Group of Ministers

• At present there are nine Empowered Groups of Ministers (EGOMs) and 21 Groups of Ministers (GOMs), which were set up by the previous UPA government to take decisions on various matters before bringing them for the Cabinet's consideration. During UPA-II regime, 27 GoMs and 24 EGoMs were appointed.
• EGOM : Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) is a Group of Ministers (GoM) of the Union Government are also authorised (empowered) by the appointing authority to take decisions in such matters after investigation.
• GOM : While a GoM investigates and reports to the Cabinet, which takes the decision, an EGoM additionally takes decisions on matters it is authorised for, and such decisions have the force of the Government decision.
• Both EGoM as well as the GoM get appointed under the Government of India’s Transaction of Business Rules 1961, which at para 6 (4) provides that ‘Ad hoc Committees of Ministers including Group of Ministers may be appointed by the Cabinet, the Standing Committees of the Cabinet or by the Prime Minister for investigating and reporting to the Cabinet on such matters as may be specified, and, if so authorised by the Cabinet, Standing Committees of the Cabinet or the Prime Minister, for taking decisions on such matters.’
• Rule 6(6) further provides that ‘any decision taken by a Standing or Ad hoc Committee may be reviewed by the Cabinet’. Therefore decisions in a matter taken by EGoM remain subject to review by the Cabinet at the latter’s discretion. 
• However it was argued that the system of GoMs and EGMos was meant to operate as a single window clearance on issues related to various ministries with the objective of expediting policy making.

Judicial Appointments Commission Bill,2013

• The Rajya Sabha on Sep 2013 passed a Constitution amendment Bill to create a Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) which will replace the collegium system of appointing judges to higher courts.


• The Constitution (120th Amendment) Bill, 2013 envisages setting up of the JAC, to be decided by Parliament, that will recommend appointment and transfer of Supreme Court and High Court judges. Currently, the collegium consisting of five top judges of the Supreme Court, headed by the Chief Justice of India, decides the appointment of

Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill

Introduction :

Surrogacy in commercial form is legal in India with the landmark Supreme Court judgment and later, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Guidelines 2005 which prescribed conduct and use of ART procedures or treatment by fertility clinics. Subsequent to this the ART (Regulation) Bill 2010 was formulated by the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, which is still awaiting enforcement. The ART Bill legalised commercial surrogacy by providing for payment as “monetary compensation” to the surrogate mother by the

Land Acquisition Bill

Land Acquisition BIill

Economic growth and job creation require efficient usage of land resources. It is important that a fair and transparent process for purchase and for acquisition of land is followed. For the purchase of land, a key concern is the authenticity of land titles, and the government has drafted a Land Titling Bill for this purpose.

End uses Projects permitted to acquire 

It defines public purpose to include infrastructure projects (as defined by the finance ministry, with some exclusions);projects related to

CBI Formation

CBI

Gauhati HC verdict : 

The Gauhati High Court has quashed the Union Home Ministry resolution by which the Central Bureau of Investigation was constituted way back in 1963. The court held that the CBI was neither an organ nor part of the Delhi Special Police Establishment and thus could not be treated as a “police force” constituted under the DSPE Act.

Supreme Court : 

By staying the Gauhati High Court order that declared the Central Bureau of Investigation

Polity News

Polity

1. At least seven of the 29 MLAs belonging to the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), led by actor-politician Vijayakant, might cross vote in favour of the AIADMK-backed nominees in the June 29 poll for Rajya Sabha from Tamil Nadu, Election Commission sources said even if they do so the action would not attract disqualification under the 10 Schedule of the Constitution of India (Article 102 (2) and 191 (2).Political parties can issue instructions but it is left to political organisations

Open Government Data

Open Data Index

Introduction : 

Opening up government data to free public access is a global trend that aims to foster better governance by improving transparency. India makes official data available through its portal launched about a year ago, but it has been ranked low in the just-published Open Data

Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, 2013

• A Bill which seeks to scrap the collegium system of appointment of judges to the higher judiciary and give executive a say in the matter has been referred to a Parliamentary committee for further consultations.


• Law Minister Kapil Sibal had introduced an enabling bill — the Constitution (120th) Amendment Bill — and the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, 2013, which defines the establishment of the proposed body to recommend appointment and transfer of judges.


• The government and the Opposition were united in seeking to scrap the collegium system of appointing judges to higher courts, saying it was essential to restore the delicate balance of power which has been disturbed.


• Under the present collegium system, the Chief Justice of India and four senior most judges of Supreme Court recommend to the government the names of judges for appointment to the High Courts and to the apex court.


• The government can return the file to the collegium only once for its reconsideration, but cannot refuse the recommendation. India perhaps is the only country where judges appoint judges


• The bill seeks to set up a Judicial Appointments Commission to recommend the appointment and transfer of Supreme Court and High Court judges.


