Daily News Digest:13 February 2020

Dan David Prize, 2020

India’s pioneering feminist scholar and activist Gita Sen, has won the prestigious Dan David Prize for her work in the fields of population policies, reproductive and sexual health, poverty, women’s rights, labour markets and global governance. 

Ms Sen would be sharing the $1 million prize in the present category this year with Debora Diniz who is the deputy director of Rights and Justice unit for the International Planned Parenthood Federation-Western Hemisphere Region.

Conference on Combating Drug Trafficking

A conference on combating drug trafficking for BIMSTEC countries held in New Delhi. According to the World Drug Report tabled by the United Nations, 5.5% of people between 15 to 64 years of age are using drugs in the entire world.

Rs. 81.67 crore worth electoral bonds sold before Delhi Assembly Elections

As per the response to an RTI query filed by Commodore Lokesh Batra, there were 139 electoral bonds worth Rs. 81.67 crore sold by various branches of the SBI, during the Delhi Assembly Elections. 

The Electoral bonds are instruments or securities which will be used to donate funds to political parties. The central government has introduced electoral bonds worth Rs. 1,000, Rs. 10,000, Rs. 1 lac, Rs. 10 lacs and Rs. 1 crore to fund the political parties.

Amendment of Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement with Sri Lanka

On 12th February 2020, the double taxation avoidance agreement between India and Sri Lanka was amended. Under this amendment, an anti-abuse provision is to be included. Also, the amendment will include Principal Purpose Test. This would help in curbing strategies that exploit gaps in tax rules.

Medical Devices Amendment Rules (2020)

To ensure all the medical devices meet certain standards of quality and efficacy, the Union Health Ministry on February 11, 2020, notified medical equipment used on humans or animals as "drugs" under Section 3 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, with effect from April 1, 2020. Currently, only 23 categories of medical devices are regulated under the law.