Positive Pay System
Positive Pay System The concept of Positive Pay involves a process of reconfirming key details of large value cheques. Under this process, the issuer of the cheque submits electronically, through channels like SMS, mobile app, internet banking, ATM, etc., Certain minimum details of that cheque (like date, name of the beneficiary / payee, amount, etc.) to the drawee bank, details of which are cross checked with the presented cheque by CTS. Any discrepancy is flagged by CTS to the drawee bank and presenting bank, who would take redressal measures. National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) shall develop the facility of Positive Pay in CTS and make it available to participant banks. Banks, in turn, shall enable it for all account holders issuing cheques for amounts of ₹50,000 and above. While availing of this facility is at the discretion of the account holder, banks may consider making it mandatory in case of cheques for amounts of ₹5,00,000 and above. Only those cheques which are compliant with above instructions will be accepted under dispute resolution mechanism at the CTS grids. Member banks may implement similar arrangements for cheques cleared / collected outside CTS as well. Banks are advised to create adequate awareness among their customers on features of Positive Pay System through SMS alerts, display in branches, ATMs as well as through their web-site and internet banking. Positive Pay System shall be implemented from January 01, 2021. This directive is issued under Section 10 (2) read with Section 18 of Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 (Act 51 of 2007). Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey. Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. join now
Chillai Kalan
Chillai Kalan These 40 days are when the chances of snowfall are highest and the maximum temperature drops considerably. During Chillai Kalan, the weather in Kashmir valley continues to remain dry and cold with minimum temperatures hovering below freezing point and the snow during this 40-day period freezes and lasts longer. Even after Chillai-Kalan ends, the cold wave, however, continues even after that. Therefore Chillai-Kalan is followed by a 20-day-long period called ‘Chillai-Khurd’ (small cold) that occurs between January 31 and February 19 and a 10-day-long period ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold) which is from February 20 to March 2. Considered to be the core of winter, Chillai Kalan usually brings snowfall, sub-zero temperatures causing freezing of water bodies including the Dal lake, closure of highways, etc. The Season which concludes by January end has many interesting traditional aspects related to it. During winter, due to the snowfall, Kashmir looks totally different with snow-covered mountains and tourist destinations including Gulmarg, Pahalgam looks very beautiful that attract a number of tourists also. Kashmir is called the paradise of earth. During this harsh period of winter, a thin layer of ice forming on the surface of water bodies and freezing of taps has been a common phenomenon these forty days. Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey. Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. Join Now
Nirbhaya Act
Nirbhaya Act Nirbhaya Act Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2013 (Nirbhaya Act) is an Indian legislation passed by the Lok Sabha on 19 March 2013, and by the Rajya Sabha on 21 March 2013, which provides for amendment of Indian Penal Code, Indian Evidence Act, and Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 on laws related to sexual offences. It was originally an Ordinance promulgated by the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, on 3 April 2013, in light of the protests in the 2012 Delhi gang rape case. This new Act has expressly recognised certain acts as offences which were dealt under related laws. These new offences like, acid attack, sexual harassment, voyeurism, stalking have been incorporated into the Indian Penal Code. Changes in law Certain changes has been introduced in the CrPC and Evidence Act, like the process of recording the statement of the victim has been made more victim friendly and easy but the two critical changes are: The ‘character of the victim’ is now rendered totally irrelevant, and There is now a presumption of ‘no consent’ in a case where sexual intercourse is proved and the victim states in the court that she did not consent. Nirbhaya Act Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2013. Which is the best UPSC Test Series Check Now Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013- Nirbhaya Act It amended as well as inserted new sections in the IPC with regard to various sexual offences. New offences like, acid attack, sexual harassment, voyeurism, stalking have been incorporated into the IPC. It expands the definition of rape to include oral sex as well as the insertion of an object or any other body part into a woman’s vagina, urethra or anus. The new amendment defines ‘consent’, to mean an unequivocal agreement to engage in a particular sexual act; clarifying further, that the absence of resistance will not imply consent. One of the most notable omissions of the Act is its failure to criminalize marital rape. It is an exception to section 375, provided that the wife is not under 15 years of age. Earlier the offence of rape (sexual assault) was gender neutral, while now this offence is women centric. Only a man is assumed to be capable of committing such offence and that too against a woman only. The aspect