CABINET APPROVES AMENDMENTS IN MOTOR VEHICLE ACT [ GS 2 ]

The cabinet today approved the Motor vehicle(Amendment) bill 2016. The bill increases the penalty for drunken driving by five times and provides for a clause wherein the driver can be booked for a non bailable offense, if such driving results in death of another person. With the approval of the bill the government is set to bring about necessary reforms in the road and transport sector. Some of the significant provisions of the bill: * A significant aspect of the bill is to bring about e-governance in the transport sector and provide for minimum government but maximum governance * As per a proposed amendment in the Motor Vehicle Act people need to have a Aadhar number to apply for driving licence and they need not visit transport offices to get a learning driving licence as it will be online * The bill proposes an Aadhar based verification for grant of online services including learner’s licence. This to ensure the integrity of the online services and stop duplication * All India register of driving licenses and vehicles to prevent duplication of licenses and registration of stolen vehicles * To prevent juveniles from driving vehicles, the registration of vehicle that is in use will be cancelled. In case a juvenile commits accident while driving, family will be fined with or without imprisonment up to three years * Children above the age of four while riding on a two-wheeler should compulsory wear a protective headgear. Quality and standard of such a helmet should be strictly regulated * There will be a fine of 1000 rupees along with cancellation of license for three months for riding without a helmet. The same would apply in case of jumping a red light or driving without a seatbelt. * Talking on phone while driving will attract a penalty of 5000 rupees * The recommendations of the Parliamentary standing committee to remove the cap on third party liability of insurance firms has been incorporated in the proposed amendment • Once the bill is passed, vehicle dealers will be authorized to issue vehicle numbers and register them through a pan India registry * Under the provisions of the act the centre is empowered to recall such vehicles or components that do not meet standards Three major suggestions made by the parliament standing committtee that were rejected by the government include registration of vehicles by only Regional transport office(RTO) and inspection of vehicles by RTO.

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INDIA RATIFIED ILO’S CONVENTION | MAINS | GS – II | SOCIAL JUSTICE |THE HINDU

INDIA RATIFIED ILO’S CONVENTION | MAINS | GS – II | SOCIAL JUSTICE |THE HINDU

January 20, 2017 xaam orgCurrentAffair 0 Comments

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What did India ratify?

About 4.3 million children wake up to a day of labour and not school. Another 9.8 million are officially out-of-school.

Child labour perpetuates illiteracy and poverty. It is the root cause of organised crimes such as human trafficking, terror and drug mafia.

The Government of India decided last week to ratify the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 182 on the worst forms of child labour and Convention 138 on Minimum Age of Employment.

This decision will have a path-breaking impact on the lives of those who are forced to remain on the margins of society and subject to exploitative conditions.

What are the bottlenecks?

The main bottleneck in the way of India ratifying Conventions 182 and 138 was addressing forced or compulsory recruitment of children and appropriately raising the age of employment in hazardous occupations from 14 to 18 years.

Consequent to the passing of the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2016 by the Indian Parliament prohibiting the employment of children up to 14 years of age, and children up to 18 years of age in hazardous occupations, it was imperative that we ratified Conventions 182 and 138.

Moreover, our failure to ratify the two conventions, which are two of the eight core labour conventions, despite being a founder-member of the ILO, reflected poorly on us as a nation.

What measures Govt. may take?

As a matter of urgency, the government will take immediate and effective measures to prohibit and eliminate the worst forms of child labour: child slavery (including the sale and trafficking of children, debt bondage, and forced recruitment for armed conflict), child prostitution and their use in pornography, use of children for illicit activities such as drug trafficking, and exposure to any hazardous work which is likely to harm the health, safety or morals of children.

Way ahead:

An ideal law guides the way and doesn’t dictate. Under the provisions of the ILO Conventions 182 and 138, India will not adhere to a fixed deadline by which the worst forms of child labour must be eliminated.

It will ultimately depend on the level of moral courage, public concern, social empathy, political will and the implementation of resources invested in the development and protection of children.

Category: Mains | GS – II | Social Justice

Source: The Hindu

NPPA Vs DoP | GS-II|

NPPA Vs DoP | GS-II|

Why in news?

The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) has ruled in favour of drug companies, prohibiting the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) from reducing prices of medicines that are selling below the capped prices.

Why there is tussle between NPPA and DoP?

The pricing authority monitors prices of both scheduled drugs, the prices of which are capped by it, as well as non-scheduled drugs, which are allowed to hike prices annually on the basis of an increase in WPI.

The matter was taken up by the DoP after the Indian Pharmaceuticals Alliance (IPA) made a submission to against an order passed by the NPPA in March last year. The NPPA revises ceiling prices with effect from April 1 each year.

This issue had added to the increasing friction between the NPPA and the pharmaceutical industry, which has been fighting orders issued by the authority, including capping of prices of essential medicines under existing laws.

