Cabinet approves promulgation of Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019        

Cabinet approves the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019                

EC allows 11 documents to prove voters’ identity                                                                                 

Another push at UNSC to ban Azhar                                                                                                       

Cabinet okays National Mineral Policy 2019                                                                                           

Union Cabinet approves software product policy                                                                                 

Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prizes for Science and Technology                                                         

Ordinance for Amendment to the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005                                              

Cabinet approves joining of IEA Bioenergy TCP by Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas as a Member                                                                                                                                                      

FAME India Phase II                                                                                                                                 

 

Cabinet approves promulgation of Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

 Context :

★The Union Cabinet, has approved the promulgation of an Ordinance to make amendments to the Aadhaar Act 2016, Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2005 & Indian Telegraph Act 1885.

 

Key Features :

★Provides for voluntary use of Aadhaar number in physical or electronic form by authentication or offline verification with the consent of Aadhaar number holder;

★Provides for use of twelve-digit Aadhaar number and its alternative virtual identity to conceal the actual Aadhaar number of an individual;

★Gives an option to children who are Aadhaar number holders to cancel their Aadhaar number on attaining the age of eighteen years;

★Permits the entities to perform authentication only when they are compliant with the standards of privacy and security specified by the Authority; and the authentication is permitted under any law made by Parliament or is prescribed to be in the interest of State by the Central Government;

★Allows the use of Aadhaar number for authentication on voluntary basis as acceptable KYC document under the Telegraph Act, 1885 and the Prevention of Money-laundering Act, 2002.

 

Proposes deletion of section 57 of the Aadhaar Act relating to use of Aadhaar by private entities;

★Prevents denial of services for refusing to, or being  unable  to,   undergo authentication;

★Provides for establishment of Unique Identification Authority of India Fund;

★Provides for civil penalties, its adjudication, appeal thereof in regard to violations of Aadhaar Act and provisions by entities in the Aadhaar ecosystem.

 

Impact :

★The amendments would enable UIDAI to have a more robust mechanism to serve the public interest and restrain the misuse of Aadhaar. 

★Subsequent to this amendment, no individual shall be compelled to provide proof of possession of Aadhaar number of undergo authentication for the purpose of establishing his identity unless it is so provided by a law made by Parliament.

 

Background :

★The Supreme Court in its judgement  and other tagged petitions held Aadhaar to be constitutionally valid.

★ However, it read down/struck down few sections of the Aadhaar Act and Regulations and gave several other directions in the interest of protecting the fundamental rights to privacy.

★Consequently it was proposed to amend the Aadhaar Act, Indian Telegraph Act and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in line with the Supreme Court directives and the report of Justice B.N.Srikrishna (Retd.) committee on data protection, in order to ensure that personal data of Aadhaar holder remains protected against any misuse and Aadhaar scheme remains in conformity with the Constitution.

★Towards this, the Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2018 was passed by the Lok Sabha in its sitting held on 4th January, 2019. However, before the same could be considered and passed in the Rajya Sabha, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die.

                                                                                                                                                                                                         Source :- The Hindu; PIB

Cabinet approves the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes

Context :

★The Union Cabinet has approved the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019 that will pave the way to extend reservation in jobs, promotions and education to people living 10 km from the International Border (IB) in Jammu.

 

Impact :

★It would pave the way would pave the way for bringing persons residing in the areas adjoining International Border within the ambit of Reservation at par with persons living in areas adjoining Actual Line of Control.

 

Significance :

★Earlier, The reservation benefits are not extended to the persons residing in the areas adjoining International Border.

★The benefits were only reserved for people living 10 km beyond the Line of Control (LoC) and affected by shelling and firing from across the border.

★Due to continuous cross border tensions, persons living alongside International Border suffer from socio-economic and educational backwardness.

★Shelling from across the border often compels these residents to move to safer places and is adversely impacting their education as Educational Institutions remain closed for long periods.

