Cabinet approves National Institutes of Food Technology, Enterpreneurship and Management Bill, 2019
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 07 February 2019
Cabinet approves Cinematograph Amendment Bill, 2019 to combat film piracy
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 07 February 2019
Cabinet approves Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2018
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 08 February 2019
Parliament passes Personal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 13 February 2019
Cabinet approves Revision of ST list in Chhattisgarh
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 14 February 2019
Cabinet approves Registration of Marriage of NRI Bill, 2019
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 14 February 2019
Lok Sabha passes Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment) Bill, 2018
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 15 February 2019
Punjab cabinet approves Bill to allow annual bullock cart races
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 18 February 2019
Cabinet approves Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 02 March 2019
President gives assent to amend Indian Stamp Act, 1899
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 22 February 2019
MHA allows states to use enemy properties for public purpose
Tags: Bills & Laws, Ministries & Departments
Published on: 13 March 2019
Cabinet approves regulations to increase pecuniary limit of civil courts in Dadra & Nagar Haveli
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 14 March 2019
Social Media platforms present Voluntary Code of Ethics for 2019 Lok Sabha elections
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 22 March 2019
EC issues advisory on telecasting exit polls
Tags: Constitution, Bills & Laws
Published on: 25 March 2019
Cabinet clears creation of additional judicial and technical posts in NCLAT
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 28 March 2019
UGC bans distance learning degree programmes in agriculture
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 29 March 2019
Tamil Nadu reiterates demand for IGST dues from Centre
Tags: Constitution, Bills & Laws
Published on: 14 May 2019
Maharashtra Govt promulgates SEBC Ordinance for reservations in medical admissions
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 21 May 2019
FCRA NGOs changing officials need government approval: MHA
Tags: Bills & Laws, Ministries & Departments
Published on: 10 June 2019
Cabinet approves New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill, 2019
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 14 June 2019
Cabinet approves Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 13 June 2019
Cabinet approves Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 13 June 2019
Cabinet approves Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers' Cadre) Bill, 2019
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 13 June 2019
Lok Sabha passes Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Bill, 2019
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 27 June 2019
Lok Sabha passes Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2019
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 28 June 2019
Lok Sabha passes Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2019
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 29 June 2019
Lok Sabha approves President’s Rule in J&K for six months
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 29 June 2019
Lok Sabha passes Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers’ Cadre) Bill, 2019
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 02 July 2019
Cabinet approves reintroduction of Code on Wages Bill, 2019
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 04 July 2019
Lok Sabha passes Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 07 July 2019
Parliament approves Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2019
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 07 July 2019
Justice Pinaki Ghose sworn in as first Lokpal of India
Tags: Constitution, Bills & Laws, Judiciary & Judgments
Published on: 23 March 2019
Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment) Bill, 2019 introduced in Lok Sabha
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 09 July 2019
Cabinet approves Inter-State River Water disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2019
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 11 July 2019
Cabinet approves Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2019
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 11 July 2019
Lok Sabha passes New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 11 July 2019
Cabinet approves Code on Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Bill, 2019
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 12 July 2019
Lok Sabha passes Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2019
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 13 July 2019
Lok Sabha passes National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2019
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 15 July 2019
Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill 2019 tabled in Rajya Sabha
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 16 July 2019
Rajya Sabha passes Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2019
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 17 July 2019
Lok Sabha passes Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2019
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 19 July 2019
Andhra Pradesh 1st state pass law to reserve jobs to locals
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 23 July 2019
Parliament passes triple talaq bill two years after Supreme Court struck down the practice
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 31 July 2019
The National Medical Commission (NMC) bill, 2019 is passes Rajya Sabha test with two amendments
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 02 August 2019
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 02 August 2019
International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) Bill, 2019
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 08 December 2019
Rajya Sabha House Panel suggests steps to curb child pornography
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 07 February 2020
Changes in companies Act to decriminalise certain offences
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 05 March 2020
Government introduces ordinance to protect healthcare workers
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 24 April 2020
Maharashtra bans sale of loose cigarettes and beedis
Tags: Bills & Laws
Published on: 29 September 2020
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The objective of this bill is to confer Institutions of National Importance status to National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM) at Kundli, Haryana, and Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology (IIFPT) at Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Significance of Bill</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It will provide for functional autonomy to institutes to design and develop courses, undertake research activities and leverage enhanced status in their academic pursuits, so that they become world class institutes.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This in long run will enable these institutes to provide world class teaching and research experience by adopting innovative practices.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The institutes would implement reservation policy of the Government and will also undertake special outreach activities for the benefits of concerned stakeholders.</span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'cabinet-approves-niftem-bill-2019', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/96da/l97e6xz8667h01x6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/96da/l97e6xz8667h01x6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Bill approved for autonomy of two food tech institutes | Study IQ', 'metakeyword' => 'National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management, Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology, Food Processing Technology', 'metadescription' => 'Union Cabinet has approved introduction of National Institutes of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management Bill, 2019', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/uzl08w2ej6xbqa0/4.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 1 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 93, 'title' => 'Cabinet approves Cinematograph Amendment Bill, 2019 to combat film piracy', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Union Cabinet approved to introduce Cinematograph Amendment Bill, 2019 in Parliament to combat menace of film piracy and copyright infringement. The Bill seeks to amend Cinematograph Act, 1952 to tackle film piracy by instituting penal provisions for unauthorized camcording and duplication of films.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Need for Amendments</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Indian film industry has long cited piracy as major challenge to its growth. According to report, Indian media and entertainment sector loses $2.8 billion of its annual revenue to piracy. Besides, India is one of top five countries for peer-to-peer downloads.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Cinematograph Act, 1952 deals with provisions for certification of cinematograph films for exhibition and regulating exhibitions by means of cinematographs. Section 7 of this Act deals with who can watch and exhibit which films and imposes penalties for violating terms and conditions related to exhibition of board-certified films.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Key Features of Bill</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It inserts new subsection (4) to section 7 of parent Act, adding definition of piracy and penal provisions for the same.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It inserts new Section 6AA in parent Actto ensure prohibition of unauthorized recording. It makes unauthorized camcording and duplication of films legal offence with punishment of 3 years’ jail term and fine of Rs. 10 lakhs.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This new section states that any person without written authorisation of copyright owner uses any recording device to make or transmit copy of film or attempts to do so or abet making or transmission of such copy will be liable for legal punishment.</span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Significance</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The proposed amendments will help to give much needed legal teeth and relief against piracy to film industry.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It will ensure that rights of owners and creators of this intellectual property (IP) are safeguarded.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In long run, it will help to increase industry revenues, boost job creation, fulfill important objectives of India’s National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) policy.</span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'cinematograph-amendment-bill-2019', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/0195/3y2ik8nt6hugg886g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/0195/3y2ik8nt6hugg886g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Cabinet approves Cinematograph Amendment Bill, 2019 | Study IQ', 'metakeyword' => 'Bills and Amendments Current Affairs, Cabinet Decisions, Cinematograph Amendment Bill, 2019, film piracy, copyright infringement, camcording, duplication', 'metadescription' => 'Union Cabinet approved to introduce Cinematograph Amendment Bill, 2019 in Parliament to combat menace of film piracy and copyright infringement', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/9wibj6g02cbowhq/current_affair_6.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 2 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 104, 'title' => 'Cabinet approves Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2018', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Union Cabinet approved amendments to Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2018. These amendments were recommended by Standing Committee on Finance (SCF). This Bill proposes comprehensive legislation to deal with menace of illicit deposit schemes in the country.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Need for amendments</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This Bill was introduced in Parliament in July 2018 to effectively tackle menace of illicit deposit taking activities in the country and prevent Ponzi-schemes such as Saradha Chit Fund Scheme from duping poor people of their hard earned savings. This Bill was later referred to SCF. It had suggested amendments in its Seventieth Report on Bill submitted to Parliament in January 2019.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Key Features of Bill</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Banning clause:</strong>It bans deposit takers from promoting, operating, issuing advertisements or accepting deposits in any unregulated deposit scheme. It bans unregulated deposit taking activities altogether, by making them offence.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Definition of Deposit Takers:</strong> This bill defines it as all possible entities (including individuals) receiving or soliciting deposits, except specific entities such as those incorporated by legislation.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Definition of Deposit:</strong> it has been defined in such manner that deposit-takers are restricted from concealing public deposits as receipts and not to hinder acceptance of money by an establishment in ordinary course of its business.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Defines three different types of offences: </strong>Running of Unregulated Deposit Schemes, wrongful inducement in relation to Unregulated Deposit Schemes and fraudulent default in Regulated Deposit Schemes.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Competent Authority:</strong> It will be designated by State Government to ensure repayment of deposits in event of default by a deposit taking establishment.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It defines powers and functions of competent authority including the power to attach assets of a defaulting establishment;</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Attachment of Properties: </strong>It provides for attachment of properties or assets by the Competent Authority and subsequent realisation of assets for repayment to depositors. It provides clear-cut time lines for attachment of property and restitution to depositors.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Punishment and Repayments:</strong> It prescribes severe punishment and heavy fines for offenders. It also provides adequate provisions for repayment of deposits in cases where such schemes manage to raise deposits illegally.It designates Courts to oversee repayment of depositors and to try offences mention under its ambit.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Best Practices: </strong>This central law adopts best practices from State laws and entrusts primary responsibility of implementing provisions of legislation to State Governments.<strong>Chit funds are regulated by State Laws</strong>.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Online Database:</strong> It calls for creation of online database for collection and sharing of information on deposit-taking activities in the country.</span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In Budget 2016-17, Union Government had announced enacting comprehensive Central legislation to deal with menace of illicit deposit taking schemes. This was tackle rising instances of fraudulent unregulated deposit schemein various parts of the country which defrauded many people. The worst victims of these schemes were poor and financially illiterate and operations of such schemes had spread over many States.</span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'banning-of-unregulated-deposit-schemes-bill', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/a3f0/2qse89qdl4j2syf6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/a3f0/2qse89qdl4j2syf6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Cabinet approves Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill 2018', 'metakeyword' => 'Bills and Acts Current Affairs, Cabinet Decisions, Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2018, Ponzi Schemes, unregulated deposit scheme', 'metadescription' => 'The Union Cabinet approved amendments to Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2018. These amendments were recommended by SCF', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/8diiabm721qha47/current_affair_1.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 3 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 146, 'title' => 'Parliament passes Personal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Parliament has passed Personal Laws (Amendment Bill), 2018 to omit leprosy as ground for divorce from various existing laws governing marriages in India. This will go long way in detaching social stigma associated with leprosy.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Key Facts</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">The bill amends five personal laws related to divorce viz. <em>Divorce Act, 1869, Dissolution of Muslim Marriage Act, 1939, Special Marriage Act, 1954, Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 and Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956. </em>Each of these Acts prescribe leprosy as ground for seeking divorce or separation from the spouse. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">The Bill by amending these Acts removes this as ground for divorce or separation from the spouse. The bill states that owing to advancements in medical science, the disease of leprosy is no longer incurable. Thus, it will end discrimination against people suffering from leprosy.</span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Reasons for removal</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">The leprosy is being removed as ground for divorce as it is now completely curable and can be treated with multidrug therapy as against the earlier notion of it being incurable. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">The bill states that this provision was discriminatory provision and were made prior to medical advancements rendering leprosy curable disease.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It also acknowledges judgment rendered by Supreme Court in September 2018, issuing slew of directions for treatment and rehabilitation of those affected by leprosy, while also ensuring that discrimination against them and their family members is eliminated. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Law Commission of India in its 256th Report also had recommended elimination of discrimination against people affected by the disease.</span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Leprosy</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Leprosy (also known as Hansen’s disease) is one of the oldest diseases known to humankind.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It is caused by slow-growing type of bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae), which multiplies very slowly in human body.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">The M. leprae bacterium has long incubation period (on average 5 years or longer).</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It affects nerve endings and destroys body’s ability to feel pain and injury.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It is chronic granulomatous disease that mainly affects skin and peripheral nervous system.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It can also affect the eyes and respiratory system.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It is curable with multidrug therapy (MDT). Treatment provided in the early stages averts disability.</span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">India and Leprosy</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">As per WHO, leprosy has been eliminated globally as public health problem in 2000, but it still continues affects individuals.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">India was declared Leprosy free country in 2005 because of less than one case per 10,000 population.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">However, India still accounts for 60% of global leprosy burden with Annual New Case Detection Rate(ANCDR) of 9.71 per 1,00,000 population.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">National Institute of Immunology has indigenously developed world’s first leprosy vaccine named Mycobacterium Indicus Pranii (MIP).</span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'personal-laws-amendment-bill', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9068/bvxjacws2jb8gmr6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9068/bvxjacws2jb8gmr6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Parliament passes Personal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019', 'metakeyword' => 'In Bills and Acts Current Affairs, Parliament has passed Personal Laws (Amendment Bill), 2018 to omit leprosy as ground for divorce from various existing laws governing marriages in India', 'metadescription' => 'Parliament has passed Personal Laws (Amendment Bill), 2018 to omit leprosy as ground for divorce from various existing laws governing marriages in India', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/xeq7oqrlzqzclft/13feb_Parliament_passes_Personal_Laws.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 4 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 157, 'title' => 'Cabinet approves Revision of ST list in Chhattisgarh ', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Union Cabinet approved proposal to modify list of Scheduled Tribes (STs) of Chhattisgarh by amending The Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2016. This Act once it gets Presidential assent (under Aritcle 111) may be called Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Act, 2019.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Proposed Changes are </span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">In entry 5, after “BhariaBhumia”, "Bhuinya, Bhuiyan, Bhuyan" will be inserted.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Entry 14 will be substituted by "14. Dhanwar, Dhanuhar, Dhanuwar".</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Entries 32 and 33, to be substituted by "32. Nagesia, Nagasia, Kisan” and “33. Oraon, Dhanka, Dhangad"</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Entry 41 will be substituted as "41. Sawar, Sawara, Saunra, Saonra".</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Following entry Entry 42, Entry 43 namely "43. Binjhia" will be inserted.</span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Significance </span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">The member of communities newly listed in revised list of STs from Chhattisgarh will now be able to derive benefits meant for Scheduled Tribes under existing schemes of Government. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">In addition to above, they will also be entitled to benefits of reservation in government services and admission to educational institutions as per Government policy.</span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Background </span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Constitution provides certain privileges and concessions to members of STs, notified under provisions of Article 342 of Constitution. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Under provision of Article 342, first list of STs in relation to states/UT is to be issued by notified Order of the President after consulting concerned state Government. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">But clause (2) of Article 342 envisages that, any subsequent inclusion in or exclusion from the list of STs can be effected through an Act of Parliament. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">So far, numerous Presidential Orders have been issued in respect of various States/UTs. These Orders have been amended from time to time by Acts of Parliament enacted as per Article 342(2).</span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Article 342 of Constitution </span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">342. Scheduled Tribes</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">(1) President may with respect to any State/UT after consultation with Governor may specify by public notification <em>tribes or tribal communities or parts of or groups within tribes or tribal communities to be deemed to <strong>Scheduled Tribes (STs)</strong> in relation to that State/UT.</em></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> (2) Parliament by law may include in or exclude any tribe or tribal community or part of or group within any tribe or tribal community from list of STs.</span></span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'cabinet-revision-st-list-chhattisgarh ', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/f3de/6yxlw8g9kbmxrlg6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/f3de/6yxlw8g9kbmxrlg6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Cabinet approves Revision in ST list of Chhattisgarh ', 'metakeyword' => 'In National Current Affairs, Cabinet approves to modify list of Scheduled Tribes, Chhattisgarh, Amendments, The Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2016. ', 'metadescription' => 'Cabinet approves proposal to modify list of Scheduled Tribes (STs) of Chhattisgarh by amending The Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2016.', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/lg8rz1yhvcfbl54/14_FEB_Cabinet_approves_Revision.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 5 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 155, 'title' => 'Cabinet approves Registration of Marriage of NRI Bill, 2019 ', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Union Cabinet has approved introduction of Registration of Marriage of Non-Resident Indian (NRI) Bill, 2019 in Parliament. The bill aims at creating more legal accountability and offer more protection against exploitation of Indian citizens, mostly women by their NRI spouses. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">The bill envisages (i) Registration of Marriages by NRIs (ii) amendment of Passports Act, 1967 and (iii) amendment to Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC ) 1973. It has been introduced in Rajya Sabha and will remain pending there, as it would not lapse on dissolution of present 16th Lok Sabha in June 2019</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Features of Bill</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Its provisions will be applicable to NRIs marrying Indian women within or even outside India and vice versa. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It makes registration of marriage compulsory within thirty days of marriage in India or abroad for better enforcement of rights of deserted spouse under various family laws. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It clearly states that if NRI marries Indian citizen in India then marriage has to be registered as per local laws and if marriage takes place abroad, it has to be registered with designated officers to be appointed in foreign countries.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It amends Passport Act to empower passport authority to impound or revoke passport of NRI, failing to register his/her marriage within 30 days from date of marriage. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It amends CrPC, 1973 to empower Courts to issue summons, warrants through specially designated website of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It also provides provisions for attachment of properties belonging to the NRI, if he does not appear before Court and to declare him as Proclaimed Offender by Court.</span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Significance of Bill</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Introduction of Bill was necessitated by MEA due to numerous complaints received from Indian nationals mostly women deserted or harassed by their NRI Spouses. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It offers greater protection to Indian women married to NRIs and serve as deterrent to NRIs against harassment of their spouses. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">This will provide much needed relief to all Indian women married to NRIs worldwide and create more accountability and offer protection against exploitation of Indian Citizens.</span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'registration-of-marriage-of-nri-bill-2019 ', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/c44d/2oaw96sdadyj6336g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/c44d/2oaw96sdadyj6336g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Cabinet approves Registration of Marriage of NRI Bill, 2019 ', 'metakeyword' => 'In National Current Affairs, Cabinet Decisions, Registration of Marriage of Non-Resident Indian NRI Bill, 2019, Parliament', 'metadescription' => 'Cabinet has approved introduction of Registration of Marriage of Non-Resident Indian (NRI) Bill, 2019 in Parliament', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/fq35gpsfnipnwra/14_FEB_Cabinet_approves_Registration_of_Marriage.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 6 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 165, 'title' => 'Lok Sabha passes Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment) Bill, 2018', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Lok Sabha has passed Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment) Bill, 2018 to amend Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial Act, 1951. It seeks to address various deficiencies in management of National Memorial and to ensure that trust that runs this memorial is apolitical entity. This year on April 13, 100 years of Jallianwala Bagh massacre will be observed.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial Act, 1951 </span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It provides for erection of National Memorial in memory of those killed or wounded on April 13, 1919, in Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar. In addition, it creates Trust to manage this national memorial.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Composition of Trust:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> Trustees of Memorial include: (i) Prime Minister as Chairperson, (ii) President of Indian National Congress (this representation is considered as political as it is represented by single national political party) (iii) Minister in-charge of Culture (iv) Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, (v) Governor of Punjab (vi) Chief Minister of Punjab and (vii) three eminent persons nominated by Union Government and have term of five years and will be eligible for re-nomination. </span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment) Bill</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It removes President of Indian National Congress as Trustee. This is deletion of party-specific member from Trust to make it apolitical.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Further, it clarifies that when there is no Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, then leader of single largest opposition party in Lok Sabha will be Trustee.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It adds provision to allow central government to terminate term of a nominated trustee before expiry of his term without assigning any reason. </span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><strong><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Background</span></span></span></strong></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Jallianwala Bagh Massacre</span><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> </span></strong></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">also known as Amritsar Massacre took place on 13 April 1919 when troops of British Indian Army under command of Colonel Reginald Dyer openly fired on peaceful crowd gathered in Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar, Punjab. In this cold-blooded genocide approximately 1,000 innocent civilians dead and more than 1,500 were injured.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">The crowd had gathered at Jallianwala Bagh to celebrate Baisakhi festival, which marks beginning of New Year for Sikhs and in addition it is spring harvest festival for Sikhs. During this time Rowlatt Act, 1919 was in force, but civilians were not informed. This act had imposed curfew and ban on all processions and even prohibited group of 4 or more people to meet publicly.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">This ground stands witness to inhuman atrocities of British Empire. To keep in mind this significance of this place, trust was founded in 1920 to build memorial site at Jallianwala Bagh. American architect, Benjamin Polk, built memorial site. It was inaugurated by then President Rajendra Prasad on 13 April 1961<strong>.</strong></span></span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'jallianwala-bagh-national-memorial-amendment-bill-2018', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/6b27/3gcm2crjifjg3816g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/6b27/3gcm2crjifjg3816g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Lok Sabha passes Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial Bill, 2018', 'metakeyword' => 'In Bills and Amendments Current Affairs, Lok Sabha passes, Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment) Bill, 2018, amends, Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial Act, 1951. ', 'metadescription' => 'Lok Sabha has passed Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment) Bill, 2018 to amend Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial Act, 1951', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/l5uim47dw7iiq46/15feb_Lok_Sabha_passes_Jallianwala.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 7 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 195, 'title' => 'Punjab cabinet approves Bill to allow annual bullock cart races', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Punjab Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has approved introduction of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2019 in current Budget Session of State Assembly. Enactment of this bill pave way for revival of bullock cart races at annual Kila Raipur rural sports meet in Ludhiana.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Background</span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">The bullock cart races were prohibited by Supreme Court in 2014. Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 (Central Act 59 of 1960) was enacted to prevent infliction of unnecessary cruelty and suffering on animals. This law also recognises need to exempt application of its provisions in certain circumstances.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2019</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will exempt bullock-cart racing in Kila Raipur rural sports event from provisions of said Central Act 59 of 1960.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will allow bullock-cart racing, considering its significant role played in traditional rural sports event and fair, which has been taking place at Kila Raipur (Ludhiana) since 1930s.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">The ban will be removed considering significant of bullock-cart racing in enriching cultural heritage and tradition of Punjab, and being great source of entertainment, especially for rural Punjab.</span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'punjab-bill-allow-annual-bullock-cart-races', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/50f2/vjbxd98k16guwcb6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/50f2/vjbxd98k16guwcb6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Punjab cabinet approves Bill to allow annual bullock cart races', 'metakeyword' => 'Punjab Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has approved introduction of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2019 in current Budget Session of State Assembly.', 'metadescription' => 'Punjab Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has approved introduction of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2019 in current Budget Session of State Assembly.', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/awtsuswhiq28v86/18feb_Punjab_cabinet_approves_Bill.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 8 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 306, 'title' => 'Cabinet approves Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019 ', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Union Cabinet has approved promulgation of Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019 to allow voluntary use of Aadhaar as identity proof for opening new bank accounts and procuring mobile phone connection. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Why ordinance?</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">The ordinance amends Aadhaar Act 2016, Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2005 and Indian Telegraph Act, 1885. It was necessitated as Bill proposing same amendments was passed by Lok Sabha on during Budget session in January 2019 but was pending in the Rajya Sabha.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">The Supreme Court in its judgement 2018 Aadhar case had upheld constitutional validity of Aadhaar However, it struck and read down few sections of Aadhaar Act and Regulations. It also had given several other directions in interest of protecting fundamental rights to privacy.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Consequently, Government in pursuance of Supreme Court directives and report of Justice B.N.Srikrishna (Retd.) committee on data protection had proposed to amend these three laws to ensure that personal data of Aadhaar holder remains protected against any misuse and Aadhaar scheme remains in conformity with the Constitution. </span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Salient Features of this ordinance</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It provides for voluntary use of twelve-digit Aadhaar number in physical or electronic form by authentication or offline verification with consent of Aadhaar number holder.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It provides for use of Aadhaar number and its alternative virtual identity to conceal actual Aadhaar number of an individual.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It gives option to children who are Aadhaar number holders to cancel their Aadhaar number on attaining the age of 18 years.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It permits entities to perform authentication only when they are compliant with standards of privacy and security specified by Authority.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It clearly mentions that authentication is permitted under any law made by Parliament or is prescribed to be in interest of State by Central Government.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Allows the use of Aadhaar number for authentication on voluntary basis as acceptable KYC document under the Telegraph Act, 1885 and the Prevention of Money-laundering Act, 2002.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It prevents denial of services for refusing to or being unable to undergo authentication. It deletes section 57 of Aadhaar Act related to use of Aadhaar by private entities;</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It provides for establishment of Unique Identification Authority of India Fund. It provides for civil penalties, its adjudication, appeal in regard to violations of Aadhaar Act.</span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Significance of this ordinance</span></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It enables UIDAI to have more robust mechanism to serve public interest and restrain misuse of Aadhaar. It ensures that no individual will be compelled to provide proof of possession of Aadhaar number of undergo authentication for purpose </span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'aadhaar-other-laws-amendment-ordinance', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/e77f/t2aoiy4s170ru5k6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/e77f/t2aoiy4s170ru5k6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019 ', 'metakeyword' => 'In National Current Affairs, Cabinet, approves, promulgation, Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019, voluntary use, Aadhaar, identity proof for opening new bank accounts and procuring mobile phone connection.', 'metadescription' => ' Cabinet has approved promulgation of Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019 to allow voluntary use of Aadhaar as identity proof for opening new bank accounts and procuring mobile phone connection.', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/1zod11i8k5hc8sp/2mar_Cabinet_approves_Aadhaar_and.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 9 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 235, 'title' => 'President gives assent to amend Indian Stamp Act, 1899', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">President Ram Nath Kovind gave assent (under Article 111 of constitution) to amend Indian Stamp Act, 1899 to rationalise and harmonise stamp duty and help to curb tax evasion. The amendments to this Act were introduced as part of Finance Act 2019 and was approved by Parliament.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Amendments</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It proposes to create legal and institutional mechanism to enable States to collect stamp duty on securities market instruments at one place by one agency (through Stock Exchanges or Clearing Corporations authorised by stock exchange or by Depositories).</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It proposes mechanism for appropriately sharing stamp duty with relevant State governments based on state of domicile of buying client d.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It proposes to create Coordination Council under Article 263 of Constitution by separate order/notification of the President.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">This council will comprise of representatives from Union/States and may be tasked with responsibility of making recommendations regarding review/revision of stamp duty rates.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">The duties levied by Maharashtra will benchmark rate for stamp collection duties as Maharashtra accounts for 70% of the total collection.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">The rates will be chosen in such manner to provide revenue neutral position to state governments and reduce overall tax burden for investors. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">The stamp duty will be paid by either buyer or seller of financial security, as against current practice of levying duty on both.</span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Significance of amendments</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will rationalised and harmonised system is expected to lead to zero tax evasion.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will minimise cost of collection and enhance revenue productivity. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Besides adoption of centralised collection mechanism will bring more revenue and greater stability to the revenue collection by the states.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will help develop equity markets and equity culture across length and breadth of country, ushering in balanced regional development.</span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'president-assent-amend-indian-stamp-act', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/90f9/25f89l88n98b9f86g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/90f9/25f89l88n98b9f86g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'President gives assent to amend Indian Stamp Act, 1899', 'metakeyword' => 'In Bills and Acts Current affairs, President Ram Nath Kovind, assent to amend Indian Stamp Act, 1899, rationalise, harmonise, stamp duty, curb tax evasion', 'metadescription' => 'President Ram Nath Kovind gave assent (under Article 111 of constitution) to amend Indian Stamp Act, 1899 to rationalise and harmonise stamp duty and help curb tax evasion', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/ousviimv6l4joym/22feb_President_gives_assent_to_amend.pdf', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 10 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 446, 'title' => 'MHA allows states to use enemy properties for public purpose', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has allowed state governments to put to "public use" some enemy properties. In this regard, MHA has amended guidelines for disposal of the Enemy Property Order, 2018</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> <strong>Key Facts</strong></span></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Enemy properties are those properties that were left behind by people who migrated to Pakistan since Partition and to China after the 1962 Sino-Indian war. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">New guidelines allow usages of enemy property by state government exclusively for public use.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">The move comes as part of Central Government's efforts to sell more than 9,400 enemy properties, worth over Rs. 1 lakh crore and Rs 3,000 crore worth of enemy shares.</span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Enemy properties</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Enemy properties are those properties that were left behind by the people who took citizenship of Pakistan and China.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Legal Provisions:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> Parliament had enacted Enemy Property Act in 1968 to regulate such properties and lists custodian's powers. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">This act was amended in 2017 to ensure that successors of those who migrated to Pakistan and China will have no claim over the properties left behind in India.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Value of enemy properties:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> There are 9,280 such properties left behind by Pakistani nationals and 126 by Chinese nationals. The estimated value of all enemy properties is approximately Rs 1 lakh crore.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Of the total properties left behind by those who took Pakistani citizenship, 4,991 are located in Uttar Pradesh (highest in the country), West Bengal (2,735) and Delhi 487. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">The highest number of properties left by Chinese nationals is in Meghalaya (57), West Bengal (29) and Assam (7).</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Besides, total 6,50,75,877 shares in 996 companies of 20,323 shareholders are under custody of Custodian of Enemy Property for India.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Of these companies, 588 are functional or active companies, 139 of these are listed and remaining are unlisted.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Central government in February 2019 had constituted high-level committee to recommend quantum and price or price band for sale of enemy shares, worth Rs 3,000 crore.</span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'mha-allows-states-to-use-enemy-properties', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/14b5/n4wqxvszb679u3u6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/14b5/n4wqxvszb679u3u6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'MHA allows states to use enemy properties', 'metakeyword' => 'In National Current Affairs, MHA allows states to use enemy properties for public purpose', 'metadescription' => 'Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has allowed state governments to put to "public use" some enemy properties. In this regard, MHA has amended', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/d7cqdwkesubcf02/13Mar_MHA_allows_states_to_use_enemy_properties.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 11 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 461, 'title' => 'Cabinet approves regulations to increase pecuniary limit of civil courts in Dadra & Nagar Haveli', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Union Cabinet under Article 240 of the Constitution has approved promulgation The Daman and Diu Civil Courts (Amendment) Regulation, 2019 and The Dadra and Nagar Haveli (Civil Courts and Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Regulation, 2019.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">The new regulations will increase pecuniary limit of civil courts in Dadra and Nagar Haveli so that people of Union territory do not have to approach Bombay High Court to challenge the decisions taken by local courts.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Benefits:</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will be helpful in bringing uniformity in Judicial Service of this UT. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will also help overcome difficulties being faced by litigants in travelling to Mumbai for filing appeals due to existing limited pecuniary jurisdiction. (Bombay High Court has jurisdiction over Maharashtra, Goa and UTs of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli)</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will enhance pecuniary jurisdiction will accelerate justice delivery to citizens.</span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Article 240 of Constitution: Power of President to make regulations for certain UTs</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It empowers<strong> </strong>President to make regulations for peace, progress and good government of UTs of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu and Pondicherry.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">The regulations made by President have same force and effect as Act of Parliament which applies to that territory.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Exceptions of Puducherry: </span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">President has powers to make regulations for peace, progress and good government for UT of Pondicherry only when its legislature is dissolved or its functioning is suspended.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Note: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Puducherry has its separate legislature as per Article 239A of Constitution</span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'regulations-daman-diu-civil-court-act-judicial-services', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/20d1/v44l4toav915ice6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/20d1/v44l4toav915ice6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Regulations for Daman & Diu Civil Court Act for judicial services', 'metakeyword' => 'In National Current Affairs, Regulations, Article 240, Daman & Diu Civil Court Act, Judicial Services', 'metadescription' => 'Union Cabinet under Article 240 of the Constitution has approved promulgation The Daman and Diu Civil Courts (Amendment) Regulation, 2019', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/g93og1en696pduk/14Mar_Cabinet_approves_regulations_to_increase.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 12 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 517, 'title' => 'Mizoram passes Bill to detect illegal foreigners', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Mizoram Assembly has unanimously passed The Mizoram Maintenance of Household Registers Bill, 2019. It aims to detect illegal foreigners residing in state which shares over 700-km-long international border with Bangladesh and Myanmar. It also proposes to maintain household registers for every family in the state of Mizoram.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Key Features of the Bill</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Objective: </span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">(i) Provide credible individual identification system, (ii) prevent “usurpation” of benefits of developmental schemes by those who are not entitled (iii) Create and maintain comprehensive database of residents to identify illegal foreigners.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Definition of citizen: </span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Person registered as such or having requisite qualification as prescribed under Citizenship Act, 1955. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Household registers: </span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will be maintained by designated officials as well as village councils, municipal bodies and town committees.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will contain names, details and photographs of every resident of the state on household basis,</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will be updated every three months will have two categories, one for citizen residents and one for non-citizen residents of the village.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Information furnished by individuals for registers will be verified and counter-signed by president of local branch of state-level NGOs as may be designated by state government from time to time</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Usage of registers:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> Government departments and police may use household registers for administrative purposes, during implementation of development schemes and for law enforcement.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Punishments</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">: Offence committed under this law such as willfully making false statement or destroying whole or any part of registration form is punishable offence with imprisonment for term upto one year or with fine of Rs 3000<strong>.