of gender neutrality was required in following aspects: When a man or transgender person is raped. In a few instances, even women have carried out sexual assaults against other wome. Read Also Water, Sanitation And Women’s Rights Justice Verma Committee (JVC) Recommendation: Punishment for Rape: The panel has not recommended the death penalty for rapists. It suggests that the punishment for rape should be rigorous imprisonment or RI for seven years to life. It recommends that punishment for causing death or a “persistent vegetative state” should be RI for a term not be less than 20 years, but may be for life also, which shall mean the rest of the person’s life. Gang-rape, it suggests should entail punishment of not less than 20 years, which may also extend to life and gang-rape followed by death, should be punished with life imprisonment. Punishment for other sexual offences: The panel recognised the need to curb all forms of sexual offences and recommended – Voyeurism be punished with upto seven years in jail; stalking or attempts to contact a person repeatedly through any means by up to three years. Acid attacks would be punished by up to seven years if imprisonment; trafficking will be punished with RI for seven to ten years. Registering complaints and medical examination: Every complaint of rape must be registered by the police and civil society should perform its duty to report any case of rape coming to its knowledge. “Any officer, who fails to register a case of rape reported to him, or attempts to abort its investigation, commits an offence which shall be punishable as prescribed,” the report says. The protocols for medical examination of victims of sexual assault have also been suggested. The panel said, “Such protocol based, professional medical examination is imperative for uniform practice and implementation.” Bill of Rights for women:A separate Bill of Rights for women that entitles a woman a life of dignity and security and will ensure that a woman shall have the right to have complete sexual autonomy including with respect to her relationships. The major differences between the Ordinance passed by the government and the J. S. Verma Committee recommendations were: The Justice J. S. Verma Committee recommended 20 years imprisonment for gang-rape and life imprisonment for rape and murder but refrained from using the term “death penalty” though there was public outcry to sentence rapists with death sentence following the brutal gang-rape and murder of a 23-year-old medical student in Delhi on December 16, 2012. However, the ordinance passed by the Cabinet went for a harsher punishment for a rapist – a minimum of 20 years imprisonment for rapists and even death penalty in extreme cases. Verma panel reccomended criminalization of marital rape but the ordinance rejected it. The Justice J. S. Verma Committee recommended restriction of politicians facing sexual offence charges from contesting elections. Ordinance rejected this recommendation. The panel recommended that the senior police or army officials be held responsible for sexual offences committed by their junior but the ordinance rejected it. The Justice J. S. Verma Committee wanted to make videography of recording statement from victim mandatory but the ordinance made it optional. The Justice J. S. Verma Committee wanted the definition for sexual offences as rape but the ordinance replaced it with the word “sexual assault”. UPSC Prelims Free Mock Test Criticisms: The law has been severely criticized for being gender biased and giving women the legal authority to commit exactly the same crimes (against which they seek protection) against men with impunity. The Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance, 2013 has been strongly criticised by several human rights and women’s rights organisations for not including certain suggestions recommended by the Verma Committee Report like, marital rape, reduction of age
Currency Manipulation
Currency Manipulation The United States has once again included India in its monitoring list of countries with potentially “questionable foreign exchange policies” and “currency manipulation”. This comes a year after India was removed from the watchlist in the US Treasury Department’s semi-annual foreign-exchange report to the US Congress. Currency manipulator: This is a label given by the US government to countries it feels are engaging in “unfair currency practices” by deliberately devaluing their currency against the dollar. The practice would mean that the country in question is artificially lowering the value of its currency to gain an unfair advantage over others. This is because the devaluation would reduce the cost of exports from that country and artificially show a reduction in trade deficits as a result. Parameters used: An economy meeting two of the three criteria in the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 is placed on the Monitoring List. This includes: A “significant” bilateral trade surplus with the US — one that is at least $20 billion over a 12-month period. A material current account surplus equivalent to at least 2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) over a 12-month period. “Persistent”, one-sided intervention — when net purchases of foreign currency totalling at least 2 percent of the country’s GDP over a 12 month period are conducted repeatedly, in at least six out of 12 months. Once on the Monitoring List, an economy will remain there for at least two consecutive reports “to help ensure that any improvement in performance versus the criteria is