Lok Sabha passed Aadhaar (Targeted
Delivery of Financial and Other
Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Bill,
2016
11-MAR-2016
The Lok Sabha on 11 March 2016 passed the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Bill, 2016.
The bill seeks to provide for targeted delivery of subsidies and services to individuals residing in India by assigning them unique identity numbers, called Aadhaar numbers.
Features of the Aadhaar Bill, 2016
• Eligibility: Every resident shall be entitled to obtain an Aadhaar number. A resident is a person who has resided in India for 182 days, in the one year preceding the date of application for enrolment for Aadhaar.
• Information to be submitted: To obtain an Aadhaar number, an individual has to submit his (a) biometric (photograph, finger print, iris scan) and (b) demographic (name, date of birth, address) information. The Unique Identification Authority (UID) may specify other biometric and demographic information to be collected by regulations.
• Enrolment: At the time of enrolment, the individual will be informed of the manner in which the information will be used, the nature of recipients with whom the information will be shared and the right to access this information.
After verification of information provided by a person, an Aadhaar number will be issued to him.
• Usage of Aadhaar number: To verify the identity of a person receiving a subsidy or a service, the government may require them to have an Aadhaar number. If a person does not have an Aadhaar number, government will require them to apply for it, and in the meanwhile, provide an alternative means of identification.
Any public or private entity can accept the Aadhaar number as a proof of identity of the Aadhaar number holder, for any purpose. However, Aadhaar number cannot be a proof of citizenship or domicile.
Functions and composition of authority: The following are the key functions of the UID authority -
1) Specifying demographic and biometric information to be collected during enrolment
2) Assigning Aadhaar numbers to individuals
3) Authenticating Aadhaar numbers
4) Specifying the usage of Aadhaar numbers for delivery of subsidies and services.
• UID Authority composition: The UID authority will consist of a chairperson, two part-time members and a CEO. The chairperson and members are required to have experience of at least 10 years in matters such as technology, governance, etc.
• Authentication: The UID authority will authenticate the Aadhar number of an individual, if an entity makes such a request. A requesting entity (an agency or person that wants to authenticate information of a person) has to obtain the consent of an individual before collecting his information. The agency can use the disclosed information only for purposes for which the individual has given consent.
• Response to authentication query: The UID authority shall respond to an authentication query with a positive, negative or other appropriate response. However, it is not permitted to share an individual’s finger print, iris scan and other biological attributes.
• Maintenance of Authentication records: The UID authority shall record the entity requesting verification of a person’s identity, the time of request and the response received by the entity. The purpose for which an individual's identity needs to be verified will not be maintained.
rs/why-does-right-to-privacy-needs-a-relook-1445607670-1" target="_blank">Understanding the issue of Right to Privacy
• Privacy: Biometric information such as an individual’s finger print, iris scan and other biological attributes will be used only for Aadhaar enrolment and authentication and for no other purpose. Such information will not be shared with anyone, nor will it be displayed publicly, except for purposes specified by regulations.
However, in two instances, information may be revealed – In the interest of national security and on the order of court.
1) National security: In the interest of national security, a Joint Secretary in the Union Government may issue a direction for revealing Aadhaar number, biometric information, demographic information and photograph. Such a decision will be reviewed by an Oversight Committee (comprising Cabinet Secretary, Secretaries of Legal Affairs and Electronics and Information Technology) and will be valid for six months.
2) Court order: On the order of a court an individual’s Aadhaar number, photograph and demographic information may be revealed.
• Offences and penalties: A person may be punished with imprisonment up to 3 years and minimum fine of 10 lakh rupees for unauthorized access to the centralized data-base, including revealing any information stored in it.
If a requesting entity and an enrolling agency fail to comply with rules, they shall be punished with imprisonment up to one year or a fine up to 10000 rupees or one lakh rupees, in case of a company, or with both.
• Cognizance of offence: No court shall take cognizance of any offence except on a complaint made by the UID authority or a person authorised by it.
Rajya Sabha passed Real Estate
(Regulation and Development) Bill,
2015
11-MAR-2016
Rajya Sabha on 10 March 2016 passed the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill, 2015. The bill among other provisions seeks to set up a Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) for the orderly growth of the real state sector.