</strong></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Background</span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Influx of foreigners into Mizoram through its porous international borders has remained serious concern for several decades. Large scale influx of foreigners and their malafide assimilation with permanent residents in villages and towns of Mizoram has led to abnormal increase in the population and poses law and order threat</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">In many cases benefit of development and welfare programmes are found eaten away to large extent by such foreigners who clandestinely stayed back and got assimilated in people of state by taking advantage of mistaken identity and of difficulties in detecting them. The bill aims to address these challenge. </span></span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'mizoram-passes-bill-to-detect-illegal-foreigners', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/fd2c/daee5d78ga484yo6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/fd2c/daee5d78ga484yo6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Mizoram passes Bill to detect illegal foreigners', 'metakeyword' => 'In Bills and Amendments Current Affairs, Mizoram Maintenance of Household Registers Bill, 2019, Key Features, Detect, illegal foreigners,', 'metadescription' => 'Mizoram Assembly has unanimously passed The Mizoram Maintenance of Household Registers Bill, 2019. It aims to detect illegal foreigners residing in state ', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/fxi31ky19bdsi84/20_Mar_Mizoram_passes_Bill.pdf', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 13 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 522, 'title' => 'Social Media platforms present Voluntary Code of Ethics for 2019 Lok Sabha elections', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Social media platforms and Internet and Mobile Association of India (IMAI) has submitted “Voluntary Code of Ethics for the General Election 2019” to Election Commission of India. It has been developed to ensure free, fair and ethical usage of social media platforms to maintain integrity of electoral process for General (Lok Sabha) Elections 2019. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It has been voluntarily agreed upon by participants and came into operation in 20 March 2019. It comes after follow up of meeting between IAMAI and representatives of Social Media Platforms including Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Google, ShareChat and TikTok etc and Election Commisssion.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Features Code of ethics</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Its purpose is to identify measures that social media and internet companies can put in place to increase confidence in electoral process and help safeguard platforms against misuse.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will help safeguard product and services of the participants against misuse to vitiate free and fair character of 2019 Lok Sabha election.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will work to prevent inappropriate or objectionable political advertisements and promises to facilitate transparency in paid political advertisements.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Participants will take action on content reported by the nodal officer, expeditiously, in accordance with law.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Social media platforms will provide mechanism for relevant political advertisers to submit pre-certificates issued Media Certification & Monitoring Committee (MCMC) of EC for election advertisements that feature names of political parties and candidates.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">These platforms will also, via IAMAI provide updates on measures taken by them to prevent abuse.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">They will also train EC’s nodal officers on how their platforms work and on mechanisms for sending requests on dealing with ‘offensive’ material</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">These platforms also have developed notification mechanism through which EC can notify relevant platforms of potential violations of Section 126 of Representation of the People Act, 1951</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Social media platforms will process any violations reported under Section 126 of RP Act, 1951 within three hours as per Umesh Sinha Committee recommendations. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">IAMAI has agreed to coordinate with participants who also have committed to voluntarily undertake voter awareness campaigns.</span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'social-media-platforms-present-voluntary-code-of-ethics', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9ccf/9nh61cqpefcu6hy6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9ccf/9nh61cqpefcu6hy6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Social Media platforms present Voluntary Code of Ethics', 'metakeyword' => 'In National Current Affairs, Social media platforms, Internet and Mobile Association of India, IAMAI, Voluntary Code of Ethics,General Election 2019, Election Commission of India', 'metadescription' => 'Social media platforms, Internet and Mobile Association of India, IAMAI, Voluntary Code of Ethics,General Election 201, Election Commission of India', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/yr5fyc8fyct1411/Social_Media_platforms.pdf', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 14 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 543, 'title' => 'EC issues advisory on telecasting exit polls', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued advisory to media and other platforms (websites, social media) on various issue related to elections including publication of exit polls, publication of results etc. It includes prohibition display of any opinion poll and of standard debates, analysis, visuals and sound-bytes</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Section 126A of Representation of People Act, 1951</span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">The advisory has been issued in pursuance of Section 126A of Representation of People Act, 1951 which prohibits conduct of exit poll and dissemination of its results hour fixed </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">This legal provision prohibits displaying any election matter by means of television or similar apparatus, during period of 48 hours before hour fixed for conclusion of poll from commencement of polling in first phase and half hour after time fixed for end of polling for the last phase in all the states.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">In this case, election matter is defined as any matter intended or calculated to influence or affect the result of an election. It also includes conducting exit polls and releasing its reults.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><strong><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">EC Advisory</span></span></span></strong></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Exit polls</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">: can only be telecast after final phase of polling for Lok Sabha elections ending on May 19, 2019. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It is also applicable for Assembly elections in Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim which are held along with Lok Sabha elections.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Prejudicing Content</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">: TV, cable networks, radio channels, websites and social media platforms must ensure that contents of programmes published and telecasted during 48-hour period before end of polling in each phase does not contain any material, including views or appeals by participants that may be promoting or prejudicing prospect of any particular party or candidate as per Section 126 of RPA, 1951. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Violations</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">: Any violation by broadcasters will be reported by EC to News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) and will be dealt with by NBSA under its regulations. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Results:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> News broadcasters should not to air any final or definite results until they are formally announced by ECI. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Moreover, such results should carry disclaimer that they are unofficial or incomplete or partial results or projections and should not be taken as final results. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Incitement of Violence and hatred:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> Political parties should not criticise other countries or make any verbal attack on any religion or community, use defamatory or obscene remarks or incite violence during broadcast time allocated in public broadcasting agencies.</span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'ec-issues-advisory-telecasting-exit-polls', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/08d9/1a5aeobbdludwb26g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/08d9/1a5aeobbdludwb26g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'EC issues advisory on telecasting exit polls', 'metakeyword' => 'In National Current Affairs, Election Commission,advisory, media, websites, social media, publication of exit polls, publication of results etc.', 'metadescription' => 'Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued advisory to media and other platforms on various issue related to elections including publication of exit polls, publication of results etc.', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/bwlgujpablldbt2/EC_issues_advisory_on_telecasting.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 15 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 570, 'title' => 'Cabinet clears creation of additional judicial and technical posts in NCLAT', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Union Cabinet chaired has approved creation of additional posts of three Judicial Members and three Technical Members in National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT). These additional will ensure to meet mandate provided to NCLAT by Finance Act, 2017, Companies Act, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 and time frame provided for disposal of cases. These posts will be created in Level 17.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT)</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It is a quasi-judicial statutory body in India that adjudicates issues relating to Indian companies. It consists of chairperson and maximum of eleven judicial and technical members.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It was constituted under Section 410 of Companies Act, 2013. It aims to provide simpler, speedier and more accessible dispute resolution mechanism.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It hears appeals against rulings of National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) under Section 61 of IBC, 2016.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It is also appellate tribunal for hearing appeals against orders passed by Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) under Section 202 and Section 211 of IBC.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It is also appellate tribunal to hear and dispose of appeals against any direction issued or decision made or order passed by Competition Commission of India. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">The decisions and rulings of NCLAT may be appealed to Supreme Court of India on a point of law.</span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'cabinet-clears-creation-additional-judicial-technical-posts-nclat', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/e87a/bbxbj1bg0vh74pe6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/e87a/bbxbj1bg0vh74pe6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Cabinet clears creation of additional posts in NCLAT', 'metakeyword' => 'In National Current Affairs,Union Cabinet,approves, creation of additional posts, three Judicial Members and three Technical Members, National Company Law Appellate Tribunal, NCLAT', 'metadescription' => 'Union Cabinet chaired has approved creation of additional posts of three Judicial Members and three Technical Members in National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/bxb8lshd3acvdcc/Cabinet_clears_creation.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 16 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 584, 'title' => 'UGC bans distance learning degree programmes in agriculture', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">University Grants Commission (UGC) has banned imparting Open and Distance Learning (ODL) degree programmes in agriculture. This decision was taken by on the ground that degree programme in agriculture is technical in nature as it requires practicals or laboratory courses. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">UGC Ban</span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Henceforthm new enrolments will be permitted from 2019 academic session for distance agriculture degree programme. It has directed Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) for hand-holding of higher education institutions currently providing such distance courses in agriculture to protect interest of students who already have enrolled to distance agriculture degree programme.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Background</span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Under UGC’s Open and Distance Learning Regulations, 2017, professional programmes such as engineering, architecture, medicine, nursing, dental, pharmacy and physiotherapy are not permitted to be offered in distance mode. Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare had requested UGC to consider prohibiting universities from offering Open and Distance Learning (ODL) degree programmes in agriculture. Annamalai University, IGNOU, Kuvempu University, Yashwant Rao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU) and Nalanada Open University are among few institutions currently offering degree and diploma programmes in agriculture science.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">University Grants Commission (UGC)</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It is higher education regulator of India. It is statutory body established in accordance to UGC Act 1956. It functions under Union Ministry of Human Resource Development. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It is mandated with coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of higher education. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Its headquarters is in New Delhi and has six regional centres in Pune, Bhopal, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Guwahati and Bangalore.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Functions:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> (i) provide recognition to universities in India (ii) oversee distribution of grants to universities and colleges in India, (iii) provide scholarships and fellowships to beneficiaries and (iv) monitor conformity to its regulations by universities and colleges.</span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'ugc-bans-distance-learning-degree-programmes-agriculture', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/4d2c/nwsfdnljyiym8j76g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/4d2c/nwsfdnljyiym8j76g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'UGC bans distance learning degree programmes in agriculture', 'metakeyword' => 'In National Current Affairs,University Grants Commission, UGC, bans, imparting, Open and Distance Learning, ODL, degree programme, agriculture', 'metadescription' => 'University Grants Commission (UGC) has banned imparting Open and Distance Learning (ODL) degree programmes in agriculture', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/ckc23ffjvvy6e23/UGC_bans_distance_learning_degree.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 17 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1088, 'title' => 'Tamil Nadu reiterates demand for IGST dues from Centre', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Tamil Nadu Government has reiterated its demand to Union Finance Ministry for apportionment of its share of Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) from 2017-18 fiscal. 50</span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">% </span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">of the </span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Rs.1,76,688.44 crore received as IGST during 2017-18 is to be apportioned to SGST component,</span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> with Tamil Nadu entitled to get Rs.</span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">5,453.82 crore.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Integrated Goods and Service Tax</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It is one of three categories under Goods and Service Tax (CGST, IGST and SGST) rolled out July 2017 with concept of one tax one nation. It is charged on movement of goods and services from one state to another. For example, if goods are moved from Maharashtra to Gujarat, IGST is levied on such goods. Its legal provision and statutory backing is under Integrated Goods and Service Tax (IGST) Act, 2016. The revenue collected out of IGST is shared by X central government and state government as per the rates fixed by the authorities.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Article 269A of the Constitution: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It says that GST on supplies in course of interstate trade will be levied and collected by Central Government and such tax will be apportioned between Centre and States according to provisions of law on recommendations of GST Council. On basis of this constitutional provision IGST Act, 2016 was enacted.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">IGST scheme for collection and devolution (As recommended by GST Council)</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">50</span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%</span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> of IGST collections will go to Centre (as Central Goods and Services Tax component) and remaining 50</span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%</span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> will be allocated to States and Union Territories (as State Goods and Services Tax component). And, 42</span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%</span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">%of CGST component will be devolved to States/UTs. </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Issue of Devolution:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> Thus, States/UTs are supposed to get 71</span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%</span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> of IGST (including 50</span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%</span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> of SGST and 21</span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%</span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">, which is 42</span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%</span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> of the 50</span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%</span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> CGST). But due to wrong calculation, States received only 42</span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%</span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> of the IGST during 2017-18.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">CAG report</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) report, ‘Accounts of the Union Government - Financial Audit’, released in February 2019 had pointed out that Centre had devolved </span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Rs. </span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">67,998 crore under IGST to States/UTs from States’ share. </span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Only 50</span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%</span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> of IGST revenues are of Centre, and devolution is possible only from the Central share.</span></span> <span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Thus, the devolution, as done, is not consistent with scheme of GST/IGST. CAG has advised Centre to take into consideration needs to account for its share correctly and devolution should take place from Central share only. The remaining 50</span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%</span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> should be apportioned to the States as per the law.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'tn-reiterates-igst-dues-centre', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/2d1c/ry27rfdzr34qomk6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/2d1c/ry27rfdzr34qomk6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'TN reiterates demand for IGST dues from Centre', 'metakeyword' => 'In National Current Affairs, Tamil Nadu Government, demand , Union Finance Ministry, apportionment,its share, Integrated Goods and Services Tax, IGST, ', 'metadescription' => 'Tamil Nadu Government has reiterated its demand to Union Finance Ministry for apportionment of its share of Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) from 2017-18 fiscal', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/3bc41aimc40rx3u/Tamil_Nadu.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 18 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1135, 'title' => 'Maharashtra Govt promulgates SEBC Ordinance for reservations in medical admissions', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao has promulgated ordinance to provide admissions to students for medical and dental under-graduate and post graduate courses under Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) category. The ordinance was promulgated on the basis of an advice given by the Maharashtra Cabinet under Article 213 of Constitution. It provides reservations in favour of candidates belonging to SEBC classes from educational year 2019-20 and also for admissions to other educational courses including under-graduate courses requiring passing of NEET or any other National Entrance Test.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Background</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">The ordinance was necessitated following stay of Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court on the 16% quota offered to the Maratha community under SEBC category for admission in this year's postgraduate medical courses. The high court in May 2019 had ruled that implementation of this reservation for Maratha community under SEBC quota was “unconstitutional” for this year’s admissions and will not be applicable to post-graduate medical admission process which had begun earlier.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'maharashtra-sebc-ordinance', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/0047/b1s7vxz8pddo7za6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/0047/b1s7vxz8pddo7za6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Maharashtra:SEBC Ordinance for reservations in medical admissions', 'metakeyword' => 'Maharashtra: SEBC Ordinance for reservations in medical admissions', 'metadescription' => 'Maharashtra: SEBC Ordinance for reservations in medical admissions', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/h0cpo2kotv09ely/Maharashtra_Govt.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 19 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1411, 'title' => 'FCRA NGOs changing officials need government approval: MHA', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued notification warning of taking penal action against Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) who have changed office bearers without taking its approval. The notification was issued after few incidents had come to light in which NGOs registered under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), have changed their office bearers without Home Ministry’s approval.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Home Ministry Notification</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Replacement of key functionaries of FCRA registered organizations without prior permission is a violation of the law.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It is mandatory for NGOs to submit applications for addition or deletion or any change of details about office bearers within one month from the date of issue of notice.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Foreign Contribution Regulations Act (FCRA)</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It regulates all grants, gifts and donations from abroad. It is used to regulate foreign contribution (especially monetary donation) provided by certain individuals or associations to NGOs and others within India. The Act was originally passed in 1976 and majorly modified in 2010. </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 has come into effect from May 2011. Government (Home Minsitry) has used this law over the years to freeze bank accounts of certain NGOs who it found were affecting India's national interest for wrong purposes.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">The 2010 amendments to this act has brought out three main changes viz. (i) </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> FCRA registration will expire after 5 years and has </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">to be renewed afresh, unlike earlier where it was permanent. (ii) It puts r</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">estriction (50</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">) on proportion of </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">foreign funds that could be used for administrative expenses, thus controls spending of money by civil society. (iii) It s</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">hifted focus from only political </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">parties to organisations of a political nature. It empowered government to target inconvenient NGOs especially those affecting India's national interest for wrong purposes.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'fcra-ngos-changing-officials-need-government-approval-mha', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/19c8/cp7jqyxqsjimteu6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/19c8/cp7jqyxqsjimteu6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'FCRA NGOs changing officials need government approval: MHA', 'metakeyword' => ' Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued notification warning of taking penal action against Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) who have changed office bearers without taking its approval', 'metadescription' => ' Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued notification warning of taking penal action against Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) who have changed office bearers without taking its approval', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/b5ev45ajy922vam/FCRA_NGOs.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 20 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1445, 'title' => 'Cabinet approves New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill, 2019', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Union Cabinet has approved New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill, 2019 for introduction in the ensuing session of Parliament. It replaces New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Ordinance, 2019. The Bill aims at institutionalizing arbitration process in the country and facilitates to make India to become hub for institutional arbitration.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Note:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> The Bill takes into consideration recommendations of High-Level Committee (HLC) headed by Justice B.N. Srikrishna, which had recommended Government take over International Centre For Alternative Dispute Resolution (ICADR) and develop it as Institution of National Importance. </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Salient Features of Bill</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It proposes establishment of New Delhi International Arbitration Centre (NDIAC), an independent and autonomous institution for better management of arbitration in India. </span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It aims at institutionalized domestic and international arbitration regime and establishing India as an International Hub of Arbitration. </span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It declares NDIAC as an institution of national importance. It empowers it to conduct arbitration, mediation, and conciliation proceedings.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Composition of NDIAC:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It will consist of seven members including: (i) <strong>Chairperson</strong> who has been Judge of Supreme Court or High Court, or minent person with special knowledge and experience in t conduct or administration of arbitration, (ii) <strong>Two eminent persons</strong> having substantial knowledge and experience in institutional arbitration. They will be full time members (iii) <strong>Three ex-officio members</strong> including Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law & Justice, Financial Adviser nominated by Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance and Chief Executive Officer, NDIAC will be ex-officio Members. (iv) <strong>Representative </strong>from recognised body of commerce and industry, appointed as part-time member on a rotational basis. </span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Objectives of NDIAC:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> (i) Promote research, provide training and organise conferences and seminars in alternative dispute resolution matters, (ii) Provide facilities and administrative assistance for conduct of arbitration, mediation and conciliation proceedings, and (iii) Maintain panel of accredited arbitrators, mediators and conciliators. </span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Key functions of the NDIAC:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> (i) Facilitate conduct of arbitration and conciliation in professional, timely and cost-effective manner, and (ii) Promote studies in field of alternative dispute resolution.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">International Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ICADR):</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> The bill acquires and transfers undertakings of International Centre For Alternative Dispute Resolution (ICADR) to New Delhi International Arbitration Centre (NDIAC). ICADR is registered society to promote resolution of disputes through alternative dispute resolution methods such as arbitration and mediation. </span></span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'new-delhi-international-arbitration-centre-bill', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/f45d/vl9kc743mj3od4g6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/f45d/vl9kc743mj3od4g6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Cabinet approves New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill', 'metakeyword' => 'Union Cabinet has approved New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill, 2019 for introduction in the ensuing session of Parliament. It replaces New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Ordinance, 2019', 'metadescription' => 'Union Cabinet has approved New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill, 2019 for introduction in the ensuing session of Parliament. ', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/2o40384oets5q2a/Cabinet_approves.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 21 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1439, 'title' => 'Cabinet approves Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">The Union Cabinet has approved introduction of Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019 in the forthcoming session of the Parliament. It will replace Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Second Ordinance, 2019. Once passed by the Parliament, this law will put curb on the practice of talaq-e-biddat, or instant triple talaq.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Note:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> The ordinance was promulgated after Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2018 (to replace the 2018 Ordinance) was passed by Lok Sabha in December 2018 and but was pending in Rajya Sabha. However it had lapsed with dissolution of the 16th Lok Sabha.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Salient Features</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Purpose: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It aims to ensure gender equality and gender justice to Muslim women by declaring practice of triple talaq as void and illegal. It also seeks to help in protecting the rights of married Muslim women and prevent divorce by practice of ‘talaq-e-biddat’ by their husbands.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It makes all declaration of talaq, including in written or electronic form (email, text message etc) to be void and illegal i.e. not enforceable in law. </span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It defines talaq as talaq-e-biddat pronounced by Muslim husband resulting in instant and irrevocable divorce to his wife.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It refers Talaq-e-biddat to practice under Muslim personal laws, as pronouncement of word ‘talaq’ by Muslim husband thrice in one sitting to his wife, resulting in instant and irrevocable divorce.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Offence and penalty:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It makes declaration of talaq cognizable offence, attracting up to <strong>3 years imprisonment with a fine</strong>. </span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">The offence will be cognizable only if information relating to offence is given by married woman against whom talaq has been declared or any person related to her by blood or marriage.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Cognizable offence is one for which police officer may arrest an accused person without warrant.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Allowance:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It also provides for payment of subsistence allowance to married Muslim women against whom talaq has been declaredand dependent children. The amount of allowance will be determined by Magistrate.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Bail Provisions:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It empowers magistrate to grant bail to accused husband only after hearing woman (against whom talaq has been pronounced), and if magistrate is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for granting bail.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Compoundable offence: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Magistrate upon the request of the woman (against whom talaq has been declared) can compound the offence. The terms and conditions of compounding of offence will be determined by Magistrate.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Compounding refers to procedure where two sidesagree to stop legal proceedings and settle dispute. </span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Custody of Children:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> Muslim woman is entitled to seek custody of her minor children against whom such talaq has been declared. However, it will be determined by Magistrate.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'muslim-women-protection-rights-marriage-bill-2019', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/20aa/n8dizg69sjf66tx6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/20aa/n8dizg69sjf66tx6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019', 'metakeyword' => 'The Union Cabinet has approved introduction of Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019 in the forthcoming session of the Parliament', 'metadescription' => 'The Union Cabinet has approved introduction of Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019 in the forthcoming session of the Parliament', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/h1yf5rwokf6jrjd/Cabinet_approves_Muslim.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 22 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1440, 'title' => 'Cabinet approves Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Union Cabinet has approved “The Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019” for introduction in Parliament. It replaces Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019. The bill envisages strengthening of Aadhaar Act as per directions of Supreme Court and recommendations of Justice B.N.Srikrishna(Retd) Committee on privacy.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Salient features of Bill</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It prevents denial of services for refusing to, or being unable to undergo authentication of Aadhaar unless it is so provided by law enacted by Parliament.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It allows voluntary use of Aadhaar number in electronic or physical form by authentication or offline verification with consent of Aadhaar number holder;</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It provides for use of 12-digit Aadhaar number and its alternative virtual identity (VID) to conceal the actual Aadhaar number of an individual,</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It allows use of Aadhaar number for authentication on voluntary basis as acceptable KYC document under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 and Telegraph Act, 1885, for convenience of the general public in opening of bank accounts.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It gives option to children who are Aadhaar number holders to cancel their Aadhaar number on attaining the age of eighteen years.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It proposes deletion of section 57 of the Aadhaar Act relating to use of Aadhaar by private entities. It prevents denial of services for refusing to, or being unable to, undergo authentication.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It provides for establishment of Unique Identification Authority of India Fund. It provides civil penalties, its adjudication, appeal thereof in regard to violations of Aadhaar Act and provisions by entities in the Aadhaar ecosystem.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'aadhaar-other-laws-amendment-bill-2019', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/88bf/tr59b99mrc70e086g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/88bf/tr59b99mrc70e086g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Cabinet approves Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019', 'metakeyword' => 'Union Cabinet has approved “The Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019†for introduction in Parliament. It replaces Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019', 'metadescription' => 'Union Cabinet has approved “The Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019†for introduction in Parliament. It replaces Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/xt4zgsviq3zsckb/Cabinet_approves_Aadhaar.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 23 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1438, 'title' => 'Cabinet approves Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers' Cadre) Bill, 2019 ', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the introduction of "The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers' Cadre) Bill, 2019 in the parliament. It will replace "The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers' Cadre) Ordinance, 2019".</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Salient Features of Bill</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Reservation:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It provides for reservation of teaching positions in central educational institutions for persons belonging to Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and the socially and educationally backward classes (SEBCs).</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Reservation of posts:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It provides for reservation of posts in direct recruitment of teachers (out of the sanctioned strength) in central educational institutions. For purpose of such reservation, a central educational institution will be regarded as one unit. It moves away from earlier practice of treating 'Department / Subject' as one unit.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Implementation:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It considers University/ College as one unit restoring earlier reservation system based on 200 point roster. In this case, unit for reservation of posts in direct recruitment in teachers' cadre will be University/Educational Institutions and not Department.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Coverage:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> These provisions will be application to all central educational institutions including those universities set up by Acts of Parliament, institutions deemed to be university, institutions of national importance, and institutions receiving aid from the central government. </span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Exclusions: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">The provision of reversion will be not applicable to certain institutions of excellence, research institutions, and institutions of national and strategic importance specified in Schedule to this Bill. It also excludes minority education institutions.<strong> </strong></span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Significance </span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It addresses long standing demands of persons belonging to SCs/STs/SEBCs and ensure their rights envisaged under Constitutional Provisions of Articles 14, 16 and 21. It will also ensure providing of 10</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">% </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">reservation to EWS. It gives major push to reforms in education sector, making it inclusive and keeping in mind the aspirations of the people from different categories.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'central-institutions-reservation-teachers-cadre-bill', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/b2ce/lbsw0245qaybgyv6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/b2ce/lbsw0245qaybgyv6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => ' Central Institutions (Reservation in Teachers' Cadre) Bill', 'metakeyword' => 'Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the introduction of "The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers' Cadre) Bill, 2019 in the parliament', 'metadescription' => 'Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the introduction of "The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers' Cadre) Bill, 2019 in the parliament', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/5h9cfhvdc042aga/Cabinet_approves_Central.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 24 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1543, 'title' => 'Lok Sabha passes Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Bill, 2019', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Lok Sabha has passed Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Bill, 2019 through voice vote. It is first legislation to be passed by the 17th Lok Sabha. The bill replaces Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019, which was promulgated in March 2019 to amend Special Economic Zones (SEZ) Act, 2005.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Key Provisions of Bill</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It amends sub-section (v) of Section 2 of the SEZ Act, 2005 to add two more categories in the <strong>definition of person</strong> by including a <strong>trust,</strong> or <strong>any other entity</strong> which may be notified by the Central Government for consideration of grant of permission to set up a unit in SEZs,</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">SEZ Act, 2005</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It provides for the establishment, development and management of Special Economic Zones for the promotion of exports. Earlier, under sub-section (v) of Section 2 of this Act, the definition of a person included individual, a Hindu undivided family, a co-operative society, a company, a firm or an association of persons. It did not permit 'trusts' to set up units in SEZs, thus undermining investments from trusts in these zones.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'special-economic-zones-amendment-bill-2019', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/2576/8gjm05gfmumie5i6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/2576/8gjm05gfmumie5i6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Lok Sabha passes Special Economic Zones Bill, 2019', 'metakeyword' => 'Lok Sabha has passed Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Bill, 2019 through voice vote', 'metadescription' => 'Lok Sabha has passed Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Bill, 2019 through voice vote', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/58vue11mfdzl9tr/Lok_Sabha_passes.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 25 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1552, 'title' => 'Lok Sabha passes Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2019', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Lok Sabha passed the Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2019 by voice vote. It is the second Bill passed by the newly constituted 17th Lok Sabha. It amends Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973 and replaces Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019 promulgated in March 2019.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2019</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It amends Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973 to increase the time period for supersession of the Central Homoeopathy Council from one year to two years. </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Background</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973 sets up tCentral Council of Homoeopathy (CHC) which regulates homoeopathic education and practice. It was amended in 2018 to provide for supersession of CHC. It mandated to reconstitution of CHC within one year from date of its supersession. However, in the interim period, Union Government (AYUSH Ministry) had constituted Board of Governors, to exercise powers of CHC. However, during this one year tenure CHC was not reconstituted due to non-updation of State registers of homoeopathy during general election.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'homoeopathy-central-council-amendment-bill', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/564a/teqm86a61nb6ep66g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/564a/teqm86a61nb6ep66g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Lok Sabha passes Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Bill', 'metakeyword' => 'Lok Sabha passed the Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2019 by voice vote', 'metadescription' => 'Lok Sabha passed the Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2019 by voice vote', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/c19zj1iy5lyiith/Lok_%28Amendment%29_Bill%2C_2019.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 26 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1580, 'title' => 'Lok Sabha passes Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2019', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Lok Sabha passed Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2019 to provide reservations in educational institutions and government jobs to people living along International Border in Jammu area. The Bill amends Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004 and replaces an Ordinance promulgated in March 2019.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It provides for reservation in appointment and promotions in J&K state government posts, and admission to professional institutions for certain reserved categories. Professional institutions include government polytechnics, medical colleges and dental colleges.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Reservation:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It provides for reservation in appointment and promotions in certain state government posts to persons belonging to socially and educationally backward classes (SEBCs). It defines SEBCs to include persons living in areas adjoining Actual Line of Control (LoC). </span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Mandatory tenure of service:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It mandates minimum seven years of service to any person appointed on the basis of residence in an area adjoining Line of Control (LoC) in such areas.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Exclusion from reservation</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">: It does not grant reservation under SEBC category to any person whose annual income exceeds Rs. 3 lakh or other amount as notified by state government. However, this exclusion is not applicable to persons living in areas adjoining Actual LoC.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2019</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It expands SEBC reservation facility to those persons living in areas adjoining International Border. It also mandates minimum seven years of service condition to persons living in areas adjoining International Border as well. It excludes persons living in areas adjoining the International Border from exclusion from reservation based on economic (income) criteria.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'j-k-reservation-amendment-bill-2019', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/8419/2criyu2f5urcd1v6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/8419/2criyu2f5urcd1v6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Lok Sabha passes J&K Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2019', 'metakeyword' => 'Lok Sabha passed J&K Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2019 to provide reservations in educational institutions and government jobs to people living along International Border in Jammu area', 'metadescription' => 'Lok Sabha passed J&K Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2019 to provide reservations in educational institutions and government jobs to people living along International Border in Jammu area', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/axcvf6oxl6ij44s/Lok_Sabha_passes.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 27 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1581, 'title' => 'Lok Sabha approves President’s Rule in J&K for six months', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Lok Sabha has approved statutory resolution to extend President’s Rule in Jammu and Kashmir under Article 356 of the Constitution for another six months with effect from July 3, 2019. The statutory resolution in this regard was moved by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. It mentioned that it is necessary to impose President’s Rule since state assembly has been dissolved and Election Commission has decided to hold fresh elections in Jammu and Kashmir later this year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Background</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">The Governor’s rule was imposed on J&K in June 2018 after state government headed by then Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had collapsed after BJP had pulled out of her governor. Later after failure of formation government in six months, President’s rule was imposed in December 2019 for six months.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Article 356 (President’s Rule)</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It empowers President of India to issue a proclamation of Present’s Rule (or State Emergency), if he is satisfied that situation has arisen in which government of a state cannot be carried on in accordance with provisions of Constitution. It is also called Constitutional Emergency as it deals with failure of constitutional machinery in State. The President can act in accordance with or without the report of Governor of state.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Duration of President’s Rule in a state</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">: Once proclaimed, it can continue for period of 6 months at a time and after that it has to be extended for another six month term with approval of both houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha), but this can be for maximum period of 3 years.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Governor’s Rule in Jammu & Kashmir</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">In case of failure of constitutional machinery in any other state of India, President’s Rule under Article 356 of the Constitution is directly imposed (bringing state under Centre’s rule). However, in case of failure of constitutional machinery J&K, Governor’s Rule (it is different from President’s Rule) is imposed for period of six months in the state as per Section 92 of J&K Constitution (only after the consent of the President of India).</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">During the Governors rule, State Legislative Assembly is either suspended or dissolved and the state completely comes under direct Central rule through Governor. If the Constitutional machinery in state is not restored before expiry of this six month period of Governor’s Rule, then provisions of Article 356 of Constitution of India (dealing with President’s) are extended to J&K and President’s rule is imposed in the State.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'lok-sabha-approves-presidents-rule', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/581b/yj7n0czu4nu57xw6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/581b/yj7n0czu4nu57xw6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Lok Sabha approves President’s Rule in J&K for six months', 'metakeyword' => 'Lok Sabha has approved statutory resolution to extend President’s Rule in Jammu and Kashmir under Article 356 of the Constitution for another six months ', 'metadescription' => 'Lok Sabha has approved statutory resolution to extend President’s Rule in Jammu and Kashmir under Article 356 of the Constitution for another six months ', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/0cma9n5un37uu52/Lok_Sabha_approves.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 28 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1616, 'title' => 'Lok Sabha passes Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers’ Cadre) Bill, 2019', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Lok Sabha passed Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers’ Cadre) Bill, 2019. The bill seeks to provide for reservation of posts in appointments by direct recruitment of persons belonging to Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Educationally Backward Classes (EBCs) and Economically Weaker Sections (EWSs) to teachers cadre in Central Educational Institutions. It will replace Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers' Cadre) Ordinance, 2019 promulgated in March 2019.