1) EPFO launches new facility to link UAN with Aadhaar
•Employees Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has launched an online facility for its subscribers to link their Aadhaar number with their Universal Account Number.
•The facility has been made available at EPFO's website www.epfindia.gov.in. This will facilitate the members for a better and speedy EPFO services.
•While using the facility, the member will have to provide his/her Universal Account Number.
•An OTP will be sent to his mobile linked with UAN. After OTP verification, members will have to provide his Aadhaar number.
•In a statement, EPFO said, after OTP verification, if UAN details are matched with Aadhaar, then UAN will be linked with Aadhaar.
2) PM Modi visits J&K's Gurez sector to celebrate Diwali with troops
•Diwali, the festival of lights is being celebrated across the country with pomp and show today.
•Prime Minister Narendra Modi today celebrated Diwali with the jawans of Indian Army and Border Security Force in the Gurez Valley near the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.
•Mr Modi was there for nearly two hours. This is the fourth successive Diwali that the Prime Minister has celebrated with jawans on the border. The Prime Minister offered sweets and exchanged greetings with the jawans.
•Addressing the jawans, Mr Modi said, like everyone else he too wishes to spend Diwali with his family and therefore he has come among the jawans of the Armed Forces whom he considers to be his family.
3) Maharashtra Government releases Rs 4000 crore in phase 1 of Loan Waiver Scheme
•Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis has released a sum of Rs 4,000 crore under the first phase of the over Rs 34,000 crore farm loan waiver scheme. In the first phase, will cover more than 8 lakh farmers, Fadnavis stated as he listed initiatives taken by his government towards increasing investment in the agriculture sector.
•The State Government has released Rs 4,000 crore of which Rs 3,200 crore will be for writing off the loans of 4.62 lakh farmers. The remaining Rs 800 crore will be in the form of incentive for 3.78 lakh farmers who are paying their loans on time.
4) India strongly condemns attack at Afghan National Army base
•India has strongly condemned the barbaric attack at the Afghan National Army base in Kandahar province today. The Ministry of External Affairs said, India is gravely concerned at the recent escalation of terrorist violence against Afghanistan, despite hopes recently kindled by new strategies as well as efforts for bringing peace in the country.
•It said, the terror attacks demonstrate that safe havens and support systems continue to be available to the terrorists. The Ministry said, the beginning of Afghan-owned and Afghan-led national reconciliation requires an end to violence. It said, states hosting the terrorists and their sanctuaries must eliminate them immediately and without distinction. It said, these concerns were also highlighted yesterday by the United Nations Security Council.
•The Ministry said, India expresses solidarity with the people and the Government of Afghanistan in these difficult times. It said, coming on the heels of similar tragedies in Paktia and Ghazni, India shares the grief of the families of the victims and the suffering of the Afghan people. 43 soldiers lost their lives in the attack.
5) Income Tax dept Launches ‘Online Chat’ to answer Taxpayers Queries
•The Income Tax Department has launched an ‘online chat’ service for taxpayers so that they can seek answers to their basic queries and doubts relating to direct tax issues. A window has been hosted on the main page of the department’s website — www.incometaxindia.gov.in/ — with a prominent icon stating ‘Live Chat Online - ask your query.’
•A team of experts from the department and independent tax practitioners has been deputed to answer the general queries of a taxpayer. The first-time initiative is aimed to enhance taxpayer services in the country.
6) Banks to Provide Funds at 7% to Women SHGs under DAY-NRLM: RBI
•The RBI has issued guidelines to banks will provide funds to women self help groups, SHGs, in rural areas at 7 per cent under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) in the current fiscal (2017-18).
•The central bank has revised guidelines on interest subvention scheme under DAY-NRLM, as received from the Ministry of Rural Development for implementation by 21 public sector banks and 19 private banks.