The bill also aims at protecting the interests of the large number of aspiring house buyers. It also wants to enhance the credibility of construction industry by promoting transparency, accountability and efficiency in execution of projects.
The bill was approved by legislators across the political spectrum, a rare sight as the last two parliamentary sessions had ended in a whitewash.
Main highlights of the Bill
• The Bill seeks to regulate transactions between buyers and promoters and provides for setting up of state level regulatory authorities.
• It also provides for registration of promoters and agents with the authorities.
• The promoters are mandated to deposit 70 percent of the money collected from buyers in a separate bank account, to be used only for construction of that project.
• They will also have to disclose project information including details of the promoter, land status, status of approvals, agreements along with details of real estate agents and contractors.
• The commercial real estate has also been brought under the ambit of the Bill.
• Projects under construction are also required to be registered with the RERA.
• If builders cause delays in transferring properties to buyers, the appellate tribunal would intervene and slap fines on them within 60 days. In case consumers fail to make payments to developers, the appellate tribunal can fine them, too.
• It provides for imprisonment of up to three years in case of promoters and up to one year in case of real estate agents and buyers for any violation of orders of Appellate Tribunals or monetary penalties or both.
• The builders would also be responsible for fixing structural defects for five years after transferring the property to a buyer.
• Buyers will now be paying only for the carpet area and not the super built-up area.
• The developers will now have to take consent of 66 per cent of the homebuyers in case they have to increase the number of floors or change the building plans. This will protect the buyers from any ad-hoc changes that are a norm presently.
• Projects only below the size of 500 square meters are exempted from the accountability ambit compared to earlier 1000 square meters or 12 apartments.
The bill was first introduced in the Lok Sabha by Congress leader Kumari Selja in 2013, when she was Union Urban Development Minister but was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee. In December 2015 Union Cabinet approved the bill after incorporating 20 amendments suggested by the Standing Committee.
The real state sector is the second largest employer after agriculture and contributes 9% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
NITI Aayog launched Women
Transforming India campaign in
partnership with UN and MyGov
11-MAR-2016
The NITI Aayog on 8 March 2016, celebrated as International Women’s Day, launched the Women Transforming India initiative in partnership with the UN in India and MyGov.
Through the initiative, NITI Aayog seeks for entries in the form of written essays/stories, preferably accompanied by photographs that set a context to the narrative. These stories should reflect new ground broken by women in empowering themselves/others, or of challenging stereotypes.
Why the campaign is launched?
• To encourage and recognize women who have made a difference, particularly, by demonstrating leadership in the economic, socio-cultural and environmental front.
• To encourage the stories of change fostered through the setting up of small businesses/enterprises to generate livelihood opportunities for communities, challenging discriminatory practices/norms, or preserving the environment and responding to challenges of climate change.
• To identify successes in leading change achieved either through the use of technology or by employing innovating on-ground methods.
• Spread across a period of over one month, the initiative will also sensitize citizens to gender issues and seek to promote gender equity and equality, through a variety of media.
• Women Transforming India is consistent with the government’s renewed commitment to advancing gender equality.
• The many interventions including Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Sukanya Samridhi Yojana, Janani Suraksha Yojana are testimony to its resolve to empower and educate of girls, and to tackle discrimination against girls and women.
• This initiative is also a step forward in furthering the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which have Gender as a stand-alone goal.
Assure call drops do not exceed 2%:
SC to Telecom operators
11-MAR-2016
The Supreme Court on 10 March 2016 asked telecom operators to give an undertaking that they have not exceeded the two percent threshold limit of call drops as mandated in the regulations of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
A bench headed by Justice Kurian Joseph also asked the cellular operator associations to inform the court whether any penalty was ever levied on them for call drops.
Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), a body of Unified Telecom Service Providers of India and 21 telecom operators challenged the Delhi High Court order upholding the 16 October 2015 decision of the TRAI.
