essential to protect
the lives of innocent people”.
Two years of escalated violence, since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen „commander‟
Burhan Wani in July 2016.
Marked increase in home-grown militancy
Anti-state protests- which lead to new recruitment
Ceasefire will limit such occasions
Announcement came just ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi‟s scheduled visit to
Srinagar on Saturday.
Ceasefire has brought back memories of the 2000 Ramzan effort of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee
government.
Security forces have gunned down 64 suspected terrorists in 2018.
A large number of young Kashmiris have taken up arms- 35 of them in the wake of the April 1
operations in which 13 locals were killed.
Nine years after
The anniversary of the civil war‟s end in Sri Lanka- final days of the war that ended on
May 18, 2009 — according to UN estimates, nearly 40,000 died.
Leaders, including President Maithripala Sirisena, saluted the soldiers for their sacrifice,
While offering nothing but silence to the civilians who were caught in the conflict
President Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe came to power in 2015
promising, among other things, a political solution.
Persistent tension within the ruling coalition
International community has spared the government of pressure on the accountability front,
hoping that it would proactively address other concerns that linger for the Tamil citizens.
Almost every family in the north and east is neck-deep in debt and young people are
desperate for employment- Addressing the present challenges
The memories that haunt them may never die.
But some healing may be possible if they have a better future to look forward to.
This government, which came to power with the overwhelming support of Tamils, must not let them down- It must not add to the list of missed opportunities.
Prelims Focus Facts-News Analysis
Page-1-Karnataka House to decide Yeddyurappa‟s fate today
Supreme Court says, ordering a floor test
Prelims Focus Facts-News Analysis
Implement Cauvery draft scheme before rains: Supreme Court
Monsoon may hit Kerala on May 29- India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on
Friday.
Finance panel defends terms before V-P
A day after Finance Ministers of six States submitted a memorandum to President
Ram Nath Kovind demanding 13 amendments to the terms of reference of the 15th
Finance Commission, VicePresident M. Venkaiah Naidu on Friday met the Chairman,
N.K. Singh, and members of the panel seeking a clarification on the north-south
debate the commission has generated.
Import bill may increase by $50 billion on rising oil.
Prelims Focus Facts-News Analysis
EU moves to save Iran nuclear deal
Commission takes steps to shield firms from U.S. sanctions
Prelims Focus Facts-News Analysis
„India‟s freshwater stocks in danger‟
NASA tracks global hydrologic changes using observations from multiple satellites
India is among the hot spots where overuse of water resources has caused a sharp
decline in the availability of freshwater, according to a first-of-its-kind study using
an array of NASA satellite observations of the earth.
Map Practice
Last Day- Q’s- Answers…
AIIB formed on 16 Jan,2016,
Headquarter Beijing, China
Member – 64
ADB formed on 19 Dec,1966
Headquarter manila, Phillipines
Member – 67
Finance commission under article 280
Finance Commission established in 1951
15th FC chairman -N.K Singh
Senkaku – Japanese name
Diaoyu – Chinese name
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