Highlights of the year
Macroeconomic Developments
The Indian economy is estimated to grow at 6.6% in 2017-18. The RBI reduced the repo rate from 6.25% to 6% over the year. As of March 2018, retail inflation stood at 4.3% year on year, and wholesale price index inflation was at 2.5%, year on year.
Finance
The Goods and Services Tax was introduced across the country from July 1, 2017. The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2017 passed by Parliament allowed the RBI to direct banks to initiate insolvency resolution proceedings against defaulters. The Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance Bill, 2017 was introduced. It seeks to monitor banks and resolve them in case of failure.
Civil Aviation
The Ministry of Civil Aviation proposed strategic disinvestment of Air India by way of transfer of management control and sale of 76% equity share held by the central government. DGCA released rules for handling of unruly passengers. It also released draft regulations on civilian operation of drones.
Commerce
FDI in Air India will be allowed up to 49% after disinvestment by the government. 100% FDI was allowed in single product retail trading, and real-estate broking services. The Cabinet approved amendments to the MSME Development Act, 2006 to change the basis of classification of enterprises from investment in plant machinery to annual turnover.
Law and Justice
Supreme Court held the right to privacy to be a fundamental right. The Court held the practice of instant triple talaq invalid; Lok Sabha passed a Bill to make it punishable. The Court also permitted passive euthanasia, subject to certain conditions.
Railways
The Rail Development Authority was created to frame guiding principles for tariff determination for freight and passenger segments. The requirement of paying dividend to the central government by the Railways was waived off.
Consumer Affairs
The Consumer Protection Bill, 2018 was introduced to replace the Consumer Protection Act, 1986. The Bill contains provisions with regard to product liability, unfair contracts, and sets up district, state, and national consumer courts.
Health
The National Medical Commission Bill, 2017 was introduced. It seeks to replace the Medical Council of India. Cabinet approved the National Health Protection Mission to provide annual health insurance cover of up to five lakh rupees per family. National Nutrition Strategy, 2017 was released. It aims to reduce all forms of undernutrition by 2030.
Education
The Indian Institutes of Management Bill, 2017 was passed by Parliament. The RTE (Second Amendment) Bill, 2017 was introduced. The Bill seeks to amend the no detention provision in the RTE Act, 2009. The University Grants Commission released the Guidelines for Autonomous Colleges, 2017.
Coal
The new coal linkage policy for the power sector, SHAKTI, was announced. The Ministry of Coal also released the Coal Block Allocation Rules, 2017 regarding the process of allocating coal blocks through auction or allotment.
Water Resources
Supreme Court delivered its judgement on the Cauvery water dispute, allocating 14.75 TMC water to Karnataka and reducing the share of Tamil Nadu by the same amount. The Union Cabinet approved setting up of a tribunal to resolve the dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh over Mahanadi river water.
Roads
The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was passed by Lok Sabha. It seeks to address issues around road safety and sets up a National Road Safety Board. Bharatmala Phase I approved. A total length of 34,800 km of roads have been approved under the program.
Labour
The Code on Wages was introduced to consolidate four laws related to minimum wages, payment of wages and bonus. Under the Code, the central government may notify a national minimum wage and fix different national minimum wages for different states or geographical areas.
Table 1: Bills passed by Parliament from April 2017 to March 2018
Short Title |
Sector |
Key Objectives |
Finance |
Enables the central government to authorise the RBI issue directions to banks for resolution of stressed assets. |
|
Finance |
Prohibits certain persons from submitting a resolution plan to resolve a defaulting company. Also, prohibits the sale of any property during liquidation, to any of these ineligible persons. |
|
Finance |
Makes changes consequential to roll-out of GST, to allow levy of excise on petroleum and tobacco products. Amends Customs Act to require various bodies to share information. |
|
The Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Amendment Bill, 2017 |
Finance |
Amends the schedule to the Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Act, 2017 to increase the cap on cess rates on motor vehicles. |
The Integrated Goods and Services Tax (Extension to Jammu and Kashmir) Bill, 2017 |
Finance |
Extends the provisions of the Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 to Jammu and Kashmir. |
The Central Goods and Services Tax (Extension to Jammu and Kashmir) Bill, 2017 |
Finance |
Extends the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 to Jammu and Kashmir. |
The Punjab Municipal Corporation Law (Extension to Chandigarh) Amendment Bill, 2017 |
Finance |
Empowers the municipal corporation of Chandigarh to levy taxes on entertainments and amusements. Also, removes the power of the municipal corporation to levy octroi and taxes on vehicles and animals in light of GST. |
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Amendment) Bill, 2017 |
Finance |
Transfers RBI’s share in NABARD to the central government. Also, provides for increasing authorised capital of NABARD from Rs 5,000 crore to Rs 30,000 crore by the central government in consultation with the RBI. |
Corporate Affairs |
Amends various provisions of the 2013 Act in relation to subsidiaries, remuneration of management, and independent directors. |
|
Human Resource Development |
Declares the Indian Institutes of Management as institutions of national importance and allows them to grant degrees. |
|
The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Bill, 2017 |
Human Resource Development |
Extends the deadline until 2019 for teachers to acquire minimum qualifications mandated under the 2009 Act. |
The Indian Institutes of Information Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2017 |
Human Resource Development |
Declares the Indian Institute of Technology, Design and Manufacturing, Kurnool as an institution of national importance and modifies the process of appointment of Director and professors of associate level and above. |
The National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and Research (Second Amendment) Bill, 2016 |
Human Resource Development |
Incorporates the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research at Tirupati and Berhampur. |
The Indian Institutes of Information Technology (Public-Private Partnership) Bill, 2017 |
Human Resource Development |
Declares the IIITs set up under public-private partnership to be institutions of national importance and specifies the nature of partnership between industrial partners, state and central governments. |
Short Title |
Sector |
Key Objectives |
Health and Family Welfare |
Seeks to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS, and prohibit discrimination against persons with HIV and AIDS. |
|
Labour and Employment |
Empowers the central government to notify the ceiling on gratuity and the maximum maternity leave eligible for qualifying as continuous service under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972. |
|
Labour and Employment |
Requires an employer to inform the employee of his right to compensation under the 1923 Act in writing. |
|
Environment, Forest and Climate Change |
Removes the word bamboo from the definition of tree to exempt bamboo grown in non-forest area from the requirement of permit for its felling or transit. |
|
The National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions Third (Amendment) Bill, 2017 |
Housing and Urban Affairs |
Extends the validity of the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second Act, 2011 up to December 31, 2020. |
The Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Bill, 2016 |
Shipping |
Consolidates existing laws on civil matters of admiralty jurisdiction of courts, admiralty proceedings on maritime claims, and arrest of ships. |
The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2017 |
Social Justice and Empowerment |
Modifies the list of Scheduled Castes in respect of Odisha and modifies the name of Pondichery to Puducherry. |
Statistics and Programme Implementation |
Extends the jurisdiction of the 2008 Act to Jammu and Kashmir in respect of statistical matters falling in the Union List and Concurrent List applicable to the state. |
|
Petroleum and Natural Gas |
Establishes the Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy and declares the institute as an institution of national importance. |
|
Law and Justice |
Seeks to revise the salaries, allowances and pension of High Court and Supreme Court Judges. |
|
Law and Justice |
Repeals certain enactments and amends certain other enactments. |
India’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at constant prices is estimated at 6.6% in 2017-18, compared to 7.1% in 2016-17.[1] Trends in GDP growth over the past three years are given in Table 2.
Table 2: Trend in GDP growth rate (%)
Sector |
2015-16 |
2016-17 |
2017-18 |
Agriculture |
2.6% |
7.4% |
3.0% |
Industry |
9.4% |
6.1% |
5.1% |
Services |
9.6% |
7.5% |
8.3% |
Gross Value Added |
8.1% |
7.1% |
6.4% |
GDP |
8.2% |
7.1% |
6.6% |
Note: Figures for 2015-16 are second revised estimates, figures for 2016-17 are first revised estimates, and figures for 2017-18 are second advance estimates. Figures are Gross Value Added (GVA) at Basic Prices, at 2011-12 prices. GDP is derived by adding taxes on products net of subsidies on products to GVA at basic prices.
Sources: Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation; PRS.
In 2017-18, nominal GDP (prices including inflation) is estimated at Rs 167.52 lakh crore, as against Rs 152.54 lakh crore in 2016-17, a growth of 9.8%.1 The per capita income in 2017-18 is estimated to be Rs 1,12,764 (at 2011-12 prices), an increase of 8.6% from 2016-17.1
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation closed at 4.3% at the end of the year in March 2018, higher than 3% in April 2017.[2] Note that, it decreased to 1.5% in June 2017.[3]
The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) measures the average change in the prices of commodities for bulk sale at the level of early stage of transactions.[4] WPI inflation closed at 2.5% in March 2018, lower than 3.9% in April 2017.[5]
The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry revised the base year of WPI from 2004-05 to 2011-12 in May 2017.[6] Under the 2011-12 series, new items have been added to the basket and the weightages of some items have been revised. The weight assigned to vegetables and fruits has been increased and that to fuel and power has declined.
The trends in CPI and WPI inflation in 2017-18 are shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1: CPI and WPI in 2017-18 (%)
Sources: Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation; Ministry of Commerce and Industry; PRS.
The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) looks at the volume of production in the sectors of manufacturing, mining, and electricity in the economy. The IIP assigns a weight of 75% to the manufacturing sector, 15% to the mining sector, and 10% to the electricity sector. The IIP witnessed volatility through the year as shown in Figure 2. The growth increased from 3.4% (year-on-year) in April 2017 to 7.1% in February 2018.[7] Manufacturing growth increased from 3.2% in April 2017 to 8.7% in February 2018. During the same period, growth in electricity production decelerated from 5.4% to 4.5%. Mining declined from 3.2% to -0.3% in this period.
Figure 2: IIP in 2017-18 (%, year-on-year)
Sources: Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation; PRS.
The Central Statistics Office revised the base year from 2004-05 to 2011-12 for calculating IIP in May 2017.[8],[9] Under the 2011-12 series, the weight assigned to manufacturing sector has been increased by 2% and that to electricity has been decreased by the same percentage.
The Balance of Payments account reflects the transactions of a country with the rest of the world. It consists of the current account (exports of goods and services, remittances and dividend payments) and the capital account (flow of funds through equity investments and borrowings).
The surplus of the capital account is generally used to finance the current account deficit (CAD). The CAD increased to 1.9% of GDP in April-December 2017 from 0.7% in the corresponding period of 2016-17 due to a widening of the trade deficit.[10] Trade deficit increased from USD 82.7 billion in April-December 2016 to USD 118.9 billion in April-December 2017.
India’s Balance of Payments for 2017-18 is shown in Table 3 below.
Table 3: Balance of Payments in 2017-18 (April to December) (USD billion)
Apr-Jun 2017-18 |
Jul-Sept 2017-18 |
Oct-Dec 2017-18 |
|
Current Account |
-14.3 |
-7.2 |
-13.5 |
Capital Account |
25.4 |
16.4 |
22.0 |
Errors and Omissions |
0.4 |
0.4 |
0.8 |
Change in reserves |
11.4 |
9.6 |
9.4 |
Sources: Reserve Bank of India; PRS.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) took the following decisions over the course of 2017-18:
The Finance Minister, Mr. Arun Jaitley tabled the Economic Survey 2017-18 in January 2018.[13] Some highlights of the survey are:
For more details on the Economic Survey 2017-18, please see here.
The Finance Minister, Mr. Arun Jaitley, presented the Union Budget for 2018-19 on February 1, 2018.[14] Key highlights include:
Table 4: Budget 2018-19 (Rs crore)
Item |
Revised 2017-18 |
Budgeted 2018-19 |
% change |
Total Expenditure |
22,17,750 |
24,42,213 |
10.1% |
Total Receipts (without borrowings) |
16,22,901 |
18,17,937 |
12.0% |
Fiscal Deficit |
5,94,849 |
6,24,276 |
4.9% |
% of GDP |
3.5% |
3.3% |
|
Revenue Deficit |
4,38,877 |
4,16,034 |
-5.2% |
% of GDP |
2.6% |
2.2% |
|
Sources: Union Budget 2018-19; PRS.
Key policy proposals in the budget speech are:
The major tax changes announced are:
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council approved rates of several goods and services under GST in May 2017.[15] Subsequently, GST was introduced across the country from July 1, 2017. During the year, the GST Council reviewed tax rates several times, and suggested changes in the composition scheme.[16],[17] The Council, consisting of representatives from the centre and states is responsible for deciding tax rates of goods and services under GST, among others.
Three Bills related to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) were passed by Parliament in August 2017.[18],[19],[20] They replaced three Ordinances promulgated in July 2017.[21],[22],[23] Key features of these Acts are:
Under the 1994 Act, the central government had the power to levy Entertainment Tax and Entertainment Duty in Chandigarh. The 2017 amendment transferred these powers from the central government to the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh. Further, it deleted the provisions which allow the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh to levy octroi and taxes on vehicles and animals.
This was consequent to the Constitution (101st Amendment) Act, 2016 which subsumed Entertainment Tax within GST, except where it is levied by a panchayat or a municipality. The 2016 Act also subsumes Entry Tax, including Octroi, within the ambit of GST.
More information on the Bills is available here, here and here.
The Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Amendment Bill, 2017 was passed by Parliament in December 2017.[24],[25],[26] It amended the Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Act, 2017, and replaced an Ordinance promulgated in September 2017.
The Act allows the central government to notify the rate of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Compensation Cess on items such as pan masala, coal, aerated drinks, and tobacco, subject to certain caps. Proceeds of the GST Compensation Cess are to be used to compensate states for any loss in revenue following the implementation of GST.
The amendment increased the cap on GST Compensation Cess levied on motor vehicles from 15% to 25%. The GST Council had recommended this increase in cap on the grounds that following the introduction of GST, the total incidence of tax on cars had come down.[27]
More information on the Bill is available here.
In November 2017, the Cabinet approved the creation of the posts of Chairman and Technical Members of the National Anti-Profiteering Authority (NAPA).[28],[29]
The NAPA seeks to ensure that any reduction in GST rates is passed on to the consumers by a commensurate reduction in the price of goods and services. It will identify GST taxpayers who have not passed on such benefits by reducing prices. In the event of a taxpayer not reducing prices, the NAPA may order a reduction in prices, impose penalties or cancel the registration of a person.
The NAPA will cease to exist two years after the Chairman takes charge, unless the GST Council recommends otherwise.
The Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was passed by Parliament in April 2017.[30] It amended the Customs Act, 1962, the Customs Tariff Act, 1975, the Central Excise Act, 1944, the Finance Act, 2001, the Finance Act, 2005, and repealed provisions of a few Acts.
Customs Act, 1962
Customs Tariff Act, 1975
Central Excise Act, 1944
More information on the Bill is available here.
The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was passed by Parliament in August 2017.[31] It replaced an Ordinance which was promulgated in May 2017.[32] It amended the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, which regulates the functioning of banks and provides details on aspects such as their licensing, management, and operations. Key features of the amendment are:
More information on the Bill is available here.
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was passed by Parliament in January 2018.[33] The Bill amends the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 and replaces an Ordinance promulgated in November 2017.[34],[35] The Code provides a time-bound process for resolving insolvency of companies and individuals. Insolvency is a situation where a company is unable to repay its outstanding debt.
Key features of the Bill include:
More details on the Bill are available here.
The Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance Bill, 2017 was introduced in Lok Sabha in August 2017.[36] It was subsequently referred to a Joint Committee of Parliament for examination. In March 2016, a Committee had been set up to draft a Code on Resolution of Financial Firms. It submitted its report and a draft Bill in September 2016.[37],[38] Key features of the Bill are:
Table 5: Categories of risk
Category |
Probability of failure |
Low |
Substantially below acceptable levels |
Moderate |
Marginally below acceptable levels |
Material |
Above acceptable levels |
Imminent |
Substantially above acceptable levels |
Critical |
Financial institution on the verge of failure |
Sources: The Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance Bill, 2017; PRS.
More information on the Bill is available here.
The Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, 2018 was introduced in Lok Sabha in March 2018.[39] The Bill seeks to confiscate properties of economic offenders who have left the country to avoid facing criminal prosecution. Key features of the Bill include:
More details on the Bill are available here.
The Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of the legal provision that makes Aadhaar mandatory for income tax assessees in June 2017.[40] However, it provided temporarily relief to persons who are not enrolled under Aadhaar.
The provision (Section 139AA) was included in the Income Tax Act, 1961 in February 2017. It made Aadhaar mandatory for: (i) filing of income tax returns, and (ii) applying for a Permanent Account Number (PAN), from July 1, 2017. It also provided that if a person failed to link their PAN with Aadhaar, their PAN will be invalidated.
Note that there is another challenge against Aadhaar pending before the Supreme Court related to the validity of Aadhaar. In light of this, the court stated that if a person has not enrolled for Aadhaar, their PAN cannot be invalidated till the pending matter is decided by the court. Further, the Court held in March 2018 that linking of Aadhaar with various services such as mobile phones, bank and insurance accounts will not be mandatory till the matter is decided by the court.[41]
Following the Supreme Court judgement, the central government notified rules to give effect to Section 139AA.[42] The rules specify the manner and method for linking one’s PAN with their Aadhaar number.
The Ministry of Finance notified the Prevention of Money-laundering (Maintenance of Records) Second Amendment Rules, 2017 in June 2017.[43] These Rules require individuals and firms to provide their Aadhaar number to banks, in addition to any other required documents:
If a person does not have an Aadhaar, he will be required to apply for Aadhaar and quote his Aadhaar enrolment number. In case an individual is not eligible to obtain Aadhaar, he will have to submit his PAN details or any other specified documents.
Subsequently, the Supreme Court held that linking of bank accounts with Aadhaar will not be mandatory till it finally decides on the validity of Aadhaar.41
The Committee of Experts on a Data Protection Framework for India (Chair: Justice B. N. Srikrishna) released a white paper in November 2017.[44] The Committee was constituted in August 2017 to examine issues related to data protection, recommend methods to address such issues, and draft a data protection law.[45]
The Committee suggested that a framework to protect data in the country should be based on seven principles: (i) law should be flexible to take into account changing technologies, (ii) law must apply to both government and private sector entities, (iii) consent should be genuine, informed and meaningful, (iv) processing of data should be minimal and only for the purpose for which it is sought, (v) entities controlling the data should be accountable for any data processing, (vi) enforcement of the data protection framework should be by a high-powered statutory authority, and (vii) penalties should be adequate to discourage any wrongful acts.
The Committee also raised some questions related to the data protection framework. These questions are related to: (i) scope and exemptions under the framework, (ii) grounds for data processing, obligation on entities and rights of individuals, and (iii) regulation and enforcement of the framework.
A PRS summary of the white paper is available here.
The RBI released its Annual Report 2016-17 in August 2017.[46] The report stated that as of June 30, 2017, demonetised notes (Rs 500 and Rs 1,000) worth Rs 15.28 lakh crore had been returned to the RBI. Note that prior to demonetisation in November 2016, demonetised notes worth Rs 15.44 lakh crore were in circulation.[47] This implies that an estimated Rs 16,000 crore worth of these notes had not been returned as of June 2017.
The Report stated that figures related to these notes were subject to corrections as: (i) the verification process is still going on, (ii) demonetised notes deposited with cooperative banks are being returned to the RBI, and (iii) the RBI is in talks with the central government to accept notes held by people or financial institutions in Nepal.
The Union Cabinet approved the setting up of the 15th Finance Commission (Chair: Mr. N. K. Singh).[48] The Constitution requires the Finance Commission to be set up every five years.[49] The Commission will make recommendations for the five year period from 2020 to 2025 on subjects including: (i) sharing of central taxes with the states, (ii) principles which govern the distribution of central grants to states, and (iii) measures to improve the financial position of states in order to supplement the resources of panchayats and municipalities.
The Commission will also study the impact of the GST on the finances of the central and state governments, among others. While making its recommendations, the Commission will take into consideration various criteria, including population data from the 2011 census. In addition, it has also been asked to consider performance-based incentives for states in certain areas, which includes expansion of tax net under GST, and the progress made by states in moving towards replacement rate of population growth. The Commission will submit its report by October 30, 2019.
The 14th Finance Commission submitted its report in February 2015 with recommendations for the five-year period between the 2015 to 2020.
More details on the 14th Finance Commission report are available here.
The Union Cabinet gave its in-principle approval for public sector banks to merge, in August 2017.[50] This was aimed at consolidating public sector banks to create strong and competitive banks. Key features of the approved framework are:
Subsequently, an Alternate Mechanism was constituted for the consolidation of public sector banks in November.[51] The Mechanism will be chaired by Mr. Arun Jaitley, Minister of Finance. It will have Mr. Piyush Goyal (Minister of Railways and Coal), and Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman (Minister of Defence) as its members.
The Alternate Mechanism will examine proposals received from banks for approval to formulate schemes for amalgamation. It may also direct banks to examine proposals for amalgamation. The final scheme for amalgamation of public sector banks will be approved by the central government, and laid before Parliament.
The State Banks (Repeal and Amendment) Bill, 2017 was passed in Lok Sabha in August 2017.[52] It was introduced in July 2017. Key features of the Bill are:
This is consequent to the Union Cabinet approval in February 2017 to allow the SBI to acquire these subsidiaries.
More information on the Bill is available here.
The Ministry of Finance notified the scheme of electoral bonds in January 2018.[53],[54] The scheme had been announced as part of Union Budget 2017-18. Under the scheme, a new instrument called an electoral bond will be issued to make donations to political parties. Key features include:
The Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was introduced in Lok Sabha in January 2018.[55] It seeks to amend the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881. The Act defines promissory notes, bills of exchange, and cheques. It also specifies penalties for bouncing of cheques, and other violations with respect to such negotiable instruments. Key features of the Bill include:
More information on the Bill is available here.