durable and is not due to temporary factors,” according to the US treasury department. The administration will also add and retain on the Monitoring List any major US trading partner that accounts for a “large and disproportionate” share of the overall US trade deficit, “even if that economy has not met two of the three criteria from the 2015 Act”. Other countries in the latest monitoring list: The US Department of the Treasury Office of International Affairs, in its latest report to the US Congress, has included India, Taiwan and Thailand to its Monitoring List of major trading partners that “merit close attention” to their currency practices and macroeconomic policies. Other countries in the latest list comprise China, Japan, Korea, Germany, Italy, Singapore, Malaysia. India was last included in the currency watchlist in October 2018, but removed from the list that came out in May 2019. The designation of a country as a currency manipulator does not immediately attract any penalties, but tends to dent the confidence about a country in the global financial markets. India: India, which has for several years maintained a “significant” bilateral goods trade surplus with the US, crossed the $20 billion mark, according to the latest report. Bilateral goods trade surplus totalled $22 billion in the first four quarters through June 2020. Based on the central bank’s intervention data, India’s net purchases of foreign exchange accelerated notably in the second half of 2019. Following sales during the initial onset of the pandemic, India sustained net purchases for much of the first half of 2020, which pushed net purchases of foreign exchange to $64 billion–or 2.4% of GDP–over the four quarters through June 2020. Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey. Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. Join Now
MSP Operations during Kharif Marketing Season 2020-21
MSP Operations during Kharif Marketing Season 2020-21 In the ongoing Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2020-21, Government continues to procure Kharif 2020-21 crops at its MSP from farmers as per its existing MSP Schemes. Paddy procurement for Kharif 2020-21 has progressed smoothly in the procuring States & UTs of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Chandigarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar and Jharkhand with purchase of over 422.01 LMTs of paddy up to 21.12.2020 against the last year corresponding purchase of 346.10 LMT showing an increase of 21.93 % over last year. Out of the total purchase of 422.01 LMT, Punjab alone has purchased 202.77 LMT till the close of procurement season in the state on 30.11.2020 which is 48.05% of total procurement in the country. Benefits: About 50.77 Lac farmers have already been benefitted from the ongoing KMS procurement Operations with MSP value of Rs. 79675.58 Crore. Further, based on the proposal from the States, approval was accorded for procurement of 51.66 LMT of Pulse and Oilseeds of Kharif Marketing Season 2020 for the States of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh under Price Support Scheme (PSS). Further, sanction for procurement of 1.23 LMT of Copra (the perennial crop) for the States of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala was also given. For other States/UTs, approval will also be accorded on receipt of proposals for procurement of Pulses, Oilseeds and Copra under PSS so that procurement of FAQ grade of these crops can be made at notified MSP for the year 2020-21 directly from the registered farmers, if the market rate goes below MSP during the notified harvesting period in the respective States/UTs by the Central Nodal Agencies through State nominated procuring agencies. Upto 21.12.2020, the Government through its Nodal Agencies has procured 209700.17 MT of Moong, Urad, Groundnut Pods and Soyabean having MSP value of Rs. 1123.62 Crores benefitting 115432 farmers in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana and Rajasthan. Similarly, 5089 MT of copra (the perennial crop) having MSP value of Rs.52.40 crore has been procured benefitting 3961 farmers in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu upto 21.12.2020 as against the last year corresponding purchase of 293.34 MT of copra. In respect of Copra and Urad, rates are ruling above MSP in most of the major producing States. The respective State/UTs Governments are making necessary arrangements for commencement of procurement from the date as decided by the respective States based on the arrivals in respect of Kharif Pulses and Oilseeds. Procurement operations of seed cotton (Kapas) under MSP are going on smoothly in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Karnataka. Till 21.12.2020 a quantity of 6069485 cotton bales valuing Rs.17772.90 Crore has been procured benefitting 1174689 farmers. Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey. Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. Join Now
Khudiram Bose – India’s youngest revolutionary freedom fighters