TRAI made mandatory for telecom operators to compensate for call drops from 1 January 2016
The TRAI made it mandatory for cellular operators to pay consumers one rupee per call drop experienced on their networks, subject to a cap of 3 rupees a day. The High Court allowed telecom regulator to implement its decision with effect from 1 January 2016.
If the TRAI's recommendation is implemented the telecom operators will end up paying around 50000 crore rupees to the consumers in a year.
CCEA approved revised policy on gas
production from Deep Waters & HPHT
areas
11-MAR-2016
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on 10 March 2016 approved revised policy on gas production from deep water, ultra deep water and high pressure-high temperature (HPHT) areas.
The revised policy seeks to grant marketing and pricing freedom for new gas production from these areas so that domestic gas production is improved and dependence on imports is reduced.
Salient features of the revised policy
• The producers will be allowed marketing including pricing freedom. It is applicable to all the discoveries in these areas which are yet to commence commercial production as 1 January 2016 and for all future discoveries also.
• To protect user industries from any market imperfections, this freedom would be subject to a ceiling price on the basis of landed price of alternative fuels.
• The ceiling shall be based on publicly available prices of substitute fuels and shall be calculated as lowest of the - Landed price of imported fuel oil, weighted average import landed price of substitute fuels (namely coal, fuel oil and naphtha) and landed price of imported LNG.
• The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas will notify the periodic revision of gas price ceiling under these guidelines.
This revised policy is in addition tothe Hydrocarbon Exploration Licensing Policy (HELP) which was approved by the CCEA on 10 March 2016. The policy, among other things, provided for concessional royalty regime for deep water and ultra-deep water areas.
As per the provision, these areas shall not have any royalty for the first seven years and thereafter shall have a concessional royalty of 5 percent in deep water areas and 2 percent in ultra-deep water areas.
Benefits of the revised policy
• The decision is expected to improve the viability of some of the discoveries already made in such areas and also would lead to monetization of future discoveries as well.
• The associated reserves are valued at 180000 crore rupees.
• There would be substantial employment generated during the development phase of these discoveries and a part of it would continue during the production phase of the block.
• By keeping the domestic gas price below import parity price, user industry will be benefitted to a large extent.
In terms of macro-economic impact and also in terms of energy security, it is of paramount importance that domestic production of hydrocarbons be increased. This revised policy is expected to achieve this objective.
Why the revision in the policy?
• Much of the unexploited oil and gas available in India is in areas characterized by deep water/ultra-deep water or high pressure/high temperature.
• Recognizing the need for incentivizing gas production from these areas, the CCEA, in October 2014, approved premium on the gas produced from these areas.
• However, in the subsequent period, due to the fall in the global oil gas prices affected the attractiveness of the sector to potential investors. As a result, there are a number of discoveries of gas in these areas which have not been developed.
• ONGC and other operators are also requesting a higher price for gas to be produced from such fields, without which they may not be economical to bring to production.
• Meanwhile, domestic gas production is showing a declining trend in recent years. It has witnessed a decline of 17 percent in two years from 40.66 BCM in 2012-13 to 33.65 BCM in 2014-15.
• With the economy growing at over 7 percent, demand for petroleum products including gas is increasing.
• Thus, the sector is facing a situation of rising demand, falling production and consequently rapid increase in hydrocarbon imports which occupy a large share of India’s total imports.
• Currently, over three-quarters of the domestic requirement of crude oil and approximately a third of domestic requirement of gas are met through imports.
Against this backdrop, the CCEA felt that rather than fixing a premium, it would be more appropriate to provide marketing and pricing freedom to the gas to be produced from the deep water, ultra deep water and high pressure-high temperature areas.
Tezpur University and JNU won the
annual Visitor’s Awards for Central
Universities
11-MAR-2016
Tezpur University on 10 March 2016 won the annual Visitor’s Award for the Best University. Rakesh Bhatnagar and the Molecular Parasitology Group of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) have also won the Visitor’s Awards for Research and Innovation respectively.
President Pranab Mukherjee will present Visitor’s Awards for 2016 to the winners at a function to be held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 14 March 2016, as part of the Festival of Innovations.