★Hence, it was felt justifiable to extend the reservation benefits to persons residing in the areas adjoining International Border on the similar lines of the persons living in areas adjoining Actual Line of Control (ALoC).

 

Background :

★10% reservation for economically weaker sections made applicable in J&K also. This would pave the way for reserving State Government jobs to the youth of J&K who are from economically weaker sections belonging to any religion or caste.

★It may be recalled that 10% reservation to economically weaker sections was introduced in rest of the country through the 103rd Constitution Amendment in January 2019. This will be in addition to such reservation available in Govt. of India jobs also.

★Benefit of promotion to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, which include Gujjars and Bakarwals amongst others, has also been made applicable to the State of J&K.

★After a long wait of 24 years, the 77thConstitution Amendment of 1995 has now been applied to the State of J&K.

★People living near the International Border have been brought at par with those living near the Line of Control for reservation in State Government jobs by amending the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004 through an Ordinance.

★Earlier, the provision of 3% reservation was available only for youth living within 6 kms. Of LoC in J&K. Now, this provision will be applicable for people living near the international border also. This has been a long-pending demand of the population living near the international border, as they have been facing the brunt of cross border firing in J&K.

         

Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004 : ★The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004 and Rules there under namely The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Rules, 2005 provide for vertical reservation in direct recruitment, promotions and admission in different professional courses to various categories viz. Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (Residents of Backward Area (RBA), Residents of Areas adjoining Actual Line of Control (ALoC) and Weak and Under Privileged Classes (Social Castes) along with horizontal reservation to the Ex-Serviceman and Physically Challenged Persons. ★However, the reservation benefits are not extended to the persons residing in the areas adjoining International Border.

                                                                                                                                        Source :- PIB; The Hindu

EC allows 11 documents to prove voters’ identity

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Context :

★The Election Commission of India (ECI) that photo voter slips will no longer be accepted as ‘stand-alone identification document’ for voting at polling stations.

 

More about the news:

★In an attempt to ensure that legitimate voters are not prevented from casting their votes for want of identification, the Election Commission has said apart from the Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC),can now show any of the 11 alternative documents, including Aadhaar card, for exercising their franchise. Henceforth, photo voter slip will not be accepted as a standalone identification paper.

★The documents accepted are passport, driving licence, service identity cards of the Central and State governments, public sector undertakings and public limited companies, bank or post office passbooks carrying photographs of voters, PAN card, smart cards issued under the National Population Register, MNREGA job card and health insurance smart card.

★Pension documents with photograph, official identity cards issued to the legislators and Aadhaar card have also been included.

★The Commission, in its order, said minor discrepancies in the voters’ identity card should be ignored, provided the identity of the elector can be established by the card.

★If an elector produces a card issued by the Electoral Registration Officer of another Assembly constituency, such card will be accepted provided the name of that elector finds place in the electoral roll pertaining to the polling station concerned.

                                                                                                                                                       Source :- The Hindu

Another push at UNSC to ban Azhar

GS PAPER - 02 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS - Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.

Context :

★The US, the UK and France have moved a fresh proposal in the UN Security Council to designate Pakistan-based terror group JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist.

 

More about the news:

★If the proposal is passed, Pakistan-based terror group JeM chief Masood Azhar will be tagged as a ‘UN-designated global terrorist’, which in turn would subject him to a global travel ban, asset freeze and arms embargo.

 

Previous attempts :

★India had started pushing for Azhar’s listing since 2008-09, after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

★The most recent effort began after India blamed JeM for the attack on the IAF base in Pathankot on January 2, 2016, and proposed a month later to designate Azhar as a global terrorist.

★But China intervened at Pakistan’s behest and placed a technical hold on India’s move in March and again in October 2016.

★It subsequently used its veto power to block the proposal in December 2016, a day before the technical hold ended.

★China, a close ally of Pakistan, has consistently blocked moves first by India and later by the US, the UK and France to designate Azhar as a global terrorist by the 1267 Committee by putting technical holds.

