Current Affairs (CONSOLIDATION) - 16-31st - Drishti IAS
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Current
Affairs
(CONSOLIDaTION)
16-31st
December 2018
Drishti, 641, First Floor, Dr. Mukherjee Nagar, Delhi-110009
Phone: 87501 87501, WhatsApp: 81303 92355
Email: engweb@groupdrishti.com
Contents Polity and Governance............................................................................ 1 zz Pilot Project to Integrate Police Stations and Courts..................................................................................................1 zz Two Separate High Courts for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.................................................................................2 zz National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Bill, 2018.................................................................................2 zz Cabinet Approved Changes to POCSO Act...................................................................................................................3 zz SDG India Index..............................................................................................................................................................5 zz Lok Sabha Passes Surrogacy Bill.................................................................................................................................7 zz The Consumer Protection Bill 2018..............................................................................................................................8 zz Data Interception by Government...............................................................................................................................10 Economic Scenario................................................................................11 zz Strategy for New India @ 75........................................................................................................................................11 zz Delta Ranking of the Aspirational Districts................................................................................................................13 zz Bogibeel Bridge............................................................................................................................................................14 zz Packaging in Jute Bags Made Mandatory..................................................................................................................14 International Relations..........................................................................16 zz President’s Visit To Myanmar.....................................................................................................................................16 zz Maldives President’s Visit to India..............................................................................................................................17 zz Indian Firm Takes Over Chabahar Port Operations...................................................................................................18 zz Ceasefire in Yemen......................................................................................................................................................19 zz US to Pull Out Troops from Syria and Afghanistan....................................................................................................20 Science and Technology........................................................................22 zz National Supercomputing Mission.............................................................................................................................22 zz Information Fusion Center of Indian Navy..................................................................................................................23 zz GSAT-7A Launched.....................................................................................................................................................24 zz India’s First Military Flight using Blended Bio-Jet Fuel.............................................................................................24 zz Mission Gaganyaan.....................................................................................................................................................25 zz Small Satellite Launch Vehicle....................................................................................................................................26 zz Agni-IV Missile Successfully Test-Fired....................................................................................................................27 zz Brightest Object in the Universe..................................................................................................................................27 zz Farout...........................................................................................................................................................................27
Environment and Ecology......................................................................28 zz Conference of the Parties (COP 24)............................................................................................................................28 zz Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2018....................................................................................................29 zz Japan to Resume Commercial Whaling......................................................................................................................30 zz Rat Hole Mining............................................................................................................................................................31 zz Indonesia Tsunami......................................................................................................................................................32 zz Black-necked Crane.....................................................................................................................................................33 zz Rampant Killing of Mongoose.....................................................................................................................................33 zz Asiatic Lion Conservation Project...............................................................................................................................33 zz Decrease in Population of River Dolphins..................................................................................................................34 zz Baseline Survey of Waterfowl in Kaziranga................................................................................................................34 zz District Mineral Fund...................................................................................................................................................34 Security.................................................................................................35 zz Draft IT Rules Issued by Government.........................................................................................................................35 Art & Culture..........................................................................................37 zz Paika Rebellion.............................................................................................................................................................37 zz Ruins of the Church of St. Augustine..........................................................................................................................37 zz Lalitgiri Museum in Odisha..........................................................................................................................................38 zz Under the Sal Tree Theatre Festival............................................................................................................................39 zz Pokkali Paddy...............................................................................................................................................................39 zz Pavakoothu Puppetry..................................................................................................................................................39 Social Issues.........................................................................................40 zz Global Gender Gap Report-2018................................................................................................................................40 zz Eklavya Model Residential Schools............................................................................................................................41 zz Survive and Thrive: Transforming Care for Every Small and Sick Newborn.............................................................42 zz The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill 2016.......................................................................................42 zz Ujjwala Yojana Extended to all Poor Households......................................................................................................44 Miscellaneous.......................................................................................45 zz Andaman Islands Renamed .......................................................................................................................................45 zz Great Indian Bustard....................................................................................................................................................45 zz Markermeer Lake.........................................................................................................................................................45 zz Kashmir Stag................................................................................................................................................................46 zz World’s First Drone-delivered Vaccine in Vanuatu ...................................................................................................46 zz Award for National Unity.............................................................................................................................................46
w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS DECEMBER 2018 1
Polity and Governance
Highlights
zz Pilot Project to Integrate Police Stations and Courts (1) zz SDG India Index (5)
zz Two Separate High Courts for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana (2) zz Lok Sabha Passes Surrogacy Bill (7)
zz National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Bill, 2018 (2) zz The Consumer Protection Bill 2018 (8)
zz Cabinet Approved Changes to POCSO Act (3) zz Data Interception by Government (10)
¾ ¾ NJDG has specifically helped India improve its
Pilot Project to Integrate ranking in World Bank's Ease of Doing Business
Police Stations and Courts Report.
A Supreme Court panel has launched a pilot project Integrated Criminal Justice System (ICJS)
in Telangana’s Warangal district to integrate two crucial
¾¾ ICJS is an OTP-enabled web platform that integrates
pillars of the criminal justice delivery system- the courts
and police stations. police, prison, and court records for government
¾¾ The Inter-operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS), and police use.
an initiative of the apex court’s e-Committee, seeks ¾¾ The ICJS covers suspect profiles combining data from
to make live exchange of data possible between all prisons, FIR data from Crime and Criminal Tracking
criminal courts and police stations. Network and Systems (CCTNS), and courts.
