Notifications & Circulars
Press Information Bureau
20.07.2017
Education
Quality Education under RTE Act
MANU/PIBU/0807/2017
The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 lays down the duties of the appropriate Government and the local authority to ensure that good quality elementary education conforming to norms and standards is provided, curriculum and courses of study are prescribed in a timely manner, and teachers are trained. In order to focus on quality education, the Central RTE Rules have been amended on 20th February, 2017 to include reference on class-wise, subject-wise Learning Outcomes. The Learning Outcomes for each class in Languages (Hindi, English and Urdu), Mathematics, Environmental Studies, Science and Social Science up to the elementary stage have, accordingly, been finalized and shared with all States and UTs. These would serve as a guideline for States and UTs to ensure that all children acquire appropriate learning level.
Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Sarva Shiskha Abhiyan (SSA), the State Governments and UT Administrations are supported on several interventions to improve teaching standards, including regular in-service teachers' training, induction training for newly recruited teachers, training of all untrained teachers to acquire professional qualifications through Open Distance Learning (ODL) mode, recruitment of additional teachers for improving pupil-teacher ratios, academic support for teachers through block and cluster resource centres, continuous and comprehensive evaluation system to equip the teacher to measure pupil performance and provide remedial action wherever required, and teacher and school grants for development of appropriate teaching-learning materials, etc.
Additionally, the Central Government, supports States and UTs on early grade reading, writing & comprehension, and early Mathematics programmes through a sub-programme of SSA namely 'Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat' (PBBB) in classes I and II. Further, the Government has launched Rashtriya Aavishkar Abhiyan (RAA) programme on 09.07.2015, inter alia, as a sub-component of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), to motivate and engage children of the age group from 6-18 years in Science, Mathematics and Technology through observation, experimentation, inference drawing, model building, etc. both through inside and outside classroom activities.
Further, as per model rules prescribed under RTE Act, 2009 a primary school is provided at a distance of 1km and an upper primary school is provided at a distance of 3Km, though the States have notified their own neighbourhood norms as per their requirement. Government also provides various facilities to students at all levels in order to ensure high enrolment and quality of education including scholarships and teacher training.
Tags : Education RTE Act Quality
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Press Information Bureau
20.07.2017
Human Rights
Elaborate infrastructure and facilities set up to ensure proper implementation of POCSO Act, 2012
MANU/PIBU/0808/2017
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) is mandated under Section 44 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 to monitor the implementation of the provisions of the Act. As reported by NCPCR, the following infrastructure has been set up to look after the child victims of sexual offences:
(i) Children's Court/Special Courts : 591
(ii) District Child Protection Units : 692
(iii) Child Welfare Committees : 707
(iv) Specialized Juvenile Police Units : 727
(v) Spl. Public Prosecutors appointed : 459
The following facilities also exist under the POCSO Act, 2012 and POCSO Rules, 2012:
(i) Provisions of Victim Compensation Fund by State/UT governments;
(ii) Adoption of Child Friendly Procedures as per the provisions of the Act;
(iii) Appointment of Support Person for the victims.
(iv) Model Guidelines for different stakeholders issued by the Ministry of Women and Child Development and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
(v) Rehabilitation of victims by Child Welfare Committee under the institutions established under Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act, 2015.
Tags : Implementation POCSO Act Infrastructure
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Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
20.07.2017
Media and Communication
Extension of last date to receive comments on TRAI's Consultation Paper on Data Speed under Wireless Broadband Plans dated 1st June, 2017
MANU/TRAI/0055/2017
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had invited comments of stakeholders on Consultation Paper on Data Speed under Wireless Broadband Plans dated 1st June, 2017. The last dates for receiving written comments and counter-comments from the stakeholders were initially fixed as 29th June, 2017 and 13th July, 2017 respectively.
2. On receipt of request from Service Providers Associations, the last date for submission of comments was extended upto 20th July, 2017 and for counter-comments upto 3rd August, 2017.
3. Stakeholders have however once again informed that the consultation deals with various important technical and network issues and requires detailed deliberation amongst them in order to prepare and submit the response. In view of the request of the stakeholders, it has been decided to further extend the last date for filling comments till 10th August, 2017 and for counter comments till 24th August, 2017.
