# GST council

• Hours before the new GST rates was to take effect, the GST council on Friday decided to temporarily roll back the increase in tax rate for the textiles sector at an emergency meeting on Friday.
• The move follows the demand from several states including Gujarat, west Bengal and Tamil nadu.
• Following the decision, the GST rate in textile will remain 5℅ instead of 12℅.
• However, a similar demand of footwear sector was not considered, and the GST rate will increase to 12℅ from 5℅ on footwears.

# FCRA licences

• The Union home ministry on Friday extended for another three months the validity of the licenses of FCRA registered NGOs which were not renewed by December 31.
• This extension in public interest however will not bring any relief to missionaries of charities fonded by mother Teresa.
• A registration under the Foreign contributions regulation act is mandatory for any NGO or association to receive foreign donations.

# Tourism in kashmir

• Kashmir for the first time in over a decade hosted 2.4 lakh tourists in November and December.
• Tourist footfall has been between 3500 and 5500 a day in past two months.

# India-Srilanka

• Srilanka on Friday announced its decision to sign three lease agreements on developing the strategic trincomalee oil tank farm with India.
• The announcement signalling forward movement in a long dragging project, is significant for India after a strained diplomatic ties for a year.

# Wheat exports

• India’s wheat exports jumped to $872 million dollars during april-October period in the current fiscal on healthy demand.
• India’s wheat exports are largely to neighbouring countries including Bangladesh which account for 54℅ of exports.