LIC stake sale

Union Minister of Finance announced that the government plans to sell a part of its holding in Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) by way of an Initial Public Offering (IPO). The government owns 100 per cent of LIC. Establishment The Life Insurance Corporation of India was established by the Parliament by passing the Life Insurance Corporation…

Camel in the tent

The proposal is to attach medical colleges to existing district hospitals in the public-private partnership (PPP) model. Viability gap funding is provided for projects that the government does not find commercially viable because of long gestation periods, and relatively minor revenue flows and involves PPP. States that fully allow the facilities of the hospital to the medical college and…

Towards cooperative federalism

Background: The states of West Bengal and Kerala, have stopped all work on the National Population Register (NPR). The Punjab Legislative Assembly has passed a resolution seeking amendments to the NPR form to ensure that it does not seek data that may be used for verification of citizenship. Chief Ministers of at least 11 States…

Removal of DDT will boost investments: CBDT

Background: The budget proposed the removal of the Dividend Distribution Tax (DDT) payable by companies. Currently, companies are required to pay a 15% tax plus applicable surcharge and cess on the dividends. Further, investors who receive more than ₹10 lakh as a dividend in a financial year have to pay a 10% tax on such income. The Centre has…

15th Finance Commission’s interim report

Context The report of the 15th Finance Commission headed by N K Singh was tabled in Parliament. The Finance Commission and its purpose The Finance Commission is a body set up under Article 280 of the Constitution, primarily to recommend measures and methods on how revenues, which the government earns through various taxes, need to be…

Bracing for global impact after Soleimani’s assassination

Details: Major General Qassem Soleimani, was the Commander of Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), formed for extra-territorial operations. During the past decade, Qassem Soleimani had managed to leverage the disarray in west Asia to enhance Iranian influence in Arab countries with a significant Shia population such as Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen. He was…

Missing the wood: On anti-CAA resolution in Kerala Assembly

Resolution is allowed: The principal objection that citizenship being a matter concerning the Union, it is not open to State Assemblies to give their opinion on it, is not valid. If a State government believes that a parliamentary law is not constitutional, it is possible for the State legislature to call for its repeal. Some…

Explained: What Railways restructure means

Why is it important? For GS Paper 2 (Contribution of Civil service), GS paper 4 (Morale of Civil servants) and Public Administration Paper 1 and Paper 2 Why in news? The Cabinet recently approved trimming of the Railway Board, the powerful body that governs the Indian Railways. From nine, the Board will now have only five…

Indian Railways needs restructuring and modernisation

The Railway Ministry sets broad policy, the regulator implements the principles of competition determined by that policy and the present Railway Board becomes a corporate board for the Indian Railways trains. As a committee, we decided to focus more on the process, especially human resources and finance. Out of 20-odd committees, other than ours, it…

Whither Amaravati?: On the capital city of Andhra Pradesh

Sometimes ideas can sound good, but when it comes to implementation they need to be tested for feasibility and timing. 3 capitals Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister hinted that the South African model of three capitals was best suited in his State and that his government would work towards this. In South Africa, the administrative capital is in Pretoria,…