ForumIAS announcing GS Foundation Program for UPSC CSE 2025-26 from 26th June. Click Here for more information.
Nilekani panel suggests 24×7 RTGS, NEFT, elimination of all charges
- The Reserve Bank of India(RBI) had appointed a committee headed by Nandan Nilekani to submit its suggestions on promoting digital payments.
- The panel has suggested several measures to encourage digital payments such as (a)elimination of charges (b)round-the-clock RTGS and NEFT facility and (c)duty-free import of point-of-sales machines.
- The panel has also suggested that there should be no convenience fee on payments made to government agencies by customers and payment systems should use machine-driven,online dispute resolution systems to handle complaints.
- Further,the committee has also recommended the RBI and the government to put in place a mechanism to monitor the digital payment systems and make aggregated information based on blocks and PIN code which should be available to all players on a monthly basis.
- The committee has also recommended that the National Payment Council of India should allow digital payments systems such as RuPay and BHIM UPI in other countries to facilitate easy remittance to India.
- The panel has also called for the creation of a digital financial inclusion index so that progress in an area can be measured along a common scale indicating the evolution of the users and steps taken for correcting the imbalance.
- National Payments Corporation of India(NPCI) is an umbrella organisation for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India.It is an initiative of Reserve Bank of India(RBI) and Indian Banks’ Association(IBA) under the provisions of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act,2007 for creating a robust Payment & Settlement Infrastructure in India.
Govt proposes changes in copyright rules, may benefit websites, music streaming firms
- The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade(DPIIT) has released the draft Copyright Amendment Rules,2019.
- The objective of the draft rules is to ensure smooth compliance of Copyright Act in the light of technological advancements in the digital era and to bring them in parity with other relevant legislation.
- The copyright regime is currently governed by the Copyright Act,1957 and the Copyright Rules,2013.The Copyright Rules,2013 was last amended in 2016 through the Copyright Amendment Rules,2016.
- Currently,the Act covers only radio and TV broadcast firms.Now, the draft rule proposes to cover companies operating through digital mode like websites and music streaming firms.
- The draft also proposes setting up an Appellate Board to replace the Copyright Board.It also proposes to make it mandatory for copyright societies to publish annual transparency report besides revamping norms for tariff fixation by such societies.
- A copyright Society is a legal body which protects or safeguards the interest of owners of the work by giving assurance to the creative authors of the commercial management of their works.These societies issue licences and collects royalties in accordance with a tariff scheme.
Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2019 to have 27 Indian entrants
- The 9th edition of the Global Entrepreneurship Summit has started in Hague,Netherlands from June 4,2019.The theme of the summit is ‘The Future Now’.27 Indian firms has taken part in GES 2019.
- The Summit is being hosted by the governments of the United States of America and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.It is the first edition of the event to be held in the European Union.
- The summit features about 1,200 entrepreneurs from across 140 countries.It will also provide an avenue for these entrepreneurs to showcase their ideas and work to 300 investors.
- The key focus areas of the summit include the five global challenges surrounding (a)water (b)agriculture (c)healthcare (d)connectivity and (e)energy.
- The GES 2017 event was held in Hyderabad,India. It had hosted more than 1,500 entrepreneurs from around the world and focussed on the issue of ‘Women First, Prosperity for All’.
- It was the first edition of the GES to take place in South Asia and more than 50% of the delegates at the event were women.
Ajit Doval reappointed as NSA for five years, given cabinet rank
- Government has reappointed Ajit Doval as National Security Advisor (NSA) for a five-year tenure.He has also been given a cabinet rank in recognition of his contribution in the national security domain.
- The National Security Adviser (NSA) in India is the senior official on the National Security Council(NSC) of India and the chief adviser to the Prime Minister of India on national and international security policy.
- The National Security Council (NSC) is an executive government agency established in 1998 to oversee political, economic, energy and security issues of strategic concern.
- The NSC is a three-tiered organization comprising the (a)Strategic Policy Group(SPG) (b)National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) and (c)Joint Intelligence Committee(JIC).
Maharashtra plans ₹50-crore CCTNS overhaul
- The Maharashtra government has decided to upgrade the entire Crime Criminal Tracking Network System(CCTNS) project after complaints of glitches in the system.