The Chit Funds (Amendment) Bill, 2018 was introduced in Lok Sabha in March 2018.[56] It amends the Chit Funds Act, 1982.[57] The 1982 Act regulates chit funds, and prohibits a fund from being created without the prior sanction of the state government. Under a chit fund, people agree to pay a certain amount from to time into a fund. Periodically, one of the subscribers is chosen by drawing a chit to receive the prize amount from the fund. Key features of the Bill include:
More information on the Bill is available here.
The Union Cabinet approved the introduction of the Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2018 in Parliament in February 2018.[58] In 2016, a draft Bill was released for public consultation.[59] Key features of the Bill include:
The Collection of Statistics (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was passed by Parliament in July 2017.[60] The Bill amends the Collection of Statistics Act, 2008. The Act facilitates the collection of statistics related to social, economic, demographic, and other indicators, by central, state and local governments. It also contains provisions to ensure security of the information collected under the Act.
The Bill provides for the following: (i) extending the jurisdiction of the Act to Jammu and Kashmir, (ii) allowing the central government to determine the manner in which the information collected will be used for statistical purposes, and (iii) appointment of a nodal officer to coordinate and supervise the proposed statistical activities.
A PRS summary of the Bill is available here.
The Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act Review Committee (Chair: Mr. N.K. Singh) submitted its report in January 2017.[61] It was made public in April 2017. The Committee proposed a draft Debt Management and Fiscal Responsibility Bill, 2017 to replace the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2003 (FRBM Act).
As part of Union Budget 2018-19, key recommendations of the Committee were accepted. These related to setting a debt to GDP ratio for the entire country at 60%, with a 40% limit for the centre and 20% limit for states. Other recommendations of the Committee include:
A PRS report summary is available here.
In November 2017, the Ministry of Finance set up a Task Force to review the Income Tax Act, 1961, and draft a new direct tax law.[62] Mr. Arbind Modi (Member, Central Board of Direct Taxes) would be its convener. The Task Force will comprise chartered accountants and tax advocates, among others. Mr. Arvind Subramanian, Chief Economic Adviser, would be a permanent special invitee.
The terms of reference of the Task Force are to draft a direct tax law keeping in view: (i) direct tax system prevalent in various countries, (ii) international best practices, (iii) economic needs of India, and (iv) any other connected matters.
The Union Cabinet approved a proposal to list 11 Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) on stock exchanges in April 2017.[63] CPSEs will be listed through a public offer of shares up to 25% of the government’s shareholding. The Cabinet also approved a price discount of 5% for retail investors (individual investors) and employees of CPSEs.
The 11 CPSEs to be listed are: (i) Rail Vikas Nigam Limited, (ii) IRCON International Ltd., (iii) Indian Railway Finance Corporation Ltd., (iv) Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation, (v) RITES Ltd., (vi) Bharat Dynamics Ltd., (vii) Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd., (viii) Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd., (ix) North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd., (x) MSTC Ltd., and (xi) Mishra Dhatu Nigam Ltd.
The actual disinvestment and mode of raising resources would be decided on a case to case basis by the Finance Minister.
The Government of India sold its 51.11% shareholding of Hindustan Petroleum Company Limited (HPCL) to the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) for a total price of Rs 36,915 crore.[64] The sale took place in January 2018.
The Insurance Ombudsman Rules, 2017 were notified in April 2017.[65] They supersede the Redressal of Public Grievances Rules, 1998, which had earlier established an Ombudsman to look into complaints related to life insurance and general insurance companies.[66] The 2017 Rules apply to all insurers, and their agents or intermediaries. Key features of these Rules include:
In April 2017, the Ministry of Finance constituted an inter-disciplinary committee to examine existing framework on virtual currencies.[67] Virtual currencies, such as bitcoins, are stored and transacted in digital form. Currently, these virtual currencies are unregulated.[68]
The Committee will be chaired by Special Secretary (Economic Affairs) and have representatives from Ministries of Home and Information Technology, NITI Aayog, and RBI, among others.
The Committee will: (i) take stock of the present status of virtual currencies in India and abroad, (ii) examine global regulatory and legal structures governing virtual currencies, (iii) suggest measures to deal with virtual currencies, and (iv) examine any other related matters.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Inter-Regulatory Working Group on FinTech and Digital Banking (Chair: Mr. Sudarshan Sen, Executive Director, RBI) submitted its report in February 2018.[69] The Group was constituted in July 2016 to study regulatory issues related to financial technology (FinTech) and digital banking.[70] It had representatives from regulators including SEBI, IRDA, and PFRDA. Key recommendations of the Group include:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) discontinued the practice of issuing letters of understanding and letters of comfort from March 13, 2018 onwards.[71] These letters were issued by banks as trade credit for financing imports into India.[72] The RBI specified that the issuance of these letters would be allowed for certain purposes, such as for bank guarantees.
The Household Finance Committee (Chair: Prof. Tarun Ramadorai) submitted its report to the RBI in August 2017.[73] The Committee was constituted in September 2016 to examine various aspects of household finance, and compare India’s position with other countries.[74]
Key observations of the Committee include:
Recommendations of the Committee include:
The Committee on Corporate Governance (Chair: Mr. Uday Kotak) submitted its report to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in October 2017.[75] The Committee was constituted in June 2017 to make recommendations for companies listed on a stock exchange on matters including: (i) ensuring independence and participation of independent directors, (ii) audit and accounting practices in listed companies, and (iii) disclosure and transparency related issues. Key recommendations of the Committee include:
In November 2017, the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) increased the upper age limit for joining the National Pension System (NPS) from 60 years to 65 years.[76]
Currently, any Indian between the age of 18 to 60 years may voluntarily join the NPS. The PFRDA observed that due to better healthcare facilities and increased fitness, people are living an active life allowing them to be employed productively for longer. Consequently, it received suggestions to increase the age limit for joining the NPS.
A subscriber joining the NPS after the age of 60 years will be eligible to continue in the system till the age of 70. Such subscribers will have the same investment choices as available to those joining before 60 years.
The exit conditions for subscribers is: (i) if exit is after three years of joining, then 40% of the amount will have to be annuitized (where amount is invested for fixed returns) and the remaining amount may be withdrawn lump sum, or (ii) if exit is before three years of joining, then 80% of the amount will have to be annuitized.
The Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was passed by Parliament in December 2017.[77] The Bill amends the Companies Act, 2013 to change provisions related to structuring, disclosure and compliance requirements for companies.
The Standing Committee on Finance had examined the Bill and submitted its report in December 2016.[78] Subsequently, Lok Sabha passed the Bill with amendments in July 2017.[79] Key features of the Bill as passed by Parliament include:
More details on the Bill are available here.
The Union Cabinet approved the establishment of the National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) in March 2018.[80] The NFRA will be established as an independent regulator for auditors. Its powers to investigate chartered accountants and their firms will extend to listed companies, and large unlisted companies (threshold will be notified). The central government may refer any other entity for investigation to the NFRA.
The establishment of the NFRA is pursuant to the provision for an auditing regulator in the Companies Act, 2013. Rules have been notified in relation to the appointment and other conditions of service of the members of the NFRA.[81] As per the Rules, the NFRA will consist of a Chairperson (who will be an eminent person), three full-time members, and nine part-time members.
The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) released certain changes in the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Policy in January 2018.[82] The changes include:
The Union Cabinet approved the abolition of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) in May 2017.[83] FIPB was responsible for clearing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) proposals in cases where government approval is required. The Finance Minister, Mr. Arun Jaitley had announced the abolishment of FIPB in Union Budget, 2017.
Following the abolishment of FIPB, the approval of FDI proposals where government approval is required, will be approved by the concerned Ministries. This will be in consultation with the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion.
The Footwear Design and Development Institute Bill, 2017 was passed by Parliament in July 2017.[84] The Bill established the Footwear Design and Development Institute as an institution of national importance. Currently, there are 12 campuses under this Institute. Key features of the Bill include:
A PRS summary of the Bill is available here.
The Union Cabinet approved amendments to the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development Act, 2006 to change the basis of classifying MSMEs in February 2018.[85] The MSME Development Act 2006 will be amended to change the basis of classification of enterprises from investment in plant machinery to annual turnover. The proposed turnover limits are shown in Table 6.
Table 6: Classification of enterprises
Enterprise |
2006 Act investment limits |
Proposed turnover limits |
|
Manufacturing |
Services |
||
Micro |
Rs 25 lakh |
Rs 10 lakh |
Rs five crore |
Small |
Rs 25 lakh to Rs 5 crore |
Rs 10 lakh to Rs 2 crore |
Rs five crore to Rs 75 crore |
Medium |
Rs 5 crore to Rs 10 crore |
Rs 2 crore to Rs 5 crore |
Rs 75 crore to Rs 250 crore |
Sources: Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises; PRS.
The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) released guidelines for the scheme for budgetary support under the Goods and Service Tax (GST) regime to certain industrial units in October 2017.[86] These units are located in Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and north-eastern states including Sikkim.[87] The scheme was approved in August 2017 with a budgetary support of Rs 27,413 crore. The scheme will be valid for a period of 10 years (July 2017-June 2027). Key features of the scheme include:
The Union Cabinet approved the North Eastern Industrial Development Scheme (NEIDS) 2017 with an outlay of Rs 3,000 crore till March 2020.[88] Under the scheme, eligible industrial units will be provided incentives to promote industrialisation. The incentives include:
The Department of Heavy Industries released a draft National Auto Policy 2018 in February 2018.[89] The draft Policy seeks to provide a comprehensive plan for the development of the automotive industry in India. Key features include:
Certain changes were made under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles in India (FAME) scheme in September 2017.[90] The scheme was launched in April 2015 by the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises.[91] The scheme provides incentives in the form of a reduced purchase price for buyers of hybrid and electric vehicles.[92] Such vehicles should have been manufactured in India, and meet certain technical criteria as per the scheme guidelines. Recent changes made under the scheme include:
The Union Cabinet approved a policy to give preference to local suppliers for government procurements in May 2017.[93] Local suppliers are defined as those who supply goods and services, with 50% of their value added domestically. Subsequently, the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) issued an order giving effect to the policy.[94] Key features of the policy include:
A standing committee of the DIPP will oversee the policy implementation.
The Task Force on Innovation, constituted under the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, submitted its report in June 2017.[95] The Task Force was constituted in September 2016.
The report makes recommendations to improve India’s score on the 82 indicators of the Global Innovation Index, which have been clubbed under seven heads: (i) institutions, (ii) human capital and research, (iii) infrastructure, (iv) market sophistication, (v) business sophistication, (vi) knowledge and technology outputs, and (vii) creative outputs. Key recommendations of the report include:
The Task Force on Artificial Intelligence, constituted under the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, submitted its report.[96] The Task Force was constituted in August 2017.[97] Key recommendations of the Task Force include:
The NITI Aayog constituted a Task Force on Employment and Exports in September 2017.[98] It noted that a majority of workers in India are employed in low-productivity and low-wage jobs. There is a need for sustained expansion of the organised sector to address unemployment in India.
The Task Force would be chaired by Dr. Rajiv Kumar (Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog). Members of the Task Force will include representatives from the central government and private institutions.
Terms of reference of the Task Force include: (i) proposing a plan to generate employment by boosting exports, (ii) recommending sector-specific interventions, (iii) identifying macro-economic factors hindering exports, and (iv) suggesting ways to improve the availability of trade related data.
The Cabinet approved continuation of the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) for three years (2017-18 to 2019-20) in February 2018.[99] Rs 5,500 crore has been approved for this purpose. The scheme was launched in 2008 and seeks to provide credit-linked subsidy for setting up of micro enterprises in non-farm sectors by traditional artisans and unemployed youth.
The Code on Wages, 2017 was introduced in Lok Sabha in August 2017.[100] It was subsequently referred to the Standing Committee on Labour. The Code consolidates four Acts: (i) the Payment of Wages Act, 1936, (ii) the Minimum Wages Act, 1949, (iii) the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965, and (iv) the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976. The Code will apply to establishments where any industry, trade, business, manufacturing or occupation is carried out. This will also include government establishments. Key features of the Code are:
More details on the Bill are available here.
The Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was passed in Parliament in March 2018.[101] The Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on December 18, 2017.[102],[103] The Bill amends the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972. The Act applies to any establishment, factory, mine, oilfield, plantation, port, railway, company, or shop employing 10 or more workers. The Act requires employees to be paid gratuity if they have had more than five years of service.
Key features of the Bill are:
For more details on the Bill, see here.
The central government notified Rules amending the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Central Rules, 1946 in March 2018.[105] The 1946 Rules were notified under the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946. The Act applies to every industrial establishment which employs 100 or more workmen. The Act requires employers in industrial establishments to formally define conditions of employment in the form of “standing orders” and to submit such standing orders to certifying authorities. The Rules introduce certain amendments in respect of fixed term employment workmen.
Currently, fixed term workmen (employed for a fixed period on the basis of a written contract) are only allowed in the apparel industry. The new Rules allow companies to hire workers on contract on a fixed term basis. However, no employer can convert the posts of permanent workmen into fixed-term employment workmen.
The new Rules state that fixed employment workmen will be assured of hours of work, pay benefits and other statutory benefits as applicable to permanent workmen. These benefits will be proportionate to the period of service rendered by them. However, fixed term workmen will not be entitled to any notice or pay in its lieu, once their contract expires.
The Ministry of Textiles launched a scheme called PowerTex India (Comprehensive Scheme for Powerloom Sector Development) in April 2017.[106],[107],[108] Key features of the scheme include:
The Cabinet approved the Integrated Scheme for Development of Silk Industry for a period of three years (2017-18 to 2019-20).[110] Rs 2,162 crore has been allocated for this purpose. The scheme seeks to develop sericulture and the silk industry. It includes four components: (i) research and development, (ii) seed organisations, (iii) coordination and market development, and (iv) quality certification systems, export brand promotion and technology upgradation. The scheme will be implemented though the Central Silk Board.
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was passed by Parliament in January 2018.[111] It amends the NABARD Act, 1981. The 1981 Act provides for the establishment of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). NABARD is responsible for providing and regulating facilities like credit for agricultural and industrial development in the rural areas. Key features of the Bill include:
A PRS summary of the Bill is available here.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare released a draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2017 in February 2018.[112] The draft Bill seeks to regulate import, manufacture, export, storage, sale, transport, distribution, quality and use of pesticides. It repeals the Insecticides Act, 1968. Key features of the draft Bill include:
Note that the Pesticide Management Bill, 2008, which was introduced in Rajya Sabha in October 2008 and is currently pending.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare released the model Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2017 in May 2017.[113] The model Act seeks to facilitate free flow of agricultural produce including livestock, provide a direct interface of farmers with the buyers and consumers, and create a barrier free single market in the country. A state or a union territory government can adopt this model Act. Key features of the model Act include:
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare released a draft Model State/Union Territory Agricultural Produce and Livestock Contract Farming (Promotion & Facilitation) Act, 2018 in December 2017.[114] The draft Model Act seeks to: (i) provide for improved production and marketing of agriculture produce through contract farming, (ii) facilitate contracting parties, and (iii) create a regulatory and policy framework for contract farming. Based on this Model Act, legislatures of states and union territories can enact a law on contract farming. Key features of the draft Model Act include:
The Department of Commerce released a draft Agriculture Export Policy 2018.[115] The draft Policy seeks to double farmers’ income and increase the share of agricultural exports from USD 30 billion currently to more than USD 60 billion by 2022. Key recommendations of the draft policy include:
The Cabinet approved the removal of prohibition on export of all pulses, and edible oilseeds except mustard oil.[116],[117] Mustard oil will continue to be exported only in consumer packs up to five kg and with a minimum export price of USD 900 per tonne. Further, with regard to pulses, the Cabinet enabled a Committee (Chair: Secretary, Department of Food and Public Distribution) to review the export and import policy on pulses. This Committee includes secretaries of: (i) Department of Commerce, (ii) Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, (iii) Department of Revenue, (iv) Department of Consumer Affairs, and (v) Directorate General of Foreign Trade.
The Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries released the National Policy on Marine Fisheries, 2017 in May 2017.[118] The Policy makes recommendations to ensure sustainable development of the marine fisheries sector. Key features include:
The Ministry of Agriculture released the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) of Kharif crops for 2017-18 in June 2017, and for Rabi crops in November 2017.[119],[120] Additionally, the government announced bonuses for certain crops such as pulses and oilseeds, over the MSPs approved. Table 7 shows the change in MSPs for Kharif crops in 2017-18 as compared to the MSPs in 2016-17. The MSP for paddy increased by 5.4% as the compared to the MSP for 2016-17.
Table 7: Minimum support prices of Kharif crops (in Rs/quintal)
Crop |
2016-17 |
2017-18 |
% change |
Paddy Common |
1,470 |
1,550 |
5.4% |
Jowar Hybrid |
1,625 |
1,700 |
4.6% |
Bajra |
1,330 |
1,425 |
7.1% |
Maize |
1,365 |
1,425 |
4.3% |
Ragi |
1,725 |
1,900 |
10.1% |
Arhar (Tur) |
5,050^^ |
5,450^ |
7.9% |
Moong |
5,225^^ |
5,575^ |
6.7% |
Urad |
5,000^^ |
5,400^ |
8.0% |
Groundnut in shell |
4,220* |
4,450^ |
5.5% |
Soyabean |
2,775* |
3,050^ |
9.9% |
Sunflower seed |
3,950* |
4,100* |
3.8% |
Sesamum |
5,000^ |
5,300* |
6.0% |
Nigerseed |
3,825* |
4,050* |
5.9% |
Cotton Medium Staple |
3,860 |
4,020 |
4.1% |
Cotton Long Staple |
4,160 |
4,320 |
3.8% |
Note: * includes bonus of Rs 100/quintal, ^ includes bonus Rs 200/quintal and ^^ includes bonus Rs 425/quintal.
Sources: Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare; PRS.
Among Rabi crops, the MSP for wheat has been increased from Rs 1,625/quintal to Rs 1,735/quintal. Table 8 shows the change in MSPs of Rabi crops between 2017-18 and 2016-17.
Table 8: Minimum support prices of Rabi crops (in Rs/quintal)
Crop |
2016-17 |
2017-18 |
Change |
Wheat |
1,625 |
1,735 |
6.8% |
Barley |
1,325 |
1,410 |
6.4% |
Gram |
4,000^ |
4,400# |
10.0% |
Masur |
3,950# |
4,250* |
7.6% |
Rapeseed-mustard |
3,700* |
4,000* |
8.1% |
Safflower |
3,700* |
4,100* |
10.8% |
Note: * includes bonus of Rs 100/quintal, ^ includes bonus of Rs 200/quintal, # includes bonus of Rs 150/quintal.
Sources: Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare; PRS.
The Cabinet approved extension of government guarantees worth Rs 19,000 crore to banks providing credit to the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) in February 2018.[121] NAFED procures pulses and oilseeds at Minimum Support Prices (MSP) under the Price Support Scheme. Further, government guarantees worth Rs 45 crore will be extended to the Small Farmers Agri-Business Consortium to meet their existing liability and settling claims. These government guarantees are provided for a period of five years.
The Cabinet also approved the utilisation of a part of the buffer stock of pulses to provide nutrition under central government schemes such as the Mid-day Meal scheme.[122] Note that, in 2016, the Cabinet approved a buffer stock of up to 20 lakh tonnes of pulses under the Department of Consumer Affairs.[123]
The Cabinet approved the implementation of a Special Banking Arrangement (SBA) of Rs 10,000 crore for the payment of outstanding fertilizer subsidy during 2016-17 retrospectively in November 2017.[124] Fertilizers are provided at subsidised rates to farmers through fertilizer manufacturers and importers. Such fertilizer companies are provided funds against their subsidy claims under the SBA.
The Cabinet approved changes in energy norms under the New Urea Policy in March 2018.[125] Currently, 25 gas-based urea plants are classified into three categories based on certain energy consumption norms for the year 2018-19. These plants are eligible for concessions based on these energy consumption norms fixed for each group. The changes approved by the Committee are as follows:
The Union Cabinet approved the implementation of the Diary Processing and Infrastructure Development Fund scheme in September 2017.[126] An announcement regarding the same had been made during the Union Budget 2017-18.[127] The scheme seeks to build an efficient milk procurement system through: (i) chilling infrastructure, (ii) electronic milk adulteration testing equipment, and (iii) creation, modernisation and expansion of dairy processing infrastructure. Key features of the scheme include:
The Cabinet approved continuation of certain schemes such as the Interest Subvention Scheme, Urea Subsidy Scheme, Nutrient Based Subsidy and the City Compost Scheme, and the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.[128],[129],[130],[131] Details are as follows:
The Ministry of Civil Aviation released a Preliminary Information Memorandum for the strategic disinvestment of Air India Limited in March 2017.[133] The disinvestment is proposed to be done by way of transfer of management control and sale of 76% equity share capital of Air India which is held by the central government.
The Memorandum includes proprietary information on the company, for the limited purpose of providing certain information to the bidders to make an assessment prior to submitting an initial proposal. The government may later change the procedures for pursuing the proposed disinvestment. The memorandum provides information including: (i) an overview of the airline and ground handling industries, (ii) details of Air India Limited and Air India Express (subsidiary under Air India), (iii) proposed reallocation of the companies’ debt and liabilities, (iv) process of the proposed disinvestment, and (v) instructions for submission of expression of interest by the bidders.
