General Awareness

GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND SCHEMES - December 2019

Dec 2019

Dec 21, 2019

PFRDA May Regulate all Pension Schemes

The finance ministry approved in principle making the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) the sole regulator for all Indian pension products.
The in-principle approval came from finance ministry for the PFRDA Act amendment which will make PFRDA the single regulator for pension products.
The proposal has been forwarded to other ministries and will need an approval from the cabinet. Final approval could come in a few months.

Dec 17, 2019

AP Passes Bills on RTC Merger, Boards for Pulses, Millets

The AP government tabled 18 Bills, including one each on millets board and pulses board, and absorption of RTC employees into government service, and they have been passed in the Assembly.
Stating the objectives of the Bill on the RTC employees, Transport Minister Perni Venkatramaiah (Nani) said that there is a general prohibition on absorption of employees working in PSUs into public service under Act 14 of 1997 and therefore in the facts and circumstances relevant to the operations of the APSRTC and the decision of the government, a separate legislation is considered expedient to bring about the implementation of the policy.

Dec 15, 2019

Design Policy for Sustainable Infrastructure

According to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Kerala will soon launch a design policy to promote sustainable infrastructure which employs innovative designs for habitats and smart cities.
To transform Kerala into a creative hub, the government will soon build a design-centric Centre of Excellence in Kochi. The platform will offer hardware and software facilities, fablabs and prototyping facilities besides talent-grooming and community development initiatives for creative minds. The Chief Minister reiterated that his government would work with agencies like Kerala Startup Mission to assess the areas which require stronger focus in Rebuild Kerala Mission.

Maliwal Wants Disha Bill across Country

Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the immediate nationwide implementation of the 'Disha Bill', which recommends the disposal of cases of atrocities against women within 21 days, and awarding off death penalties provided there is conclusive evidence in the matter.
Maliwal had been on hunger strike for the past 12 days demanding capital punishment for rapists. She said she would not end her fast till the Disha Bill is implemented across the country.
The bill was first passed by the Andhra Pradesh legislative assembly, where the proposed law was named the 'Andhra Pradesh Disha Act Criminal Law (AP Amendment) Act, 2019, in memory of a veterinary doctor who was raped and murdered in Telangana in November, 2019.

Dec 14, 2019

AP Clears Bill Seeking Death Penalty for Rapists

The Andhra Pradesh assembly passed two bills to amend the Indian Penal Code to enable expeditious investigation and trial of offences against women and children.
The first bill seeks to award death penalty for rapists and the second to take stringent action for atrocities against women by setting up special courts to deal with such offences.
The Andhra Pradesh Criminal Law (Andhra Pradesh Amendment) Bill, 2019, prescribes death penalty for rapes in which there is conclusive evidence. The bill envisages an amendment of Section 376 (Punishment for rape) of the IPC. This apart, the Bill also reduces the judgment period to 21 working days, with seven days for investigation and 14 for trial.
The bill prescribes life imprisonment for other sexual offences against children. During the discussion on the bill, Andhra Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy said as the criminal law was part of the concurrent list of State and Centre, the new bill would be sent to the Centre for Presidential assent.

Dec 13, 2019

President Kovind Gives Assent to CAB

President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, turning it into an Act.
According to an official notification, the Act came into effect with its publication in the official gazette on December 12, 2019.
The President's assent came amid widespread protests in several north-eastern states, especially Assam and Tripura, with several civil society groups, students' unions and local parties seeking it immediate withdrawal, contending that it would threaten the interests of indigenous people.

RS Clears Bill on SC/ST Quota for LS, Assemblies

Parliament approved a Constitution amendment bill to extend quota to Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies by another 10 years.
The Constitution (126th) Amendment Bill was passed in Rajya Sabha with 163 members voting in favour and none against. Lok Sabha had passed the bill earlier this month. Reservation for members of SCs and STs, given for the past 70 years in Lok Sabha and state assemblies, was due to end on January 25, 2020. The reservation for Anglo-Indians in the form of nomination is, however, set to expire on January 25 as the bill does not extend the facility to the community.

Rajya Sabha Passes IFSC Authority Bill

The Rajya Sabha passed the International Financial Services Centres (IFSC) Authority Bill, 2019, which proposes to set up a unified financial regulator in IFSCs in India.
An IFSC caters to customers outside the jurisdiction of the domestic economy.

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