Enforcement Directorate:
- The Enforcement Directorate is tasked with monitoring and enforcing economic laws in India such as the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002 and the Foreign Exchange Management Act 1999.
- The Enforcement Directorate is an investigative and law enforcement agency under the Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
- Enforcement Directorate consists of officers from Reserve Bank of India, SEBI, Income Tax, Customs and Excise.
- It was established by the Government of India on 11 May 1956.
- The Enforcement Directorate works to enforce the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 and the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, enacted to monitor foreign currency transactions.
- The three primary tasks of the Directorate of Enforcement are to enforce three laws namely the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), Prevention of Unaccounted Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) and the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act and eradicate black money in the country.
- Headed by a Director General, the headquarters of the Enforcement Division is located in New Delhi.
GST on term life insurance premium, senior citizen’s health coverage likely to be exempt:
- A group of ministers has recommended exempting life insurance and medical insurance premiums for senior citizens from Goods and Services Tax (GST).
- The final decision regarding this recommendation will be taken in the GST Council meeting chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
- A 13-member cabinet headed by Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary was constituted by the GST Council last September.
- Currently, GST is charged at 4 rates namely 5, 12, 18 and 28 percent.
Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar appointed as Chairperson of National Commission for Women:
- Under the National Commission for Women Act 1990, Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar has been appointed as the Chairperson of the National Commission for Women.
- Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar hails from Aurangabad, Maharashtra.
- In January 1992, the Government of India created a regulatory body called the “National Commission for Women (NCW)” under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990 to protect and promote the rights of women in India.
- On August 30, 1990, the President assented to the bill, and India’s first National Commission for Women came into force.
- The Women’s Act of 1990 – requires the NCW to have a minimum of four members and a maximum of eleven members, at least one of whom shall be a woman.
- Jayanti Patnaik became the first Chairperson of the National Commission for Women.
- There should be five members from the fields of law, trade unionism, women-dominated business management, women’s activism, administration, education, economic development or social welfare.
- To review and recommend existing sections of the Constitution and other laws affecting women and any gaps, defects or deficiencies in such legislation.
- To promote legal awareness among women, equip them with knowledge and skills to exercise their legal rights.
October 20: World Statistics Day
- World Statistics Day is celebrated every five years on 20 October.
- The first World Statistics Day was observed on October 20, 2010.
- This year the world is celebrating the third World Statistics Day.
- The day was created by the United Nations Statistical Commission to acknowledge the importance of data reliability and validity around the world.
Important Facts:
- Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has approved the resolution passed by the Cabinet led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah seeking to grant statehood to Jammu and Kashmir again.
- UNICEF has reported that 3.1 million people in the North African country of Sudan are at risk of cholera infection.
- India’s funding has been doubled to Rs 17.22 crore to support the education program of Tamils living in the hilly areas of Sri Lanka.
- Arjun Erigaisi won the WR Chess Masters tournament in London and won the trophy.