The Cabinet had given in-principle approval for considering the strategic disinvestment of Air India and five of its subsidiaries in June 2017.[134] An Air India-specific alternative mechanism group was to be constituted to guide the process of disinvestment. This group was headed by the Minister of Finance, and included the Minister of Civil Aviation. This group was to decide on the following:
The Ministry of Civil Aviation released a revised version of the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) in September 2017.[135] The Ministry had released the earlier scheme, also known as Udan, in October 2016.[136] The scheme seeks to facilitate regional air connectivity by making it affordable through: (i) concessions by central and state governments and airport operators, and (ii) Viability Gap Funding to airlines from the Regional Connectivity Fund. The revisions were brought in after the initial rounds of bidding by different air carriers under the scheme.
Key revisions in the scheme include:
The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) released rules for handling of unruly passengers in September 2017.[138] These rules were released under the provisions of the Aircraft Rules, 1937. Key provisions of the rules include:
The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) released draft regulations on the civilian operation of remotely piloted aircraft systems, commonly known as drones, in November 2017.[139],[140] The draft regulations provide the details of permits required to operate civilian drones. Key guidelines include:
The Ministry of Railways set up the Rail Development Authority (RDA), with the approval of the Union Cabinet, through a notification, in May 2017.[141] Key features of the RDA include:
The Union Cabinet approved the proposal of Ministry of Railways to move a resolution in Parliament adopting the recommendations of the Railway Convention Committee (2014) in November 2017.[142] The Committee had recommended that the dividend payable to general revenues for 2016-17, estimated at Rs 9,731 crore, may be waived off as a one-time move.[143] In the Union Budget 2018-19, no amount was allocated towards the payment of dividend in 2016-17 (actual figure), or the subsequent years. Dividend was last paid in 2015-16, which was Rs 8,722 crore.[144]
Railways paid a return on the budgetary support it received from the government every year, known as dividend. Post the merger of the Railways budget with the Union budget, from 2017-18, Railways are not required to pay dividend to the central government. The Committee made the recommendations citing the critical state of Railway’s finances. It had noted that factors such as the cost of implementing the 7th Central Pay Commission have adversely impacted the state of Railway’s finances.
In March 2018, the Ministry of Finance approved a government guarantee of Rs 5,000 crore for Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) bonds to be subscribed by Life Insurance Corporation (LIC).[145] This guarantee is expected to help LIC subscribe to IRFC bonds beyond the exposure limits set by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA). Exposure limits are set on the basis of assets that a borrower has to repay its debt, or in other words how much one should borrow.
The Ministry of Railways had entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with LIC in March 2015 under which LIC was to provide a financial assistance of Rs 1,50,000 crore for identified railway projects from 2015 to 2019. IRFC had been raising funds from LIC by issuing bonds with a tenure of 30 years. However due to the exposure limit constraints as per IRDA guidelines, LIC had not been able to subscribe to IRFC bonds beyond the prescribed limit.
The Ministry of Railways revised the categories of railway stations for the period 2017-18 to 2022-23 in December 2017.[146] Earlier, railway stations were categorised into seven categories based on their annual passenger earnings. In addition to annual passenger earnings, the revised categories also take into account passenger footfall, and strategic importance of the station. These revised categories will enable stations with higher passenger footfall to be eligible for more passenger amenities.
The stations were categorised into three groups- non-suburban (NSG), suburban (SG) and halt (HG). Table 9 below shows the categories of railway stations and their criteria.
Table 9: Revised categories of stations
Category of stations |
Criteria of earnings (in Rs) |
Criteria of passengers handled |
NSG 1 |
>500 crore |
>20 million |
NSG 2 |
100- 500 crore |
10-20 million |
NSG 3 |
20- 100 crore |
5- 10 million |
NSG 4 |
10- 20 crore |
2- 5 million |
NSG 5 |
1- 10 crore |
1- 2 million |
NSG 6 |
Up to 1 crore |
Up to 1 million |
SG 1 |
>25 crore |
>30 million |
SG 2 |
10-25 crore |
10-30 million |
SG 3 |
Up to 10 crore |
Up to 10 million |
HG 1 |
>50 lakh |
>3 lakh |
HG 2 |
5-50 lakh |
1-3 lakh |
HG 3 |
Up to 5 lakh |
Up to 1 lakh |
Sources: Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Railways; PRS.
The Ministry of Railways has delegated several financial and administrative powers to General Managers (GMs), Divisional Railway Managers (DRMs), and field officials in October 2017.[147] This seeks to improve operational efficiency, fast track decision making, and execution of projects. The powers that have been delegated include:
The Ministry of Railways also increased the number of posts of Additional Divisional Railway Managers across divisions.
The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2016 was introduced in Lok Sabha in August 2016.[148] The Bill amends the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 to address issues around road safety. The Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture had examined the Bill and submitted its report in February 2017.[149] Following that, the Bill was passed by Lok Sabha with a few amendments in April 2017.[150]
The Bill was subsequently referred to a Rajya Sabha Select Committee in August 2017. The Select Committee submitted its report in December 2017, and recommended that the Bill as passed by Lok Sabha be passed without any amendments.[151] Key features of the Bill, as passed by Lok Sabha, include:
For more details on the Bill, and the Committee reports, please see here.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways constituted a Group of Transport Ministers of the states and union territories (Chair: Mr. Yoonus Khan, Minister for Public Works Department and Transport, Rajasthan) in October 2017.[152] The Group will: (i) examine best practices in road safety and the road transport sector, and (ii) recommend actionable points for implementation.
The terms of reference of the Group include: (i) assisting the National Road Safety Council (advisory body consisting of various union and state ministers) in performance of its functions, and (ii) advising the Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping on:
The Group can meet as frequently as it decides. It was to submit its first set of recommendations by December 31, 2017.
The Central Road Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was passed by Lok Sabha in December 2017.[153] The Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on July 24, 2017 and amends the Central Road Fund Act, 2000.
The 2000 Act regulates the Central Road Fund (CRF), that is credited with the cess collected on high speed diesel oil and petrol. This collected amount is then released to the National Highways Authority of India, and to the state governments and union territories for the development of national and state highways. The Bill seeks to allocate a share of this cess towards the development of inland waterways. Key features of the Bill include:
For a PRS summary of the Bill, see here.
The Union Cabinet approved Phase I of Bharatmala Pariyojana, a new umbrella program for road building, in October 2017.[154] The scheme will be implemented with a total outlay of Rs 5,35,000 crore over five years. A total length of 24,800 km of roads have been approved under the program. In addition, the program will subsume another 10,000 km remaining under the National Highways Development Project (NHDP). The program aims to increase the number districts with national highway linkages from 300 to 550.[155]
The scheme will be financed by raising debt from the market, mobilising private investments, and providing funds out of the Central Road Fund (established under the Central Road Fund Act, 2002).[156] The table below illustrates the various components of Phase I of Bharatmala.
In addition to Bharatmala Phase I, the requirement for existing road building schemes is Rs 1,57,324 crore for 48,877 km. This brings the total requirement for road building schemes (including Bharatmala) for five years to Rs 6,92,324 crore.
Table 10: Components of Bharatmala Pariyojana
Components |
Length (in km) |
Outlay (Rs crore) |
Economic corridors development |
9,000 |
1,20,000 |
Inter-corridor and feeder roads |
6,000 |
80,000 |
National Corridors Efficiency improvements |
5,000 |
100,000 |
Border and International connectivity roads |
2,000 |
25,000 |
Coastal and port connectivity roads |
2,000 |
20,000 |
Expressways |
800 |
40,000 |
Total |
24,800 |
385,000 |
Balance road works under NHDP |
10,000 |
1,50,000 |
Total |
38,800 |
5,35,000 |
Sources: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways; PRS.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways notified amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 regarding emission standards for certain vehicle categories in June 2017.[157]
The amendments provide that the mass emission standards applicable to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) dedicated vehicles will also apply to vehicles with gross vehicle weight of more than 3.5 tonnes, and running on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). The LNG composition must meet the fuel specifications as notified by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, or the Bureau of Indian Standards, for automotive applications.
In November 2017, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways notified that all four-wheelers sold after December 1, 2017 must have FASTags fitted on them.[158],[159] The FASTags will be fitted by the vehicle manufacturer or the authorised dealer. In case of vehicles that are sold as drive away chassis (framework of the vehicle) without the wind screen, FASTag will have to be fitted by the vehicle owner before it is registered.
A FASTag is a reloadable tag which enables automatic deduction of toll charges and lets vehicles pass through toll plazas without stopping them for cash transaction. The tag uses radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology, and is affixed on the vehicle’s windscreen after the activation of the FASTag account.
The Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Bill, 2016 was passed by Parliament in July 2017.[160] The Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha in November 2016. The Bill consolidates the existing laws on civil matters of admiralty jurisdiction of courts, admiralty proceedings on maritime claims, and arrest of ships. Admiralty laws deal with cases of accidents in navigable waters, or contracts related to commerce on such waters. The Bill repeals laws such as the Admiralty Court Act, 1861, and the Colonial Courts of Admiralty Act, 1890.
Key features of the Bill include:
A PRS summary of the Bill is available here.
The Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture (Chairperson: Mr. Mukul Roy) submitted its report on the Major Port Authorities Bill, 2016 in July 2017.[161] To address the Committee’s recommendations, the Union Cabinet approved certain amendments to the Bill in February 2018.[162] The Bill repeals the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963, and seeks to provide greater autonomy and flexibility to Major Ports.
Key observations and recommendations of the Committee, and proposed amendments include:
The Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture (Chairperson: Mr. Mukul Roy) submitted its report on the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2016 in July 2017.[163] The Bill seeks to repeal the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958, and the Coasting Vessels Act, 1838. Key observations and recommendations of the Committee are:
A PRS summary of the report is available here.
The Union Cabinet approved a revised Model Concession Agreement (MCA) for PPP projects in Major Ports in January 2018.[164],[165] The amendments seek to make port projects more investor-friendly, and similar to provisions in the highway sector. Key changes include:
The Ministry of Shipping, along with the Ministry of Tourism, released reforms to the regulatory processes governing the cruise tourism industry in July 2017.[166] The reforms seek to simplify the rules and procedures pertaining to various aspects of cruise port operations, such as security, immigration, and customs. Key reforms recommended include:
A committee was set up by the Ministry to work out the modalities to implement these recommendations in a time bound manner. Further, five potential cruise circuits for international, domestic, and river cruise, that can be immediately taken up for development were identified. Specific ports or terminals would also be considered for development for international cruise tourism as per a suggested Model Terminal Design. These terminals would be developed on a suitable regulatory framework based on international best practices.
The Ministry of Power launched the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (Saubhagya) in September 2017.[167],[168] It seeks to ensure universal household electrification (in both rural and urban areas) by December 2018 by providing last mile connectivity. Note that currently about four crore households are un-electrified, of which one crore are covered under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY). DDUGJY was launched in 2015 with an aim to electrify all villages, ensure sufficient power to farmers, and regular supply to all consumers. The Saubhagya scheme is expected to cover the remaining three crore households. Key features of the scheme include:
The NITI Aayog released the draft National Energy Policy in June 2017.[169] The draft policy seeks to provide the way to achieve the government’s energy targets, which include: (i) universal electrification and 24x7 electricity by 2022, (ii) reducing oil imports by 10% from 2014-15 levels by 2022, (iii) reducing carbon emissions by 33%-35% by 2030 from 2005 levels, (iv) achieving a 175 GW renewable capacity by 2022, and (v) increasing the share of renewable capacity in the electricity mix to 40% by 2030. Key features of the draft policy include:
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy released guidelines for procurement of wind power through tariff based competitive bidding in December 2017.[170] Key features of the guidelines include:
The Union Cabinet approved a policy in April 2017 to provide purchase preference for oil in all the public sector undertakings (PSUs) under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.[172] The purchase preference will be linked to the local content in these companies. Local content may include raw materials, skills, manpower, design and technology, or manufacturing, available within the country.[173]
Under the policy, the targets of local content will be stipulated for certain oil and gas business activities. The manufacturers or service providers: (i) who meet these targets, and (ii) whose quoted price is within 10% of the lowest valid bid price will be eligible for purchase preference. This purchase preference will be valid for a stipulated portion of the purchase order on matching the lowest bid price.
The policy will be applicable for five years. It will apply to: (i) all the PSUs and their wholly owned subsidiaries, (ii) joint ventures that have 51% or more equity by one or more PSUs, and (iii) attached and subordinate offices of the Ministry.
A steering committee will be set up to oversee implementation of the policy. The committee will also carry out annual reviews and recommend continuation of the policy.
From June 16, 2017, petrol and diesel prices are being changed on a daily basis across the country (dynamic pricing).[174] Earlier these prices were changed every fortnight. Prior to implementing the daily revision of prices across the country, the oil marketing companies ran a 40-day pilot in five cities. These cities were Chandigarh, Jamshedpur, Puducherry, Udaipur, and Visakhapatnam. These rates are expected to be in sync with the international fuel prices.
The Cabinet approved the revision of ethanol price under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme for supply to public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs) in November 2017.[175] Key changes approved by the new revision include:
Blending ethanol with petrol helps reduce vehicle exhaust emissions and reduces the import burden for petroleum. The EBP Programme was launched in 2003 to promote the use of alternative and environment friendly fuels. However, since 2006, OMCs were not able to procure the required quantity of ethanol due to pricing issues of ethanol. Therefore, in order to augment the supply of ethanol, the government has been administering the price of ethanol under the EBP programme since December 2014. The last revision was made in October 2016, when ethanol prices were fixed at Rs 39 per litre.[176]
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas decided to introduce Bharat Stage VI (BS VI) fuel ahead of schedule in the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi in November 2017.[177] BS VI fuel will be launched on April 1, 2018 instead of April 1, 2020.
In September 2016, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had notified a shift from BS IV fuel to BS VI fuel by April 1, 2020, skipping BS V fuel.[178] The Ministry cited high pollution levels as a reason for the early launch of BS VI fuel in NCT of Delhi. The content of sulphur reduces from 50 particulates per million (ppm) in BS IV fuel to 10 ppm in BS VI fuel for both gasoline and diesel.[179]
The Cabinet approved the Initial Public Offer (IPO) of the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) in June 2017.[180] IREDA is a public financial institution registered with the RBI. It provides financial support to specific projects and schemes for generating electricity through new and renewable energy sources.
The public issue of equity seeks to increase IREDA’s equity base, which will help it fund more renewable energy projects. Through the IPO, Rs 13.9 crore fresh equity shares of Rs 10 each will be issued.
The central government ordered a penalty of USD three billion on Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL), Royal Dutch Shell (Shell), and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. (ONGC) in July 2017.[181] The penalty was awarded following an arbitration in the Panna Mukta Tapti (PMT) oil field dispute. RIL and Shell have further appealed the arbitration award in a court in the United Kingdom. ONGC has not been a part of the arbitration or the subsequent appeal. The arbitration was initiated in December 2010.
The dispute was regarding the government’s share of profit petroleum (the total value of petroleum produced and saved from the contract area in a particular period) and royalty from the PMT fields. The arbitration panel ruled that the government’s share of profit from the oil fields will be deductible at the current tax rate of 33% as opposed to the previous rate of 50%.
Following the arbitration, the government calculated the amount owed by the companies. RIL and Shell own a 30% stake each in the PMT oil fields. ONGC owns the remaining 40% stake. The companies have to pay a penalty proportional to their stake.
The Union Cabinet approved the extension of the Discovered Small Field Policy in February 2018.[182] The extension will apply to the identified 60 discovered small fields/un-monetised discoveries for offer under the Discovered Small Field Policy Bid Round-II. This policy helps the development of smaller and marginal oil and gas fields which could not be developed due to isolated locations, small size, and prohibitive development costs.
Of these 60 fields, 22 fields belong to the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd., five fields belong to Oil India Ltd., and 12 fields are relinquished from the New Exploration and Licensing Policy Blocks. The remaining 21 are fields from the Bid Round-I which were put on offer, but not awarded due to insufficient response from the investors.
These discoveries are estimated to have 194.6 million MT of oil and oil equivalent gas in place. The Empowered Committee of Secretaries (ECS) comprising of Secretary (Petroleum and Natural Gas), Secretary (Expenditure) and Law Secretary will finalise and approve the Model Revenue Sharing Contract, Notice Inviting Offer, and other documents for this round of bidding. The award of contracts will be approved by the Ministers of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Finance based on the recommendations of the ECS.
The Cabinet approved the increase of the target of LPG connections under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) from five crore to eight crore, with an additional allocation of Rs 4,800 crore in February 2018.[183] The revised target will be achieved by 2020.
PMUY seeks to safeguard the health of women and children by providing them with LPG as a clean cooking fuel. Under the scheme, cash assistance is provided to beneficiaries in order to obtain a deposit-free new LPG connection.
In addition to the households identified under the Socio Economic Caste Census, the scheme will cover all SC/ST households, beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin), and Antyoday Anna Yojana, and forest dwellers, among others.
The Cabinet approved the Scheme for Harnessing and Allocating Koyala (Coal) Transparently in India (SHAKTI) in May 2017.[184] The policy provides for the allocation of future coal linkages for the power sector in a transparent manner.
Earlier coal was supplied to thermal power plants as per the National Coal Distribution Policy, 2007. Under this policy, the Standing Linkage Committee under the Ministry of Power recommends the issuance of Letters of Assurance (LoAs) to power plants. LoA holders that meet certain milestones are entitled to enter into Fuel Supply Agreements (FSAs) with coal companies for the long-term supply of coal. The new policy proposes moving towards an auction system for allocation of such linkages (except for central and state generation companies, and certain other exemptions as provided in the Tariff Policy, 2016). Key features of the policy include:
The Ministry of Coal released the Coal Block Allocation Rules, 2017 in July 2017.[185] As per the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, the central government may make rules for granting mining licenses. It may also make rules regarding the terms and conditions of auction by competitive bidding.
Key features of the Rules include:
The Ministry of Coal approved the transfer of certain plants allotted under the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 in November 2017.[186] The approval was based on the recommendations of an Inter-Ministerial Committee that had been set up by the Ministry to examine such transfers.
Under the 2015 Act, certain coal mines were allotted to companies with specified end-use plants. According to the Act, specified end-uses include: (i) iron and steel production, (ii) power generation including captive power plants (power generated can be used only by the mine owner, and not be sold in the market), (iii) coal washing, and (iv) cement production. The Committee has recommended that these specified end-use plants (with government companies or corporations) that were allotted coal mines under the 2015 Act, may be transferred with or without the ownership rights to such coal mines.
The Committee noted that such transfer of plants may allow another government company or corporation to take over these plants without any change in the ownership of the allotted coal mine. It noted that such transfer will be allowed with prior intimation to the nominated authority and the central government, if either the allottee or the transferee are compliant with the eligibility guidelines. It also noted that such transfer of the plant should not result in the coal mine being left without any plants.
The Cabinet approved the methodology for auction of coal mines/blocks for sale of coal under the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 and the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, in February 2018.[187] The Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 was passed in March 2015 to allocate the 204 mines that had been cancelled by the Supreme Court due to arbitrariness in the allocation methods. The 2015 Act provided for the allocation of coal mines by way of auction and allotment and subsequent sale of such coal.
The approved auction methodology will be an ascending forward auction, i.e., the prospective buyers bid progressively higher prices until no one is willing to match the winner’s bid. The bid parameter will be the price offer in Rs/tonne which will be paid to the state government on the actual production of coal. There will be no restriction on the sale and/or utilisation of coal from the coal mine.
In August 2017, the Supreme Court had directed the central government to revisit the National Mineral Policy, 2008 and implement a new policy before December 31, 2017.[188] In light of this, the Ministry of Mines set up a Committee (Chair: Dr. K. Rajeswara Rao, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Mines) to frame a new National Mineral Policy.188 The terms of reference of the Committee included:
The Committee submitted its report on December 31, 2017 suggesting a draft National Mineral Policy.[189] Key features of the draft policy include:
The Ministry of Mines released the draft Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2017 in September 2017.[190] The draft Bill seeks to amend the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002. The Act provides for the development and regulation of mineral resources in territorial waters, continental shelf, exclusive economic zone, and other maritime zones of India. Key features of the draft Bill include:
The Ministry of Mines released certain amendments to the Mineral Auction Rules, 2015 in December 2017.[191] The Rules were notified under the Mines and Mineral Development and Regulation Act, 1957. Key amendments to the Rules include:
The Union Cabinet approved the National Steel Policy 2017 in May 2017.[192],[193] The Policy creates a self-sufficient steel industry that is technologically advanced, and globally competitive. It also seeks to achieve cost-efficient production and domestic availability of iron ore, coking coal, and natural gas. Key policy guidelines include:
The Union Cabinet approved a policy to provide preference to domestically manufactured iron and steel products in government procurement in May 2017.[194],[195] The policy will apply to iron and steel products specified in the policy document, that comply with the prescribed quality standards. Certain government procurements may be waived if: (i) specific grades of steel are not manufactured in the country, or (ii) the quantities as per the demand of the project cannot be met through domestic sources. Key policy guidelines include:
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released recommendations on Net Neutrality in November 2017.[196] Net Neutrality requires that telecom service providers treat all Internet traffic on an equal basis. This means that there would be no discrimination with respect to the type, origin, or destination of the content or the means of its transmission.[197] Key recommendations include:
A High Level 5G India 2020 Forum was constituted in September 2017 to evaluate and approve roadmaps and action plans for deployment of 5G wireless technology in India.[199] The Forum seeks to create a competitive ecosystem for development and manufacturing of 5G wireless technology in the country. Such an ecosystem will be developed in the next five to seven years and will target 50% of the Indian market and 10% of the global market.