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Salient Features of Bill</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Reservation:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It provides for reservation of teaching positions in central educational institutions for persons belonging to Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and the socially and educationally backward classes (SEBCs).</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Reservation of posts:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It provides for reservation of posts in direct recruitment of teachers (out of the sanctioned strength) in central educational institutions. For purpose of such reservation, a central educational institution will be regarded as one unit. It moves away from earlier practice of treating 'Department / Subject' as one unit.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Implementation:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It considers University/ College as one unit restoring earlier reservation system based on 200 point roster. In this case, unit for reservation of posts in direct recruitment in teachers' cadre will be University/Educational Institutions and not Department.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Coverage:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> These provisions will be application to all central educational institutions including those universities set up by Acts of Parliament, institutions deemed to be university, institutions of national importance, and institutions receiving aid from the central government. </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Exclusions:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> The provision of reversion will be not applicable to certain institutions of excellence, research institutions, and institutions of national and strategic importance specified in Schedule to this Bill. It also excludes minority education institutions. </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Significance</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">This Bill addresses long standing demands of persons belonging to SCs/STs/SEBCs and ensure their rights envisaged under Constitutional Provisions of Articles 14, 16 and 21. It will also ensure providing of 10% reservation to EWS. It gives major push to reforms in education sector, making it inclusive and keeping in mind the aspirations of the people from different categories. It seeks to implement 200-point reservation system instead of 13-point roster system to fill up teacher vacancies in Universities and Central Government Higher Educational Institutions. It also seeks to give equal opportunity to all as per Constitution and also enough scope and opportunities in higher education sector in the country.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'lok-sabha-passes-teachers-reservation-bill', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/d125/vrdipga8k1am76m6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/d125/vrdipga8k1am76m6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Lok Sabha passes teachers reservation bill', 'metakeyword' => 'Lok Sabha passed Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers’ Cadre) Bill, 2019 ', 'metadescription' => 'Lok Sabha passed Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers’ Cadre) Bill, 2019 ', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/vcpb3v23b28ibv7/Lok_Sabha_Teachers%C6_Cadre_Bill%2C_2019.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 29 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1638, 'title' => 'Cabinet approves reintroduction of Code on Wages Bill, 2019', 'description' => '<h2 style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">The Union Cabinet has approved re-introduction of the Code on Wages Bill, 2019 in the Parliament. It aims to merge four central laws — Payment of Wages Act, 1936, Minimum Wages Act, 1948, Payment of Bonus Act, 1965 and Equal Remuneration Act, 1976. </span></span></span></span></h2> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Need for reintroduction</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">The Code of Wages Bill is the first in the series of <strong>four labour codes</strong> proposed by Union Government as part of labour law reforms to rationalize 44 labor laws (with certain amendments). The four labour codes are <em>Code on Wages, Code on Social Security, Code on Industrial Relations and Code on occupational safety, health and working conditions.</em> The new codes are aimed at reducing uncertainty and the lack of clarity in doing business in India. This will help to improve India’s ranking in World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">The Wage Code Bill earlier was introduced during 16th Lok Sabha and Standing Committee had also given its report. However, it could not be passed, and hence, it had lapsed after dissolution of 16th Lok Sabha. This necessitated fresh approval by the Cabinet before re-introduction in the Lok Sabha. </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Code on Wages Bill, 2019</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It provides for setting up of national minimum wage by Central Government. States cannot set minimum wages lower than e national minimum wage. </span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Further, central government may set separate national minimum wages for different states or regions of the country. Minimum wages must be revised by central or state governments at interval of 5 years.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It provides that Central Government will fix minimum wages for certain sectors, including railways and mines, while states would be free to set minimum wages for other category of employments<strong>. </strong>It provides that overtime rate will be at least twice the normal rate of wages of the employee.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It makes minimum wages applicable for both formal and informal sectors, enable transfer of wages through the direct benefit transfer mechanism and bolster system for redressing grievances of labourers.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It will provide for all essential elements relating to wages, equal remuneration, and bonus. Its provisions related to wages will be applicable to all employments covering both organised and unorganised sectors. </span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It also proposes payment of wages by cheque or through digital or electronic mode or by crediting it in bank account of the employee. However, appropriate government may specify industrial or other establishment, where wages are to be paid only by cheque or through digital or electronic mode or by crediting the bank account of the employee.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'cabinet-code-wages-bill-2019', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/0e04/r9qhj11t77vweeq6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/0e04/r9qhj11t77vweeq6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Cabinet approves reintroduction of Code on Wages Bill', 'metakeyword' => ' Union Cabinet has approved re-introduction of the Code on Wages Bill, 2019 in the Parliament.', 'metadescription' => ' Union Cabinet has approved re-introduction of the Code on Wages Bill, 2019 in the Parliament.', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/3oiuxuxl3kq23i3/Cabinet_approves_reintroduction.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 30 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1647, 'title' => 'Cabinet approves Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019', 'description' => '<h2 style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Union Cabinet has approved introduction of Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019 in the Parliament aimed at prohibiting commercial surrogacy in India. The Bill was passed by 16th Lok Sabha but had lapsed after it was not passed by Rajya Sabha.</span></span></span></span></h2> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Features of Bill</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Objective:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It aims to ensure effective regulation of surrogacy, prohibit commercial surrogacy, and allow ethical surrogacy. It prohibits exploitation of surrogate mothers and children born through surrogacy</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Features:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It prohibits commercial surrogacy, including sale and purchase of human embryos and gametes, but allows ethical altruistic surrogacy for needy couples on fulfillment of stipulated conditions.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Definition of surrogacy: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Practice in which woman undertakes to give birth to child for another couple and agrees to hand over the child to them after birth.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Altruistic surrogacy:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It allows ‘altruistic surrogacy’ i.e. wherein only medical expenses and insurance coverage is provided by couple to surrogate mother during pregnancy and no other monetary consideration.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Regulatory bodies:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It proposes to regulate surrogacy in India by establishing National Surrogacy Board at the central level and state surrogacy boards and appropriate authorities in the state and Union Territories. </span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Eligible couples for Surrogacy:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It allows surrogacy for infertile married (married for at least five years) Indian couples only. In this case, female must be between 23-50 years and male 26-55 years and they should not have any surviving child (biological, surrogate or adopted).</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Surrogate Mother:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It allows only close relative of eligible certified couple to be surrogate mother, having been married, having child of her own and must be between 25 and 35 years. She can be surrogate mother only once in lifetime.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Exemptions:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It provides for surrogacy to only Indian citizens and thus bans foreigners, NRI and PIOs. It also bans homosexuals and single parents from surrogacy and also couple who already have children.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Custody and Punishment</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">: It also provides provision for custody of the child to be born which will be passed by a court of the Magistrate of the first class or above. It also contains provision of penalty and imprisonment if the person violated the law.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Background</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">India has emerged as surrogacy hub for couples from other countries. There have been reports concerning unethical practices, abandonment of children born out of surrogacy, exploitation of surrogate mothers and rackets involving intermediaries importing human embryos and gametes. The 228th report of Law Commission of India (LCI) had recommended prohibiting commercial surrogacy and allowing altruistic surrogacy by enacting suitable legislation to prevent exploitation of surrogate mothers and children born through surrogacy.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'cabinet-approves-surrogacy-regulation-bill-2019', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/b62d/5izcp74rbk4sghc6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/b62d/5izcp74rbk4sghc6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Cabinet approves Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019', 'metakeyword' => 'Union Cabinet has approved introduction of Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019 in the Parliament that aims to prohibit commercial surrogacy in India', 'metadescription' => 'Union Cabinet has approved introduction of Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019 in the Parliament that aims to prohibit commercial surrogacy in India', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/mtwkqh8xkkpo941/Cabinet_approves_Surrogacy_%2528Regulation%2529_Bill%252C_2019.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 31 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1655, 'title' => 'Lok Sabha passes Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Lok Sabha unanimously passed the Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019 aimed at imposing strict penalties for violation of norms set for the use of Aadhaar and violation of privacy. The bill envisages strengthening of Aadhaar Act as per directions of Supreme Court and recommendations of Justice B.N.Srikrishna(Retd) Committee on privacy. The Bill replaces ordinance promulgated on March 2019 and amends Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016, Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, and Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Salient features of Bill</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It prevents denial of services for refusing to, or being unable to undergo authentication of Aadhaar unless it is so provided by law enacted by Parliament.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It allows voluntary use of Aadhaar number in electronic or physical form by authentication or offline verification with consent of Aadhaar number holder;</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It provides for use of 12-digit Aadhaar number and its alternative virtual identity (VID) to conceal the actual Aadhaar number of an individual,</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It allows use of Aadhaar number for authentication on voluntary basis as acceptable KYC document under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 and Telegraph Act, 1885, for convenience of the general public in opening of bank accounts.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It gives option to children who are Aadhaar number holders to cancel their Aadhaar number on attaining the age of eighteen years.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It proposes deletion of section 57 of the Aadhaar Act relating to use of Aadhaar by private entities. It prevents denial of services for refusing to, or being unable to, undergo authentication.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It provides for establishment of Unique Identification Authority of India Fund. It provides civil penalties, its adjudication, appeal thereof in regard to violations of Aadhaar Act and provisions by entities in the Aadhaar ecosystem.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'aadhaar-other-laws-amendment-bill-2019', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/36db/j7d79mtdk6v5ajf6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/36db/j7d79mtdk6v5ajf6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019', 'metakeyword' => 'Lok Sabha unanimously passed the Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019 aimed at imposing strict penalties for violation of norms set for the use of Aadhaar and violation of privacy.', 'metadescription' => 'Lok Sabha unanimously passed the Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019 aimed at imposing strict penalties for violation of norms set for the use of Aadhaar and violation of privacy.', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/h21mekfacw2ic2o/Lok_Sabha_passes_Aadhaar.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 32 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1656, 'title' => 'Parliament approves Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2019', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Parliament has passed Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2019. The Bill amends Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 and replaces Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Second Ordinance, 2019 which was promulgated in February 2019. It allows for supersession of Medical Council of India (MCI) by Board of Governors (BoG) for two-year period starting September 26, 2018.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Background</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 sets up Medical Council of India (MCI) which regulates medical education and practice. It provides for supersession of MCI and its reconstitution within a period of three years from the date of its supersession. It also provides for Board of Governors (BoG) to consist of up to seven members including persons of eminence in medical education, appointed by the central government.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Key Features of Bill</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It amends the parent Act to reduce time period for supersession of MCI from three years to two years.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It amends provision related to composition of BoG to increase its strength from seven members to 12 members.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Further, it allows for persons with proven administrative capacity an experience to be selected in BoG of MCI. </span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It also provides for BoG to be assisted by Secretary General appointed by the central government</span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'indian-medical-council-amendment-bill-2019', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/05e3/l75rbkrra4t7fqd6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/05e3/l75rbkrra4t7fqd6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Parliament approves Indian Medical Council Bill, 2019', 'metakeyword' => 'Parliament has passed Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2019. The Bill amends Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 and replaces Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Second Ordinance, 2019', 'metadescription' => 'Parliament has passed Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2019. The Bill amends Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 and replaces Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Second Ordinance, 2019', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/zqjt47f1mw7jfel/Parliament_approves.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 33 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 535, 'title' => 'Justice Pinaki Ghose sworn in as first Lokpal of India', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Justice Pinaki Ghose was sworn in as first Lokpal of India, national anti-corruption ombudsman of the country. He was oath to office by President Ram Nath Kovind. His appointment was approved by President based on recommendation of Lokpal selection panel chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and comprised of Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, eminent jurist Mukul Rohatgi. Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge was not present in meeting of selection panel. President also has appointed four judicial and four non-judicial members of the Lokpal. They are</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Judicial Members: </span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Dilip B. Bhosale (Former Chief Justice), Pradip Kumar Mohanty (Former Chief Justice), Abhilasha Kumari (Former Chief Justice), Ajay Kumar Tripathi (sitting Chief Justice of Chhattisgarh).</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Non-Judicial Members:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> Archana Ramasundaram (First woman Chief of Sashastra Seema Bal), Dinesh Kumar Jain (Former Chief Secretary, Maharashtra), Mahender Singh (Former IRS officer), Indrajeet Prasad Gautam (Former IAS officer).</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Lokpal</span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It is national anti-corruption authority or body of ombudsmen with jurisdiction over central government to inquire into allegations of corruption against its public functionaries and for matters connected to corruption.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Historical Background</span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">The institution of ombudsman originated in Scandinavian (referred to Norway, Denmark and Sweden) countries. It first came into being in Sweden in 1713 as “chancellor of justice” appointed by King to assist as invigilator by looking into functioning of a wartime government. Word Lokpal is derived from Sanskrit word “Loka” meaning people and “pala” meaning protector or caretaker. Together it means “protector of people”. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Statutory Backing</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, 2013 provides for establishment of Lokpal for Centre and Lokayukta for States to inquire into allegations of corruption against certain public functionaries and for related matters.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It extends to whole of India, including Jammu & Kashmir. It is applicable to “public servants” within and outside India. It mandates for creation of Lokpal for Union and Lokayukta for states.</span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Structure of Lokpal</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It is statutory body without any constitutional backing. It is multimember body, made up of one chairperson and maximum of 8 members. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Person to be appointed as chairperson of Lokpal should be either the former Chief Justice of India or former Judge of Supreme Court or eminent person.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">In this case, eminent person must have impeccable integrity and outstanding ability, special knowledge and expertise of minimum 25 years in matters relating to anti-corruption policy, public administration, vigilance, finance including insurance and banking, law and management.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Out of maximum eight members, four are judicial members and four are non judicial. Minimum 50% of members must be from SC/ST/OBC/minorities and women. Judicial members should be either a former Judge of Supreme Court or former Chief Justice of High Court.</span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Jurisdiction of Lokpal</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It includes Prime Minister under its ambit. But except in cases on allegations of corruption related to international relations, security, public order, atomic energy and space. Moreover, bench of Lokpal and at least two-thirds of members approve an inquiry. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It also has jurisdiction over ministers and MPs (but not in matter of anything said in Parliament or a vote given there).</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It also cover all categories of public servants viz, Group A, B, C or D officers defined as such under Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Any corruption complaint against Group A and B officers, after inquiry, will directly come to Lokpal. However, in case of Group C and D officers, Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) will investigate and report to Lokpal. </span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Powers of Lokpal</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Superintendence over CBI and give direction to CBI. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Investigating officer of case transferred to CBI by Lokpal cannot be transferred without its approval.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It can authorize CBI for search and seizure operations connected to such case.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Its Inquiry Wing is vested with the powers of a civil court.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It can confiscate assets, proceeds, receipts and benefits arisen or procured by means of corruption in special circumstances</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It can recommend transfer or suspension of public servant connected with allegation of corruption.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It can give directions to prevent destruction of records during preliminary inquiry.</span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'justice-pinaki-ghose-sworn-in-first-lokpal-india', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9b61/qk0ccozu34ptf2c6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9b61/qk0ccozu34ptf2c6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Justice Pinaki Ghose sworn in as first Lokpal of India', 'metakeyword' => 'In National Current Affairs,Justice Pinaki Ghose, sworn in, first, Lokpal of India, national anti-corruption ombudsman, President Ram Nath Kovind.', 'metadescription' => 'Justice Pinaki Ghose was sworn in as first Lokpal of India, national anti-corruption ombudsman of the country. He was oath to office by President Ram Nath Kovind.', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/ptqt378pnpc3xqc/Justice_Pinaki_Ghose.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 34 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1671, 'title' => 'Parliament approves 200% Duty on Pakistani Goods', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Parliament has adopted statutory resolution for levying 200</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">% </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">duty on all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan. Statutory Resolution is resolution in pursuance of provision in the Constitution or an Act of Parliament. It was moved by Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur. It was approved as amendment in first schedule of the Custom Tariff Act in this regard. </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Parliament also adopted resolution to increase basic custom duty (BCD) on lentils (masur), boric acid and diagnostic and laboratory reagents. The resolution sought to raise BCD on lentils from 40</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">% </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">to 50</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">. It hikes duty on boric acid from 17.5</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">% </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">to 27.5</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> and for diagnostic item from 20</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">% </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">to 30</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">. </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Background</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Government had notified the basic custom duty to 200 % on all goods exported from Pakistan with as part of first resolution with effect from 16th February 2019 aftermath of Pulwama terror attack. It had prescribed to insert new tariff item 9806 00 00 under Chapter 98 of First Schedule of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 to prescribe 200</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">% </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">customs duty on all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'parliament-resoultion-duty-pakistani-goods', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/5e73/zvw34wg8i5h2ove6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/5e73/zvw34wg8i5h2ove6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Parliament approves 200% Duty on Pakistani Goods', 'metakeyword' => 'Parliament has adopted statutory resolution for levying 200% duty on all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan', 'metadescription' => 'Parliament has adopted statutory resolution for levying 200% duty on all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/fk30b62m90x15ae/Parliament_approves_200%25_Duty_on_Pakistani_Goods.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 35 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1674, 'title' => 'Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment) Bill, 2019 introduced in Lok Sabha', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">The Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was introduced in Lok Sabha by Union Tourism Minister of State (I/C) Prahlad Singh Patel. The bill seeks to do away with automatic nomination of President of Indian National Congress (INC) to the Jallianwala Bagh Trust.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">About</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> <strong>Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial Act, 1951</strong></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It provides for erection of National Memorial in memory of those killed or wounded on April 13, 1919, in Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar. In addition, it creates Trust to manage this national memorial.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Composition of Trust:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> Trustees of Memorial include: (i) Prime Minister as Chairperson, (ii) President of Indian National Congress (this representation is considered as political as it is represented by single national political party) (iii) Minister in-charge of Culture (iv) Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, (v) Governor of Punjab (vi) Chief Minister of Punjab and (vii) three eminent persons nominated by Union Government and have term of five years and will be eligible for re-nomination.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Features of Amendment Bill</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It removes President of Indian National Congress as permanent trustee of the memorial trust. Purpose of this move is delete party-specific member from trust to make it apolitical.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Further, it clarifies that when there is no Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha, then leader of single largest opposition party in Lok Sabha will be Trustee.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It adds provision to confer central government powers to terminate term of a nominated trustee before expiry of his term without assigning any reason. </span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Background</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Jallianwala Bagh Massacre also known as Amritsar Massacre took place on 13 April 1919 when troops of British Indian Army under command of Colonel Reginald Dyer openly fired on peaceful crowd gathered in Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar, Punjab. In this cold-blooded genocide approximately 1,000 innocent civilians dead and more than 1,500 were injured.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">The crowd had gathered at Jallianwala Bagh to celebrate Baisakhi festival, which marks beginning of New Year for Sikhs and in addition it is spring harvest festival for Sikhs. During this time Rowlatt Act, 1919 was in force, but civilians were not informed. This act had imposed curfew and ban on all processions and even prohibited group of 4 or more people to meet publicly.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">This ground stands witness to inhuman atrocities of British Empire. To keep in mind this significance of this place, trust was founded in 1920 to build memorial site at Jallianwala Bagh. American architect, Benjamin Polk, built memorial site. It was inaugurated by then President Rajendra Prasad on 13 April 1961.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'jallianwala-bagh-national-memorial-bill', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/4ac6/0bpkh9h1gcm7h076g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/4ac6/0bpkh9h1gcm7h076g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment)', 'metakeyword' => 'The Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was introduced in Lok Sabha by Union Tourism Minister of State (I/C) Prahlad Singh Patel', 'metadescription' => 'The Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was introduced in Lok Sabha by Union Tourism Minister of State (I/C) Prahlad Singh Patel', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/jue4xdq3el0xte9/Jallianwala_Bagh_National_Memorial.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 36 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1690, 'title' => 'Cabinet approves Inter-State River Water disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2019', 'description' => '<h2 style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved Inter-State River Water disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2019 for adjudication of disputes relating to waters of inter-State rivers and river valley thereof. The Bill seeks to amend Inter State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 with view to streamline adjudication of inter-state river water disputes and make present institutional architecture robust. It will further streamline the adjudication of inter-State river water disputes. </span></span></span></span></h2> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Key Features of Bill</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It mandates Central Government to set up <strong>Disputes Resolution Committee (DRC),</strong> for resolving any inter-state water dispute amicably. </span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">DRC will get period of one year, extendable by six months, to submit its report to the central government. DRC’s members will be from relevant fields, as deemed fit by central government.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It proposes to set up single, permanent <strong>Inter-State River Water Disputes Tribunal</strong> to adjudicate on inter-state river water disputes to streamline existing dispute redressal mechanism. This tribunal can have multiple benches.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Composition of the Tribunal:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It will consist of Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and not more than six nominated members (judges of Supreme Court or of a High Court), nominated by Chief Justice of India (CJI). Central government is also empowered to appoint two experts serving in Central Water Engineering Service (CWC), not below rank of Chief Engineer, as assessors to advise the bench in its proceedings.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Time limit to Tribunal to take its decision: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">The proposed tribunal has to give its decision on dispute within a period of 2 years. This period is extendable by maximum of 1 year. Central Government can give extension up to a maximum of six months.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Decision of Tribunal:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> The decision of the bench of the tribunal will be final and binding on the parties involved in the dispute. This decision will have same force as that of an order of the Supreme Court. It does away publishing tribunal’s decision in official gazette. </span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Dissolution of existing tribunals:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> After constituting permanent tribunal, all existing tribunals will be dissolved and water disputes pending adjudication before such existing tribunals will be transferred to this newly formed tribunal.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Maintenance of data bank and information:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> it empowers Central government to appoint or authorise agency to maintain a data bank and information system at the national level for each river basin.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Additional rule -making powers:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It empowers central government will additional powers to make rules in which water will be distributed during stress situations arising from shortage in availability of water.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Impact</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Constitution of single water dispute tribunal with different benches along with fixation of strict timelines for adjudication will result expeditious resolution of disputes relating to inter-state rivers. It will speed up the adjudication of water disputes referred to it.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'inter-state-river-water-disputes-amendment-bill', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/2478/2wmn0giwicbilbx6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/2478/2wmn0giwicbilbx6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Inter-State River Water disputes (Amendment)', 'metakeyword' => 'Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved Inter-State River Water disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2019 for adjudication of disputes relating to waters of inter-State rivers and river valley thereof', 'metadescription' => 'Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved Inter-State River Water disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2019 for adjudication of disputes relating to ', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/na7d2bnjyzemvyx/Cabinet_approves_Inter-State_River_Water.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 37 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1689, 'title' => 'Cabinet approves Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2019', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved introduction of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2019 in ensuing session of Parliament. It will replace the banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Ordinance, 2019 promulgated in February, 2019, which will otherwise cease to operate after six weeks after reassembly of Parliament. </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Key Features of Bill</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Banning clause:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It bans deposit takers from promoting, operating, issuing advertisements or accepting deposits in any unregulated deposit scheme. It bans unregulated deposit taking activities altogether, by making them offence.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Definition of Deposit Takers:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> This bill defines it as all possible entities (including individuals) receiving or soliciting deposits, except specific entities such as those incorporated by legislation.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Definition of Deposit:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> it has been defined in such manner that deposit-takers are restricted from concealing public deposits as receipts and not to hinder acceptance of money by an establishment in ordinary course of its business.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Defines three different types of offences:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> Running of Unregulated Deposit Schemes, wrongful inducement in relation to Unregulated Deposit Schemes and fraudulent default in Regulated Deposit Schemes.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Competent Authority: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It will be designated by State Government to ensure repayment of deposits in event of default by a deposit taking establishment. It defines powers and functions of competent authority including the power to attach assets of a defaulting establishment;</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Attachment of Properties:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It provides for attachment of properties or assets by the Competent Authority and subsequent realisation of assets for repayment to depositors. It provides clear-cut time lines for attachment of property and restitution to depositors.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Punishment and Repayments</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">: It prescribes severe punishment and heavy fines for offenders. It also provides adequate provisions for repayment of deposits in cases where such schemes manage to raise deposits illegally.It designates Courts to oversee repayment of depositors and to try offences mention under its ambit.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Best Practices:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It adopts best practices from State laws and entrusts primary responsibility of implementing provisions of legislation to State Governments.Chit funds are regulated by State Laws.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Online Database:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It calls for creation of online database for collection and sharing of information on deposit-taking activities in the country.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Impact</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">This comprehensive bill will help tackle menace of illicit deposit taking activities and prevent Ponzi-schemes in the country, which at present are exploiting regulatory gaps and lack of strict administrative measures to dupe poor and gullible people of their hard-earned savings. It will also help o tackle rising instances of fraudulent unregulated deposit scheme in various parts of the country which defrauded many people. The worst victims of these schemes were poor and financially illiterate and operations of such schemes had spread over many States.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'banning-unregulated-deposit-schemes-bill-2019', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/ca10/b4nvcmiu65f7o176g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/ca10/b4nvcmiu65f7o176g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Cabinet approves Banning of Unregulated Deposit', 'metakeyword' => 'Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved introduction of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2019 in ensuing session of Parliament.', 'metadescription' => 'Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved introduction of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2019 in ensuing session of Parliament.', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/71o8old2avh3v3d/Cabinet_approves_Banning_of_Unregulated_Deposit.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 38 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1683, 'title' => 'Lok Sabha passes New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Lok Sabha passed New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill, 2019 by a voice vote. The Bill seeks to provide for establishment and incorporation of New Delhi International Arbitration Centre (NDIAC) for the purpose of creating independent and autonomous regime for institutionalized arbitration. It replaces Ordinance which was promulgated in March 2019.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Salient Features of Bill</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It proposes establishment of New Delhi International Arbitration Centre (NDIAC), an independent and autonomous institution for better management of arbitration in India.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It aims at institutionalized domestic and international arbitration regime and establishing India as an International Hub of Arbitration.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It declares NDIAC as an institution of national importance. It empowers it to conduct arbitration, mediation, and conciliation proceedings.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Composition of NDIAC:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It will consist of seven members including: (i) Chairperson who has been Judge of Supreme Court or High Court, or minent person with special knowledge and experience in t conduct or administration of arbitration, (ii) Two eminent persons having substantial knowledge and experience in institutional arbitration. They will be full time members (iii) Three ex-officio members including Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law & Justice, Financial Adviser nominated by Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance and Chief Executive Officer, NDIAC will be ex-officio Members. (iv) Representative from recognised body of commerce and industry, appointed as part-time member on a rotational basis.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Objectives of NDIAC:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> (i) Promote research, provide training and organise conferences and seminars in alternative dispute resolution matters, (ii) Provide facilities and administrative assistance for conduct of arbitration, mediation and conciliation proceedings, and (iii) Maintain panel of accredited arbitrators, mediators and conciliators. </span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Key functions of the NDIAC:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> (i) Facilitate conduct of arbitration and conciliation in professional, timely and cost-effective manner, and (ii) Promote studies in field of alternative dispute resolution.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">International Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ICADR):</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> The bill acquires and transfers undertakings of International Centre For Alternative Dispute Resolution (ICADR) to New Delhi International Arbitration Centre (NDIAC). ICADR is registered society to promote resolution of disputes through alternative dispute resolution methods such as arbitration and mediation.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'new-delhi-international-arbitration-centre-bill', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/bf0a/07tbsh2jd1io3mz6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/bf0a/07tbsh2jd1io3mz6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Lok Sabha passes New Delhi International Arbitration', 'metakeyword' => 'Lok Sabha passed New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill, 2019 by a voice vote.', 'metadescription' => 'Lok Sabha passed New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill, 2019 by a voice vote.', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/tl7y6d4qggsxwsx/Lok_Sabha_passes_New_Delhi_International.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 39 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1697, 'title' => 'Cabinet approves Code on Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Bill, 2019', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Union Cabinet chaired approved introduction of Code on Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Bill, 2019 in the Parliament in a bid to push labour reforms. This is the second of the four codes that aim to merge 44 labour laws. Code on Minimum Wages was first to be approved by Cabinet.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">This new Code has been drafted after amalgamation, simplification and rationalisation of relevant provisions of the 13 Central Labour Acts. After enactment of this Code, all these 13 existing labour laws being subsumed in Code and will be repealed. </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">13 Central Labour Acts are: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">(1) The Factories Act, 1948 (2) The Mines Act, 1952 (3)The Dock Workers (Safety, Health and Welfare) Act, 1986. (4) The Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996. (5) The Plantations Labour Act, 1951. (6) The Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970. (7) The Inter-State Migrant workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979. (8) The Working Journalist and other Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service and Misc. Provision) Act, 1955. (9) The Working Journalist (Fixation of rates of wages) Act, 1958 (10) The Motor Transport Workers Act, 1961; (11) Sales Promotion Employees (Condition of Service) Act, 1976 (12) The Beedi and Cigar Workers (Conditions of Employment) Act, 1966 (13) The Cine Workers and Cinema Theatre Workers Act, 1981. </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Benefits</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It enhances ambit of provisions of safety, health, welfare and working conditions from existing about 9 major sectors to all establishments having 10 or more employees.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It provides for single licence regime for staffing firms, thus significantly improving their ease of doing business and also gives enhanced protection to employees by mandating certain norms.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It will cover over 40 crore workers in the informal sectors. It also envisages uniform threshold for welfare provisions such as creche, canteen, first aid and welfare officer.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It prescribes penalty for contravention of provisions leading to death or serious bodily injury to any person may be given to victim or legal heirs of the victim by the court.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It also allows women to work in night (i.e. beyond 7 pm and before 6 am) subject to safety, holidays, working hours or any condition as prescribed by appropriate government in respect of prescribed establishments and only after taking their consent for night work.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It prescribes one registration for an establishment (At present 6 different labour laws out of 13 provides for separate registration).</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It provides for one licence one return in place of multiple licences and returns in existing 13 labour laws. One licence and one return would save time, resources and efforts of establishments.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Background</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Union Government as part of labour law reforms has proposed series of four labour codes to rationalize 44 labor laws (with certain amendments). The four labour codes are <em>Code on Wages, Code on Social Security, Code on Industrial Relations and Code on occupational safety, health and working conditions</em>. These new codes are aimed at reducing uncertainty and lack of clarity in doing business in India. This will help to improve India’s ranking in World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'code-occupational-safety-health', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/e2f2/jgx2jaf4rylgoec6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/e2f2/jgx2jaf4rylgoec6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Code on occupational safety, health', 'metakeyword' => 'Union Cabinet chaired approved introduction of Code on Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Bill, 2019 in the Parliament in a bid to push labour reforms.', 'metadescription' => 'Union Cabinet chaired approved introduction of Code on Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Bill, 2019 in the Parliament in a bid to push labour reforms.', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/801ffny3hs51f6e/Cabinet_approves_Code_on_Occupational_Safety.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 40 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1700, 'title' => 'Lok Sabha passes Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2019', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Lok Sabha passed Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2019 by voice vote. The bill provides for the establishment of two Central Universities in Andhra Pradesh- the Central University and the Central Tribal University in Andhra Pradesh. It amends Central Universities Act, 2009. </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Key Facts</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Funding:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> These universities will be set up with cost of Rs.1700 crore in four years in Andhra Pradesh. In the first phase, Rs.450 crore will be provided for Central University and Rs.420 crore for Central Tribal University.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Benefits:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> The establishment of these two universities in Andhra Pradesh will increase access and quality of higher education in the state. It will also facilitate and promote avenues of higher education and research facilities for the people of the State.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Central Tribal University</span></span></strong> </span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It will be set up in Relli village in Vizianagaram District of Andhra Pradesh. It will be established under 13<sup>th</sup> Schedule to Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 (No. 6 of 2014). It will promote advance knowledge by providing instructional and research facilities in tribal art, culture and customs and advancement in technology to the tribal population of India. Apart from being focused on tribal education, it will also carry out all educational and other activities like any other Central University.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'central-universities-amendment-bill-2019', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/92c7/5s1lo97lgqmartc6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/92c7/5s1lo97lgqmartc6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Lok Sabha passes Central Universities Bill, 2019', 'metakeyword' => 'Lok Sabha passed Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2019 by voice vote. The bill provides for the establishment of two Central Universities in Andhra Pradesh', 'metadescription' => 'Lok Sabha passed Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2019 by voice vote. The bill provides for the establishment of two Central Universities in Andhra Pradesh', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/2d72e2au3m61pet/Lok_Sabha_passes_Central_Universities.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 41 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1705, 'title' => 'Government issued Draft Model Tenancy Act', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoUHA) has issued Draft Model Tenancy Act (MTA) aimed promoting growth of rental Housing segment by regulating renting of premises. MoUHA now is seeking comments from the public and the stakeholders. It also has shared copy of draft Act with States/UTs for seeking their views/comments. Once finalized, Model Act will be shared with States/UTs for adoption.