WPWW .RA IB Sumary · programme. The Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Shri Arun...

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PIB SumaryF E B U R A R Y - 2 0 1 8

PIB Magazine summarized in Easy to

understand form.

www.rajiasacademy.com

1 | P a g e Raj Malhotra’s IAS #1110, Sector 11, Chandigarh

Table of Contents

AYUSHMAN BHARAT ....................................................................................................................................... 2

The initiatives are as follows – ............................................................................................................................. 2

1. Health and Wellness Centre – ........................................................................................................................ 2

2. National Health Protection Scheme – ........................................................................................................... 2

DIGITAL GENDER ATLAS ............................................................................................................................... 3

Details – .................................................................................................................................................................. 3

MINAMATA CONVENTION ............................................................................................................................. 4

Details - .................................................................................................................................................................. 4

About Minamata Convention - ............................................................................................................................ 5

ENCORE ............................................................................................................................................................... 5

Details - .................................................................................................................................................................. 5

Significance -.......................................................................................................................................................... 5

PRIME MINISTER’S RESEARCH FELLOW SCHEME .............................................................................. 6

Details - .................................................................................................................................................................. 6

Port Logistics: Issues & Challenges in India ...................................................................................................... 6

Objective- ............................................................................................................................................................... 6

Recommendations - ............................................................................................................................................... 6

Issues raised -......................................................................................................................................................... 7

Findings of the report - ......................................................................................................................................... 7

NATIONAL URBAN HOUSING FUND ............................................................................................................ 7

Details – .................................................................................................................................................................. 8

NEW BILL TO REGULATE UNREGULATED DEPOSITS SCHEME AND CHIT FUNDS .................... 8

The Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2018 - ............................................................................... 8

Details - .................................................................................................................................................................. 9

Salient Features -................................................................................................................................................... 9

The Chit Funds (Amendment) Bill, 2018 -........................................................................................................ 10

NEW METHODOLOGY FOR AUCTION OF COAL MINES .................................................................... 10

Focus - .................................................................................................................................................................. 11

Details - ................................................................................................................................................................ 11

Significance -........................................................................................................................................................ 11

TRAFFICKING OF PERSONS (PREVENTION, PROTECTION AND REHABILITATION) BILL,

2018....................................................................................................................................................................... 11

Features - ............................................................................................................................................................. 12

Background – ...................................................................................................................................................... 13


AYUSHMAN BHARAT

The Government has announced two major initiatives in health sector, as part of Ayushman Bharat

programme. The Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Shri Arun Jaitely while presenting

the General Budget 2018-19 said that this was aimed at making path breaking interventions to

address health holistically, in primary, secondary and tertiary care systems, covering both prevention

and health promotion.

The initiatives are as follows –

1. Health and Wellness Centre –

The National Health Policy, 2017 has envisioned

Health and Wellness Centres as the foundation of

India’s health system.

Under this 1.5 lakh centres will bring health care

system closer to the homes of people.

These centres will provide comprehensive health

care, including for non-communicable diseases

and maternal and child health services.

These centres will also provide free essential

drugs and diagnostic services.

The Budget has allocated Rs.1200 crore for this

flagship programme.

Contribution of private sector through CSR and

philanthropic institutions in adopting these centres

is also envisaged.

2. National Health Protection Scheme –

● The second flagship programme under Ayushman Bharat is National Health Protection

Scheme, which will cover over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families (approximately 50 crore

beneficiaries) providing coverage upto 5 lakh rupees per family per year for secondary and

tertiary care hospitalization.

● This will be the world’s largest government funded health care programme.


DIGITAL GENDER ATLAS

Digital Gender Atlas has been developed to identify the low performing geographic pockets for girls,

particularly from marginalized groups such as scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and Muslim

minorities, on specific gender related education indicators.

Details –

The Atlas is designed around the two broad areas of performance of girls' education and

vulnerabilities visualized in the following five sections –

1. Comparative Composite Index based Quartile Ranking grouped under categories of access,

infrastructure, teachers and outcome indicators and based on 25 indicators pertaining to

primary, upper primary and secondary level which can be visualized at State, district and block

level.