¾¾ Justice MB Lokur, heads Supreme Court’s e-Committee,
and is also the chairman of ICJS. ¾¾ In its present form, it enters details such as a photo,
¾¾ This project is in alignment with Digital India initiative
state, religion, gender, nationality, age, type of case,
of the Government and will boost e-governance. marital status, whether or not the suspect is a drug
¾¾ This would help save time spent on completing addict, and biometric data.
paperwork and documentary evidence such as the ¾¾ ICJS now proposes to include social media profiles,
first information reports (FIR) and charge sheets. and details of immigration, prosecution, and
¾¾ Tracking court proceedings would become easier for National Investigative Agency records, allowing a
investigating officers. “360 profile view”.
¾¾ The next phase would include extending the ICJS
¾ ¾ It is proposed to introduce a “risk score” (a
data sharing to other states and also expanding it to
score ranking threat-level of a criminal) for the
prisons, forensic facilities, the prosecution system
and juvenile homes. profiles. The Ministry of Home Affairs, state
¾¾ The e-courts project is aimed at computerisation of governments, district authorities, and police
districts and subordinate courts across the country. stations will be able to view the statistics
¾¾ Several electronic services such as e-summons, SMS relevant to their geographies.
alerts to lawyers and litigants and e-filing have been
Crime and Criminal Tracking
initiated under the project.
¾¾ The National Judicial Data Grid hosts a dynamic
Network and Systems (CCTNS)
repository of over 100 million cases. ¾¾ CCTNS Project interconnects about 15000 Police
Stations and additional 5000 offices of supervisory
The National Judicial Data Grid
police officers across the country and digitize data
¾¾ The e-Courts National portal (ecourts.gov.in) was
launched in August 2013. related to FIR registration, investigation and charge
¾¾ The NJDG is working as National data warehouse
sheets in all Police Stations.
for case data including the orders/judgments for ¾¾ It will lead to the development of a national database
Courts across the country. of crimes and criminals.
Note:
2 CURRENT AFFAIRS DECEMBER 2018 www.d rish t i I A S. c o m
Salient Features
Two Separate High Courts ¾¾ The Bill provides for the constitution of a National
for Andhra Pradesh Commission with four autonomous boards entrusted
with conducting overall education of Ayurveda,
and Telangana Unani, Siddha & Sowa Rigpa under their respective
Boards. In order to ensure transparency the draft Bill
¾¾ Following a Supreme Court order to notify the
also proposes a common entrance exam and an exit
bifurcation of the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana exam that all graduates will have to clear to obtain
High Courts by January 1, the President has ordered their license to practice Indian medicine.
the separation of the common Hyderabad High Court ¾¾ Further, a teacher's eligibility test has been proposed
into the two separate High Courts of Andhra Pradesh in the Bill to assess the standard of teachers before
and Telangana. appointment and promotions.
¾¾ Both will function separately from January 1, 2019. ¾¾ Establishes two common boards— board of assessment
¾¾ According to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, and rating to assess and grant permission to educational
2014, both States were to have a common high court, institutions of Indian systems of medicine; and a board
till separate ones were formed. of ethics and registration of practitioners of Indian
systems of medicine to maintain a National Register
¾¾ Article 214 of the Constitution provides that there
and deal with ethical issues.
shall be a High Court for each State.
¾¾ With the creation of the new high court, the country Indian Systems of Medicine
now has 25 high courts. ¾¾ India has recognized six systems of medicine
¾¾ It will have 15 judges besides the chief justice. v i z . Ay u r ve d a , S i d d h a , U n a n i , Yo ga a n d
¾¾ The principal seat of the Andhra Pradesh High Court is Naturopathy,Homoeopathy and Sowa Rigpa.
Amaravati, the capital of the State. The High Court in ¾¾ The Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy,
Hyderabad will function separately as the High Court Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) was
of the State of Telangana. formed on November 9, 2014 to ensure the optimal
development and propagation of AYUSH systems of
healthcare.
National Commission Earlier it was known as the Department of
for Indian System of Indian System of Medicine and Homeopathy
(ISM&H) which was created in March 1995 and
Medicine Bill, 2018 renamed as Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and
Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy
The Cabinet has approved the draft National (AYUSH) in November 2003, with focused attention
Commission for Indian Systems of Medicine (NCIM) Bill, for development of Education and Research in
2018, which seeks to replace the existing regulator Central Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha
Council for Indian Medicine (CCIM) with a new body to and Homoeopathy.
ensure transparency.
Unani System of Medicine
¾¾ This is on the lines of National Medical Commission ¾¾ Unani system originated in Greece and its foundation
Bill which is meant to regulate allopathy medicine was laid by Hippocrates.
system. ¾¾ However, the system owes its present form to the
¾¾ The NCIM will promote availability of affordable Arabs who not only saved much of the Greek literature
healthcare services in all parts of the country. by rendering it into Arabic but also enriched the
¾ ¾ T h e C a b i n e t h a s a l s o a p p ro ve d t h e draft medicine of their day with their own contributions.
