Current Affairs for IAS Exams – 02 December 2016

:: National ::

NITI Aayog held the first meeting of the Committee of Chief Ministers formed to prepare a road map to be implemented in one year for rapid expansion and adoption of the digital payments methods such as debit/credit cards, e-wallets, UPI etc.
The 13-member panel includes Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Puducherry, Odisha and Sikkim, along with the NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman and NITI Aayog CEO, besides industry experts.
During the meeting, M.P. Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan suggested use of streetplays as well as social media to promote awareness about digital payment methods.

Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn became the king of Thailand, opening a new chapter for the powerful monarchy in a country still mourning the death of his father.
The 64-year-old inherits one of the world’s richest monarchies as well as a politically febrile nation, and was proclaimed king 50 days after King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s death.
After weeks of complex palace protocols the prince was invited by the head of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) to ascend the throne in an event broadcast on all Thai television channels.
He becomes Rama X of Thailand’s Chakri dynasty, but will not formally be crowned until after his father's cremation, which is expected next year.

Leaders of 16 Opposition parties, led by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, called on President Pranab Mukherjee to request him to withhold his assent to The Taxation Laws (Second Amendment) Bill 2016, as the government introduced the legislation without giving previous notice to the Lok Sabha, and the Rajya Sabha will have role in its passage as it has been framed as a Money Bill.
The parties that went included the Congress, the CPI (M), the CPI, the Trinamool Congress, the Samajwadi Party, the Bahujan Samaj Party, the Janata Dal (United), the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagham.
The amendments that had been brought into the taxation Bill were brought in by the government in the wake of its demonetisation move: under the scheme, taxpayers may declare undisclosed income possessed in the form of cash or deposited in banks, post offices or Reserve Bank of India before a notified date.
In such cases, taxes and penalties will be levied, to the extent of 50 per cent, 25 per cent will be returned and another 25 per cent will be deposited with the government for four years — the interest earned on that will fund the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, 2016.