                                                                                                                                        Source :- The Hindu

Cabinet okays National Mineral Policy 2019

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Context :

★The Union Cabinet, has approved National Mineral Policy 2019.  

 

Background :

★National Mineral Policy 2019 replaces the extant National Mineral Policy 2008 (“NMP 2008”) which was announced in year 2008.

★The impetus to review NMP 2008 came about by way of a direction from the Supreme Court judgment of 2017

★In compliance of the directions of the apex Court, the Ministry of Mines constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Dr. K Rajeswara Rao, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Mines to review NMP 2008.

★The Ministry of Mines accepted the committee Report and invited the comments/ suggestions of the stakeholders as part of the PLCP process.

★Based on the received comments/ suggestions received in PLCP process and the comments/ suggestions from the Central Ministries/ Departments the Ministry of Mines finalized the National Mineral Policy 2019.

 

Objective :

★The aim of National Mineral Policy 2019 is to have a more effective, meaningful and implementable policy that brings in further transparency, better regulation and enforcement, balanced social and economic growth as well as sustainable mining practices.

 

National Mineral Policy 2019  :

★The National Mineral Policy 2019 includes provisions which will give boost to mining sector such as – encouraging the private sector to take up exploration, encouragement of merger and acquisition of mining entities and transfer of mining leases and creation of dedicated mineral corridors to boost private sector mining areas.

★The policy include the introduction of the right of first refusal for the reconnaissance permit (RP) and prospecting license holders, encouraging the private sector to take up exploration and the auctioning of virgin areas on a revenue- sharing basis.

★The 2019 Policy proposes to grant status of industry to mining activity to boost financing of mining for private sector and for acquisitions of mineral assets in other countries by private sector

★It also mentions that Long term import export policy for mineral will help private sector in better planning and stability in business

★The Policy also mentions rationalize reserved areas given to PSUs which have not been used and to put these areas to auction, which will give more opportunity to private sector for participation

★The Policy also mentions to make efforts to harmonize taxes, levies & royalty with world benchmarks to help private sector

★Among the changes introduced in the National Mineral Policy, 2019 include the focus on make in India initiative and Gender sensitivity in terms of the vision.

★In so far as the regulation in Minerals is concerned, E-Governance, IT enabled systems, awareness and Information campaigns have been incorporated.

★Regarding the role of state in mineral development online public portal with provision for generating triggers at higher level in the event of delay of clearances has been put in place.

★NMP 2019 aims to attract private investment through incentives while the efforts would be made to maintain a database of mineral resources and tenements under mining tenement systems.

★The new policy focuses on use coastal waterways and inland shipping for evacuation and transportation of minerals and encourages dedicated mineral corridors to facilitate the transportation of minerals.

★NMP 2019 proposes a long term export import policy for the mineral sector to provide stability and as an incentive for investing in large scale commercial mining activity.

★The 2019 Policy also introduces the concept of Inter-Generational Equity that deals with the well-being not only of the present generation but also of the generations to come and also proposes to constitute an inter-ministerial body to institutionalize the mechanism for ensuring sustainable development in mining.

 

Benefits :

★The New National Mineral Policy will ensure more effective regulation.

★It will lead to sustainable mining sector development in future while addressing the issues of project affected persons especially those residing in tribal areas

                                                                                                                          Source :- The Hindu; PIB

Union Cabinet approves software product policy

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Context :

★The Union Cabinet, has approved the National Policy on Software Products - 2019 to develop India as a Software Product Nation.

 

Background :

★The Indian IT Industry has predominantly been a service Industry. However, a need has been felt to move up the value chain through technology oriented products and services.

★To create a robust software product ecosystem the Government has approved the National Policy on Software Products – 2019, which aims to develop India as the global software product hub, driven by innovation, improved commercialisation, sustainable Intellectual Property (IP), promoting technology start­ups and specialized skill sets.