The Forum will comprise of: (i) secretaries of three ministries (Telecom, Electronics and Information Technology, and Science and Technology); (ii) two experts; (iii) industry representatives; (iv) professors from four Indian Institutes of Technology and Indian Institute of Science; and (v) stakeholders from industry associations.
The Union Cabinet approved certain recommendations made by the Inter-Ministerial Group on stressed assets in telecom sector.[200] These recommendations include:
The Department of Space released a draft Space Activities Bill, 2017 in November 2017.[201] The draft Bill seeks to promote and regulate space activities in India including promotion of private participation in the sector. Currently, space activities are regulated by policies such as the Satellite Communication Policy, 1997 and Remote Sensing Data Policy, 2011. Key features of the draft Bill include:
The Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) Bill, 2017 was passed by Parliament in December 2017.[202] The Bill was introduced on February 9, 2017 in Lok Sabha. It declares the IIMs as institutions of national importance. IIMs provide post-graduate, doctoral, postdoctoral and research education in the field of management and allied areas of knowledge.
Key features of the Bill include:
For more details on the Bill, please see here.
The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was passed by Parliament in August 2017.[203] It was introduced in Lok Sabha in April 2017. The Bill amends the RTE Act, 2009 to extend the deadline for teachers to acquire the prescribed minimum qualifications for appointment. Under the Act, if a state does not have adequate teacher training institutions or sufficient number of qualified teachers, the provision to possess minimum qualifications is relaxed for a period not exceeding five years i.e. till March 31, 2015.
The Bill further adds to this provision by stating that those teachers who do not possess the minimum qualifications as on March 31, 2015 will acquire the minimum qualifications within a period of four years i.e., by March 31, 2019.
For a PRS Bill Summary, please see here.
The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) (Second Amendment) Bill, 2017 was introduced in Lok Sabha in August 2017.[204] The Bill amends the RTE Act, 2009.
Under the Act, no child can be held back in any class until the completion of elementary school (classes 1-8).[205] The Bill amends this provision to empower the central or state government to allow schools to hold back a child in class 5, class 8, or in both classes.
The Bill states that a regular examination may be held in class 5 and class 8 at the end of every academic year. If a child fails in these examinations, he will be given additional instruction and the opportunity for a re-examination (within two months from the declaration of the result).
If he fails in the re-examination, the child may be held back in class 5, class 8, or in both classes. The central and state government may also decide to not hold back the child in any class till the completion of elementary education. Further, the central or state government will decide the manner and the conditions subject to which a child may be held back.
It was referred to the Standing Committee on Human Resource Development on August 22, 2017. The Standing Committee on Human Resource Development (Chair: Dr. Satyanarayan Jatiya) submitted its report on the RTE (Second Amendment) Bill, 2017 in February 2018.[206] Key recommendations from the Report are as follows:
For a PRS Bill summary, please see here. For a PRS Summary of the Report, see here.
The Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIIT) (Public-Private Partnership) Bill, 2017 was passed by Parliament in July 2017.[207] The Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha in April 2017. The Bill declares 15 existing IIITs established through public-private partnership as institutions of national importance. Key features of the Bill include:
For a PRS Bill Summary, please see here.
The Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIIT) (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was passed by Parliament in August 2017.[208] The Bill amends the IIIT Act, 2014. It was introduced in March 2017. The Act declares certain IIITs as institutions of national importance. Further, it seeks to (i) develop new knowledge in information technology; and (ii) provide manpower of global standards for the information technology industry. Key features of the Bill include:
For a PRS Bill Summary, please see here.
The Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy Bill, 2017 was passed by Parliament in December 2017.[209] It was introduced on July 18, 2017. The Bill establishes the Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy, Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. It declares the Institute as an institution of national importance. The Institute aims to provide high quality education and research focusing on petroleum, hydrocarbons and energy.
For a PRS Bill Summary, please see here.
The National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was introduced in Lok Sabha in December 2017.[210] The Bill seeks to amend the NCTE Act, 1993. The Act establishes the NCTE. The NCTE plans and co-ordinates the development of the teacher education system throughout the country. It also ensures the maintenance of norms and standards in the teacher education system. Key features of the Bill include:
For more details on the Bill, please see here.
The National Sports University Bill, 2017 was introduced in Lok Sabha in August 2017.[211] Key features of the Bill include:
The Standing Committee on Human Resource Development (Chairperson: Dr. Satyanarayan Jatiya) submitted its report on the National Sports University Bill, 2017 in January 2018.[212] Key observations and recommendations of the Committee are as follows:
For a PRS Bill summary, please see here. For a PRS Report Summary, please see here.
The Ministry of Human Resource Development has released the draft National Council of Educational Research and Training Bill, 2017 in April 2017.[213] The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is a research and training institute set up under the Registration of Societies Act, 1860. Its objective is to assist and advise the central and state governments on policies and programmes for qualitative improvement in school education. The draft Bill seeks to declare NCERT as an institution of national importance.
Key features of the draft Bill include:
The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) constituted a Committee for preparation of the draft National Education Policy (NEP) in June 2017.[214] This policy aims to replace the current National Education Policy which was formulated in 1986 and later modified in 1992.
The Committee will be chaired by Dr. K. Kasturirangan, and will consist of 10 members. The Committee is required to submit its report by December 31, 2017.
In July 2016, the MHRD released ‘some inputs towards the draft National Education Policy’.[215] Earlier, the Committee for Evolution of the NEP (Chair: Mr. T. S. R Subramanian) was set up which submitted its report in May 2016.
A PRS summary of the report is available here.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has released the Guidelines for Autonomous Colleges, 2017 in June 2017.[216] The document highlights the need for the autonomy of colleges in comparison to the affiliating system of colleges (colleges being affiliated to a parent university). The Guidelines state that the affiliating system of colleges was originally designed when their number in a university was small. The university could then effectively oversee the working of the colleges. However, the Guidelines note that this system has now become unwieldy and it is becoming increasingly difficult for a university to attend to the varied needs of individual colleges. In view of this, the key features of the Guidelines are as follows:
The University Grants Commission (UGC) (Conferment of Autonomous Status Upon Colleges and Measures for Maintenance of Standards in Autonomous Colleges) Regulations, 2018 were released in February 2018.[217] These Regulations will apply to all colleges which are affiliated to or are constituent colleges of universities seeking the ‘Autonomous College’ status. Key features of the Regulations include:
The University Grants Commission (UGC) (Categorisation of Universities (only) for Grant of Graded Autonomy) Regulations, 2018 were released in February 2018.[218] As per these regulations, the UGC will categorise universities into three categories based on various parameters. Depending on the category of the university, there would be a certain extent of autonomy for the universities on aspects including: (i) starting a new course, (ii) opening constituent units/off-campus centres, (iii) hiring foreign faculty, and (iv) admitting foreign students.
The Commission will fix dates (at least two times in a year) by which an institution will submit a request in a prescribed format for categorisation. Such applications will be scrutinised by the UGC and orders will be passed within 30 days from the last date specified for the receipt of such applications.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) (Institutions of Eminence Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2017 and UGC (Declaration of Government Educational Institutions as Institutions of Eminence) Guidelines, 2017 received the approval of the central government in February 2018.[219] The aim of these Regulations and Guidelines is to provide the regulatory architecture to 10 public and 10 private higher educational institutions to emerge as world-class teaching and research institutions, i.e., Institutions of Eminence. These Regulations and Guidelines mandated the setting up of an Empowered Expert Committee. As per the Regulations, the UGC has constituted this Committee.[220] The functions of this Committee include: (i) giving recommendations to the Ministry of Human Resource Development for selection of institutions as Institutions of Eminence, (ii) reviewing the Institutions of Eminence once in three years for adherence to their implementation plans, (iii) suggesting remedial action to address deficiencies following the review, and (iv) determining penalties in case Institutions are unable to meet their goals.
The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) released the revised accreditation framework in August 2017.[221] The NAAC is an autonomous body established by the University Grants Commission to assess and accredit institutions of higher education. The framework used for this process takes into consideration aspects including: (i) educational outcomes, (ii) curriculum, (iii) faculty, (iv) governance, and (v) financial well-being. The revised framework incorporates qualitative and quantitative methods for assessment and accreditation. The draft framework was previously pilot tested on certain select higher education institutions. Key features of the framework include:
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has released an audit report on the Implementation of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 in July 2017.[222] RTE guarantees the right to free and compulsory elementary education for children between the ages of six and 14 years in a neighbourhood school.
The CAG audit examined the extent to which central and state governments have complied with the provisions of the Act and utilised the allocated funds. The audit was conducted in 28 states and seven union territories (UTs) for the period between April 2010 and March 2016. The key observations and recommendations of the report are as follows:
A PRS summary of the report is available here.
The Union Cabinet approved the creation of a non-lapsable pool for secondary and higher education known as Madhyamik and Uchchtar Shiksha Kosh in August 2017.[223] All proceeds from the ‘Secondary and Higher Education Cess’ will be credited to this pool. The Cess is an additional cess of 1% levied on central taxes.
In a financial year, the expenditure on ongoing schemes of the Department of School Education and Literacy, and the Department of Higher Education would be initially incurred from the gross budgetary support. Once the amount allocated through the gross budgetary support is exhausted, the pool can be used for further expenditures. It will be managed by the Ministry of Human Resource Development. The pool will be used for the following purposes:
The Cabinet approved the Integrated Scheme on School Education in March 2018.[224] The Scheme subsumes Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher Education (TE) from 2018-19 to 2019-20. These are all individual schemes under the Ministry of Human Resource Development focussed on elementary, secondary, and teacher education respectively. An estimated allocation of Rs 75,000 crore over the period has been approved. The Scheme aims to give flexibility to the states/UTs to plan and prioritise their interventions according to their needs.
The objectives of the Scheme include: (i) ensuring equity and inclusion at all levels of school education, (ii) supporting states in implementation of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, and (iii) strengthening and upgrading State Councils for Educational Research and Training and State Institutes of Education and District Institutes for Education and Training as the nodal agencies for teacher training.
The Cabinet approved the continuation of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) in March 2018 for the three years (2017-18 to 2019-20).[225] RUSA aims to improve access, equity, and accessibility of higher education and increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio (student enrolment as a proportion of the corresponding eligible age group in a given year) to 30% by 2020. Further, it seeks to increase the spending on higher education by the state governments. Between 2017-18 and 2019-20, the scheme is estimated to cost Rs 9,604 crore.
The costs under RUSA are shared between the central government and state governments in the ratio of 90:10 for North-Eastern States, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, 60:40 for other states and UTs with legislature, and 100:0 for UTs without legislature.
The Union Cabinet approved the creation of an autonomous body, the National Testing Agency (NTA), to conduct entrance examinations for higher educational institutions in November 2017.[226] The creation of such an agency was announced by the Finance Minister in the Budget speech of 2017-18.[227]
The NTA aims to provide standardised examinations and to relieve the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the All India Council for Technical Education, and other agencies from the responsibility of conducting entrance examinations. It will be established as a society registered under the Indian Societies Registration Act, 1860. Key features of the NTA are as follows:
The Cabinet approved the continuation of Credit Guarantee Fund for Education Loans Scheme, and continuation and modification of Central Sector Interest Subsidy Scheme in March 2018.[228] The financial outlay for the continuation of both the schemes is estimated to be Rs 6,600 crore for period from 2017-18 to 2019-20. The aim is to provide education loans to 10 lakh students.
Under the Central Sector Interest Subsidy Scheme, full interest subsidy is provided for the education loans under the Model Education Loan Scheme of Indian Banks' Association. This is made available for all the professional/technical courses in India, and students with annual gross parental income up to Rs 4.5 lakh.
Credit Guarantee Fund for Education Loans Scheme provides guarantee for the education loans under the Model Education Loan Scheme of Indian Banks' Association. The loans are disbursed by the banks without seeking any collateral security and third-party guarantee, for a maximum loan amount of Rs 7.5 lakh.
The Cabinet approval also included certain modifications to the schemes such as: (i) ceiling on the loan amount has been fixed at Rs 7.5 lakh, (ii) covering loans for pursuing professional/technical courses from National Assessment and Accreditation Council/ National Board of Accreditation accredited institutions/programmes or Institutions of National Importance or Central Funded Technical Institutions, and (iii) a dashboard for monitoring of the schemes.
The Union Cabinet approved the revision of pay scales for about eight lakh teachers and other equivalent academic staff in October 2017.[229] This is following the implementation of the recommendations of the Seventh Central Pay Commission for central government employees. These teachers belong to: (i) higher educational institutions under the purview of the University Grants Commission, (ii) universities funded by state governments, (iii) government and private aided colleges affiliated to state public universities, and (iv) centrally funded technical institutions (including IITs, IISc, IIMs, and IISERs).
The approved pay scales would be applicable from January 1, 2016. It is estimated that the annual central financial liability on account of this revision would be about Rs 9,800 crore. The implementation of this pay revision will enhance the teachers' pay in the range of Rs 10,400 to Rs 49,800.
For the state government funded institutions, the revised pay scales will require adoption by the respective state governments. The central government will bear the additional burden of the states on account of revision of pay scales.
The Union Cabinet approved the implementation of the Prime Minister's Research Fellows scheme in February 2018.[230] The scheme was announced in the Budget Speech 2018-19 in February 2018. Under this scheme, the best students who have completed or are in the final year of B.Tech or Integrated M.Tech or M.Sc. in science and technology streams from IISc/IITs/NITs/IISERs/IIITs will be offered direct admission in PhD programme in the IITs/IISc.
It is estimated to cost Rs 1,650 crore over a period of seven years beginning 2018-19. A maximum of 3,000 Fellows would be selected in a three year period, beginning 2018-19.
Students who fulfil the eligibility criteria, and shortlisted through a selection process will be offered a fellowship of: Rs 70,000 per month for the first two years, Rs 75,000 per month for the third year, and Rs 80,000 per month in the fourth and fifth years. Apart from this, a research grant of Rs two lakh will be provided to each of the Fellows for a period of five years to cover their foreign travel expenses for presenting research papers in international conferences and seminars.
The Cabinet approved two new schemes:[231] (i) Skills Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP), and (ii) Skill Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement (STRIVE), in October 2017. SANKALP is estimated to have an outlay of Rs 4,455 crore and STRIVE will have an outlay of Rs 2,200 crore. Both these schemes will be supported by loan assistance from the World Bank.
The schemes are envisaged to converge the efforts of various central, state, and private sector institutions in vocational training to avoid duplication and bring about uniformity.
The schemes seek to achieve the following: (i) set up national bodies to regulate accreditation and certification in both long term and short term vocational education and training; (ii) provide impetus to the National Skill Development Mission, 2015 and its various sub missions; (iii) incentivise Industrial Training Institutes to improve overall performance, including apprenticeship by involving small and medium enterprises, business associations, and industry clusters; and (iv) set up Trainers and Assessors academies in priority sectors to build a pool of quality trainers and assessors.
The Union Cabinet approved the restructuring of National Skill Development Fund (NSDF) and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) in March 2018, for the purpose of strengthening (i) governance, (ii) implementation, and (iii) monitoring framework.[232] The Cabinet approval will lead to the restructuring of the composition of the Board of NSDF and the NSDC.
NSDC and NSDF were set up by the Ministry of Finance in 2008 and 2009 respectively for implementing coordinated action for skill development. The NSDF Trust was incorporated to act as a repository for financial contributions from governmental and other sources. Its main objective is to develop the skills of the youth by various sector specific programmes.
NSDF entered into an agreement with NSDC for utilisation of its corpus to meet the objectives of National Skill Development Mission and encourage skill development in India. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship had launched the National Skill Development Mission in 2015 with the aim to provide a strong institutional framework at the centre and in states for implementation of skilling activities. The Mission aims to train/skill approximately 40 crore people across the country by 2022.[233] The Mission is supported by three institutions which includes the NSDC.
The National Medical Commission Bill, 2017 was introduced by the Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Mr. J. P. Nadda in Lok Sabha in December 2017.[234] The Bill seeks to repeal the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 and provide for a medical education system which ensures: (i) availability of adequate and high quality medical professionals, (ii) adoption of the latest medical research by medical professionals, (iii) periodic assessment of medical institutions, and (iv) an effective grievance redressal mechanism. Key features of the Bill include:
The Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare (Chairperson: Prof. Ram Gopal Yadav) submitted its report on the National Medical Commission Bill, 2017 in March 2018.[235] Key observations and recommendations of the Committee are summarised below:
The Union Cabinet approved some amendments to the National Medical Commission Bill, 2017 in March 2018.[236] These amendments include:
For more information on the Bill, please see here.
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Prevention and Control) Bill, 2014 was passed by Parliament in April 2017.[237] The Bill seeks to prevent and control the spread of HIV and AIDS and prohibits discrimination against persons with HIV and AIDS.
Key features of the Bill are as follows:
More information on the Bill is available here.
The Dentists (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was introduced in Lok Sabha in December 2017.[238] The Bill amends the Dentists Act, 1948. The Act regulates the profession of dentistry and constitutes: (i) the Dental Council of India, (ii) State Dental Councils, and (iii) Joint State Dental Councils.
A register of dentists is maintained under the Act in two parts, Part A and Part B. Persons possessing recognised dental qualifications are registered in Part A and persons not possessing such qualifications are registered in Part B. The persons in Part B are Indian citizens who have been practicing as dentists for at least five years prior to a registration date notified by the state government. Under the Act, composition of the Dental Council of India, State Dental Councils, and Joint State Dental Councils includes representation from dentists registered in Part B. The Bill seeks to remove the mandatory requirement of the representation of dentists registered in Part B in these Councils.
For more details on the Bill, please see here.
The Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare (Chairperson: Prof. Ram Gopal Yadav) submitted its report on the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016 in August 2017.[239] The Bill was introduced on November 21, 2016.[240] Key observations and recommendations of the Committee are summarised below:
The Union Cabinet approved moving official amendments in the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016 in March 2018.[241]
A PRS summary of the report is available here. A PRS analysis of the Bill is available here.
The Department of Health Research released the Draft Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) (Regulation) Bill, 2017 in March 2018.[242] The Bill seeks to regulate and supervise the practice of ART services. ART refers to all techniques that attempt to obtain a pregnancy by handling the sperm or the egg outside the human body and transferring the gamete or the embryo into the reproductive tract of a woman. Key features of the Draft Bill include:
The Union Cabinet approved the launch of Ayushman Bharat -National Health Protection Mission in March 2018.[243] The Scheme aims to provide a cover of five lakh rupees per family per year to about 10.7 crore families (no cap on family size and age) belonging to poor and vulnerable population. The scheme will subsume the on-going centrally sponsored schemes, Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana, and the Senior Citizen Health Insurance Scheme. States would need to have a State Health Agency (in the form of a trust, society, or not for profit company) to implement the scheme. Key features of the scheme are as follows:
NITI Aayog released the National Nutrition Strategy, 2017 in September 2017.[244] Over the years, various government initiatives have been launched which seek to improve the nutrition status in the country. These include the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), the National Health Mission (NHM), and the Janani Suraksha Yojana, among others. The Strategy notes that despite improvements over the years, concerns regarding malnutrition have persisted. Key features include:
Read a PRS blog on the Strategy here.
The Union Cabinet approved setting up the National Nutrition Mission (NNM) in December 2017.[245] The central government noted that even with the existing schemes on improving the nutritional status of children (0-6 years age), pregnant women, and lactating mothers, the level of malnutrition has been high. The NNM will be a three year programme which seeks to link and foster synergy between the existing schemes (across different ministries) focussed on improving nutritional outcomes. Key features of NNM include:
Read a PRS blog on the Strategy here.
The Union Cabinet approved an increase in the cost for the provision of supplementary nutrition in Anganwadis, and through the scheme for Adolescent Girls in September 2017.[246] This scheme focusses on improving the health and nutritional status of adolescent girls (11-18 years) under all Integrated Child Development Services projects.
The increase in the cost for the provision of supplementary nutrition is meant to keep pace with changes in such costs on an annual basis. Some examples of the cost revision include: (i) Rs eight per day for children (6-72 months) as opposed to Rs six earlier, and (ii) Rs 9.50 for pregnant and lactating mothers as opposed to Rs seven earlier.
For the period between 2017-18 to 2019-20, the revision of such costs is anticipated to lead to an additional expenditure of Rs 9,900 crore for Anganwadi services, and Rs 2,267 crore for the scheme for Adolescent Girls.
The Union Cabinet approved the proposal for closure of two autonomous bodies, namely, Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) and Jansankhya Sthirata Kosh (JSK) in February 2018.[247] The functions of these bodies are proposed to be subsumed under the Department of Health and Family Welfare. The time frame for its implementation is one year.
The RAN was set up as a registered society to provide financial medical assistance to poor patients receiving treatment in designated central government hospitals. The JSK was set up with a corpus grant of Rs 100 crore in 2003 to raise awareness for population stabilisation strategies. The JSK organises various activities with target populations as a part of its mandate.
NITI Aayog had undertaken a review of the 19 autonomous bodies (under the Department of Health and Family Welfare) that have been formed under Societies Registration Act, 1860. The government stated a need for such bodies to be reviewed and rationalised to improve their outcomes. NITI Aayog had recommended the closure of RAN and JSK, and their functions to be vested in the Ministry.
The Union Cabinet approved the continuation and implementation of additional phases of Human Resources for Health and Medical Education schemes in February 2018.[248] This measure is aimed to increase the availability of health professionals, check the existing geographical distribution of medical colleges, and promote affordable medical education. It is estimated to cost Rs 14,931 crore up to 2019-20.
