PIB – 21 July 2021

CONSUMER PROTECTION (E-COMMERCE) RULES 2020 PROPOSED AMENDMENT

Focus: Government policies and Interventions

Why in News ?

For the purposes of preventing unfair trade practices in e-commerce Central Government had notified the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 with effect from 23 July 2020. 

Proposed amendments:

Chief Compliance Officer

• It aims to ensure compliance to their orders and deal with compliance of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 and Rules
• A nodal contact person for 24×7 coordination with law enforcement agencies.
• Resident Grievance Officer for redressing of the grievances of the consumers on the e-commerce platform, has been proposed.
• This would ensure effective compliance with the provisions of the Act and Rules
• Also strengthen the grievance redressal mechanism on e-commerce entities.

Framework for registration

• This aims to verify the genuineness of an e-commerce entity before transacting through their platform.
• Every e-commerce entity with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) for allotment of registration number which shall be displayed prominently on website
• Also provide the number in invoice of every order placed the e-commerce entity.

Prohibition of mis-selling

• Selling goods or services by deliberate misrepresentation of information
• This aims to ensure that consumers are aware about the expiry date of the products they are buying on the e-commerce platform
• All inventory e-commerce entities to provide best before or use before date to enable consumers to make an informed purchase decision.

Fair and equal treatment

• To ensure that the domestic manufacturers and suppliers get a fair and equal treatment on the e-commerce platform
• An e-commerce entity offers imported goods or services shall incorporate a filter mechanism to identify goods based on country of origin.
• It should suggest alternatives to ensure fair opportunity to domestic goods.

Failure of delivery of goods

• Provisions of Fall-back liability for every marketplace e-commerce entity have been provided.
• This will ensure that consumers are not adversely affected in the event of delayed, fails to deliver and negligent conduct.

Need for Amendment

• Prevalence of such unfortunate incidents has negatively impacted the consumer and business sentiment in the market, causing immense distress and anguish to many.
• It was observed that there was lack of regulation in e-commerce which required some urgent action.
• Rapid growth of e-commerce platforms also brought into the purview the unfair trade practices of the marketplace
• E-commerce entities engaging in manipulating search result to promote certain sellers, preferential treatment to some sellers, indirectly operating the sellers on their platform
• This impinging the free choice of consumers, selling goods close to expiration. 

 Aim of Consumer Protection (E-commerce) Rules 2020 Proposed Amendment:

• To protect the interests of consumers, prevent their exploitation and encourage free and fair competition in the market
• The proposed amendments aim to bring transparency in the e-commerce platforms and further strengthen the regulatory regime to curb the prevalent unfair trade practices.

NATIONAL LIVESTOCK MISSION

Focus: GS III- Agriculture

Why in News?

National Livestock Mission (NLM) proposes to bring sharp focus on entrepreneurship development and breed improvement in rural poultry, sheep, goat and piggery including feed and fodder development

• The dairy cooperatives and Farmer Producer Organisations will be provided with 4% interest subvention for meeting their working capital requirements thus benefitting 2 crore farmers and paving the way towards self-reliance.

Objectives:

