JANUARY 2016 CURRENT AFFAIRS (PART-2)

• Justice RM Lodha Committee has submitted its report to the Supreme Court suggesting reforms in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The committee was appointed by the Supreme Court in 2014 to make recommendations to the BCCI in order to prevent frauds and conflict of interest in cricket administration.
• The Union Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has constituted a committee headed by noted film-maker Shyam Benegal to look into revamp the film certification nuances by Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The committee is tasked to suggest recommendations provide a holistic framework and interpretation of provisions of Cinematograph Act, 1952 and Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 1983.
• The Union Government has constituted a committee to examine the wage structure, service conditions of the Gramin Dak Sevaks in the Department of Posts. It is one member committee comprising of Kamlesh Chandra. Gramin Dak Sevaks are extra-departmental agents recruited by the Department of Post to serve in rural areas. Presently, DoP has around 2.6 lakh Gramin Dak Sevaks and they have been demanding pay and facilities at par with regular postal department employees.
• Union Government has constituted a committee to fast track the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor, meant for connecting two cities with bullet trains. The committee will be headed by Arvind Panagariya, vice-chairman of the NITI Aayog. Cabinet approval was based on the recommendations of a committee headed by Panagariya which had favoured Japan over China due to the low-cost funding also commitment for technology transfer and local manufacturing for a specified period.
• Expert Committee to simplify income tax laws headed by Justice (retired) R.V. Easwar has submitted its report to Union Finance Ministry. The 10 member committee has recommended simplifying provisions related to tax deduction at source (TDS), tax refunds and claims of expenditure for deduction from taxable income. Union Government had constituted this committee in October 2015 by following up on a promise to provide a fair and predictable tax regime. The committee was tasked to suggest recommendations to overhaul the IT Act, 1961 to remove ambiguities that cause unnecessary litigation and update the laws based on various judgements.
• Former Defence Secretary Radha Krishna Mathur has sworn in as the eight Chief Information Commissioner of the Central Information Commission. He was administered the oath of office by the President Pranab Mukherjee. The selection committee included Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Chairman), Leader of the Largest Opposition Party in Lok Sabha, Mallikaarjun Kharge and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
• Senior IAS officer Sailesh has been appointed as Registrar General and Census Commissioner (RGCC) of India. His appointment was confirmed by Appointments Committee of Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• Union Government has appointed former IAS Devender Kumar Sikri as Chairman of Competition Commission of India (CCI). He will succeed Ashok Chawla whose tenure ended as the Chairman of CCI.
• Justice Sanjay Mishra has been appointed as Lokayukta of Uttar Pradesh after his appointment was approved by the Supreme Court.
• Senior Indian Revenue Service Officer Atulesh Jindal has been appointed chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). His appointment was cleared by Appointments Committee of Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.