The features of this scheme include: (i) continuation of ongoing scheme to establish 58 new medical colleges attached with existing District/Referral hospitals (already approved) by 2019-20, (ii) selection and establishment of 24 new medical colleges attached with existing District/ Referral hospitals by 2021-22, (iii) continuation of scheme for upgradation of existing government medical colleges resulting in an increase of 10,000 undergraduate seats and 8,058 post graduate seats by 2020-21, and (iv) completion of scheme for setting up of 112 Auxiliary Nursing and Midwifery schools and 136 General Nursing Midwifery schools by 2019-20 in under-served districts of the country.
The Union Cabinet approved the establishment of a new All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Kamrup, Assam in May 2017.[249] Further, it also approved the establishment of a new AIIMS in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh in January 2018.[250] Both will be set up under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). The scheme was launched in 2006 to correcting the imbalances in the availability of affordable healthcare facilities in different parts of the country.[251]
The Union Cabinet approved the continuation of the National Ayurveda, Sidhha, Unani & Homeopathy (AYUSH) Mission (in December 2017) from April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2020 with an additional financial outlay of Rs 2,400 crore (for the extended time period of three years).[252] The Mission was launched in September, 2014 with the objectives of providing cost effective AYUSH services through: (i) upgradation of AYUSH hospitals and dispensaries, (ii) locating AYUSH facilities at Primary Health Centers, Community Health Centers and District Hospitals, and (iii) strengthening institutional capacity at the state level through upgrading AYUSH educational institutions.
The Department of Pharmaceuticals directed the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) in April 2017 to not revise the price of drugs for five years, except in certain circumstances.[253] These circumstances are: (i) change in Wholesale Price Index of the drug, (ii) upon an application made by the drug company, and (iii) on the orders of a competent court. Prior to this, the ceiling prices of scheduled drug formulations were specified under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 1995. The NPPA could revise such prices on its own or on the application of a drug manufacturer.
The Department of Pharmaceuticals set up a multi-disciplinary Committee of Experts to examine issues related to pricing and launch of new drugs in December 2017.[254] The Committee will consist of four members representing the following organisations: (i) National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority, (ii) Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, (iii) Indian Council of Medical Research, and (iv) National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research. Matters referred to the Committee must be resolved by it within a period of four weeks.
NITI Aayog released a report in April 2017 on tracking the performance of district hospitals.[255] There are 734 district hospitals which provide secondary health care services at the district level in India. The report noted the need to comprehensively assess the performance of these hospitals. It envisaged a ranking system for a comparative assessment of hospitals that may encourage hospitals to improve their performance and ranking.
Key features of this framework are as follows:
NITI Aayog launched the Sustainable Action for Transforming Human capital (SATH) program in June 2017.[256] Under the program, NITI Aayog aims to provide technical support to states. The program will focus on both the education and health sectors.
NITI Aayog will be involved with the state governments in designing interventions along with monitoring and tracking mechanisms, and providing support on a range of institutional measures. Three model states will be chosen under this program. It will be implemented by NITI Aayog along with McKinsey & Company and IPE Global consortium.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare released the Draft Digital Information Security in Healthcare Bill in March 2018.[257] The Bill aims to provide for electronic health data privacy and for establishment of National and State e-Health Authorities and Health Information Exchanges. The Health Information Exchanges facilitate the exchange of health data as per the norms specified by the National Electronic Health Authority. Key features of the Draft Bill are:
The Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was introduced in Lok Sabha in July 2017 and was passed by the House in December 2017.[258] It amends the Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property Act, 1952. The Act provides for the central government to requisition property for its own purpose, which further must be a public purpose. Under certain conditions it can also acquire such property. Key features of the Bill include:
For more details on the Bill, see here.
The Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Amendment Bill, 2017 was introduced in Lok Sabha in July 2017.[259] The Act provides for the eviction of unauthorised occupants from public premises in certain cases.
Key features of the Bill include:
A PRS summary of the Bill is available here.
The National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was passed by Parliament.[260] It was introduced in Lok Sabha in December 2017. It amends the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second Act, 2011.
The 2011 Act provides for the following: (i) relocating slum dwellers and Jhuggi-Jhompri clusters in accordance with the provisions of the Delhi Shelter Improvement Board Act, 2010 and the Master Plan for Delhi, 2021; (ii) regulating street vendors in accordance with the policy for street vendors outlined in the Master Plan for Delhi, 2021, (iii) regularising unauthorised colonies, village abadi areas (and their extensions), (iv) creating a policy for farm houses constructed beyond permissible limits, and (v) creating a policy or plan for all other areas of the National Capital Territory of Delhi in keeping with the Master Plan for Delhi, 2021.
The Act sought to achieve this by December 31, 2017. The Bill extends this deadline up to December 31, 2020.
The Bill deletes the provisions and references related to the regulation and protection of street vendors. Note that subsequent to the passage of the 2011 Act, the central government passed the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 in February 2014.
The 2011 Act provides that no action will be taken by any local authority till December 31, 2017 with respect to: (i) encroachment or unauthorised development as of January 1, 2006, (ii) unauthorised colonies, village abadi areas that existed on March 31, 2002 and where construction took place up till February 8, 2007, and (iii) other areas as of February 8, 2007. The Bill extends this deadline to December 31, 2020.
For more details on the Bill, see here.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs released a new public private partnership (PPP) policy to encourage private investments in affordable housing in September 2017.[261] Prior to this, a draft policy was released in June 2017.[262] The new PPP policy seeks to distribute risk among the government, developers, and financial institutions to leverage under-utilised land to meet the targets for affordable housing. It proposes eight implementation models for affordable housing using PPP, six of those using government lands, and two using private land. These models are:
The Union Cabinet approved the creation of a National Urban Housing Fund (NUHF) worth Rs 60,000 crore in February 2018.[264] This Fund will be under the Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council, an autonomous body set up in 1990 under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. The Council undertakes research to facilitate large scale application of new building material technologies.[265] The NUHF aims to raise funds in the next four years to ensure a sustained flow of central release under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)-Urban, enabling construction of houses.
PMAY- Urban is a housing scheme being implemented from 2015 to 2022. The scheme comprises of four components: (i) in situ rehabilitation of existing slum dwellers through private participation, (ii) credit linked subsidy scheme (CLSS) for economically weaker section, lower income group, and middle income group, (iii) affordable housing in partnership, and (iv) subsidy for beneficiary-led individual house construction.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs released the National Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Policy in May 2017.[266] TOD seeks to assist cities in reducing their dependence on private vehicles by promoting public transport and making it more accessible. It focuses on creating high density mixed land use development in the influence zone of transit stations and along transit corridors. Influence zone is the area around a transit station, within walking distance of 500 to 800 metres. Key features of the policy include:
The Union Cabinet approved the new Metro Rail Policy in August 2017.[267] There are currently 13 ongoing metro rail projects that have been set up as a 50:50 joint venture between the central government and respective state governments.[268] The total sanctioned costs of these projects amount to Rs 1,76,105 crore, of which the share of the central government is Rs 30,903 crore.268 As of August 2017, a total length of 370 km were operational in eight cities, and a total length of 537 km were under progress in 13 cities (including these eight cities).267 The Policy seeks to provide for private investments across a range of metro operations. Key features of the Policy are:
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs selected 39 Smart Cities in 2017-18 via the Smart City Challenge, bringing the total number of smart cities to 99.[269] Under the challenge, cities are selected on the basis of their smart city proposals. Before this, 60 cities had been selected under the Smart Cities Mission in 2016.[270],[271],[272] With the addition of these new cities, the total proposed investment in the Smart City Mission would be Rs 2,01,979 crore.[273]
The Ministry had launched the Smart Cities Mission in June 2015.[274] The Mission targets to cover 100 cities and its duration is five years (2015-20). The cities are listed in Table 11 below.
Table 11: List of Smart Cities
State/ UT |
Cities |
Andaman and Nicobar Islands |
Port Blair |
Andhra Pradesh |
Kakinada, Tirupati, Visakhapatnam, Amaravati |
Arunachal Pradesh |
Pasighat, Itanagar |
Assam |
Guwahati |
Bihar |
Bhagalpur, Patna, Muzaffarpur, Biharsharif |
Chandigarh |
Chandigarh |
Chhattisgarh |
Raipur, Naya Raipur, Bilaspur |
Dadra and Nagar Haveli |
Silvassa |
Daman and Diu |
Diu |
Delhi |
New Delhi Municipal Council |
Goa |
Panaji |
Gujarat |
Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Gandhinagar, Dahod |
Haryana |
Faridabad, Karnal |
Himachal Pradesh |
Dharamshala, Shimla |
Jammu and Kashmir |
Srinagar, Jammu |
Jharkhand |
Ranchi |
Karnataka |
Belagavi, Davanagere, Hubbali-Dharwad Mangaluru, Shivamogga, Tumakuru, Bengaluru |
Lakshadweep |
Kavaratti |
Kerala |
Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram |
Madhya Pradesh |
Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, Gwalior, Sagar, Satna |
Maharashtra |
Aurangabad, Solapur, Kalyan-Dombivli, Nagpur, Nashik, Pune, Solapur, Thane, Pimpri Chinchwad |
Manipur |
Imphal |
Meghalaya |
NA |
Mizoram |
Aizawl |
Nagaland |
Kohima |
Odisha |
Rourkela, Bhubaneswar |
Puducherry |
Puducherry |
Punjab |
Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana |
Rajasthan |
Ajmer, Jaipur, Kota, Udaipur |
Sikkim |
Namchi, Gangtok |
Tamil Nadu |
Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Salem, Thanjavur, Vellore, Tiruppur, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Tiruchirapalli, Erode |
Telangana |
Warangal, Karimnagar |
Tripura |
Agartala |
Uttar Pradesh |
Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow, Varanasi, Jhansi, Allahabad, Aligarh, Bareilly, Moradabad, Saharanpur |
Uttarakhand |
Dehradun |
West Bengal |
New Town Kolkata |
Sources: Smart Cities Mission, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs; PRS.
The Ministry of Urban Development released a scheme for the disbursal of performance grants to urban local bodies (ULBs) (as per the 14th Finance Commission recommendations) in April 2017.[275] This will be applicable for the remaining period of the 14th Finance Commission, that is, from 2017 to 2020. The Commission had recommended performance grant of Rs 17,429 crore for ULBs for 2015-20. ULBs that score above 60 (out of 100) as per the specified criteria will be awarded the performance grants. If no ULB in a particular state is eligible for the performance grant, the state will not receive any performance grant from the central government in that year.
While the Finance Commission provided the basic conditions to avail the performance grants, the scheme provides further details on the scoring criteria.275 For a ULB to be eligible, it should meet the following additional criteria:
The Union Cabinet approved the increase in the carpet area of houses eligible for interest subsidy under the Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS) for the Middle Income Group (MIG) under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana- Urban in November 2017.[276] Under the CLSS, subsidy is provided on home loans taken by eligible urban poor for buying or constructing a house.[277] Initially it only included the Economically Weaker Section/ Lower Income Group. In February 2017, the benefits under CLSS were extended to the MIG beneficiaries. There are two categories of MIG beneficiaries: (i) MIG-I (annual income between Rs six lakh and Rs 12 lakh), and (ii) MIG-II (annual income between Rs 12 lakh and Rs 18 lakh). Key changes include:
Table 12: Details of the CCLS for MIG
Particulars |
MIG-I |
MIG- II |
Household income (Rs per annum) |
Between Rs six lakh and Rs 12 lakh |
Between Rs 12 lakh and Rs 18 lakh |
Interest subsidy (% per annum) |
4% |
3% |
Maximum loan tenure (in years) |
20 |
20 |
Eligible Housing Loan Amount for Interest Subsidy (Rs) |
Rs 9 lakh |
Rs 12 lakh |
Carpet area of dwelling unit |
120 sq.m. |
150 sq.m. |
Sources: Operational guidelines of CCLS for MIG, Press Information Bureau; PRS.
The Ministry of Urban Development launched the City Liveability Index in June 2017.[278] The Index will be used to measure 116 cities, which include smart cities, state capitals, and cities with a population of above one million. The Index will be a common minimum reference framework that will help cities know where they stand in terms of quality of life. It would also help cities to understand the interventions required to improve these standards.
The cities will be assessed on a set of 79 parameters which would capture the extent and quality of infrastructure. These include (i) availability of roads, (ii) mobility, (iii) education and healthcare, (iv) employment opportunities, (v) emergency responses, (vi) mechanisms for grievance redressal, (vii) pollution level, and (viii) availability of open spaces in the city.
An Expert Committee (Chair: Mr. Sumit Bose) submitted its report on ‘Performance Based Payments for Better Outcomes in Rural Development Programmes’ in January 2018.[279] The Committee was constituted in December 2016 to look into human resources available with panchayats and suggest means by which these resources could be augmented and organised for better delivery of programmes. Key observations and recommendations of the Committee include:
A PRS summary of the report is available here.
The Ministry of Rural Development launched a new sub-scheme, Aajeevika Grameen Express Yojana (AGEY) under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) in August 2017.[280] NRLM was launched in 2011 and aims to increase the household income of rural poor, through sustainable livelihood enhancements and improved access to financial services. To achieve this objective, Self Help Groups (SHGs) are formed in villages.
Under AGEY, members from SHGs will operate road transport services in backward areas.[281] This will help in providing safe, affordable and community monitored rural transport services and thereby connect remote villages with key services and amenities (such as markets, education, and health) for the overall economic development of the area. To operate, an SHG member will be provided an interest free loan of up to Rs 6.5 lakh for purchase of a vehicle. This amount will be loaned out by the Community Based Organisation from their Community Investment Fund (seed fund). Alternatively, the Community Based Organisation can own the vehicle and lease it to an SHG member to operate the vehicle and pay lease rental to it.
AGEY will initially be implemented in 250 blocks in the country on a pilot basis. Each block will be provided with up to six vehicles to operate the transport services. During 2017-18, implementation of the scheme was approved for 52 Blocks in eight states. These are Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttarakhand and West Bengal. For this, a total provision of Rs 16 crore was made. Of this, the central government share was Rs 10 crore. The balance funding will be provided by the respective states.
The Indian Forest (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was passed by Parliament in December 27, 2017. It was introduced in Lok Sabha on December 18, 2017.[282] The Bill replaces the Indian Forest (Amendment) Ordinance, 2017, and amends the Indian Forest Act, 1927. The Act, among other provisions, regulates use of forests, transit of forest-produce, and the duty to be levied on them.
Key features of the Bill include:
For a PRS summary of the Bill, see here.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change released the draft National Forest Policy, 2018 in March 2018.[283] The Ministry noted that there is a need to revise the existing National Forest Policy, 1988 through integrating: (i) sustainable forest management, (ii) climate change mitigation strategies, and (iii) an evaluation mechanism to oversee participation of multiple stakeholders in forests. Key features of the draft Policy include:
The Standing Committee on Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (Chair: Mr. Hukum Singh) submitted its report on The Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2017 in August 2017.[284] The Bill seeks to amend the Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956. It was introduced in Lok Sabha in March 2017 and referred to the Standing Committee in May 2017.[285]
Key observations and recommendations of the Committee include:
More information on the Bill is available here.
The Union Cabinet approved setting up of a tribunal to resolve the dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh over Mahanadi river water in February 2018.[286] The tribunal will be constituted under the Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956, on the request of Odisha. The state has repeatedly sought the formation of a tribunal stating that negotiations have failed to resolve the dispute.
The tribunal will determine: (i) water sharing among basin states on the basis of the overall availability of water in the Mahanadi basin; (ii) the contribution of each state; (iii) the present utilisation of water resources in each state; and (iv) the potential for future development.
The tribunal shall consist of a Chairman and two other members nominated by the Chief Justice of India from amongst the judges of the Supreme Court or a High Court. The tribunal is required to submit its report and decision within a period of three years. In case of unavoidable reasons, this period can be extended to a maximum time limit of two years.
A three judge bench of the Supreme Court gave its judgement on the Cauvery water dispute in February 2018.[287] The Cauvery water dispute between the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and the union territory of Puducherry was referred to the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal in 1990. The Tribunal gave its final judgement in 2007 and allocated the Cauvery basin water among Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry. The Supreme Court was hearing an appeal on this decision.
The Supreme Court stated that drinking water requirement has to be placed at a higher pedestal as a fundamental principle of equitable distribution. Keeping in mind the needs of Bengaluru for drinking and domestic water, an additional 4.75 Trillion Meter Cube (TMC) was awarded to Karnataka. The Court also ruled that 20 TMC of ground water in Tamil Nadu was not taken into account by the Tribunal in its award. The Court awarded 10 TMC of this 20 TMC to Karnataka. Thus, the share of Karnataka was increased by 14.75 TMC and that of Tamil Nadu was reduced by the same amount.
An Expert Committee (Chair: Dr. M.A. Chitale) submitted its report on ‘Preparation of Guidelines for Works on Desiltation from Bhimgauda (Uttarakhand) to Farakka (West Bengal) of river Ganga’ to the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation in May 2017.[288]
Key observations and recommendations of the Committee include:
A PRS summary of the report is available here.
The Ministry of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation released the draft Policy on Sediment Management in July 2017.[289] The draft Policy looks at the effect of sand mining and construction of dams and barrages on river sedimentation and recommends principles that should be adopted for sediment management. The salient features of the draft Policy include:
The Union Cabinet approved raising extra budgetary resources of up to Rs 9,020 crore by NABARD for 99 irrigation projects in 2017-18 in August 2017.[290] These resources will be raised by issuing bonds to states at an interest rate of 6% per annum. The irrigation projects are being implemented under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana.290 This measure has been introduced as a large number of irrigation projects under the Yojana were incomplete due to inadequate funds.
The government has estimated that during 2017-18, Rs 29,000 crore will be required from the Long Term Irrigation Fund (constituted under NABARD) for the completion of these 99 irrigation projects. Of this amount, Rs 9,020 crore (31%) is proposed to be raised through extra budgetary resources.
The Union Cabinet approved the continuation and restructuring of National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) in November 2017.[291] The NRDWP aims at assisting states in providing adequate and safe drinking water to the rural population in the country.[292] Rs 23,050 crore has been approved for the programme from 2017-18 to 2019-20.
Further, to implement the National Water Quality Sub-Mission started in February 2017 under NRDWP, Rs 12,500 crore will be provided as central share for a period of four years. The sub-mission aims to cover all rural population in arsenic/ fluoride affected habitations with clean drinking water by March 2021.
The Union Cabinet approved the introduction of the Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018 in February 2018.[293] The Bill contains provisions to ensure prevention, rescue, and rehabilitation of trafficked persons. Key features of the Bill are:
A National Technical Board on Nutrition (Chairman: Dr. Vinod Paul, NITI Aayog) was constituted in December 2017 to make technical recommendations on policy issues related to nutrition for women and children.[294] It consists of 29 members including: (i) Chairman, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, (ii) Director- General, Indian Council for Medical Research, (iii) Secretary, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, and (iv) Director-General, Indian Council for Agricultural Research.
The objectives of the National Technical Board on Nutrition include: (i) providing technical guidance on the design of nutrition surveys proposed by states/union territories, (ii) formulation of India specific growth indicators, and (iii) identification of research gaps and making recommendations for the research agenda on nutrition.
The Board will meet once in three months to review technical recommendations on nutrition policy issues.
The Union Cabinet approved the implementation of Maternity Benefit Program across all districts in the country in May 2017.[295] The program was previously being implemented as the Matritva Sahyog Yojana in 53 pilot districts.[296] The Maternity Benefit Program is a conditional cash transfer scheme to provide compensation for the wage loss of pregnant women and lactating mothers. This is to ensure that women can take adequate rest before and after delivery (for the first living child) and are not deprived of proper nutrition.
The eligible beneficiaries are all pregnant women and lactating mothers, except the pregnant women and lactating mothers who: (i) are in regular employment with the central or state government or public sector undertakings, or (ii) are in receipt of similar benefits under any law for the time being.
A sum of Rs 5,000 will be paid to the targeted beneficiaries in three instalments for the birth of the first living child. Further, they are eligible to receive up to Rs 1,000 through existing programmes after institutional delivery.
The Union Cabinet approved the revamping of the Khelo India programme in September 2017.[297] The programme aims to: (i) identify and nurture sporting talent, (ii) encourage mass participation of youth in annual sports competitions, and (iii) create sports infrastructure.[298]
The programme is estimated to cost Rs 1,756 crore for the period 2017-18 to 2019-20. The revamped Khelo India Programme aims to focus on additional aspects, including: (i) infrastructure, (ii) community sports, (iii) talent identification, and (iv) coaching for excellence. Key features of the revamped programme are as follows:
The Ministry of Minority Affairs had constituted a Committee to review the existing Haj Policy of the central government for 2013-2017 and to suggest a framework for the new Haj policy 2018-2022.[299] A summary of the Committee’s recommendations was released in October 2017.
Indian Haj pilgrims perform Haj through two streams: (i) the Haj Committee of India, and (ii) registered private tour operators. In 2016, 135,902 pilgrims performed Haj out of which 99,902 (73.5%) went through the Haj Committee of India and 36,000 (26.5%) through private tour operators. The Haj quota was substantially increased to 1,70,025 for the Haj 2017, out of which a quota of 1,25,025 (73.5%) was allocated to the Haj Committee and 45,000 (26.5%) to private tour operators.
Recommendations by the Committee include:[300] (i) distribution of quota between the Haj Committee and private tour operators should be rationalised in the ratio of 70:30 for the next 5 years; (ii) seats among the states/ union territories should be distributed in the ratio of their Muslim population as well as in proportion to the number of applications received; and (iii) stay of all Indian Hajis should be ensured within the traditional boundaries of Mina.
The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was passed by Lok Sabha in January 2018.[301] The Bill was introduced in July 2017, and amends the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.
Key amendments proposed by the Bill include:
A PRS summary of the Bill is available here.