2. A Trend Analysis of the performance status of 25 individual indicators can be visualised at

State, district and block levels over three years viz 2011-12, 2012-13 & 2013-14.

3. Spatial Distribution of Special Focus Districts – These are districts with a population of

25% and above of people belonging to Schedule Tribes (109 districts), Schedule Castes (61

districts), Muslims (88 districts with a Muslim population of more than 20%), minority

community (121 districts as identified by Ministry of Minority Affairs under PM’s 15 PPP), Left

Wing Extremist affected districts (88 districts identified by Ministry of Home Affairs), Beti

Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) districts (161 districts) and Educationally Backward Blocks (3479

blocks).

4. Vulnerability status of an area based on a composite index of 3 broad indicators (i) rural

female literacy (ii) percentage girls/boys married below the legal age of marriage and (iii)

working children can be visualized. Separate visualisations are given for working children for

the following sub-indicators: disaggregation by gender and age for the 5-9 years, 10-14 years

and 15-19 years’ age groups as well as for marriage below the legal age. These maps are

available up to the district level.

5. Children with Disabilities – The performance status of six individual indicators can be

visualized at state and district level across three years i.e. 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14. This

Digital Gender Atlas can be accessed at website www.rmsaindia.gov.in Gender Atlas.

All the states have been mapped in the Digital Gender Atlas. The states have been using it as a

planning tool to come up with strategies for inputs for the state SSA and RMSA annual plans.

MINAMATA CONVENTION

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri

Narendra Modi has approved the proposal for ratification

of Minamata Convention on Mercury and depositing the

instrument of ratification enabling India to become a Party

of the Convention.

Details -

● The approval entails Ratification of the Minamata

Convention on Mercury along with flexibility for

continued use of mercury-based products and

processes involving mercury compound up to

2025.

● The Minamata Convention on Mercury will be

implemented in the context of sustainable


development with the objective to protect human health and environment from the

anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds.

About Minamata Convention -

● The Convention protects the most vulnerable from the harmful effects of mercury and also

protects the developmental space of developing countries. Therefore, the interest of the poor

and vulnerable groups will be protected.

● The Minamata Convention on Mercury will further urge enterprises to move to mercury-free

alternatives in products and non-mercury technologies in manufacturing processes. This will

drive research & development, and promote innovation.

ENCORE

The Eastern Naval Command Operational Readiness Exercise (ENCORE), Theatre Level Readiness

and Operational Exercise concluded on the Eastern Seaboard recently.

Details -

The month long exercise saw participation of over 40 ships and submarines including those ships

from the Western Naval Command, Andaman & Nicobar Command and Indian Coast Guard and

assorted naval and IAF aircraft including Fighters, Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance (LRMP)

aircraft, Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) and Air Early Warning (AEW), Anti Submarine Warfare

(ASW) helicopters.

Significance -

● The exercise was conducted in phases to test various facets of war-fighting capabilities of the

combat units including Special Forces of ENC to respond to given threat situations.

● The Tactical Phase that saw intense action by both the opposing forces helping to validate

operational war fighting concepts and provided valuable lessons to sharpen combat skills.

● The exercise was conducted in real time covering a vast expanse of Indian Ocean Region

(IOR) notwithstanding the rough weather due to super cyclone Cebile in the Southern IOR.

● ENCORE assumes great significance in the backdrop of current security scenario. The

exercise provided an apt-opportunity to test the combat capability of the ENC and refine action

plans and contingencies for operations in complex maritime conflict zone.


PRIME MINISTER’S RESEARCH FELLOW SCHEME

The Union Cabinet today approved implementation of 'Prime Minister's Research Fellows (PMRF)'

scheme at a total cost of Rs.1650 crore for a period of seven years beginning 2018-19.

Details -

● Under this scheme, the best students who have completed or are in the final year of B. Tech or

Integrated M.Tech or M.Sc. in Science and Technology streams from

IISc/IITs/NITs/IISERs/IIITs will be offered direct admission in PhD programme in the IITs/IISc.