National Commission for Homoeopathy Bill, ¾¾ It was introduced in India by the Arabs and Persians
2018, aimed at replacing the Central Council for sometime around the eleventh century.
Homoeopathy, which is the current regulatory ¾¾ India has the largest number of Unani educational,
body for homoeopathy. research and health care institutions.
Note:
w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS DECEMBER 2018 3
Ayurveda Naturopathy
¾¾ The word ‘Ayurveda’ is derived from the fusion of ¾¾ Naturopathy is a cost effective drugless, non-invasive
two separate words- ‘Áyu’ i.e. life and ‘veda’ i.e. therapy involving the use of natural materials for
knowledge. Thus in literal meaning Ayurveda is health care and healthy living.
the science of life. ¾¾ It is based on the theories of vitality, boosting the
¾¾ It aims to keep structural and functional entities in selfhealing capacity of the body and the principles
a state of equilibrium, which signifies good health of healthy living.
(Swasthya) through various procedures, regimen, ¾¾ Naturopathy advocates living in harmony with
diet, medicines and behavior change. constructive principles of Nature on the physical,
Siddha system mental, social and spiritual planes.
¾¾ Siddha system of medicine is practiced in some parts Yoga
of South India especially in the state of Tamil Nadu. ¾¾ The word "Yoga" comes from the Sanskrit word
¾¾ The term ‘Siddha’ has come from ‘Siddhi’- which "yuj" which means "to unite or integrate."
means achievement. Siddhars were the men who ¾¾ Yoga is about the union of a person's own
achieved supreme knowledge in the field of medicine, consciousness and the universal consciousness.
yoga or tapa (meditation). ¾¾ It is primarily a way of life, first propounded by
Sowa-Rigpa Maharshi Patanjali in systematic form Yogsutra.
¾¾ “Sowa-Rigpa” commonly known as Tibetan system ¾¾ The discipline of Yoga consists of eight components
of medicine is one of the oldest, living and well namely, restraint (Yama), observance of austerity
documented medical tradition of the world. (Niyama), physical postures (Asana), breathing
¾¾ It has been originated from Tibet and popularly
control (Pranayam), restraining of sense organs
practiced in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Mongolia and (Pratyahar), contemplation (Dharna), meditation
Russia. The majority of theory and practice of (Dhyan) and Deep meditation (Samadhi).
Sowa-Rigpa is similar to “Ayurveda”. ¾¾ These steps in the practice of Yoga have the potential
¾¾ Sowa-Rigpa is based on the principle that bodies
to elevate social and personal behavior and to
of all the living beings and non living objects of promote physical health by better circulation of
the universe are composed of five Cosmo physical oxygenated blood in the body, restraining the sense
elements of Jung-wa-nga (Prithvi, Jal, Agni, Vayu organs and thereby inducing tranquility and serenity
and Akash). of mind and spirit.
¾¾ When the proportion of these elements is in
imbalance in our body, disorder results. Cabinet Approved
¾¾ It was recognized by the Government in 2011.
Changes to POCSO Act
Homoeopathy
The Union Cabinet has approved amendments to the
¾¾ The word ‘Homoeopathy’ is derived from two Greek
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act,
words, Homois meaning similar and pathos meaning
2012 to make punishment more stringent for committing
suffering. It was introduced in India in 18th Century.
sexual crimes against children.
¾¾ Homoeopathy simply means treating diseases
¾¾ The categories of sexual crimes against children have
with remedies, prescribed in minute doses, which
been increased from 20 to 21 under the amendment.
are capable of producing symptoms similar to the
¾¾ The 21 categories under aggravated penetrative
disease when taken by healthy people, i.e.principle
of – "Similia Similibus Curantur” which means sexual assault, in addition to the death penalty for
"likes are cured by likes”. sexually assaulting children below the age of 12,
cover child victims under the age of 18 years, who
¾¾ It takes a holistic approach towards the sick individual
have been subject to penetrative sexual assault by
through promotion of inner balance at mental,
a police officer or a member of the armed forces or
emotional, spiritual and physical levels.
security forces, by a public servant, a relative, the
Note:
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staff of a jail or remand home or protection home, ¾¾ The Act penalises storage of pornographic material
staff of a hospital, educational institution, or religious for commercial purposes with a punishment of up to
institution among others. three years, or a fine, or both.
¾¾ It also includes the gangrape of a child or use of The Bill amends this to provide that the punishment
deadly weapons during penetrative sexual assault, a can be imprisonment between three to five years,
sexual assault that incapacitates the child physically or a fine, or both.
or mentally, makes a girl child pregnant, inflicts the
In addition, the Bill adds two other offences for
child with HIV or any life-threatening disease.
storage of pornographic material involving children.
Key Amendments These include: (i) failing to destroy, or delete, or
report pornographic material involving a child, and
¾¾ The Bill increases the minimum punishment for
(ii) transmitting, propagating, or administering such
penetrative sexual assault from seven years to ten years.
material except for the purpose of reporting it.
