DAILY CURRENT
AFFAIRS: 21 OCT 2017
(DAILY NEWS INDIA)
1. GSTN LAUNCHES EXCEL-BASED OFFLINE TOOL TO FILE INITIAL GSTR-3B
RETURNS
i. Goods and Services Tax Network has launched an
Excel-based offline tool for businesses to file initial GSTR- 3B returns. GSTN,
in a statement in New Delhi, stated that taxpayers can download the offline
utility from the GSTN portal and after fill, in the data, the file can be
uploaded on GST portal.
ii. After uploading of the return to the GST Portal, the
taxpayer has to preview the form, complete formalities like submit, offset the
liability and file their GSTR-3B Return using the digital signature or electronic
verification code.
2. HIRASAR GREENFIELD AIRPORT PROJECT IN GUJARAT GETS GREEN
CLEARANCE
i. The Centre has given green clearance for a greenfield
airport project at Hirasar, about 28 km from Rajkot in Gujarat, at a cost of
over Rs. 1,400 cr.
ii. The state government has proposed a new airport in
Rajkot district as the existing one is small and the earlier plan to extend the
current runway could not materialise because of high land cost. The Environment
Ministry has given the environment clearance to the Gujarat State Aviation Infrastructure
Company Ltd for development of a greenfield airport at Rajkot.
3. DHARMENDRA PRADHAN LAUNCHES ODISHA’S FIRST PNG SUPPLY IN
BHUBANESWAR
i. Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dharmendra
Pradhan inaugurated Odisha’s first Piped Natural Gas project in Bhubaneswar. This
PNG supply project is a part of ‘Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga’ pipeline project.
ii. It has been inaugurated almost six months ahead of its
deadline of March 2018. Post this inauguration, PNG supply to 255 houses in
Nalco Nagar of Bhubaneswar has been commenced under the first phase of this
project.
iii. The target of the project is to provide one crore PNG
connections in the state by 2020, of which, Ministry expects to cover a major
portion of the city by the end of year 2019.
4. GOVERNMENT TO ORGANISE GLOBAL AYURVEDA MEET IN KOCHI
i. Health Minister KK Shailaja told that, The State
government will organise a four days international seminar and Global Ayurveda
meet in Kochi on February 2018 .
ii. The organisers of this seminar are B G Abhilash, Jabir
Uralloor, N P Rajiv, K Pushavelli and Manoj Kaloor. This meet includes
seminars, road shows, awareness campaigns, free health camps for women and
children.
iii. The main fous of this seminar will be showcasing
Kerala’s achievements in health tourism, healthcare and ayurveda, she said
after inaugurating the Ayurveda Day celebrations the other day. The Global
Ayurveda Festival is being organised by the Centre for Innovation in Science
and Social Action in association with the State government, Department of
ayurveda, yoga and naturopathy, unani, siddha and homoeopathy, Ayurvedic
Medicine Manufacturers Organisations of India, Ayurveda Drug Manufactures
Association and Kerala State Indian Systems of Medicine of Medicine Self
Financing Management Association, State Department of AYUSH, Department of
Tourism and Department of Industry.
5. RANJIT KUMAR RESIGNS AS SOLICITOR GENERAL OF INDIA
i. Ranjit Kumar resigned as the Solicitor General of India. Ranjit
Kumar submitted his resignation to the law ministry. He has mentioned “personal
reasons” as the factor behind his resignation. He stated that, he has resigned
from his post to give more time to family members.
ii. He is considered as an expert on constitutional laws. He
was appointed as Solicitor General of India in 2014. He has represented the
Central government in many high-profile cases in the Supreme Court.
iii. Ranjit Kumar’s second term as the Solicitor General of
India was renewed in June 2017. Prior to his appointment as Solicitor General
of India, he had been a counsel for the Gujarat government.
6. JACINDA ARDERN TO BECOME NEW ZEALAND PRIME MINISTER
i. New Zealand Labour Party’s leader Jacinda Ardern is set
to become youngest-ever female PM of New Zealand.
ii. Winston Peters, the leader of NZ First party has
announced his party’s support to Ardern in a coalition government.
iii. A coalition government comprising New Zealand Labour
Party, NZ First and Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand will now come to power
under the leadership of Jecinda Ardern.
7. 21ST OCTOBER 2017: THE NATIONAL POLICE COMMEMORATION DAY
i. The National Police Commemoration Day is observed every
year on 21st October remembering the brave policemen who sacrificed their lives
while discharging their duties. Rich tributes are paid to the martyrs on this
day.
ii. On October 21st, 1959, twenty Indian soldiers were
attacked by the Chinese troops in Ladakh. This altercation between the troops
led to the death of ten policemen. Seven of the others who were also imprisoned
managed to escape from the Chinese troops.