India’s youngest revolutionary freedom fighters, Khudiram Bose Shahid Khudiram Bose was the youngest revolutionary freedom fighter who opposed British Raj in India. He was involved in the Muzaffarpur conspiracy and was executed on August 11, 1908, at the age of 18 years. Events he is associated: Born in 1889, Bose is highly regarded in Bengal for his fearless spirit. Unlike other leaders like Subhash Chandra Bose, however, Khudiram’s legacy has been largely limited to Bengal. In 1905, when Bengal was partitioned, he actively participated in protests against the British. At the age of 15, Bose joined the Anushilan Samiti, an early 20th century organisation that propounded revolutionary activities in Bengal. The deciding moment of Bose’s life came in 1908 when he along with another revolutionary, Prafulla Chaki were assigned the task of assassinating the district magistrate of Muzaffarpur. Legacy: In 1965, Khudiram Bose Central College was established in Kolkata, West Bengal and offers undergraduate courses in arts and commerce. The college is affiliated to the University of Calcutta. A metro station near Garia in Kolkata is named after him– Shahid Khudiram Station. Shahid Khudiram Bose Hospital– a hospital is named after him on BT Road near Municipality Park. The Muzaffarpur Jail, where he was executed on August 11, 1908, was renamed to Khudiram Bose Memorial Central Jail. Sahid Khudiram Siksha Prangan also known as Alipore Campus is established and offers postgraduate courses and is affiliated to University of Calcutta. Khudiram Anushilan Kendra is located adjacent to the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Indore Stadium in Kolkata. Khudiram Bose Pusa railway station– a two platform station in Samastipur district, Bihar. Shaheed Khudiram College at Kamakhyaguri, Alipurduar, West Bengal. Khudiram Bose : Execution Khudiram was the only person alive in the two-man team conspiracy. It was speculated that Khudiram Bose would be spared but on a historical date, the British Judges confirmed his execution. On August 11, Khudiram Bose was hanged to death. There were multiple attempts to assassinate Kingsford. Initially, the plan was to throw the bomb in the court. However, after much deliberation, it was decided to avoid the court since a lot of civilians might get injured. Thereafter, on April 30, 1908, Bose threw a bomb on a carriage which he suspected was carrying Kingsford. But it turned out that it was carrying the wife and daughter of a barrister named Pringle Kennedy, who lost their lives, as Kingsford escaped. By midnight the entire town was aware of the incident and the Calcutta police were summoned to catch the duo. Bose was arrested from a railway station called Waini where he had reached the next morning after having walked 25 miles. Chaki on the other hand, killed himself before he could get arrested. As Bose was brought handcuffed to the police station at Muzaffarpur, the entire town crowded around to take a look at the teenaged boy. On July 13, 1908, he was finally sentenced to death. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Hw5XrL0SHU&t=3s Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey. Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. Join Now
Minimum Support Price (MSP)
Minimum Support Price (MSP) Minimum Support Price (MSP) is a form of market intervention by the Government of India to insure agricultural producers against any sharp fall in farm prices. The minimum support prices are announced by the Government of India at the beginning of the sowing season for certain crops on the basis of the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP). MSP is price fixed by Government of India to protect the producer – farmers – against excessive fall in price during bumper production years. The minimum support prices are a guarantee price for their produce from the Government. The major objectives are to support the farmers from distress sales and to procure food grains for public distribution. In case the market price for the commodity falls below the announced minimum price due to bumper production and glut in the market, government agencies purchase the entire quantity offered by the farmers at the announced minimum price. Historical perspective of MSP: The Price Support Policy of the Government is directed at providing insurance to agricultural producers against any sharp fall in farm prices. The minimum guaranteed prices are fixed to set a floor below which market prices cannot fall. Till the mid 1970s, Government announced two types of administered prices : Minimum Support Prices (MSP) Procurement Prices The MSPs served as the floor prices and were fixed by the Government in the nature of a long-term guarantee for investment decisions of producers, with the assurance that prices of their commodities would not be allowed to fall below the level fixed by the Government, even in the case of a bumper crop. Procurement prices were the prices of kharif and rabi cereals at which the grain was to be domestically procured by public agencies (like the FCI) for release through PDS. It was announced soon after harvest began. Normally procurement price was lower than the open market price and higher than the MSP. This policy of two official prices being announced continued with some variation upto 1973-74, in the case of paddy. In the case of wheat it was discontinued in 1969 and then revived in 1974-75 for one year only. Since there were too many demands for stepping up the MSP, in 1975-76, the present system was evolved in which only one set of prices was announced for paddy (and other kharif crops) and wheat being procured for buffer stock operations. Determination of Minimum Support Price (MSP) In formulating the recommendations in respect of the level of minimum support prices and other non-price measures, the Commission takes into account, apart from a comprehensive view of the entire structure of the economy of a particular commodity or group of commodities, the following factors:- Cost of production Changes in input prices Input-output price parity Trends in market prices Demand and supply Inter-crop price