● Such students, who fulfil the eligibility criteria, and shortlisted through a selection process, as

laid down in the PMRF Guidelines, will be offered a fellowship of Rs.70,000/- per month for the

first two years, Rs.75,000/- per month for the 3rd year, and Rs.80,000/- per month in the 4th

and 5th years.

● Apart from this, a research grant of Rs.2.00 lakh will be provided to each of the Fellows for a

period of 5 years to cover their foreign travel expenses for presenting research papers in

international conferences and seminars. A maximum of 3000 Fellows would be selected in a

three year period, beginning 2018-19.

Port Logistics: Issues & Challenges in India

The ‘Port Logistics: Issues & Challenges in India’ (a report by Dun and Bradstreet) study looks

into various roadblocks and suggests policy recommendations to resolve the challenges across ports

in India.

Objective-

To achieve a target of 5% share in world exports,

India’s exports need to grow at an average rate of

over 26% for the next five years. This would require

increasing its product competitiveness. Enhancing

product competitiveness in the global market needs

infrastructure for trade to improve, and ports are a

critical part of trade infrastructure.

Recommendations -

● The study encapsulates key issues and challenges and also proposes 60 policy measures

to strengthen the ports sector, which represents the bulk of India’s merchandise trade.


● The study introduces a ‘Port Performance Index’ as an attempt to benchmark performance of

various ports by combining qualitative perception of stakeholders with quantitative outcome

based data.

● Covering 13 ports which handle around 67% of India’s maritime trade, and engaging with 700

respondents pan India, comprising government officials, trade associations,

exporter/importers, cargo handling agents and freight forwarders. Feedback was collected

from these stakeholders on both qualitative and quantitative aspects of business transactions

at ports.

● The scope of this study is limited only to container and bulk cargo handled at these ports

and does not cover liquid cargo.

● Looking at 13 major ports, 3 ports (JNPT, Kamarajar, Vizag) have received ‘Good’ score; 7

ports (Cochin, Kandla, Paradip, Chennai, Mormugao, New Mangalore and VOC) have

received ‘Average’ score and & 3 ports (Haldia, Kolkata and MbPT) have received ‘Poor’

score.

Issues raised -

Five issues, namely port congestion, customs clearance (including scanning & ICEGATE),

shipping line issues & charges, documentation & paperwork, and regulatory clearance are the

most common problems across ports and out of these just 4 issues, constitute 80% of total issues

causing detention & demurrage.

Findings of the report -

The three major findings of the report are - Processes and operations across the ports are not

standardized or uniform; Costs and time for key processes are unpredictable and there is an

unacceptable level of variation across ports as well as within port; Several government initiatives

taken need to be followed through to completion.

NATIONAL URBAN HOUSING FUND

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime

Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given approval

for creation of National Urban Housing Fund

(NUHF) for Rs.60,000 crores. This fund will be

situated in Building Materials and Technology

Promotion Council (BMTPC), an autonomous

body registered under the Societies

Registration Act, 1860 under the Ministry of

Housing and Urban Affairs.


Details –

NUHF will facilitate raising requisite funds in next four years so that flow of Central Assistance under

different verticals i.e. Beneficiary Linked Construction (BLC), Affordable Housing in Partnership(AHP),

In-Situ Slum Redevelopment (ISSR) and Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS) is sustained and

construction of houses to address the gap in Urban Sector progresses smoothly.

NEW BILL TO REGULATE UNREGULATED DEPOSITS SCHEME AND CHIT FUNDS

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to

introduce the following bills in the Parliament -

1. Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2018 in parliament &

2. Chit Funds (Amendment) Bill, 2018

The Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2018 -

The bill is aimed at tackling the menace of illicit deposit taking activities in the country. Companies/

institutions running such schemes exploit existing regulatory gaps and lack of strict administrative

measures to dupe poor and gullible people of their hard-earned savings.


