Lok Sabha Clears Bill to Ease Newspaper Registration
The Lok Sabha passed the Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023, with a single Opposition MP present in the House. The bill, which replaces the colonial-era law of the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867, was passed by the Rajya Sabha earlier.
The Bill simplifies and digitises the process of registering newspapers and other periodicals with the Press Registrar, sets up an appellate board to deal with issues related to registration, and decriminalises all but one offence.
The BJP-led government and the previous Congress-led government had made multiple attempts to replace the colonial-era act. The Congress government introduced a bill in 2011 but it was not passed.
Under the PRP Bill, anybody who is convicted of a terrorist or unlawful activity [as defined under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967], or of acting against national security, is not allowed to release a periodical. The Press Registrar General of India, appointed by the central government, will be responsible for registering periodicals (which include newspapers and magazines, but not academic journals) after receiving an online application from interested entities.
It will no longer take 2-3 years to get registration done. It will take only two months now to get permission for your newspaper.
Dec 22, 2023
MSME Ministry Launches 3 Sub-schemes under RAMP Programme
MSME Minister Narayan Rane launched three sub-schemes under the ministry's existing RAMP ((Raising and Accelerating MSME Productivity) programme to encourage the adoption of sustainable technology in business, boost the circular economy and address delayed payments issue.
The MSME Green Investment and Financing for Transformation Scheme (MSE GIFT Scheme) will help enterprises adopt green technology with interest subvention and credit guarantee support while the MSE Scheme for Promotion and Investment in Circular Economy (MSE SPICE Scheme) is the first-ever scheme in the government to support circular economy projects which will be done through credit subsidy and support MSME sector towards zero emissions by 2070.
The third scheme MSE Scheme on Online Dispute Resolution for Delayed Payments, is a first-of-its-kind scheme to synergise legal support with modern IT tools and artificial intelligence in order to address the issue of delayed payments for micro and small enterprises.
Jharkhand Passes Domicile Bill to Settle 'Who is Local Resident' Question
The Jharkhand Assembly passed the domicile bill, which defines a 'local person' based on land records from 1932 or before.
The Local Resident of Jharkhand Bill, which was ratified by the government, paved the way for 100 per cent reservation for the locals in Class-III and Class-IV jobs under the state government.
Governor C. P. Radhakrishnan had earlier returned the bill with suggestions from the Attorney General of India, asking the Hemant Soren government to reconsider.
The Raj Bhavan had mentioned that the bill violates the spirit of Article 14 of the Constitution, which ensures the right to equality, and Article 16(A) of the right to equality at the workplace.
Dec 21, 2023
Lok Sabha Passes Telecommunications Bill, 2023
The Lok Sabha passed the Telecommunications Bill, 2023 to replace the Indian Telegraph Act of 1885, the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act of 1933 and the Telegraph Wires (Unlawful Possession) Act of 1950.
The bill aims to amend and consolidate the law relating to development, expansion and operation of telecommunication services and telecommunication networks, assignment of spectrum and connected matters.
The proposed Bill aims to overhaul the existing licensing regime for telecom networks, transitioning from the current system to an authorisation framework. Under the present arrangement, the telecom department issues over 100 types of licenses, registrations and permissions. The Bill aims to streamline this process by consolidating many of these into a single authorisation mechanism.
Moreover, the Bill empowers the government to reclaim spectrum that remains unused. It also introduces provisions for sharing, trading, and leasing of spectrum. Entities will now have the option to surrender unused spectrum although they won't receive compensation from the government for the same.
Dec 20, 2023
Parliament Passes National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provision) Second (Amendment)...
Both Houses of Parliament passed The National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
The bill, which extends the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second Act's validity from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2026, aims to provide continued protection from punitive action for various unauthorised developments in the National Capital Territory of Delhi. This includes slum dwellers, hawkers, unauthorised colonies, schools, religious and cultural institutions, and agricultural godowns.
The National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second Act, 2011, which was initially valid until December 31, 2014, has seen many extensions. The most recent amendment, passed in 2021, extended it until December 31, 2023, and now (2023) the Lok Sabha approval extends it further until December 31, 2026.
Dec 19, 2023
Parliament Passes Bill to Replace 125-Year-Old Indian Post Office Act
The Parliament passed a Bill that authorises post office employees to open or detain any item during transmission in the interest of national security or public safety.
The draft legislation also empowers the director general of postal services to make rules regarding fees for services.
It also prescribed immunity for post office employees from liability in providing services, but with conditions. These provisions are part of the Post Office Bill, 2023, and it seeks to repeal the Indian Post Office Act, 1898, and to consolidate and amend the law relating to the Post Office in India.
After Rajya Sabha passed the Bill earlier in December, the Lok Sabha gave the nod. Now, once the President gives her assent, it will become law.
Rajya Sabha Clears Bills to Extend Women's Reservation to J-K, Puducherry
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned after two Bills to introduce reservation for women in legislative assemblies of Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir were passed by voice vote in the House amid an uproar by the opposition over the Parliament security breach.
The Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Second Amendment) Bill were passed by the Lok Sabha earlier.
The Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Second Amendment) Bill were passed within nearly 20 minutes of being tabled by Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai.
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