- CCTNS is a project initiated in June 2009 which was aimed at creating a comprehensive and integrated system for enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of policing at the Police Station level.
- The project targets to interconnect about 15000 Police Stations and additional 5000 offices of supervisory police officers across the country and digitize data related to FIR registration, investigation and charge sheets in all Police Stations.
- It has not only automate Police functions at Police station and higher levels but will also create facilities and mechanism to provide public services like registration of online complaints, ascertaining the status of case registered at the police station and verification of persons.
- Further,Inter-operable Criminal Justice System(ICJS) was announced in 2015 to integrate the CCTNS database with databases of e-courts, e-prisons, Forensics, Prosecution and Fingerprints of criminals to improve criminal justice system.
- In 2017,Digital Police Portal was also launched under CCTNS to enable citizens to register FIRs online and to offer 7 Public Delivery Services (like Address Verification of employees, tenants,Lost & Found Articles etc.).
AYUSH Ministry launches app to help people locate yoga centres, instructors
- Ministry of AYUSH has launched a mobile application named Yoga locator.It was launched ahead of International Yoga Day on June 21.
- Yoga locator is a map-based location app.It will enable yoga instructors to register themselves and reach out to a large number of people.
- It will be a permanent app which will give information to people about yoga activities happening in their vicinity throughout the year.
- The United Nations had declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga in 2014 after India had called for the day to be adopted as a global celebration of yoga.
- Further,the AYUSH Ministry has shortlisted five cities namely Delhi, Shimla, Mysore, Ahmedabad and Ranchi for holding the Yoga function in 2019.
- Yoga is an ancient practice that began in India more than 5,000 years ago.The first International Yoga Day celebration was organised at Rajpath in New Delhi on June 21,2015
Indian Navy steps up anti-piracy patrol
- The Indian Navy has deployed its P-8I long-range maritime surveillance aircraft for anti-piracy sorties from Salalah in Oman to patrol the Gulf of Aden under its Mission Based Deployments(MBD) in the Indian Ocean Region(IOR).
- Mission-Based Deployments(MBD) policy was adopted by the Navy in 2017.The mission-ready ships and aircraft are deployed along critical sea lanes of communications and choke points from Malacca straits to the Persian Gulf.
- These ships are deployed to meet any eventuality across the spectrum of operations ranging from acts of maritime terrorism and piracy to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief(HADR) missions.
- P-8I is a long-range, multimission maritime patrol aircraft manufactured by Boeing for the Indian Navy.It is a variant of the P-8A Poseidon operated by the US Navy.
- It is armed with deadly Harpoon Block-II missiles, MK-54 lightweight torpedoes, rockets and depth charges.These sensor and radar-packed aircraft are the country’s intelligent hawk eyes over the Indian Ocean Region(IOR) that is increasingly getting militarized.
- Further,as part of expanding engagement maritime engagement,India has also stepped up cooperation with Indian Ocean littoral states and maritime neighbours.
- Under the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy,the Indian Navy undertakes Joint Exclusive Economic Zone(EEZ) surveillance with Maldives, Seychelles and Mauritius and Coordinated Patrols(CORPAT) with Bangladesh, Myanmar,Thailand and Indonesia.
Manufacturing sector PMI gains in May
- According to Nikkei India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) data,manufacturing activity has improved to 52.7 in May,2019 from 51.8 in April,2019.
- The PMI improved as companies increased manufacturing output amid strengthening demand conditions leading to further job creation in the sector.
- PMI or a Purchasing Managers’ Index(PMI) is an indicator of business activity both in the manufacturing and services sectors.It is a survey based measures that asks the respondents about changes in their perception of some key business variables from the month before.
- PMI is derived from a series of qualitative questions.Executives from a reasonably big sample,running into hundreds of firms are asked whether key indicators such as (a)output (b)new orders (c)business expectations and (d)employment were stronger than the month before and are asked to rate them.
- The headline PMI is a number from 0 to 100.The figure above 50 denotes expansion in business activity.Anything below 50 denotes contraction.
