Digital Taxation...!!

Digital Taxation

1. The proliferation of technology has challenged conventional notions of economic activity.

2. This is now a serious challenge for policy, particularly for taxation.

How has digital taxation become a challenge?

1. The existing laws, tax business profits based on its physical presence in a country.

2. Such a pre-condition is no more relevant as digital businesses no longer have to be physically present to operate in and interact with an economy.

3. These platforms use hard to value intangibles.

4. They are often registered in low tax jurisdictions which frustrate the efforts to appropriately tax digital companies.

Which are the measures, drawbacks, responses, and challenges?

Measures

1. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) mentioned three measures — an equalization levy, withholding taxes, and a new nexus rule.

2. The first two are taxes on gross turnover.

3. The new nexus rule was to modify the taxable nexus beyond the physical presence in a country.

Drawbacks

1. It was agreed that data and user participation are critical for a platform. But no consensus emerged on their economic contribution.

2. As OECD continued with the value-creation by various business models, large tech companies were paying very low effective tax rates.

Responses

1. In response to this, individual countries started to apply digital taxes unilaterally, instead of arriving at a consensus.

2. In 2016, India became the first country to apply an equalization levy.

3. The levy was introduced outside the scope of the Income Tax Act and is applicable to a small set of companies operating in digital advertising.

4. France and Hungary have implemented digital taxes, while Belgium, Italy, the UK, and Spain have proposed similar taxes. These would apply to a wide range of digital services.

Challenges

1. Unilateral taxation could potentially lead to over-taxation or a pass-through of costs to consumers.

2. The tenability of these rules needs to be seen under the EU’s state aid or WTO rules.

3. Such measures can give market jurisdictions greater power to tax.

Why is India’s solution not complete?

1. In 2018, India proposed its long-term solution to the problem — test for significant economic presence.

2. The amendment was broadly similar to EU’s proposal.

3. According to this, if a digital platform reported sales from a country or had a significant number of users, then it should be considered as having a taxable presence in that jurisdiction.

4. This is not a complete solution because:

a) For the law to be applicable, treaties would have to be suitably amended.

b) The size of operations that would qualify as economic presence needs to be answered.

c) How much of its profits should be taxable in India needs to be answered.

What is the fundamental issue now?

1. The more fundamental political issue is the redistribution of taxing rights.

2. An example of this tension is French digital tax applicable to big tech companies that are predominantly residents of the US.

Where lies the solution?

1. To garner consensus, the OECD released its draft for a unified approach recently. The OECD in 2019 published a policy based on two pillars.

2. Pillar one would examine the allocation of taxing rights.

3. All anti-avoidance measures would be considered under the second pillar.

4. India’s key proposals — significant economic presence and fractional apportionment, the Modified Residual Profit Split, and the distribution approach — were included in this policy.

Routine and Non-routine profits

1. The other proposals include splitting up of global profits of a corporation into routine and non-routine.

2. A fraction of non-routine profits would be allocated to the qualifying market jurisdictions.

3. If there is any dispute arising from such taxation it would be resolved through mandatory or binding dispute resolution.

4. This would require serious effort and a harder consensus on issues such as what constitutes routine profit.

When will the solution be fair to India and others?

1. India is in a unique position as it offers a wide user-base and thus a large market for digital companies.

2. A unified approach backing the new nexus rule is only a partial win for India.

3. Reliance on conventional transfer pricing could make the taxation of digital companies more complex.

4. While the idea of consensus is critical for international relations, it has to be evaluated in light of the misalignment of economic interests between developing and developed countries.

5. A good tax system is often evaluated along the axes of certainty, simplicity, and neutrality.

6. The suggested measures undermine these principles.

7. A possible fair alternative may perhaps be to switch to a simpler withholding tax architecture.

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Global Hunger Index (GHI)

1. The 2019 Global Hunger Index (GHI) has ranked India 102 among the 117 countries. In 2018, India was pegged at 103 among 119 countries.

2. India is one of the 47 countries that have “serious” levels of hunger.

3. The 2019 GHI report has found that globally the number of hungry people has risen from 785 million in 2015 to 822 million.