4. Stakeholders are requested to submit their comments on or, before 10th August, 2017 preferably in electronic form to Kapilhanda@trai.gov.in. For any clarifications on the afore-said consultation paper,. Shri Arvind Kumar, Advisor (Broadband & Policy Analysis), Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, Mahanagar Doorsanchar Bhawan, Jawaharlal Nehru Marg New Delhi-110002 may be contacted at Tel: +91-11-23220209 Fax: +91-1123230056.
Tags : Date Extension Consultation Paper Data Speed Broadband Plans
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Press Information Bureau
20.07.2017
Civil
Geographical Indications tagging of Handicraft and Handloom products
MANU/PIBU/0809/2017
Government has started Geographical Indications (GI) tagging of handicraft and handlooms for the benefit of weavers and artisans. A total of 149 crafts have been registered under Geographical Indication Act. Marketing & Service Extension Centres provide support to artisans and weavers for registration of their crafts under GI. The Government has launched a Toll Free helpline number 18002084800 for handicraft artisans on 5th May 2017. The services are available seven days a week, from 10 AM to 6 PM, in seven languages.
Tags : Geographical Indications Handicrafts Tagging
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Securities and Exchange Board of India
20.07.2017
Capital Market
SEBI signs a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding with The European Securities and Markets Authority
MANU/SPRL/0048/2017
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) under the European Markets Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR). The MoU establishes cooperation arrangements, including the exchange of information regarding Central Counterparties (CCPs) which are established and authorised or recognised in India by SEBI, and which have applied for EU recognition under EMIR. EMIR provides for signing of a cooperation arrangement between ESMA and the relevant non-EU authorities, whose legal and supervisory framework for CCPs have been deemed equivalent to EMIR by the European Commission. Signing of MoU is one of the conditions for recognition of third country CCPs by ESMA under EMIR.
Tags : Bilateral MOU European Securities
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Press Information Bureau
18.07.2017
Civil
Measures Taken by Government to Protect Ancient and Traditional Knowledge of Indigenous Medicinal Systems
MANU/PIBU/0775/2017
Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) is a pioneering Indian initiative to prevent exploitation and to protect Indian traditional knowledge from wrongful patents mainly at International Patent Offices. India's rich and time-tested traditional medicinal knowledge which exists in languages such as Sanskrit, Hindi, Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Tamil etc. is neither accessible nor comprehensible for patent examiners at the international patent offices. TKDL contains Indian traditional medicine knowledge available in public domain and pertains to classical/ traditional books related to Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha in a digitized format and is available in five international languages (English, French, German, Spanish and Japanese).
Till date 3,35,260 formulations have been transcribed, 220 wrongful patent filings have been prevented and 12 patent offices have been provided access to TKDL database namely European Patent Office, US Patent Office, Japanese Patent Office, German Patent Office, Canadian Patent Office, Chile Patent Office, Australian Patent Office, CGPDTM (India), UK Patent Office, and Malaysian Patent Office, Rospatent (Russia) and Peru Patent Office.
Under the Scheme funds are provided only to CSIR, the implementation agency of the TKDL Project. No funds have been allocated/ released to any State under the Scheme. Besides setting up of TKDL, Yoga has since been inscribed in UNESCO's representative list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Indian Patent Office has also brought out Guidelines for processing Patent Applications relating to Traditional Knowledge and Biological Material to help Patent examiner to analyze what constitutes novelty and inventive step in Traditional Knowledge (TK) related invention.
Tags : Ancient Knowledge Measures Protection
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Press Information Bureau
18.07.2017
Indirect Taxation
GST exemption for products used by differently abled people
MANU/PIBU/0782/2017
Specified assistive devices, rehabilitation aids and other goods for differently abled people attract the lowest (non-Nil) GST rate of 5%. Most of the inputs for such goods attract 18% GST. Nil GST on any goods zero rates inputs, while domestic goods continue to bear input taxes. Further, for any goods which attract GST rate (other than Nil) which is lower than the inputs for such goods, the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (GST law) provides for refund of accumulated input tax credit. Thus, 5% GST on assistive devices, rehabilitation aids, their manufacturers would enable their domestic manufacturers to claim refund of any accumulated Input Tax Credit. That being so, the 5% concessional GST rate on these devices/equipment would result in reduction of the cost of domestically manufactured goods, as compared to the pre-GST regime.