parity Effect on industrial cost structure Effect on cost of living Effect on general price level International price situation Parity between prices paid and prices received by the farmers. Effect on issue prices and implications for subsidy Read Also Need for MSP Reforms The Commission makes use of both micro-level data and aggregates at the level of district, state and the country. The information/data used by the Commission, inter-alia include the following :- Cost of cultivation per hectare and structure of costs in various regions of the country and changes there in; Cost of production per quintal in various regions of the country and changes therein; Prices of various inputs and changes therein; Market prices of products and changes therein; Prices of commodities sold by the farmers and of those purchased by them and changes therein; Supply related information – area, yield and production, imports, exports and domestic availability and stocks with the Government/public agencies or industry; Demand related information – total and per capita consumption, trends and capacity of the processing industry; Prices in the international market and changes therein, demand and supply situation in the world market; Prices of the derivatives of the farm products such as sugar, jaggery, jute goods, edible/non-edible oils and cotton yarn and changes therein; Cost of processing of agricultural products and changes therein; Cost of marketing – storage, transportation, processing, marketing services, taxes/fees and margins retained by market functionaries; and Macro-economic variables such as general level of prices, consumer price indices and those reflecting monetary and fiscal factors. The increase in MSP for Kharif Crops is in line with the Union Budget 2018-19 announcement of fixing the MSPs at a level of at least 1.5 times of the All-India weighted average Cost of Production (CoP), aiming at reasonably fair remuneration for the farmers. The pricing of sugarcane: The pricing of sugarcane is governed by the statutory provisions of the Sugarcane (Control) Order, 1966 issued under the Essential Commodities Act (ECA), 1955. Prior to 2009-10 sugar season, the Central Government was fixing the Statutory Minimum Price (SMP) of sugarcane and farmers were entitled to share profits of a sugar mill on 50:50 basis. As this sharing of profits remained virtually unimplemented, the Sugarcane (Control) Order, 1966 was amended in October, 2009 and the concept of SMP was replaced by the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane. A new clause ‘reasonable margins for growers of sugarcane on account of risk and profits’ was inserted as an additional factor for working out FRP and this was made effective from the 2009-10 sugar season. Accordingly, the CACP is required to pay due regard to the statutory factors listed in the Control Order, which are; the cost of production of sugarcane; the return to the grower from alternative crops and the general trend of prices of agricultural commodities; the availability of sugar to the consumers at a fair price; the price of sugar; the recovery rate of sugar from sugarcane; the realization made from sale of by-products viz. molasses, bagasse and press mud or their imputed value (inserted in December, 2008) and; reasonable margins for growers of sugarcane on account of risk
Suva Expert Dialogue
Suva Expert Dialogue The Suva Expert Dialogue on loss and damage, one of the main consultation sessions planned at the ongoing intersessional climate summit at Bonn, The dialogue was organised to deliberate on issues in the mechanisms set up so far to address losses and damages caused by climate change impacts. The expert dialogue came about in response to a call by developing nations during last year’s COP for a separate agenda item on loss and damage to tackle issues related to finance, technology transfer and capacity building while dealing with climate change impacts. Six informal discussions held over the two days were attended by experts from various fields, from the civil society as well as national delegation members. The idea behind the discussions was to capture the gaps in the way loss and damages are being assessed and compensated around the world, and options to bridge these gaps. Fair and just redressal mechanism for loss and damage: The various aspects of risk management—risk assessment, risk transfers, risk reduction and risk retention, held in two parallel sessions. Over the course of the deliberations, participants circled around longstanding issues and gaps in the loss and damage addressal systems that have been put in place within the UNFCCC framework. Several participants raised the issue of communication gaps and support not reaching those who require it the most. Further, technological gaps regarding downscaling were also raised in the context of risk assessment and reduction. Over the discussions, it became clear that differential vulnerability, highly variable impacts and novel conditions of current climate-related risks had put a spoke in the wheel when it came to pursuing fair and just redressal mechanisms for losses and damages. Read Also Competes Act Quantitative probabilistic risk assessment approach: One current approach elaborated in detail during the Dialogue is a case from the Philippines, the quantitative probabilistic risk assessment approach. It is based on a multi-hazard risk analysis using dynamic risk modelling, and is applicable to all sectors and government levels. This approach aims to calculate the risk levels of local government units as a basis for