4. Multiple countries have higher hunger levels now than in 2010, and about 45 countries are set to fail to achieve ‘low’ levels of hunger by 2030.

What is the Global Hunger Index?

1. It is an index categorizing countries on a scale ranging from “low” hunger to “moderate”, “serious”, “alarming”, and “extremely alarming”.

2. A low score gets a country a higher ranking and implies better performance.

3. The reason for mapping hunger is to ensure that the world achieves “Zero Hunger by 2030” — one of the Sustainable Development Goals laid out by the United Nations.

4. It is for this reason that GHI scores are not calculated for certain high-income countries.

5. It is brought out almost every year by Welthungerhilfe (German NGO) since 2000.

How does GHI measure hunger?

1. GHI tracks the performance of different countries on four key parameters that capture multiple dimensions.

For each country in the list, the GHI looks at four indicators:

a. Undernourishment (which reflects inadequate food availability): Calculated by the share of the population that is undernourished.

b. Child Wasting (which reflects acute undernutrition): Calculated by the share of children under the age of five who are wasted (low weight for their height).

c. Child Stunting (which reflects chronic undernutrition): Calculated by the share of children under the age of five who are stunted (low height for their age).

d. Child Mortality (which reflects both inadequate nutrition and unhealthy environment): Calculated by the mortality rate of children under the age of five.

2. Each country’s data are standardized on a 100-point scale and a final score is calculated after giving 33.33% weight each to components ‘a’ and  ‘d’ and 16.66% weight each to components ‘b’ and ‘c’.

3. Countries scoring less than or equal to 9.9 are slotted in the “low” category of hunger, while those scoring between 20 and 34.9 are in the “serious” category and those scoring above 50 are in the “extremely alarming” category.

Where lies India’s score?

1. Among the BRICS grouping, India is ranked the worst, with China at 25 and a score of just 6.5.

2. Within South Asia, too, India is behind every other country. Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan respectively are all ahead of India.

3. Some of the other countries ahead of India are Saudi Arabia (rank 34), Venezuela (rank 65), Lesotho (rank 79), Burkina Faso (rank 88), and North Korea (rank 92).

4. India has the world’s largest democracy and one of the biggest economies. But most of the countries below India such as Afghanistan, Haiti or Yemen, etc — are either poorly governed or war-torn or ravaged by natural calamities.

Which are the reasons for low rank?

1. India’s overall score is 30.3. In 2000, India’s score was 38.8 and its hunger level was in the “alarming” category.

2. Since then, India has steadily improved on most counts to reduce its score and is now slotted in the “serious” category.

3. But the pace of India’s improvement has been relatively slow. Countries such as Niger and Sierra Leone in 2000 had scores of 52.1 and 53.6, respectively, but now they score 30.2 and 30.4, almost the same as India.

4. Even though India has improved its score, other countries have done better. So, despite achieving relatively fast economic growth since 2000, India has not been able to improve its ranking.

Why India’s improvements have been slow?

1. Of the overall improvements, India has worsened in the child wasting category which has 33.33% weightage.

2. It has gone up from 16.5% in 2010 to 20.8% now. India is the worst among all countries on this parameter.

3. The child stunting rate is 37.9%. It is also categorized as very high in terms of its public health significance.

4. In India, just 9.6 percent of all children between 6 and 23 months of age are fed a minimum acceptable diet.

5. The government initiated the ‘Clean India’ campaign to end open defecation and ensure that all households had latrines.

6. Even with new latrine construction, the population’s health and consequently children’s growth and development as their ability to absorb nutrients are compromised.

Cost-effective Power Generation

Creating generation assets with the lowest unit cost is linked to optimizing plant capacities and using private investment. How has India been performing? India has been aggressively expanding its power generation capacity. India’s current installed capacity of 358 GW is about four times that of in 1997-98. India has doubled the capacity in the past two decades achieving around 75 MW per day. India is targeting renewable power generation, with an aim of 175 GW and 500 GW of renewables capacity by 2022 and 2030 respectively. What is the importance of the thermal sector? Thermal generation capacity accounts for about two-thirds of the installed generation capacity in the country. Even though there is increasing awareness about the environmental impact of fossil fuels, the reliance on thermal plants is unlikely to end soon. Thermal plant capacities are large and fewer such plants can fulfil the targeted capacity additions. It would take 18 solar or wind projects to generate the same quantity of power as one thermal plant. The average cost per MW for a thermal plant is about 25% lower than that of a solar plant.

