Expected Questions on Bills, Acts, Policies - 2018 (Part - 1) (Download PDF)

(June 1, 2018)

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DOKLAM Pact. BRICS Summit. MoU between various nations. UAE became first country. which will participate in India’s Strategic Petroleum Reserves Program – Zakum. Nagoya Protocol. “Shared Future in a Fractured World” in Davos Summit 2018.

• Australia Group & Wassenaar Arrangement

• United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolved to Reject US Declaration of Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital
• Incheon Strategy
• Chennai is Included in UNESCO Creative Cities Network
• Chabbar Port
• Panchsheel Agreement
• Latvia is First Baltic Sea Nation to Join with China’s OBOR
• US Navy Tests World’s First Laser Weapons System (LaWS)
• Vivid Sydney Gets Place in Guinness World Records of Maximum Number Light Installations
• Important Index – Livability Index, LEADS Index, Legatum Prosperity Index, Global Manufacturing Index
• COMMIT (Comprehensive Online Modified Modules on Induction Training) – improve public delivery mechanism
• Council for Advancement of People’s Action and Rural Technology (CAPART)
• Gorkhaland Issue

Section 124-A – Sedition Charges

• Article 35A of the Indian Constitution empowers J&K state’s legislature to define permanent residents of the state

Section 498 A

• Karnataka government and Goa government are fighting on sharing of waters of Mahadayi River
• Social audit is a way of measuring, understanding, reporting and ultimately improving an organization’s social and ethical performance
• 360 degree rating system

PENCIL: Platform for Effective Enforcement for No Child Labour

• Red Corridor is the region in the eastern, central and the southern parts of India that experience considerable Naxalite–Maoist insurgency
• Sarkaria Commission
• Chakma & Hajong Refugees
• Triple Talaq

Rohingyas -

Policies

State Climate Change Policy

• State cabinet given its approval to the state’s climate change adaptation policy.

• Policy focuses on developing the environment friendly villages and cities in the state.

• There will be a separate cell to oversee the implementation of the policy.

• State government given the task of preparing the action plan to The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).

• Action plan focuses on:

  • health issues

  • mangrove conservation

  • providing basic infrastructure for the fishing business

National Civil Aviation Policy, 2016

• Released by Ministry of Civil Aviation in New Delhi.

• Since independence, first time this policy brought out by the Ministry.

• Very comprehensive, covering 22 areas of the Civil Aviation sector.

• Policy aims:

  • To take flying to the masses by making it affordable and convenient.

  • Establish an integrated ecosystem

• Silent Features:

  • Regional connectivity Scheme

  • Route Dispersal Guidelines (RDG)

  • Bilateral Traffic Rights

  • Ground Handling Policy

  • Airport PPP/AAI

  • Aviation security, Immigration and Customs

  • Helicopters and Charters

  • Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO)

  • Aviation Education and Skill Building

Defence Blacklisting Policy

• Currently, in the process of framing a new blacklisting policy.

• At present, 15 entities including 6 foreign firms are blacklisted by the Ministry.

• While, 23 others are under the scanner.

• Used by the previous UPA government.

• Led to shortages of ammunition and artillery guns and hampered the acquisition process.

• New norms are expected to be a mixture of heavy fines, graded blacklisting and other penalties.

• Policy cannot be in contravention to the laws of India.

Defence Procurement Policy (DPP), 2016

• First one unveiled in 2002.

• DPP 2016 will replace the Defense Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2013.

• Come into force on 1^st April 2016.

• Policy framed based on the recommendations of the Dhirendra Singh Committee.

• To ensure timely procurement of defense (military) equipment, systems.

• Boosts India’s target of ‘Make in India’ policy.

• Capital Acquisitions Schemes broadly classified into 3 categories:

  • Buy scheme

  • Buy and Make scheme

  • Make category scheme

• Aim:

  • To ensure timely procurement of defense (military) equipment, systems, and platforms required by the armed forces.