In August 2017, a nine-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court held that the right to privacy is a fundamental right.[302]
In its judgement, the Constitution Bench held that right to privacy is an intrinsic part of the right to life and personal liberty (Article 21), and other fundamental rights guaranteed in the Constitution. It also overruled two earlier judgements of the Supreme Court which had held that right to privacy is not a fundamental right.[303],[304]
The judgement also noted that similar to other fundamental rights, the right to privacy is not an absolute right. Any curtailment of the right will require a law, which is fair, just and reasonable.
In March 2018, a five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court declared passive euthanasia permissible. Further, it recognized the right of terminally ill persons and persons in permanent vegetative state to give directives in advance.[305] Passive euthanasia refers to the withdrawal of life support or withholding of treatment. An advance directive refers to a document in which the patient can specify conditions under which the life support should be stopped. The Court laid down guidelines for giving effect to passive euthanasia in both circumstances, i.e., where there are advance directives and where there are none.
The Court held that the fundamental right to life with dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution includes smoothening the process of dying for terminally ill patients and for persons living in a permanent vegetative state.
In August 2017, a five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court held the practice of talaq-e-biddat (triple talaq) to be invalid by a 3:2 majority.[306] Triple talaq is a form of divorce practiced in Islam. It may be given effect if the husband pronounces the word ‘talaq’ thrice, simultaneously. The practice was challenged on the grounds that it violates Articles 14 (right to equality), 15 (prohibition of religious discrimination), and 21 (protection of life and personal liberty) of the Constitution.
Subsequently, in December 2017, the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017 was introduced and passed in Lok Sabha.[307]
The Bill makes all declaration of talaq-e-biddat (talaq), including in written or electronic form, to be void (i.e. not enforceable in law) and illegal.
Key features of the Bill are as follows:
More details on the Bill are available here.
The Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was introduced in Lok Sabha in December 2017. [308] The Bill amends the the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and the Representation of the People Act, 1951 to allow NRIs to vote during elections through a proxy.
Key features of the Bill include:
For more details on the Bill, see here.
In March 2018, the Union Cabinet approved amendments to: (i) the Daman and Diu Municipalities Regulation, 1968, (ii) the Dadra and Nagar Haveli Municipal Council Regulation, 2004, and (iii) the Andaman and Nicobar Island Municipal Regulation, 1994. [309] The proposed amendments include: (i) provisions relating to anti-defection and constructive no-confidence; (ii) establishment of ombudsman; and (iii) provisions for voting through Electronic Voting Machines.
The High Court and the Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Amendment Bill, 2017 was passed by Parliament in January 2018.[310] The Bill amends the High Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Act, 1954 and Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Act, 1958. The two Acts regulate the salaries and conditions of service of the judges of the High Courts and the Supreme Court. Key features of the Bill include:
Table 13: Salary of judges (Rs per month)
Designation |
Present |
Proposed |
|
Chief Justice of India |
1,00,000 |
2,80,000 |
|
Other Judges of the Supreme Court |
90,000 |
2,50,000 |
|
Chief Justice of High Court |
90,000 |
2,50,000 |
|
Other Judges of High Court |
80,000 |
2,25,000 |
Sources: The High Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Act, 1954; The Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Act, 1958; The High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Amendment Bill, 2017; PRS.
More details on the Bill are available here. For more details on the recommendations of the Seventh Central Pay Commission, please see here and here.
The Union Cabinet approved the appointment of the Second Judicial Pay Commission for the subordinate judiciary in the country in November 2017.[311],[312] Subordinate judiciary refers to courts at the district level and below. The Pay Commission will be headed by Justice (Retd.) J. P. Venkatrama Reddi (former judge of the Supreme Court), and will have Mr. R. Basant (former judge of the Kerala High Court) as its member.
The Commission will: (i) examine the current pay structure and service conditions of judicial officers in states and union territories, (ii) evolve a structure to govern pay and emoluments of such officers, (iii) examine the work environment, and the allowances available to such judicial officers, and (iv) suggest rationalisation and simplification of these allowances.
The Specific Relief (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was passed in Lok Sabha in March 2018.[313] It was introduced in December 2017. The Bill amends the Specific Relief Act, 1963. The 1963 Act provides for the following remedies to a party whose contract has not been performed: (i) the aggrieved party may ask the court to require performance of the contract (known as specific performance); or (ii) it may seek monetary compensation.
An Expert Committee set up to examine the Specific Relief Act, 1963 submitted its report to the Union Minister for Law and Justice in June 2016.[314] The amendments are in line with the recommendations of the Committee. Key features of the Bill include:
For more details on the Bill, see here.
The Union Cabinet approved the introduction of the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2018 in Parliament in March 2018.[315] It seeks to amend the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, i.e., the law governing conduct of arbitration and conciliation proceedings in India.
In 2015, certain amendments were made to the 1996 Act. These related to: (i) time period of arbitral awards; and (ii) applicability of certain provisions to international commercial arbitration. A High Level Committee (Chair: Justice B.N. Srikrishna) was constituted by the central government to remove difficulties in the implementation of the 2015 amendments as well as to boost institutional arbitration. The Committee submitted its report on July 30, 2017.
The proposed amendments in the 2018 Bill are as per the recommendation of the Committee. Key features of the Bill approved by the Cabinet are:
The New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill, 2018 was introduced in Lok Sabha in January 2018.[316] The Bill seeks to establish an independent institution for conducting arbitration, mediation and conciliation in India. Arbitration, mediation and conciliation are alternative methods to resolve disputes. Key features of the Bill include:
More details on the Bill are available here.
In March 2018, the Union Cabinet approved the introduction of the Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Division of High Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2018 in Parliament.[317] The Bill seeks to amend the Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Division of High Courts, 2015. The Act enables the creation of commercial divisions and commercial appellate divisions in high courts, and commercial courts at the district level. These courts will adjudicate commercial disputes (e.g., disputes related to transactions between merchants and traders). Key features of the Bill approved by the Cabinet are:
In October 2017, the Supreme Court collegium of judges decided to publish the reasons for recommending the appointment of a person as a judge of the High Court or the Supreme Court.[318] The collegium consists of five judges of the Supreme Court, who provide recommendations to the President of India on appointment of judges to the High Courts and the Supreme Court.
The collegium passed this resolution to ensure transparency, and also maintain confidentiality in the collegium system.
The Repealing and Amending Bill, 2017 and Repealing and Amending (Second) Bill, 2017 were passed by Parliament in December 2017.[319],[320] The two Bills repealed a total of 236 Acts and made minor amendments to certain Acts.
Key features of the Bills are as follows:
More details on the Bills are available here and here.
The Law Commission of India (Chairman: Dr. Justice B. S. Chauhan) submitted a report on ‘Human DNA Profiling’ in July 2017.[321] The report also proposes a draft Bill for the use and regulation of DNA based technology. DNA profiling is a scientific technique used for disaster victim identification, investigation of crimes, identification of missing persons and human remains, and for medical research purposes. The report states the need for the regulation of human DNA profiling by a special law with defined standards, quality controls and quality assurance systems. Further, such profiling would be restricted to certain purposes only. Key features of the report include:
The Law Commission of India (Chairperson: Dr. Justice B. S. Chauhan) submitted its report on ‘Assessment of Statutory Frameworks of Tribunals in India’ to the Ministry of Law and Justice in October 2017.[322] The matter was referred to the Commission by the Supreme Court. Tribunals are quasi-judicial institutions set up to address delays in disposal of cases in courts. Key observations and recommendations of the Commission include:
Table 14: Pendency in some tribunals (2016-17)
Tribunal |
Number of pending cases |
Central Administrative Tribunal |
44,333 |
Railway Claims Tribunal |
45,604 |
Debt Recovery Tribunal |
78,118 |
Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appeal Tribunal |
90,592 |
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal |
91,538 |
Note: Data on number of pending cases available for different dates for different tribunals during the 2016-17 period.
Sources: 272nd Report of the Law Commission of India; PRS.
For a PRS Report Summary, please see here.
The Law Commission of India submitted its 270th Report on the ‘Compulsory Registration of Marriages’ in July 2017.[323] The report made recommendations related to draft amendments proposed to the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 by the Law Ministry.
Currently, there are certain provisions for registration of marriages under different personal laws such as the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, the Special Marriage Act, 1954, the Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act, 1936 and the Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872. Further, the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act, 1886 provided for voluntary registration only for certain classes and communities such as Christians and Parsis. However, the Law Commission observed that there is no law that provides for simple record keeping of all marriages regardless of religion, region or customs.
The Law Commission noted that making registration of marriage compulsory would prevent marriage fraud, denial of marital status to women and to children born out of wedlock. In this regard, the Law Commission made the following recommendations:
The Consumer Protection Bill, 2018 was introduced in Lok Sabha by the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution in January 2018.[324] The Bill seeks to replace the Consumer Protection Act, 1986. Key features of the Bill include:
A PRS Summary of the Bill is available here.
The Defence Acquisition Council (Chair: Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman) cleared an amendment to the Defence Procurement Procedure 2016 in January 2018.[325],[326] This amendment was related to the ‘Make’ procedure. Projects under this procedure should be indigenously designed and developed with a minimum of 40% indigenous content.[327] The amendment, known as ‘Make-II’, seeks to simplify the procedure for indigenous manufacture and development of defence equipment.325,326 Salient features of the ‘Make-II’ procedure include:
Ministry of Defence released the policy on strategic partnerships in the defence sector in June 2017.[328] This policy enables development of indigenous capabilities within the private sector to develop complex weapon systems for the armed forces. This policy will be a part of the Defence Procurement Procedure, 2016, that was released in March 2016.327 Key features of the policy include:
The Union Cabinet approved the implementation of umbrella scheme of Modernisation of Police Forces from 2017-18 to 2019-20 in September 2017.[329] The financial outlay for the scheme over the three year period will be Rs 25,060 crore. Of this, Rs 18,636 crore (74%) will come from the central government, and remaining 26% (Rs 6,424 crore) will come from state governments.
Note that, following the recommendations of the Fourteenth Finance Commission to devolve 42% of central taxes to states, in the Union Budget 2015-16, modernisation of police scheme was delinked from central support.[330] This has now been reversed.
The scheme includes central budget outlay of Rs 10,132 crore for internal security related expenditure in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, north-eastern states and states affected by left-wing extremism. Also, central special assistance for 35 worst left-wing extremism affected districts has been introduced, with an outlay of Rs 3,000 crore.
The Law Commission of India (Chairperson: Dr. Justice B.S. Chauhan) submitted a report on “Amendments to Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), 1973 - Provisions Relating to Bail” in May 2017.[331] It also submitted a draft of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2017 that incorporates the recommended amendments. Key observations and recommendations of the Commission include:
The Law Commission of India (Chairperson: Dr. Justice B. S. Chauhan) submitted its report on “Implementation of ‘United Nations Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment’ through legislation” to the Ministry of Law and Justice in October 2017.[332] The Commission also submitted a draft Prevention of Torture Bill, 2017. India had signed the convention on October 14, 1997 but has not ratified it so far.
The matter was referred to the Law Commission in July 2017 following a recommendation by the Supreme Court. Key observations and recommendations of the Commission include:
A PRS summary of the report is available here.
The Constitution (123rd Amendment) Bill, 2017 was introduced and passed by Lok Sabha in April 2017. It was passed by Rajya Sabha, with an amendment in July 2017.[333],[334] It sought to set up the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) under the Constitution, and define socially and educationally backward classes. During voting in Rajya Sabha, the provision that granted the NCBC constitutional status and specified its composition was removed. The Bill as modified by Rajya Sabha will now be considered by Lok Sabha.
In July 2017, a Select Committee of Rajya Sabha (Chairperson: Mr. Bhupinder Yadav) also submitted a report on the Bill.[335]
A PRS summary of the Select Committee report is available here. A PRS summary of the Constitution (123rd Amendment) Bill, 2017 is available here.
The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was passed by Parliament in April 2017.[336] The Bill amends the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 and the Constitution (Pondicherry) Scheduled Castes Order, 1964.
The Bill includes the castes of Sualgiri and Swalgiri as synonyms to the Sabakhia caste in the list of SCs for the state of Odisha. Further, since a central law has modified the name of ‘Pondicherry’ to ‘Puducherry’, the Bill incorporated this change into the Order.
A PRS summary of the Bill is available here.
The Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment submitted its report on the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016 in July 2017.[337]
Key observations and recommendations of the Standing Committee include:
A PRS summary of the Standing Committee report is available here.
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment notified the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017 in June 2017.[338] These Rules have been issued under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. The Act confers several rights and entitlements to persons with disabilities. Key features of the Rules include:
In December 2017, the Union Cabinet approved the extension of term of the Commission to examine the issue of sub-categorisation of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) (Chairperson: Justice G. Rohini) by 12 weeks (i.e., up to April 2, 2018).[339]
The Union Cabinet had approved the proposal for setting up this Commission in August 2017. The Commission started functioning on October 11, 2017. The Commission was required to submit its report within 12 weeks from the date of appointment of its Chairperson.[340] The terms of references of the Commission are as follows: (i) examining the extent of inequitable distribution of the benefits of reservation among the OBCs (included in the central list consisting of OBCs across states); (ii) working out the mechanism and parameters, for the sub-categorisation within OBCs, and (iii) identifying the respective castes/ communities/ sub-castes/ synonyms in the central list of OBCs and classifying them into their respective subcategories. Nine states of the country have already carried out sub-categorisation of OBCs.
In September 2017, the Department of Personnel and Training raised the income limit for determining the creamy layer amongst Other Backward Classes (OBCs), from six lakh rupees to eight lakh rupees per annum.[341] The decision came into effect from September 1, 2017. The creamy layer is the level of income, above which persons from OBCs are not entitled to reservations in central government jobs.
Previously, this level of income was revised thrice: (i) from Rs one lakh per annum in 1993 to Rs 2.5 lakh per annum in 2004, (ii) to Rs 4.5 lakh per annum in 2008, and (iii) to Rs six lakh per annum in 2013.
In 2017-18, India entered into agreements with various countries including Israel, Japan, Palestine, Iran, Canada, Jordan, and France.
Israel: Sixteen agreements were signed between India and Israel in various sectors including cyber security, air transport, space research, homeopathic medicine, as well as film production.
Key agreements include: (i) setting up a fund for research and development and technological innovation, (ii) cooperation on water conservation in India, (iii) agricultural cooperation, (iv) space cooperation (regarding small satellites), (v) collaboration in oil and gas (including in upstream sector activities, research and development, and technology), and (vi) exchange of information on investment opportunities.[342],[343]
Japan: Japan and India signed 15 agreements in several sectors, including: (i) disaster risk management, (ii) facilitating Japanese investment in India, (iii) enhancing connectivity and promoting development in the north-east region of India, (iv) Japanese language education in India, and (v) promoting collaboration in research.[344]
Palestine: India and Palestine signed eleven agreements in several sectors including diplomatic cooperation, telecom and information technology, culture and media.[345]
Key agreements include: (i) setting up of India-Palestine super speciality hospital, (ii) construction of India-Palestine centre for empowering women, as well as (iii) setting up of a new National Printing Press at Ramallah, in Palestine.[346]
Iran: Iran and India signed nine agreements in various areas including: (i) avoidance of double taxation, (ii) cooperation in traditional fields of medicine, (iii) cooperation in agriculture (including credit cooperation, soil conservation, and post-harvest technology), and (iv) cooperation in health (including pooling of financial resources, as well as upgrading quality of training).[347]
Canada: Canada and India signed six agreements for cooperation in various sectors including: (i) electronics and information technology, (ii) intellectual property rights, (iii) higher education, and (iv) science and technology.[348]
Jordan: Jordan and India signed 12 agreements in various sectors including: (i) defence (cooperation in areas such as training, counter terrorism, military studies, and cyber security), (ii) cultural exchange (including exchange in areas of theatre, archaeology, and literature), (iii) contractual employment of Indian nationals in Jordan, (iv) health and medicine (including cooperation in health research, treatment of TB, and regulation of pharmaceuticals and devices, and (v) exchange of information regarding customs duties, taxes, and other charges.[349]
France: France and India signed 14 agreements in various sectors including: (i) combating illicit trafficking and consumption of drugs, (ii) mutual recognition of education qualifications, (iii) technical cooperation in railways (including high speed rail, station renovation, and modernisation of infrastructure), (iv) exchange of information in fields of environment and climate change, (v) urban development (including exchange of information on smart city development, and urban transportation systems), (vi) cooperation in hydrography, nautical documentation, and maritime safety.[350]
[1] “Press Note on Second Advance Estimates of National Income 2017-18 and Quarterly Estimates of Gross Domestic Product for the third quarter (Q3) of 2017-18”, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, February 28, 2018, http://www.mospi.nic.in/sites/default/files/press_release/nad_pr_2eni_28feb18_0.pdf.
[2] “Consumer Price Index Numbers on Base 2012=100 for Rural, Urban and Combined for the month of April 2017”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, May 12, 2017; “Consumer Price Index Numbers on Base 2012=100 for Rural, Urban and Combined for the month of March 2018”, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, April 12, 2018, http://www.mospi.nic.in/sites/default/files/press_release/CPI_PR_12apr18th.pdf.
[3] “Consumer Price Index Numbers on Base 2012=100 for Rural, Urban and Combined for the month of June 2017”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, July 12, 2017; “Consumer Price Index Numbers on Base 2012=100 for Rural, Urban and Combined for the month of December 2017”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, January 12, 2018.
[4] “Frequently Asked Questions on Revision of Wholesale Price Index (Base 2011-12)”, Office of Economic Adviser, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, May 12, 2017, http://eaindustry.nic.in/uploaded_files/FAQs_on_WPI.pdf.
[5] “Index Numbers of Wholesale Price in India (Base: 2011-12=100) Review for the month of April 2017”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, May 12, 2017; “Index Numbers of Wholesale Price in India (Base: 2011-12=100) Review for the month of March 2018”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, April 16, 2018.
[6] “Revision of base year of All-India Wholesale Price Index (WPI) from 2004-05 to 2011-12.”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, May 12, 2017.
[7] “Quick Estimates of Index of Industrial Production and Use Based Index for the Month of January, 2018 (Base 2011-12=100)”, Press Release, Central Statistics Office, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, March 12, 2018, http://www.mospi.nic.in/sites/default/files/press_release/iip_PR_12mar18.pdf.
[8] “Revision of Base Year of All-India Index of Industrial Production from 2004-05 to 2011-12”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, May 12, 2017.
[9] “Revision of Base Year of All-India Index of Industrial Production from 2004-05 to 2011-12”, Press Release, Central Statistics Office, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, May 12, 2017, http://mospi.nic.in/sites/default/files/press_release/iip_PR_12may17.pdf.
[10] “Developments in India’s Balance of Payments during the third quarter of 2017-18”, Press Release, Reserve Bank of India, March 16, 2018, https://rbidocs.rbi.org.in/rdocs/PressRelease/PDFs/PR24701A6AFAD5B30343ADA77D61519E5EF305.PDF.
[11] “Third Bi-Monthly Monetary Policy Statement 2017-18”, Press Release, Reserve Bank of India, August 2, 2018, http://rbidocs.rbi.org.in/rdocs/PressRelease/PDFs/PR3254962C674F8B546D89DC5A7CD5D92DD72.PDF.
[12] “First Bi-Monthly Monetary Policy Statement 2017-18”, Press Release, Reserve Bank of India, April 6, 2018, https://rbidocs.rbi.org.in/rdocs/PressRelease/PDFs/PR26893BF4B7C31EC24BD1AF88FC4BB25911B0.PDF.
[13] Economic Survey 2017-18, Ministry of Finance, January 29, 2018, http://mofapp.nic.in:8080/economicsurvey/.
[14] Union Budget 2018-19, Ministry of Finance,, February 1, 2018, http://www.indiabudget.gov.in/budget.asp.
[15] “The 14th Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council meeting chaired by the Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley approves GST rates for goods and GST Compensation Cess”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Finance, May 18, 2017.
[16] “Recommendations made On GST Rate changes by the GST Council as per discussions in its 23rd Meeting on 10th November, 2017 held at Guwahati”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Finance, November 10, 2017.
[17] “Changes recommended in Composition Scheme”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Finance, November 10, 2017.
[18] The Central Goods and Services Tax (Extension to Jammu and Kashmir) Bill, 2017, Ministry of Finance, July 31, 2017, http://www.prsindia.org/billtrack/the-central-goods-and-services-tax-extension-to-jammu-and-kashmir-bill-2017-4846/.
[19] The Integrated Goods and Services Tax (Extension to Jammu and Kashmir) Bill, 2017, Ministry of Finance, July 31, 2017, http://www.prsindia.org/billtrack/the-integrated-goods-and-services-tax-extension-to-jammu-and-kashmir-bill-2017-4845/.
[20] The Punjab Municipal Corporation Law (Extension to Chandigarh) Amendment Bill, 2017, Ministry of Finance, July 31, 2017, http://www.prsindia.org/billtrack/punjab-municipal-corporation-law-extension-to-chandigarh-amendment-bill-2017-4843/.
[21] The Central Goods and Services Tax (Extension to Jammu and Kashmir) Ordinance, 2017, Ministry of Law and Justice, July 8, 2017, http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/GST%20Ordinance/CGST%20extention%20to%20J&K%20Ordinance,%202017.pdf.
[22] The Integrated Goods and Services Tax (Extension to Jammu and Kashmir) Ordinance, 2017, Ministry of Law and Justice, July 8, 2017, http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/GST%20Ordinance/IGST%20Extension%20to%20J&K%20Ordinance%202017.pdf.