•  The bill seeks to set up a panel headed by the CJI to recommend the appointment and transfer of senior judges.The other members of the proposed Commission would be two senior-most judges of Supreme Court, the Law Minister and two eminent persons, along with the Secretary (Justice) in the Law Ministry as its convener.The two eminent persons will be selected by a panel headed by the Prime Minister with the CJI and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha as its members.


• The Judiciary is opposed to the proposal and has defended the collegium system for appointment of judges in higher judiciary.

Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) Bill, 2011

• The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) Bill, 2011, was passed in the Rajya Sabha and also passed in Lok Sabha on Sep 2013.


• The bill would make the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority a statutory authority, unlike its present non-statutory status.


• The bill provides subscribers a wide choice to invest their funds including for assured returns by opting for Government Bonds as well as in other funds depending on their capacity to take risk.


• It pegs the FDI in pension sector at 26 per cent or such percentage as may be approved for the insurance sector, which ever is higher.


• The New Pension System (NPS) aims to promote “saving while you earn” especially for retirement and is mainly for those who have a regular income, Mr. Chidambaram said.

News : 1-7 Sep 2013

• Google said the next version of Android will be called 'KitKat' in keeping with its penchant for giving tasty names to its software for powering mobile devices.


• India's advanced multi-band communication satellite GSAT-7, launched from French Guiana by European space consortium Arianespace's Ariane 5 rocket on August 30, has been successfully placed in the geosynchronous orbit with an altitude of about 36,000 km above earth surface.


• After Ymail and Flicker revamp, Yahoo Inc. now unveils new logo.Yahoo’s $1.1 billion purchase of Tumblr, an Internet blogging service.

Bone Ossification Test

• Ossification is the process of formation of new bone by cells called osteoblasts. As per scientific evidence, by the age of 25 years nearly all bones are completely ossified in humans. 
• Ossification test is a guess work based on the fusion of joints in the human body b/w birth and age 25. If all joints are fused the person must be of 25yrs of age or older. As per experts that there can be an error of about 2 years in the age
• Different ways to tell age of a person:
• School Records
  Methods like Orchodometry which measures testicular volume. The test is available in India.
  Teeth (Forensic experts check teeth first. All molars are up by 18.)
  X-Ray of elbow, hip, knee, wrist, shoulders and collar-bones are taken for bone ossification (hardening) test. Bone age is correlated to chronological age.
  TW3 Test (Tanner-Whitehouse Tests) or Bone Maturation Test – Has been introduced by BCCI to check age fraud in junior cricket. It works out skeletal maturity from hand and wrist bones.
  Telomeres Age determination based on the length of telomeres, the protective cap of chromosomes. Telomere length varies with age.
• What does Section 3 of the Juvenile Justice Act say?
• Section 3 reads: “Where an inquiry has been initiated against a juvenile in conflict with the law or a child in need of care and protection and during the course of such inquiry the juvenile or the child ceases to be such, then, notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or in any other law for the time being in force, the inquiry may be continued and orders may be made in respect of such person as if such person had continued to be a juvenile or a child.”

Important Judgements

• As per the latest ruling of the apex court, not only an MLA but any interested person has the right to inform the Speaker of the fact that a member has incurred disqualification under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution (anti-defection law) and the presiding officer is bound to take action on the complaint.

Fourteenth Finance Commission

• Formed due to Article 280 of the Constitution,  consisting of Dr. Y.V.Reddy, former Governor Reserve Bank of India, as the Chairman and the following four other members, namely:-Prof Abhijit Sen; Ms. Sushma Nath; Dr. M.Govinda Rao and Dr. Sudipto Mundle.
• Shall make its report available by the 31^st October, 2014, covering a period of five years commencing on the 1st April, 2015.
• Make recommendations regarding the sharing of Union taxes, principles governing Grants-in-aid to States and transfer of resources to local bodies.
• Review the state of finances, deficit and debt levels of the Centre and states, keeping in view the fiscal consolidation roadmap recommended by the 13th Finance Commission.
• Suggest measures for maintaining a stable and sustainable fiscal environment consistent with equitable growth including suggestions to amend the Fiscal Responsibility Budget Management Acts.
• May also review the present arrangements  financing of Disaster Management with reference to the funds constituted under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and make recommendations.
• Look into issues like disinvestment, GST compensation, sale of non-priority PSUs and subsidies
• It will take the base of population figures as of 1971.

