Rights Commissions. 1. NHRC

Rights Commissions.

1. NHRC National Human Rights Commission-
-Statutory body and not a constitutional body.
-Multi member body consists of chairman and four members.
-Chairman should be a retired CJI and members should be serving or retired judges of SC ,HC and two serving persons having knowledge or practical experience w.r.t. human rights
-In addition to these it has four ex-officio  members Chairmen for National Commission for Minorities, NMCs for SCs, NMCs for STs and NMC for Women.

-Chairman and members are appointed by the President on the recommendations of a six member committee consisting of PM, Speaker of Lok Sabha , Dy Chairman of Lower House, and leader of opposition in both the houses of Parliament and Central Home Minister.
-Chairman and members hold office for a term of 5 Years or until they attain the age of 70 YEARS.

NHRC was established in 1993 under a legislation enacted by Parliament namely, Protection of Human Rights Act. 1993. This Act was amended in 2006.
(NHRC -Watch Dog of Human rights in the Country.

Major Committees on Electoral Reforms and their Recommendations in India

Jaya Prakash Narayan Committee:

In 1974, Jaya Prakash Narayan headed a committee consisting of EPW. Decosta, A.G. Noorani, R. D. Desai, PH. Mavlankar, M. R. Masani and V. M. Tarkunde to make recommendations on electoral process or electoral reforms.

The committee suggested to change some criteria in the electoral processes. They are as follows:

a. To change in the procedure of appointment of the Chief-Election Commissioner;

b. To elect three-member Election Commission;

c. To reduce the voting age from 21 to 18 years; and

d. The television and radio should be placed under an independent corporation.

Dinesh Goswami Committee:

In 1990, Dinesh Goswami Headed a Committee made the following recommendations;

a. The ordering of re-poll or countermanding should be not only be on the report of the returning officer, but also otherwise and, also to give the Election Commission the requisite powers to appoint investigating agencies, prosecuting agencies and constitution of special courts.

b. There is a need for an amendment to the anti-defection law to restrict disqualification only to those cases, where an elected member voluntarily gives up his membership of the political party, or when he votes or abstain from voting contrary to party whips, directions etc. only in respect of motion of vote of confidence. The question of disqualification of members should not be decided by the speaker or the Chairman of the concerned House.

c. Changes in the voting pattern and shift to proportional representation of the list system, instead of present voting system should be made (However, this matter was to be further discussed amongst exports)

d. There should be fresh delimitation on the basis of 1981 census and there should be a provision for rotation of reserved seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

e. No candidates should be allowed to contest an election from more than two constituencies. The age of Candidates for assembly seats should be reduced to 21 and for the Council to 25.

f. To discourage non-serious candidates, the security deposit for Lok Sabha should be increased to Rs. 5000 and for Assembly it should be increased to Rs. 2500. The amount should be forfeited if the candidate fails to secure one fourth of the total votes. The member of proposals to nomination should also be increased.

g. A model code of conduct be framed which would include issues relating to-the use of official machinery, transport, media, funds etc.

h. There should be a ban on transfer of officials and staff concerted with the elections. The Commission and the Central Government should continue the periodic revision of election expenses in consulta­tion with the Election Commission. There should be a six month time limit for holding bye-elections.

i. Army and Para-military personnel, diplomats and others placed outside India should be allowed proxy voting.

j. Extensive restructuring of the accounting of election expenses is needed.

k. Monitoring of expenses should be undertaken by the Election Commission, and a speedy trial of election disputes through the help of adhoc judges should be ensured.

l. There should be provision to punish plying mechanically-propelled vehicles, carrying lethal weapons and fire arms or distributing liquor on, the polling day.

m. Electronic voting machines should be used to put an end to manipulating and tempering.