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Need for Model Act</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">As per Census 2011, nearly 1.1 crore houses were lying vacant in the country and making these houses available on rent will complement vision of ‘Housing for All’ by 2022. The existing rent control laws are restricting growth of rental housing and discourage owners from renting out their vacant houses due to fear of repossession. One of potential measures to unlock vacant house is to bringing transparency and accountability in existing system of renting and balance interests of both property owner and tenant in judicious manner.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Features of Draft Model Tenancy Act</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Objective:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> To balance interest and rights of both the owners and tenants and to create an accountable and transparent ecosystem for renting premises in disciplined and efficient manner.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Monitoring Structure:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It stipulates grievance redressal mechanism comprising rent authority, rent court and rent tribunal.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Applicability</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">: It is for the whole of State that is urban and rural areas. It will be applicable prospectively and will not affect the existing tenancies.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Security deposit:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It proposes to cap security deposit equal to maximum of two months’ rent in case of residential properties and minimum of one-month rent in case of non-residential property.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Digital platform:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It will be set up in the local language of the State for submitting tenancy agreement and other documents.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Mandatory Rent Agreement:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> After coming into force of this Act, no person shall let or take on rent any premises except by an agreement in writing.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Within two months of executing rental agreement both landowner and tenant are required to intimate to Rent Authority about agreement and within 7 days unique identification number will be issued by Rent Authority to the both the parties.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Benefits</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">This Act will enable creation of adequate stock of rental housing for various income segments of society including formal and informal sector workers, migrants, professionals, students etc. It will also increase access to quality rented accommodation, enable gradual formalization of rental housing market. It will help to overhaul legal framework vis-à-vis rental housing across the country. It is also expected to give fillip to private participation in rental housing for addressing the huge housing shortage across the country. It will also promote growth of rental housing and investment in the sector and promote entrepreneurial opportunities and innovative mechanism of sharing of space. </span></span></span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'govt-issues-draft-model-tenancy-act', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/1175/7kdpgyk6sdkjd216g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/1175/7kdpgyk6sdkjd216g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Government issued Draft Model Tenancy Act', 'metakeyword' => 'Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoUHA) has issued Draft Model Tenancy Act (MTA) aimed promoting growth of rental Housing segment by regulating renting of premises.', 'metadescription' => 'Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoUHA) has issued Draft Model Tenancy Act (MTA) aimed promoting growth of rental Housing segment by regulating renting of premises.', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/9dp59jf54n04kaq/Government_issued_Draft_Model_Tenancy_Act.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 42 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1715, 'title' => 'Lok Sabha passes National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2019', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Lok Sabha passed National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2019. The Bill seeks to amends the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act, 2008 to take tougher action against new schedule offences including human trafficking, terrorism etc by empowering investigating agency for speedy trials and convictions.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">About National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act, 2008</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It provides for national-level agency- NIA to investigate and prosecute offences listed in a schedule (scheduled offences). Further, it allows for creation of Special Courts for the trial of scheduled offences. </span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Jurisdiction of the NIA:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It provides for creation of NIA to investigate and prosecute offences specified in the schedule. The officers of NIA have the same powers as other police officers in relation to investigation of such offences, across India.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Scheduled offences:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> The schedule to this Act specifies list of offences which are to be investigated and prosecuted by NIA. These include offences under Acts such as Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967 and Atomic Energy Act, 1962.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Special Courts:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> The Act allows Central government to constitute Special Courts for the trial of scheduled offences under it.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Features of NIA (Amendment) Bill, 2019</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It seeks to allow NIA to investigate following new offences in addition: (i) human trafficking, (ii) manufacture or sale of prohibited arms, (iii) offences related to counterfeit currency or bank notes (iv) cyber-terrorism and (v) offences under the Explosive Substances Act, 1908. </span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It gives NIA officers power to investigate scheduled offences committed outside India, subject to international treaties and domestic laws of other countries. It also allows central government may direct NIA to investigate such cases, as if offence has been committed in India. The Special Court in New Delhi will have jurisdiction over these cases. </span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It allows central government to designate Sessions Courts as Special Courts for trial of scheduled offences. The central government is required to consult Chief Justice of the High Court under which Sessions Court is functioning, before designating it as Special Court. </span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">In case more than one Special Court has been designated for any area, then senior-most judge will distribute cases among courts. Further, state governments may also designate Sessions Courts as Special Courts for trial of scheduled offences. </span></span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'nia-amendment-bill-2019', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/68e2/3xoreuzwrk55oj36g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/68e2/3xoreuzwrk55oj36g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2019', 'metakeyword' => 'Lok Sabha passed National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2019. The Bill seeks to amends the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act, 2008 ', 'metadescription' => 'Lok Sabha passed National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2019. The Bill seeks to amends the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act, 2008 ', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/5i7kaio8e0drm2d/Lok_Sabha_passes_National_Investigation_Agency.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 43 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1723, 'title' => 'Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill 2019 tabled in Rajya Sabha', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad tabled Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill 2019 in Rajya Sabha. It seeks to amend the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. Its objective is to make India hub of domestic and global arbitration for settling commercial disputes. The previous version of Bill which was cleared by Lok Sabha in August 2018, but was not passed by Rajya Sabha and had lapsed after dissolution of 16th Lok Sabha .</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Salient features of bill</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It provides robust mechanism to deal with institutional disputes and ensures accountability of the arbitrator. </span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Arbitration Council of India (ACI):</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It provides for establishing independent body called Arbitration Council of India (ACI) for the promotion of arbitration, mediation, conciliation and other alternative dispute redressal mechanisms. Thus, it will make arbitration process more friendly and cost-effective, and ensure timely disposal of cases. </span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Functions of ACI</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">: (i) frame policies for grading arbitral institutions and accrediting arbitrators, (ii) make policies for establishment, operation and maintenance of uniform professional standards for all alternate dispute redressal matters and (iii) maintain depository of arbitral awards (judgments) made in India and abroad.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Appointments of Arbitrators: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It allows appointment of arbitrators by “arbitral institutions” designated by the Supreme Court or a high court rather than Supreme Court or a high court themselves.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Completion of written submissions:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> it requires that written claim and defence to claim in arbitration proceeding, should be completed within <strong><em>6 months</em></strong> of the appointment of the arbitrators. Thus, it will timely resolve disputes.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Confidentiality of proceedings: A</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">ll details of arbitration proceedings will be kept confidential except for details of the arbitral award in certain circumstances. Disclosure of arbitral award will be made only where it is necessary for implementing or enforcing the award.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'arbitration-and-conciliation-amendment-bill-2019', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/f059/sjht27kz8g2e8c56g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/f059/sjht27kz8g2e8c56g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill 2019', 'metakeyword' => 'Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad tabled Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill 2019 in Rajya Sabha. It seeks to amend the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996', 'metadescription' => 'Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad tabled Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill 2019 in Rajya Sabha. It seeks to amend the Arbitration', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/ztd6jzk454yukqd/Arbitration_and_Conciliation_%28Amendment%29.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 44 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1727, 'title' => 'Rajya Sabha passes Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2019', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Rajya Sabha passed Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2019 with aim to bid out any new airport from pre-determined tariff structure. It is yet to be passed by Lok Sabha. The bill seeks to amend the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act, 2008.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Features of Bill</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Definition of major airports:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It amends definition of “major airport” as any airport which has annual passenger traffic of over 35 lakh. Currently, major airports with annual capacity to handle 15 lakh passengers come under purview of AERA.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Tariff determination: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">AERA will not determine: (i) tariff, (ii) tariff structures, or (iii) development fees, in cases where these amounts were part of bid document on basis of which airport operations were awarded.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA) </span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It is an independent economic regulator for protection of interests of airports, airlines and passengers. It is statutory body established under Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act, 2008.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Functions:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It regulates tariffs and other charges for aeronautical services provided at civilian airports with annual traffic above 15 lakh passengers. It also monitors performance standard of services across these airports.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It is responsible for determining:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> (i) tariff for aeronautical services at different airports every 5 years, (ii) development fees of major airports, and (iii) passengers service fee. It can also call for necessary information to determine tariffs and perform any other tariff-related functions, including amending tariffs if necessary in the interim periods.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Note:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> Currently 16 major airports (with capacity of 15 lakh passengers) are under jurisdiction of AERA and all the other airports which are not major airports are under Union Ministry of Civil Aviation.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'aera-amendment-bill-2019', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/52a6/apisxwh4ybowwa06g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/52a6/apisxwh4ybowwa06g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Bill', 'metakeyword' => 'Rajya Sabha passed Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2019 with aim to bid out any new airport from pre-determined tariff structure.', 'metadescription' => 'Rajya Sabha passed Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2019 with aim to bid out any new airport from pre-determined tariff structure.', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/4bk7bdlcjihic9w/Rajya_Sabha_passes_Airports_Economic.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 45 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1747, 'title' => 'Lok Sabha passes Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2019', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Lok Sabha passed Protection of Human Rights(Amendment) Bill 2019 by voice vote. The Bill amends Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 which provides statutory backing for National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), State Human Rights Commissions (SHRC), as well as Human Rights Courts. The Bill aims to expedite process of appointment of chairperson and members of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) for "round-the-clock" protection human rights.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Key Features of Bill</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Composition of NHRC:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> The Bill amends parent Act to allow appointment of person who has been Chief Justice of Supreme Court, or a Judge of Supreme Court as Chairperson of the NHRC. Earlier, person who has been Chief Justice of the Supreme Court was only eligible for post of chairperson of the NHRC.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Members of NHRC:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> The Bill allows appointment of three members, of which at least one will be a woman as members of NHRC. The parent Act earlier provided for two persons having knowledge of human rights to be appointed as members of the NHRC.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">The Bill also provides for including chairpersons of National Commission for Backward Classes, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, and Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities as members of the NHRC.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Chairperson of SHRC:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> The Bill allows appointment of person who has been Chief Justice or Judge of a High Court as chairperson of a SHRC. Earlier, person who has been Chief Justice of High Court was only eligible for post of chairperson of the SHRC.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Term of office: The bill </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">reduces the term of office of chairperson and members of the NHRC and SHRC to 3 years (from earlier 5 years) or till the age of seventy years, whichever is earlier. The Bill also removes provision of five-year limit for reappointment of members of the NHRC and SHRCs.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Powers of Secretary-General:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> The Bill expands powers of Secretary-General and Secretary to exercise all administrative and financial powers (except judicial functions), subject to respective chairperson’s control.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Jurisdiction over Union Territories:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> The Bill provides that Central government may confer on SHRC human rights functions being discharged by UTs. It also provides for functions related to human rights in the case of Delhi will be dealt with by the NHRC. </span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'protection-human-rights-amendment-bill-2019', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/a7b6/3swwd3sdqfmkhqq6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/a7b6/3swwd3sdqfmkhqq6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Lok Sabha passes Protection of Human Rights (Amendment)', 'metakeyword' => 'Lok Sabha passed Protection of Human Rights(Amendment) Bill 2019 by voice vote. The Bill amends Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993', 'metadescription' => 'Lok Sabha passed Protection of Human Rights(Amendment) Bill 2019 by voice vote. The Bill amends Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/lobj8ymyxh10x7g/Lok_Sabha_passes_Protection_of_Human_Right.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 46 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1769, 'title' => 'Andhra Pradesh 1st state pass law to reserve jobs to locals', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Andhra Pradesh legislative assembly passed <strong>Andhra Pradesh Employment of Local Candidates in Industries/Factories Bill, 2019.</strong> This bill reserves 75</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">% </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">jobs for locals in industrial units, factories, joint ventures and projects set up under public-private partnership mode. With this, Andhra Pradesh became the first state to pass law reserve jobs for local youth in private sector. The Bill will now go to Governor for assent, which he may reserve for Presidential assent to come into force.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Key features of Bill</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Reservation for locals:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It provides for reservation of 75</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> to locals in jobs in all private industrial units and factories, irrespective of whether companies getting financial or any other help from government.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Skill Training to meet local demand:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> If companies fail to find locals with necessary skills, then it mandates them to train locals in association with state government and hire them.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Enforcement period:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> Companies will have to comply with these provisions within three years of the commencement of this Act.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Exemptions:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> This bill exempts only those units listed in the first schedule of the Factories Act from its ambit but that too after the government approval. These mostly include hazardous industries like petroleum, pharmaceuticals, coal, fertilisers and cement, among others.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Background</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">In recent times many states have repeatedly spoken about reserving big chunk of private jobs for locals, but none has implemented it as yet. Madhya Pradesh Government in July 2019 had announced to bring a law to reserve 70% of private sector jobs for locals. The same demand has existed in Karnataka, Gujarat and Maharashtra as well.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'andhra-pradesh-1st-state-pass-law-reserve-jobs', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/ce18/v7yw8rqb3cmik806g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/ce18/v7yw8rqb3cmik806g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Andhra Pradesh 1st state pass law to reserve', 'metakeyword' => 'Andhra Pradesh legislative assembly passed Andhra Pradesh Employment of Local Candidates in Industries/Factories Bill, 2019.', 'metadescription' => 'Andhra Pradesh legislative assembly passed Andhra Pradesh Employment of Local Candidates in Industries/Factories Bill, 2019.', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/f0rv10x0c6luttq/Andhra_Pradesh_1st_state_pass_law.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 47 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1812, 'title' => 'Consumer protection bill got nod from Lok Sabha', 'description' => '<p><strong>Context:<br /> The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Consumer Protection Bill 2019, which seeks to give enhanced protection to interests of consumers and timely settlement of their grievances.</strong></p> <ul> <li><strong>About the bill:</strong></li> <li> <ul> <li><strong>The new legislation will replace the Consumer Protection Act, 1986</strong></li> <li><strong> The bill provides for recall of unsafe goods and services and discontinues unfair</strong> <strong>trade practices.</strong></li> </ul> </li> <li><strong>Penalty for misleading endorsement:</strong></li> <li> <ul> <li><strong>An endorser may have to pay a penalty of up to 10 lakh and may even be barred from endorsing any product for a year.</strong></li> <li><strong>Every subsequent contravention the bar may go up to 3 years.</strong></li> </ul> </li> <li><strong>Penalty for misleading endorsement:</strong></li> <li> <ul> <li>An endorser may have to pay a penalty of up to 10 lakh and may even be barred from endorsing any product for a year.</li> <li><strong>Every subsequent contravention the bar may go up to 3 years.</strong></li> </ul> </li> <li><strong>Expansion of scope for product liability: The scope of product liability has been expanded beyond manufacturing and design defects to include:</strong></li> <li style="list-style-type:none"> <ul style="list-style-type:square"> <li>Deviation from manufacturing specification</li> <br /> <li>Failing to contain adequate instruction for correct use</li> <br /> <li>Providing faulty, imperfect and deficient services</li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p><strong>To deal with grievances:</strong></p> <ul> <li> <ul> <li>The new Consumer Protection Bill for the first time have a mechanism spelt out for dealing with grievances of e-commerce consumers</li> <li>To help dispose cases early, it also provides for court-directed mediation to redress grievances.</li> <li>No appeal will be allowed on cases settled through mediation.</li> </ul> </li> <li><strong>Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA): </strong>This body will be established with a mandate to carry out investigation into violations of consumer rights.</li> <li> <ul> <li>The CCPA is also empowered to impose penalties on manufacturers of unsafe goods and endorsers and publishers of misleading advertisements.</li> </ul> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'consumer-protection-bill-got', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/ed2c/awvcqo5k5rccwim6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/ed2c/awvcqo5k5rccwim6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Consumer protection bill got nod from Lok Sabha', 'metakeyword' => 'The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Consumer Protection Bill 2019, which seeks to give enhanced protection to interests of consumers', 'metadescription' => 'The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Consumer Protection Bill 2019, which seeks to give enhanced protection to interests of consumers', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/e2hdt16kxp0ft7t/Consumer_protection_bill_got_nod_from_Lok_Sabha.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 48 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1815, 'title' => 'Parliament passes triple talaq bill two years after Supreme Court struck down the practice', 'description' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="color:black">Context:</span></span></strong></span></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="color:black">The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019 was introduced in Lok Sabha by the Minister of Law and Justice on June 21, 2019.</span></span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span style="color:black">It replaces an Ordinance promulgated on February 21, 2019</span></span></span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="color:black">Offence:</span></span></strong></span></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="color:black">Compounded: </span></span></strong></span></span></span></li> <li style="list-style-type:none"> <ul style="list-style-type:square"> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="color:black">The offence may be compounded by the Magistrate upon the request of the woman (against whom talaq has been declared). </span></span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="color:black"> Compounding refers to the procedure where the two sides agree to stop legal proceedings, and settle the dispute. The terms and conditions of the compounding of the offence will be determined by the Magistrate. </span></span></span></span></span></li> </ul> </li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="color:black">Cognisable: </span></span></strong></span></span></span></li> <li style="list-style-type:none"> <ul style="list-style-type:square"> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="color:black">The Bill makes <strong>declaration of talaq a cognizable offence, </strong>attracting up to <strong>3 years’ imprisonment with a fine. </strong></span></span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="color:black">A cognizable offence is one for which a police officer may arrest an accused person without warrant.</span></span></span></span></span></li> </ul> </li> <li><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span style="color:black">Penalty: </span></span></span></strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span style="color:black">The offence will be <strong>cognizable only if information relating to the offence is given by</strong>: </span></span></span> <ul> <li> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="color:black">(i) <strong>The married woman </strong>(against whom talaq has been declared), or </span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="color:black">(ii) <strong>Any person related to her by blood or marriage. </strong></span></span></span></span></span></p> </li> </ul> </li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Provision of bail:</span></strong></span></span></li> <li> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">The Bill provides that the <strong>Magistrate may grant bail to the accused</strong>. </span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">The bail may be granted <strong>only after hearing the woman </strong>(against whom talaq has been pronounced), and if the <strong>Magistrate is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for granting bail.</strong></span></span></span></li> </ul> </li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Allowance: </span></strong></span></span> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">A Muslim woman, against whom talaq has been declared, is <strong>entitled to seek subsistence allowance from her husband for herself and for her dependent children. </strong></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt">The amount of the allowance will be determined by the Magistrate.</span></strong></span></span></li> </ul> </li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Custody: </span></strong></span></span> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">A Muslim woman, against whom such talaq has been declared, is entitled to seek custody of her minor children. </span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt">The manner of custody will be determined by the Magistrate.</span></strong></span></span></li> </ul> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'parliament-passes-triple-talaq-bill', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/213d/12x48zql56dg4p76g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/213d/12x48zql56dg4p76g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Parliament passes triple talaq bill two years', 'metakeyword' => '', 'metadescription' => 'Parliament passes triple talaq bill two years after Supreme Court struck down the practice', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/5fd7nkjule0f4kd/Parliament_passes_triple_talaq_bill_two_years_after.pdf/file</a>', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 49 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1817, 'title' => 'Inter- State River Water Dispute (Amendment) Bill', 'description' => '<p><strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Context:</span></span></strong> <span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The bill has been passed by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday (31/07/2019).</span></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Main Provisions of the bill:</span></span></strong></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.5pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:black">It amends the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956. </span></span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.5pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:black">The Act provides for the adjudication of disputes relating to waters of inter-state rivers and river valleys. </span></span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.5pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:black">Resolution of dispute:</span></span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.5pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:black">A state government may request the central government to refer an inter-state river dispute to a Tribunal for adjudication </span></span></span></strong></span></span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.5pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span style="color:black">Disputes Resolution Committee: </span></span></span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.5pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:black">When a state puts in a request regarding any water dispute, <strong>the central government will set up a Disputes Resolution Committee (DRC), </strong>to <strong>resolve the dispute amicably.</strong> </span></span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.5pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:black">The DRC will comprise of a <strong>Chairperson,</strong> and <strong>experts with at least 15 years of experience in relevant sectors,</strong> to be <strong>nominated by the central government.</strong> It will also comprise <strong>one member from each state (at Joint Secretary level),</strong> who are party to the dispute, to be nominated by the concerned state government. </span></span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.5pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:black">How DRC will work?</span></span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:12.5pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span style="color:black">If a dispute cannot be settled by the DRC, the <strong>central government will refer it to the Inter-State River Water Disputes Tribunal</strong>. Such referral <strong>must be made within three months from the receipt of the report from the DRC</strong></span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.5pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:black">About the Tribunal:</span></span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.5pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:black">It will be <strong>set up by the central government</strong> for the adjudication of water disputes.</span></span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.5pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:black">This Tribunal <strong>can have multiple benches.</strong> </span></span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.5pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:black">All existing Tribunals will be dissolved, and the water disputes pending adjudication before such existing Tribunals will be transferred to the new Tribunal. </span></span></span></strong></span></span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.5pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span style="color:black">Decision of the Tribunal:</span></span></span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.5pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:black">This decision has the <strong>same force as that of an order of the Supreme Court. </strong></span></span></span></span></span></li> <li><strong><span style="font-size:12.5pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span style="color:black">The decision of the Bench of the Tribunal will be final and binding on the parties involved in the dispute.</span></span></span></span></strong></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.5pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span style="color:black">Data bank: </span></span></span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:12.5pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span style="color:black">The Bill provides that the <strong>central government will appoint or authorise an agency to maintain data bank and information system at the national level for each river basin</strong></span></span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'inter-state-river-water-dispute-amendment-bill', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/98c1/ecien8t8dgpng496g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/98c1/ecien8t8dgpng496g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Inter- State River Water Dispute (Amendment) Bill', 'metakeyword' => 'Inter- State River Water Dispute, Inter- State River Water', 'metadescription' => 'The Bill provides that the central government will appoint or authorise an agency to maintain data bank and information system', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/o9ednu1mrwcubqk/Inter-_State_River_Water_Dispute_%28Amendment%29_Bill.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 50 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1823, 'title' => 'The National Medical Commission (NMC) bill, 2019 is passes Rajya Sabha test with two amendments', 'description' => '<p><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Context: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span style="color:#212121">The Rajya Sabha on Thursday passed the NMC Bill 2019, proposing <strong>sweeping reforms to medical education </strong>amid a storm </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">of </span></span></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="background-color:white">protest by the medical fraternity</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="background-color:white">About the bill:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="background-color:white"> <span style="color:black">The Bill <strong>seeks to repeal the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 </strong>and provide for a medical education system which ensures: </span></span></span></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:black">Availability of adequate and high quality medical professionals</span></span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:black">Adoption of the latest medical research by medical professionals</span></span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:black">Periodic assessment of medical institutions</span></span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:black">An effective grievance redressal mechanism</span></span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Major provisions of the bill:</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span style="color:black">Constitution of the National Medical Commission</span></span></span></span></strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:black">: The Bill sets up the National Medical Commission (NMC). <strong>The NMC will consist of 25 members, appointed by the central government. Within three years of the passage of the Bill</strong>, <strong>state governments</strong> will establish <strong>State Medical Councils at the state level. </strong></span></span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span style="color:black">Functions of the National Medical Commission:</span></span></span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:black">Framing policies for regulating medical institutions and</span></span></span> <span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:black">medical professionals</span></span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:black">Assessing the requirements of healthcare related human resources and infrastructure</span></span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:black">Ensuring compliance by the State Medical Councils of the regulations made under the Bill,</span></span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:black">Framing guidelines for determination of fees for up to 50% of the seats in private medical institutions and deemed universities which are regulated under the Bill</span></span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span style="color:black">Medical Advisory Council</span></span></span></span></strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:black">: The <strong>central government</strong> will constitute a Medical Advisory Council. The Council will be the <strong>primary platform through which the states/union territories can put forth their views and concerns before the NMC.</strong> Further, the Council will <strong>advise the NMC on measures to determine and maintain minimum standards of medical education.</strong></span></span></span></span></span></p> <ul> <li><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span style="color:black">Autonomous boards</span></span></span></span></strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span style="color:black">: The Bill sets up autonomous boards <strong>under the supervision of the NMC. </strong>These boards are</span></span></span></span> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:black">The Under-Graduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) </span></span></span></strong></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:black">The Post-Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB)</span></span></span></strong></span></span></li> </ul> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'the-national-medical-commission-bill', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/15f6/e9g17idw2llfy1s6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/15f6/e9g17idw2llfy1s6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'The National Medical Commission (NMC) bill, 2019', 'metakeyword' => 'The Rajya Sabha, the NMC Bill 2019, proposing sweeping', 'metadescription' => 'The Rajya Sabha on Thursday passed the NMC Bill 2019, proposing sweeping reforms to medical education amid a storm of protest', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/1l3kz7wc1byg2fj/The_National_Medical_Commission_%28NMC%29_bill.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 51 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1831, 'title' => 'Rajya Sabah passes the Code on Wages Bill, 2019', 'description' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Context: </strong>The bill seeks <strong>to amend and consolidate the laws relating to wages, bonus and matters connected therewith.</strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Code on wage: </strong>The Code on Wages is <strong>one of the four codes that would subsume 44 labour laws with certain amendments </strong>to improve the <strong>ease of doing business</strong> <strong>and attract investment for spurring growth. </strong>The four codes will <strong>deal with wages, social security, industrial safety and welfare, and industrial relations. </strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Major provisions:</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Code on Wages will <strong>replace the Payment of Wages Act, 1936, Minimum Wages Act, 1948, Payment of Bonus Act, 1965, and the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976.</strong></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The bill provides that the <strong>Central Government will fix minimum wages for certain sectors, </strong>including railways and mines, while the states would be free to set minimum wages for other category of employments.</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The code also provides for <strong>setting up of a national minimum wage. </strong></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The <strong>Central Government can set a separate minimum wage for different regions or states. </strong>The draft law also says that the <strong>minimum wage would be revised every five years.</strong></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"> </p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'rajya-sabah-passes-the-code-on-wages-bill', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9025/rwd6zi2aizjh9iv6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9025/rwd6zi2aizjh9iv6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Rajya Sabah passes the Code on Wages Bill, 2019', 'metakeyword' => 'Rajya Sabah passes the Code', 'metadescription' => 'The bill seeks to amend and consolidate the laws relating to wages, bonus and matters connected there with', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/jc4jwx6odxkz3af/Rajya_Sabah_passes_the_Code_on_Wages_Bill%2C_2019.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 52 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1832, 'title' => 'After a heated debate, the Rajya Sabha on Friday (3/08/2019) approved crucial amendments to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.', 'description' => '<p><strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Context: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The <strong>Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill </strong>that <strong>seeks to amend the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967</strong>, was passed by the Rajya Sabha.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Highlights o the bills:</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Who may commit terrorism: </strong>The Bill empowers the government to designate <strong>an individual/organisation as a terrorist </strong>if it:</span></span></li> </ul> <ol> <li style="list-style-type:none"> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Commits or participates in acts of terrorism</span></span></li> <br /> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Prepares for terrorism</span></span></li> <br /> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Promotes terrorism</span></span></li> <br /> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Involved in terrorism.</span></span> </li> </ul> </li> </ol> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Approval for seizure of property by NIA: </strong>Under the existing act, <strong>an investigating officer is required to obtain the prior approval of the Director General of Police to seize properties that may be connected with terrorism</strong>. <strong>The Bill adds that if the investigation is conducted by an officer of the National Investigation Agency</strong> (NIA), <strong>the approval of the Director General of NIA would be required </strong>for seizure of such property. </span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Investigation by NIA: </strong><strong>Under the existing act,</strong> investigation of <strong>cases may be conducted by officers of the rank of Deputy Superintendent or Assistant Commissioner of Police or above. </strong>The Bill <strong>additionally empowers the officers of the NIA, of the rank of Inspector or above, to investigate cases.</strong></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Insertion to schedule of treaties: </strong>The existing act <strong>defines terrorist acts to include acts committed within the scope of any of the treaties listed in a schedule to the Act.</strong> The Schedule lists nine treaties, including the Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings (1997), and the Convention against Taking of Hostages (1979). <strong>The Bill adds another treaty to the list. </strong> This is the <strong>International Convention for Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (2005). </strong></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'crucial-amendments-to-the-unlawful', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9f4f/0xa04g25415pesl6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9f4f/0xa04g25415pesl6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Crucial Amendments to The Unlawful Activities', 'metakeyword' => 'Crucial Amendments, Rajya Sabha', 'metadescription' => 'The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill that seeks to amend the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, was passed by the Rajya Sabha.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/wghuey4xflic5ws/After_a_heated_debate%2C_the_Rajya_Sabha_on_Friday.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 53 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1827, 'title' => 'The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill proposes huge increases in various penalties for traffic violations', 'description' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Context:</strong> <strong>The MVA Bill, 2019 is passed by both the houses of the parliament.</strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Major provisions:</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bill seeks to <strong>amend the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 </strong>to <strong>provide for road safety. </strong></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Act provides for <strong>grant of licenses and permits related to motor vehicles, standards for motor vehicles, and penalties for violation of these provisions.</strong></span></span></li> <li><strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Compensation for road accident victims: </span></span></strong></li> </ul> <ul> <li style="list-style-type:none"> <ul style="list-style-type:square"> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The <strong>central government will develop a scheme for cashless treatment of road accident </strong>victims <strong>during golden hour. </strong></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bill defines golden hour as the time period of <strong>up to one hour following a traumatic injury</strong>, during which the likelihood of preventing death through prompt medical care is the highest. </span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The central government may also make a scheme for <strong>providing interim relief to claimants seeking compensation under third party insurance.</strong> </span></span></li> </ul> </li> </ul> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bill <strong>increases the minimum compensation for hit and run cases </strong>as follows:</span></span></li> <li> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">(i) In case of death, from Rs 25,000 to two lakh rupees, and </span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">(ii) In case of grievous injury, from Rs 12,500 to Rs 50,000.</span></span></li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Compulsory insurance:</span></span></p> <ul> <li style="list-style-type:none"> <ul style="list-style-type:square"> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bill requires the central government to constitute a <strong>Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, to provide compulsory insurance cover to all road users in India</strong>. </span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>It will be utilised for:</strong></span></span></li> <li> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">(i) Treatment of persons injured in road accidents as per the golden hour scheme </span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">(ii) Compensation to representatives of a person who died in a hit and run accident</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">(iii) Compensation to a person grievously hurt in a hit and run accident</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">(iv) Compensation to any other persons as prescribed by the central government. </span></span></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Good Samaritans: </strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="list-style-type:none"> <ul style="list-style-type:square"> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bill defines a Good Samaritan <strong>as a person who renders emergency medical or non-medical assistance to a victim at the scene of an accident</strong>. </span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The assistance must have been (i) in good faith, (ii) voluntary, and (iii) without the expectation of any reward. </span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Such a person will not be liable for any civil or criminal action for any injury to or death of an accident victim, caused due to their negligence in providing assistance to the victim. </strong></span></span></li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Road Safety Board: </strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="list-style-type:none"> <ul style="list-style-type:square"> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bill provides for a <strong>National Road Safety Board, to be created by the central government through a notification. </strong> </span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Board will advise the central and state governments on <strong>all aspects of road safety and traffic management including:</strong></span></span></li> <li> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">(i) Standards of motor vehicles</span></span></li> <br /> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">(ii) Registration and licensing of vehicles</span></span></li> <br /> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">(iii) Standards for road safety, and (iv) promotion of new vehicle technology</span></span></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Offences and penalties: </strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="list-style-type:none"> <ul style="list-style-type:square"> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bill <strong>increases penalties for several offences under the Act. </strong></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong> </strong>For example, the <strong>maximum penalty for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs has been increased from Rs 2,000 to Rs 10,000.</strong> </span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> If a vehicle <strong>manufacturer fails to comply with motor vehicle standards, the penalty will be a fine of up to Rs 100 crore, or imprisonment of up to one year, or both.</strong> </span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> If <strong>a contractor fails to comply with road design standards, the penalty will be a fine of up to one lakh rupee</strong>s. </span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The <strong>central government may increase fines mentioned under the Act every year by up to 10%. </strong></span></span></li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Taxi aggregators: </strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="list-style-type:none"> <ul style="list-style-type:square"> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bill defines aggregators as <strong>digital intermediaries or market places which can be used by passengers to connect with a driver for transportation purposes </strong>(taxi services). </span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">These aggregators will be <strong>issued licenses by state. </strong>Further<strong>, they must comply with the Information Technology Act, 2000.</strong></span></span></li> </ul> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'motor-vehicles-amendment-bill', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/26e3/fwidc56popyupns6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/26e3/fwidc56popyupns6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill proposes', 'metakeyword' => 'The Motor Vehicles', 'metadescription' => 'The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill proposes huge increases in various penalties for traffic violations', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/47re31zs4w41db0/The_Motor_Vehicles_%28Amendment%29_Bill.