  • Optimum utilization of allocated budgetary resources.

Draft National Energy Policy

• Coal Ministry opposes NITI Aayog’s Draft Energy Policy.

• This policy will replace the Integrated Energy Policy of the previous government.

• Policy’s focus:

  • Clean energy resources such as solar and natural gas.

  • To improve the quality of air

  • To provide oil and gas mapping

• Government targets to provide electricity to all Indians by 2022.

• Ministry of Coal raised reservations over the draft National Energy Policy.

Draft National Wind Solar Hybrid Policy

• Ambitious target of reaching 175 GW of installed capacity from renewable energysources.

• It’s including:

  • 100 GW from solar

  • 60 GW from wind

• Goal: To reach wind - Solar hybrid capacity of 10GW by 2022.

• Solar and winds are almost complementary to each other.

• Hybridization of two technologies would help in minimizing the variability.

• Optimal and efficient utilization of transmission infrastructure.

• Better grid stability by reducing the variability.

What is the strategy implementation?

• Wind - Solar Hybrid - AC integration

• Wind - Solar Hybrid - DC integration

• Hybridization of existing wind/solar PV plants

• New Wind - Solar Hybrid Plants

• Regulatory Interventions

• Incentives; R&D

Draft Women Policy

• Last national policy on women was National Policy for Empowerment of Women, formulated in 2001.

• Recipients of welfare benefits to mainstreaming gender concerns.

• Aim: To create sustainable socio - economic, political empowerment of women.

• Priority Areas:

  • Health including food security and nutrition

  • Education

  • Economy

  • Governance and decision making

  • Violence against women

  • Enabling environment

  • Environment and Climate change

Draft National Health Policy, 2015

• National Health Policy, 2015 India’s third (draft) National Health Policy.

• National Health policies (1983 and 2002) served in guiding approach for health sector in 5 year plans and for different schemes.

• Addresses the urgent need to improve the performance of health systems.

• Key policy principles:

  • Equity

  • Universality

  • Patient Centered & Quality of Care

  • Inclusive Partnership

  • Pluralism

  • Subsidiarity

  • Accountability

  • Professionalism, Integrity and Ethics

  • Learning and Adaptive system

Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP)

• New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) formed in 1997 - 98.

• Problem with NELP:

  • There are separate policies and licenses for different hydrocarbons.

  • Unconventional hydrocarbons (shale gas and oil) were unknown when NELP was framed.

  • Fixed pricing of gas led to loss of revenue and large number of disputes.

• Policy is formulated to replace NELP and objectives of HELP:

  • To enhance domestic oil and gas production

  • Bring substantial investment

  • Generate sizable employment

  • Enhance Transparency

  • Reduce administration discretion

• Four main aspects of this policy:

  • Uniform License

  • Open acreage policy

  • Revenue sharing model

  • Marketing and pricing freedom

IPR Policy 2016

• Now, India becomes a major source of R&D service imports to the US economy and American MNCs.

• Conducted survey considered India as the preferred location for R&D processes.

Seven objectives of policy can broadly be divided into three categories, those dealing with

• Popularization and strengthening the administrative machinery for dealing with IPR issues (objectives 1, 4 and 7).

• Generation and commercialization of IPRs (objectives 2 and 5).

• Legal aspects, enforcement, and adjudication (objectives 3 and 6).

FDI Policy

• Ex-post-facto approval for FDI policy amendments announced by the Government on 20^th June, 2016.

• FDI policy amendments are meant to liberalize and simplify the FDI policy.

• Measures undertaken by Government have resulted in increased FDI inflows at US $55.46 billion in 2015 – 16.

• As against US $36.04 billion during 2013 - 14.

• Objective of providing major impetus to employment and job creation in India these changes were made.

  • Food Products

  • Defense Sector

  • Broadcasting Carriage Services

  • Pharmaceutical

  • Civil Aviation Sector

  • Private Security agencies

  • Animal Husbandry

Model Bilateral Investment Treaty

• BIT is a treaty between two countries.