Jeevan Reddy Committee:

The Justice Jeevan Reddy has proposed far Reaching Electoral Reforms. The Following are the Highlights:

a. The Commission advocated a total ban on splits and mergers of political parties during the term of the Lok Sabha or Legislative Assembly.

b. Once a member has been elected on a ticket of a particular recognized party, then he should remain in that party till the dissolution of the House or till the end of his membership by resignation or otherwise.

c. The Commission has recommended an adequate representation.

d. To discourage non-serious persons from contesting elections, the Commission has recommended a steep ten-fold hike in the deposits of independent and non-recognized party candidates.

e. To curb criminalisation of politics, the Commission has suggested that a person should be disqualified from contesting elections to the Lok Sabha or an Assembly if a court has ordered framing of charges in respect of offences listed in the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

Tarkunde Committee:

In August 1974, Jaya Prakash Narayan on behalf of the Citizen’s for Democracy appointed a committee V.M. Tarkunde, M.R. Masani, P.G. Mavalankar, A.G. Noorani, R.D. Desai and E. PW. Decosta.

It is known as Tarkunde Committee. The committee made the following recommendations:

a. The election Commission should be a three member body.

b. The minimum age for voting should be 18 years.

c. The TV and Radio should be placed under the control of autonomous statutory corporation.

d. The committee recommended the formation of voter’s council in as many constituencies as possible which can help in free and fair elections.

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 2015

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY): -The Union Cabinet approved the PMKVY on 19 March 2015 with an outlay of 1500 crore rupees -The programme aims to impart skill training to youth with focus on first time entrants to the labour market and class 10 and class 12 drop outs. -Implemented by the new Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship through the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). -The scheme will cover 24 lakh persons.

National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) -An autonomous body under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India, which coordinates and harmonizes the skill development

The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Bill, 2015

The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Bill, 2015 The bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on 10 March 2015 by voice vote.The Bill amends the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (LARR Act, 2013).  
The Bill replaces the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Ordinance, 2014.
The LARR Act, 2013 outlines the process to be followed when land is acquired for a public purpose. Key changes made by the Bill are:-  
1. The LARR Act, 2013 exempted 13 laws (such as the National Highways Act, 1956 and the Railways Act, 1989) from its purview. However, the LARR Act, 2013 required that the compensation, rehabilitation, and resettlement provisions of these 13 laws be brought in consonance with the LARR Act, 2013, within a year of its enactment (that is, by January 1, 2015), through a notification. The Bill brings the compensation, rehabilitation, and resettlement provisions of these 13 laws in consonance with the LARR Act, 2013.  

2.Exemption of five categories of land use from certain provisions: The Bill creates five special categories of land use: (i) defence, (ii) rural infrastructure, (iii) affordable housing, (iv) industrial corridors, and (v) infrastructure projects including Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects where the central government owns the land.  

3. The LARR Act, 2013 requires that the consent of 80% of land owners is obtained for private projects and that the consent of 70% of land owners be obtained for PPP projects. The present Bill exempts the five categories mentioned above from this provision of the Act.  

4. The present Bill permits the government to exempt projects in these five categories from the following provisions, through a notification:- a. The LARR Act, 2013 requires that a Social Impact Assessment be conducted to identify affected families and calculate the social impact when land is acquired. b. The LARR Act, 2013 imposes certain restrictions on the acquisition of irrigated multi-cropped land and other agricultural land. For example, irrigated multi-cropped land cannot be acquired beyond the limit specified by the appropriate government.  

5. Return of unutilised land. The LARR Act, 2013 required land acquired under it which remained unutilised for five years, to be returned to the original owners or the land bank. The Bill states that the period after which unutilised land will need to be returned will be: (i) five years, or (ii) any period specified at the time of setting up the project, whichever is later.  

6. Time period for retrospective application. The Bill states that in calculating this time period, any period during which the proceedings of acquisition were held up: (i) due to a stay order of a court, or (ii) a period specified in the award of a Tribunal for taking possession, or (iii) any period where possession has been taken but the compensation is lying deposited in a court or any account, will not be counted.  
7. Other changes. 
a. The LARR Act, 2013 excluded the acquisition of land for private hospitals and private educational institutions from its purview. The Bill removes this restriction. b. While the LARR Act, 2013 was applicable for the acquisition of land for private companies, the Bill changes this to acquisition for ‘private entities’. A private entity is an entity other than a government entity, and could include a proprietorship, partnership, company, corporation, non-profit organisation, or other entity under any other law.
c.The LARR Act, 2013 stated that if an offence is committed by the government, the head of the department would be deemed guilty unless he could show that the offence was committed without his knowledge, or that he had exercised due diligence to prevent the commission of the offence. The Bill replaces this provision and states that if an offence is committed by a government official, he cannot be prosecuted without the prior sanction of the government.  