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 54 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1839, 'title' => 'Lok Sabha passed surrogacy regulation bill, 2019', 'description' => '<p><strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Context:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""> <span style="background-color:white">The <strong>Bill </strong>proposes to <strong>regulate surrogacy</strong> in <strong>India</strong> by establishing a National <strong>Surrogacy</strong> Board at the central level and state <strong>surrogacy</strong> boards and appropriate authorities in the state and Union Territories</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Definition of surrogacy:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""> The Bill defines surrogacy as <strong>a practice where a woman gives birth to a child </strong>for an intending couple with the <strong>intention to hand over the child after the birth to the intending couple</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The surrogate mother cannot provide her own gametes for surrogacy.</span></span></strong></li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Regulation of surrogacy: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The Bill <strong>prohibits commercial surrogacy, but allows altruistic surrogacy</strong>. <strong>Altruistic surrogacy involves no monetary compensation to the surrogate mother </strong>other than the medical expenses and insurance coverage during the pregnancy.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Purposes for which surrogacy is permitted: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Surrogacy is permitted when it is<strong>: (i) for intending couples who suffer from proven infertility; (ii) altruistic; (iii) not for commercial purposes; (iv) not for producing children for sale, prostitution or other forms of exploitation; and (v) for any condition or disease specified through regulations.</strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Eligibility criteria for intending couple: </strong>The intending couple should have a <strong>‘certificate of essentiality’ and a ‘certificate of eligibility’ </strong>issued by the appropriate authority.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Eligibility criteria for surrogate mother: </strong>To obtain a certificate of eligibility from the appropriate authority, the surrogate mother has to be<strong>:</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="list-style-type:none"> </li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>A close relative of the intending couple</strong></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>A married woman having a child of her own</strong></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>25 to 35 years old</strong></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>A surrogate only once in her lifetime</strong></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Possess a certificate of medical and psychological fitness for surrogacy</strong></span></span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Registration of surrogacy clinics: </strong>Surrogacy clinics <strong>cannot undertake surrogacy related procedures unless they are registered</strong> by the appropriate authority.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>National and State Surrogacy Boards: </strong>The central and the state governments shall constitute the National Surrogacy Board (NSB) and the State Surrogacy Boards (SSB), respectively.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Functions of the NSB include</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="list-style-type:none"> </li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Advising the central government on policy matters relating to surrogacy</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Laying down the code of conduct of surrogacy clinic</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Supervising the functioning of SSBs</span></span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Parentage and abortion of surrogate child: </strong>A child born out of a surrogacy procedure will be <strong>deemed to be the biological child of the intending couple</strong>. An <strong>abortion of the surrogate child</strong> requires the<strong> written consent of the surrogate mother and the authorisation of the appropriate authority. </strong> This authorisation must be compliant with the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971. Further, <strong>the surrogate mother will have an option to withdraw from surrogacy before the embryo is implanted in her womb.</strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Offences : </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The <strong>offences</strong> under the Bill include:</span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Undertaking or advertising commercial surrogacy</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Exploiting the surrogate mother</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Abandoning, exploiting or disowning a surrogate child</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Selling or importing human embryo or gametes for surrogacy</span></span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Penalties: </strong>The penalty for such offences is <strong>imprisonment up to 10 years and a fine up to 10 lakh rupees.</strong> </span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'surrogacy-regulation-bill-2019', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/caa1/4fbay0fjlszc46l6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/caa1/4fbay0fjlszc46l6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Lok Sabha passed surrogacy regulation bill, 2019', 'metakeyword' => 'surrogacy regulation bill, Lok Sabha passed surrogacy regulation bill', 'metadescription' => 'The Bill proposes to regulate surrogacy in India by establishing a National Surrogacy Board at the central level and state surrogacy boards', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/15n766y70aujvkr/Lok_Sabha_passed_surrogacy_regulation_bill%2C_2019.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 55 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1841, 'title' => 'Lok Sabha Passed Transgender Rights bill', 'description' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Context: </strong>The Lok Sabha on August 5 passed a <strong>bill which provides a mechanism for social, economic and educational empowerment of transgender.</strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Definition of a transgender person: </strong>The Bill defines a transgender person as <strong>one whose gender does not match the gender assigned at birth.</strong> It includes <strong>trans-men and trans-women, persons with intersex variations, gender-queers, and persons with socio-cultural identities, such as kinnar and hijra</strong>. <strong>Intersex variations is defined </strong>to mean a person who at birth shows variation in his or her primary sexual characteristics, external genitalia, chromosomes, or hormones from the normative standard of male or female body.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Prohibition against discrimination: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The Bill prohibits the discrimination against a transgender person, including denial of service or unfair treatment in relation to:</span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Education</strong></span></span></li> <br /> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Employment</strong></span></span></li> <br /> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Healthcare</strong></span></span></li> <br /> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Access to, or enjoyment of goods, facilities, opportunities available to the public</strong></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Right to movement</strong></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Right to reside, rent, or otherwise occupy property</strong></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Opportunity to hold public or private office</strong></span></span></li> <li><strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Access to a government or private establishment</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""> in whose care or custody a transgender person is.</span></span></li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Right of residence: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Every transgender person shall <strong>have a right to reside and be included in his household. If the immediate family is unable to care </strong>for the transgender person, the <strong>person may be placed in a rehabilitation centre</strong>, on the orders of a competent court.</span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Employment: No </strong>government or private <strong>entity can discriminate against a transgender person </strong>in employment matters, including recruitment, and promotion<strong>. Every establishment is required to designate a person to be a complaint officer</strong> to deal with complaints in relation to the Act.</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Education: </strong>Educational institutions <strong>funded or recognised by the relevant government shall provide inclusive education, sports and recreational facilities for transgender persons, without discrimination.</strong></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Health care: </strong>The government must take steps to provide <strong>health facilities to transgender persons including separate HIV surveillance centres, and sex reassignment surgeries. </strong>The government <strong>shall review medical curriculum to address health issues of transgender perso</strong>ns, and <strong>provide comprehensive medical insurance schemes for them.</strong></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Certificate of identity for a transgender person</strong>: A transgender person may make an application to the <strong>District Magistrate </strong>for a certificate of identity, <strong>indicating the gender as ‘transgender’. A revised certificate </strong>may be obtained <strong>only if the individual undergoes surgery to change their gender either as a male or a female. </strong></span></span></li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Welfare measures by the government: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The Bill states that the relevant government will take measures to ensure the <strong>full inclusion and participation of transgender persons in society</strong>. It must also take steps for <strong>their rescue and rehabilitation, vocational training and self-employment, create schemes that are transgender sensitive, and promote their participation in cultural activities.</strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Offences: The Bill recognizes the following offences against transgender persons:</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Forced or bonded labour</strong> (excluding compulsory government service for public purposes)</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Denial of use of public places</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Removal from household, and village</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Physical, sexual, verbal, emotional or economic abuse</span></span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Penalties: </strong>Penalties for these offences vary between <strong>six months and two years, and a fine.</strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>National Council for Transgender persons (NCT): The NCT will consist of: </strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Union Minister for Social Justice (Chairperson)</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Minister of State for Social Justice (Vice- Chairperson)</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> Secretary of the Ministry of Social Justice</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">One representative from ministries including Health, Home Affairs, and Human Resources Development</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Other members <strong>include representatives of the NITI Aayog, and the National Human Rights Commission</strong></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>State governments will also be represented</strong></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Five members from the transgender community and five experts from non-governmental organisations. </strong></span></span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Functions of the NCT: The Council </strong>will <strong>advise the central government </strong>as well as <strong>monitor the impact of policies, legislation and projects with respect to transgender persons. </strong>It will also <strong>redress the grievances of transgender persons. </strong></span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'lok-sabha-passed-transgender-rights-bill', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9de7/0xg0p2d9pighjkw6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9de7/0xg0p2d9pighjkw6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Lok Sabha Passed Transgender Rights bill', 'metakeyword' => 'transgender Rights bill. Passed Transgender Rights bill, Lok Sabha Passed Transgender Rights bill', 'metadescription' => 'The Lok Sabha on August 5 passed a bill which provides a mechanism for social, economic and educational empowerment of transgender', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/63h1mfhh438rlof/Lok_Sabha_Passed_Transgender_Rights_bill.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 56 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1863, 'title' => 'Supreme Court upholds law empowering home buyers', 'description' => '<p><strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Context: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The Supreme Court on Friday (9/08/2019) <strong>upheld a central law which empowered harassed home buyers to initiate bankruptcy proceedings against errant real estate builders.</strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Highlights of the judgment:</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>A three-judge Bench </strong>led by Justice Rohinton Nariman <strong>confirmed the constitutional validity of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second Amendment) Act of August 2018</strong>, which gave <strong>home buyers the </strong>status of <strong>“financial creditors” with power to vote in the Committee of Creditors.</strong></span></span></li> <li><strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">On par with banks: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The <strong>Amendment Act had brought the home buyers on par with the creditor banks </strong>of the property builder</span></span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Rights of home buyers before the passage of the amendment:</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Before the Amendment Act of 2018 came into existence, <strong>the assets of the bankrupt builder were divided among his employees, creditor banks and other operational creditors. </strong></span></span></li> <li><strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Home buyers had hardly figured</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">, though their hard-earned savings may have provided a major chunk of the housing project.</span></span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Changes brought by the Amendment Act, 2018: </strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Amendment Act <strong>allowed home buyers, as financial creditors, to trigger bankruptcy proceedings </strong>under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code of 2016 <strong>and have their “rightful place” on the Committee of Creditors (CoC). </strong></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>The CoC, </strong>by voting, <strong>makes important decisions on the future of the bankrupt builder</strong>. These calls include what to do with his assets and who should finish the pending housing projects.</span></span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Challenge to the Amendment Act: The builders had challenged the Amendment Act. </strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">They said <strong>making home buyers financial creditors was like “forcibly inserting a square peg in a round hole.</strong></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The builders argued <strong>that home buyers were already armed with the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act (RERA),</strong> another piece of legislation <strong>which protected the interests of the individual investor in real estate projects.</strong></span></span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Significance of the judgment:</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The judgment gains <strong>significance as many real estate builders have been under fire for incomplete projects leaving homebuyers in dire straits.</strong></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'supreme-court-upholds-law-empowering-home-buyers', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/f7e4/asplnkbagr0ljcp6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/f7e4/asplnkbagr0ljcp6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Supreme Court upholds law empowering home buyers', 'metakeyword' => 'Supreme Court upholds law empowering home buyers', 'metadescription' => 'The Supreme Court on Friday (9/08/2019) upheld a central law which empowered harassed home buyers to initiate bankruptcy proceedings against errant real estate builders', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/ktczsif8a2hnd6y/Supreme_Court_upholds_law.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 57 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1873, 'title' => 'Anti-lynching law explained', 'description' => '<p><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Issue</span></span></strong></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Rajasthan government has passed a new Law which prescribes punishment for perpetuators of lynching which leads to the death of victim.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Background</span></span></strong></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Owing to large scale incidents of hate crimes including lynching, the Rajasthan government decided to frame a new law that punishes individuals for lynching. The bill is known as ‘The Rajasthan Protection from lynching Bill 2019’.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Highlights of the Bill</span></span></strong></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The bill provides for life imprisonment and a fine from Rs 1 lakh to 5 lakhs to those convicted in case of mob lynching leading to victim’s death.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The bill proposes imprisonment up to 7 years and fine upto 1lakh in case of victim suffering simple injuries.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">For hatching conspiracy of lynching or aiding, abeiting or attempting such as offence, the bill seeks to punish the offenders in the same manner as if he actually committed offence of lynching.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The bill also stipulates the provision of compensation to victims by state government as per the Rajasthan Victim compensation act.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">It also binds the state government to take necessary provisions to rehabilitate the victims of mob lynching, suffering displacement from native places.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align:justify"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Drawbacks of the Bill</span></span></strong></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The law is been termed draconian in nature, subjective and ambiguous, gives immense and arbitrary powers to police and politicians to target citizens and communities.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The punishments prescribed to the crimes under the bill have already existed in Criminal Procedural code.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Use of terms such as offensive materials, physical, electronic means etc which provides a cover for officials to use it to target political opponents.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The ambiguous use of certain words as well; as changing definition of words like lynching and victim to create a larger spectrum to target opponents.</span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'anti-lynching-law-explained', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/bc09/o7u2mi6gykz0ype6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/bc09/o7u2mi6gykz0ype6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Anti-lynching law explained', 'metakeyword' => 'Anti-lynching law explained', 'metadescription' => 'Rajasthan government has passed a new Law which prescribes punishment for perpetuators of lynching which leads to the death of victim.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/di2cfok8p2j3stk/Anti-lynching_law_explained.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 58 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1929, 'title' => 'Legislative Council', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Issue</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong> </strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly has passed a bill for creation of Legislative Council.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Background</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.5pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Legislative Council is the upper house</span></span></span> <span style="font-size:11.5pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">in those states</span></span></span> <span style="font-size:11.5pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">of India</span></span></span> <span style="font-size:11.5pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">that have a bicameral legislature; the lower house</span></span></span> <span style="font-size:11.5pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">being the State Legislative Assembly. Its establishment is defined in Article 169 of the Constitution of India.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Formation of Legislative Council</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="color:#1a1a1a">Article 171 lays down that the total strength of the Legislative Council of a state shall not exceed (one-third) of the total number of members in the Legislative Assembly of that state provided that the total number of members in the Legislative Council of a state shall in no case be less than forty.</span></span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="color:#1a1a1a">Article 169 contains provisions for the abolition and creation of Legislative Council of the states. It says that the Parliament may by law provide for the creation or abolition of the Legislative Council of a state after a resolution to this effect is passed by the Legislative Council of the state with a majority of not less than two third of the members of the Assembly present and voting.</span></span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="color:#1a1a1a">Legislative Council is a permanent house and is not dissolved. Its members are elected for a period of six years, one third retire every two years.</span></span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Functions of Legislative Council</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="color:#1a1a1a">The Legislative Council has little control over the executive. The State Council of Ministers is responsible to the Legislative Assembly alone and not to the Legislative Council. </span></span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="color:#1a1a1a">The members of the Legislative Council exercise some control over the State ministry by asking questions and supplementary questions to the ministers.</span></span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Election of members of Legislative Council</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="color:#1a1a1a">One third members are elected by the members of local bodies in the state (by municipalities, district boards etc) and other local bodies in the state as Parliament may by law specify. </span></span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="color:#1a1a1a">One twelfth is elected by graduates of three years standing and residing within the state.</span></span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="color:#1a1a1a"> One twelfth is elected by teachers of three years standing in the state, not lower in standard than secondary schools. </span></span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="color:#1a1a1a">One third is elected by the members of legislative assembly of the state from amongst the persons who are not members of the assembly. </span></span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="color:#1a1a1a">The remainder is nominated by the governor from amongst the persons who have special knowledge or practical experience in the fields of literature, science, art, cooperative movement and social service etc.</span></span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">States with Legislative Council</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Uttar Pradesh</span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Bihar</span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Andhra Pradesh</span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Karnataka</span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Telangana</span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Maharashtra</span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'legislative-council', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9356/us9y5mvhzsp7wsq6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9356/us9y5mvhzsp7wsq6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Legislative Council | States with Legislative Council', 'metakeyword' => 'Legislative Council, States with Legislative Council', 'metadescription' => 'Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly has passed a bill for creation of Legislative Council', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/bebklwr3n45yr8t/Legislative_Council.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 59 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1950, 'title' => 'National Medical Council Act', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Issue</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="color:#222222">One of the biggest reforms in medical education in India, the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill, 2019, is facing major resistance from medical fraternity even after getting passed in Lok Sabha.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Background</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="color:#212121">The Indian Medical Council Act 1956, which constituted Indian Medical Council, was alleged to be corrupt. It has been alleged that the process by which the MCI regulated medical colleges was flawed. Hence a new bill to reform the council has been introduced and passed</span></span></span><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:#212121">.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Details </span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Under-Graduate Medical Education Board to set standards and regulate medical education at undergraduate level.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Post-Graduate Medical Education Board to set standards and regulate medical education at postgraduate level.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Medical Assessment and Rating Board for inspections and rating of medical institutions.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Ethics and Medical Registration Board to regulate and promote professional conduct and medical ethics and also maintain national registers of <strong>licensed medical</strong> <strong>practitioners</strong> and<strong> Community Health Providers (CHPs</strong>).</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">The Bill also proposes for the NMC to frame guidelines for determination of fee and other charges for 50% of seats in private medical institutions and deemed to be universities.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="background-color:white"> Recommended separation of functions by forming four autonomous boards and appointment of regulators through selection, rather than election.</span></span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><strong>Reasons for making Changes</strong></span></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="background-color:white">The Statement of Object and Reasons of the Bill says the IMC had failed to keep pace with time and various bottlenecks had crept into the system with serious detrimental effects on medical education and on delivery of quality health services.</span></span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt">What the Bill aims to provide</span></strong></span></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">As for admissions and licensing, the Bill provides for a National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to all undergraduate and post-graduate super-specialty medical education, while providing for another one, National Exit Test (NEXT) for granting license to practice and admission to postgraduate "broad-specialty courses".</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Other powers of the NMC include permission to establish new medical colleges, start post-graduate courses, increase the number of seats, recognition of medical qualifications in and outside India etc.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Reasons for change</span></strong></span></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">The Statement of Object and Reasons of the Bill says the IMC had failed to keep pace with time and various bottlenecks had crept into the system with serious detrimental effects on medical education and, by implication, on delivery of quality health services.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">A Parliamentary panel which had looked into the matter had recommended restructuring and revamping of the regulatory system of medical education and practice.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">It had also recommended separation of functions by forming four autonomous boards and appointment of regulators through selection, rather than election.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><strong>Indian Medical Association’s major concerns</strong></span></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">The Bill gives permission for medical related individuals to apply for license. This may open the door for persons with inadequate training in modern medicine to practice, putting patients at risk and lowering standards of healthcare.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Persons with some connections with modern medicine like pharmacists, practitioners of other systems of medicines with a bridge course, ophthalmologists and even existing healthcare workers at the primary health centers may get licenses to practice modern medicine.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">While the Medical Council of India (MCI) was an autonomous body with two-third of its members (160 plus) being directly elected by the medical fraternity, the new one would have 25 members with no directly elected member.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">The IMA's other major objection is to the proposed National Exit Test (NEXT) for giving both licenses for practice (to those who have already cleared the MBBS exam) as well as for admission to post-graduate "broad-specialty courses".</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'national-medical-council-act', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/12ae/3bre8sczal6rh9o6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/12ae/3bre8sczal6rh9o6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'National Medical Council Act', 'metakeyword' => 'National Medical Council Act', 'metadescription' => 'One of the biggest reforms in medical education in India, the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill, 2019, is facing major resistance from medical fraternity ', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/e4lpoanqhevng8v/National_Medical_Council_Act.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 60 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 1968, 'title' => 'US birthright citizenship', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Issue</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:#fefefe"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="color:#262626">US President Donald Trump has said that he is considering ending US birthright citizenship despite the fact that such a move would face immediate legal challenge.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Background</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:#fefefe"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The US birth right law allows babies born in the country to automatically become citizens.</span></span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> <span style="background-color:#fefefe">Trump's statement is in response to administration’s </span></span><span style="background-color:#fefefe"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">announcement for a proposal to detain undocumented families together indefinitely.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Details</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:#fefefe"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="color:#262626">The 14th Amendment of the US Constitution guarantees birthright citizenship to all individuals: All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.</span></span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="color:black">Trump has been planning to use an executive order to end birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. Many other countries</span></span></span><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="color:#222222">, including Canada, Mexico. Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Jamaica and Pakistan are a few of the others who have birth right laws.</span></span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="color:#222222">Citizenship Rights in India</span></span></span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="color:#222222">Indian nationality law</span></span></span><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="color:#222222"> largely follows the </span></span></span><em><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">jus sanguinis</span></span></em><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="color:#222222"> (citizenship by right of blood) as opposed to the</span></span></span><em> <span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">jus soli</span></span></em><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="color:#222222"> (citizenship by right of birth within the territory).</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="color:#222222">Citizenship can be obtained through following means in India</span></span></span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Cambria,serif"><span style="color:#4f81bd"><strong><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="color:black">Citizenship at the commencement of the Constitution of India</span></span></strong></span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:.5in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="color:#222222">Persons domiciled in the territory of India as on 26 November 1949 automatically became Indian citizens by virtue of operation of the relevant provisions of the Indian Constitution coming into force.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Cambria,serif"><span style="color:#4f81bd"><strong><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="color:black">Citizenship by birth</span></span></strong></span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:.5in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="color:#222222">Any person born in India on or after 26 January 1950, but prior to the commencement of the 1986 Act on 1 July 1987, is a citizen of India by birth. </span></span></span></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Cambria,serif"><span style="color:#4f81bd"><strong><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="color:black">Citizenship by Descent</span></span></strong></span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:.5in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="color:#222222">Persons born outside India on or after 26 January 1950 but before 10 December 1992 are citizens of India by descent if their father was a citizen of India at the time of their birth.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:.5in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="color:#222222">Persons born outside India on or after 10 December 1992 are considered citizens of India if either of their parents is a citizen of India at the time of their birth.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Cambria,serif"><span style="color:#4f81bd"><strong><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="color:black">Citizenship by registration</span></span></strong></span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:.5in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="color:#222222">The Central Government may, on an application, register as a citizen of India under section 5 of the Citizenship Act 1955</span></span></span></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Cambria,serif"><span style="color:#4f81bd"><strong><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="color:black">Citizenship by naturalization</span></span></strong></span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:.5in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="color:#222222">Citizenship of India by naturalization can be acquired by a foreigner who is ordinarily resident in India for 12 years (throughout the period of 12 months immediately preceding the date of application).</span></span></span></span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'us-birthright-citizenship', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/db98/3lj2zjwhcx6ahxd6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/db98/3lj2zjwhcx6ahxd6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'US birthright citizenship | US citizenship', 'metakeyword' => 'US birthright citizenship, US citizenship', 'metadescription' => 'US President Donald Trump has said that he is considering ending US birthright citizenship despite the fact that such a move would face immediate legal challenge. ', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/54p9alcry95bnu8/US_birthright_citizenship.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 61 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 2088, 'title' => 'Ordinance on e-cigarettes', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Issue</span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government had come up with a draft ordinance seeking to ban the production, import, distribution and sale of electronic cigarettes and proposing jail term of one year for violators<span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><span style="color:black">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Background</span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Concerns have spiralled after the deaths of two youths in the US who were addicted to vaping. Vaping is defined as the action of inhaling and exhaling the vapour produced by an electronic cigarette or similar devices such as hookahs.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Details</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes pose health risks to users, contrary to the perception that they are a healthier alternative to nicotine cigarettes. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">E-cigarettes do not fall within the scope of existing national legislation on tobacco production, distribution, and use, yet pose significant health risks that are similar to those of conventional cigarettes.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Studies have found that the percentage of students who initiate the use of e-cigarettes and hookah smoking before 10 years of age has increased from 26 per cent to 45 per cent in the last 15 years.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt">E-cigarettes</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">These devices do not burn tobacco leaves, but use a heating element to turn a liquid nicotine solution into vapours, which the user inhales. Chemicals used in e-cigarettes as solvents are hazardous and could prove fatal. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Pure nicotine, which is the main ingredient of e-cigarettes and its chemicals derivatives in extracted chemical form are highly addictive and poisonous and have a potential to cause death even in small quantities.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Regulation of electronic cigarette</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Regulation of electronic cigarettes varies across countries and states, ranging from no regulation to banning them entirely. For instance, e-cigarettes are illegal in Japan, forcing the market to use heat-not-burn tobacco products for cigarette alternatives.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">E-cigarettes containing nicotine have been listed as drug delivery devices in a number of countries, and the marketing of such products has been restricted or put on hold until safety and efficacy clinical trials are conclusive.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Sitharaman panel for ordinance against e-cigarettes</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:#212121">A panel led by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will study a health ministry proposal to ban the sale of </span></span><span style="background-color:white">electronic cigarettes<span style="color:#212121"> through an ordinance. </span></span></span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:#212121">The panel includes ministers from commerce, health, agriculture, chemicals and petrochemicals, and food processing departments.</span></span></span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government believes that an ordinance could be a strong deterrent but it will not be of much use until it has provisions for a total ban.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'ordinance-on-e-cigarettes', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/266a/w9170qb7c1nx6gt6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/266a/w9170qb7c1nx6gt6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Ordinance on e-cigarettes', 'metakeyword' => 'Ordinance on e-cigarettes', 'metadescription' => 'The government had come up with a draft ordinance seeking to ban the production, import, distribution and sale of electronic cigarettes', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/amvpjiaqfqgawtk/Ordinance_on_e-cigarettes.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 62 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 2100, 'title' => 'Food for all', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Issue</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Supreme Court has agreed to examine a plea that starvation deaths continue to eat into the right to life and dignity of social fabric and a “radical” new measure like community kitchens need to be set up across the country to feed the poor and the hungry.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Background</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Despite phenomenal industrial and economic growth and while India produces sufficient food to feed its population, it is unable to provide access to food to a large number of people, especially women and children. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World, 2019' report stated that, 194.4 million people are undernourished in India. By this measure 14.5% of the population is undernourished in India.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Details</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">There are statistics available for malnutrition deaths in children and adults in the country, there is no official data available for death of persons owing to starvation.</span></span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Food and Agriculture Report, 2018 stated that India houses 195.9 million of the 821 million undernourished people in the world, accounting for approximately 24% of the world’s hungry. Prevalence of undernourishment in India is 14.8%, higher than both the global and Asian average.</span></span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report in 2017 by the<strong> National Health Survey (NHS</strong>) that approximately 19 crore people in the country were compelled to sleep on an empty stomach every night. </span></span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Moreover, approximately 4500 children die every day under the age of five years in our country resulting from hunger and malnutrition, amounting to over three lakh deaths every year owing to hunger, of children alone.</span></span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The petition has urged National Legal Services Authority to formulate a scheme to further the provisions of Article 51A of the Constitution of India in order to mitigate deaths resulting from hunger, malnutrition and starvation</span><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="background-color:whitesmoke"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="color:#282828">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'food-for-all', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/f441/o2doq50yigeu4du6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/f441/o2doq50yigeu4du6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Food for all | The Supreme Court', 'metakeyword' => 'Food for all, The Supreme Court', 'metadescription' => 'The Supreme Court has agreed to examine a plea that starvation deaths continue to eat into the right to life and dignity of social fabric', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/26ll00vr7s1725p/Food_for_all.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 63 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 2124, 'title' => 'Kerala plans law for Sabarimala temple', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">An August 27 order of the Supreme Court records that the <strong>Kerala </strong>government counsel has submitted that the State is preparing a separate law to administer the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><span style="color:black">On September 28, 2018, a Constitutional Bench led by then Chief Justice India with majority, struck down Rule 3(b) of the <em><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Kerala Hindu Places of Public Worship (Authorisation of Entry) Rules, 1965</span></em> which was the basis for barring entry of women between the ages of 10 and 50 years into the temple</span></span></span><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><span style="color:#172438">.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><span style="color:#222222">In September 2018 the Supreme Court of India ruled that women of all age groups can enter <strong>Sabarimala</strong> temple. This has opened the celibate god for women who are in their menstruating age, thus defying ancient tradition.</span></span></span></span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><span style="color:#222222">The new legislation would cover not just the Sabarimala temple, but all temples coming under the Travancore Devaswom Board in Kerala</span></span></span><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="background-color:whitesmoke"><span style="color:#282828">.</span></span></span></span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The development comes at a time when the state government is reeling from aftereffects of its stand on the Sabarimala issue after the apex court quashed age restrictions for entry of women.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Sabarimala Temple</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Sabarimala temple is a temple complex located at Sabarimala inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Pathanamthitta district, Kerala, India. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is the site of the one of the largest annual pilgrimage in the world with an estimate of between 17 million and 50 million devotees visiting every year</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'kerala plans-law-for-sabarimala-temple', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/685b/p0m3hsaovqd3mi26g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/685b/p0m3hsaovqd3mi26g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Kerala plans law for Sabarimala temple', 'metakeyword' => 'Kerala plans law for Sabarimala temple', 'metadescription' => 'An August 27 order of the Supreme Court records that the Kerala government counsel has submitted that the State is preparing a separate law', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/xjj71r2ke8hmou6/Kerala_plans_law_for_Sabarimala_temple.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 64 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 2153, 'title' => 'Article 371', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured the northeastern States that the Centre would never touch Article 371 of the Constitution that grants special provisions to the region.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The centre’s decision to scrap Article 370 raised question about validity of article 371, which grants special status to some states. The assurance given by the home minister is in this regard.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Most of the States that have been accorded special provisions under Article 371 are in the Northeast and the special status aims to preserve their tribal culture.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Article 371</strong> gives the power to the President of India to establish separate development boards for Vidarbha, Marathwada regions of Maharashtra and the rest of the State and Saurashtra, Kutch and rest of Gujarat.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Article 371(A)</strong> states that no act of Parliament shall apply to the State of Nagaland in respect of the religious or social practices of the Nagas, its customary law and procedure, administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to Naga customary law and ownership and transfer of land and its resources.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Article 371(B)</strong> deals with special provision with respect to the State of Assam. The main objective of inserting Article 371B was to facilitate the creation of the sub-State ‘Meghalaya’.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Article 371(C)</strong> deals with special provisions with respect to Manipur which became a State in 1972.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Article 371(G)</strong> that deals with special provisions with respect to Mizoram<strong> </strong>has similar nature.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Articles 371(F), 371(H)</strong> talk about special provisions with respect to States of Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, respectively.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Special provisions with respect to Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Goa are dealt in <strong>Articles 371(D)</strong> and <strong>371(E), 371(J), 371(I)</strong> respectively.</span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'article-371', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/70cb/ck1cu82a1es6gve6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/70cb/ck1cu82a1es6gve6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Article 371', 'metakeyword' => '.The centre’s decision to scrap Article 370 raised', 'metadescription' => 'The centre’s decision to scrap Article 370 raised question about validity of article 371, which grants special status to some states. The assurance given by the ', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/svreddq2dcqlxld/Article_371.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 65 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 2212, 'title' => 'Uniform Civil Code', 'description' => '<p> </p> <p style="margin-left:40px; margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:40px; margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Supreme Court<strong> </strong>has said that the government has till date taken no action to secure for its citizens a Uniform Civil Code.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:40px; margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-left:40px; margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:40px; margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The judgment came in a case concerning the question whether succession and inheritance of a Goan domicile is governed by the Portuguese Civil Code, 1867 or the Indian Succession Act of 1925.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:40px; margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-left:40px; margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The UCC was added in Constitution in <strong>Article 44</strong> in <strong>Part IV</strong> dealing with the <strong>Directive Principles of State Policy</strong>.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It was envisioned that a uniform set of rules would replace the distinct personal laws of marriage, divorce, etc. based on customs of each religion.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:40px; margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-left:40px; margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>UCC- Advantages and Disadvantages</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:40px; margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Advantages</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Provides citizens with equal status.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Provides gender equality.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Upholds nationalistic attitude in population.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Reduces dominance of religious laws.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:40px; margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-left:40px; margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Disadvantages</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Diversity of nation gets impacted.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Encroachment on religious freedom.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Interference of state in personal issues.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:40px; margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:40px; margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Extra information</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Sarla Mudgal case is considered as a landmark verdict which highlighted the need for a UCC.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Sarla Mudgal case deals with issue of bigamy, conflict between the personal laws existing on matters of marriage.