• National

President of India gives assent to The Constitution (One Hundred and Third Amendment) ACT, 2019

• President Ram Nath Kovind on 12 January gave his assent to the bill providing 10 per cent reservation in jobs and educational institutions to the economically weaker sections in the general category.
• The Constitution (124 Amendment) Bill, 2019 was passed in the Lok Sabha on 8th January and the Rajya Sabha a day later.

• National

Kartarpur corridor atonement for mistake made in 1947: PM Modi

• Speaking on Guru Gobind Singh’s 352nd birth anniversary, PM Narendra Modi hailed building of Kartarpur corridor and called it an “atonement” for the “mistake” made in August 1947.
• “Through Kartarpur corridor…devotees will be able to make visa-free pilgrimage to Darbar Sahib in… Pakistan,” he said.
• PM Modi also released commemorative coin of ₹350 to mark Guru Gobind Singh’s birth anniversary.

• International

EIU Democracy Index 2018: Norway Tops, India Ranks 41st

• The 11th edition of EIU Democracy Index 2018 was released by the Economist Intelligent Unit compiling the state of democracies in 167 countries in the world.
• In the list, Norway topped and India has ranked at 41st place on the Economist Intelligence Unit’s annual Global Democracy Index.
• The Index was started in 2006.

• Economy and Business

GST Registration Threshold Limit Increased to Rs 40 Lakh

• The 32nd Meeting of GST Council was concluded in New Delhi.
• The Limit of annual turnover for composition scheme increased to 1.5 crore rupees effective from April 1, 2019.
• The Council has decided to increase the GST registration threshold limit to 40 lakh rupees from 20 lakh.
• The Taxpayers who are giving Services of up to Rs 50 lacs per annum will be taxed under 6% under Composition Scheme.
• The council has decided to simplify the compliance under the composition scheme.

• Sports

Batsman gets out on 7th ball of over in BBL, umpires don't notice

• Perth Scorchers’ opener Michael Klinger was dismissed on the ‘seventh legal delivery’ of the second over against Sydney Sixers in the BBL after a miscount by umpires allowed pacer Ben Dwarshuis to bowl a seven-ball over.
• Dwarshuis didn’t bowl any no-ball or wide in the over.
• Cricket Australia confirmed there was no provision in the rules to overturn the dismissal.

• Appointments

Yes Bank Appoints Brahm Dutt As Non-Executive Part-Time Chairman

• Yes Bank, India’s fourth-largest private sector bank, announced the appointment of Brahm Dutt as non-executive part-time chairman up till July 4, 2020.
• He is currently also the chairman of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee.
• Brahm Dutt has been on Yes Bank’s board since July 2013 as an independent director, and contributed to almost all the sub-committees of the board over the past five and a half years.

• Appointments

Mazumdar-Shaw re-appointed Infosys' lead independent director

• Biocon Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has been re-appointed as the lead independent director of Infosys from April 1 for five years.
• “Kiran has been a pillar of strength to the board, especially over the last 18 months, as we steered the company to stability and growth,” Chairman Nandan Nilekani said.
• She is also the chair of Infosys’ Nomination and Remuneration Committee.

• Obituaries

Actor Kishore Pradhan passes away at the age of 86

• Veteran actor Kishore Pradhan, who is known for his work in both Hindi and Marathi cinema, passed away at the age of 86.
• The actor featured in Kareena Kapoor starrer ‘Jab We Met’, as well as in ‘Lage Raho Munna Bhai’, starring Sanjay Dutt.
• Kishore acted in several Marathi films and over 100 plays during the course of his career.

• States

Gujarat to implement 10% quota for general category from tomorrow

• Gujarat will become the first state to implement the 10% reservation for economically weaker sections of the general category on Monday.
• This comes a day after President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent to the bill.
• Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani said it will also be applicable to jobs for which announcement has been made but procedure is yet to commence.