It further adds that if a person commits penetrative
sexual assault on a child below the age of 16 years,
Analysis
he will be punishable with imprisonment between
20 years to life, along with a fine. ¾¾ The amendments may protect the interest of vulnerable
¾¾ The Bill adds two more grounds to the definition of children in times of distress and ensure their safety
aggravated penetrative sexual assault. These include: and dignity.
(i) assault resulting in the death of child, and (ii) assault ¾¾ The amendment is expected to discourage the trend
committed during a natural calamity. of child sexual abuse by acting as a deterrent due
¾¾ Currently, the punishment for aggravated penetrative to strong penal provisions incorporated in the Act.
sexual assault is imprisonment between 10 years ¾¾ However data shows that less than 3% of all POCSO
to life, and a fine. The Bill increases the minimum cases end in convictions and experts warn against
punishment from ten years to 20 years, and the the chilling effect the death penalty may have on
maximum punishment to death penalty. reporting the crime.
The amendment will include the death penalty in
¾¾ Systemic changes in law enforcement and prosecution
all cases of aggravated penetrative sexual assault
hold the key to tackling child sexual abuse.
against children, both boys and girls, below the
age of 18, thus making the Act gender neutral. Protection of Children from Sexual Offences
The maximum punishment of death will also be (POCSO) Act, 2012
applicable when sexual assault victims are children ¾¾ The POCSO Act, 2012 was enacted to Protect the
with mental or physical disabilities, in cases of Children from Offences of Sexual Assault, Sexual
repeat offenders, rape and attempt to murder, harassment and pornography with due regard for
and rape during communal violence. safeguarding the interest and well-being of children.
¾¾ The Bill adds two more offences to the definition
¾¾ The Act defines a child as any person below
of aggravated sexual assault. These include: (i)
assault committed during a natural calamity, and eighteen years of age, and regards the best
(ii) administering any hormone or any chemical interests and welfare of the child as matter of
substance, to a child for the purpose of attaining paramount importance at every stage, to ensure
early sexual maturity. the healthy physical, emotional, intellectual and
The Ministry of Women and Child Development social development of the child.
has cited reported rapes of young girls in the ¾¾ The Act defines different forms of sexual abuse,
aftermath of Kedarnath floods and that children including penetrative and non penetrative assault,
constitute 50-60% of victims of calamities. as well as sexual harassment and pornography.
¾¾ Pornographic purposes: Under the Act, a person is ¾¾ The Act also casts the police in the role of child
guilty of using a child for pornographic purposes if protectors during the investigative process.
he uses a child in any form of media for the purpose
¾¾ The Act stipulates that a case of child sexual abuse
of sexual gratification. The Act also penalises persons
who use children for pornographic purposes resulting must be disposed of within one year from the date
in sexual assault. the offence is reported.
Note:
w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS DECEMBER 2018 5
Key Terms under POCSO Act, 2012 Index
¾¾ Penetrative sexual assault: Under the Act, a person ¾¾ First of its kind ‘SDG India Index’ has been developed in
commits “penetrative sexual assault” if he: collaboration with the Ministry of Statistics &
Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Global Green
penetrates his penis into the vagina, mouth,
Growth Institute, United Nations in India, and
urethra or anus of a child, or
NITI Aayog.
makes a child do the same, or In September 2016, MoSPI developed a National
inserts any other object into the child’s body, or Indicator Framework (NIF) which is a consolidated
applies his mouth to a child’s body parts. list of possible national indicators. It consists of
306 statistical indicators to serve as a backbone
¾¾ Aggravated penetrative sexual assault: The Act
for monitoring of SDGs.
defines certain actions as “aggravated penetrative ¾¾ NITI Aayog has prepared the SDG India Index spanning
sexual assault”. across 13 out of 17 SDGs (leaving out Goals 12, 13,
These include cases when a police officer, a 14 and 17).
member of the armed forces, or a public servant ¾¾ Being the baseline report, it does not consider time
commits penetrative sexual assault on a child. series comparison of data. As a result, the SDG India
It also covers cases where the offender is a Index provides information on where a State/UT
currently stands on each of the indicators considered,
relative of the child, or if the assault injures the
and presents incremental change in subsequent
sexual organs of the child or the child becomes
versions.
pregnant, among others.
¾¾ Classification Criteria based on SDG India Index Score
¾¾ Aggravated sexual assault: Under the Act, “sexual is as follows: Aspirant: 0-49; Performer: 50-64; Front
assault” includes actions where a person touches Runner: 65-99; Achiever: 100.
the vagina, penis, anus or breast of a child with
sexual intent without penetration. “Aggravated Key Findings
sexual assault” includes cases where the offender ¾¾ Himachal Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu have
is a relative of the child, or if the assault injures the emerged as the front runners in the race to achieve
sexual organs of the child, among others. key sustainable development goals (SDGs) in a ranking
of states released by NITI Aayog.
POCSO e-Box ¾¾ Kerala’s top rank is attributed to its superior
¾¾ Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) performance in providing good health, reducing
e-Box launched in 2016 is an online complaint box hunger, achieving gender equality and providing
for reporting child sexual abuse. quality education.
¾¾ It is a National Commission for Protection of Child ¾¾ Himachal Pradesh ranks high on providing clean water
Rights (NCPCR) initiative to help children report such and sanitation, in reducing inequalities and preserving
mountain ecosystem.
crimes directly to the Commission.