Details -

The Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2018 will provide a comprehensive legislation to

deal with the menace of illicit deposit schemes in the country through,

● complete prohibition of unregulated deposit taking activity;

● deterrent punishment for promoting or operating an unregulated deposit taking scheme;

● stringent punishment for fraudulent default in repayment to depositors;

● designation of a Competent Authority by the State Government to ensure repayment of

deposits in the event of default by a deposit taking establishment;

● powers and functions of the competent authority including the power to attach assets of a

defaulting establishment;

● designation of Courts to oversee repayment of depositors and to try offences under the Act;

and

● listing of Regulated Deposit Schemes in the Bill, with a clause enabling the Central

Government to expand or prune the list.

Salient Features -

The salient features of the Bill are as follows:

● The Bill contains a substantive banning clause which bans Deposit Takers from promoting,

operating, issuing advertisements or accepting deposits in any Unregulated Deposit Scheme.

The principle is that the Bill would ban unregulated deposit taking activities altogether, by

making them an offence ex-ante, rather than the existing legislative-cum-regulatory framework

which only comes into effect ex-post with considerable time lags.

● The Bill creates three different types of offences, namely, running of Unregulated Deposit

Schemes, fraudulent default in Regulated Deposit Schemes, and wrongful inducement in

relation to Unregulated Deposit Schemes.

● The Bill provides for severe punishment and heavy pecuniary fines to act as deterrent.

● The Bill has adequate provisions for disgorgement or repayment of deposits in cases where

such schemes nonetheless manage to raise deposits illegally.

● The Bill provides for attachment of properties/ assets by the Competent Authority, and

subsequent realisation of assets for repayment to depositors.

● Clear-cut timelines have been provided for attachment of property and restitution to

depositors.

● The Bill enables creation of an online central database, for collection and sharing of

information on deposit taking activities in the country.

● The Bill defines "Deposit Taker" and "Deposit" comprehensively.

● "Deposit Takers" include all possible entities (including individuals) receiving or soliciting

deposits, except specific entities such as those incorporated by legislation.


● "Deposit" is defined in such a manner that deposit takers are restricted from camouflaging

public deposits as receipts, and at the same time not to curb or hinder acceptance of money by

an establishment in the ordinary course of its business.

● Being a comprehensive Union law, the Bill adopts best practices from State laws, while

entrusting the primary responsibility of implementing the provisions of the legislation to the

State Governments.

The Chit Funds (Amendment) Bill, 2018 -

In order to facilitate orderly growth of the

Chit Funds sector and remove bottlenecks

being faced by the Chit Funds industry,

thereby enabling greater financial access of

people to other financial products, the

following amendments to the Chit Funds Act,

1982 have been proposed –

● Use of the words "Fraternity Fund" for chit business under Sections 2(b) and 11(1) of the Chit

Funds Act, 1982, to signify its inherent nature, and distinguish its working from "Prize Chits"

which are banned under a separate legislation;

● While retaining the requirement of a minimum of two subscribers for the conduct of the draw of

the Chit and for the preparation of the minutes of the proceedings, the Chit Funds

(Amendment) Bill, 2018 proposes to allow the two minimum required subscribers to join

through video conferencing duly recorded by the foreman, as physical presence of the

subscribers towards the final stages of a Chit may not be forthcoming easily. The foreman

shall have the minutes of the proceedings signed by such subscribers within a period of two

days following the proceedings;

● Increasing the ceiling of foreman's commission from a maximum of 5% to 7%, as the rate has

remained static since the commencement of the Act while overheads and other costs have

increased manifold;

● Allowing the foreman a right to lien for the dues from subscribers, so that set-off is allowed by

the Chit company for subscribers who have already drawn funds, so as to discourage default

by them; and

● Amending Section 85 (b) of the Chit Funds Act, 1982 to remove the ceiling of one hundred

rupees set in 1982 at the time of framing the Chit Funds Act, which has lost its relevance. The

State Governments are proposed to be allowed to prescribe the ceiling and to increase it from

time to time.

NEW METHODOLOGY FOR AUCTION OF COAL MINES


The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by

Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the

methodology for auction of coal mines / blocks for sale of

coal under the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015

and the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation)

Act, 1957.

Focus -

The opening up of commercial coal mining for private sector is the most ambitious coal sector reform

since the nationalisation of this sector in 1973.

