10 PM Current Affairs Quiz : December 20, 2018

The IMPRESS scheme seeks to identify and fund research proposals in social sciences with maximum impact on the governance and society. Under the Scheme, 1500 research projects will be awarded for 2 years. The Indian Council of Social Science and Research (ICSSR) will be the project implementing agency.

Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016 aims at defining the transgender people and prohibiting discrimination against them. Through this Bill the Government has evolved a mechanism for their social, economic and educational empowerment.

The bill defines transgender as whose gender does not match with the gender assigned at birth and includes trans-men, trans-women, gender-queers, and other sociocultural identities.

“Enticement” to beg is made an offence in the bill. Therefore, both statements 1 and 2 are correct

Critical Appraisal of the Bill

Ban on Commercial Surrogacy: In the expanding era of human rights jurisprudence, one can trace the foundation of right to use surrogacy and be an intended couple as a part of Right to Personal liberty, right to Procreation, right to Found a Family and right to privacy

Medical Condition – The Bill permits surrogacy only for couples who cannot conceive a child.  This procedure is not allowed in case of any other medical conditions which could prevent a woman from giving birth to a child.

Close Relative Clause – The surrogate mother must be a ‘close relative’ of the intending couple.  The Bill does not define the term ‘close relative’. Further, the surrogate mother (close relative) may donate her own egg for the pregnancy.  This may lead to negative health consequences for the surrogate baby.

Maternity Relief: The issue of maternity relief for intended couple as well as the surrogate mother has already been discussed by different High Courts in India. However, the Bill is silent about this issue.

Exploitation – The proposed ban on commercial surrogacy will prevent those women from acting as a surrogate and thereby obtain the required money. It may force such women to do other illegal acts such as prostitution or theft for finding the money.

Excessive Delegation of Power – The Bill specifies eligibility conditions that need to be fulfilled by the intending couple in order to commission surrogacy.  Further, it allows additional conditions to be prescribed by regulations. This may be excessive delegation of legislative powers.

Time Limit – The surrogate mother and the intending couple need eligibility certificates from the appropriate authority.  The Bill does not specify a time limit within which such certificates will be granted. It also does not specify an appeal process in case the application is rejected.

Breach of Surrogacy Contracts: The Bill is silent about the issue of a beach of terms and conditions of surrogacy by surrogate or indented couple during the surrogacy process or afterwards.

Maintenance of data bank and information:  Under the Act, the central government maintains a data bank and information system at the national level for each river basin.  Under the Bill, the central government will appoint or authorise an agency to maintain a data bank and information system at the national level for each river basin.

Decision of the Tribunal:  Under the Act, the decision of the tribunal must be published by the central government in the official gazette.  After publication, the decision has the same force as that of an order of the Supreme Court.

IPCC was created in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The objective of the IPCC is to provide governments at all levels with scientific information that they can use to develop climate policies. The IPCC provides regular assessments of the scientific basis of climate change, its impacts and future risks, and options for adaptation and mitigation. However, it is to be noted that the IPCC does not conduct its own research.

Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises launched the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020 in 2013.

Government has launched the scheme namely Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles (FAME India) under NEMMP 2020 in the Union Budget for 2015-16 with an initial outlay of Rs. 75 Cr. The scheme will provide a major push for early adoption and market creation of both hybrid and electric technologies vehicles in the country.