The Visitor’s Award for Innovation will be given to Professor Rakesh Bhatnagar of Jawaharlal Nehru University for development of a genetically engineered vaccine and a therapeutic antibody against anthrax.
The Visitor’s Award for Research will be presented to the Molecular Parasitology Group of Jawaharlal Nehru University of pioneering work in the area of molecular parasitology, especially anti-malaria, leishmaniasis and amoebiasis.
The Best University will receive a Citation and Trophy while winners of Visitor’s Award for Innovation and Research will receive a citation and cash award of one lakh rupees.
About Visitor’s Award
• The institution of Visitor’s Awards for Central Universities was announced by President Pranab Mukherjee at the Vice Chancellors’ Conference 2014.
• The awards were instituted with an aim of promoting healthy competition amongst Central Universities and motivating them to adopt best practices from across the world.
About Festival of Innovations
• A week-long Festival of Innovations will be held in Rashtrapati Bhavan from 12 March to 19 March 2016.
• It will commence with the inauguration of an exhibition of grassroot innovations on 12 March 2016 by President Pranab Mukherjee.
• The Festival will witness a number of exhibitions, roundtable discussions on different topics related to innovations, group discussions, an award for Gandhian Young Technological Innovation, a meeting of Innovation Clubs set up in institutions of higher education, a workshop for children and a hackathon and more.
NPAs: The Bane of Indian Banking
Sector
11-MAR-2016
What is a Non-Performing Asset?
Non Performing Assets (NPAs) are a classification used by financial institutions that refer to loans that are in jeopardy of default. Once the borrower has failed to make interest or principal payments for 90 days the loan is considered to be a non-performing asset.
In general terms NPAs are assets/project not generating cash flow to the extent and in the period originally envisaged. By translation, banks may not be able to timely recover the entire amount lent and hence, provisioning. However, in real world, NPAs arise due to genuine reasons, wrong assumptions/inefficiencies and misdemeanour.
The Magnitude of NPAs
As per a survey, net NPAs amount to only 2.36 percent of the total loans in the banking system. However, if restructured assets are taken into account, stressed assets account will be 10.9 percent of the total loans in the system. As per the International Monetary Fund (IMF), around 37 percent of the total debt in India is at risk.
India’s largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) reported a massive 67 per cent fall in consolidated net profit at 1259.49 crore rupees in the third quarter of the 2015-16 financial year and classified loans worth 20692 crore rupees as having turned bad.
As per an estimate, the cumulative gross NPAs of 24 listed public sector banks, including market leader SBI and its associates, stood at 393035 crore rupees as on 31 December 2015.
The Economic Survey 2015-16 also alarmed the policy makers about growing bad debts with the banks and their potential to disrupt the growth prospects in the future.
Causes of rising trend of NPAs
In real world, NPAs arise due to genuine reasons, wrong assumptions/inefficiencies and misdemeanour. The causes can be categorized into external environment and internal environment.
Under the external environment falls global slowdown, fall in domestic demand, policy logjam & disputed contracts.
Under the internal environment falls:
Banks: Governance deficit, poor credit appraisal; weak risk management; all debt-no equity; infra financing particularly highways- ‘gold plated’ contracts; power – faulty FSAs, pass through arrangement, termination payments; chasing quick growth; pretend and extend
Corporate India: Complex web holding company, step down entities; high leverage; overseas acquisitions; unhedged exposures; siphoning, diversion and so on
Value sale v/s distress sale: Minsky’s Financial Instability Hypothesis- 3 types of borrowers (Hedge, Speculative and Ponzi)
Beyond Corporate Universe: Kisan Credit Card and Agriculture distress vis-a-vis crop insurance; Small/ medium enterprises…. lack of timely support and delayed payments
Effects of rising trend of NPAs
• Public Sector banks provide around 80% of the credit to industries and it is this part of the credit distribution that forms a great chunk of NPA. Last year, when kingfisher was marred in financial crisis, SBI provided it huge amount of loan which it is not able to recover from it.
• If Indian industry is in crisis, it is bound to hit the banking sector and their NPA will rise.
• Only PSBs can’t be blamed for the situation. The economic policy of the government and also politician-corporate nexus is behind the current state of banking industry.