• That sets out to provide certain basic protections to the investors of one state investing in another.

• For instance, most such treaties provide investors a guarantee of “fair and equitable treatment”.

• Other protections include:

  • rights against “expropriation”

  • both direct and indirect, of an investors’ investment

  • Most Favoured Nation (MFN) provision

• Model BIT has very limited legal value.

• Most of India’s existing BITs, signed with more than 70 countries, based on 2003 model.

Draft Guidelines for Safe Handling of Nano Materials

• A task force of eminent expert under Nano Mission by the Department of Science and Technology has come out this draft guideline.

• Involving the control of matter at Nano scale, Nano materials.

• Characterized by small dimensions, large surface area and high reactivity.

• Dangerous for human health and environmental safety with considerable scientific uncertainty regarding risks.

Guidelines:

• Standard operating procedure (SOP) for handling nano materials in research laboratories and industries.

• These lay down the process for identifying hazards.

• Guidelines also lay down another set of best practices to the making and handling of nano powders and use of products relating to food and healthcare.

• Precautionary approach.

• Address the potential exposure pathways and concomitant safety measures to mitigate the same.

• Address the potential exposure pathways and necessary safety measures to mitigate the same.

National Capital Goods Policy, 2016

• Aim: Create game changing strategies for the capital goods sector.

• Key recommendations and elements of the policy formulated to support and boost development of this crucial sector.

• Policy finalized after extensive stakeholder consultations with:

  • industry

  • academia

  • different ministries etc.

• Help in realising vision of ’Building India as the World class hub for Capital Good’s.

• Play a pivotal role in overall manufacturing as the pillar of strength to the vision of ‘Make in India’.

• Advocates adoption of a uniform Goods and Services Tax (GST).

National Drug Policy – A Comprehensive Approach

• Government is planning a major service of the country’s drug policy.

• That includes:

  • Reducing number of drugs under price control.

  • Doing away with the practice of periodic renewal of manufacturing licenses.

  • Making it easy to do medical and drug research in India.

• Complex system administered by a maze of entities.

Factors to be considered when developing a pricing framework:

• Must recognize medicines as an economic investment in health.

• Drug discovery is a lengthy process.

• Innovators need the assurance that research will be rewarded.

Partnering with Pharmaceutical companies: To revive the Jan Aushadhi program and help deliver high - quality generic medicines at affordable prices to all.

National Mineral Exploration Policy (NMEP) 2016

• NMEP 2016 (Non - fuel and non - coal minerals).

• Aims: At accelerating the exploration activity in India through increased participation of private sector.

• Need for comprehensive mineral exploration of India to uncover its full mineral potential.

• Through, that country can maximize sectoral contribution to the Indian economy.

Impact of NMEP:

• To boost private investment & FDI in the country’s mineral exploration sector.

• Attracting both domestic and foreign mining companies in exploration jobs.

• Poised to break the monopoly of the state - owned enterprises.

• Facilitate dissemination of information in mineral data.

• Participate in the country’s development process.

• Provide useful interpretation of the geoscience data and could spur.

New Educational Policy

• Brought out by the Ministry of Human Resource Development.

• New NEP comes after a gap of 30 years.

• Last one, announced in 1986, was later revised in 1992.

• Respond to ever changing requirements of a globalizing, knowledge based society.

• Participate in the country’s development process.

• Vision recognizes central role of education in India’s economic, social, political and cultural development.

• Inclusive quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all.

• Develop responsible citizens who respect the Indian tradition of acceptance of diversity of India’s heritage.

Aim of the new policy: To meet the changing dynamics of the population’s requirement with regards to quality education, innovation and research.

Start Up India Policy

• Start Up means “Working towards innovation, development, deployment or commercialization of new products, processes or services driven by technology or intellectual property”.
• Start - up India is a flagship initiative of the Government of India.

Objective:

• To give impetus to innovation

• Encourage the talent among young people.