• Sustainable growth and development of the livestock sector, including poultry
• Increasing availability of fodder and feed to substantially reduce the demand-supply gap through measures which include more area coverage under quality fodder seeds, technology promotion, extension, post-harvest management and processing in consonance with diverse agro-climatic condition.
• Accelerating production of quality fodder and fodder seeds through effective seed production chain (Nucleus – Breeder –Foundation – Certified-Truthfully labelled, etc.) with the active involvement of farmers and in collaboration with the dairy/farmers cooperatives, seed corporations, and private sector enterprises.
• Establishing convergence and synergy among ongoing Plan programmes and stakeholders for sustainable livestock development.
• Promoting applied research in prioritized areas of concern in animal nutrition and livestock production.
• Capacity building of state functionaries and livestock owners through strengthened extension machinery to provide quality extension service to farmers.
• Promoting skill-based training and dissemination of technologies for reducing the cost of production, and improving production of livestock sector
• Promoting initiatives for conservation and genetic up-gradation of indigenous breeds of livestock (except bovines which are being covered under another scheme of the Ministry) in collaboration with farmers/farmers’ groups/cooperatives, etc.
• Encouraging the formation of groups of farmers and cooperatives/producers’ companies of small and marginal farmers/livestock owners.
• Promoting innovative pilot projects and mainstreaming of successful pilots relating to livestock sector.
• Providing infrastructure and linkage for marketing, processing and value addition, as forward linkage for the farmer’s enterprises.
• Promoting risk management measures including livestock insurance for farmers.
• Promoting activities to control and prevent animal diseases, environmental pollution, promoting efforts towards food safety and quality, and supply of quality hides and skins through the timely recovery of carcasses.
• Encouraging community participation on sustainable practices related to animal husbandry, involvement of community in breed conservation and creation of resource map for the states.

SWADESH DARSHAN SCHEME

Focus: GS I-Art and Culture

Why in News?

Ministry of Tourism has identified “Eco Circuit” as one of the 15 thematic circuits under Swadesh Darshan Scheme

Key Highlights:

• Eco-tourism has been identified as one of the Niche Tourism areas by Ministry of Tourism for development in the country. 
• Promotion and Development of tourism, including Eco Tourism, is the primary responsibility of the State Governments/UT Administrations. 
• However, Ministry of Tourism provides financial assistance under Swadesh Darshan Scheme for the development of tourism related infrastructure and facilities in the country.
• Recognizing the potential for the development of Eco tourism in the country, the Ministry of Tourism has identified “Eco Circuit” as one of the 15 thematic circuits under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme.

About Swadesh Darshan scheme:

Nodal: Ministry of Tourism

Objective: 

• To develop theme-based tourist circuits in the country.
• These tourist circuits  will be developed on the principles of high tourist value, competitiveness and  sustainability in an integrated manner.
• To develop quality infrastructure in the country with the objective of providing better experience and facilities to the visitors on one hand and on other hand fostering the economic growth.

Features of Swadesh Darshan Scheme:

• Swadesh Darshan scheme is one of the flagship scheme of the Ministry of tourism for the development of thematic circuits in the country in a planned and prioritised manner
• 100% funding from Centre for the project components undertaken for public funding.
• To leverage the voluntary funding available for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives of Central Public Sector Undertakings and corporate sector.
• Funding of individual project will vary from state to state and will be finalised on the basis of detailed project reports prepared by PMC (Programme Management Consultant). PMC will be a national level consultant to be appointed by the Mission Directorate.
• A National Steering Committee (NSC) will be constituted with Minister in charge of M/O Tourism as Chairman, to steer the mission objectives and vision of the scheme.
• A Mission Directorate headed by the Member Secretary, NSC as a nodal officer will help in identification of projects in consultation with the States/ UTs governments and other stake holders.

INDIAN CYBER CRIME COORDINATION CENTRE (I4C)

Focus: GS III- Security challenges

Why in News?

The Government has established Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) to provide a framework and eco-system  to deal with the cyber crimes in a comprehensive and coordinated manner.

Details

• I4C was setup to deal with all types of cybercrimes in a comprehensive and coordinated manner.
• It has seven components viz.,
  • National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit
  • National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal
  • National Cyber Crime Training Centre
  • Cyber Crime Ecosystem Management Unit
  • National Cyber Crime Research and Innovation Centre
  • National Cyber Crime Forensic Laboratory Ecosystem
  • Platform for Joint Cyber Crime Investigation Team.
• National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (www.cybercrime.gov.in) is a citizen-centric initiative that will enable citizens to report cybercrimes online through the portal.
• All the cybercrime related complaints will be accessed by the concerned law enforcement agencies in the States and Union Territories for taking action as per law.