Daily Current Affairs : 19-Mar-2020
Major Topics Covered :
UTTAR PRADESH ORDINANCE
NDRF CONTINGENCY PLAN
THE KARNATAKA GRAM SWARAJ AND PANCHAYAT RAJ (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2020
CHILD WELFARE AND COVID-19
NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR INDIAN SYSTEM OF MEDICINE BILL, 2019 AND THE NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR HOMOEOPATHY BILL, 2019
GREENCO RATING SYSTEM
TREASURY BILLS
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UTTAR PRADESH ORDINANCE
Why in news?
Allahabad High Court called the UP Ordinance on recovery of damages as arbitrary in its very nature and sought reply of the UP government on it.
Highlights:
An ordinance approved by Uttar Pradesh government recently for recovery of damages to public and private properties by rioters and protestors during anti-CAA protests has been challenged in the Allahabad High Court.
The Governor had promulgated the ordinance on 13 March, which will allow Uttar Pradesh government to set up a claim tribunal through which those allegedly involved in rioting and damaging public and private property will be made to pay for the damages.
A retired judge or an officer of the additional commissioner rank will be the chairperson of this Tribunal and will be having two more members apart from him.
The tribunal will assess the damages caused to public and private properties. The tribunal may also appoint claims commissioner or an assessor in every district to assess the damages. The assessor will be reporting to the tribunal within a stipulated time of three months.
Source : Hindu and News18
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NDRF CONTINGENCY PLAN
Why in news?
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has trained more than 15,000 staff deployed at the air and land ports across the country on the protocols to be followed in view of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Highlights:
The National Crisis Management Committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary is devising the strategy to deal with the outbreak.
The NDMA's National Executive Committee (NEC), which ensures implementation of the policies on disaster management, has been constantly monitoring the situation.
The NEC is headed by the Union Home Secretary. It comprises Secretary-level officials in all the key Ministries or Departments, and the Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.
Source : Hindu
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THE KARNATAKA GRAM SWARAJ AND PANCHAYAT RAJ (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2020
Why in news?
In an attempt to bring about major changes in the functioning of the rural local bodies in Karnataka, the government on Wednesday tabled a new Bill.
Highlights:
It reduce the term of the offices of presidents and vice-presidents of gram panchayats, taluk panchayats and zilla panchayats from five years to 30 months.
No-confidence motion could not be moved against the presidents and vice-presidents of all three-tiers of local bodies before 15 months from the date of election.
The Bill is aimed at amending the 1993 Act. At present, no-confidence motion can be moved within 30 months from the date of election.
The Deputy Commissioner would preside over the meeting while no-confidence motion is considered in taluk panchayat and the regional commissioner would preside in the case of ZP.
In case the no-confidence moved is defeated, then no such motion is to be moved again in the next six months.
The Bill envisages some electoral reforms and that included closing of liquor shops 48 hours before the polling of panchayats.
The Bill has rationalised property tax collection that GPs can do with respect to industries and vacant land. It has proposed no tax on vacant land in airport or industrial area or industrial areas where plantations are grown. It proposes to levy 0.10% tax on the capital value of the property on the runway area of an airport.
Source : Hindu
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CHILD WELFARE AND COVID-19
Why in news?
The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered States to come out with a uniform policy to ensure that while preventing the spread of COVID-19, schemes providing nutritional food to children, nursing and lactating mothers are not adversely affected.
Highlights:
Non-supply of nutritional food to children as well as lactating and nursing mothers may lead to large-scale malnourishment. Particularly, children and lactating and nursing mothers in rural as well as tribal areas are prone to such malnourishment
While dealing with one crisis, the situation may not lead to creation of another crisis.
Source : Hindu
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NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR INDIAN SYSTEM OF MEDICINE BILL, 2019 AND THE NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR HOMOEOPATHY BILL, 2019
Why in news?
The two bills were passed by the Rajya Sabha yesterday.
Highlights:
INDIAN SYSTEM OF MEDICINE BILL, 2019
The proposed legislation seeks to repeal the Indian Medicine Central Council Act, 1970 and provides for a medical education system to ensure availability of quality medical professionals of Indian System of Medicine, and adoption of the latest medical research, among other objectives.
The proposed legislation seeks to repeal the Indian Medicine Central Council Act, 1970
NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR HOMOEOPATHY BILL, 2019
It seeks to repeal the Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973.
It proposes to constitute a National Commission for Homoeopathy. It is proposed that the Commission, among things, will frame policies for regulating medical institutions and homoeopathic medical professionals, and assess requirements of healthcare-related human resources and infrastructure.
The passage of the two bills will help the government to strengthen homoeopathy and other Indian medical system streams in the country.
Similar legislation for yoga and naturopathy would be brought as well.
Source : Hindu
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GREENCO RATING SYSTEM
Why in news?
In a written reply, Minister of Railways and Commerce and Industry informed the House about the Greenco Rating system.
Highlights:
GreenCo Rating, developed by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), has been acknowledged in India's Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) document, submitted to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2015.
It is a proactive voluntary action of Indian industry / private sector towards combating climate change.
It helps the industrial units in identifying and implementing various possible measures in terms of energy conservation, material conservation, recycling, utilisation of renewable energy, Green House Gases (GHG) reduction, water conservation, solid and liquid waste management, green cover etc.
Source : PIB
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TREASURY BILLS
Why in news?
In order to bridge a temporary cash flow mismatch, the Government, in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India, has decided to mobilise ₹51,000 crore more through auction of Treasury-Bills (T-Bills) during the remaining days of March.
Highlights:
About Treasury Bills:
Treasury-Bills are government borrowings for less than one year. Issued in three tenors — 91-, 182- and 364-days.
T-Bills are zero coupon i.e. they are issued at a discount and redeemed at face value.
Source : Business line