PM Modi launches ‘Transparent Taxation – Honoring the Honest’ platform

1.Jal Shakti Minister launches Swachh Bharat Mission Academy in New Delhi

Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat launched Swachh Bharat Mission, SBM Academy in New Delhi, as part of the ongoing week-long behaviour change campaign Gandagi Mukt Bharat.Swachh Bharat Mission Academy, with its mobile based technology will significantly boost the capacity building efforts in training of Swachhagrahis as well as community-based organizations, NGOs and others associated with phase 2 of the mission.Swachh Bharat Mission Academy is a phone-based academy and offers a 60-minutes module, which is an IVR based training course.The course covers a wide range of topics under Open Defecation Free sustainability (ODF-S) as well as Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM).

2.Microwave device ‘Atulya’ to disintegrate novel Coronavirus unveiled by Nitin Gadkari

A microwave device named ‘Atulya’ was unveiled by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Nitin Gadkari in Nagpur.Certified by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and based on French and American standards, the device is 100 per cent Made in India and has been manufactured under the aegis of the MSME.The ‘Atulya’ microwave like device can be used to disinfect any premises up to five metres area, besides surface areas, home and office furniture, beds, new boxes and even the contents of the boxes.This equipment can be hand handled as its weight is mere three kilograms.The device disintegrates the COVID-19 virus with the help of differential heating in the range of 56 to 60 degrees Celsius temperatures.The positive thing about this device is it is 100 per cent safe for humans and does not emit Ultraviolet rays for disinfection, that could be harmful to the human body.

3.PM Modi launches ‘Transparent Taxation – Honoring the Honest’ platform

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Transparent Taxation – Honoring the Honest’ platform.It will strengthen the efforts of reforming and simplifying India’s tax system.The Prime Minister unveiled the next phase of direct tax reforms aimed at easing compliance and rewarding honest taxpayers to boost Indian economy.The number of people who have filed income tax returns has increased by about two-and-a-half crores in the last 6-7 years.

4.The Highest-Paid Actors Of 2020

Forbes magazine has released “The Highest-Paid Actors Of 2020” list. Bollywood actor, Akshay Kumar is the only Indian star to be listed among the top 10 world’s highest-paid actors of 2020 with total earnings of $48.5 million.Akshay is placed at sixth place in the list.Most of his income came from product endorsements.The list has been topped by Wrestler-turned-movie star Dwayne Johnson, for a second straight year, with the total earning of $87.5 million.

5.UP govt opens 16 new cyber crime Police stations in different cities

In view of the growing cyber crimes in the state, Uttar Pradesh government has opened 16 new cyber crime Police stations in different cities of the state.Earlier there were only two police Stations in Lucknow and Gautam Budh Nagar. Two days back the Government had decided to publicise the phone numbers of these 18 cyber police stations so that the victims of cyber crimes can approach police easily.New cyber police stations have been opened in Agra, Aligarh, Prayagraj, Chitrakoot, Bareilly, Moradabad, Basti, Gonda, Gorakhpur, Jhansi, Kanpur, Ayodhya, Saharanpur, Azamgarh, Mirzapur and Varanasi districts.

6.LIC launches revival campaign for lapsed policies

Life Insurance Corporation of India will provide an opportunity for its policyholders to revive their lapsed policies.It has decided to launch a special revival campaign from August 10 till October 9 for its customers to revive their individual lapsed LIC policies.Under this Special Revival Campaign policies of specific eligible plans can be revived within five years from date of the first unpaid premium subject to certain terms and conditions.The policyholders will get 20 per cent late fee concession for revival of the policy while 25 per cent concession between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 3 lakh.Policies which are in lapsed condition during the premium paying term and not completed policy term as on the date of revival are eligible to be revived in this campaign.

7.RBI governor announces ‘positive pay’ feature to help avert cheque frauds

RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said that the banking system will move to a positive pay practice in cheque transactions to curb frauds.Under the ‘positive pay’ system, a customer who issues the cheque clicks a picture of the cheque before handing it over to the beneficiary and uploads the same on the bank’s mobile application.The limit of Rs 50,000 will cover approximately 20 per cent of transactions by volume and 80 per cent by value.Since 2016, the second largest private sector lender ICICI Bank has such a facility for all cheques irrespective of the amount.By following such a system, a bank knows of a cheque being drawn by the customer even before it is deposited by the beneficiary into her account.