★Further, the Policy aims to align with other Government initiatives such as Start-up India, Make in India and Digital India, Skill India etc so as to create Indian Software products Industry of USD ~70-80 billion with direct & indirect employment of ~3.5 million by 2025.

 

To achieve the vision of NPSP-2019, the Policy has the following five Missions:

★To promote the creation of a sustainable Indian software product industry, driven by intellectual property (IP), leading to a ten-fold increase in India share of the Global Software product market by 2025.

★To nurture 10,000 technology startups in software product industry, including 1000 such technology startups in Tier-II and Tier-III towns & cities and generating direct and in-direct employment for 3.5 million people by 2025.

★To create a talent pool for software product industry through (i) up-skilling of 1,000,000 IT professionals, (ii) motivating 100,000 school and college students and (iii) generating 10,000 specialized professionals that can provide leadership.

★To build a cluster-based innovation driven ecosystem by developing 20 sectoral and strategically located software product development clusters having integrated ICT infrastructure, marketing, incubation, R&D/testbeds and mentoring support.

★In order to evolve and monitor scheme & programmes for the implementation of this policy, National Software Products Mission will be set up with participation from Government, Academia and Industry.

 

Impact :

★The Software product ecosystem is characterized by innovations, Intellectual Property (IP) creation and large value addition increase in productivity, which has the potential to significantly boost revenues and exports in the sector, create substantive employment and entrepreneurial opportunities in emerging technologies and leverage opportunities available under the Digital India Programme, thus, leading to a boost in inclusive and sustainable growth.

                                                                                                                                                     Source :- PIB

           

Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prizes for Science and Technology

GS PAPER - 03 AWARDS AND HONORS

Context :

★The Prime Minister conferred the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar prizes for 2016, 2017 and 2018, at an event in Vigyan Bhawan.

 

Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar prize :

★Prizes awarded annually for notable and outstanding research, applied or fundamental, in the following disciplines:

(i) Biological Sciences,

(ii) Chemical Sciences,

(iii) Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean and Planetary Sciences,

(iv) Engineering Sciences,

(v) Mathematical Sciences,

(vi) Medical Sciences and

(vii) Physical Sciences.

★Any citizen of India engaged in research in any field of science and technology up to the age of 45 years and Overseas citizen of India (OCI) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) working in India are eligible.

 

Dr Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar :

★Dr Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar was the Founder Director (and later first Director General) of Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) who is credited with establishing twelve national laboratories in as many years.

★Dr Bhatnagar played a significant role in building of post-independent S & T infrastructure and in the formulation of India’s S & T policies.

★Dr Bhatnagar concurrently held number of important position in the Government. He was the first Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC).

★He was Secretary, Ministry of Education and Educational Adviser of Government. He was the first Secretary to Ministry of Natural Resource & Scientific Research and also Secretary of Atomic Energy Commission. He played an instrument role in the establishment of the National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) of India.

                                                                                                                                                         Source :- PIB

Ordinance for Amendment to the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation

Context :

★The Union Cabinet, has approved promulgation of an Ordinance to amend the definition of "person", as defined in sub-section (v) of section 2 of the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005

 

More about the news:

★to include a trust,

★to enable the setting up of a unit in a Special Economic Zone by a trust,

★Also to provide flexibility to the Central Government to include in this definition of a person, any entity that the Central Government may notify from time to time.

 

Impact :

★The present provision of the SEZs Act, 2005 do not permit 'trusts' to set up units in SEZs. The amendment will enable a trust to be considered for grant of permission to set up a unit in SEZs.

★The amendment will also provide flexibility to the Central Government to include in this definition of a person, any entity that the Central Government may notify from time to time. This will facilitate investments in Special Economic Zones.

