Top GKToday’s News Headlines-14 May 2020

INDIA

• IAS officer V. Vidyavathi appointed new Director General of ASI (Archaeological Survey of India)

ECONOMIC PACKAGE

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a slew of measures for various sectors, including MSMEs hit by COVID-19-induced lockdown
• Economic package called ‘AatmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan’ and is based on the five pillars of Economy, Infrastructure, System, Vibrant Demography and Demand that were outlined by the PM on May 12.
• Rs 3 lakh crore Emergency Working Capital Facility for Businesses, including MSMEs
• Rs 50,000 crore equity infusion through MSME Fund of Funds
• No Global tenders for Government tenders of upto Rs 200 crore
• Rs. 30,000 crore Special Liquidity Scheme for NBFC/HFC/MFIs
• Rs. 45,000 crore Partial credit guarantee Scheme 2.0 for Liabilities of NBFCs/MFIs
• Rs 90,000 crore Liquidity Injection for DISCOMs
• Extending the Employees Provident Fund Support for business and organised workers for another 3 months for salary months of June, July and August 2020
• EPF Contribution to be reduced for Employers and Employees for 3 months to 10% from 12% for all establishments covered by EPFO for next 3 months
• Relief to Contractors given by extension of up to six months for completion of contractual obligations, including in respect of EPC and concession agreements
• Relief to Real Estate Projects: Registration and completion date for all registered projects will be extended up to six months.
• Reduction in Rates of ‘Tax Deduction at Source’ (TDS) and ‘Tax Collected at Source’ (TCS) by 25% for the remaining period of FY 20-21
• Date for filing Income Tax return for 2019-20 extended till 30th November

ETI

• India ranked 74th on global ‘Energy Transition Index’ (ETI) of WEF (World Economic Forum); index topped by Sweden
• ETI ranks 115 economies on the current performance of their energy systems and their readiness for transition to secure, sustainable, affordable, and inclusive energy systems.
• ECONOMY & CORPORATE
• Retail inflation, measured in terms of Consumer Price Index (CPI), declines to 5.84% in April

WORLD

• COVID-19: EAM S. Jaishankar attends extraordinary video conference of SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) Foreign Ministers