What IPA says?

IPA, in it’s appeal to the DoP had said the order, which directed manufacturers to reduce prices of drugs that were selling below capped prices, was “arbitrary and high handed and that such a directive by NPPA is in excess of the powers and authorities vested in it under DPCO, 2013,” the DoP order said.

What NPPA has contended?

The NPPA had contended last year that under the rules “all manufacturers are required to reduce Maximum Retail Price as per decline in WPI (wholesale price index).”

What DoP has contended?

The DoP, however, said the NPPA has “erred” in its interpretations of the rules.

“The companies already selling their scheduled formulations lower than the ceiling price may not be required to further lower the prices of their products by applicability of negative WPI,” the DoP has said in an order, taking away from of the teeth from an earlier order passed by the NPPA last year in March.

According to the DPCO, 2013, “In case of decline in wholesale price index, there shall be a corresponding reduction in the maximum retail price and in case of scheduled formulations produced or available in the market before the date of notification of revised ceiling price, the manufacturers shall ensure within a period of forty-five days of the date of such notification that the maximum retail price (MRP) of such scheduled formulation does not exceed the revised ceiling price (plus local taxes as applicable)…”

The DoP, however, has said the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy, 2012, stipulates a decrease in ceiling prices if there is a reduction in the WPI, and the NPPA is expected to take action against companies selling drugs over that cap.

As per DoP’s order, “It is the ceiling price that has to be changed in respect of a scheduled drug by NPPA, that is, those manufacturers selling their products above ceiling price are required to bring the price to the new level of ceiling price fixed by NPPA in the light of new WPI”.

Category: Mains| GS-II| Government Intervention

Source: Business Line

Source: xaam.in

GRADED RESPONSE ACTION PLAN | GS-III | ENVIRONMENT |THE INDIAN EXPRESS

GRADED RESPONSE ACTION PLAN | GS-III | ENVIRONMENT |THE INDIAN EXPRESS

January 20, 2017 xaam orgCurrentAffair 0 Comments

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Why in news?

The union Environment Ministry recently notified a ‘Graded Response Action Plan’ against air pollution for Delhi and the National Capital Region.

What does a ‘graded response’ mean?

The plan was prepared by the Supreme Court-mandated Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA).

A graded response lays down stratified actions that are required to be taken as and when the concentration of pollutantsi.eparticulate matter, reaches a certain level.

e.gAt the level of 100 microgrammes per cubic metre(µg/m³) of PM 2.5mechanised sweeping and water-sprinkling along roads has to start.

Traffic police personnel have to ensure smooth flow of traffic, and all pollution control measures that are already in place — such as stopping landfill fires, and enforcing Pollution Under Control (PUC) norms and a ban on firecrackers — have to be imposed strictly.

The response will change as pollutant levels increase.

In January 2016, the average PM 2.5 concentration was 211 µg/m³, with concentrations crossing 300 µg/m³ on a few days. If this level persists for more than 48 hours, an emergency will be declared.

This will mean a return of the odd-even road rationing scheme, ban on construction activity, and no entry of trucks in Delhi unless they are carrying essential commodities.

The actions under the graded response plan are cumulative in nature i.e the actions under the previous level will be continued along with actions recommended in the current level.

What was the need for such a system?

According to EPCA, the idea is to put in place graded response actions in a way that the emergency level is never reached.

The plan focuses on taking progressively tougher actions as pollution crosses each level, without waiting to impose strict measures when the emergency situation has already been reached.

During the first week of November 2016 — post Diwali — pollution levels were so high that several actions were taken simultaneously, including stopping construction, restricting the entry of trucks into Delhi, and shutting the Badarpur power plant.

Such knee-jerk reactions will not be required if the graded plan is followed.

Beijing and Parishave implemented graded action plans over the past few years. Paris recently implemented the odd-even road rationing scheme when PM 2.5 levels crossed 95 µg/m³.

Several Chinese cities have a road rationing scheme when pollution reaches severe levels.

How will the system work?

The concentration of pollutants will be communicated to EPCA. This will be an average for the entire city.

The EPCA will be ensuring implementation of the action plan.

It will delegate the responsibility to the concerned departments like the municipal corporations of all NCR towns, the traffic police, police, transport departments, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation etc.

Each body has been set a task that it will have to carry out when EPCA asks it to, based on the concentration of pollutants.

What are the challenges?

A large number of agencies, from different states, will have to work together.

Some agencies have already pointed out problems in implementing the plan. e.gOdd-even has to be imposed during an air quality emergency. But the Delhi government hasstated that it will be very difficult to implement the scheme without at least a week’s notice.

The municipal corporations, which have to hike parking rates by 3-4 times if the air quality is very poor, have to hold an elaborate meeting each time they change these rates.

A system will have to be devised to smooth out these problems.

Category: Mains | GS-III | Environment

Source: The Indian Express

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