Why should the private sector be promoted? The private sector currently accounts for almost half of installed generation capacity. Private investment is significant in the renewable energy sector. It accounts for almost 90% of investment in wind and solar projects. Private sector plants have an average cost per MW which is affordable to common people. So, Private investment in the power sector has not only helped in augmenting capacity but has also helped in lowering cost. It has the potential to bring innovations that can transform the sector. So, it should be promoted. Where the solutions lie? The power sector is the growth engine of India’s progress. So, to meet the demand of a huge population, the sector should be transformed. India should create power generation with the lowest unit cost by optimizing plant capacities and encouraging private sector investment.

we wish you a very Happy Birthday to A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.sir

Today Kalam 88th Birthday.

Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born on 15 October 1931 to a Tamil Muslim family in the pilgrimage center of Rameswaram on Pamban Island, then in the Madras Presidency and now in the State of Tamil Nadu.

He is a visionary who inspires millions with his words and cheers. he said "Learn how to grow..  Forget the defeat." he'll answer with patience and a smile. 

Kalam is an extraordinary man who looks normal...  Many of the words he uttered during his lifetime are ideal for today's youth. he Is viable! former President Dr. A.  P.  J.a  These words are not enough for me to say his inspirational words on the occasions of Abdul Kalam's greatness.  

If you remember the simple one.....  Born in the family and roaming around the house, love the work: we are constantly making strides.  If Indian missile technology is to get into the grand scheme of things..  Kalam is our favorite Ranga Dega and the country's first citizen to choose.  He says, "Love is the way to do it. The work must be done!  Asked by Kalam if he had the power to make a change, he said: "Traveling at a rate of 18 a day is not good for you.  "I enjoy my work. I am a strong believer. So that inspires them. It makes me happy.  The students were asked questions.  In life |  Knowledge acquisition is mainly required for the success of a clear goal. Don't rest after the initial success.  Because if you don’t succeed the second time, you're first.  Many people sit at the boil to publicize that the victory is just luck.  Dreams are the ones that make us sleepy.  Not the ones that make us sleepy.  

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Global Wildlife Trade

Why in the news? A new study has found that nearly 1 in 5 species of birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles are bought and sold on the wildlife market globally. What are the findings? 1. Out of 31,745 vertebrate species on Earth, 18% are traded which is 40-60 % higher than previous estimates. 2. Breakup of Wildlife Trade: 27 % (1,441) of mammal species, 23 % (2,345) of bird species, 10 % (609) of amphibian species, 12 % (1,184) of reptiles. 3. It also predicts that future trade will impact over 3,000 additional species, taking the total to about 8,700 species (25%). 4. Wildlife trade industry generates between $8 billion and 21 billion forcing some species closer to extinction. 5. Major causes contributing to the extinction risk is the trade of wildlife for luxury foods, Medicinal parts and Pets. 6. Overall invertebrates, 44 % are traded as pets and over 60 % as products.

Where are the Hotspots? The hotspots of trade are 1. Mammals: Africa and Southeast Asia 2. Reptiles: Australia and Madagascar 3. Wildlife Pet trade: In the tropics 4. Wildlife Product trade: Concentrated in tropical Africa and Southeast Asia, including the Himalayas.

Celebrate World Post Day...!!

World Post Day marks the anniversary of the Universal Postal Union's establishment and is annually held on October 9.

What Do People Do?

In many international organizations and countries, high ranking officials or ministers make speeches or issue proclamations on the history or achievements of national or international postal services. Postal services may issue special postage stamps to commemorate the ideals, history or achievements of the national postal service on or around World Post Day.  