8. Due to strong opposition to the new amendment bill, government had to include nine amendments. Some of them are:- 

a. Employment to one member of family for farmers displaced by land acquisition. b. Govt to ensure that land acquired is the bare minimum. 
c. Industrial corridor land can extend maximum of one km on both sides of highway and railways. 
d. A quasi judicial authority known as Land acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Authority can hold hearings in the district where acquisition takes place. 
e. Bill no longer covers acqusition for private hospitals and schools.

US announced support to India.

US announced support to India.

To increase India's solar energy target to 100 gigawatts by 2022
To advance India's transition to low carbon economy.
By
-Partnership to Advance Clean Energy Research (PACE-R)
-Partnership to Advance Clean Energy Deployment (PACE-D)
for funding solar energy, bio fuels and smart Grid storage

Smart Grid energy storage.
The methods used to store electricity on a large scale within an electrical power grid

Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN).

Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN).

-Joint Declaration between the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) & the National Science Foundation (NSF) of the United States of America.

Beneficial for 
-newer methods of pedagogy; 
-infuse creativity 
-professional rigour at a relatively lower cost; 
-boosting research in cutting edge technologies and 
-to build stronger academic networks between both countries

To start with, the programme would facilitate inviting up to 1000 faculty every year from amongst the best institutions in the US, who will be deputed to identified institutions in India

Coal India Limited.

 Coal India Limited (CIL)

It is a state-controlled coal mining company. It is headquartered in Kolkata, West Bengal.
It is the largest coal producer company in the world and contributes around 81% of the coal production in India.
Union Government of India owns 90% of the shares in CIL and controls the operations of CIL through Ministry of Coal.
In April 2011, CIL was conferred the Maharatana status by Government of India.
 It is India’s 5th most valuable company in terms of market
value.
On 6 Jan 2015 Sutirtha Bhattacharya has taken charge as full-time
Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Coal India Limited (CIL). 

World Braille Day

The 4th of January is World Braille Day, as it is the birthday of
Louis Braille, the Frenchman who invented the code in 1821.
Braille helps to provide equal opportunity for many blind people
worldwide.
-In India new schemes for the empowerment of persons with visual
impairment and other categories of the disabled were announced at Louis
Braille Birth Anniversary, organized by All India Confederation of the
Blind.
-Under this Scheme, non recurring assistance of upto Two crores would
be available for NGOs and Government organisations to provide vide
access to blind children and adults for much-needed books in Braille.
-Krishna Kumari Varma arma Memorial Award was also
presented to a student on securing top position in M.A. History
examination organized by Hyderabad University.

National Health Policy 2015 draft.

-Declaration of the determination of the government to leverage economic
growth to achieve health outcomes, and an explicit acknowledgment that
better health contributes immensely to improved productivity as well as
to equity.
-Main objectives of this policy are to improve population health status
through concerted policy action in all sectors and expand preventive,
promotive, curative, palliative and rehabilitative services provided by the
public health sector; achieve a significant reduction in out of pocket
expenditure due to health care costs and reduction in
proportion of households experiencing catastrophic health
expenditures and consequent impoverishment.
The primary aim of this policy is to inform, clarify, strengthen and
prioritise the role of the government in shaping health systems in all
its dimensions- investment in health, organisation and financing of
healthcare services, prevention of diseases and promotion of good
health through cross sectoral action, access to technologies,
developing human resources, etc.
-The other goal of this 58-page long policy document is the attainment of
the highest possible level of good health and well-being, through a
preventive and promotive healthcare orientation in all developmental
policies, and universal access to good quality health care services
without anyone having to face financial hardship as a consequence.

ICICI's Digital village to Nation

ICICI's Digital village to Nation.

-Initiative of Sawach Bharat Campaign By ICICI Bank.
-Banks should create one lakh 'Sawach Bharat' entrepreneurs vision of sustainable reality.
-Banks can become agents of social transformation by ensuring easy access to their savings whenever required.
-Village Akodra of Sabarkantha District of Gujarat chosen by ICICI Bank as digital village.
-As rural development could emerge as a powerhouse of economic development for the country..
-To prevent country from parallel (black) economy banks should actually compete for achieving maximum cashless transactions.