National Current Affairs – UPSC/KAS Exams- 21st December 2018
LS clears Consumer Protection Bill
Topic: Government Policies
IN NEWS: The Lok Sabha passed the consumer protection bill. The Consumer Protection Bill will become law once it goes through the Rajya Sabha.
More on the Topic:
- The bill is meant to protect those who use new technologies such as e-commerce and online shopping.
- The financial jurisdiction of the District Consumers Courts has been increased: they can deal with complaints involving ₹1 crore as against the ₹20 lakh earlier. Under the clause of product liability, a manufacturer will be liable to compensation for products with defects.
- The Bill replaces the Consumer Protection Act, 1986. The Bill enforces consumer rights, and provides a mechanism for redressal of complaints regarding defect in goods and deficiency in services.
- Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions will be set up at the District, State and National levels for adjudicating consumer complaints. Appeals from the District and State Commissions will be heard at the next level and from the National Commission by the Supreme Court.
- The Bill sets up a Central Consumer Protection Authority to promote, protect and enforce consumer rights as a class. It can issue safety notices for goods and services, order refunds, recall goods and rule against misleading advertisements.
- If a consumer suffers an injury from a defect in a good or a deficiency in service, he may file a claim of product liability against the manufacturer, the seller, or the service provider.
- The Bill defines contracts as ‘unfair’ if they significantly affect the rights of consumers. It also defines unfair and restrictive trade practices.
- The Bill establishes Consumer Protection Councils at the district, state and national levels to render advise on consumer protection.
Source: The Hindu
Lok Sabha passes Autism Bill
Topic: Social Justice
IN NEWS: Lok Sabha has passed Autism Bill in winter session of Parliament. Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterised by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviours, speech and nonverbal communication.
More on the Topic:
- The National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities (Amendment) Bill, 2018 seeks to amend the principal Act enacted in 1999.
- Under the legislation, the chairperson and members of the Board of the National Trust can hold office for a term of three years from the date of their appointment or until their successors are appointed, whichever is longer.
- The bill also states that the central government will initiate the process for appointment of the chairperson or any member of the board, at least six months prior to the expiry of their tenure.
- Parliament passed the Bill to streamline the appointment and resignation of members of a trust which helps persons with disability to live independently.
- According to PRS Legislative Research, an independent body, the law allows setting up of a national trust to enable persons with disability to live independently by promoting measures for their protection in case of death of their parents.
- It also evolves procedures for appointment of their guardians and trustees, and facilitating equal opportunities in society.
- Recent international studies show that about one in 68 people were diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in India. This means that there are over 18 million people with autism in India.
About Autism:
- A combination of genetic and environmental factors influence the development of autism. The disorder often is accompanied by medical issues such as gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, seizures and sleep disturbances.
- According to an estimate, autism affects 1 in 59 children. Many people suffering from autism also have sensory issues. These sensory issued can include aversions to certain sights, sounds and other sensations.
Source:The Hindu
Recapitalisation of public sector banks
Topic: Indian Economy
In news: The government on Thursday moved a proposal in Parliament for an additional ₹41,000 crore to recapitalise public sector banks, over and above the already budgeted ₹65,000 crore.
More on the Topic:
- Government announced Indradhanush plan for revamping Public Sector Banks (PSBs) in August 2015. The plan envisaged, inter alia, infusion of capital in PSBs by the Government to the tune of Rs. 70,000 crore over a period of four financial years.
- Capital infusion is aimed at supplementing the achievement of regulatory capital norms by PSBs through their own efforts and, in addition, based on performance and potential, augmenting their growth capital. Government has announced that a differentiated approach would be followed, based on the strength of each bank.
The enhanced provision the government has asked for is aimed at four broad categories:
- The first is to help banks meet the regulatory capital norms. The second is aimed at helping banks currently under the Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework to come out of it by improving their capital to risk-weighted asset ratios (CRAR) to 9%, their capital conservation buffers to 1.875% and reduce their net NPAs to 6%.
- The third category of banks to receive capital would be the non-PCA banks that are in danger of crossing the threshold into the PCA framework. The fourth would be to provide regulatory and growth capital to banks that are undergoing mergers, such as Vijaya Bank, Dena Bank, and the Bank of Baroda, which are to be merged into a single entity.
Source: The Hindu
All computers can now be monitored by govt. agencies
Topic: Internal Security
In news: The Ministry of Home Affairs issued an order authorising 10 Central agencies to intercept, monitor, and decrypt “any information generated, transmitted, received or stored in any computer.
More on the Topic:
- The agencies are the Intelligence Bureau, Narcotics Control Bureau, Enforcement Directorate, Central Board of Direct Taxes, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Central Bureau of Investigation; National Investigation Agency, Cabinet Secretariat (R&AW), Directorate of Signal Intelligence (For service areas of Jammu & Kashmir, North-East and Assam only) and Commissioner of Police, Delhi.
- According to the order, the subscriber or service provider or any person in charge of the computer resource will be bound to extend all facilities and technical assistance to the agencies and failing to do will invite seven-year imprisonment and fine.
- The MHA gave the authorisation under 69 (1) of the Information Technology Act, 2000 which says that the Central government can direct any agency after it is satisfied that it is necessary or expedient to do so in the “interest of the sovereignty or integrity of India, defence of India, security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states or public order or for preventing incitement to the commission of any cognizable offence relating to above or for investigation of any offence.”
Source: The Hindu
Indigenous gun trials of the Army
Topic: Science and Technology
In news: The development of the indigenously-designed heavy artillery gun, the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), has advanced to a stage where user-assisted trials of the gun are likely to start by June and the Army has begun finalising the Preliminary Specifications Qualitative Requirements (PSQR).
More on the Topic:
- The ATAGS is a 155mm, 52 calibre gun being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation on two parallel tracks: one prototype is being built in partnership with Tata Power (Strategic Engineering Division), and the other is in collaboration with Bharat Forge. There is a sanction for production of 10 guns as part of the development process.
- Once the PSQRs are approved, the process for formulating the final Qualitative Requirements would begin. Guns from both Bharat Forge and Tata Power would be evaluated and based on the commercial bids, the order would be split between them with the lowest bidder getting a larger order.
- The gun has several significant features including an all-electric drive, high mobility, quick deployability, auxiliary power mode, advanced communications system, automated command and control system.
- The Army, which has been seeking to accelerate the modernisation of its weaponry, recently inducted its first modern pieces of artillery in three decades: the M777 Ultra-Light Howitzer from the U.S. and the K9 Vajra-T tracked self-propelled artillery gun from South Korea.
Source: The Hindu
Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY)
Topic: Government Schemes
In news: Ministry of rural development Signs MoU with Maruti Suzuki India Ltd for Training Rural Youth for Skill Development Under Deendayal upadhyaya grameen kaushalya yojana (Ddu-Gky)
More on the Topic:
- Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) is the flagship placement linked skill-training programme under the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD).
- There are several challenges that are preventing India’s rural poor from competing such as the lack of formal education and employability skills. DDU-GKY bridges this gap by funding training projects with an emphasis on placement, retention, career progression and foreign placement.The mission of the flagship scheme of MoRD is to ensure rural poor youth are skilled in market relevant trades and job-relevant competencies.
Champion Employer Policy
- One of the ways in which DDU-GKY aims to achieve this is through the“Champion Employers” policy.
- The Champion Employers are the industry leaders who have the potential to provide training and captive employment to the DDU-GKY candidates.The policy seeks a strategic alignment of objectives of DDU-GKY with the HR strategy of organizations, which have a large potential to absorb trained manpower.
Source: PIB