The Universal Postal Union in cooperation with UNESCO has, for the past 35 years, organized an international letter-writing competition for young people. Many participating postal services use World Post Day to award prizes to the winners of the competition.

Public Life

World Post Day is a global observance and not a public holiday.

Background

From the earliest times in history, "postal services" existed in the form of messengers who travelled large distances on foot or horseback. In the 1600s and 1700s, many countries set up national postage systems and entered into bilateral agreements for the exchange of mail between countries. By the late 1800s there was a large web of bilateral agreements that made the distribution of international mail complicated, nontransparent and inefficient.

In 1863, Montgomery Blair, Postmaster General in the United States of America, organized a conference of representatives from 15 European and American countries. During this conference, the delegates laid down a number of general principles for mutual agreements on international postal services but did not create an international postal agreement. On September 15, 1874, Heinrich von Stephan, a senior postal official in the North German Confederation (an area that now forms parts of Germany, Poland and Russia), opened a conference in Berne, Switzerland, with delegates from 22 countries. On October 9, 1874, the delegates signed the Treaty of Berne and established the General Postal Union.

The number of countries that were members of the General Postal Union grew rapidly and the union's name was changed to the Universal Postal Union in 1878. In 1948, the Universal Postal Union became a specialized agency of the United Nations. The 16th Universal Postal Union Congress was held in Tokyo, Japan, from October 1 to November 16, 1969. During this conference the delegates voted to declare October 9 each year as World Post Day.

The Work of UPU

The work of the Universal Postal Union continues to be very important to global communication and trade, even in the era of digital communication. In areas and communities with a high level of ac

cess to digital communication, postal services are important for distributing goods bought in Internet stores. In communities with lower levels of access to digital communication, postal services remain vital for the distribution of information and goods. Post offices and trucks used to deliver mail to outlying areas are also becoming service points to bring digital communication to many more people. Moreover, the union is working on ways to bring electronic money transfer services to rural areas in countries in the Middle East and in north-east Africa.

Is it good approach to plastic ban?

            The plan to phase out single-use plastics by 2022,instead of imposition of a blanket ban, reflects a more cautious approach by the Central Govt in view of the concerns expressed by the industry associations and fears over possible economic disruption. While a section of environmentalists might view this as a climb-down, it must be pointed out that such a campaign can be successful only with the involvement of all stake-holders and through a sustained awareness drive focusing on the disastrous impact of the plastic use. 

                Several States are already implementing ban on plastic carry bags, with varying degrees of success. In this regard, the initiatives taken by Telangana government deserve special praise as they focus on people’s involvement in promoting awareness about environmental protection. The plastic pollution is a serious public hazard. 

                                    Despite its severe environmental consequences, single-use or disposable plastic has become a global addiction. One million plastic drinking bottles are purchased every minute across the globe, while up to five trillion single-use plastic bags are used every year. There are growing concerns over plastic pollution with a particular focus on oceans where nearly half of the single-use plastic products end up, killing marine life and entering the human food chain. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the world is producing about 300 million tonnes of plastic waste every year which is nearly equivalent to the weight of the entire human population. It is estimated that each year over one lakh marine animals and 10 lakh sea birds die from ingesting plastic.

     Though enough laws and regulations are in place in India regarding sustainable practices for plastic use, the enforcement remains extremely weak. In a country like India, the issue of solid waste management, including efforts to eliminate single-use plastic, requires transformative change. 

     First, the use of plastic bottles for drinking water can be eliminated only when municipal water supply conforms to the prescribed standards. Many cities in the world have achieved this outcome while India still has a long way to go. Meeting the 2022 deadline would require municipal bodies, district administrations, gram panchayats and NGOs to work together towards ensuring adequate arrangements for collection and storage of plastic waste. There is need for a comprehensive plan of action on a decentralised basis by which single-use plastic can be reduced rapidly and then eliminated gradually. A comprehensive waste collection, segregation and waste management eco-system must be put in place. While there is increased awareness in urban areas, the challenge is to find a suitable cost effective alternatives in tier II and tier III towns and remote locations. About 26,000 tonnes of plastic waste is generated every day in the country, of which 40% remains uncollected.

