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DAILY NEWS DIARY 13.01.2021 DAILY NEWS DIARY Of 13.01.2021 FOR PRELIMS AND MAINS +91 9989966744 [email protected] 1 Page DAILY NEWS DIARY 13.01.2021 Warm Greetings. DnD aims to provide every day news analysis in sync with the UPSC pattern. It is targeted at UPSC – Prelims & Mains. Daily articles are provided in the form of Question and Answers To have a bank of mains questions. And interesting to read. Providing precise information that can be carried straight to the exam, rather than over dumping. Enjoy reading. THE HINDU - TH INDIAN EXPRESS - IE BUSINESS LINE - BL ECONOMIC TIMES - ET TIMES OF INDIA - TOI +91 9989966744 [email protected] 2 Page DAILY NEWS DIARY 13.01.2021 INDEX Essay Paper Editorial 1. Supreme Court's attempt to resolve government-farmer problem over new laws creates problems of its own ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..04 GS 2 International Relations 1. Why is the U.S rebranding Cuba as state sponsor of terrorism …………………………………………………….……05 GS 3 Security 1. Key Terrorist chronology of events …………………………………………………………………………………………06 Snippets: 1. What is a Tax Evasion, how is it identified………………………………………………………………………………………07 2. Cyber Security in the new age is becoming the new normal…………………………………………………………...08 +91 9989966744 [email protected] 3 Page DAILY NEWS DIARY 13.01.2021 ESSAY PAPER EDITORIAL Q - Supreme Court's attempt to resolve government-farmer problem over new laws creates problems of its own. Analyse? INTRODUCTION = The Supreme Court stayed the three farm laws that are at the centre of the ongoing farmer protest. The court has now instructed the formation of a four-member committee to solve the deadlock between the farmers and the central government. It has asked all stakeholders in the matter, including protesting farm unions, to appear before the committee to discuss the laws and objections to them in detail. The committee will then submit a report to the apex court for its consideration. It has taken into its hands a political problem that was, that still is, the government’s to negotiate and resolve. This may be well-intentioned. But it sets a dubious precedent – . One, by pronouncing not on the constitutionality of the law, but on its setting and specifically the protests against it, the court is encroaching into territory beyond its remit. +91 9989966744 [email protected] 4 Page DAILY NEWS DIARY 13.01.2021 . Two, it is showing a clear double standard. Over the past few years, the SC has shown a marked lack of urgency and, in fact, distressing inattention to cases that have involved important constitutional questions and lined up at its door. Be it the constitutionality of electoral bonds or of the discriminatory amendments to the citizenship act, the court has kicked the can down the road. In many cases, by delaying and by turning away, it has allowed a fait accompli, created a new fact on the ground, and in effect, wrought a denial of justice. Now, its alacrity in taking into its own hands the ongoing impasse between government and farmers on the three farm laws, and its enthusiasm in playing arbiter, therefore, raises questions. The case is more than just about the laws – There is distrust between the farmers and the government, which began with the latter’s bid to push through the legislation amid a pandemic and an economic downturn without any consultation in or outside Parliament. That distrust has only deepened and flared because of the government’s subsequent attempts to talk down to the protesters and to call them names. Indeed, the Attorney General told the court Tuesday that Khalistanis have infiltrated the protests — days after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, no less, said it was wrong to question the farmers’ commitment to the nation. If the government’s reform was seen to be arrogant and top-down, the court’s efforts lend themselves to being viewed as presumptuous and opaque. Thus, the questions here are – What were the criteria for selection of experts on the committee it has set up? What happens after this committee submits a report, within two months from the date of its first sitting 10 days from now? Why should farmers who are demanding a respectful hearing as they huddle at Delhi’s borders in the winter chill repose more trust in a remote committee of experts, than in a government that is, at the end of the day, accountable to them? Moreover, The court is also setting itself up for a fall. At the end of this stay on the laws, that isn’t really a stay on the laws themselves but only on their implementation, its own authority will be on the line if protesting farmers reject its committee. In a time when institutions seem fragile, and lines between them are blurring disturbingly, the court’s order on the farm laws seems to lead to another dead-end. GS 2 International Relations Q – Why is the U.S rebranding Cuba as state sponsor of terrorism and what does it imply? BACKGROUND = Countries determined by the Secretary of State to have repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism are designated pursuant to three laws: section 6(j) of the Export Administration Act, section 40 of the Arms Export Control Act, and section 620A of the Foreign Assistance Act. Taken together, the four main categories of sanctions resulting from designation under these authorities include restrictions on U.S. foreign assistance; a ban on defense exports and sales; certain controls over exports of dual use items; and miscellaneous financial and other restrictions. President Donald Trump’s outgoing administration on Monday returned Cuba to the U.S. blacklist of state sponsors of terrorism, erecting a roadblock to expected efforts by President-elect Joe Biden to ease tensions. Cuba’s ties with Colombian rebels, alliance with leftist Venezuela and sanctuary to several U.S. fugitives in justifying the blacklisting. With this action, the U.S will once again hold Cuba’s government accountable and send a clear message: the Castro regime must end its support for international terrorism and subversion of U.S. justice. The U.S. +91 9989966744 [email protected] 5 Page DAILY NEWS DIARY 13.01.2021 will continue to support the Cuban people in their desire for a democratic government and respect for human rights, including freedom of religion, expression and association. Former President Barack Obama in 2015 delisted Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism as he moved to normalise relations. Designation under the above-referenced authorities also implicates other sanctions laws that penalize persons and countries engaging in certain trade with state sponsors. Currently there are three countries designated under these authorities: the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), Iran, and Syria. GS 3 Security Q – Mention the key Terrorist chronology of events along with India’s opinion on how to counter countries that lays blockages in designating the Individuals and Terror Funding? BACKGROUND = Urging UN Security Council members not to make false distinctions of “good” terrorists and “bad” terrorists, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar made indirect references to both China and +91 9989966744 [email protected] 6 Page DAILY NEWS DIARY 13.01.2021 Pakistan for delaying the process of designating terrorist individuals and entities, as well as failing to stop the funding of terror. Marking two decades since the 1373 anti-terror resolution was passed after the 9/11 attacks in the U.S., Mr. Jaishankar called for “zero tolerance to terrorism” – 1. In a reference to a number of blocks and holds China placed on designating Pakistan-based terrorists including Jaish-e-Mohammad Chief Masood Azhar before agreeing to put him on the UNSC’s 1267 sanction list in May 2019. 2. Without directly identifying Pakistan, Mr. Jaishankar also referred to States that are “clearly guilty of aiding and supporting terrorism, and wilfully provide financial assistance and safe havens” to them, and in a reference to underworld don and terror financier Dawood Ibrahim, spoke of “five- star treatment” he reportedly enjoys in Pakistan. 3. In India, we have seen the crime syndicate responsible for the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts given state protection too. The practice of placing blocks and holds on listing requests without any rhyme or reason must end. This only erodes our collective credibility. WAY FORWARD – 1. Listing an eight-point “action plan” to “credibly” address the menace of terrorism. 2. Enhanced UN coordination with the FATF”, just ahead of a meeting of the Task Force’s Asia Pacific Joint Group (APJG), which will review Pakistan’s performance in countering terror financing and money laundering. Snippets GS 2 Governance Q – What is a Tax Evasion, how is it identified and what measures are taken to curb the practise in India? . +91 9989966744 [email protected] 7 Page DAILY NEWS DIARY 13.01.2021 . Sources of Avoidance - A taxpayer who is having total income above the prescribed limit or fulfils any other condition mentioned in section 139 of the Income Tax Act 1961, is required to file return of income. Non-filers with potential tax liabilities are identified by analysing information received under Annual Information Return (AIR), Statement of Financial Transactions (SFT), Centralised Information Branch (CIB), TDS/TCS Statement, Securities Transaction Tax (STT) etc. and taxpayer profile. Cases for e-verification are identified on the basis of scenarios and rules approved by the Central Board of Direct Taxes from the above. Recently the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has unveiled an e-portal for filing complaints about tax evasions, ‘benami’ properties and undisclosed assets overseas. Taking another step towards e-governance and encouraging participation of citizens as stakeholders in curbing tax evasion, the CBDT has launched an automated dedicated e-portal on the e-filing website of the department [Income-Tax] to receive and process complaints of tax evasion, foreign undisclosed assets as well as complaints regarding ‘benami’ properties.

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