[23] The Punjab Municipal Corporation Law (Extension to Chandigarh) Amendment Ordinance, 2017, Ministry of Law and Justice, July 1, 2017, http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/GST%20Ordinance/Punjab%20Municipal%20Corporation%20Law%20Amendment%20Ordinance%202017.pdf.
[24] The Goods and Services (Compensation to States) Amendment Bill, 2017, http://164.100.47.4/BillsTexts/LSBillTexts/PassedLoksabha/269-c_2017_LS_eng.pdf.
[25] The Goods and Services (Compensation to States) Amendment Ordinance, 2017, http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/Ordinances/The%20Goods%20and%20Services%20Tax%20Compensation%20to%20States%20Ordinance%202017.pdf.
[26] The Goods and Services (Compensation to States) Act, 2017, Ministry of Finance, http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/GST,%202017/GST%20(Compensation%20to%20States)%20Act,%202017.pdf.
[27] “Cabinet approves promulgation of the Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Ordinance, 2017”, Press Information Bureau, Cabinet, August 30, 2017.
[28] “Cabinet approves the establishment of the National Anti-profiteering Authority under GST”, Press Information Bureau, Cabinet, November 16, 2017.
[29] Anti-Profiteering, Chapter XV, Central Goods and Services Tax Rules, 2017, Central Board of Excise and Customs, Ministry of Finance, November 15, 2017, http://www.cbec.gov.in/resources//htdocs-cbec/gst/cgst-rules-15112017.pdf.
[30] The Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2017, Ministry of Finance, March 31, 2017, http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/Taxation%20Laws/Taxation%20Laws,%202017.pdf.
[31] The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2017, Ministry of Finance, July 24, 2017, http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/Banking%20Regulation%20Bill/Banking%20Regulation%20%28Amendment%29%20Bill,%202017.pdf.
[32] The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2017, Ministry of Law and Justice, May 4, 2017, http://www.prsindia.org/billtrack/the-banking-regulation-amendment-bill-2017-4771/.
[33] The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2017, http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/Bankruptcy/Insolvency%20and%20Bankruptcy%20Code%20Amendment%20Bill%202017.pdf.
[34] The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Ordinance, 2017, http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/Ordinances/Insolvency%20and%20Bankruptcy%20Code%20(Amendment)%20Ordinance,%202017.pdf.
[35] The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, http://ibbi.gov.in/webadmin/pdf/legalframwork/2017/Jul/IBC%202016.pdf.
[36] The Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance Bill, 2017, Ministry of Finance, http://www.prsindia.org/billtrack/the-financial-resolution-and-deposit-insurance-bill-2017-4871/.
[37] Report of Committee to Draft Code on Resolution of Financial Firms, Ministry of Finance, September 21, 2016, http://dea.gov.in/sites/default/files/report_rc_sept21_1.pdf.
[38] The Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance Bill, 2016, http://dea.gov.in/sites/default/files/FRDI%20Bill-27092016_1.pdf.
[39] The Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, 2018, http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/Fugitive%20Economic%20Offenders/Fugitive%20Economic%20Offenders%20Bill,%202018.pdf.
[40] Binoy Viswam vs Union of India, Supreme Court, Writ Petition (Civil) No. 247 of 2017, June 9, 2017, https://uidai.gov.in/images/news/Supreme_Courts_Order_in_WP_247_277_304_of_201716062017.pdf.
[41] Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) & Anr. Vs. Union of India & Ors., WP (C) 494/ 2012, Order, March 13, 2018, http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/supremecourt/2012/35071/35071_2012_Order_13-Mar-2018.pdf.
[42] G.S.R. 642(E), Gazette of India, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, June 27, 2017, http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2017/176929.pdf.
[43] G.S.R. 538 (E), Gazette of India, Ministry of Finance, June 1, 2017, http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2017/176407.pdf.
[44] White Paper of the Committee of Experts on a Data Protection Framework for India, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, November 27, 2017, http://meity.gov.in/writereaddata/files/white_paper_on_data_protection_in_india_171127_final_v2.pdf.
[45] Constitution of a Committee of Experts to deliberate on a data protection framework for India, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, July 31, 2017, http://meity.gov.in/writereaddata/files/MeitY_constitution_Expert_Committee_31.07.2017.pdf.
[46] Reserve Bank of India Annual Report 2016-17, August 30, 2017, https://rbi.org.in/Scripts/AnnualReportPublications.aspx?year=2017.
[47] “Status of the Return of SBNs – Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Annual Report 2016-17”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Finance, August 30, 2017.
[48] “Cabinet approves setting up of the 15th Finance Commission”, Press Information Bureau, Cabinet, November 22, 2017.
[49] Article 280 (1), Constitution of India.
[50] “Cabinet gives in-principle approval for Public Sector Banks to amalgamate through an Alternative Mechanism (AM)”, Press Information Bureau, Cabinet, August 23, 2017.
[51] “Approval of framework for consolidation of Public Sector Banks”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Finance, November 1, 2017.
[52] The State Bank (Repeal and Amendment) Bill, 2017, Ministry of Finance, July 21, 2017, http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/State%20Bank/The%20State%20Banks%20%28Repeal%20and%20Amendment%29%20Bill,%202017.pdf.
[53] “Government of India notifies the Scheme of Electoral Bonds”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Finance, January 2, 2018.
[54] S.O. 29 (E), Gazette of India, Ministry of Finance, January 2, 2018, http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2018/181434.pdf.
[55] The Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Bill, 2017, Ministry of Finance, January 2, 2018, http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/Negotiable%20instrument/Negotiable%20Instruments%20Amendment%20Bill%202017.pdf.
[56] The Chit Funds (Amendment) Bill, 2018, http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/Chit%20Fund/Chit%20Funds%20(A)%20Bill,%202018.pdf.
[57] The Chit Fund Act, 1982, http://lawmin.nic.in/ld/P-ACT/1982/The%20Chit%20Funds%20Act,%201982.pdf.
[58] “Cabinet approves New Bill to ban Unregulated Deposit Schemes and Chit Funds (Amendment) Bill, 2018”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Finance, February 20, 2018.
[59] Draft Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes and Protection of Depositors’ Interests Bill, 2016, http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/draft/Draft-%20Banning%20of%20Unregulated%20Deposit%20Schemes%20Bill,%202016.pdf.
[60] The Collection of Statistics (Amendment) Bill, 2017, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, March 20, 2017, http://www.prsindia.org/billtrack/the-collection-of-statistics-amendment-bill-2017-4680/.
[61] Volume 1, FRBM Review Committee Report, January 2017, http://dea.gov.in/sites/default/files/Volume%201%20FRBM%20Review%20Committee%20Report.pdf.
[62] Office Order, Central Board of Direct Taxes, Ministry of Finance, November 22, 2017, http://www.incometaxindia.gov.in/news/misccom-constitution-task-force-drafting-new-direct-tax-legislation-22-11-2017.pdf; “Constitution of Task Force for drafting a New Direct Tax Legislation”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Finance, November 22, 2017.
[63] “Cabinet approves listing of 11 CPSEs on stock exchanges”, Press Information Bureau, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, April 12, 2017.
[64] “Acquisition of HPCL by ONGC”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, January 22,2018.
[65] Insurance Ombudsman Rules, 2017, G.S.R. 413 (Extraordinary), Gazette of India, April 25, 2017, http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2017/175599.pdf.
[66] Redressal of Public Grievances Rules, 1998, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India, http://www.policyholder.gov.in/RPG_Rules_concerning_Ombudsman_scheme.aspx.
[67] “Government constitutes an Inter- Disciplinary Committee chaired by Special Secretary (Economic Affairs) to examine the existing framework with regard to Virtual Currencies”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Finance, April 12, 2017.
[68] “RBI cautions users of Virtual Currencies against Risks”, Press Release, Reserve Bank of India, December 24, 2013, https://rbi.org.in/scripts/BS_PressReleaseDisplay.aspx?prid=30247; “RBI cautions users of Virtual Currencies”, Press Release, Reserve Bank of India, February 1, 2017, https://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/BS_PressReleaseDisplay.aspx?prid=39435.
[69] Report of the Inter-Regulatory Working Group on FinTech and Digital Banking, Reserve Bank of India, February 8, 2018, https://rbidocs.rbi.org.in/rdocs/PublicationReport/Pdfs/WGFR68AA1890D7334D8F8F72CC2399A27F4A.PDF.
[70] “RBI sets up Inter-regulatory Working Group on Fin Tech and Digital Banking”, Press Release, Reserve Bank of India, July 14, 2016, https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/BS_PressReleaseDisplay.aspx?prid=37493.
[71] “Discontinuance of Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) and Letters of Comfort (LoCs) for Trade Credits”, Press Release, Reserve Bank of India, March 13, 2018, https://rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=11227&Mode=0.
[72] Master Direction - External Commercial Borrowings, Trade Credit, Borrowing and Lending in Foreign Currency by Authorised Dealers and Persons other than Authorised Dealers, Reserve Bank of India, Updated as on March 16, 2018, https://rbi.org.in/Scripts/BS_ViewMasDirections.aspx?id=10204#C63.
[73] “RBI publishes report of the Household Finance Committee”, Press Release, Reserve Bank of India, August 24, 2017, https://rbi.org.in/Scripts/BS_PressReleaseDisplay.aspx?prid=41471.
[74] “RBI constitutes a Committee on Household Finance”, Press Release, Reserve Bank of India, August 4, 2016, https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/BS_PressReleaseDisplay.aspx?prid=37694.
[75] Report of the Committee on Corporate Governance, Securities and Exchange Board of India, October 5, 2017, http://www.sebi.gov.in/reports/reports/oct-2017/report-of-the-committee-on-corporate-governance-for-public-comments_36178.html.
[76] ‘Increasing the maximum age of joining NPS from the present 60 years to 65 years for NPS Private Sector’, Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority, November 1, 2017, http://pfrda.org.in/WriteReadData/Links/Circular-Increase%20in%20joining%20age%20under%20NPS24991e86-8d6d-41ab-bedd-74fbf3b62fd3.pdf.
[77] Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2017, http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/Companies,%202016/As%20passed%20by%20LS%20-%20Companies%20Bill,%202017.pdf.
[78] Report no. 37: Standing Committee on Finance: ‘The Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2016’, Lok Sabha, December 07, 2016. http://164.100.47.193/lsscommittee/Finance/16_Finance_37.pdf.
[79] The Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2017, http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/Companies,%202016/As%20passed%20by%20LS%20-%20Companies%20Bill,%202017.pdf.
[80] “Cabinet approves Establishment of National Financial Reporting Authority”, Press Information Bureau, Cabinet, March 1, 2018.
[81] The National Financial Reporting Authority (Manner of Appointment and other Terms and Conditions of Service of Chairperson and Members) Rules, 2018, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, March 21, 2018, http://www.mca.gov.in/Ministry/pdf/ReportingAuthorityRule2103_21032018.pdf.
[82] Review of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy on various sectors, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, http://dipp.nic.in/sites/default/files/pn1_2018.pdf.
[83] “Cabinet approves phasing out of Foreign Investment Promotion Board”, Press Information Bureau, May 24, 2017.
[84] The Footwear Design and Development Scheme, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, March 14, 2017, http://www.prsindia.org/billtrack/the-footwear-design-and-development-institute-bill-2017-4670/.
[85] “Cabinet approves proposal for Amendment to the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006 to change the criteria of classification”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, February 7, 2018.
[86] “Cabinet approves Scheme of Budgetary Support under GST Regime to the eligible units located in States of Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and North-Eastern States including Sikkim”, Press Information Bureau, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, August 16, 2017.
[87] Gazette Notification No. 262, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, October 11, 2017, http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2017/179518.pdf.
[88] “Cabinet approves North-East Industrial Development Scheme (NEIDS) 2017”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, March 21, 2018.
[89] Draft National Auto Policy 2018, Department of Heavy Industries, Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, February, 2018, http://dhi.nic.in/writereaddata/UploadFile/DHI-NAB-Auto%20Policy%20Draft%20Document_vDRAFT.pdf.
[90] Notification, Department of Heavy Industry, Ministry of Heavy Industry and Public Enterprises, September 12, 2017, http://dhi.nic.in/writereaddata/UploadFile/inclusion%20of%20e%20bus%20in%20fame%20india%20scheme_1.PDF.
[91] Notification, September, 2017, Department of Heavy Industry, Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, September 2017, http://dhi.nic.in/writereaddata/UploadFile/notification-fame-india.PDF.
[92] Office Memorandum, Department of Heavy Industry, Ministry of Heavy Industry and Public Enterprises, March 26, 2015, http://dhi.nic.in/writereaddata/UploadFile/OM_FAME_India.PDF.
[93] “Cabinet approves policy for providing preference to 'Make in India' in Government procurements”, Press Information Bureau, Cabinet, May 24, 2017.
[94] Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order, 2017, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, June 15, 2017, http://dipp.nic.in/sites/default/files/publicProcurement_MakeinIndia_15June2017.pdf.
[95] Report of the Task Force on Innovation, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, June 15, 2017, http://dipp.nic.in/sites/default/files/TaskForce_InnovationReport_15June2017.pdf.
[96] Task Force on Artificial Intelligence, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, March 20, 2018, http://dipp.nic.in/sites/default/files/Report_of_Task_Force_on_ArtificialIntelligence_20March2018_2.pdf.
[97] “Commerce and Industry Minister Sets up Task Force on Artificial Intelligence for Economic Transformation”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, August 25, 2017.
[98] “Task Force on Employment and Exports and its Terms of Reference”, Press Information Bureau, NITI Aayog, September 6, 2017.
[99] “Cabinet approves continuation of Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) beyond 12th Plan for three years from 2017-18 to 2019-20”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, February 28, 2018.
[100] The Code on Wages, 2017, http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/Code%20on%20Wages,%202017/Code%20on%20Wages,%202017.pdf.
[101] The Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2018, http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/Payment%20of%20Gratuity%20Bill,%202017/Payment%20of%20Gratuity%20Act,%202018.pdf.
[102] “Cabinet approves introduction of the Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017 in the Parliament”, Press Information Bureau, Cabinet, September 12, 2017.
[103] The Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017, http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/Payment%20of%20Gratuity%20Bill,%202017/Payment%20of%20Gratuity%20(Amendment)%20Bill,%202017.pdf.
[104] The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017, http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/Maternity%20Benefit/Maternity%20Benefit%20(Amendment)%20Act,%202017.pdf.
[105] “Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Central Rules, 1946, Ministry of Labour and Employment, March 16, 2018, https://labour.gov.in/sites/default/files/FTE%20Final%20Notification.pdf.
[106] “Union Textiles Minister launches PowerTex India”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Textiles, April 1, 2017.
[107] PowerTex India Scheme (Comprehensive Scheme for Powerloom Sector Development), Ministry of Textiles, http://texmin.nic.in/sites/default/files/PowerTex%20India%20Brochure%20English.pdf.
[108] “Steps to Strengthen and Modernize Powerloom Sector”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Textiles, April 6, 2017
[109] Annual Report 2013-14, Ministry of Textiles, http://texmin.nic.in/sites/default/files/ar_13_14_english.pdf.
[110] “Cabinet approves Central Sector "Integrated Scheme for Development of Silk Industry" for sericulture sector”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Textiles, March 21, 2018.
[111] The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Amendment) Bill, 2017, Ministry of Finance, http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/NBARD%20Bill/NBARD%20%28A%29%20Bill,%202017.pdf.
[112] Draft Pesticide Management Bill, 2017, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, February 19, 2018, http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media//draft/Draft%20Pesticide%20Managemnt%20Bill%202017.pdf.
[113] The State/UT Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing (Promotion & Facilitation) Act, 2017, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, April 24, 2017, http://agricoop.nic.in/sites/default/files/APLM_ACT_2017_1.pdf.
[114] Preliminary Draft for Model Act- The State /UT Agricultural Produce and Livestock Contract Farming (Promotion & Facilitation) Act 2018, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, December 23, 2017, http://agricoop.nic.in/sites/default/files/Model%20Contract%20Farming%20Act%202018.pdf.
[115] Draft Agriculture Export Policy 2018, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, March 19, 2018, http://commerce.gov.in/writereaddata/uploadedfile/MOC_636571617294118126_Draft_Agr_Export_Policy.pdf.
[116] “Cabinet allows export of all varieties of pulses”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, November 16, 2017.
[117] “Cabinet approves Export of all edible oils in bulk (except mustard oil)”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, March 28, 2018.
[118] National Policy of Marine Fisheries, 2017, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, May 1, 2017, http://dahd.nic.in/sites/default/filess/National%20Policy%20on%20Marine%20Fisheries%202017_0.pdf.
[119] “Minimum Support Prices (MSP) and bonus for Kharif Crops of 2017-18 season”, Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, June 2017, http://agricoop.nic.in/sites/default/files/English%20.pdf.
[120] “Minimum Support Prices (MSP) and bonus for Rabi Crops of 2017-18 season to be Marketed in 2018-19”, Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, October 30, 2017, http://eands.dacnet.nic.in/PDF/MSP-Rabi2017-18-Eng.pdf.
[121] “Cabinet approves doubling of Government guarantee from Rs 9,500 crore to Rs 19,000 crore for procurements of pulses and oilseeds at MSP under Price Support Scheme by NAFED”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, February 28, 2018.
[122] “Cabinet approves utilisation of pulses from the buffer stock through Central Government Schemes having nutrition component”, Press Information, Bureau, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, November 10, 2017.
[123] “Cabinet approves enhancing the buffer stock of pulses up to 20 lakh tonnes”, Press Information, Bureau, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, September 12, 2016.
[124] “Cabinet approves Special Banking Arrangement (SBA) for payment of outstanding subsidy to fertilizer companies during 2016-17”, Press Information Bureau, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, November 1, 2017.
[125] “Cabinet approves Revision of Energy Norms under New Urea Policy”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, March 21, 2018.
[126] “Cabinet approves implementation of the scheme “Dairy Processing & Infrastructure Development”, Press Information Bureau, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, September 12, 2017.
[127] Budget Speech 2017-18, Union Budget 2017-18, Ministry of Finance, February 1, 2017, http://indiabudget.nic.in/ub2017-18/bs/bs.pdf.
[128] “Cabinet approves Interest Subvention to banks on short-Term crop loans to farmers”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, June 14, 2017.
[129] “Cabinet approves continuation of ongoing Urea Subsidy Scheme from 2017 till 2020”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, March 14, 2018.
[130] “Cabinet approves continuation of Nutrient Based Subsidy and City Compost Scheme till 2019-20”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertlisers, March 28, 2018.
[131] “Cabinet approves ongoing Centrally Sponsored Scheme (State Plans) - Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) as Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana- Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied sector Rejuvenation (RKVY-RAFTAAR) for three years i.e. 2017-18 to 2019-20”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, November 1, 2017.
[132] Operational Guidelines, XII Five Year Plan, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, http://rkvy.nic.in/.
[133] “Preliminary Information Memorandum For Inviting Expression of Interest for Strategic Disinvestment of Air India Limited”, Ministry of Civil Aviation, March 28, 2018, http://www.civilaviation.gov.in/sites/default/files/PRELIMINARY%20INFORMATION%20MEMORANDUM.pdf.
[134] “Cabinet gives ‘in principle’ approval for disinvestment of Air India and five of its subsidiaries”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Civil Aviation, June 28, 2017.
[135] “Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS or the Scheme) Version 2.0”, Ministry of Civil Aviation, September 9, 2017, http://www.civilaviation.gov.in/sites/default/files/Regional%20Connectivity%20Scheme_Version%202%200_0.pdf.
[136] “Regional Connectivity Scheme - Udan”, Ministry of Civil Aviation, October 2016, http://www.civilaviation.gov.in/sites/default/files/Final%20Regional%20Connectivity%20Scheme%20%28RCS%29.pdf.
[137] “Encouraging Response to Civil Aviation Ministry’s Regional Connectivity Scheme UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik)”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Civil Aviation, January 18, 2017.
[138] “Handling of unruly passengers”, Director General of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Civil Aviation, September 8, 2017, http://www.dgca.nic.in/cars/D3M-M6.pdf.
[139] “Draft Regulation of CAR on Civil Use of Drones Announced”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Civil Aviation, November 2, 2017.
[140] “Requirements for Operation of Civil Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS)”, F. No. 05-13/2014-AED Vol.VI, Director General of Civil Aviation, November 2017, http://dgca.nic.in/misc/draft%20cars/CAR%20-%20UAS%20(Draft_Nov2017).pdf.
[141] Resolution: Constitution of Rail Development Authority, Ministry of Railways (Railway Board), May 5, 2017, http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/infra/downloads/GI_RDA_05062017.pdf.
[142] “Cabinet approves Resolution for adoption of the recommendations of the Railway Convention Committee (2014) as contained in their Sixth Report on "Rate of Dividend payable by the Railways to the General Revenues for the year 2016-17 and other ancillary matters", Press Information Bureau, Cabinet, November 16, 2017.
[143] Sixth Report, Rate of Dividend Payable by the Railways to the General Revenues for the year 2016-17 and other Ancillary Matters, Railway Convention Committee (2014), November 2016, http://164.100.47.193/lsscommittee/Railway%20Convention%20Committee/16_Railway_Convention_Committee_6.pdf.
[144] Notes on Demands for Grants 2018-19, Demand no 80, Ministry of Railways, February 1, 2018, https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/ub2018-19/eb/sbe80.pdf.
[145] “Government Guarantee for Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) Bonds: to further ease the flow of borrowed funds for Ministry of Railways to undertake projects”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Railways, March 26, 2018.
[146] “Minister of Railways directs to re-categorize railway stations taking into account earnings, passenger footfall, strategic importance”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Railways, December 28, 2017
[147] “Posts of Additional Divisional Railway Managers being increased in all the railway division offices for improving operational efficiency”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Railways, October 25, 2017.