Plan to End Plastic Waste..!!

India has announced in the United Nations General Assembly that it would get rid of single-use plastic by 2022.

What the government plans to do?

1. Spread awareness about the menace of plastic and voluntarily reduction of its use through Swachhata Hi Seva campaign.

2. Create plastic-free zones.

3. Direct all states to enforce existing rules against the storage, manufacture and use of some single-use products, such as polythene bags.

Why Single-use Plastics be eliminated?

1. It is not bio-degradable and careless disposal pollutes the environment in irredeemable ways.

2. It is a major reason for choked drains and garbage heaps in Urban centers.

3. Threat to several species, especially marine life due to polymer ingestion.

4. Micro-particles are increasingly being detected in fish, which increased the risk of contaminant-caused illnesses.

How the action plan should be?

For any action plan against plastic pollution to be effective, efforts should be directed at

1. Collection and Disposal

a. Separation-at-source has seen only patchy success in India and plastic items rarely have separate channels for recycling.

b. Moral suasion to change attitudes towards plastic usage is needed.

c. Nudge towards plastic segregation, by assuring express trash clearance.

d. Well-sealed landfills inspired by burial crypts for spent nuclear fuel rods.

2. Reduction of Use

a. Institutional and corporate reduction of plastic use can be done through an incentive scheme that covers the financial cost of switching to eco-friendly material.

b. Sufficient time for Plastic Manufacturers to be provided to revise the business plans and move on to other opportunities.

c. As demand begins to decline, a timeline could be declared for the elimination of some categories of plastic use.

RTI and Political Party Accountability...!!

Supreme Court held that non-governmental organizations (NGOs), substantially financed by the appropriate government will fall within the ambit of ‘public authority’ under the RTI Act.

Which are the important provisions of the RTI Act?

1. The preamble of the act mentions the objective. That is,

a. Creation of an ‘informed’ citizenry,b. Containment of corruption andc. Holding of government and its instrumentalities accountable to the citizens.

2. Section 2(h) of the Act defines the term ‘public authority’. It covers both

a) Authority/body/institution of self-government established or constituted by or         under the Constitution

b) NGOs substantially financed, directly or indirectly by governments.

What does the judgment say?

1. In D.A.V. College Trust and Management Society Vs. Director of Public Instructions case, the court resorted to ‘purposive interpretation’ (i.e. in the context of the benefits of the law to the masses)

2. It held that ‘Substantial’ means a large portion which can be both, direct or indirect and not necessarily more than 50% or certain formula.

3. This can have an impact on bringing the national political parties under the ambit of the RTI.

Why do Political Parties need to be accountable?

1. The Law Commission opined that political parties are the lifeblood of our entire constitutional system.

2. Through them, the interests and issues of the people get represented in Parliament.

3. Since elections are contested on party lines in our parliamentary democracy, the agenda of the government is set by them.

4. Also, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar observed the working of organs of the state depend on the people and the political parties.

How effective are the efforts?

1. In 2013, Central Information Commission (CIC) declared that all national parties came under ‘public authorities’ and were within the purview of the RTI Act.

2. Under Section 19(7) of the Act, CIC’s order is ‘binding’. However, none of the political parties complied with it.

3. The Right to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2013 tried to keep political parties explicitly outside the purview of RTI. But it lapsed with the dissolution of 15th Loksabha.

4. A PIL in the Supreme Court seeking a declaration of political parties as ‘public authority’ is still under consideration.

How does this judgment help?

1.  The national parties are ‘substantially’ financed by the Central government as the various concessions, such as

a. allocation of land,b. accommodation,c. bungalows in the national and State capitals,d. tax exemption against income under Section 13A of the Income Tax Act,e. free airtime on television and radio, etc.

2. This easily satisfies the prerequisite of Section 2(h) of the RTI.

3. Also, citizens can hold any such entity accountable by asking for information regarding the usage of public money.

4. The judgment has made the demand for inclusion of political parties under the ambit of the RTI Act, valid and feasible.

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