EXECUTIVE IS BETTER-SUITED TO DEAL WITH COVID-19: CJI
Why in news? In an Interview the Chief Justice of India said that the Executive with its three ‘Ms’ of money, men and material is the better-suited branch of the Government to deal with COVID-19 crisis regarding Supreme Court interventions. He also said that hearing of cases through videoconferencing are not in-camera hearings and virtual […]
MOST OF RS TIME SPENT ON ISSUES OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE
Why in news? The Upper House spends only 24% of its time in deliberating and passing laws, an analysis by the Rajya Sabha Secretariat has revealed. Most of its functional time is spent on deliberating issues of public importance. Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu had directed the Secretariat to carry out this analysis to blunt […]
ICMR NOD FOR CORONAVIRUS DETECTION ASSAY
Why in news? IIT Delhi said it has got the approval from the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) for a probe-free coronavirus detection assay developed by it. The institute, in a statement on Thursday, said the assay had been validated at ICMR with a sensitivity and specificity of 100%, making IIT-D the first academic […]
INDUSTRIES CANNOT BE FORCED TO PAY WAGES DURING LOCKDOWN
Why in news? The Parliamentary Committee on Labour in its report on the Industrial Relations Code, 2019, submitted on 23rd April, has recommended that “in case of natural calamities, payment of wages to the workers until the re-establishment of the industry may be unjustifiable”. Background The Industrial Relations Code 2019 is an amalgamation of three laws […]
LOCKDOWN ENSURED GROWTH OF CASES REMAINED LINEAR
Why in news? India has managed to maintain a linear growth of COVID-19 cases over the one-month period during its lockdown, the Union Health Ministry said on 23rd April 2020 even as the country reported over 1,409 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total number of cases to 21,700 with 16,689 active ones. There are 12 districts […]
CENTRE, STATE CAN FIX SUGARCANE PRICE, SAYS SC
Why in news? The Supreme Court on 22nd April 2020 held in its judgment that both the central government as well as the state governments have the power to fix the price of sugarcane provided the price set by the State is higher than the minimum price fixed by the Centre. The judgment was passed by […]
ATTACKS ON HEALTH WORKERS TO ATTRACT UP TO 7 YEARS IN PRISON
Why in news? The Union Cabinet on 22nd April 2020, approved the promulgation of an ordinance to amend the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, making acts of violence against medical staff a cognizable and non-bailable offence and to provide compensation for injury to healthcare personnel or for damage or loss to property. The ordinance proposes that in […]
15TH FINANCE COMMISSION HOLDS MEETING WITH ITS ADVISORY COUNCIL
Why in news? The Fifteenth Finance Commission (XVFC) had online meetings with its Advisory Council on 23-24 April, 2020 and discussed various issues confronting the Commission now. What transpired in the meeting? In the meeting all of them were unanimous to suggest that the projections of real GDP growth made before March 2020 need to […]
PROMULGATION OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE EPIDEMIC DISEASES ACT
Why in news? The Union Cabinet in its meeting held on 22nd April 2020 has approved promulgation of an Ordinance to amend the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 to protect healthcare service personnel and property including their living/working premises against violence during epidemics. The President has given his assent for promulgation of the Ordinance. What does […]
PM GREETS CIVIL SERVANTS ON CIVIL SERVICES DAY
Why in news? The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted Civil Servants and their families and paid tributes to Sardar Patel on Civil Services Day- 21st April 2020. Civil Services Day Every year, India celebrates Civil Service Day on April 21. The main aim of celebrating the day is to motivate the efforts and […]