• If the NPAs keep rising in the current state like that of Kotak Mahindra or Union Bank, it will lead to shutting down of bank and it can also create a very serious economic crisis in the nation.
• One of the main reasons of rising NPA is the relaxed lending norms especially for corporate honchos when their financial status and credit rating is not analyzed properly. Also, to face competition banks are hugely selling unsecured loans which attributes to the level of NPAs.
• Global economy can effect the banking sector but to a very small extent. It is the policies of RBI and govt. that can improve the situation.
• If the status of NPAs in banks is not controlled, banks can become bankrupt. The entire credit distribution structure of the economy can be destructed and the country could be in a major financial turmoil.
• When US hit the subprime crisis, it was because of the lenient lending norms and baks had huge number of loan defaulters. The big banks filed for bankruptcy and US economy went jittery. So, NPA problem is to be taken seriously.
Steps taken by RBI
• RBI suggested that lenders should carry out their independent and objective credit appraisal in all cases and must not depend on credit appraisal reports prepared by outside consultants, especially the in-house consultants of the borrower company.
• Banks/lenders should also carry out sensitivity tests/scenario analysis, especially for infrastructure projects, which should inter alia include project delays and cost overruns. This will aid in taking a view on viability of the project at the time of deciding the Corrective Action Plan (CAP).
• RBI also suggested that Asset Reconstruction Companies (ARCs) should be construed as a supportive system for stressed asset rather than the last resort to dispose of NPAs by banks. Sale of assets to ARCs at a stage when the assets have good chance of revival and fair amount of realizable value, for rehabilitation and reconstruction is encouraged.
• RBI will encourage banks to use floating provisions towards accelerated provisioning/additional provisions incurred at the time of sale of NPAs as per their approved internal policy without obtaining prior permission of The promoters of the company/defaulting borrowers shall be barred from directly/indirectly buying back the asset from the ARCs. RBI proposed to look into the possible legal issues involved and address the same.
RBI’s Action Plan for Early
Identification and Resolution of Bad
Loan cases
• Expensive loans for borrowers whose credit worthiness is suspect
• Debt restructuring plan to ready within 17-100 days as against 180 days earlier
• Payment delay of 30-60 days to trigger action as against 90 days earlier
• A joint lenders forum for large borrowings of 100 crore rupees and more
• Setting up special branches for speedy disposal of SARFESI (Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act) cases
Union Cabinet gave green signal for
amendment to Sikh Gurdwaras Act,
1925
11-MAR-2016
The Union Cabinet on 10 March 2016 approved the proposal of the Ministry of Home Affairs to amend the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925 through the Parliament retrospectively with effect from 8 October 2013.
A meeting of the Union Cabinet, presided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, considered the proposal and gave green signal to remove the exception given to Sehajdhari Sikhs in 1944 to vote in the elections for selecting members of the board and the committees constituted under the Act.
Background
The Sehajdhari Sikhs were continuously exercising their voting rights in the SGPC elections since 1949.
In 2003, the Union Home Ministry debarred the Sehajdhari Sikhs from voting by amending the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925 vide a notification dated 8 October 2003, in exercise of the powers conferred by Parliament under Section 72 of the Punjab Re-organisation Act, 1966.
However, the notification was nullified by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on 20 December 2011 leaving it to the appropriate and competent legislature to decide whether to amend the Act to that effect.
Egyptian diplomat Ahmed Abul Gheit
named Secretary General of the Arab
League
11-MAR-2016
Egyptian diplomat and former Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit was named as Secretary General of the Arab League on 10 March 2016. The 22-member organization voted unanimously in favor of Aboul Gheit.
This appointment was announced by Bahraini Foreign Minister Khaled bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa at the end of 22-nation ministerial meeting in Cairo.
73-year-old Aboul Gheit, a former ambassador to the United Nations, will succeed Nabil El-Araby. Gheit served as Egypt's foreign minister during the final seven years of Hosni Mubarak's rule, leaving his post in 2011, following the mass protests that toppled the Mubarak.
