New Delhi, Nov 26,2024: The existing PAN (Permanent Account Number) card holders are not required to apply for new PAN under the upgraded system (PAN 2.0) which has been approved by the central government, apex direct tax policy-making body Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said on Tuesday.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 25, 2024 approved the Income Tax Department’s PAN 2.0 project aimed at upgrading the existing PAN system and making it more user-friendly.
The CBDT said in a press release on Tuesday that the PAN 2.0 project aims to streamline and modernize the process of issuing and managing PAN and TAN (Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number), making it more user-friendly and efficient.
“The existing PAN card holders are not required to apply for new PAN under the upgraded system (PAN 2.0),” the CBDT said in a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) released today.
The apex direct tax body said that with an existing PAN database of 78 crore PANs and 73.28 lakh TANs, the PAN 2.0 project addresses the requirements of taxpayers, focusing on consolidation of multiple platforms/portals and efficient services to PAN/ TAN holders.
Currently, PAN-related services are spread across three different platforms. With the implementation of PAN 2.0, all these services will be integrated into a single, unified portal.
“This one-stop platform will handle comprehensively issues/matters related to PAN and TAN, including application, updates, corrections, Aadhaar-PAN linking, re-issuance requests, and even online PAN validation,” the CBDT said.
It added, “By doing so, the Income Tax Department endeavours to simplify processes, eliminate delays, and improve grievance redressal mechanisms.”
New Delhi, Nov 23,2024: The National Cadet Corps (NCC), will celebrate its 76th raising day with traditional fervour on Sunday.
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh laid wreath and paid homage to the fallen heroes on behalf of the entire NCC fraternity at the National War Memorial, India Gate, here, an official statement said on Saturday.
Speaking on the occasion, the Defence Secretary said that NCC has made commendable efforts in increasing the strength of cadets by three lakh and will be touching the strength of 20 lakhs in coming years.
He emphasised the role of NCC in the Viksit Bharat Campaign, a pivotal initiative by the Government of India.
Singh said, “NCC continues its relentless efforts, towards moulding the present day youth into responsible citizens of tomorrow in order to achieve the objective of ‘Yuva Shakti – Viksit Bharat’.”
Cadets, besides participating in march past and cultural activities at various cities, ‘Blood Donation Camp’ are also being organised. The quantum of blood donation this year is likely to exceed the mark of 50,000 blood units donation achieved last year.
Apart from this, various social activities and cultural awareness programs are being organized like tree plantation drive, cleaning of statues, swachhta hi sewa, nasha mukti abhiyaan and others.
New Delhi, Nov 19,2024: Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) Abhay Karandikar on Tuesday said that India has witnessed the rise of more than 10,000 deep-tech startups across key sectors such as artificial intelligence, clean energy, and biotechnology many of which are translating academic research into commercial success.
The Secretary’s remarks came , while speaking at a summit organised by the Nadar University, Delhi-NCR in partnership with the Global Trade and Innovation Policy Alliance (GTIPA) and the Institute for Competitiveness here.
Sharing the valuable insights into the India’s rapidly expanding “innovation ecosystem”, he said “The Ministry is actively supporting by offering the provision of funding to approximately 700 startups in these critical sectors”.
During the event, Karandikar expressed optimism that increased private sector investment in research and development would further drive India’s ascent as a global innovation powerhouse over the next decade.
The two-day summit, themed “India: The Innovation Hub for Tomorrow,” is spotlighting leaders from over 35 countries, including diplomats, bureaucrats, industry CEOs, startup founders, and investors.
Montek Singh Ahluwalia, former Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission of India, spoke about the role of institutions to foster the innovation in start-ups and said the Institutions like Shiv Nadar University play a crucial role in nurturing talent and fostering the kind of innovation that will shape the industries of the future.”
“India’s strength in software and emerging sectors like drones offers a unique opportunity to build globally competitive products” he added.
Dr. Rajat Kathuria, Dean, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, mentioned, “India stands at the confluence of technological progress and societal transformation, driving innovation not only in advanced technologies but in tackling global challenges like climate change, healthcare, and economic equity.
“True innovation shapes a better tomorrow by addressing today’s challenges with inclusivity and sustainability”, he said.
New Delhi, Nov 14,2024: The Central Government has declared Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) along with all its factions, wings and front organisations of Meghalaya as an unlawful association with immediate effect for a period of five years.
The Ministry of Home Affairs through a Gazette Notification dated November 13 said, “The Central Government declares the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), along with all its factions, wings and front organisations as an unlawful association with immediate effect.”
“(The Government) In exercise of the powers conferred by the proviso to sub-section (3) of section 3 of the said Act, hereby directs that this notification shall, subject to any order that may be made under section 4 of the said Act, have immediate effect from the November, 16, 2024 for a period of five years,” the notification said.
The notification said that HNLC along with all its factions, wings and front organisations has been involved in activities which are prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India.
The notification further said that the Government is of the opinion that the HNLC has declared objective for secession of areas in Meghalaya, largely inhabited by Khasi and Jaintia tribes from India.
The Meghalaya Government had also recommended that HNLC be declared as an unlawful association under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967), it said.
The Government is also of the opinion that the activities of HNLC are detrimental to the sovereignty and integrity of India, and if these are not immediately curbed and controlled, the HNLC may regroup and rearm itself, expand its cadres, procure sophisticated weapons, cause loss of lives of civilians and security forces and properties and thereby accelerate its anti-national activities, the notification added.
New Delhi, November 11,2024: At a time when defence forces are looking at creating a rocket force, India is all set to soon test fire a new long-range anti-ship ballistic missile which would be able to hit moving warships or aircraft carriers at distances of over 1,000 kms.
The ballistic missile is expected to be tested in the next few days by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, defence sources told ANI.
The anti-ship ballistic missile would be capable of being launched from both warships and shore-based locations, the sources said.
The missile system is being developed for the Indian Navy and would give it the capability to take out enemy vessels from a long-range, the sources said.
Indian forces have been increasing the number of ballistic missiles in their inventory with Pralay ballistic missiles being ordered by both Indian Army and Indian Air Force.
The numbers are going to be gradually increased with the induction of short and medium-range missiles in the three services which would give them the capability to sustain long-term conflicts.
In recent times, there has been a large-scale use of ballistic missiles in conflicts where even non-state actors have been seen firing hundreds of ballistic missiles on enemy locations in just one night.
The Indian forces have been in conflict with China in northern borders which has a huge rocket force and which has a huge inventory of such long-range weapons in conventional or non-nuclear roles.
Indian forces have held detailed discussions on the need for the creation of such an organisation with a large size inventory to meet all security challenges.
New Delhi, October 19,2024:: A thin layer of smog engulfed the national capital on Saturday as the Air Quality Index dropped to 226, categorized as ‘Poor’ as per the Central Pollution Control Board.
The highest AQI was at the Akshardham and Anand Vihar area at 334 categorized as ‘Very Poor’, followed by AQI of 253 at AIIMS and surrounding areas.
At India Gate, the AQI dropped to 251, categorized as ‘Poor.
A resident, Ashish Kumar Meena said that pollution near Akshardham area had increased a lot in the past two days which had been causing problems to the residents.