¾¾ The toppers in gender equality, Sikkim and Union
¾¾ The online complaint management system enables
territories Andaman and Nicobar islands and Chandigarh
easy reporting and timely action against the offenders
have crossed the halfway mark in reaching the goals.
under the POCSO Act, 2012.
¾¾ Jharkhand, Odisha and Nagaland are among the
¾¾ E-Box is very simple to operate and help in maintaining
states that have a lot more ground to cover in the
the confidentiality of the complaint. overall rankings.
SDG India Index Limitations
¾¾ Exclusion of goals: SDG India Index does not currently
The NITI Aayog has released its SDG India Index cover Goals 12, 13 and 14 largely on account of
which intends to provide a holistic view on the social, unavailability of comparable data across States and
economic and environmental status of the country and UTs. Further, SDG 17 was left out as it focuses on
its States. international partnerships.
Note:
6 CURRENT AFFAIRS DECEMBER 2018 www.d rish t i I A S. c o m
¾¾ Indicators emerging from the
State schemes not included: The
Indicators focus largely on data
sources emerging from central
official statistical systems and
the respective Union Ministries/
Departments.
¾¾ Limitation of equal weightage:
Assigning equal weightage for all
indicators across all Goals may lead
to biased results. Additionally, some
indicators may be less relevant to
some States. For example, indicators
like the Mahatma Gandhi National
Rural Employment Guarantee Act
(MGNREGA), Pradhan Mantri Gram
Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) have less
relevance in States like Punjab and
Haryana because they have already
been performing better on these
targets. Thus, their progress on ¾¾ India has also emerged as a global leader on the
these schematic indicators will seem less in comparison international climate action agenda and an enabler
to other States. of sustainable development for developing countries
¾¾ Missing data: Data for a few States /UTs is not available around the world.
for some indicators. ¾¾ This combined with some of the world’s largest and
most ambitious social programmes including housing
Background for all, energy for all, urbanization, health and nutrition,
¾¾ The Sustainable Development goals were adopted and digital and financial inclusion, make it a leading
at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in force for the SDGs globally.
September, 2015. ¾¾ This SDG India Index by NITI Aayog is an important first
¾¾ They came into force from January 1st, 2016 and have step in enabling comprehensive tracking of the country’s
2030 as deadline for achieving the targets. progress, and in benchmarking SDGs for both central
¾¾ The success of Agenda 2030 globally will depend, and State governments across the country serving
on the progress India
makes on the SDGs.
It is not just the size
of India’s population
(about 17% of the world
population) or the scale
of its interventions that
makes it so critical
to the SDGs, but its
unique convergence of
extraordinary economic
growth, commitment
to sustainability, and
social and technological
innovations.
Note:
w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS DECEMBER 2018 7
its twin mandate to oversee the implementation of ¾¾ It allows surrogacy for infertile married (at least
SDGs in the country, and also promote Competitive five years) Indian couples only. The female must
and Cooperative Federalism among States and UTs. be between 23 and 50 years and the male 26 and
¾¾ The SDG India Index embodies the five Ps of the 55 years; and they cannot have any surviving child
global SDG movement – people, planet, prosperity, (biological, adopted or surrogate).
partnership and peace. However, this would not include a ‘child who is
mentally or physically challenged or suffers from
Way Forward life threatening disorder or fatal illness.’
¾¾ The SDG India Index will help every State and ¾¾ Only a close relative of the couple, who is able to
Union Territory identify their strengths and areas of provide a medical fitness certificate, can be a surrogate
opportunity, relative to their peers, and to identify the mother. She should have been married, having a child
steps they can take towards achieving the Sustainable of her own, and must be between 25 and 35 years,
Development Goals by 2030. but can be a surrogate mother only once.
¾¾ It is also important to note that this exercise has revealed ¾¾ The stated objective of the new Bill is to constitute a
that there is an urgent need for the improvement National Surrogacy Board, State Surrogacy Board and
of statistical systems to generate data that helps in appointment of authorities for regulation of practice
effective monitoring of SDGs at the national and State and process of surrogacy. In short, the law is meant
level on a real-time basis. The selection of indicators to end commercial surrogacy or, as the Supreme
for present exercise was constrained by the availability Court had once in 2009, termed “fertility tourism”
of data. Improved data availability and quality in the in the country.
future will make the index more robust.
Challenges
¾¾ Going forward, the report should be used for identifying
priority areas that require interventions and also to ¾¾ It does not allow single women or men, or gay couples
strengthen capacities for monitoring SDGs. to go in for surrogacy.
¾¾ Despite a similar stringent law, the Transplantation
of Human Organs Act, 1994 illegal organ commerce
Lok Sabha Passes continues to thrive. Therefore, the issue needs to be
Surrogacy Bill handled firmly.
¾¾ Adoption of a child borne out of surrogacy: An
The Lok Sabha has passed Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill unhealthy child borne out of surrogacy is often not
2016, banning commercial renting of wombs and allowing accepted by the parents due to the lack of legal
only “altruistic surrogacy”. safeguards for the child and the surrogate mother.