Gheit’s name was proposed for the post by Cairo after the incumbent, Nabil al-Arabi, another Egyptian, declined a second five-year term as Secretary General.
Aboul Gheit will take office at a time when the Cairo-based Arab League is facing several tests of its unity. At the top of the list is the war in Syria that has killed more than 270000 people and displaced millions since it erupted in 2011.
Union Cabinet approved Hydrocarbon
Exploration and Licensing Policy
11-MAR-2016
The Union Cabinet, presided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on 10 March 2016 approved the Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP).
The decision will enhance domestic oil and gas production, bring substantial investment in the sector and generate sizable employment. The policy also targets the enhancement of transparency and reduction of administrative discretion.
The HELP will replace the New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP).
Four main components of the policy are:
• Uniform license for exploration and production of all forms of hydrocarbon
The uniform licence will enable the contractor to explore conventional as well as unconventional oil and gas resources including CBM, shale gas/oil, tight gas and gas hydrates under a single license.
• An open acreage policy
The concept of Open Acreage Policy will enable Exploration & Production (E&P) companies choose the blocks from the designated area.
• Easy to administer revenue sharing model
Present fiscal system of production sharing based on Investment Multiple and cost recovery /production linked payment will be replaced by an easy to administer revenue sharing model.
The earlier contracts were based on the concept of profit sharing where profits are shared between Government and the contractor after recovery of cost. Under the profit sharing methodology, it became necessary for the Government to scrutinize cost details of private participants and this led to many delays and disputes.
Under the new regime, the Government will not be concerned with the cost incurred and will receive a share of the gross revenue from the sale of oil, gas etc. This is in tune with Government’s policy of Ease of Doing Business.
• Marketing and pricing freedom for the crude oil and natural gas produced
Recognising the higher risks and costs involved in exploration and production from offshore areas, lower royalty rates for such areas have been provided to encourage exploration and production.
A graded system of royalty rates have been introduced, in which royalty rates decreases from shallow water to deepwater and ultra-deep water. At the same time, royalty rate for onland areas have been kept intact so that revenues to the state governments are not affected.
Cess and import duty will not be applicable on blocks awarded under the new policy. The policy also provides for marketing freedom for crude oil and natural gas produced from these blocks. This is in tune with Government’s policy of Minimum Government –Maximum Governance.
How is it different from NELP?
• The NELP’s fiscal model of production sharing, which was criticised by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), was based on investment multiple and cost recovery/production linked payment. After the introduction of HELP, the present fiscal system of production sharing will be replaced by revenue sharing model.
• As compared to NELP royalty rates, HELP provides lower royalty rates for offshore areas to encourage exploration and production. At the same time, royalty rate for onland areas have been kept intact so that revenues to the state governments are not affected.
• However, both the policies bear a similarity, i.e., cess and import duty will not be applicable on blocks awarded under the new policy.
Former SC Judge BS Chauhan
appointed 21st Law Commission
Chairperson
11-MAR-2016
Union Government on 10 March 2016 appointed former Supreme Court judge Justice Balbir Singh Chauhan as the chairperson of the 21st Law Commission. The post was vacant since September 2015 when the commission was constituted.
At present, Justice Chauhan is heading the Cauvery River Water Disputes Tribunal. He was a judge of the Supreme Court from May 2009 to July 2014. Earlier from July 2008 to May 2009, he served as the Chief Justice of Orissa High Court.
The 21st Law Commission was constituted through a Union Government Order with effect from 1 September 2015. It has a three-year term, ending on 31 August 2018. The Commission presently comprises of three members, Member-Secretary and Secretary to the Union Government, two ex-officio members and Secretary to the Law Commission of India.
Present members are:
• Justice Ravi R Tripathi, a former judge of the Gujarat High Court, was appointed as the member of the commission. He retired as judge May 2015.
• PK Malhotra, Member-Secretary and Secretary to the Union Government
• PK Malhotra, Law Secretary Member (Ex-Officio)
• Dr. G Narayana Raju, Secretary (Legislative) Member (Ex-Officio)
• Dr. Pawan Sharma, Secretary to the Law Commission of India
Union Cabinet approved constitution of 21st Law Commission of India
Terms of Reference of the 21st Law Commission are as follows:
• Review/Repeal of obsolete laws including laws which are not in tandem with atmosphere of economic liberalization.