As against that, if these devices/equipments are exempted from GST, then while imports of such devices/equipments would be zero rated, domestically manufactured such devices/equipments will continue to bear the burden of input taxes, increasing their cost and resulting in negative protection for the domestic value addition.
Tags : Exemption Products Differently abled
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Press Information Bureau
18.07.2017
Customs
Major Port Authorities Bill to enhance efficiency of major ports
MANU/PIBU/0784/2017
The Minister of State for Shipping and Road Transport & Highways, Shri Mansukh L. Mandaviya informed in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today that the Government has approved the draft Major Port Authorities (MPAs) Bill, 2016 to replace the existing Major Port Trusts Act (MPTA), 1963 to empower the 12 major ports to perform with greater efficiency on account of full autonomy in decision making.
THE SALIENT FEATURES OF THE MAJOR PORT AUTHORITIES BILL, 2016 ARE AS FOLLOWS :
(i) With the growth and development of private ports, the major ports are facing severe competition and difficulties in implementing the changes which may help them compete in the evolving market conditions. The regulation of tariff in the major ports by the Central Government are some of the critical factors hindering their growth and development. To provide greater autonomy, flexibility to the Major Ports and to professionalize their governance, it is proposed to repeal the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963 and to replace it with a new legislation, namely the Major Ports Authorities Bill, 2016.
(ii) To constitute a Board of Port Authority for each major port in the place of the Board of Trustees.
(iii) To enable the Board of Port Authority to use its property, assets and funds in such manner and for such purposes as it may deem fit for the benefit of the major ports
(iv) To enter into and perform any contract necessary for the performance of its functions under the proposed legislation.
(v) To make regulations for the purposes of operation, development and planning of the major ports.
(vi) To frame the scales of rates for assets and services available at major ports.
(vii) To claim lien on such goods and to seize and detain the same until such rates and rents are fully paid.
(viii) To empower the Board of Port Authority to raise loans and issue securities for the purposes of the capital expenditure and working capital requirements of such port authority.
(ix) To constitute an Adjudicatory Board for adjudication of disputes among major ports, Public Private Partnership concessionaries and captive users. This Adjudicatory Board shall consist of a Presiding Officer and such other Members not exceeding two, as may be appointed by the Central Government.
(x) To make a provision for Corporate Social Responsibility measures within the port limits.
(xi) To provide for regulation, operation and planning of major ports in India and to vest the administration, control and management of such ports upon the Boards of major ports authorities and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
An Adjudicatory Board has been proposed inter-alia for expeditious disposal of disputes between ports and PPP concessionaries and suggest measures for revival of such stressed to them. This will help boost private investment in port sector and enable faster dispute resolution.
Tags : Efficiency Ports Enhancement Bill
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Press Information Bureau
17.07.2017
Education
Digitization of School Records
MANU/PIBU/0769/2017
The National Academic Depository (NAD) which is a 24 X 7 online store house of academic awards digitally lodged by various academic institutions / school boards / eligibility assessment bodies has been established. The academic awards to be lodged on NAD shall cover degrees, diplomas, certificates, mark-sheets including awards issued for skill development. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has been designated as authorized body to operationalise NAD.
NAD comprises of two interoperable digital depositories viz., NDSL Database Management Limited (NDML) and CDSL Ventures Limited (CVL). Maintenance of academic awards in a digital depository not only enables online access, retrieval and verification of these awards, but also helps eliminating fraudulent practices such as forgoing of certificates and mark-sheets etc. The Aadhaar will be used for registration and usage of the digital database. However, in the event of non-availability of Aadhaar, a unique NAD ID will be generated to facilitate digital services to NAD users.
Tags : Records Digitization School
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