26-05-21 Daily-Karnataka-KPSC Current Affairs

Having received a rude shock earlier this year with one of the majorelectric vehicle(EV) investments inOlato neighbouringTamil Nadu, theKarnatakagovernment decided to revisit the 2017 EV andEnergystorage policy to provide a more competitive deal to retain promised investments and attract new investors.
The at its cabinet meeting decided to amend the 2017 policy by providing a substantial amount of sops including a 15 percent reimbursement on value of fixed assets (VFA), production linked subsidy and a training stipend.

The 2017 policy also spoke of providing a 50 per cent coverage on stipend for in-plant training provided by the EV manufacturers in the state to a maximum of Rs 10,000 per month per trainee for 50 trainees. While the stipend shall remain the same, the government has withdrawn the clause of limiting it to only 50 students.

The government has set up a panel of state ministers for better valuation of Services ofcasinos,online gamingportal and race courses for levying goods and services tax (GST).

The seven-member panel, convened by Gujarat deputy chief minister Nitin Patel, will also examine whether any change is required in the legal provision for better means of valuation of these services.

It will also examine the administration of such valuation provisions and if an alternative means of valuation is recommended.

The panel would also look into the impact of such valuation on other similarly placed services like lottery.

The Ministry of Power has decided to establish a National Mission to promote the use of in coal-fired thermal power Plants.

Increase the level of co-firing from the current 5% to higher levels in order to have a greater share of carbon neutral power generation from thermal power plants.

Conduct R&D in boiler design to handle the higher levels of silica and alkalis in biomass pellets.

To make it easier to overcome constraints in the supply chain of bio mass pellets and agro- residue, as well as their transport to power plants.

Subodh Kumar Jaiswal, a 1985 batchIPSofficer serving as CISF DG, on Wednesday took charge as theCBIdirector.

TheCentral Bureau of Investigationwas working without a regular chief for over three months afterRishi Kumar Shuklacompleted his two-year tenure on February 3.

Jaiswal, ex-Maharashtra DGP and former Mumbai top cop, was the seniormost officer in the panel.