risk reduction measures and efforts to address residual risks. It requires the following data: Exposure (to hazard) for all local government units, comprising geo-tagged disaggregated socioeconomic information, including infrastructure, information on population and ecosystems; b. Frequency of (hazardous) events; c. Sectoral impacts and corollary information. Current mechanisms and financial instruments for managing climate risks inadequate: To bring focus on management options for risks posed by extreme weather events and slow onset events, respectively. Active engagement ensued in laying out how current mechanisms and financial instruments set up under the aegis of the UNFCCC were inadequate to deal with the mounting pressure of climate change on vulnerable populations. Interestingly, the aspect of “risk creation” due to human activity was also introduced in the discussions. However, how this shall be handled in terms of redressals is anybody’s guess. The mandate of the dialogue was clear: “to explore a wide range of information, inputs and views on ways for facilitating the mobilization and securing of expertise, and enhancement of support, including finance, technology and capacity building for averting, minimizing and addressing loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change, including extreme weather events and slow onset events.” Finance even emerged the single biggest concern among participants in a snap poll conducted by the facilitators at the beginning of the meet. But while lack of access to financial mechanisms of addressing loss and damage as well as lack of technical and institutional capacities were brought up repeatedly during the course of discussions and from various different perspectives, the options to effectively tackle the same were few and far between. Read Also GS 2 Notes India US Relations Doubt over feasibility of climate-based insurance system Climate or weather-based insurance systems, which has been the financial instrument of choice so far in dealing with calamitous impacts of climate change. But insurance, too, as was pointed out several times during the course of the deliberations, is not without serious doubts that are currently far from being addressed. Insurance schemes and initiatives the world over have faced similar roadblocks in terms of affordability of premiums and the access of payouts following an extreme event or weather-related disaster. As extreme weather events have become more common and devastating, insurance premiums have gone out of reach of small and marginal farmers, who commonly form the majority of the workforce in developing countries. In fact, doubts were even cast on the feasibility of insurance to cover climate risks much longer due to the increasing uncertainty surrounding the destructive potential of extreme weather events. However, even as participants urged repeatedly to think of insurance as just a small part of a much bigger issue, options and ideas for other possible financial instruments that could complement insurance did not materialise with the same frequency. Forecast-based compensations One option that was put forth was that of forecast-based compensations where funds could be released to aid the preparedness of populations to deal with climate events. The need was also expressed to move from deterministic to probabilistic approaches to deal with the impacts of climate change in the current age. However, nothing materialised much when it comes to creating new instruments and mechanisms that could counter climate impacts. A few disparate proposals for setting up of solidarity funds, climate change taxes and the creation of regional pools to fund insurance and compensation efforts were floated, but discussions on none of these reached a stage were a path to operationalisation was clearly visible. Gaps in current loss and damage mechanisms: Another gaping hole in the loss and damage mechanisms currently in place is slow onset events. We have known for decades how climate change is causing major alterations in ecosystems, contributing to anomalously high sea level rise and land degradation by ways of desertification across large parts of the world. Still, there has been no effort till date to address displacements and food and water insecurity felt across the
Cabinet approves 100% FDI in DTH services
Cabinet approves 100% FDI in DTH services The Union Cabinet approved revised guidelines for Direct-to-Home (DTH) broadcasting services, allowing 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) as well as increasing the licence period to 20 years. “Due to our I&B guidelines, this field was not getting the benefit of 100 per cent FDI. Now, from today’s decision, after changing the guidelines, the guidelines will have the same guidelines as Commerce Ministry, and will come under 100 per cent FDI.” Under the revised guidelines the licenses will be issued for a period of 20 years, compared to 10 years at the moment, and will be renewed for a 10-year period. The license fee has been revised from 10 per cent of gross revenue (GR) to 8 per cent of adjusted gross revenue (AGR), which will be calculated by deduction of GST from GR. Further, broadcasting firms will have to pay the license fee on quarterly basis, rather than the annual basis as of now. The revised guidelines “may also enable DTH service providers to invest for more coverage leading to increased operations and higher growth and thereby enhanced and regular payment”, the government said in a statement. The government has also allowed DTH operators to share infrastructure. “DTH