[148] The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2016, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, August 9, 2016, http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/Motor%20Vehicles,%202016/Motor%20Vehicles%20%28Amendment%29%20Bill,%202016-.pdf.
[149] Report no. 243: Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture: ‘The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2016’, Rajya Sabha, February 8, 2017, http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/Motor%20Vehicles,%202016/SCR-%20Motor%20Vehicles%20Bill,%202016.pdf.
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[151] Report of the Select Committee on the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2016, Rajya Sabha, December 22, 2017, http://164.100.47.5/newcommittee/reports/EnglishCommittees/Select%20Committee%20on%20the%20Motor%20Vehicles%20(Amendment)%20Bill,%202017/1.pdf.
[152] F. No. RT-25028/01/2016-RS., Gazette of India, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, October 14, 2017, http://morth.nic.in/showfile.asp?lid=2982.
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[154] Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase I, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, October 25, 2017.
[155] Unstarred question no. 1129, Lok Sabha, December 21, 2017.
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[156] “Strong Macro-Economic Fundamentals and Reforms for Sustained Growth”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Finance, October 24, 2017.
[157] Central Motor Vehicles (10th Amendment) Rules, 2017, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, June 27, 2017, http://morth.nic.in/showfile.asp?lid=2804.
[158] “All 4 wheel Motor Vehicles sold after 1st December 2017 to be fitted with FASTags”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, November 2, 2017.
[159] Notification, F. No. RT-11028/16/2011-MVL, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, November 2, 2017, http://morth.nic.in/showfile.asp?lid=3000.
[160] The Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Bill, 2016, Ministry of Road Transport, Highways and Shipping, November 21, 2016, http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/Admiralty%20Bill,%202016/Admiralty%20%28Jurisdiction%20and%20Settlement%20of%20Maritime%20Claims%29%20Bill,%202016.pdf.
[161] Report no. 250: Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture: ‘The Major Port Authorities Bill, 2016’, Rajya Sabha, July 18, 2017, http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/Major%20Ports/SCR-%20Major%20Port%20Authorities%20Bill,%202016.pdf.
[162] “Cabinet approves changes in the Major Port Authorities Bill 2016”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Shipping, February 7, 2018.
[163] Report no 249: Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture: ‘The Merchant Shipping Bill, 2016’, Rajya Sabha, July 18, 2017, http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/Merchant%20Shipping/SCR-%20Merchant%20Shipping%20Bill,%202016.pdf.
[164] “Cabinet approves revised Model Concession Agreement for PPP Projects in Major Ports”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Shipping, January 3, 2018.
[165] Concession Agreement, Ministry of Shipping, January 3, 2018, http://shipping.nic.in/showfile.php?lid=2648.
[166] “The Ministry of Shipping Draws Up Cruise Tourism Reforms”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Shipping, July 10, 2017.
[167] “PM launches Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana “Saubhagya”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Power, September 25, 2017.
[168] “FAQs on Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana “Saubhagya”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Power, September 27, 2017.
[169] Draft National Energy Policy, NITI Aayog, June 27, 2017, http://niti.gov.in/writereaddata/files/new_initiatives/NEP-ID_27.06.2017.pdf.
[170] Notification No. 23/54/2017-R&R, Ministry of Power, December 8, 2017, http://powermin.nic.in/sites/default/files/webform/notices/Resolution_on_wind_Bidding_Guidelines_dated_8th_Decemeber_2017_Eng.pdf.
[171] Frequently Asked Questions on Wind Power Programme, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, http://mnre.gov.in/file-manager/UserFiles/faq_wind.pdf.
[172] “Cabinet approves Policy to provide Purchase Preference (linked with Local Content (PP-LC) in all Public Sector Undertakings under Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, April 12, 2017.
[173] Policy to provide purchase preference (linked to local content) in all public sector undertakings under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, April 25, 2017, http://petroleum.nic.in/sites/default/files/pplc.pdf.
[174] “Oil companies to effect daily change in diesel, petrol prices from 16 June”, LiveMint, June 9, 2017, http://www.livemint.com/Companies/tPPLekTXjDQZ4VoCX28biK/Stateowned-oil-companies-to-revise-fuel-prices-daily-from-1.html.
[175] “Cabinet approves revised price of ethanol under EBP for the Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies”, Press Information Bureau, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, November 1, 2017.
[176] “Cabinet approves revision of ethanol price for supply to Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies”, Press Information Bureau, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, October 13, 2016.
[177] “Pre-ponement of introduction of BS-VI grade auto fuels in NCT Delhi”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, November 15, 2017.
[178] G.S.R 889 (E), Notification, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, September 16, 2016, http://morth.nic.in/showfile.asp?lid=2391.
[179] “Mass Emission Standards for automobiles – Overview and Technical Details of BS IV, V and VI”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, http://164.100.88.150/newsite/backgrounders.aspx?relid=131993.
[180] “Cabinet approves Initial Public Offer of Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, June 7, 2017.
[181] “RIL, Shell, ONGC asked to pay $3 billion in penalty”, The Economic Times, July 18, 2017, http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/energy/oil-gas/ril-shell-ongc-asked-to-pay-3-billion-in-penalty/articleshow/59639575.cms; “Govt. slaps $3-bn penalty on RIL, Shell, ONGC in oil field arbitration”, Business Standard, July 18, 2017, http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/govt-slaps-3-bn-penalty-on-ril-shell-ongc-in-oil-field-arbitration-117071800408_1.html.
[182] “Cabinet approves Discovered Small Fields (DSF) Policy Bid Round-11 for 60 un-monetised discoveries of ONGC and OIL under Nomination and Relinquished Discoveries under PSC Regime”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, February 7, 2018.
[183] “Cabinet approves enhancement of target under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana”, Press Information Bureau, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, February 7, 2018.
[184] “Cabinet approves Signing of Fuel Supply Agreement (FSA) with Letter of Assurance (LoA) holders of Thermal Power Plants(TPPs)”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Coal, May 17, 2017.
[185] Coal Blocks Allocation Rules, 2017, Ministry of Coal, July 13, 2017, http://coal.nic.in/sites/upload_files/coal/files/curentnotices/CBARules14072017.pdf.
[186] Notification no. 103/13/2015/NA, Ministry of Coal, November 16, 2017, https://coal.nic.in/sites/upload_files/coal/files/curentnotices/30-11-2017.pdf.
[187] “Cabinet approves methodology for auction of coal mines / blocks for sale of coal under the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 and the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957”, Press Information Bureau, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, February 20, 2018.
[188] “Committee set up for framing a new National Mineral Policy”, Ministry of Mines, August 14, 2017, http://mines.gov.in/writereaddata/UploadFile/NMPcommittee14082017636383202374185726.pdf.
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[190] The draft Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) (Amendment) Bill, 2017, Ministry of Mines, September 1, 2017, http://mines.gov.in/writereaddata/UploadFile/NOTICE636398652624515701.pdf.
[191] “Amendments in the Mineral Auction Rules”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Mines, December 1, 2017.
[192] “Cabinet approves National Steel Policy 2017”, Press Information Bureau, Cabinet, May 3, 2017.
[193] National Steel Policy 2017, Ministry of Steel, http://steel.nic.in/sites/default/files/NATIONAL_STEEL_POLICY_2017.pdf.
[194] “Cabinet approves Policy for providing preference to domestically manufactured iron & steel products in government procurement”, Press Information Bureau, Cabinet, May 3, 2017.
[195] Policy for providing preference to domestically manufactured iron and steel products in government procurement, Ministry of Steel, http://steel.nic.in/sites/default/files/steel_policy2_eng.pdf.
[196] Recommendations on Net Neutrality, Telecom Authority of India, Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, November 28, 2017, http://trai.gov.in/sites/default/files/Recommendations_NN_2017_11_28.pdf.
[197] Consultation on Net Neutrality, Telecom Authority of India, Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, January 4, 2017, http://trai.gov.in/sites/default/files/CP_NetNeutrality2017_01_04.pdf.
[198] “Prohibition of Discriminatory Tariffs for Data Services Regulations, 2016”, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, February 8, 2016, https://trai.gov.in/sites/default/files/Regulation_Data_Service.pdf.
[199] “India Joins Race in 5G Ecosystem, Constitutes High Level Forum on 5G India 2020”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Communications, September 26, 2017.
[200] “Cabinet approves Recommendations of Inter-Ministerial Group on Stressed Assets in Telecom Sector”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Communications, March 7, 2018.
[201] Draft Space Activities Bill, 2017, Indian Space Research Organisation, November 21, 2017, https://www.isro.gov.in/update/21-nov-2017/seeking-comments-draft-space-activities-bill-2017-stake-holders-public-regarding.
[202] The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) Bill, 2017, Ministry of Human Resource Development, February 9, 2017, http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/IIM%20Bill/IIM%20Bill,%202017.pdf.
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[221] “NAAC launches Revised Accreditation Framework”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Human Resource Development, August 5, 2017.
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[223] “Cabinet approves creation of a single non-lapsable corpus fund for Secondary and Higher education from the proceeds of Cess for Secondary and Higher Education levied under Section 136 of Finance Act, 2007”, Press Information Bureau, Cabinet, August 16, 2017.
[224] “Cabinet approves formulation of a new Integrated Scheme for School Education from 1st April, 2018 to 31st March, 2020”, Press Information Bureau, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs. March 28, 2018.
[225] “Cabinet approves continuation of Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) - National Higher Education Mission”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Human Resource Development, March 21, 2018.
[226] “Cabinet approves Creation of National Testing Agency (NTA) to conduct entrance examinations for higher educational institutions”, Press Information Bureau, Cabinet, November 10, 2017.
[227] Budget Speech, 2017-18, Union Budget 2017-18, February 1, 2017, http://indiabudget.nic.in/ub2017-18/bs/bs.pdf.
[228] “Cabinet approves continuation of the Credit Guarantee Fund for Education Loans Scheme and continuation and modification of Central Sector Interest Subsidy Scheme”, Press Information Bureau, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, March 28, 2018.
[229] “Cabinet approves revised pay scales of teachers and equivalent academic staff in Universities/Colleges & centrally funded technical institutions”, Press Information Bureau, Cabinet, October 11, 2017.
[230] “Cabinet approves Implementation of ‘Prime Minister Research Fellows (PMRF)”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Human Resource Development, February 7, 2018.
[231] “Cabinet approves SANKALP & STRIVE Schemes to boost Skill India Mission”, Press Information Bureau, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, October 11, 2017.
[231] Report no.33, Standing Committee on Labour: “Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and Skill Development Initiative Scheme”, Lok Sabha, January 4, 2018, http://164.100.47.193/lsscommittee/Labour/16_Labour_33.pdf.
[232] “Cabinet approves re-structuring of National Skill Development Fund (NSDF) and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) to strengthen governance, implementation and monitoring framework”, Press Information Bureau, Cabinet, March 28, 2018.
[233] Skilling India, 2017, World Bank, June 23, 2017, http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2017/06/23/skilling-india.
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[236] “Cabinet approves certain official amendments to the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, March 28, 2018.
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[241] “Cabinet approves moving official amendments in the "Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016”, Press Information Bureau, Cabinet, March 21, 2018.
[242] Draft Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) (Regulation) Bill, 2017, Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, March, 2018, http://dhr.gov.in/circulars/assisted-reproductive-technology-regulation-bill-2017.
[243] “Cabinet approves Ayushman Bharat – National Health Protection Mission”, Press Information Bureau, Cabinet, March 21, 2018.
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[245] “Cabinet approves setting up of National Nutrition Mission”, Press Information Bureau, Cabinet, December 1, 2017.
[246] “Cabinet approves increase of cost norms for Supplementary Nutrition provided in Anganwadis and in the Scheme for Adolescent Girls”, Press Information Bureau, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, September 20, 2017.
[247] “Cabinet approves rationalization of Autonomous Bodies under Department of Health & Family Welfare”, Press Information Bureau, Cabinet, February 7, 2018.
[248] “Cabinet approves scheme for augmenting human resources for health and medical education”, Press Information Bureau, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, February 7, 2018.
[249] “Cabinet approves setting up of new AIIMS in Kamrup, Assam”, Press Information Bureau, Cabinet, May 24, 2017.
[250] “Cabinet approves setting up of new AIIMS in Bilaspur”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, January 3, 2018.
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[252] “Cabinet approves continuation of the National AYUSH Mission”, Press Information Bureau, Cabinet, December 15, 2017.
[253] Revision of ceiling price by National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, April 20, 2017, http://www.pharmaceuticals.gov.in/sites/default/files/1230002.pdf.
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[256] “SATH program launched by NITI Aayog”, Press Information Bureau, NITI Aayog, June 10, 2017.
[257] Draft Digital Information Security in Healthcare Bill, Ministry of Health and Family Research, March, 2018, https://www.mohfw.nic.in/newshighlights/comments-draft-digital-information-security-health-care-actdisha.
[258] The Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property (Amendment) Bill, 2017, Ministry of Urban Development, July 18, 2017, http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/Immovable%20Property/Requisitioning%20of%20Immovable%20Property%20Bill,%202017.pdf.
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[263] “Centre announces new PPP Policy to promote private investments in affordable housing”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, September 21, 2017.
[264] “Cabinet approves creation of national Urban Housing Fund”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, February 22, 2018.
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[267] “Union Cabinet approves new Metro Rail Policy”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, August 16, 2017.
[268] Unstarred Question no. 2345, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Lok Sabha, January 2, 2018, http://164.100.47.190/loksabhaquestions/annex/13/AU2345.pdf.
[269] “Silvassa tops the List of Winner Cities--Erode, Diu, Biharsharif, Itanagar & Kavaratti selected in Round 4 of Smart Cities--Bareilly, Moradabad & Saharanpur in UP also selected—99 Smart Cities selected so Far”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, January 19, 2018.
[270] “Government announces first batch of 20 smart cities from 11 states and Delhi”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Urban Development, January 28, 2016.
[271] “Lucknow tops Fast Track competition; 13 more Smart Cities announced”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Urban Development, May 24, 2016.
[272] Smart City Mission implementation now spread over 27 states/UTs”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Urban Development, September 20, 2016.
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[276] “Cabinet approves the increase in the carpet area of houses eligible for interest subsidy under the Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme for the Middle Income Group under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana”, Press Information Bureau, Cabinet, November 16, 2017.
[277] Operational guidelines for the new Scheme of Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme for Middle Income Group (MIG), Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, March 11, 2017, http://mohua.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/11CLSS-EWSLIG-Amendments%242017Mar11182742.pdf.
[278] “Quality of life in 116 major cities to be assessed; City Liveability Index launched”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Urban Development, June 23, 2017.
[279] “Report of the Committee on Performance Based Payments for Better Outcomes in Rural Development Programmes”, Ministry of Rural Development, http://rural.nic.in/sites/default/files/PerformanceBasedPayments_0.pdf.
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[290] “Cabinet approves raising Extra Budgetary Resources up to Rs. 9020 crore for Long Term Irrigation Fund during the year 2017-18”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Water Resources, August 16, 2017.
[291] “Cabinet approves continuation and restructuring of National Rural Drinking Water Programme”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, November 10, 2017.
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[293] “Cabinet approves the Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Women and Child Development, February 28, 2018.
[294] Constitution of National Technical Board on Nutrition, Ministry of Women and Child Development, December 15, 2017, http://wcd.nic.in/sites/default/files/Constitution%20of%20National%20Technical%20Board%20on%20Nutrition%20%28NTBN%C2%A0%29.PDF.
[295] “Cabinet approves Pan-India implementation of Maternity Benefit Program”, Press Information Bureau, Cabinet, May 17, 2017.
[296] Administrative approval on pan-India implementation of Maternity Benefit Programme, Ministry of Women and Child Development, May 19, 2017, http://wcd.nic.in/sites/default/files/Maternity%20Benefit%20Programme_1.pdf
[297] “Cabinet approves Revamped Khelo India Programme”, Press Information Bureau, Cabinet, September 20, 2017.
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[299] “Haj Committee presents report on New Haj policy 2018-22 to Shri Mukhrar Abbas Naqvi”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Minority Affairs, October 7, 2017.
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[309] “Cabinet approves proposals for promulgation of the Daman and Diu Municipalities (Amendment) Regulation, 2018; the Dadra and Nagar Haveli Municipal Council (Amendment) Regulation, 2018; and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Municipal) Amendment Regulation, 2018”, Press Information Bureau, Cabinet, March 7, 2018.
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[311] “Cabinet approves appointment of Second National Judicial Pay Commission for Subordinate Judiciary in the country”, Press Information Bureau, Cabinet, November 10, 2017.
[312] No. 19018/1/2017-Jus., Gazette of India, Ministry of Law and Justice, November 16, 2017, http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2017/180293.pdf.
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[314] “The Expert Committee set on examining Specific Relief Act, 1963 submits its Report to Union Law & Justice Minister”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Law and Justice, June 20, 2016.
[315] “Cabinet approves the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2018”, Press Information Bureau, Cabinet, March 7, 2018.
[316] The New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill, 2018, http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/ND%20International%20Arbitration/ND%20International%20Arbitration%20Centre%20Bill,%202018.pdf.
[317] “Cabinet approves the Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Division of High Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2018”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Law and Justice, March 7, 2018.
[318] Resolution dated 03.10.2017 regarding transparency in Collegium System, Supreme Court of India, October 3, 2017, http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/pdf/collegium/2017.10.03-Minutes-Transparency.pdf.
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[1] “270th Report: Compulsory Registration of Marriage”, Law Commission of India, Ministry of Law and Justice, July 11, 2017, http://lawcommissionofindia.nic.in/reports/Report270.pdf.
[1] The Consumer Protection Bill, 2018, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, January 2018, http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/Consumer%20Protection,%202018/Consumer%20Protection%20Bill,%202018.pdf
[1] “Simplified ‘Make-II’: Major Steps Towards ‘Make in India’ in Defence Production”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Defence, January 17, 2018.
[1] “DAC simplifies procedure to develop defence equipment through Indian industry; clears procurements of assault rifles and carbines worth Rs 3,547 crore”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Defence, January 16, 2018.
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[1]“Cabinet approves umbrella scheme of Modernisation of Police Forces”, Press Information Bureau, September 27, 2017.
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[1] The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2017, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/Constitution%20(SC)%20order%20bill,%202017/Constitution%20(SC)%20Orders%20(A)%20Bill%20as%20passed%20by%20LS.pdf.
[1] “Report no. 43, Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment: “The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016”, July 19, 2017, http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/Transgender/SCR%20Transgender%20Persons%20Bll%202016.pdf.
[1] The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017. June 15, 2017, http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2017/176728.pdf.
[1] “Cabinet approves extension of term of the Commission to examine the issue of sub-categorization of Other Backward Classes”, Press Information Bureau, Cabinet, December 20, 2017,
[1] “Cabinet approves setting up of a Commission to examine the Sub-Categorization within OBCs”, Press Information Bureau, Cabinet, August 23, 2017.
[1] “Revision of income criteria to exclude socially advanced persons/sections (Creamy Layer) from the purview of reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs)”, Department of Personnel and Training, September 13, 2017, http://document.ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D2/D02adm/36033_1_2013-Estt-Res-13092017.pdf.
[1] “List of MoUs/Agreements signed during the visit of Prime Minister to Israel (July 5, 2017)”, Press Information Bureau, Prime Minister’s Office, July 5, 2017.
[1] List of MOUs/Agreements signed during the visit of Prime Minister of Israel to India, Press Release, Ministry of External Affairs, January 15, 2018, http://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/29356/List_of_MoUsAgreements_signed_during_the_visit_of_Prime_Minister_of_Israel_to_India_January_15_2018.
[1] List of MOUs/Agreements signed during the Prime Minister of Japan to India (September 14, 2017), Press Release, Bilateral/Multilateral Documents, Ministry of External Affairs, September 14, 2017, http://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/28949/List+of+MoUsAgreements+signed+during+the+visit+of+Prime+Minister+of+Japan+to+India+September+14+2017.
[1] List of MoUs exchanged during the State visit of President of Palestine to India (May 16, 2017), Press Release, Ministry of External Affairs, May 16, 2017, http://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/28467/list+of+mous+exchanged+during+the+state+visit+of+president+of+palestine+to+india+may+16+2017.
[1]. List of MOUs/Agreements signed during visit of Prime Minister to Palestine, Press Release, Ministry of External Affairs, February 10, 2018, http://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/29468/List_of_MoUsAgreements_signed_during_visit_of_Prime_Minister_to_Palestine.
[1]. List of Agreements/MOUs signed on the occasion of the visit of President of Iran to India (February 17, 2018), Press Release, Ministry of External Affairs, February 17, 2018, http://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/29494/List_of_MoUsAgreements_signed_during_the_visit_of_President_of_Iran_to_India_February_17_2018.
[1]. List of MOUs/Agreements signed during the State Visit of Prime Minister of Canada to India (February 23, 2018), Press Release, Ministry of External Affairs, February 23, 2018, http://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/29510/List_of_MoUsAgreements_signed_during_the_State_Visit_of_Prime_Minister_of_Canada_to_India_February_23_2018.
[1] List of MOUs/Agreements signed during the Visit of the King of Jordan to India (March 01, 2018), Press Release, Ministry of External Affairs, March 1, 2018, http://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/29527/List_of_MoUsAgreements_signed_during_the_Visit_of_the_King_of_Jordan_to_India_March_01_2018.
[1] List of MOUs/Agreements signed during the State Visit of President of France to India (March 10, 2018), Press Release, Ministry of External Affairs, March 10, 2018, http://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/29592/List_of_MoUsAgreements_signed_during_the_State_Visit_of_President_of_France_to_India_March_10_2018.