New Urea Investment Policy

• It aims to entice fresh investment of about Rs.35,000 crore to boost domestic production by 8 million tonnes.
• 12-20 % post-tax return will be given by the government on fresh capital infused by the manufacturers for establishing new plants as well as for expansion and refurbishment of the existing ones.
• To ensure this return, the government would cover the entire cost of natural gas, which is the main feedstock of urea, and accounts for 80 % of the cost.
• Urea sector is controlled by the government and it has fixed the maximum retail price (MRP) at Rs.5,360 a tonne.
• The difference between the MRP and the cost of production is given as subsidy to manufacturers.
• The government has set a floor and ceiling price of urea, based on the price of natural gas plus 12-20 per cent equity returns in order to determine the cost of production of new plants to be established after the policy comes into effect.
• India produces 22 million tonnes of urea, against the requirement of 32 million tonnes.

The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012

• Passed by Parliament in May, 2012 to address the evil of child sexual abuse.
• Definition of Child : The Act is gender-neutral and defines a child as any person below the age of eighteen years
• Provides : 
• Precise definitions for different types of Child abuse crimes
• Stringent punishments(max life term and fine)
• Mandatory reporting
• Child-friendly procedures
• Under Section 45 of the Act, the power to make rules rests with the Central Government
• Qualifications and experience of interpreters
• Arrangements for care and protection
• Criteria for award of compensation by the Special Court
• The rules rely on the structures established under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2000.
• such as Child Welfare Committees and District Child Protection Units, to make arrangements for the care and protection of the child and to ensure that the child is not re-victimized in the course of investigation and trial. Where a child is taken to a medical facility for emergency medical care, no magisterial requisition or other documentation may be demanded by such facility prior to rendering medical care.
• National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and State Commissions for the Protection of Child Rights (SCPCRs)  have been made the designated authority to monitor the implementation of the Act.

Apr 2013 : General Knowledge

• Union Minister of Culture :  Chandresh Kumari Katoch
• Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe  : Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Sri Lanka.
• Bharat Stores by P. Sheshadri :  Best regional film award in the 60th National Film Awards.
• Dr Aswani Kumar : Union minister of Law and Justice
• Treaties on Civil and Commercial Matters by India have already been signed with France, U.A.E., Russia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Mongolia, Bulgaria and Kazakhstan.
• Union Minister of Shipping : G K Vasan
• National Maritime Day : 5th April 
• Kerala CM : Oommen Chandy
• CBI Director  : Ranjit Sinha. 
• DP Kohli Award for the Best Detective Constable of CBI
• CBI came into being : Apr 1 1963 
• South Korean President  : Park Geun-hye
• Italian President : Giorgio Napolitano
• Kenya President : Uhuru Kenyatta
• Japan Prime Minister :  Shinzo Abe
• Nishat Majumder, who, on May 19, 2012 became the first Bangladeshi woman to reach the peak.
• First man to fly over Everest, Douglas Douglas-Hamilton in 1933.
• North Korean leader :  Kim Jong Un
• North Korea Capital : Pyongyong
• 2nd April : World Autism Day(by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior.)
• Nicolas Maduro : Venezuela President
• French Prime Minister :  Jean-Marc Ayrault
• Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA) :  Hyderabad
• UP governor : B L Joshi
• Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar
• Governor Bihar : D.Y. Patil 
• Governor of Tripura : Devanand Konwar
• CM of Tripura : Manik Sarkar.
• Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy : CM of Andhra Pradesh
• Virbhadra Singh : CM of HP
• Chief Minister of Odisha : Biju Patnaik
• West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee
• Goolam Essaji Vahanvati is the Attorney General of India. He is the first Indian Muslim to hold the post of Attorney General
• Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff
• Fifth BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Summit March 2013 in Durban.
• Cyprus President :  Nikos Anastasiades
• World Bank President  : Jim Yong Kim
• IMF Managing Director : Christine Lagarde
• First GreenField Airport : Karaikal (Puduchery)
• Chief Election Commissioner : V S Sampath
• Enrico Letta : Pm of Italy (Apr 2013)
• State Duma : Lower House of Russia
• Federal Council of Russia : Upper House of Russia
• The largest desalination(Salt water is desalinated to produce fresh water suitable for human consumption or irrigation.) plant in South Asia is the Minjur Desalination Plant(use reverse osmosis process) near Chennai in India, which produces 36.5 million cubic meters of water per year on  the coast of Bay of Bengal.
• The world's largest desalination plant is the Jebel Ali Desalination Plant (Phase 2) in the United Arab Emirates.

National Policy on Information Technology 2012

Key Areas of the policy :

• Enhance revenues of IT and ITES (Information Technology Enabled Services) Industry from 100 Billion USD currently to 300 Billion USD by 2020 and elevate exports from 69 Billion USD currently to 200 Billion USD by 2020. 
• Encourage innovation and R&D in cutting edge technologies and development of applications and solutions in areas like localization, location based services, mobile value added services, Cloud Computing, Social Media and Utility models. 
• Offer fiscal benefits to SMEs and Startups for adoption of IT in value creation 
• Build a pool of 10 million additional skilled man-power in ICT. 
• Make at least one individual in every household e-literate. 
• Provide for mandatory delivery of and affordable access to all public services in electronic mode. 
• Adoption of Open standards and promote open source and open technologies.