¾¾ The Bill was approved by the Cabinet in August 2016. The Bill has not addressed this issue comprehensively.
It was introduced in the Lok Sabha in November ¾¾ The Parliamentary Standing Committee (PSC) has rejected
2016 and was later referred to a parliamentary a blanket ban on commercial surrogacy proposed in
standing committee on health and family welfare in the Bill. It said that commercial surrogacy could trigger
January 2017. a black market for surrogacy services in India.
The whole surrogacy service could go underground
Key Provisions
which would lead to increased exploitation with
¾¾ The Bill seeks to regulate the surrogacy part of a no mechanism for protection of any of the parties
flourishing infertility industry in the country. involved in the surrogacy arrangement.
¾¾ It defines ‘surrogacy’ as a practice which a woman It could result in trafficking of surrogate mothers
undertakes to give birth to a child for another couple to foreign nations or safe surrogacy havens around
and agrees to hand over the child to them after birth. the globe for monetary returns.
¾¾ It allows ‘altruistic surrogacy’ — wherein only the The provision of no monetary incentive in the
medical expenses and insurance coverage is provided by proposed Bill except medical expenses can make
the couple to the surrogate mother during pregnancy. surrogacy similar to “forced labour” which is
No other monetary consideration will be allowed. prohibited under Article-23 of the Constitution.
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Endorsing altruistic surrogacy will enforce emotional
Rights of Consumers
and social pressure on close female relatives without
¾¾ Right to Safety
any compensation for immense emotional and
bodily labour of gestation involved in surrogacy ¾¾ Right to Information
as well as loss of livelihood. ¾¾ Right to Choose
Why the Need for a Surrogacy Bill ¾¾ Right to Seek Redressal
¾¾ Fertility tourism: India has emerged as a hub for ¾¾ Right to Education
infertility treatment, attracting people from the ¾¾ Right to be Heard
world over with its state-of-the-art technology and
competitive prices to treat infertility. National Consumer Day
¾¾ End exploitation: India has emerged as a surrogacy hub ¾¾ Every Year December 24 is observed as National
for couples from different countries and there have Consumer Day with a specific theme in India. This
been reports of unethical practices such as exploitation year the National Consumer Day is celebrated
of surrogate mothers, abandonment of children born with the theme “Timely Disposal of Consumer
out of surrogacy and cases of intermediaries importing Complaints”.
human embryos and gametes. ¾¾ It is celebrated on this day as the Consumer
¾¾ Commercial surrogacy has been legal in India since 2002 Protection Act, 1986 had received the assent of
under the guidelines of the Indian Council of Medical the President.
Research (ICMR). The Law Commission of India had also
recommended prohibiting commercial surrogacy and Key Provisions of the Bill
allowing only ethical altruistic surrogacy to the needy
¾¾ The Bill enforces consumer rights and provides a
Indian citizens by enacting a suitable legislation.
mechanism for redressal of complaints regarding the
Surrogacy defect in goods and deficiency in services.
¾¾ When a couple wants a baby but is unable to have a ¾¾ Under the Bill, Consumer Disputes Redressal
child because either or both partners are medically Commissions will be set up at the District, State
unfit to conceive, another woman (surrogate
and National levels for adjudicating consumer
mother) is artificially inseminated with the sperm
complaints.
of the father. She then carries the child full term
and delivers it for the couple. Appeals from the District and State Commissions
¾¾ In such a case, the surrogate mother is the biological will be heard at the next level and from the National
mother of the child. In instances when the father’s Commission by the Supreme Court.
sperm cannot be used, a donor sperm can also be ¾¾ The Bill sets up a Central Consumer Protection
used. This is traditional surrogacy. Authority to promote, protect and enforce consumer
¾¾ In gestational surrogacy, eggs from the mother rights as a class. It can issue safety notices for goods
are fertilised with the father’s/donor’s sperm and and services, order refunds, recall goods and rule
then the embryo is placed into the uterus of the against misleading advertisements.
surrogate, who carries the child to term and delivers It will be headed by a Chief Commissioner and
it. In this case, the biological mother is still the comprise other Commissioners. It will have an
woman whose eggs are used, while the surrogate
investigation arm headed by a Director General.
is called the birth mother.
It may also file complaints before the Consumer
Disputes Redressal Commissions.
The Consumer ¾¾ The Bill establishes Consumer Protection Councils
Protection Bill 2018 at the district, state, and national levels to render
advice on consumer protection.
Recently, the Lok Sabha has passed the Consumer The Central and State Council will be headed by
Protection Bill 2018. the Minister-in-charge of Consumer Affairs at the
¾¾ The Bill seeks to replace the three-decade-old Consumer central and state level, respectively. The District
Protection Act, 1986. Council will be headed by the District Collector.
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¾¾ The Bill also lists punitive actions against those who ¾¾ The Bill defines contracts as ‘unfair’ if they significantly
are found manufacturing, storing, distributing, selling, affect the rights of consumers. It also defines unfair
or importing products that are spurious or contain and restrictive trade practices.
adulterants. ¾ ¾ The case can be filed from anywhere, unlike
¾¾ If a consumer suffers an injury from a defect in a the existing law which allows the consumer to
good or a deficiency in service, he may file a claim of register the complaint only from the same place
product liability against the manufacturer, the seller, of purchase of the product or where the service
or the service provider. is availed.