         

Special Economic Zone : ★Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are geographically delineated ‘enclaves’ in which regulations and practices related to business and trade differ from the rest of the country and therefore all the units therein enjoy special privileges. ★The basic idea of SEZs emerges from the fact that, while it might be very difficult to dramatically improve infrastructure and business environment of the overall economy ‘overnight’, SEZs can be built in a much shorter time, and they can work as efficient enclaves to solve these problems.

                                                                                                                                                                                                 Source :- PIB

Cabinet approves joining of IEA Bioenergy TCP by Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas as a Member

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation

Context :

★The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister was apprised about Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Government of India joining IEA Bioenergy TCP as its 25th member.

 

IEA Bioenergy TCP :

★International Energy Agency’s Technology Collaboration Programme on Bioenergy (IEA Bioenergy TCP) is an international platform for co-operation among countries with the aim of improving cooperation and information exchange between countries that have national programmes in bioenergy research, development and deployment.

★IEA Bioenergy TCP works under the framework of International Energy Agency (IEA) to which India has “Association” status since 30th March, 2017.

★The primary goal of joining IEA Bioenergy TCP by Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoP&NG) is to facilitate the market introduction of advanced biofuels with an aim to bring down emissions and reduce crude imports.

 

Functions :

★The R&D work in IEA Bioenergy TCP is carried out carried out within well-defined 3-years programmes called “Tasks”.

★Each year the progress of the Tasks is evaluated and scrutinized and each 3 years the content of the Tasks is reformulated and new Tasks can be initiated.

★Technical persons from Public sector Oil Marketing companies will also be contributor in the Tasks participated by MoP&NG.

 

Benefits :

★Participation in IEA Bioenergy TCP are shared costs and pooled technical resources.

★The duplication of efforts is avoided and national Research and Development capabilities are strengthened.

★There is an information exchange about best practices, network of researchers and linking research with practical implementation.

★Engagement with International Agencies will also apprise the Ministry of the developments taking place Worldwide in Biofuel sector, provide opportunity of personal interaction with innovators/ Researchers and help in bringing suitable policy ecosystem.

★In addition, after becoming member, India can participate in other related Tasks focussing on Biogas, Solid waste Management, Biorefining etc. which could be participated by relevant Ministries/ Departments/ Organizations of the Country.

                                                                                                                                                       Source :- PIB

FAME India Phase II

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation

Context :

★The Union cabinet has approved the proposal for implementation of scheme titled ‘Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles in India Phase II (FAME India Phase II)’ for promotion of Electric Mobility in the country.

★This scheme is the expanded version of the present scheme titled ‘FAME India1 which was launched on 1st April 2015

 

FAME India Phase - 2 :

★Emphasis is on electrification of the public transportation that includes shared transport.

★Demand Incentives on operational expenditure mode! for electric buses will be delivered through State/city transport corporation (STUs).

★In 3W and 4W segment incentives will be applicable mainly to vehicles used for public transport or registered for commercial purposes.

★In the e-2Ws segment, the focus will be on the private vehicles.

★Through the scheme, it is planned to support 10 Lakhs e-2W, 5 Lakhs e-3W, 55000 4Ws and 7000 Buses.

★To encourage advance technologies, the benefits of incentives, will be extended to only those vehicles which are fitted with advance battery like a Lithium Ion battery and other new technology batteries.

★The scheme proposes for establishment of charging infrastructure, whereby about 2700 charging stations will be established in metros, other million plus cities, smart cities and cities of Hilly states across the country so that there will be availability of at least one charging station in a grid of 3 km x 3 km.

★Establishment of Charging stations are also proposed on major highways connecting major city clusters.

★On such highways, charging stations will be established on both sides of the road at an interval of about 25 km each.

 

Benefits :

★The main objective of the scheme is to encourage Faster adoption of Electric and hybrid vehicle by way of offering upfront Incentive on purchase of Electric vehicles and also by way of establishing a necessary charging Infrastructure for electric vehicles.

★The scheme will help in addressing the issue of environmental pollution and fuel security.

                                                                                                                                                                                                       Source :- PIB

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