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'uniform-civil-code', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/35dd/rta9ojp6neqs79n6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/35dd/rta9ojp6neqs79n6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Uniform Civil Code', 'metakeyword' => 'replace the distinct personal laws of marriage, divorce, etc. ', 'metadescription' => 'he UCC was added in Constitution in Article 44 in Part IV dealing with the Directive Principles of State Policy. It was envisioned that a uniform set of rules would ', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/9xnn0l50ywhk1yx/Uniform_Civil_Code.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 66 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 2230, 'title' => 'Jammu and Kashmir Public safety Act', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah has been detained under the state’s stringent Public Safety Act (PSA), which enables authorities to detain any individual for two years without trial. </span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Jammu & Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978 is a preventive detention law, under which a person is taken into custody to prevent him or her from acting in any manner that is prejudicial to “the security of the state or the maintenance of the public order”.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> It is very similar to the National Security Act that is used by other state governments for preventive detention.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Application</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The PSA comes into force by an administrative order passed either by Divisional Commissioner or the District Magistrate, and not by an detention order by police based on specific allegations or for specific violation of laws.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Problems associated with the law</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The PSA allows for detention of a person without a formal charge and without trial.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A person who is detained under the PSA need not be produced before a magistrate within 24 hours of the detention.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The detained person does not have the right to move a bail application before a criminal court, and cannot engage any lawyer to represent him or her before the detaining authority.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The only way this administrative preventive detention order can be challenged is through a habeas corpus petition filed by relatives of the detained person in High Court or Supreme Court.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Even if the courts quashes the order of detainment, the government has the power to rearrest the individual again after his release.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Constitutional validity</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Article 22(3)(b) allows for preventive detention and restriction on personal liberty for reasons of state security and public order.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Supreme Court has held that in order to prevent misuse of this potentially dangerous power, the law of preventive detention has to be strictly construed and meticulous compliance with the procedural safeguards.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'jammu-and-kashmir-public-safety-act', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/f19b/xhhuo1dou7mjqq26g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/f19b/xhhuo1dou7mjqq26g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Jammu and Kashmir Public safety Act', 'metakeyword' => 'The detained person does not have the right to move', 'metadescription' => 'The detained person does not have the right to move a bail application before a criminal court, and cannot engage any lawyer to represent him or her before the ', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/pcrs3pmptntmryy/Jammu_and_Kashmir_Public_safety_Act.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 67 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 2317, 'title' => 'Fugitive Economic Offender', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has moved an application before the special Prevention of Money Laundering Act court to declare the controversial televangelist Zakir Naik a Fugitive Economic Offender under the new law.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The move comes after the agency obtained a fresh non-bailable warrant against Mr. Naik last week. If Naik does not appear before a court in time, and is declared a fugitive economic offender, the agency will be able to confiscate his assets in India and abroad.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Fugitive Economic Offenders Act</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>The Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018</strong> is an Act of the Parliament of India that seeks to confiscate properties and assets of economic offenders that evade prosecution by remaining outside the jurisdiction of Indian courts.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Provisions</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Economic offences with a value of more than Rs 100 crores, which are listed in the schedule of the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, come under the purview of this law.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As per the Act, a ‘Special Court’ under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 has to declare a person as a Fugitive Economic Offender for the law to come into effect.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bill allows authorities to provisionally attach properties of an accused, while the application is pending before the Special Court.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Upon declaration as an FEO, properties of a person may be confiscated and vested in the central government, free of encumbrances (rights and claims in the property). </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Under the Bill, any court or tribunal may bar an FEO or an associated company from filing or defending civil claims before it.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bill does not require the authorities to obtain a search warrant or ensure the presence of witnesses before a search. This differs from other laws, such as the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973, which contain such safeguards.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Drawbacks</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Barring persons from filing or defending civil claims may violate Article 21.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Use of sale proceeds from confiscated property not specified.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Provisions related to search may not contain safeguards.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Procedures under the Bill similar to existing laws.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'fugitive-economic-offender', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/5dfb/cjvaabhl94ds6wu6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/5dfb/cjvaabhl94ds6wu6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Fugitive Economic Offender', 'metakeyword' => 'televangelist Zakir Naik a Fugitive Economic Offender', 'metadescription' => 'The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has moved an application before the special Prevention of Money Laundering Act court to declare the controversial ', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/2bpqpcqxdbiqobg/Fugitive_Economic_Offender.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 68 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 2340, 'title' => 'Higher education bill', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A Bill that aims to create a single regulator for higher education, replacing the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), is likely to be introduced in the winter session of Parliament.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Higher Education Commission of India to take over regulatory functions of the University Grants Commission and the All India Council for Technical Education.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A Bill that aims to create a single regulator for higher education<strong>, </strong>replacing the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), is likely to be introduced in the winter session of Parliament.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It proposes to bring almost all areas of higher education including technical, architectural and legal courses under the ambit of a single umbrella body. Medical education, however, will not come under the proposed Higher Education Commission of India (HECI).</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The new version of the legislation has also removed a controversial proposal to move grant disbursal authority from autonomous bodies and bring it directly under the control of the Human Resource Development Minister. Instead, a new autonomous body will be created to supervise the doling out of funds to higher education institutions.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Other changes include an increase in the number of State representatives in the HECI, to counter fears of states losing their autonomy.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The new version of the Bill also removes the requirement that existing institutions must take permission from HECI for their current courses.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'higher-education-bill', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9264/hyll9pl8f4m2r906g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9264/hyll9pl8f4m2r906g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Higher education bill', 'metakeyword' => 'A Bill that aims to create a single regulator for higher education,', 'metadescription' => 'A Bill that aims to create a single regulator for higher education, replacing the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the All India Council for Technical ', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/emlstefr0qmjfly/Higher_education_bill.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 69 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 2454, 'title' => 'Sedition issue', 'description' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As many as 49 celebrities who penned an open letter to the Prime Minister on the growing incidents of mob violence and religion based lynching have been charged under sedition.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Sedition is overt conduct, such as speech and organization, that tends toward insurrection against the established order. </span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent towards, or resistance against established authority.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Sedition in India</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code lays down the punishment for sedition. The Indian Penal Code was enacted in 1860, under the British Raj. Section 124A forms part of Chapter VI of the Code which deals with offences against the state. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The then British government in India feared that Muslim preachers on the Indian subcontinent would wage a war against the government.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Throughout the Raj, this section was used to suppress activists in favour of national independence, including<strong> Lokmanya Tilak</strong> and <strong>Mahatma Gandhi</strong>, both of whom were found guilty and imprisoned. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The section kept drawing criticism in the independent India as well for being a hindrance to the right to free speech.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Applicability</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A person, who by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards, the Government established by law in India can be charged under sedition.</span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Explanation 1.—The expression “disaffection” includes disloyalty and all feelings of enmity.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Explanation 2.—Comments expressing disapprobation of the measures of the Government with a view to obtain their alteration by lawful means, without exciting or attempting to excite hatred, contempt or disaffection, do not constitute an offence under this section.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Explanation 3.—Comments expressing disapprobation of the administrative or other action of the Government without exciting or attempting to excite hatred, contempt or disaffection, do not constitute an offence under this section.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Drawbacks of Sedition law</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Section 124A has come under criticism at numerous intervals, being singled out for its curbing of free speech.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The law is used to instil fear and intimidate people who protest against authority including the political opposition.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'sedition-issue', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/3d2f/rmwyjrsnzazngrl6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/3d2f/rmwyjrsnzazngrl6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Sedition issue', 'metakeyword' => 'Sedition issue', 'metadescription' => 'As many as 49 celebrities who penned an open letter to the Prime Minister on the growing incidents of mob violence and religion based lynching have been charged under sedition.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/zm8wfweqql4l8zm/Sedition_issue.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 70 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 2436, 'title' => 'Data localisation', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Indian government is planning to introduce a law to compulsorily force firms to store sensitive data in India.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A committee headed Justice B N Srikrishna had submitted a draft legislation for data protection in India. Eventhough the government recognises the importance of free data flow, it has made it clear that “super-sensitive data” would have to reside in India.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government is yet to decide the criteria for classifying data as “super-sensitive” and is waiting for the final bill to take shape.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The IT ministry last month constituted a committee to look at ways to regulate non-personal category of data that includes community data and anonymised data.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Non-personal data was kept out of the purview of the personal data protection bill that the Srikrishna panel recommended.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Large data is usually held by large commercial entities like cab-aggregators, e-commerce companies, etc that use the community data generated on their platforms to improve their services.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Large scale anonymised datasets are also being provided to government bodies and departments by large internet companies to assist in policymaking.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government intends to bring a law that respects private data of individuals but makes use of non-personal data to formulate better policies and services.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Srikrishna committee on Data protection</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The ten-member committee headed by Justice B.N Srikrishna, was tasked with studying and identifying key data protection issues and recommend methods for addressing them.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Highlights</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Committee has recommended setting up a Data Protection Authority which is supposed to “protect the interests of data principals”</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Committee recommends that “sensitive” personal data (such as passwords, sexual orientation, biometric data etc) should not be processed unless someone gives explicit consent.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Personal data will need to be stored on servers located within India, and transfers outside the country will need to be subject to safeguards.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The committee recommends giving “data principals” (persons whose personal data is being processed) the ‘right to be forgotten’.This means they will be able to restrict or prevent any display of their personal data once the purpose of disclosing the data has ended.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The committee suggests that the personal data may be processed by the government if this is considered necessary for any function of Parliament or State Legislature. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The committee recommends that processing (collection, recording, analysis, disclosure, etc) of personal data should be done only for clear, specific and lawful purposes.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Committee recommends the amendment amend section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act that pertains to the disclosure of personal information in the larger public interest.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Committee has suggested recommendations to the Aadhaar Act 2016 to ensure autonomy of the UIDAI and bolster data protection.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'data-localisation', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/64d6/o9pnr50fwogtfo26g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/64d6/o9pnr50fwogtfo26g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Data localisation', 'metakeyword' => 'of free data flow, it has made it clear that ', 'metadescription' => 'A committee headed Justice B N Srikrishna had submitted a draft legislation for data protection in India. Eventhough the government recognises the importance ', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/cvit3skwvutrvej/Data_localisation.pdf', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 71 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 2592, 'title' => 'Government to modify Indian Penal Code', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Home Ministry is all set to make changes in the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which was designed by the British for their own benefits.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> Home Minister Amit Shah had said that the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) should work on a proposal to amend various sections of the IPC and the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) after seeking suggestions from people across the country.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The idea behind the overhaul is that the master-servant concept envisaged in IPC should change. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">After formation, the IPC has never been amended in totality and only some additions and deletions have been made.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government is planning for a strong push for forensic reforms through better investigation, forensic evidence and use of better scientific techniques.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Indian Penal Code</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Indian Penal Code is the official criminal code of India. It is a comprehensive code intended to cover all substantive aspects of criminal law.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Controversial provisions</span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Unnatural Offences (Sodomy) - Section 377</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Whoever, voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished with imprisonment of life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Attempt to Commit Suicide - Section 309</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code deals with an unsuccessful attempt to suicide. Attempting to commit suicide and doing any act towards the commission of the offence is punishable with imprisonment up to one year or with fine or with both.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Adultery - Section 497</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code has been criticised on the one hand for allegedly treating woman as the private property of her husband, and on the other hand for giving women complete protection against punishment for adultery. </span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This section was unanimously struck down on 27th September 2018 by a five judge bench of the Supreme Court in case of <strong>Joseph Shine v. Union of India</strong>.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Need for revamp</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Many changes in the nature of criminal activities have not been captured in the description of offences and punishment as entailed in the IPC.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Economic and technological changes have created a new class of financial crimes that do not feature in IPC.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'government-to-modify-indian-penal-code', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/ef35/arnj9524r4k0iv26g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/ef35/arnj9524r4k0iv26g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Government to modify Indian Penal Code', 'metakeyword' => 'Government to modify Indian Penal Code', 'metadescription' => 'The Home Ministry is all set to make changes in the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which was designed by the British for their own benefits.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/vpcf3axctso7sre/Government_to_modify_Indian_Penal_Code.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 72 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 2608, 'title' => 'Infosys whistleblower', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">An anonymous group of Infosys’ employees have reportedly accused current CEO Salil Parekh and CFO Nilanjan Roy of indulging in unethical practices.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Infosys has also received whistleblower complaints earlier pertaining to wrongdoings in its M&A deals, including in the acquisition of Israeli automation technology firm Panaya.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The whistleblower letter, which was shared with Infosys’ Board and the US Securities and Exchange Commission, claims that “critical information” has been hidden from the auditors and the Board.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is alleged that the CEO is bypassing reviews and approvals and instructed sales not to send mails for approvals.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The whistleblowers group have also claimed to possess several proof including voice recordings that clearly mention the unethical practices being carried out.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Whistleblower</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A whistleblower is a person who exposes secretive information or activity that is deemed illegal, unethical, or not correct within a private or public organization.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The information of alleged wrongdoing can be classified in many ways: violation of company policy/rules, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law" title="Law">law</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulation" title="Regulation">regulation</a>, or threat to public interest/national security, as well as fraud, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption" title="Corruption">corruption</a>.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Those who become whistleblowers can choose to bring information or allegations to surface either internally or externally.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Internally, a whistleblower can bring his/her accusations to the attention of other people within the accused organization such as an immediate supervisor.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Externally, a whistleblower can bring allegations to light by contacting a third party outside of an accused organization such as the media, government, law enforcement, or those who are concerned.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Need for whistleblowing</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The presence of honesty allows for complete dedication to the organization’s mission and success.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">By encouraging a whistle blowing culture, the organization promotes transparent structure and effective, clear communication. More importantly, whistle blowing can protect the organization’s clients.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Whistleblowing also protects public interest if it is a public organisation.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Whistleblower protection in India</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Whistle Blowers Protection Act, 2014 is an Act in the Parliament of India which provides a mechanism to investigate alleged corruption and misuse of power by public servants and also protect anyone who exposes alleged wrongdoing in government bodies, projects and offices.</span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'infosys-whistleblower', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/cac0/oj4aa14gct66szk6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/cac0/oj4aa14gct66szk6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Infosys whistleblower', 'metakeyword' => 'enforcement, or those who are concerned.', 'metadescription' => 'Externally, a whistleblower can bring allegations to light by contacting a third party outside of an accused organization such as the media, government, law ', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/kytoy43cnbdxy45/Infosys_whistleblower.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 73 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 2689, 'title' => 'Benami act', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Illegal properties belonging to AIADMK ousted leader V.K.Sasikala have been provisionally attached under the provisions of the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to the officials, after demonetisation, Sasikala allegedly procured the properties by using up ?1500 crore in demonetised notes under fictitious names.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Benami Act, 1988</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The act defines a 'benami' transaction as any transaction in which property is transferred to one person for consideration paid by another person.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The act bans all benami transactions and gives the government the right to recover property held benami without paying any compensation.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>New ammendments</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Under the old Benami law the government could only acquire the benami property for which a consideration had to be paid. However, under the new law once a property is declared as 'benami' it will vest with the government without payment of any consideration.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In addition to loss of property, persons who are guilty of the offence of a benami transaction would be liable for fine which may extend up to 25% of the fair market value of the property and rigorous imprisonment up to 7 years.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In India, considering the family tradition it is a common practice that property is often held in the name of the father/mother as a mark of respect but the funds are provided by the child. These types of transactions can now get covered under the new Benami law.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>After amendment section 3 of Amended Benami Act reads as under </strong>:</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><em>“Section 3. Prohibition of benami transactions.—</em></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><em>No person shall enter into any benami transaction.</em></span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><em>Whoever enters into any benami transaction shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine or with both.</em></span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><em>Whoever enters into any benami transaction on and after the date of commencement of the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Act, 2016 (43 of 2016) shall, notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (2), be punishable in accordance with the provisions contained in Chapter VII.</em></span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'benami-act', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/7a05/97tfkjakmfxhxek6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/7a05/97tfkjakmfxhxek6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Benami act | Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act', 'metakeyword' => 'In addition to loss of property, persons who are guilty of ', 'metadescription' => 'Under the old Benami law the government could only acquire the benami property for which a consideration had to be paid. However, under the new law once a ', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/oloezsubgz3cbw5/Benami_act.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 74 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 2746, 'title' => 'Social security code', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Ministry of Labour and Employment is planning to draft a Social Security Code which subsumes eight existing laws covering provident fund, maternity benefits and pension.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A draft of the social security code is one of the four codes that are part of the Centre’s labour reforms agenda, was published on September 17 for public comments and suggestions.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Trade unions are against the proposal for provident fund, pension and insurance funds to be administered by a central board, and a national pension scheme that employees can opt for.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The opposing parties say that the first draft had provisions for the right to social security for all and establishment of a central apex council, headed by the Prime Minister, but these were missing from the latest draft.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Social security</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Social security is any government system that provides monetary assistance to people with an inadequate or no income.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Need for social security</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Social Security protects people against a variety of risks to ensure them a basic ?oor of income in old age and to enable many people who have struggled all their lives to look forward to a decent standard of comfort and dignity when they retire.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Social Security is a particularly important source of income for groups with low earnings and less opportunity to save and earn pensions.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Social Security is not just a retirement program, it is a family insurance program. Social Security provides disability and life insurance benefits to workers and their families.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'social-security-code', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/fd6c/yp7lgf9d1zrh3mt6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/fd6c/yp7lgf9d1zrh3mt6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Social security code', 'metakeyword' => 'Social security code', 'metadescription' => 'The Ministry of Labour and Employment is planning to draft a Social Security Code which subsumes eight existing laws covering provident fund,', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/s3qoxa6cqq2ybu0/Social_security_code.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 75 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 2768, 'title' => 'Registration of NGOs cancelled for violating FCRA ', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Over 1,800 NGOs and academic institutes found to be violating laws by receiving foreigh funds have been banned by the government.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As per FCRA guidelines, registered associations are required to submit electronically an online annual report with scanned copies of income and expenditure statement, receipts and payment account, balance sheet, etc., for every financial year within nine months of the closure of the financial year.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Among those whose registration under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act has been banned include University of Rajasthan, Allahabad Agricultural Institute, Young Mens Christian Association, Gujarat and Swami Vivekananda Educational Society, Karnataka.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The FCRA registration of these organisations were cancelled mostly due to their failure to submit annual income and expenditure statement on foreign funding for up to six years despite repeated reminders.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 2010 (FCRA)</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Foreign Contribution (regulation) Act, 2010 is an act of the Parliament of India, by the 42nd Act of 2010.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is a consolidating act whose scope is to regulate the acceptance and utilisation of foreign contribution or foreign hospitality by certain individuals or associations or companies and to prohibit acceptance and utilisation of foreign contribution or foreign hospitality for any activities detrimental to the national interest and for matters connected to it.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Key features</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Every member of an NGO must also now, under oath, through an affidavit, certify that they have never been involved in "diverting" foreign funds or propagating "sedition" or "advocating violent means”.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Earlier, the applicant or director-level person was to given this declaration but now all members of the NGO need to be given this declaration.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Earlier, as per the market value of the gift item in India was Rs. 25,000, now it has been raised to Rs. one lakh. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">If any individual, from NGO, hospitalized during a foreign visit, he/she has to be intimated the government within one month.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>FCRA 2010 will not apply to FC accepted</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">from a relative (under FCRA 1976 prior approval of CG is required for receipt of FC in excess of ` 8000 p.a.)</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">by way of any scholarship, stipend or any payment of like nature</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'registration-of-ngo-cancelled-for-violating-fcra', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/8e69/t4akhh4vhqnx9a56g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/8e69/t4akhh4vhqnx9a56g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Registration of NGOs cancelled for violating FCRA ', 'metakeyword' => 'Registration of NGOs cancelled for violating FCRA ', 'metadescription' => 'Over 1,800 NGOs and academic institutes found to be violating laws by receiving foreigh funds have been banned by the government.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/mhpq1oecey4esy0/Registration_of_NGOs_cancelled_for_violating_FCRA.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 76 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 2803, 'title' => 'Places of Worship Act 1991', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Babri Masjid demolition has brought other controversial places in the news too such as Shahi Masjid in Mathura and Gyanwapi Masjid in Varanasi. To protect these structures from extremist organisations, the government had enacted the Places of Worship Act in 1991.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In the backdrop of popular agitation, the P.V. Narasimha Rao government had enacted, in September 1991, a special law to freeze the status of places of worship in these places.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Aim of the Act</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The aim of the Act was to freeze the status of any place of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It was also to provide for the maintenance of the religious character of such a place of worship as on that day.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It was intended to pre-empt new claims by any group about the past status of any place of worship and attempts to reclaim the structures or the land on which they stood.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It was hoped that the legislation would help the preservation of communal harmony in the long run.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Provisions</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Act declares that the religious character of a place of worship shall continue to be the same as it was on August 15, 1947.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It says no person shall convert any place of worship of any religious denomination into one of a different denomination or section.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It declares that all suits, appeals or any other proceedings regarding converting the character of a place of worship, which are pending before any court or authority on August 15, 1947, will abate as soon as the law comes into force. No further legal proceedings can be instituted.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">These provisions will not apply to ancient and historical monuments and archaeological sites and remains that are covered by the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958; a suit that has been finally settled or disposed of; and any dispute that has been settled by the parties or conversion of any place that took place by acquiescence before the Act commenced.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Act does not apply to the place of worship commonly referred to as Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid in <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/tag/221-217-81/ayodhya/?utm=bodytag" target="_blank">Ayodhya.</a></span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Penal provisions</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Anyone who defies the bar on conversion of the status of a place of worship is liable to be prosecuted.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Act provides for imprisonment up to three years and a fine for anyone contravening the prohibition. Those abetting or participating in a criminal conspiracy to commit this offence will also be punished to the same extent.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'places-of-worship-act-1991', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/7004/4hoh348skgpi28a6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/7004/4hoh348skgpi28a6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Places of Worship Act 1991', 'metakeyword' => 'In the backdrop of popular agitation, the P.V. Narasimha', 'metadescription' => 'In the backdrop of popular agitation, the P.V. Narasimha Rao government had enacted, in September 1991, a special law to freeze the status of places of worship in these places.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/0jkhzmror7fa2dk/Places_of_Worship_Act_1991.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 77 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 2805, 'title' => 'Surveillance laws in India', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Many publications had reported that phones of several dozen Indian journalists, lawyers and human rights activists had been compromised using an invasive Israeli-developed malware called <strong>Pegasus</strong>.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In 1996, the Supreme Court noted that there was a lack of procedural safeguards in the Indian Telegraph Act. It laid down some guidelines that were later codified into rules in 2007.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">There are legal routes to surveillance that can be conducted by the government. The laws governing this are the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, which deals with interception of calls, and the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000, which deals with interception of data.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Under both laws, only the government, under certain circumstances, is permitted to conduct surveillance, and not private actors.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Hacking is expressly prohibited under the IT Act. Section 43 and Section 66 of the IT Act cover the civil and criminal offences of data theft and hacking respectively. Section 66B covers punishment for dishonestly receiving stolen computer resource or communication.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The punishment includes imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The rules state that only the competent authority can issue an order for the interception, monitoring or decryption of any information generated, transmitted, received or stored in any computer resource (mobile phones would count).</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The competent authority is once again the Union Home Secretary or State Secretaries in charge of the Home Departments.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Right to Privacy</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Supreme Court in a landmark decision in August, 2017 (<em>Justice <strong>K. S. Puttaswamy</strong> (Retd.) and Anr. vs Union Of India And Others</em>) unanimously upheld right to privacy as a fundamental right under Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Data protection law</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government constituted a Data Protection Committee under retired Justice <strong>B.N. Srikrishna</strong>. It held public hearings across India and submitted a draft data protection law in 2018 which Parliament is yet to enact.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'surveillance-laws-in-india', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/c24c/fve8whxfi98vp666g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/c24c/fve8whxfi98vp666g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Surveillance laws in India', 'metakeyword' => 'In 1996, the Supreme Court noted that there was a lack ', 'metadescription' => 'In 1996, the Supreme Court noted that there was a lack of procedural safeguards in the Indian Telegraph Act. It laid down some guidelines that were later ', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/iml8s4dmsuv36g6/Surveillance_laws_in_India.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 78 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 2861, 'title' => 'Labour code bill', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Union Cabinet has approved The Industrial Relations Code Bill, 2019, which proposes to amalgamate The Trade Unions Act, 1926, The Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946, and The Industrial Disputes Act, 1947.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government had floated a draft Note for the Cabinet along with The Labour Code on Industrial Relations Bill, for inter-ministerial consultations. This is the third Code in the government’s proposed codification of central labour laws into four Codes.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Parliament has already approved The Code on Wages, 2019. The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code was introduced in Lok Sabha in July, and is now with the Standing Committee on Labour.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The most important aspect of the Bill is that it presents the legal framework for ushering in the concept of ‘fixed-term employment’ through contract workers on a pan-India basis.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The move to include it in a central law will help in wider reach, and states are expected to follow similar applicability. The bill will insure the pan-India impact of the move.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Highlights</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The threshold required for government permission for retrenchment has been kept unchanged at 100 employees, as against the proposal for 300 employees in an earlier draft of the Bill, which was opposed by trade unions.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">With the introduction of fixed-term employment, companies will be able to hire workers directly under a fixed-term contract, with the flexibility to tweak the length of the contract based on the seasonality of industry.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">These workers will be treated on a par with regular workers during the tenure of the contract.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Benefits</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The provision of fixed-term employment helps in the flow of social security benefits to all workers along with making it easier for companies to hire and fire in The Industrial Relations Code Bill.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Fixed-term employment will help in keeping salaries and facilities to workers such as PF, gratuity, and medical benefits, the same as those for permanent labour.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Inclusion in the central law will help in applicability of fixed-term employment uniformly across the country.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Drawbacks</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The unclear provision regarding retrenchment would lead to uncertainty, and discretionary behaviour during implementation by the central or state government.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The discretion in law leads to uncertainty, lack of clarity, discriminatory implementation, and provides scope for unnecessary usage. </span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'labour-code-bill', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/3409/jtinhscxoqwn1cw6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/3409/jtinhscxoqwn1cw6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Labour code bill | The Industrial Relations Code Bill, 2019', 'metakeyword' => 'Labour code bill, The Industrial Relations Code Bill, 2019', 'metadescription' => 'The Union Cabinet has approved The Industrial Relations Code Bill, 2019, which proposes to amalgamate The Trade Unions Act, 1926, ', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/gwmtl1u4sjk3w9r/Labour_code_bill.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 79 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 2907, 'title' => 'Transgender person’s bill 2019', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Rajya Sabha passed a bill on protection of rights of transgenders after a motion to refer it to a Select Committee of the Upper House was defeated. The Lok Sabha had passed the Bill on August 5 this year.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019, seeks to provide a mechanism for social, economic and educational empowerment of transgenders.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Highlights</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Definition of a transgender person: </strong>The Bill defines a transgender person as one whose gender does not match the gender assigned at birth. It includes trans-men and trans-women, persons with intersex variations, gender-queers, and persons with socio-cultural identities, such as kinnar and hijra.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Prohibition against discrimination</strong>: The Bill prohibits the discrimination against a transgender person, including denial of service or unfair treatment in relation to: (i) education; (ii) employment; (iii) healthcare; (iv) access to, or enjoyment of goods, facilities, opportunities available to the public; (v) right to movement; (vi) right to reside, rent, or otherwise occupy property; (vii) opportunity to hold public or private office; and (viii) access to a government or private establishment.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Right of residence</strong>: Every transgender person shall have a right to reside and be included in his household. If the immediate family is unable to care for the transgender person, the person may be placed in a rehabilitation centre, on the orders of a competent court.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Health care</strong>: The government must take steps to provide health facilities to transgender persons including separate HIV surveillance centres, and sex reassignment surgeries.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>National Council for Transgender persons (NCT)</strong>: The NCT will consist of: (i) Union Minister for Social Justice (Chairperson); (ii) Minister of State for Social Justice (Vice- Chairperson); (iii) Secretary of the Ministry of Social Justice; (iv) one representative from ministries including Health, Home Affairs, and Human Resources Development. </span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Other members include representatives of the NITI Aayog, and the National Human Rights Commission. State governments will also be represented. </span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Council will also consist of five members from the transgender community and five experts from non-governmental organisations.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Drawbacks</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The biggest opposition is the requisite for a screening committee to certify a person’s trans status. If they want to get a trans ID, they will have to approach a District Magistrate.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">There is a Bill’s punishment clause, that enforces a maximum of two years imprisonment in a case of assault or gender-based violence. Any punishment of less than three years is bailable at the police station.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bill criminalises begging without offering reservations for employment and education.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The enforcement of a minor’s right of residence that compels any transperson below 18 to cohabit with their natal family, failing which the child will be moved to a rehabilitation home, a place to modify delinquent behaviour.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'transgender-person-bill-2019', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/6db7/u1s58x1njq0zhjv6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/6db7/u1s58x1njq0zhjv6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Transgender person’s bill 2019 | Transgender person’s bill ', 'metakeyword' => 'Transgender person’s bill 2019, Transgender person’s bill ', 'metadescription' => 'The Rajya Sabha passed a bill on protection of rights of transgenders after a motion to refer it to a Select Committee of the Upper House was defeated.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/b2js88gf8wocuul/Transgender_person%C6s_bill_2019.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 80 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 2938, 'title' => 'Private Member’s Bill', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Several members in the Lok Sabha have requested that private members’ Bills should be taken up on Wednesdays instead of Fridays and added that time allotted for this should not be cut short.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Private members’ bills are brought in by members of Parliament<strong> </strong>who are not ministers. These bills are taken up only on Fridays.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Private Member’s Bill (PMB)</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A Member of Parliament (MP) who is not a Minister in the Union Cabinet is called a Private Member. Bills introduced by such members are called Private Member's Bills. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A PMB can be introduced in either the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha. Bills introduced by ministers are called Government Bills.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Generally, the 2.00 pm to 6.00 pm slot on alternate Fridays during sessions are reserved for discussion on PMBs.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">There are no restrictions as to what a PMB should be about. The scope of a PMB is same as that of a Government Bill. These bills can deal with any issue and can also be a Constitutional Amendment Bill.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Unlike a Government Bill, a PMB is not discussed by the Council of Ministers internally.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Procedure</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">PMBs are drafted by MPs themselves or by their staff. These bills are, however, scrutinised and checked by the Parliament Secretariat for technicalities and legal consistency.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The member has to provide a one-month notice along with a copy of the ‘Statement of Object and Reasons’. Through the statement, the member is required to elaborate on the bill.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In case there are multiple PMBs being proposed at the same time, a ballot system is used to determine the sequence of bills for introduction.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">There is also a Parliamentary Committee on Private Member's Bills and Resolutions that goes through all PMBs. The committee classifies these Bills based on their urgency and importance, which in turn, determines which would be discussed first.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Why PMBs fail to pass?</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A successful passing of PMB is perceived by many as incompetence on part of the government and intrusion into the respective ministry’s domain.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Governments in the past have also at times cut short the path of PMBs. If such a bill is seen getting support in Parliament, the government requests the MP to withdraw it and promises to introduce it as a Government Bill instead.