Details -

The auction will be an ascending forward auction whereby the bid parameter will be the price offer in

Rs./tonne which will be paid to the State Government on the actual production of coal. There shall be

no restriction on the sale and/or utilization of coal from the coal mine.

Significance -

● This reform is expected to bring efficiency into the coal sector by moving from an era of

monopoly to competition. It will increase competitiveness and allow the use of best possible

technology into the sector.

● The higher investment will create direct and indirect employment in coal bearing areas

especially in mining sector and will have an impact on economic development of these regions.

● It will also lead to energy security as 70% of India’s electricity is generated from thermal power

plants. This reform will ensure assured coal supply, accountable allocation of coal and

affordable coal leading to affordable power prices for consumers.

● As the entire revenue from the auction of coal mines for sale of coal would accrue to the coal

bearing States, this methodology shall incentivise them with increased revenues which can be

utilised for the growth and development of backward areas and their inhabitants including

tribals. States in Eastern part of the country will be especially benefited.

TRAFFICKING OF PERSONS (PREVENTION, PROTECTION AND REHABILITATION) BILL, 2018

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Trafficking of

Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018 for introduction in the Parliament.


Features -

● Addresses the issue of trafficking from the point of view of prevention, rescue and

rehabilitation.

● Aggravated forms of trafficking, which includes trafficking for the purpose of forced labour,

begging, trafficking by administering chemical substance or hormones on a person for the

purpose of early sexual maturity, trafficking of a woman or child for the purpose of marriage or

under the pretext of marriage or after marriage etc.

● Punishment for promoting or facilitating

trafficking of person which includes

producing, printing, issuing or distributing

unissued, tampered or fake certificates,

registration or stickers as proof of

compliance with Government

requirements; or commits fraud for

procuring or facilitating the acquisition of

clearances and necessary documents

from Government agencies.

● The confidentiality of victims/ witnesses

and complainants by not disclosing their

identity. Further the confidentiality of the

victims is maintained by recording their statement through video conferencing (this also helps

in trans-border and inter-State crimes).

● Time bound trial and repatriation of the victims - within a period of one year from taking into

cognizance.

● Immediate protection of rescued victims and their rehabilitation. The Victims are entitled to

interim relief immediately within 30 days to address their physical, mental trauma etc. and

further appropriate relief within 60 days from the date of filing of charge sheet.

● Rehabilitation of the victim which is not contingent upon criminal proceedings being initiated

against the accused or the outcome thereof.

● Rehabilitation Fund created for the first time. To be used for the physical, psychological and

social well-being of the victim including education, skill development, health care/psychological

support, legal aid, safe accommodation,etc.

● Designated courts in each district for the speedy trial of the cases.

● The Bill creates dedicated institutional mechanisms at District, State and CentralLevel. These

will be responsible for prevention, protection, investigation and rehabilitation work related to

trafficking. National Investigation Agency (NIA) will perform the tasks of Anti-Trafficking

Bureau at the national level present under the MHA.

● Punishment ranges from rigorous minimum 10 years to life and fine not less than Rs. 1 lakh.

● In order to break the organized nexus, both at the national and international level, the Bill

provides for the attachment & forfeiture of property and also the proceeds for crime.


● The Bill comprehensively addresses the transnational nature of the crime. The National Anti-

Trafficking Bureau will perform the functions of international coordination with authorities in

foreign countries and international organizations; international assistance in investigation;

facilitate inter-State and trans-border transfer of evidence and materials, witnesses and others

for expediting prosecution; facilitate inter-state and international video conferencing in judicial

proceedings etc.

Background –

Trafficking in human beings is the third largest organized crime violating basic human rights. There is

no specific law so far to deal with this crime. Accordingly, the Trafficking of Persons (Prevention,

Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018 has been prepared. The Bill addresses one of the most

pervasive yet invisible crimes affecting the most vulnerable persons especially women and

children.

The new law will make India a leader among South Asian countries to combat trafficking. Trafficking

is a global concern also affecting a number of South Asian nations. Amongst them, India is now a

pioneer in formulating a comprehensive legislation. UNODC and SAARC nations are looking forward

to India to take lead by enacting this law.

WPWW .RA IB Sumary · programme. The Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Shri Arun...

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