operators, willing to share DTH platform and transport stream of TV channels, on voluntary basis, will be allowed,” the statement said. “Distributors of TV channels will be permitted to share the common hardware for their Subscriber Management System (SMS) and Conditional Access System (CAS) applications.” Sharing of infrastructure by the DTH operators, the government noted, “may bring in more efficient use of scarce satellite resources and reduce the costs borne by the consumers”. In another decision, the Cabinet also approved the merger of four of its film media units — Films Division, Directorate of Film Festivals, National Film Archives of India, and Children’s Film Society, India — with the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) Ltd. There was “duplication” between some of these organisations, “After coming together, the governance will become better”. Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey. Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. Join Now
PAHAL (Pratyaksh Hanstantrit Labh) scheme
PAHAL (Pratyaksh Hanstantrit Labh) scheme The Direct Benefit Transfer of LPG (DBTL) or PAHAL (Pratyaksh Hanstantrit Labh) scheme was earlier launched on June 1, 2013 and finally covered 291 districts. It required the consumer to mandatorily have an Aadhaar number for availing LPG Subsidy. The government has comprehensively reviewed the scheme and after examining the difficulties faced by the consumer substantively modified the scheme. The modified scheme is being re-launched in 54 districts on 15.11.2014 in the 1st Phase and in the rest of the country on 1.1.2015. Pratyaksh Hanstantrit Labh ( PAHAL scheme ) : Options to receive LPG subsidy Under the modified scheme, the LPG consumer can now receive subsidy in his bank account by two methods. Such a consumer will be called CTC (Cash Transfer Compliant) once he joins the scheme and is ready to receive subsidy in the bank account. The two options are: Option I (Primary): Wherever Aadhaar number is available it will remain the medium of cash transfer. Thus, an LPG consumer who has an Aadhaar Number has to link it to the bank account number and to the LPG consumer number. Option II (Secondary): If LPG consumer does not have an Aadhaar number, then he can directly receive subsidy in his bank account without the use of Aadhaar number. This option which has now been introduced in the modified scheme ensures that LPG subsidy is not denied to an LPG consumer on account of lack of Aadhaar number. In this option, Present bank account information (bank account holder name /account number /IFSC code) to the LPG distributor for capture in LPG databaseOR Present LPG consumer information (17 digit LPG consumer ID) to his bank LPG Consumers who are already CTC prior to launch on PAHAL (DBTL) Domestic LPG Consumer who had already joined the earlier PAHAL (DBTL) scheme by linking their Aadhaar to bank and LPG database don’t need to take fresh action for receiving subsidy as the subsidy will be transferred to their bank accounts via Aadhaar based on the previous seeding. Such CTC consumers cannot exercise Option II above. Pricing under PAHAL (DBTL) In the PAHAL (DBTL) district(s), domestic LPG cylinders will be sold to CTC domestic LPG consumers at Market Determined Price (does not include subsidy) from the date of launch of the scheme.Amount transferred to consumerThe total cash applicable on LPG cylinder will then be transferred to the CTC consumer for each subsidized cylinder delivered (up to the cap) as per his entitlement.Grace PeriodNon-CTC consumers will be allowed 3 months from the date of launch of PAHAL (DBTL) to become CTC. During this period such consumers will receive their entitlement of subsidized cylinders at the then applicable subsidized retail selling price. Parking Period After the grace period of 3 months, all non-CTC LPG consumers will get an additional 3 month Parking Period, during which the sale will happen at Market Determined Price for all LPG consumers. But for non-CTC consumers the total cash on the sale made to such consumers (as per their entitlement) shall be held back with the respective OMC to be transferred to the LPG consumers’ bank account in case consumer becomes CTC anytime during the Parking Period. In case consumer does not become CTC during this Parking Period, the parked funds will lapse and consumer shall become ineligible to receive the parked funds and sale will continue at market determined price till consumer becomes CTC. After the expiry of the Grace Period of 3 months, and thereafter an additional Parking Period of 3 months, all non-CTC consumers will receive cylinders at marker determined price and will not be entitled to total cash until they become CTC. When non-CTC consumers become CTC beyond the parking period they will be eligible to get one time permanent advance and total cash entitlement on balance subsidized cylinders in that financial year. Read Also NASA-ISRO NISAR Mission Permanent Advance A one-time Advance will be provided to every CTC consumer joining PAHAL (DBTL). The Advance will be notified, from time to time and will remain fixed for a financial year. It will remain with the consumer till the time of termination of connection, when it will be finally adjusted. LPG consumers who were provided permanent advance on a previous scale will not be eligible for any differential payment on account of the revision in the permanent advance. https://youtu.be/RWzY7gIYq1Q Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey. Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. join now