Provision 1986 Act 2018 Bill
Ambit of Law ¾¾ All goods and services for consideration. All goods and services, including telecom and housing
¾¾ Free and personal services are excluded. construction, and all modes of transactions (online,
teleshopping, etc.).
Free and personal services are excluded.
Unfair Trade Includes six types of such practices, like Adds three types of practices to the list:
Practices false representation, misleading advertise ¾¾ failure to issue a bill or receipt;
-ments. ¾¾ refusal to accept a good returned within 30 days;
¾¾ disclosure of personal information given in
confidence
Product liability No provision. ¾¾ Claim for product liability can be made against
the manufacturer, service provider, and seller.
¾¾ Compensation can be obtained by proving one
of the several specified conditions in the Bill.
Regulator No provision. Establishes the Central Consumer Protection
Authority (CCPA)
Pecuniary ¾¾ District: Up to Rs 20 lakh. ¾¾ District: Up to Rs one crore.
jurisdiction ¾¾ State: Between Rs 20 lakh and up to ¾¾ State: Between Rs one crore and up to Rs 10 crore.
of Commissions Rs one crore. ¾¾ National: Above Rs 10 crore.
¾¾ National: Above Rs one crore.
Appointment Selection Committee (comprising a judicial No provision for Selection Committee. The central
member and other officials) will recommend government will appoint through notification.
members on the Commissions.
Penalties Imprisonment between one month and Imprisonment up to three years, or a fine not less
three years or fine between Rs 2,000 to Rs than Rs 25,000 extendable to Rs one lakh, or both.
10,000, or both.
E-commerce No provision. ¾¾ Defines direct selling, e-commerce and electronic
service provider.
¾¾ The central government may prescribe rules for
preventing unfair trade practices in e-commerce
and direct selling.
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Home secretary. These powers are also available to
Data Interception the competent authority in the State governments as
per IT (Procedure and Safeguards for Interception,
by Government Monitoring and Decryption of Information) Rules 2009.
Recently the government has authorised 10 ¾¾ All such cases of interception or monitoring or
intelligence and investigating agencies to intercept, decryption are to be placed before the review
monitor and decrypt "any information" generated, committee headed by Cabinet Secretary, which
transmitted, received or stored in "any computer". shall meet at least once in two months to review
¾¾ The 10 agencies include Intelligence Bureau, Narcotics such cases. In case of State governments, such cases
Control Bureau, Enforcement Directorate, Central are reviewed by a committee headed by the Chief
Board of Direct Taxes, Directorate of Revenue Secretary concerned.
Intelligence, Central Bureau of Investigation, National ¾¾ The notification does not confer any new powers
Investigation Agency, Cabinet Secretariat (RAW), and is analogous to the authorisation issued under
Directorate of Signal Intelligence (For service areas the Telegraph Act 1885 which allowed interception
of Jammu & Kashmir, North-East and Assam only), of phone calls.
and Commissioner of Police, Delhi. ¾¾ Every individual case will continue to require prior
¾¾ Any subscriber or service provider or any person in approval of the Union Home Ministry or the State
charge of any computer resource is bound to extend government. The Home Ministry has not delegated
all facilities and technical assistance to these agencies. its power to any law enforcement or security agency.
Legitimacy of the Notification Criticism
¾¾ Provision for interception of information from ¾¾ The Government notification giving a blanket approval
computer resources exists since 2000. Section 69(1) to electronic surveillance is a direct assault on civil
liberties and personal freedom of citizens. It may
of the Information Technology Act, 2000 allowed
amount to creation of a ‘surveillance state’.
this in the interest of the country’s sovereignty and
¾¾ It is seen as a challenge to the 2017 K.S. Puttaswamy
integrity, security of the state, friendly relations (privacy) judgment of the Supreme Court, which
with foreign states, or public order or for preventing directed the government to protect informational
incitement to the commission of any cognizable privacy of every individual.
offence.
Conclusion
¾¾ Section 69 was amended in 2008 to enable the
¾¾ The Government should strike a balance between
Centre and the State governments to “intercept,
national security and individual privacy as in K. S.
monitor or decrypt” any information transmitted
Puttaswamy judgment, the Supreme Court had asked
through, received or stored in a computer.
the government to always carefully and sensitively
¾¾ Each case of interception, monitoring, decryption is balance individual privacy and the legitimate concerns
to be approved by the competent authority i.e. Union of the state, even if national security was at stake.
nnn
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Economic Scenario
Highlights
zz Strategy for New India @ 75 (11) zz Bogibeel Bridge (14)
zz Delta Ranking of the Aspirational Districts (13) zz Packaging in Jute Bags Made Mandatory (14)
The paper sets an annual inflation target of 2%
Strategy for New India @ 75 to 6% by 2022-23.
Increase the investment rate in housing &
NITI Aayog has released ‘Strategy for New India @
75′ document with an aim to accelerate economic growth infrastructure as measured by gross fixed capital
to 9-10% and make the country a USD 4-trillion economy formation (GFCF) from the present 29% to 36%
by 2022-23. The document replaces the now-defunct of GDP by 2022.
five-year plans. Rationalise direct taxes for both corporate tax
¾¾ The document defines the strategy for 2022-23 across and personal income tax, ease the tax compliance
forty-one areas. Each chapter includes: burden and eliminate direct interface between
taxpayers and tax officials using technology.