• Examine the Laws which affect the poor, carry out post-audit for socio-economic legislations and take all such measures as may be necessary to harness law and the legal process in the service of the poor.
• Keep under review the system of judicial administration to ensure that it is responsive to the reasonable demands of the times.
• Examine the existing laws in the light of Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) and to suggest ways of improvement and reform and also to suggest such legislations as might be necessary to implement the DPSP and to attain the objectives set out in the Preamble to the Constitution.
• Examine the existing laws with a view for promoting gender equality and suggesting amendments thereto.
• Revise the Central Acts of general importance so as to simplify them and to remove anomalies, ambiguities and inequities.
• Recommend to the Government measure for making the statute book up-to-date by repealing obsolete laws and enactments or parts thereof which have outlived their utility.
• Consider and to convey to the Government its views on any subject relating to law and judicial administration that may be specifically referred to it by the Government through Ministry of Law and Justice (Department of Legal Affairs).
• Consider the requests for providing research to any foreign countries as may be referred to it by the Government through Ministry of Law and Justice (Department of Legal Affairs).
• Examine the impact of globalization on food security, unemployment and recommend measures for the protection of the interests of the marginalized.
Rest of India defeated Mumbai to lift
Irani Cup Cricket Title
11-MAR-2016
Rest of India on 10 March 2016 won the Irani Cup Cricket title. In the match played in Mumbai, Rest of India defeated 41-time Ranji Champions Mumbai by four wickets.
Rest of India overhauled the victory target of 480 by making 482 for 6 on the fifth and final day in Mumbai.
Rest of India’s chase was also the best-ever run-chase in the Irani history. It bettered Rest’s 424, chasing 421 set by Delhi at the Ferozshah Kotla in 1982-83.
• Man-of-the-match - Karun Nair
• The final scores: Mumbai-603 and 182; Rest of India - 306 and 482 for 6
About Irani Cup
The Irani Cup (earlier called Irani Trophy) tournament was conceived during the 1959-60 season to mark the completion of 25 years of the Ranji Trophy championship.
It was named after the late ZR Irani, who was associated with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from its inception in 1928, till his death in 1970. The fixture is always played between the previous year's Ranji Trophy winners and the Rest of India Team.
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu
launched “Clean My Coach” service
12-MAR-2016
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on 11 March 2016 launched an online Clean My Coach service. The service allows travelers to get their compartments cleaned by sending an SMS or by using an app or a designated website.
The service was launched through Video Conferencing from Rail Bhawan in New Delhi/Northern Railway, Mumbai Central/Western Railway and Lucknow Jn/North Eastern Railway.
Salient Features of Clean My Coach
service
• As per the scheme, for any cleaning requirement in the coach, passenger will have to send an SMS on a mobile number 58888. Alternatively, passenger can also use android app ‘Cleanmycoach Indian Railways’ or webpage ‘cleanmycoach.com’ for logging the request.
• Passenger’s request is immediately acknowledged via SMS on mobile phone along with a code.
• A message is also sent by the server to the mobile number of On Board House Keeping (OBHS) staff travelling on the same train along with the details of the passengers such as coach number, berth number.
• OBHS staff contacts the passengers, carries out the cleaning work as per demand.
• If the passenger is satisfied, he discloses the code received during acknowledgement and OBHS staff in turn sends the same code through SMS and the complaint is then treated as closed. If the passenger is not satisfied, he/she doesn’t disclose the code and the complaint is treated as not closed.
This Clean My Coach service was announced by the Railway Minister in his Rail Budget Speech of 2016-17.
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India, US launched Fulbright - Kalam
Climate Fellowship
12-MAR-2016
India and the US on 11 March 2016 launched the Fulbright - Kalam Climate Fellowship. The fellowship programme will enable Indian research scholars to work with American institutions in the field of climate change.
Under the fellowship will 6 Indian PhD students and post-doctoral researchers will be sponsored to work with US institutions for a period up to one year.