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Without support from the ruling party of the alliance, that command majority, it becomes impossible to pass the bill especially in the Lok Sabha.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'private-member-bill', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/d20c/82o8kyjv9urd68p6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/d20c/82o8kyjv9urd68p6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Private Member’s Bill', 'metakeyword' => 'Private Member’s Bill', 'metadescription' => 'Several members in the Lok Sabha have requested that private members’ Bills should be taken up on Wednesdays instead of Fridays', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/d7z9hoqs5rkrxqr/Private_Member%C6s_Bill.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 81 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 2958, 'title' => 'Inner Line Permit', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In anticipation of the upcoming Citizenship Ammendment Bill, the northeastern states have raised concerns regarding the validation of Inner Line Permit.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured representatives of North-eastern states that the Bill would provide protection to such regions and states where the Inner Line Permit (ILP) is applicable, and autonomous administration has been granted under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Inner Line Permit is a document that allows an Indian citizen to visit or stay in a state that is protected under the ILP system. The system is in force today in three Northeastern states viz Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">No Indian citizen can visit any of these states unless he or she belongs to that state, nor can he or she overstay beyond the period specified in the ILP.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>History</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The concept comes from the colonial area. Under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act, 1873, the British framed regulations restricting the entry and regulating the stay of outsiders in designated areas.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This was to protect the Crown’s own commercial interests by preventing “British subjects” (Indians) from trading within these regions.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In 1950, the Indian government replaced “British subjects” with “Citizen of India”. This was to address loval concerns about protecting the interests of the indigenous people from outsiders belonging to other Indian states.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Concerns</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill aims to make it easier for non-Muslim refugees from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan to obtain Indian citizenship.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">If it is implemented with provisions for excluding from its ambit the states under the ILP regime, it means that beneficiaries under CAB will become Indian citizens but will not be able to settle in these three states.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The North East Students’ Organisation, an umbrella body of all powerful students’ bodies of the regions had reiterated its demand for overall implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in all NE states.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The three states that have seen the highest migration and likely to be affected from Citizenship Bill are Assam, Tripura and Meghalaya, none of which has an ILP system.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'inner-line-permit', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/26f5/olyldtpyx3t3q1l6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/26f5/olyldtpyx3t3q1l6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Inner Line Permit', 'metakeyword' => 'Inner Line Permit', 'metadescription' => 'In anticipation of the upcoming Citizenship Ammendment Bill, the northeastern states have raised concerns regarding the validation of Inner Line Permit.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/u6jtkgroo9oqujn/Inner_Line_Permit.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 82 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 2997, 'title' => 'Data protection Bill and its drawbacks', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The <strong>Personal Data Protection (PDP) Bill, 2019 </strong>has been approved by the Cabinet and is slated to be placed in Parliament this winter session. The Bill has three key aspects that were not previously included in a draft version, prepared by a committee headed by retired Justice B N Srikrishna.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Data is any collection of information that is stored in a way so computers can easily read them. Data usually refers to information about your messages, social media posts, online transactions, and browser searches.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Data is stored in a physical space similar to a file cabinet of documents, and transported across country borders in underwater cables. To be considered useful, data has to be processed and analysed.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Data is collected and handled by entities called data fiduciaries. While the fiduciary controls how and why data is processed, the processing itself may be by a third party, the data processor.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The physical attributes of data like where data is stored, where it is sent, where it is turned into something useful, are called data flows.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Data localisation arguments are premised on the idea that data flows determine who has access to the data, who profits off it, who taxes and who “owns” it.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Need for Protection</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The large collection of information about an individual and his online habits has become an important source of profits, but also a potential avenue for invasion of privacy because it can reveal extremely personal aspects.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Companies, governments, and political parties find it valuable because they can use it to find the most convincing ways to advertise to online.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Highlights of Personal Data Protection Bill</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bill trifurcates personal data. The umbrella group is all personal data, from which an individual can be identified. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Some types of personal data are considered sensitive personal data (SPD), which the Bill defines as financial, health, sexual orientation, biometric, genetic, transgender status, caste, religious belief, and more. Another subset is critical personal data. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government at any time can deem something critical, and has given examples as military or national security data.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The approved Bill removes stipulation for storing copy of all personal data in India. It requires individual consent for data transfer abroad. Similar to the draft, however, the Bill still requires sensitive personal data to be stored only in India. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It can be processed abroad only under certain conditions including approval of a Data Protection Agency (DPA). The final category of critical personal data must be stored and processed in India.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bill mandates fiduciaries to give the government any non-personal data when demanded. Non-personal data refers to anonymised data, such as traffic patterns or demographic data.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bill also requires social media companies, which are deemed significant data fiduciaries, to develop their own user verification mechanism.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bill includes exemptions for processing data without an individual’s consent for “reasonable purposes”, including security of the state, detection of any unlawful activity or fraud, whistleblowing, medical emergencies, credit scoring, operation of search engines and processing of publicly available data. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bill calls for the creation of an independent regulator DPA, which will oversee assessments and audits and definition making. Each company will have a Data Protection Officer (DPO) who will liaison with the DPA for auditing, grievance redressal, recording maintenance and more.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It also grants individuals the right to data portability, and the ability to access and transfer one’s own data. Finally, it legislates on the right to be forgotten. </span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Importance of data localisation</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Data localisation will help law-enforcement access data for investigations and enforcement.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Domestic-born technology companies, which store most of their data exclusively in India, support localisation. They have strongly argued that data regulation for privacy and security will have little teeth without localisation.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Many economy stakeholders say localisation will also increase the ability of the Indian government to tax Internet giants.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Arguments against the bill</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Civil society groups have criticised the open-ended exceptions given to the government in the Bill, allowing for surveillance.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Even if the data is stored in the country, the encryption keys may still be out of reach of national agencies.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Protectionism may backfire on India’s own young start-ups that are attempting global growth, or on larger firms that process foreign data in India, such as Tata Consulting Services and Wipro.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'data-protection-bill-and-it-drawbacks', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/418c/are9oxobljj4i0p6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/418c/are9oxobljj4i0p6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Data protection Bill and its drawbacks', 'metakeyword' => 'Data protection Bill and its drawbacks', 'metadescription' => 'The Personal Data Protection (PDP) Bill, 2019 has been approved by the Cabinet and is slated to be placed in Parliament this winter session. ', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/sadb4nhqilah27j/Data_protection_Bill_and_its_drawbacks.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 83 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 2998, 'title' => 'Fugitive Economic Offender', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A Mumbai PMLA judge declared jeweller Nirav Modi, key accused in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case, a “fugitive economic offender” (FEO) based on a plea by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">At the beginning of this year, a special court had declared liquor baron Vijay Mallya an FEO, also on a plea by the ED, the first such designation of an accused individual.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">An FEO is defined by The Fugitive Economic Offenders (FEO) Act, 2018 as “any individual against whom a warrant for arrest in relation to a scheduled offence has been issued by any court in India, who (i) has left India so as to avoid criminal prosecution; or (ii) being abroad, refuses to return to India to face criminal prosecution”.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The FEO Act aims “to provide for measures to deter fugitive economic offenders from evading the process of law in India by staying outside the jurisdiction of Indian courts, to preserve the sanctity of the rule of law in India and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto”.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Economic offences relate to fraud, counterfeiting, money-laundering, tax evasion, etc. Among the laws available for prosecuting these offences are The Prevention of Money-Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, The Benami Properties Transactions Act, 1988, and The Companies Act, 2013.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Need for the Act</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Finance Ministry released a draft Bill to address cases of high-value economic offenders fleeing the country to avoid prosecution.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It observed that existing civil and criminal laws did not contain specific provisions to deal with such offenders, and that a new legal framework was needed to prosecute them.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The ministry also argues that procedures under these laws were time-consuming, led to roadblocks in investigation and impacted the financial health of banks.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Process for declaring Economic Offender</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Under the Act, an application must be filed in the special court asking that a particular individual may be declared an FEO.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The application must be accompanied by “reasons for the belief that an individual is a fugitive economic offender; any information available as to the whereabouts of the fugitive economic offender; a list of properties or the value of such properties believed to be the proceeds of crime”, etc.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The special court may then issue notice to the individual to appear at a specified place, and drop the proceedings if the individual complies.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">If the special court is satisfied that an individual is an FEO, it may, record so in an order, along with reasons. The court may then order the confiscation of the properties of the accused individual in India or abroad.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'fugitive-economic-offender', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/364a/bmqco949s5ehtqs6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/364a/bmqco949s5ehtqs6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Fugitive Economic Offender', 'metakeyword' => 'Fugitive Economic Offender', 'metadescription' => 'A Mumbai PMLA judge declared jeweller Nirav Modi, key accused in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case, a “fugitive economic offender” (FEO) based', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/l2cr8iemmlvc2ov/Fugitive_Economic_Offender.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 84 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 3009, 'title' => 'Arms Bill (Amendment) 2019', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> Home Minister Amit Shah had introduced the Arms (Amendment) Bill, 2019 in Lok Sabha. The Bill seeks to amend the Arms Act, 1959 by reducing the number of firearms allowed per person from the current three, to just one.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It also proposes new categories of offences and an increase in the penalty for certain offences. The Punjab government and groups in Rajasthan, including the Karni Seva, have opposed it.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Punjab government’s position is that over 50 per cent of the state’s farmers stay in remote villages and need arms to protect themselves.Villagers close to the Pakistan border are also insecure about infiltrators.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Many residents inherited vintage weapons from their ancestors, which they do not want to part with.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In Rajasthan, members of the Rajput community have opposed the proposed amendments and outfits such as the Shree Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena (SRRKS) have threatened to protest.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Reasons for change in law</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government maintains the move will help reduce firearms-related crime. According to National Crime Record Bureau’s 2016 report, in Punjab, 48 were murdered by use of firearms, out of which 22 were licensed firearms and 26 were illegal. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In Rajasthan, 23 victims were murdered by use of firearms and all murders were committed using illegal weapons.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Arms Bill (Amendment) 2019</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bill seeks to amend the Arms Act, 1959. It seeks to decrease the number of licensed firearms allowed per person and increase penalties for certain offences under the Act. It also introduces new categories of offences.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bill reduces the number of permitted firearms from three to one. This includes licenses given on inheritance or heirloom basis. The Bill provides a time period of one year to deposit the excess firearms with the officer-in-charge of the nearest police station or with a licensed firearm dealer as specified. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Act bans manufacture, sale, use, transfer, conversion, testing or proofing of firearms without license. It also prohibits shortening of firearm barrel or conversion of imitation firearms into firearms without a license.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Act punishes acquisition, possession or carrying of prohibited ammunition without a license, with imprisonment between five and ten years, along with fine.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bill adds news offences. These include: (i) forcefully taking a firearm from police or armed forces, punishable with imprisonment between 10 years and life imprisonment, along with fine, (ii) using firearms in a celebratory gunfire which endangers human life or personal safety of others, punishable with imprisonment of up to two years, or fine of up to one lakh rupees, or both.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'arms-bill-amendment-2019', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9051/t8sqg4pz3l1fdfv6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9051/t8sqg4pz3l1fdfv6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Arms Bill | Arms Bill (Amendment) 2019 | Arms Bill 2019', 'metakeyword' => 'Arms Bill (Amendment) 2019', 'metadescription' => ' Home Minister Amit Shah had introduced the Arms (Amendment) Bill, 2019 in Lok Sabha. The Bill seeks to amend the Arms Act, 1959 by reducing the number', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/p15i2kat6tv59f6/Arms_Bill_%28Amendment%29_2019.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 85 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 3023, 'title' => 'International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) Bill, 2019', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The International Financial Services Centres Authority Bill, 2019 is likely to be taken up by Parliament for discussion next week. The Bill provides for the establishment of an Authority to develop and regulate the financial services market in the International Financial Services Centres in India.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bill will be applicable to all International Financial Services Centres (IFSCs) set up under the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005.<br /> The first IFSC in India has been set up at the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) in Gandhinagar.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">An IFSC enables bringing back the financial services and transactions that are currently carried out in offshore financial centres by Indian corporate entities and overseas branches/subsidiaries of financial institutions (FIs) to India by offering business and regulatory environment that is comparable to other leading international financial centres in the world like London and Singapore.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">IFSCs are intended to provide Indian corporates with easier access to global financial markets, and to complement and promote further development of financial markets in India.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The International Financial Services Centres Authority will consist of nine members, appointed by the central government.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">They will include, apart from the chairperson of the authority, a member each from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), and the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA); and two members from the Ministry of Finance.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> In addition, two other members will be appointed on the recommendation of a Search Committee. All members of the IFSC Authority will have a term of three years, subject to reappointment.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Functions of IFSCA</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Authority will regulate financial products such as securities, deposits or contracts of insurance, financial services, and financial institutions which have been previously approved by any appropriate regulator such as RBI or SEBI, in an IFSC.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Regulation of any other financial products, financial services, or financial institutions in an IFSC, which may be notified by the central government; and to recommend to the central government any other financial products, financial services, or financial institutions, which may be permitted in an IFSC.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Need for IFSCA</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The dynamic nature of business in the IFSCs necessitates a high degree of inter-regulatory coordination. It also requires regular clarifications and frequent amendments in the existing regulations governing financial activities in IFSCs.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> The development of financial services and products in IFSCs would require focussed and dedicated regulatory interventions.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It will act as a unified financial regulator for IFSCs in India to provide world class regulatory environment to financial market participants.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'international-financial-services-centres', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/92df/p9oth2xuc3wyo0m6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/92df/p9oth2xuc3wyo0m6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'International Financial Services Centres Authority', 'metakeyword' => 'International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) Bill, 2019', 'metadescription' => 'The International Financial Services Centres Authority Bill, 2019 is likely to be taken up by Parliament for discussion next week.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/szx56i23fxucesx/International_Financial_Services_Centres_Authority_%2528IFSCA%2529_Bill%252C_2019.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 86 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 3022, 'title' => 'Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, (CAB), which generated widespread protests in the north-eastern states, will be tabled in the Lok Sabha for consideration and passage.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities, who come from Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan facing persecution there, will not be treated as illegal immigrants but given Indian citizenship when the proposed amendments to the six-decade-old Citizenship Act come into effect.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill-2019 will provide Indian citizenship to the six minority communities from Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. </span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">These six communities are - Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, Christian and Sikhs.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:40px; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">• At present, it is mandatory for a person to stay here for at least 11 years to get citizenship of India.<br /> • The bill will reduce this period to six years. It will enable people from these communities to get Indian citizenship in six years.<br /> • It will make some amendments to the Citizenship Act 1955 to provide legal aid for citizenship.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Existing provisions</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to the Citizenship Act, 1955, illegal migrants cannot get citizenship of India. The people, who have entered India without valid travel documents like passports and visas or have come to India with valid documents but stay here longer than the period mentioned therein, are considered as illegal migrants under this law.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to the Citizenship Act, 1955, illegal migrants can either be kept in jail or sent back to their country under the Foreigners Act, 1946 and the Passports (Entry into India) Act, 1920.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In 2015 and 2016, the central government has made some amendments in the laws of 1920 and 1946. It exempted Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan to stay in India.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Reasons for opposition</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The biggest concern of the opposition parties is that it specifically targeted the Muslim community. Opposition parties said that this is a violation of Article 14 of the Constitution, which speaks of the right to equality.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The opposition to the Bill stems from the fear that a flood of Bengali-speaking immigrants, who will legitimately settle down in Assam and rest of North East, can fast alter the existing cultural ecosystem, blurring indigenous identities.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'citizenship-amendment-bill-2019', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/851e/fix32ld2d6aqg1d6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/851e/fix32ld2d6aqg1d6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019', 'metakeyword' => 'Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019', 'metadescription' => 'The contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, (CAB), which generated widespread protests in the north-eastern states, will be tabled in the Lok Sabha', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/qi4ecu4iqfh7orj/Citizenship_%2528Amendment%2529_Bill_2019.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 87 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 3037, 'title' => 'Citizenship Bill’s application', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government has introduced the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB), 2019, which proposes to make it easier for certain categories of migrants to become eligible for Indian citizenship. In the revised version of CAB, the Centre has exempted certain areas in the Northeast, where the Bill has been facing protests.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Citizenship Bill will provide permanent citizenship to persecuted citizens of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan belonging to Hindu, Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism,Sikkhism and Parsi religions. The bill is facing protests from states of the North-east fearing influx of refugees.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The bill exempts the whole of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram, almost the whole of Meghalaya, and parts of Assam and Tripura, but keeps all of Manipur under its ambit. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB)<strong> </strong>states that this section shall apply to tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram or Tripura as included in the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution and the area covered under ‘The Inter Line’ notified under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In ILP states, there are already a large number of migrants from other Indian states. They live and work there equipped with long-term ILPs, and renew these.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The question is whether a person who becomes an Indian citizen through CAB can, or cannot, apply for an ILP and work in such states, just like any other Indian citizen.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Multiple restrictions and regulations exist on entry and stay of outsiders in areas under the Inner Line system or the Sixth Schedule. These existing rules are expected to put the same restrictions on someone who has acquired citizenship through CAB.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The exemptions appears to imply that no immigrant non-citizen living in these areas can be regularised as an Indian citizen through CAB.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Sixth Schedule</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, described in Articles 244(2) and 275(1), relates to special provisions in administration of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram and provides special powers for Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) in these states. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">ADCs have powers to enact laws in areas under their jurisdiction on a variety of subjects, with the objective of ensuring development of tribal areas and boosting self-governance by tribal communities.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'citizenship-bill-application', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/6070/evz0uettfwsqd5d6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/6070/evz0uettfwsqd5d6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Citizenship Bill’s application', 'metakeyword' => 'Citizenship Bill’s application', 'metadescription' => 'The government has introduced the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB), 2019, which proposes to make it easier for certain categories of migrants to become ', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/dv0yrd60rodmdoj/Citizenship_Bill%C6s_application.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 88 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 3055, 'title' => 'Andhra Pradesh approves ‘Disha’ bill', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Andhra<strong> </strong>Pradesh<strong> </strong>Cabinet has cleared the A.P. Disha Bill, 2019 (A.P. Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2019) paving the way for awarding the death penalty for the offences of rape and gang-rape and expediting the verdict in trials of such cases to 21 days.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The delay in justice is one of the major problems in issues such as Sexual assault. There has been widespread protests against authorities for delivering punishment to the accused.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The proposed laws seek to amend relevant provisions in the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, and to introduce Sections 354-E and 354-F in the IPC for dealing with harassment of women through social media and sexual assault of children respectively.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Cabinet also gave its nod for introduction of the A.P. Special Court for Specified Offences against Women and Children Bill, 2019, for dealing with offences against women and children, including rape and gang-rape, acid attacks, stalking, voyeurism, sexual harassment and cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The A.P. Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2019, envisages the completion of investigation and trial in seven and 14 working days respectively, where there is adequate conclusive evidence, and reducing the total judgment time to 21 days from the existing four months.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Under Section 354-E (harassment of women through social media, digital mode or any other form), it has been proposed to sentence the guilty to imprisonment for up to two years on first conviction and four years on subsequent convictions.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Under Section 354-F (molestation / sexual assault), imprisonment is sought to be increased to a minimum of five years and maximum seven years.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'andhra-pradesh-approves-disha-bill', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/961b/3tlawkvmgdha13b6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/961b/3tlawkvmgdha13b6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Andhra Pradesh approves ‘Disha’ bill', 'metakeyword' => 'Andhra Pradesh approves ‘Disha’ bill', 'metadescription' => 'The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet has cleared the A.P. Disha Bill, 2019 (A.P. Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2019) paving the way for awarding the death penalty', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/jvg8abmy70m1m3v/Andhra_Pradesh_approves_%E6Disha%C6_bill.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 89 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 3097, 'title' => 'New Karnataka tribes in ST list', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bill passed a bill that seeks to include the <strong>Taliwara, Parivara </strong>and<strong> Siddi</strong> tribal communities in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list, which will ensure that they get reservation and other benefits provided by the government in Karnataka.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bill amends the section of The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 that deals with STs in Karnataka.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In 2014, the government of Karnataka in a letter to the central government, recommended the inclusion of the Parivara and Taliwara “as synonyms castes of Nayuka caste in the list of Scheduled Tribes in Karnataka”.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Most people from these communities live in Mysore, Chamrajanagara, Mandya and Tumkur districts and a “thin population” resides in Udupi, South Canara and North Canara districts with a majority of them employed as coolies, engaged in collecting firewood, husbandry and the cottage industry, thereby leading a life of lower status.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The communities’ life cycle rituals, language, lifestyle, standard of living, physical features, socio-economic and educational status and their geographical isolation are “characteristic features”, “similar to that of scheduled tribe and also Beda, Nayaka and Valmiki”, communities that are already included in the ST category in the state of Karnataka.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Criteria for Scheduled Tribes</strong><br /> The criteria presently followed for specification of a community as a Scheduled Tribe are : </span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">(i) <strong>indications of primitive traits</strong>, (ii) <strong>distinctive culture</strong>, (iii) <strong>geographical isolation</strong>, (iv) <strong>shyness of contact with the community at large</strong>, and (v) <strong>backwardness</strong>.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">However, these criteria are not spelt out in the Constitution.</span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'new-karnataka-tribes-in-st-list', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/6af8/megoy5rz4g1w0ht6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/6af8/megoy5rz4g1w0ht6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'New Karnataka tribes in ST list', 'metakeyword' => 'New Karnataka tribes in ST list', 'metadescription' => 'The Bill passed a bill that seeks to include the Taliwara, Parivara and Siddi tribal communities in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list, which will ensure ', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/yo3rbw5uneazhdy/New_Karnataka_tribes_in_ST_list.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 90 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 3126, 'title' => 'Effects of personal data protection bill', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The provisions of the Personal Data Protection (PDP) Bill, presented in Parliament and referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee for examination, have received significant coverage due to concerns around state surveillance.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> The topic of data privacy became a public discussion since the Cambridge Analytica scandal broke out in March 2018. Since then all major countries have enacted regulations to either regulate use of data or gain access to data.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">India’s PDP Bill lays down provisions for preventing misuse of personal data. It mandates where data can be stored and processed and also grants the government power to obtain non-personal data from companies. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The law, once passed, could have significant implications for foreign investment, international trade and national security.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Implications</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Foreign Investment</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A law like this can easily be seen as anti-competitive and unfriendly towards foreign investment. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Making it difficult and expensive for foreign comapnies to set up shop in India will discourage them from investing by increasing their cost of doing business through investment in local data centres, loss of economies of scale, manpower investments and concerns around oversight by regulators.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A positive outcome that may arise out of data localisation requirements is the need for companies to invest in better data centres and networking infrastructure. This may create new jobs and economic opportunities locally.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>National Security</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The PDP Bill is the government’s concern that dependence on other countries for essential infrastructure can harm its national interest. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">United States’ hegemonic attitude and security concerns when dealing with China make it imperative that India protects its data sovereignty. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> India needs to remain unfazed and continue to do what is best in its national interest.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Law Enforcement</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Arguably, the biggest beneficiary could be Indian law enforcement agencies, who could get access to data for anti-terrorism purposes without having to go through international channels.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Currently, law enforcement agencies face a genuine challenge while trying to access personal data from companies that are subject to U.S. laws.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'effects-of-personal-data-protection-bill', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/5e9d/xb02zbzy0k4rib96g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/5e9d/xb02zbzy0k4rib96g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Effects of personal data protection bill', 'metakeyword' => 'Effects of personal data protection bill', 'metadescription' => 'The provisions of the Personal Data Protection (PDP) Bill, presented in Parliament and referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee for examination,', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/if303mxlzc5b40m/Effects_of_personal_data_protection_bill.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 91 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 3406, 'title' => 'NIA act challenged by Chhattisgarh', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Chhattisgarh government has moved the Supreme Court against the National Investigation Act, 2008 stating it is violative of the Constitution. In its civil suit, the government told the apex court the NIA should have no power over state policing matters.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This is the second instance this week when a state has sought to challenge a central legislation under Article 131<strong> </strong>of the Constitution. The Kerala government had moved the Supreme Court against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The law governs the functioning of India’s premier counter-terror agency. It was introduced by then home minister P Chidambaram in the wake of the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks and was passed in Parliament with very little opposition.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Act makes the National Investigation Agency the only truly federal agency in the country, along the lines of the FBI in the United States, more powerful than the CBI. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It gives the NIA powers to take <em>suo motu</em> cognisance of terror activities in any part of India and register a case, to enter any state without permission from the state government, and to investigate and arrest people.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to the state, the 2008 Act allows the Centre to create an agency for investigation, which is a function of the state police.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Point of conflict</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The petition says the 2008 Act takes away the state’s power of conducting an investigation through the police, while conferring “unfettered, discretionary and arbitrary powers” on the Centre. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The provisions of the Act leave no room of coordination and pre-condition of consent, in any form whatsoever, by the Central government from the State government which clearly repudiates the idea of state sovereignty as envisaged under the Constitution of India.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>New changes</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The <strong>2019 NIA Amendment Act</strong> expanded the type of offences that the investigative body could investigate and prosecute. The agency can now investigate offences related to human trafficking, counterfeit currency, manufacture or sale of prohibited arms, cyber-terrorism, and offences under the Explosive Substances Act, 1908.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The amendment also enables the central government to designate sessions courts as special courts for NIA trials.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment (UAPA), also passed in 2019, allows an NIA officer to conduct raids, and seize properties that are suspected to be linked to terrorist activities without taking prior permission of the Director General of Police of a state. The investigating officer only requires sanction from the Director General of NIA.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'nia-act-challenged-by-chhattisgarh', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/aa36/cqweltkgdc9zlbl6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/aa36/cqweltkgdc9zlbl6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'NIA act challenged by Chhattisgarh', 'metakeyword' => 'NIA act challenged by Chhattisgarh', 'metadescription' => 'The Chhattisgarh government has moved the Supreme Court against the National Investigation Act, 2008 stating it is violative of the Constitution. ', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/t7073qc7esede20/NIA_act_challenged_by_Chhattisgarh.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 92 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 3408, 'title' => 'Punjab’s Right to Business bill', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Punjab Cabinet gave its approval to a Punjab Right to Business Bill, 2020, a law aimed at ensuring ease of doing business for the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Punjab Department of Industries was preparing to bring an Ordinance, but since a special session of the Assembly has been called, the Right to Business Bill will also be brought before the House on January 17.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Under the law, an MSME unit can be set up after ‘In-Principle’ approval from the District Bureau of Enterprise, headed by the Deputy Commissioner, working under the guidance of the State Nodal Agency, headed by the Director, Industries. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Approval for units in approved Industrial Parks will be given in three working days. For new enterprises outside approved Industrial Parks, the decision on the “Certificate of In-Principle Approval” shall be taken by the District Level Nodal Agency within 15 working days.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Unit owners will have three and a half years after setting up the unit to obtain seven approvals from three departments.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The industries involving hazardous processes will have to obtain a Fire NOC and get approval for the factory building plan before setting up the unit. All units will have to get environmental clearance from the Pollution Control Board beforehand.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Act will have overriding powers over various Acts of different departments that make approvals necessary before the setting up of small and medium units.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'punjab-right-to-business-bill', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/0193/3o27j2gk0qh6ezm6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/0193/3o27j2gk0qh6ezm6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Punjab’s Right to Business bill', 'metakeyword' => 'Punjab’s Right to Business bill', 'metadescription' => 'The Punjab Cabinet gave its approval to a Punjab Right to Business Bill, 2020, a law aimed at ensuring ease of doing business for the Micro, Small and Medium', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/tk3y8n97bscaiba/Punjab%C6s_Right_to_Business_bill.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 93 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 3424, 'title' => 'Emergency detention powers under NSA', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Anil Baijal, has issued an order giving the Police Commissioner the power to detain individuals<strong> </strong>under the tough National Security Act (NSA), 1980.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Given the daily protests in the national capital against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), the National Population Register (NPR), and the proposed National Register of Citizens<strong> (</strong>NRC<strong>)</strong>, the order has triggered apprehensions.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The order says that the central or state government may, in order to prevent any person from acting in any manner prejudicial to the security of the State or to the maintenance of Public order or to the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the community, make an order directing that such person be detained.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The period specified in an order made by the State Government under this sub-section shall not, in the first instance, exceed three months.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>National Security Act, 1980</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The NSA allows preventive detention of an individual for months if the authorities are convinced that the individual is a threat to national security and law and order.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The NSA was described as “an Act to provide for preventive detention in certain cases and for matters connected therewith”. The Act repealed the National Security Ordinance, 1980.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Act has been widely criticised as being “draconian” because of the powers of preventive detention that it gives to the government. The detention under the NSA can extend up to 12 months or even for longer if the government is able to produce more evidence against the detainee.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'emergency-detention-powers-under-nsa', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/97cf/pqrlsmvrirhynud6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/97cf/pqrlsmvrirhynud6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Emergency detention powers under NSA', 'metakeyword' => 'Emergency detention powers under NSA', 'metadescription' => 'The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Anil Baijal, has issued an order giving the Police Commissioner the power to detain individuals under the tough National', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/1vxfn0oyadd2upo/Emergency_detention_powers_under_NSA.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 94 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 3465, 'title' => 'Enemy property', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah will monitor the disposal of over 9,400 enemy properties, which the government estimates is worth about Rs 1 lakh crore.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A total 9,280 enemy properties had been left behind by Pakistani nationals, and 126 by Chinese nationals. The government estimates the value of these properties at approximately Rs 1 lakh crore.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Two committees headed by senior officials will be set up for the disposal of immovable enemy properties vested in the Custodian of Enemy Property for India under The Enemy Property Act.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In the wake of the India-Pakistan wars of 1965 and 1971, there was migration of people from India to Pakistan. Under the Defence of India Rules framed under The Defence of India Act, 1962, the Government of India took over the properties and companies of those who took Pakistani nationality.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">These “enemy properties” were vested by the central government in the Custodian of Enemy Property for India. The same was done for property left behind by those who went to China after the 1962 Sino-Indian war.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Enemy Property Act, enacted in 1968, provided for the continuous vesting of enemy property in the Custodian of Enemy Property for India. The central government, through the Custodian, is in possession of enemy properties spread across many states in the country.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>New amendments</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In 2017, Parliament passed The Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2016, which amended The Enemy Property Act, 1968, and The Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The amended law provided that enemy property shall continue to vest in the Custodian even if the enemy or enemy subject or enemy firm ceases to be an enemy due to death, extinction, winding up of business or change of nationality, or that the legal heir or successor is a citizen of India or a citizen of a country which is not an enemy.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Custodian, with prior approval of the central government, may dispose of enemy properties vested in him in accordance with the provisions of the Act, and the government may issue directions to the Custodian for this purpose.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Importance of amendments</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The thrust of the amendments was to guard against claims of succession or transfer of properties left by people who migrated to Pakistan and China after the wars.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The amendments denied legal heirs any right over enemy property. The main aim was to negate the effect of a court judgment in this regard.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'enemy-property', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/0dd8/5q996fdyihn1ecs6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/0dd8/5q996fdyihn1ecs6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Enemy property | Group of Ministers (GoM)', 'metakeyword' => 'Enemy property, Group of Ministers (GoM)', 'metadescription' => 'A Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah will monitor the disposal of over 9,400 enemy properties, which the government', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/bfixrfr80mpwixt/Enemy_property.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 95 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 3522, 'title' => 'Karnataka’s anti-superstition law', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A controversial anti-superstition law in Karnataka, which was passed during the tenure of a previous government in a diluted form as the Karnataka Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices and Black Magic Act, 2017, and received the assent of the Governor, has been formally notified.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">An expert panel from the Centre for the Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy of the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) first presented a draft Bill, outlawing over a dozen superstitious practices in 2013.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The model Bill held human dignity as its central tenet and sought eradication of irrational practices found in different communities. The first draft made practices like inflicting self-wounds and conversion through bribery illegal.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Some of the proposals opposed by religious leaders and political parties in the early draft were the ban on practices such as the carrying of priests in palanquins, worshipping the feet of religious leaders etc.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">There was also political opposition for a proposed ban on the practice of Vaastu, astrology and palmistry. The inclusion of practices considered to have Vedic origins, such as Vaastu and astrology, among practices to be banned was opposed by various groups.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Practices such as barring menstruating women from entering houses of worship and their homes, coercing people to take part in fire-walks, and beating up people by declaring them evil, are among the irrational practices that have been banned under the 2017 law. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The law stipulates imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than one year but which may extend to seven years and with fine which shall not be less than five thousand rupees but which may extend to fifty thousand rupees, as punishment for violations.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The law is to implemented by the state police with the appointment of vigilance officers under the law at police stations.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Superstitions</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Superstition is any belief or practice that is considered irrational or supernatural which arises from ignorance, a misunderstanding of science or causality, a positive belief in fate or magic, or fear of that which is unknown.</span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'karnataka-anti-superstition-law', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/86f5/q0gs4pcocbi3l4e6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/86f5/q0gs4pcocbi3l4e6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Karnataka’s anti-superstition law', 'metakeyword' => 'Karnataka’s anti-superstition law', 'metadescription' => 'A controversial anti-superstition law in Karnataka, which was passed during the tenure of a previous government in a diluted form as the Karnataka Prevention', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/1g7ug1v9n6we6xh/Karnataka%C6s_anti-superstition_law.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 96 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 3521, 'title' => 'No-fly list: The rules', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Four airlines in India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Air India and GoAir, have banned stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra from taking their flights after he allegedly heckled television news anchor Arnab Goswami on an IndiGo flight.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In 2017, the government issued rules for preventing disruptive behaviour by air travellers and laid down guidelines for a no-fly list.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As per the rules, a complaint of unruly behaviour needs to be filed by the pilot-in-command, and this is to be probed by an internal committee to be set up by the airline. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During the period of pendency of the inquiry, the rules empower the concerned airline to impose a ban on the passenger. The committee is to decide the matter within 30 days, and also specify the ban duration.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The internal committee shall give the final decision in 30 days by giving the reasons in writing, the rules state, and the decision of the committee shall be binding on the airline concerned. In case the committee fails to take a decision in 30 days, the passenger will be free to fly.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Any aggrieved person, upon receipt of communication of a ban from the airline, may appeal within 60 days from the date of issue of the order, to an Appellate Committee constituted by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Civil Aviation Requirements state that the decision of the appellate committee shall be final and that any further appeal shall lie in a High Court.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">If a person has been put on the no-fly list of domestic airlines, there is still a possibility that she can take international flights since the DGCA requirement applies only for Indian airlines.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>The Rules</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> The rules define three categories of unruly behaviour: </span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Level 1</strong> refers to behaviour that is verbally unruly, and calls for debarment up to three months.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Level 2</strong> indicates physical unruliness and can lead to the passenger being debarred from flying for up to six months.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Level 3</strong> indicates life-threatening behaviour for which the debarment would be for a minimum of two years.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Grounds on imposing ban</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A no-fly list essentially begins with a passenger causing verbal, physical or life-threatening unruliness. The DGCA has given an indicative list of actions that may be construed as unruly.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">These include: consuming alcohol or drugs resulting in unruly behaviour, smoking in an aircraft, using threatening or abusive language towards a member of the crew or other passengers, intentionally interfering with the performance of the duties of a crew member etc. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Once the pilot-in-command submits his complaint, the airline is bound to refer the complaint to its internal committee.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Need for no-fly list</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Civil Aviation Requirements issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) note that unruly behaviour on board aircraft has been declared an offence and is a punishable act. Even one unruly passenger can jeopardise safety on board.</span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'no-fly-list-the-rules', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/2efc/54wi62tlwevgara6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/2efc/54wi62tlwevgara6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'No-fly list: The rules', 'metakeyword' => 'No-fly list: The rules', 'metadescription' => 'Four airlines in India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Air India and GoAir, have banned stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra from taking their flights after he allegedly', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/dutnife76kgupfo/No-fly_list_The_rules.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 97 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 3543, 'title' => 'Changes in abortion law', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Union Cabinet has cleared a long-pending change to the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 that raises the legally permissible limit for an abortion to 24 weeks from the current 20 weeks.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Recently several petitions were received by the Courts seeking permission for aborting pregnancies at a gestational age beyond the present permissible limit on grounds of foetal abnormalities or pregnancies due to sexual violence faced by women.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The change also accepts failure of contraception as a valid reason for abortion not just in married but also in unmarried women.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It increases the maximum permissible gestation age for abortion to 24 weeks, with the proviso that for pregnancies that are between 20-24 weeks opinions will be required from two doctors rather than one.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This has been specially done keeping in mind “vulnerable women including survivors of rape, victims of incest and other vulnerable women (like differently-abled women, Minors) etc.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The upper gestation limit will not apply in cases of substantial foetal abnormalities diagnosed by a Medical Board. This clause has been put to keep such cases out of courts.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Significance of changes</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Despite a sustained government push over years, contraceptive use in India is not very popular. According to a study, 50% of pregnancies in six of the larger Indian states, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, are unintended.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Estimation of unintended pregnancies is important because many of them result in abortions and the availability of cheap and safe abortion services is one of the indicators of a robust health system.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'changes-in-abortion-law', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/59b6/sj6wfs5jxm1oo946g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/59b6/sj6wfs5jxm1oo946g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Changes in abortion law | abortion law', 'metakeyword' => 'Changes in abortion law, abortion law', 'metadescription' => 'The Union Cabinet has cleared a long-pending change to the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 that raises the legally permissible limit for an abortion ', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/k0sd3wnd2d9u1jm/Changes_in_abortion_law.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 98 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 3589, 'title' => 'Surrogacy bill 2019', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A surrogate mother need not be a “close relative”, was recommended by the Rajya Sabha Select Committee on Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019, which also advocated omission of the five-year time limit before seeking surrogacy.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This is among the 15 major changes suggested by the 23-member committee that presented its report in the Rajya Sabha.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The other major changes recommended by the Committee include — allowing single women (widow or a divorcee and Persons of Indian Origin) to avail of surrogacy, and increasing insurance cover for the surrogate mother from the 16 months proposed in the Bill to 36 months.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The committee stated that the requirement of surrogate mother to be a “close relative” potentially restricts the availability of surrogate mothers, affecting genuinely needy persons.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The other major recommendation concerns deleting the definition of “infertility” as “the inability to conceive after five years of unprotected intercourse” on grounds that it was too long a period for a couple to wait for a child.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In order to protect the interests of the child born through surrogacy, the Committee recommended that the order regarding the parentage and custody of the child, issued by a Magistrate, shall be the birth affidavit for the surrogate child.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Select Committee said that the Assisted Reproductive Technologies (Regulation) Bill (ART), which is awaiting Cabinet approval, may be taken up before the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The ART Bill primarily deals with technical, scientific and medical aspects, including the storage of embryos, gametes, oocytes, etc. as contained in the Surrogacy Bill.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Provisions of Surrogacy Bill 2019</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bill prohibits commercial surrogacy, but allows altruistic surrogacy. Altruistic surrogacy involves no monetary compensation to the surrogate mother other than the medical expenses and insurance coverage during the pregnancy.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Surrogacy is permitted when it is: (i) for intending couples who suffer from proven infertility; (ii) altruistic; (iii) not for commercial purposes; (iv) not for producing children for sale, prostitution or other forms of exploitation; and (v) for any condition or disease specified through regulations.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The intending couple should have a ‘certificate of essentiality’ and a ‘certificate of eligibility’ issued by the appropriate authority.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The certificate of eligibility to the intending couple is issued upon fulfilment of the following conditions: (i) the couple being Indian citizens and married for at least five years; (ii) between 23 to 50 years old (wife) and 26 to 55 years old (husband); (iii) they do not have any surviving child (biological, adopted or surrogate); this would not include a child who is mentally or physically challenged or suffers from life threatening disorder or fatal illness; and (iv) other conditions that may be specified by regulations.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The central and state governments shall appoint one or more appropriate authorities within 90 days of the Bill becoming an Act. The functions of the appropriate authority include; (i) granting, suspending or cancelling registration of surrogacy clinics; (ii) enforcing standards for surrogacy clinics; (iii) investigating and taking action against breach of the provisions of the Bill; (iv) recommending modifications to the rules and regulations.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The central and the state governments shall constitute the National Surrogacy Board (NSB) and the State Surrogacy Boards (SSB), respectively. Functions of the NSB include, (i) advising the central government on policy matters relating to surrogacy; (ii) laying down the code of conduct of surrogacy clinics; and (iii) supervising the functioning of SSBs.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A child born out of a surrogacy procedure will be deemed to be the biological child of the intending couple. An abortion of the surrogate child requires the written consent of the surrogate mother and the authorisation of the appropriate authority. Further, the surrogate mother will have an option to withdraw from surrogacy before the embryo is implanted in her womb.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The offences under the Bill include: (i) undertaking or advertising commercial surrogacy; (ii) exploiting the surrogate mother; (iii) abandoning, exploiting or disowning a surrogate child; and (iv) selling or importing human embryo or gametes for surrogacy. The penalty for such offences is imprisonment up to 10 years and a fine up to 10 lakh rupees. The Bill specifies a range of offences and penalties for other contraventions of the provisions of the Bill.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'surrogacy-bill-2019', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/ef1e/phvr9h5a1fxcazd6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/ef1e/phvr9h5a1fxcazd6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Surrogacy bill 2019 | Surrogacy bill ', 'metakeyword' => 'Surrogacy bill 2019, Surrogacy bill ', 'metadescription' => 'A surrogate mother need not be a “close relative”, was recommended by the Rajya Sabha Select Committee on Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019,', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/ejgfrmkemue865d/Surrogacy_bill_2019.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 99 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 3597, 'title' => 'J&K Public Safety Act', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Jammu and Kashmir administration has imposed the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) against former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Both Mr. Omar Abdullah and Ms. Mehbooba Mufti were booked under Section 107 along with Section 151 (for apprehension of breaching peace). Dr. Farooq Abdullah became the first mainstream leader to face the PSA in September 2019. </span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>The PSA</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Jammu & Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978 is a preventive detention law, under which a person is taken into custody to prevent him or her from acting in any manner that is prejudicial to “the security of the state or the maintenance of the public order.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It comes into force by an administrative order passed either by<strong> Divisional Commissioner</strong> or by the <strong>District Magistrate</strong>, and not by a detention order by police based on specific allegations or for a specific violation of laws.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Provisions under PSA</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The PSA allows for the detention of a person above the age of <strong>16 years</strong> without a formal charge and without trial.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It can be slapped on a person already in police custody; on someone immediately after being granted bail by a court; or even on a person acquitted by the court. Detention can be up to two years.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Unlike in police custody, a person who is detained under the PSA need not be produced before a magistrate within 24 hours of the detention.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The detained person does not have the right to move a bail application before a criminal court, and cannot engage any lawyer to represent him or her before the detaining authority.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The only way this administrative preventive detention order can be challenged is through a habeas corpus petition filed by relatives of the detained person.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The High Court and the Supreme Court have the jurisdiction to hear such petitions and pass a final order seeking quashing of the PSA.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">However, if the order is quashed, there is no bar on the government passing another detention order under the PSA and detaining the person again.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The District Magistrate who has passed the detention order has protection under the Act, which states that the order is considered “done in good faith”.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Also, after an amendment, last year by the Governor, persons detained under the PSA in Jammu & Kashmir can now be detained in jails outside the state.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'j-k-public-safety-act', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/b423/hlska5rddraei106g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/b423/hlska5rddraei106g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'J&K Public Safety Act', 'metakeyword' => 'J&K Public Safety Act', 'metadescription' => 'The Jammu and Kashmir administration has imposed the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) against former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ministers Mehbooba Mufti', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/41y5d14y0ewi4cb/J%26K_Public_Safety_Act.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 100 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 3598, 'title' => 'Rajya Sabha House Panel suggests steps to curb child pornography', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A parliamentary panel has recommended a code of conduct for Internet service providers (ISPs) and strengthening the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights to curb child pornography.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The report, prepared by an ad hoc committee set up by the Rajya Sabha and led by Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, was submitted to the Chairman of the House. It recommends a multi-pronged strategy detailing technological, institutional, social and educational as well as State-level measures.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Among its key recommendations is a code of conduct or a set of guidelines for ensuring child safety online. It puts a greater onus on ISPs to identify and remove child sexual abuse material (CSAM) as well as report such content and those trying to access them to the authorities under the national cybercrime portal.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It has also called for strengthening the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) so that it can serve as the nodal body for curbing child pornography. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The capabilities required in the NCPCR should include technology, cyberpolicing and prosecution along with an inter-ministerial task force, the panel has proposed.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The committee has delved into great detail in using technology to curb circulation of child porn such as breaking end-to-end encryption to trace its distributors of child pornography, mandatory applications to monitor children’s access to pornographic content, employing photo DNA to target profile pictures of groups with CSAM.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Drawbacks</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The suggestion to break encryption may also just lead to traffic moving to different platforms.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">There is also a need to develop a victim-centric strategy instead of just focusing on prosecution.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'curb-child-pornography', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/de7f/1xlxyyvdn7tzing6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/de7f/1xlxyyvdn7tzing6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Rajya Sabha Panel suggests steps to curb child pornography', 'metakeyword' => 'Rajya Sabha House Panel suggests steps to curb child pornography', 'metadescription' => 'A parliamentary panel has recommended a code of conduct for Internet service providers (ISPs) and strengthening the National Commission for Protection', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/bhgj16w4ow5se65/Rajya_Sabha_House_Panel_suggests_steps_to_curb_child_pornography.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 101 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 3600, 'title' => 'Sedition law', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A sessions court in Mumbai rejected the anticipatory bail application of a 22-year-old student booked under Section 124A (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The sedition charge was filed on the basis of slogans that the student had raised in favour of another student who has already been booked for sedition.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Section 124A</strong> has been challenged in various courts in specific cases. The validity of the provision itself was upheld by a Constitution Bench in 1962, in Kedarnath Singh vs State of Bihar.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Supreme Court laid down that every citizen has a right to say or write about the government, by way of criticism or comment, as long as it does not “incite people to violence” against the government established by law or with the intention of creating public disorder.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The High Court referred to five other judgments, including a Supreme Court judgment (Balwant Singh vs State of Punjab) regarding raising of slogans by three men after former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Sedition charges</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Section 124A</strong> of the Indian Penal Code lays down the punishment for sedition. The Indian Penal Code was enacted in 1860, under the British Raj. Section 124A forms part of Chapter VI of the Code which deals with offences against the state.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><em>Whoever, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards, the Government established by law in India, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, to which fine may be added, or with imprisonment which may extend to <strong>three</strong> years, to which fine may be added, or with fine.</em></span></span></p> </li> </ul> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Explanation 1.—The expression “disaffection” includes disloyalty and all feelings of enmity.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Explanation 2.—Comments expressing disapprobation of the measures of the Government with a view to obtain their alteration by lawful means, without exciting or attempting to excite hatred, contempt or disaffection, do not constitute an offence under this section.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Explanation 3.—Comments expressing disapprobation of the administrative or other action of the Government without exciting or attempting to excite hatred, contempt or disaffection, do not constitute an offence under this section</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'sedition-law', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/ddbf/sn8k2mgb2c15h846g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/ddbf/sn8k2mgb2c15h846g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Sedition law | Anticipatory Bail Application', 'metakeyword' => 'Sedition law, anticipatory bail application, Indian Penal Code ', 'metadescription' => 'A sessions court in Mumbai rejected the anticipatory bail application of a 22-year-old student booked under Section 124A (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code ', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/4qzsepaujbn9sa1/Sedition_law.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 102 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 3719, 'title' => 'Assisted Reproductive Technology Regulation Bill', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Union Cabinet has approved the Assisted Reproductive Technology Regulation Bill, 2020 to monitor medical procedures used to assist people to achieve pregnancy.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">India has become one of the major centres of this global fertility industry, with reproductive medical tourism becoming a significant activity. There is no standardisation of protocols and reporting is still very inadequate.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bill provides for a national Board which will lay down a code of conduct to be observed by those operating clinics.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It will also formulate minimum standards for laboratory and diagnostic equipment and practices to be followed by human resources employed by clinics and banks. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The States and Union Territories will also have to form State Boards and State authorities within three months of the notification of the proposed legislation.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Under the proposed law, a national registry and registration authority will maintain a database to assist the national Board to perform its functions.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bill also proposes stringent punishment for those who practise sex selection, indulge in sale of human embryos or gametes and those who operate rackets.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bill will also ensure confidentiality of intending couples and protect the rights of the child.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'assisted-reproductive-technology-regulation-bill', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/5065/1ytii59ziw0si2n6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/5065/1ytii59ziw0si2n6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Assisted Reproductive Technology Regulation Bill', 'metakeyword' => 'Assisted Reproductive Technology Regulation Bill', 'metadescription' => 'The Union Cabinet has approved the Assisted Reproductive Technology Regulation Bill, 2020 to monitor medical procedures used to assist people to achieve', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/ooqh99ojn2sqyb2/Assisted_Reproductive_Technology_Regulation_Bill.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 103 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 3737, 'title' => 'Juvenile Justice Act', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A Group of Ministers (GoM) chaired by Home Minister Amit Shah met to discuss proposed amendments to the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) (JJ) Act, 2015.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The 2015 Act addressed two key issues, apprehension, detention, prosecution, penalty or imprisonment, rehabilitation and social re-integration of children in conflict with law and procedures and decisions or orders relating to rehabilitation, adoption, re-integration and restoration of children in need of care and protection.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 has come into force and repeals the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The JJ Act, 2015 provides for strengthened provisions for both children in need of care and protection and children in conflict with law. </span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Some of the key provisions include: </span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">change in nomenclature from ‘juvenile’ to ‘child’ or ‘child in conflict with law’, across the Act to remove the negative connotation associated with the word “juvenile”; </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">inclusion of several new definitions such as orphaned, abandoned and surrendered children and petty, serious and heinous offences committed by children; </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">clarity in powers, function and responsibilities of Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) and Child Welfare Committee (CWC); </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">clear timelines for inquiry by Juvenile Justice Board (JJB); </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">special provisions for heinous offences committed by children above the age of sixteen year; </span></span></p> </li> </ul> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Under Section 15, special provisions have been made to tackle child offenders committing heinous offences in the age group of 16-18 years. The Juvenile Justice Board is given the option to transfer cases of heinous offences by such children to a Children’s Court (Court of Session) after conducting preliminary assessment. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">To streamline adoption procedures for orphan, abandoned and surrendered children, the existing Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) is given the status of a statutory body to enable it to perform its function more effectively.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Several rehabilitation and social reintegration measures have been provided for children in conflict with law and those in need of care and protection.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Several new offences committed against children, which are so far not adequately covered under any other law, are included in the Act. These include: sale and procurement of children for any purpose including illegal adoption, corporal punishment in child care institutions, use of child by militant groups, offences against disabled children and, kidnapping and abduction of children.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">All child care institutions, whether run by State Government or by voluntary or non-governmental organisations, which are meant, either wholly or partially for housing children, regardless of whether they receive grants from the Government, are to be mandatorily registered under the Act within 6 months from the date of commencement of the Act. Stringent penalty is provided in the law in case of non-compliance.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'juvenile-justice-act', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/f4f7/zxw4si0ub2ldtp56g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/f4f7/zxw4si0ub2ldtp56g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Juvenile Justice Act | Care and Protection of Children', 'metakeyword' => 'Juvenile Justice Act, Care and Protection of Children)', 'metadescription' => 'A Group of Ministers (GoM) chaired by Home Minister Amit Shah met to discuss proposed amendments to the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) (JJ) Act, 2015.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/uu663jejoo5y4ax/Juvenile_Justice_Act.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 104 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 3790, 'title' => 'Central Consumer Protection Authority', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan announced that a Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) will be established by the first week of April.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The authority is being constituted under <strong>Section 10(1)</strong> of <strong>The Consumer Protection Act</strong>, 2019. The Act replaced The Consumer Protection Act, 1986, and seeks to widen its scope in addressing consumer concerns.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The new Act recognises offences such as providing false information regarding the quality or quantity of a good or service, and misleading advertisements. It also specifies action to be taken if goods and services are found dangerous, hazardous or unsafe.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The CCPA, introduced in the new Act, aims to protect the rights of the consumer by cracking down on unfair trade practices, and false and misleading advertisements that are detrimental to the interests of the public and consumers.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Structure and Functions</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The CCPA will have the powers to inquire or investigate into matters relating to <strong>violations of consumer rights or unfair trade practices suo motu, </strong>or<strong> on a complaint received, </strong>or<strong> on a direction from the central government.</strong></span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The proposed authority will be a lean body with a Chief Commissioner as head, and only two other commissioners as members, one of whom will deal with matters relating to goods while the other will look into cases relating to services. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It will be headquartered in the National Capital Region of Delhi but the central government may set up regional offices in other parts of the country.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The CCPA will have an Investigation Wing that will be headed by a Director General. District Collectors too, will have the power to investigate complaints of violations of consumer rights, unfair trade practices, and false or misleading advertisements.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Under Section 20 of The Consumer Protection Act, the proposed authority will have powers to recall goods or withdrawal of services that are dangerous, hazardous or unsafe; pass an order for refund the prices of goods or services so recalled to purchasers of such goods or services; and discontinuation of practices which are unfair and prejudicial to consumer’s interest.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">For manufacture, selling, storage, distribution, or import of adulterated products, the penalties are:</span></span></p> <ul style="margin-left:40px"> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">If injury is not caused to a consumer, fine up to Rs 1 lakh with imprisonment up to six months;</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">If injury is caused, fine up to Rs 3 lakh with imprisonment up to one year;</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> If grievous hurt is caused, fine up to Rs 5 lakh with imprisonment up to 7 years;</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> In case of death, fine of Rs 10 lakh or more with a minimum imprisonment of 7 years, extendable to imprisonment for life.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Section 21 of the new Act defines the powers given to the CCPA to crack down on false or <strong>misleading advertisements</strong>. The authority may also impose a penalty up to Rs 10 lakh, with imprisonment up to two years, on the manufacturer or endorser of false and misleading advertisements. The penalty may go up to Rs 50 lakh, with imprisonment up to five years, for every subsequent offence committed by the same manufacturer or endorser.</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">While conducting an investigation after preliminary inquiry, officers of the CCPA’s Investigation Wing will have the powers to enter any premise and search for any document or article, and to seize these. For search and seizure, the CCPA will have similar powers given under the provisions of The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The CCPA can file complaints of violation of consumer rights or unfair trade practices before the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, and the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission. It will issue safety notices to alert consumers against dangerous or hazardous or unsafe goods or services.</span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'central-consumer-protection-authority', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/3614/w9ekvc5xby2y8816g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/3614/w9ekvc5xby2y8816g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Central Consumer Protection Authority', 'metakeyword' => 'Central Consumer Protection Authority', 'metadescription' => 'Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan announced that a Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) will be established by the first week', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/93rwgyqp1fjpqjr/Central_Consumer_Protection_Authority.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 105 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 3845, 'title' => 'Changes in companies Act to decriminalise certain offences', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Centre proposes to amend the Companies Act, in a bid to decriminalise a number of offences and ease corporate social responsibility (CSR) requirements, especially for smaller companies.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The amendments are based on the recommendations of a high-level panel set up in September 2019. If passed by Parliament, these would be the second set of amendments to the Act over the last year, as the law was already amended last July.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The changes are expected to “significantly enhance the confidence of Indian corporates in the government’s resolve to provide greater ease of doing business and accord highest respect to honest wealth creators in the country and reduce the burden on the justice system”.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The amendment bill will also enable the listing of Indian companies on stock exchanges in foreign jurisdictions. This is expected to give Indian firms greater access to capital, a broader investor base and better valuations.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The priority is to remove sections which criminalise offences which may not have been intended to be malafide.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government proposed changes to 52 out of 66 compoundable offences under the Act, either removing them entirely, downgrading penalties from jail sentences to fines or suggesting alternative adjudication mechanisms.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Centre proposes to recategorise 23 offences so that they can be dealt with through an in-house adjudication framework, while five types of offences will be dealt with under different alternative frameworks.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Most of these are procedural or technical defaults that lack the element of fraud or do not affect larger public interest.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">For 11 kinds of offences, the provision of imprisonment will be removed, limiting punishment to fines only. Six offences that had already been decriminalised earlier will see a further reduction in the quantum of penalties.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The proposed amendments will also ensure that companies which have an obligation to spend ?50 lakh per annum or less on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) are no longer required to have a CSR committee.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'changes-in-companies-act-to-decriminalise-certain-offences', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/a3f4/e6lvpjubjdvdcsw6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/a3f4/e6lvpjubjdvdcsw6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Changes in companies Act to decriminalise certain offences', 'metakeyword' => 'Changes in companies Act to decriminalise certain offences', 'metadescription' => 'The priority is to remove sections which criminalise offences which may not have been intended to be malafide. ', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/m9b85aa4e3nwkrx/Changes_in_companies_Act_to_decriminalise_certain_offences.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 106 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 3921, 'title' => 'The Epidemic diseases Act', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It was decided in a Cabinet Secretary meeting that states and Union Territories should invoke provisions of Section 2 of Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, so that Health Ministry advisories are enforceable.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">At present, at least 60 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in India. Around the world, more than 119,100 people have been infected and nearly 4,300 have died.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Epidemic Diseases Act is routinely enforced across the country for dealing with outbreaks of diseases such as swine flu, dengue, and cholera.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The colonial government introduced the Act to tackle the epidemic of bubonic plague that had spread in the erstwhile Bombay Presidency in the 1890s.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Using powers conferred by the Act, colonies authorities would search suspected plague cases in homes and among passengers, with forcible segregations, evacuations, and demolitions of infected places.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Act, which consists of four sections, aims to provide for the better prevention of the spread of Dangerous Epidemic Diseases.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Section 2 empowers state governments/UTs to take special measures and formulate regulations for containing the outbreak.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Provisions</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provisions, the State Government may take measures and prescribe regulations for:</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">When at any time the State Government is satisfied that the State or any part thereof is visited by, or threatened with, an outbreak of any dangerous epidemic disease, the State Government, if it thinks that the ordinary provisions of the law for the time being in force are insufficient for the purpose, may take, or require or empower any person to take, such measures and, by public notice, prescribe such temporary regulations to be observed by the public or by any person or class of persons as it shall deem necessary to prevent the outbreak of such disease or the spread thereof, and may determine in what manner and by whom any expenses incurred (including compensation if any) shall be defrayed.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The inspection of persons travelling by railway or otherwise, and the segregation, in hospital, temporary accommodation or otherwise, of persons suspected by the inspecting officer of being infected with any such disease.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Section 3</strong> provides penalties for disobeying any regulation or order made under the Act. These are according to section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant).</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Section 4</strong> gives legal protection to the implementing officers acting under the Act.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'the-epidemic-diseases-act', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9bce/0c11j04msvqj6za6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9bce/0c11j04msvqj6za6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'The Epidemic diseases Act', 'metakeyword' => 'The Epidemic diseases Act', 'metadescription' => 'It was decided in a Cabinet Secretary meeting that states and Union Territories should invoke provisions of Section 2 of Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, so that Health Ministry advisories', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/9q3msvzusspnx1i/The_Epidemic_diseases_Act.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 107 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 3953, 'title' => 'Essential commodities', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Following reports of shortage and irrational pricing of hand sanitisers and masks, the central government declared these items “essential commodities” until the end of June.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government’s order has come in the wake of reports of a shortage of these commodities and a sudden and sharp spike in their prices, and the alleged hoarding of stocks by manufacturers.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Government has notified an Order under the Essential Commodities Act to declare these items as Essential Commodities up to 30th June, 2020 by amending the Schedule of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Essential Commodities Act provides, “in the interest of the general public, for the control of the production, supply and distribution of, and trade and commerce, in certain commodities”.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The law, which was passed in 1955 to essentially protect consumers from unreasonable and exploitative increases in prices of commodities in times of shortage, has been amended several times over the years, and made more stringent.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Under the Act, the government can also fix the maximum retail price (MRP) of any packaged product that it declares an “essential commodity”.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government has sweeping powers in this regard. The Act defines an “essential commodity” as simply “a commodity specified in the Schedule”.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Act empowers the central government to add new commodities to the list of Essential Commodities as and when the need arises, and to remove them from the list once the crisis is over or the situation improves.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Authorities act on the notification issued by the Centre, and implement the regulations. Anybody trading or dealing in the essential commodity, including wholesalers, retailers, manufacturers, and importers, is barred from stocking it beyond the specified quantity.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Violators are, therefore, termed as illegal hoarders or black-marketeers who can be prosecuted. Besides penalties, the violation may lead to imprisonment for a maximum period of seven years.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Agencies of state governments and Union Territory administrations are empowered to conduct raids to catch violators. The government can confiscate excess stock hoarded by retailers/traders/manufacturers, and either auction it or sell it through fair-price shops.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'essential-commodities', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/86b4/i6azs66tv3v8ku46g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/86b4/i6azs66tv3v8ku46g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Essential commodities', 'metakeyword' => 'Essential commodities', 'metadescription' => 'Following reports of shortage and irrational pricing of hand sanitisers and masks, the central government declared these items “essential commodities” until the end of June.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/xv4famrb28a1s06/5.Essential_commodities.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 108 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 3981, 'title' => 'Department of Telecom asks for call records', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Operators have red-flagged the fact that local circle units of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) have been asking for call data records (CDRs) by the bulk.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Even though it is unclear why exactly the government has been seeking these records by the bulk, operators have said that one-off requests are considered to be usual.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Stakeholders have claimed that the government seeking such details on specific dates for certain pockets in the country without mentioning the reason is highly unusual.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A call data record of a subscriber is a string of information about that mobile phone number for a particular time period. This string of information includes details such as the name of the subscriber, the details of calls made by this subscriber during a given time period, the duration of each call, whether the call terminated normally or abnormally, rough location of the caller, rough location of the call recipient and various other such details.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Rules for obtaining call records were tightened following a row in 2013 over unauthorized access to CDRs of several politicians. Under the new guidelines, only an officer of the rank of SP and above was authorized to seek details from telecom operators, and inform the DM of CDRs obtained every month. The current request is not in line with these guidelines.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">While it is usual for law enforcement agencies and even the DoT to seek such data records from telecom operators for a specific period, the manner in which the data is now being sought by the Department is in contravention of the usual trend and exploits a little-known provision in the licensing agreement between the government and the operators. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Licensing Condition No.39.20 of the Licence Agreement for Unified License stipulates that all the operators have to preserve CDRs at least for one year for scrutiny by the licenser for security reasons.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The license condition goes on to mandate that CDRs be provided by mobile companies to the law enforcement agencies & to various courts upon their specific requests or directions, for which there is a laid-down protocol.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Some telecom executives have alluded to the possibility that the DoT could be asking these details to monitor the call-drop situation, but said that CDRs would not paint a clear picture of the poor quality of service scenario.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'department-of-telecom-asks-for-call-records', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/d88e/clz7umuxijnvpfn6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/d88e/clz7umuxijnvpfn6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Department of Telecom asks for call records', 'metakeyword' => 'Department of Telecom asks for call records', 'metadescription' => 'Operators have red-flagged the fact that local circle units of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) have been asking for call data records (CDRs) by the bulk.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/mewu2rquxie668p/3.Department_of_Telecom_asks_for_call_records.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 109 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 4103, 'title' => 'Section 269 and 270 of IPC', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Earlier an individual, who failed to disclose travel history following return from Dubai, and who later tested positive for COVID-19, was booked under Section 270 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">UP police had booked Bollywood singer Kanika Kapoor under the same Section, as well as Sections 269 and 188 IPC, after she attended at least three gatherings in Lucknow, including a party where political leaders were present, and tested positive for the new coronavirus.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">There have been other instances across the country where Sections 269 and 270 have been used to book persons defying quarantine orders for containing the spread of the pandemic.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Sections 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) come under Chapter XIV of the Indian Penal Code– ‘Of Offences Affecting The Public Health, Safety, Convenience, Decency and Morals’.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">While Section 269 provides for a jail term of six months and/or fine, Section 270 provides for a jail term of two years and/or fine. In Section 270, the word ‘malignantly’ indicates indicates a deliberate intention on the part of the accused.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">During the coronavirus outbreak, penal provisions, such as Sections 188, 269 and 270 of the IPC, are being invoked to enforce the lockdown orders in various states.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Both Sections have been used for over a century to punish those disobeying orders issued for containing epidemics. The Sections were similarly enforced by colonial authorities during outbreaks of diseases such as smallpox and bubonic plague.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Recent instances of invocation include one on March 2018, when the Health Ministry said that failure by clinical establishments to notify a tuberculosis patient to the nodal officer and local public health staff can be punished under Section 269 and 270.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'section-269-and-270-of-IPC', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/8dbc/37x94bsievc2bom6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/8dbc/37x94bsievc2bom6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Section 269 and 270 of IPC', 'metakeyword' => 'Section 269 and 270 of IPC', 'metadescription' => 'Earlier an individual, who failed to disclose travel history following return from Dubai, and who later tested positive for COVID-19, was booked under Section 270', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/bpl1bqenr2r6gyx/2.Section_269_and_270_of_IPC.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 110 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Bills & Laws', 'keyword' => 'bills-laws', 'id' => (int) 4153, 'title' => 'National Security Act', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Uttar Pradesh government is planning to charge individuals, who attack policeman enforcing