Must Read News Articles I 6th February 2020

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Course correction for the speaker’s office

In a recent judgement, SC has said that speaker of the legislative assembly should decide on a petition seeking disqualification of a member under 10th schedule of the constitution within a period of 3 months, in the absence of exceptional reasons. SC has also acknowledged the problem of speakers acting in a partisan manner due to their political loyalties. SC has also suggested that Parliament should amend the constitution to provide for independent mechanism, such as Permanent Tribunal to decide dispute under 10th Schedule.

The article argues that given how India’s electoral system and political conventions shadow the office, a major revamp is necessary

Rajya Sabha Select Committee report on Surrogacy Bill tabled in parliament

The Rajya Sabha Select Committee on the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019, has tabled its report in the parliament. Some of its recommendations are – endorses ban on commercial surrogacy while recommending that surrogate mother need not be a ‘close relative’, the omission of five-year wait period before opting for surrogacy and allowing single women and all Indian origin couple to avail surrogacy.

SC appointed Committee on Prison Reforms submits report

The SC appointed committee on Prison Reforms headed by Justice Amitava Roy has submitted its report. It has said that Indian prisons are overcrowded and understaffed. Also, most prisons in the country are teeming with under trial prisoners and their numbers are highly disproportionate to the actual number of persons who end up getting convicted.

It has recommended that special fast-track courts be set up to deal exclusively with petty offences which have been pending for more than five years

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Fashioning the framework of a New India

The Indian economy is facing slowdown. Almost all sectors of economy are on decline. Exports have been declining. Credit from banking and non banking sectors has been declining over the last several years.

The article argues that a major solution to the present crisis is to go in for inclusive growth and provide for shared prosperity.

Cooperatives Bank to come under Reserve bank purview

Union Cabine has approved an amendment to the Banking Regulation Act to bring cooperative banks under the RBI regulation. It is expected to increase professionalism and improve corporate governance.

The proposed law seeks to enforce banking regulation guidelines of the RBI in cooperative banks, while administrative issues will still be guided by Registrar of Cooperatives.

Direct Tax Vivad se Vishwas Bill tabled in LokSabha

Finance Minister has introduced a bill in Lok Sabha to provide for a mechanism to settle disputed tax cases to the tune of Rs. 9.32 lakh crore.  It aims to resolve 4.83 lakh direct tax disputes pending in various tribunals.

PM pitches for boost to defence exports

PM Modi has said that India was looking to achieve defence exports worth Rs. 35,000 crore in the next 5 years.

Road to reform

Modi government is seeking to leverage schemes such as PMGSY to nudge states to liberalise their agricultural markets for seamless trading of produce.