The first call for applicants was announced for the fellowship jointly funded by both the governments. The fellowship will be operated by the bi-national US-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) under the umbrella of the prestigious Fulbright programme.
Named after late Indian President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, the fellowship is part of a commitment made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama to build long-term capacity to address climate change-related issues in both the countries.
India to supply 18 Meter Gauge Diesel
Electric Locomotives to Myanmar
12-MAR-2016
RITES (Public Sector Enterprise under Ministry of Railways) signed a contract to supply 18 Meter Gauge 1350 HP Diesel Electric Locomotives to Myanmar Railways. This supply will help Myanmar to meet increasing demand for passenger and freight traffic.
This contract was signed at Naypyitaw, Myanmar on 4 March 2016.
The supply contract of locomotives is a vital project being funded under an existing line of credit extended to Myanmar by Union Government. These locomotives will be manufactured by Diesel Locomotive Works, Varanasi with several modern features like microprocessor controls, fuel-efficient engine and ergonomic cab design etc.
Capacity utilisation criteria for SSP
Manufacturing Units scrapped
12-MAR-2016
Union Cabinet on 11 March 2016 approved the proposal to remove the criteria of minimum capacity utilisation for Single Super Phosphate (SSP) units that are eligible for subsidy, under the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme.
The decision, which comes into effect immediately, will enable small units to avail the subsidy and resulting in availability of cheaper fertilizers for farmers.
This new policy will put the SSP units on the same footing as other fertilisers, and they will be eligible for subsidy irrespective of quantity of SSP produced and sold for agriculture purposes. It will also help revive smaller SSP units and encourage new SSP units to come up.
From 1 October 2009, it was mandatory for the SSP units to utilize minimum 50% of their recognised production capacity or to produce 40000 MT, whichever is less, per year to become eligible for subsidy. There was some capacity addition in the beginning, but the production and consumption of SSP in the country had become stagnant in the last four years.
The decision would also encourage the evolution of a robust mixed fertilizer market with diversified micro-nutrients to promote balanced fertilization of the soil. This new policy would be uniformly applicable to all fertilizers and provide a level playing field.
Single Super Phosphate (SSP)
• SSP is a phosphatic multi-nutrient fertilizer, which contains 16% phosphate, 11% sulphur, 16% calcium and some other essential micro-nutrients.
• Because of the simple production technique, it is one of the cheapest chemical fertiliser available.
• It is more suited for crops like oilseeds, pulses, horticulture, vegetables, sugarcane, and others.
Long march against Indo-Bangladesh
power plant near Sundarbans started
12-MAR-2016
A 250 km-long protest march against plans to build Rampal Power Station, Indo-Bangladesh coal-fired power plant near the Sundarbans, was kick-started on 10 March 2016.
The protest march calls for scrapping the project that supposedly will harm the ecosystem of the world's largest mangrove forest.
Environmentalists, cultural and political activists, and eminent individuals began the four-day march from Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka to persuade the Bangladeshi Government to drop its backing for construction of the plants near the Sundarbans, an area of rice paddies, shrimp farms and vast mangrove forests.
The proposed Rampal Power Station
• The Rampal Power Station is a proposed 1320 megawatt coal-fired power station at Rampal Upazila of Bagerhat District in Khulna, Bangladesh.
• It is a joint partnership between India's state owned National Thermal Power Corporation and Bangladesh Power Development Board.
• The joint venture company is known as Bangladesh India Friendship Power Company (BIFPC).
• The proposed project, on an area of over 1834 acres of land, is situated 14 kilometres north of the world's largest mangrove forest Sundarbans which is a UNESCO world heritage site.
• When constructed, it will be Bangladesh’s largest power plant.
About Sundarbans
• The Sundarbans is a natural region comprising southern Bangladesh and a small part in Eastern India.
• It is the largest single block of tidal halophytic mangrove forest in the world.
• It covers approximately 10000 square kilometres most of which is in Bangladesh with the remainder in India.
• It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Sundarbans South, East and West are three protected forests in Bangladesh. This region is densely covered by mangrove forests, and is the largest reserves for the Bengal tiger.