Objectives for 2022,
Increase tax-GDP ratio to 22% of GDP by 2022-23.
Progress already made,
India’s tax-GDP ratio is around 17%, half of the
Binding constraints,
average 35% for countries part of Organisation for
Way forward for achieving stated objectives. Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
¾¾ The document was prepared after extensive States should undertake greater mobilisation of their
consultation with over 800 stakeholders from within taxes such as property tax and take steps to improve
the government – central, state and district levels. administration of GST to better tax collections.
¾¾ The document has been disaggregated under four The strategy paper also called for having flexible
sections: Drivers, Infrastructure, Inclusion and fiscal deficit targets, governance reforms in public
Governance. sector banks, performance assessment of executives
and increased flexibility in personnel policy.
Drivers ¾¾ Agriculture: Convert farmers to ‘agripreneurs’ by
¾¾ Drivers include chapters on growth and employment, further expanding e-National Agriculture Markets
doubling of farmers’ incomes, upgrading the science, (e-NAM) and replacing the Agricultural Produce
technology and innovation ecosystem and promoting Marketing Committee Act with the Agricultural
sunrise sectors like fintech and tourism. Produce and Livestock Marketing Act.
Sunrise Sector: It is a new industry that is expanding The document is silent on farm loan waivers but has
rapidly and expected to rise further in the future. It is suggested the concept of a minimum support price
characterised by high growth, number of startups, for produce be replaced with that of a Minimum
increased investment especially through venture capital Reserve Price. The latter should be the starting
funding. point for auctioning at official wholesale markets,
so that farmers get at least a basic income.
Key Recommendations in the Section on Drivers Consider replacing the Commission on Agricultural
¾¾ Economy: Accelerate the GDP growth rate to raise the Costs and Prices (CACP) by an agriculture tribunal
economy’s size in real terms from USD 2.7 trillion in in line with the provisions of Article 323B of the
2017-18 to nearly USD 4 trillion by 2022-23. Constitution.
Note:12 CURRENT AFFAIRS DECEMBER 2018 www.d rish t i I A S. c o m
The
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana needs to Double the share of freight transported by coastal
promote weather-based insurance. shipping and inland waterways.
Give a strong push to ‘Zero Budget Natural Farming’ Develop an IT-enabled platform for integrating
techniques that reduce costs, improve land quality different modes of transport and promoting multi-
and increase farmers’ incomes. modal and digitized mobility.
¾¾ Employment: Codification of labor laws, upscale and
Private investment in infrastructure should be
expand apprenticeships.
focused on through a renewed public-private
Enhance female labour force participation, by
partnership model.
ensuring employers' adherence to the Maternity
Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017, and the Sexual ¾¾ Digital India: Aim to deliver all government services
Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, at the state, district, and gram panchayat level digitally
Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. by 2022-23.
¾¾ Minerals: Launch a mission “Explore in India” by
revamping minerals exploration and licensing policy. Inclusion
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana ¾¾ Inclusion deals with investing in the capabilities of all
PMFBY was launched in 2016 to replace the National of India’s citizens. The three themes in this section
Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) and Modified revolve around the dimensions of health, education
National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (MNAIS). and mainstreaming of traditionally marginalized
It fixes a uniform premium of 2% of the value of sections of the population.
sum insured to be paid by farmers for all kharif crops. Key recommendations in section of inclusion
1.5% for all rabi crops, 5% for annual commercial and ¾¾ Health: Successfully implementing the Ayushman
horticultural crops. Bharat programme, create a focal point for public
Zero Budget Natural Farming health at the central level with state counterparts,
Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) refers to a set promote integrative medicine curriculum.
of Natural Farming methods where the cost of growing ¾¾ Education: Upgrade the quality of the school
and harvesting Plants is effectively Zero. It believes in education system and skills, including the creation
natural growth of crops without adding any fertilizers of a new innovation ecosystem at the ground level
and pesticides or any Foreign Elements to crops or Land. by establishing at least 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs
Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017 by 2020.
This amends the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 that Conceptualize an electronic national educational
protects women’s employment, and women’s and registry for tracking each child’s learning
children’s well-being during maternity, with paid outcomes.
absence and related benefits like extending paid ¾¾ Housing for all: Affordable housing in urban areas
maternity leave for women employees with less than to improve workers’ living conditions and ensure
two surviving children, from the original 12 weeks to equity while creating very large multiplier effects in
26 weeks. the economy.
Infrastructure Governance
¾¾ Infrastructure deals with the physical foundations
¾¾ Governance deals with how the governance structures
of growth.
can be streamlined and processes optimized to achieve
Key Recommendations in Section of Infrastructure
better developmental outcomes.
¾¾ Transport: Expedite the establishment of already
Key recommendations in section of Governance
approved Rail Development Authority (RDA), for
an integrated, transparent and dynamic pricing ¾¾ Implement the recommendations of the Second
mechanism for the railways. Administrative Reforms Commission.
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