- The rate of expansion can also be judged by comparing the PMI with that of the previous month data.If the figure is higher than the previous month’s then the economy is expanding at a faster rate. If it is lower than the previous month then it is growing at a lower rate.
IMA constitutes fact-finding mission to look into Payal Tadvi’s death
- The Indian Medical Association(IMA) has constituted a fact-finding mission committee to evaluate the factors that led to the suicide of resident doctor at BYL Nair Hospital Mumbai.
- The panel will probe the suicide case in light of the complex issue of resident doctors poor working conditions and suggest remedial measures.
- The Indian Medical Association(IMA) is a national voluntary organisation of Doctors of Modern Scientific System of Medicine in India which looks after the interest of doctors as well as the well being of the community at large.
- It was established in 1928 as the All India Medical Association, renamed Indian Medical Association in 1930.It is a society registered under The Societies Act of India.The Indian Medical association is a founder member of the World Medical Association.
HC stays Centre notification on commercial rights of ships
- The Delhi High Court has stayed a Central government notification under the ‘Make in India’ programme under which an Indian-built ship gets commercial rights higher than an Indian flag vessel in securing Indian business.
- The Court said that the Merchant Shipping Act 1958 under which the notification was issued was not concerned with the place where the ship was built rather it was concerned only with the ownership of the ship.
- The petition was filed on the grounds that the regime post the notification created a scenario when an Indian flag vessel owned and offered by an Indian citizen is placed on the same pedestal as a foreign flag vessel offered by an Indian citizen.
- Recently,the Central Government had amended the Right of First Refusal(ROF) policy.The amendment shifted the balance of power in favour of Indian-built ships from Indian-flagged ships irrespective of whether such Indian-built ships are offered by Indian or foreign companies.
- Further,the sequencing of RoFR priority was Indian-built vessels followed by Indian-flagged vessels.In case none of the bidders under the first and second priority eligible to exercise the RoFR,matches the lowest rate quoted by a foreign ship owner offering a non-Indian built ship in a tender then the charter shall be awarded to the lowest bidder.
Bombay HC upholds death penalty clause for repeat offenders in rape cases
- The Bombay High Court (HC) has upheld the constitutional validity of Section 376E of the Indian Penal Code(IPC).
- This ruling came on a petition filed by three convicts in the Shakti Mill gangrape case challenging Constitutional validity of the legal provisions under which they were sentenced to death in 2014.
- Section 376E was added by following the Nirbhaya gangrape incident.Under section 376E of the IPC,a repeat rape offender will have to be imprisoned for the rest of his life or sentenced to death.
- According to Criminal Law (Amendment) Act,2013 whoever has been previously convicted of an offence punishable under section 376 or section 376A or section 376D and is subsequently convicted of an offence punishable under any of the said sections shall be punished with imprisonment for life which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of that person’s natural life or with death.
CAT can exercise same powers as HC
- The Delhi High Court has ruled that the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) can exercise the same jurisdiction and powers as a High Court in respect of its contempt proceedings.
- The case relates to the contempt case registered on the basis of a reference received by the Registrar General,Delhi High Court against a Supreme Court lawyer.
- The Court observed that Article 323A(2)(b) of the Constitution provided that an administrative tribunal constituted under Article 323A(1) was empowered to punish for contempt if the statute establishing it provided for the same.
- The High Court also referred to the Supreme Court verdict in its 2001 judgment which had held that Section 17 of the Administrative Tribunals Act,1985 confers jurisdiction on the CAT to punish for its contempt.
- CAT was established in 1985 under Section 29 of the Administrative Tribunals Act,1985.It is a multi-member body consisting of Chairman and members.The Chairman is normally a retired Chief Justice of the High Court.
- CAT adjudicates disputes with respect to recruitment and conditions of service of persons appointed to public services and posts in connection with the affairs of the Union or other local authorities within the territory of India or under the control of Government of India and for matters connected therewith.
- However,the provisions do not apply to members of paramilitary forces, armed forces of the Union, officers or employees of the Supreme Court, or to persons appointed to the Secretariat Staff of either House of Parliament or the Secretariat staff of State/Union Territory Legislatures