Official Amendments to Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011

• The Union Cabinet has approved the proposals submitted by the Department of Personnel & Training for moving official amendments to the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011.
  
  Recommendations : 
• The phrase ‘connected with political parties’ to be replaced with 'affiliated with political parties’. 
• Fifth member of the Selection Committee (i.e., eminent jurist) to be nominated by the President on recommendation of the other four members of the Selection Committee, viz. Prime Minister, Speaker (Lok Sabha), Leader of Opposition (Lok Sabha) and Chief Justice of India.
•  Government has decided to exempt only such bodies or authorities established, constituted or appointed by or under any Central or State or Provincial Act providing for administration of public religious or charitable trusts or endowments or societies for religious or charitable purposes registered under the Societies Registration Act. 
•  Political parties exempt from the purview of the Lokpall Bill 2011, as they are already covered under the Representation of People’s Act. 
•  Lokpal can order investigation against a public servant, in case a prima facie case exists, after calling for explanation from the public servant. 
•  Opportunity to be given to public servant to be heard. 
•  Lokpal to have power to grant sanction for prosecution of public servants. 
•  Amendments for strengthening CBI accepted, except the one which seeks approval of Lokpal for transfer of officers of CBI investigating cases referred by Lokpal. 
• Whistle Blowers Protection Bill 2011 to protect identity of whistleblowers and safeguard against their victimization, passed by Lok Sabha. 
• Benami Transaction (Prohibition) Bill 2011 introduced in Parliament. The Bill elaborately covers definition of ‘benami’ property and transaction, and prohibits benami transactions. 
• Stringent punishment for ‘benami’ transactions under the Benami Transaction (Prohibition) Bill. 

Constitutional Amendments

• One Hundred Seventeenth Amendment Constitutional Amendment Bill for Reservation in Promotion to SCs and STs .The Bill proposes to amend the Article 16 (4A) of the Constitution of India. The existing Article 16(4A) provides for reservation in promotion to the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and the Scheduled Tribes (STs) which are not adequately represented in the Govt. services. The proposed amendment would amend Article 16(4A) in such a manner that it would obviate the need of collection of quantifiable data about adequacy of representation and backwardness of the class for reservation in promotion to the SCs and the STs.
• Constitution (118th Amendment) Bill, 2012 which seeks to provide special status to six backward districts in the Hyderabad Karnataka region, with provision for reservation in education and jobs for local people.
  The Bill introduces a new Article 371-J to provide special recognition for the six backward districts in north Karnataka: Gulbarga, Yadgir, Raichur, Bidar, Koppal and Bellary.
  The Bill provides for creation of a separate development board and equitable allocation of funds for development of the region. In addition to this, it will provide quota in public employment through establishment of local cadres and reservation in education and vocational training institutions for those who belong to the region by birth or domicile.
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Banking Bill

• The Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill 2011 was introduced in order to amend the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970/1980.
• Paving way for foreign investments in the sector and establishment of new private banks and also to achieve greater financial inclusion.
  The Bill does not contain controversial clauses of allowing banks to trade in futures and keeping the sector outside the purview of Competition Commission as it was earlier proposed.
• The salient features of the Bill are as follows: 
• To enable banking companies to issue preference shares subject to regulatory guidelines by the RBI; 
• Voting rights of investors in private sector banks raised to 26 %, from 10 % which will boost foreign investments.
• Cap on voting rights of private investors in PSBs raised to 10%, from 1%  
• To create a Depositor Education and Awareness Fund by utilizing the inoperative deposit accounts; 
•  To provide prior approval of RBI for acquisition of 5% or more of shares or voting rights in a banking company by any person and empowering RBI to impose such conditions as it deems fit in this regard; 
•  To empower RBI to collect information and inspect associate enterprises of banking companies; 
• CCI to regulate mergers and acquisitions and will also have power to investigate and clear mergers and acquisitions in banking industry 
• RBI allowed to supersede boards of private sector banks. 
•  To provide for primary cooperative societies to carry on the business of banking only after obtaining a license from RBI; 
• To provide for special audit of cooperative banks at instance of RBI 
•  To enable the nationalized banks to raise capital through “bonus” and “rights” issue and also enable them to increase or decrease the authorized capital with approval from the Government and RBI without being limited by the ceiling of a maximum of Rs. 3000 crore under the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970/1980.
• The Bill would pave the way for new bank licenses by RBI resulting in opening of new banks and branches. This would not only help in achieving the goal of financial inclusion by providing more banking facilities but would also provide extra employment opportunities to the people at large in the banking sector.