1) Regulation of online advertisement: Union Cabinet has assigned the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B) as the administrative authority for regulation of online advertisements.
- It was done by amendment to Allocation of Business (AoB) Rules, 1961.
- Ministry of I&B was already looking at online advertising, most notably through circulars in 2022 to clear ads from “betting and gambling” firms from TV and OTT.
- Prior to this, regulation of online gaming content and advertisements were primarily overseen by MeitY and Information Technology Act, 2000.
2) Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023: Parliament has passed Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023 which aims to tackle film piracy.
- It seeks to amend Cinematograph Act 1952 which was enacted to make provision for certification of cinematograph films.
- Bill classifies films on the basis of age group, instead of the current practice of ‘U’, ‘A’, and ‘UA’.
- It seeks to bring about uniformity in categorization of films and content across platforms.
- Bill considers the act of piracy as an offense legally and will include even transmitting pirated content punishable.
3) Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs): Centre is working on a proposal to launch a fresh InvIT for national highways.
- InvITs are stock-market traded investments regulated by Securities and Exchange Board of India.
- It allows investors to invest directly and get part ownership in infrastructure project.
- Any dividend or interest income that one can get from an InvIT is completely taxable as per their Income Tax Slab rate.
- InvITs are recognized as borrowers under ‘Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002’.
4) Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF): GFCF in the Indian economy has increased from Rs. 32.78 lakh crore (constant 2011-12 prices) in 2014-15 to Rs. 54.35 lakh crore in 2022-23 (Provisional Estimates).
- GFCF is the estimate of net capital expenditure (acquisitions less the proceeds from disposals) on fixed assets by both the public and private sectors.
- Fixed assets are purchased assets used in production processes for more than one year.
- Generally, the higher the capital formation of an economy, the faster an economy can grow its aggregate income.
Places in News:
1) Niger (Capital: Niamey)
- Military seized power in Niger.
- Political Boundaries
- Landlocked western African country.
- Bounded by Algeria (northwest), Libya (northeast), Chad (east), Nigeria and Benin (south), Burkina Faso and Mali (west).
- Geographical features
- Highest Peak: Mont Idoukal-n-Taghès in Bagzane Plateau.
- Longest river: Niger River (3rd-longest river in Africa after the Nile and Congo rivers).
- Lake Chad (fresh water lake): At west-central African region shared by Chad, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Niger.
- Climate type: Hot Climate (it is part of West Africa Sahel region).
2) Malawi (Capital: Lilongwe)
- Parliamentary delegation from Malawi is visiting India.
- Political Boundaries:
- Landlocked country in south-eastern Africa.
- Bounded by Tanzania (north), Lake Malawi (east), Mozambique (east and south), and Zambia (west).
- Geographical features
- Highest point: Sapitwa (Mount Mulanje).
- Lowest point: Junction of Shire River and international boundary with Mozambique.
- Major lakes: Lake Malawi (aka Lake Nyasa in Tanzania) (largest), Lake Chilwa.
- Major rivers: The Shire River (largest), Lilongwe river, North and South Rukuru, Dwangwa, etc.
