GS 2
Category: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
- New Bill on powers of Delhi govt., L-G soon
The issue in news
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is likely to introduce a legislation – the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2020, to amend a 1991 act pertaining to the powers and functions of the Delhi government and the Lieutenant-Governor.
Background of the issue :
- Since The Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government is often at loggerheads with the Centre regarding administrative matters in the Capital.
- A clutch of petitions was filed in the Supreme Court against a 2015 notification by the MHA, which said that the Delhi government had no powers in services-related matters and the Anti-Corruption Branch could not register cases against any employee, officer or functionary of the Central government.
- The apex court is still examining the services matter.
- In 2018, a five-judge Bench of the SC had unanimously held that the L-G was bound by the “aid and advice” of the Delhi government and both had to work harmoniously with each other.
Main points
- The National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2020, proposes to clearly spell out the functions of the Council of Ministers and the Lieutenant-Governor by giving more discretionary powers to the L-G.
- According to changes proposed in the new Act, the L-G could act in his discretion on any matter that is beyond the purview of the powers of the Assembly of Delhi in matters related to the All India (Civil) Services and the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB).
- It will also give more teeth to the L-G, and the validity of any decision taken as per such discretion shall not be questioned.
Note:
- The Union Territory of Delhi with a Legislative Assembly came into being in 1991 under Article 239AA inserted by the ‘Constitution (Sixty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1991’.
- It said that the UT of Delhi shall be called the National Capital Territory of Delhi, and the administrator thereof appointed under Article 239 shall be designated as the Lieutenant-Governor.
- According to the existing Act, the Legislative Assembly of Delhi has the power to make laws in all matters except public order, police, and land.
GS 3
Category: ECONOMY
- Fewer than 34,000 inter-State migrant workers in 2019-20
The issue in news
Right to Information (RTI) Act request for data on inter-state migrant workers.
Main points
- According to the response to the RTI, in the last five years, there have been no inter-state migrant workers registered in the Delhi, Dehradun or Patna regions.
- Nationwide, there were less than 34,000 workers registered in 2019-20 under the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (ISMW) Act, 1979.
- The lackadaisical approach towards this law meant that when the sudden lockdown was imposed, the government had no information about migrant workers.
Inter-State Migrant Workmen (ISMW) Act, 1979:
- The ISMW Act came into force four decades ago.
- It is meant to protect vulnerable workers who leave their own home state for employment.
- It applies to every establishment and contractor who has five or more migrants on their rolls and prohibits their employment without a certificate of registration.
- According to the Act, each registered worker must be issued a passbook with details of employment, wages and benefits.
- New powers for aviation regulators
The issue in news
Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020 has been passed by Parliament.
Main points
- It is an amendment to the Aircraft Act, 1934 which regulates manufacture, possession, use, operation, sale, import and export of civil aircraft, and licensing of aerodromes.
- The amendments address several regulatory shortcomings that were highlighted by aviation watchdogs of the United Nations and the U.S. — the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the Federal Aviation Authority — during their audits on safety and security in the Indian aviation ecosystem.
- The bill was passed by the Lok Sabha in March 2020.
- It now awaits Presidential assent to become a law.
Highlights of the Aircraft Amendment Bill, 2020:
- The Bill gives statutory powers to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau.
- These bodies were set up through various government notifications but did not have a defined role under the parent Act, as well as air navigation services.
- These statutory bodies are to be headed by Directors General appointed by the Centre.
- DGCA will have safety oversight and regulatory functions.
- BCAS will carry out regulatory activities related to civil aviation security.
- AAIB will look into investigative activities for aircraft accidents.
- The central government can issue directions to these bodies with respect to their activities in the public interest.
- The Bill empowers the DGCA to levy enhanced penalties of up to 1 crore, from the existing 10 lakh, on airlines, airports and other aviation entities.
- The legislation also provides for keeping defense aircraft out of the purview of Aircraft Act, 1934.
- The Bill also empowers the central government to cancel the licenses, certificates or approvals granted to a person if the person contravenes any provisions of the Act.
- Essential Commodities Bill passed
The issue in news
The Lok Sabha passed the Essential Commodities Amendment Bill by a voice vote.
Main points
- The Bill is meant to replace an ordinance promulgated in the wake of the COVID-19 lockdown.
- It proposes to deregulate the production, storage, movement and sale of several foodstuffs, including cereals, pulses, edible oils and onions, except in the case of extraordinary circumstances.
- It says stock limits can only be imposed if retail prices surge 50% above the average in the case of non-perishables and 100% in the case of perishables.
- RBI issues draft on rupee IR derivatives
The issue in news
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed allowing foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) to undertake exchange-traded rupee interest rate derivatives transactions.
Main points
- The transactions would be subject to an overall ceiling of 5,000 crore.
- The proposed directions are aimed at: Encouraging higher non-resident participation.
- Enhancing the role of domestic market makers in the offshore market.
- Improving transparency and achieving better regulatory oversight.
Interest Rate Derivatives
- Interest Rate Derivatives (IRDs) are contracts whose value is derived from one or more interest rates, prices of interest rate instruments, or interest rate indices.
- For an Interest Rate Derivative, the underlying asset is the right to pay or receive a (usually notional) amount of money at a given interest rate.
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