• Remove onerous government regulations and red tape.

Key Features:

• Self - certification start – ups

• Start - up India hub (SIH)

• Single Window Platform

• Mobile App

• Patent protection

• Fund of Funds

• Exemption of Capital Gains Tax

• Credit Guarantee Fund for Start-ups

• Tax Exemptions

• Incubator set up by PPP

• Rebate on filing of application

• Atal Innovation Mission

• National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations

• Start-up Fest

• Faster exit

Urban Transportation Policy

Issues in Urban Mobility:

• Every 3^rd person living in urban areas

• 90 % global population growth occurs in cities

• Urban sector share of GDP to increase from 66 % to 75 % in 2031

• Urban transport account for 25 % GGHG emissions worldwide

• Traffic congestion & productivity cost for consumers is major issue

• Work trips account for 30 % transport

• Share of public transport in 2011 was 30% & is reducing to 22 % by 2021

• Informal operators like private minibus and microbus services – unsafe

Solutions:

• Metro rail as alternative

• Non-motorized means of communication – walking and bicycle – also bring lifestyle changes

• Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS)

• Provides inclusive access to low income groups

• Reduce negative externalities of pollution – car pooling

• Clean fuels

• PPP model - Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Singapore, Hong Kong, and London

• Last mile connectivity

• Integrated Land use & Transport Planning

• Intermodal Integration

• Land Value Capture policy

Land Value Capture Policy

Private land and buildings benefit from public investments in infrastructure and policy decisions of Governments.

• Cycle in which value is created, realized and captured, and used again for project investment

• Aims to enlighten states and UTs at local level – financial strength

• Adopt Value Capture Finance (VCF) mechanisms – deliver fiscal autonomy and quality infrastructure.

National Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Policy

• Integrates land use and transport with walkable communes & green spaces.

• High density mixed land use development in the influence zone of transit stations.

• Pedestrian trips to access various facilities.

• Increases accessibility of the transit stations by creating pedestrian and Non-Motorized Transport (NMT) friendly infrastructure.

• Promote public transport.

• Reduction in the private vehicle ownership, traffic and associated parking demand.

• Integrate the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and affordable housing in the influence zone

• Safety of women, children, senior citizen, and differently abled by amending byelaws.

• Prevent urban sprawl

• Reduce carbon footprints

Rule’s

Bio Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016

• New Bio - medical Waste (BMW) Management Rules released on March 2016 by Environment ministry.

• It will bring in more comprehensive regime for bio waste management.

• Aims: To improve the collection, segregation, processing, treatment and disposal of bio - medical wastes in an environmentally sustainable manner.

Features of BMW Management Rules, 2016:

• Expansion of ambit

• Phasing out chlorinated materials

• Pre – treatment

• Immunising health care worker

• Bar - code for proper control

• Reduction in categorization

• Standards for incinerator

• Common bio - medical waste treatment

E - Waste (Management) Rules, 2016

• Inclusion of Manufacturer to address leakage of e - waste to informal sector at all the stages of channelization.

• Inclusion of components

• Inclusion of Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL)

• Collection mechanism approach

• Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO)

• Pan India EPR

• Collection and channelization of e - waste in Extended Producer Responsibility

• No separate authorization

• Deposit Refund Scheme

• e - waste exchange

• Manufacturer Responsibility

• Bulk Consumer

• Responsibility of State Government

• Reduction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) during manufacturing Stage

• The transportation of e-waste

• Liability provision

• Responsibility of ULBs - Urban Local Bodies (Municipal Committee/Council/Corporation)

Government Notifies Real Estate Rules

• Government notified the final rules to implement the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA).

• Aims:

• To bring transparency and set accountability in the sector.

• Help in completion of stalled projects.

👌 implies important for Objective Questions/MCQ

📝 implies important for Subjective Questions

📹 implies covered in Videos or Upcoming Videos

- Published/Last Modified on: June 1, 2018

Policy/Governance, Bills