BLOGS
Special selection committee to select the women officers
The army formed a special selection committee to select the women officers of the Standing Commission. This follows the landmark Supreme Court verdict in February this year, which allowed all female officers to run for the Standing Army Committee.
How is the selection panel for women civil servants formed?
Selection Board No.5 was appointed by the military in accordance with the Supreme Court’s order of February 2020, which directed the military to recruit all eligible women as permanent officers. The special commission came into effect on September 14. The commission is headed by a senior general officer and includes an officer with the rank of brigadier. Women officers were allowed to attend the discussions as observers to make the process more transparent. Female officers who qualify in the selection process will receive a standing committee subject to being in the acceptable medical category.
What was the problem at the Supreme Court?
The incorporation of female officers into the military began in 1992, when the government of the day began to roll the ball for the integration of female officers into certain non-combat branches. In 2008, the current government expanded the Standing Women’s Committee into two branches: the Army Education Corps and the Judge Advocate General.
- In 2010, the Delhi High Court granted the Standing Commission to women civil servants in all branches in which they worked, but the government appealed the decision to the Supreme Court.
- The verdict on the matter was delivered in February of this year. It is relevant to mention here that the current government granted the Standing Commission to the women of the ten branches in which they worked in March 2019, but this offer was not going to be implemented in retrospect.
- This meant that a large number of female officers who were still part of the Short Service Commission (SSC) would not be eligible for the Standing Commission.
- As SSC officers, they could serve up to 14 years in the military, but the SC order paved the way for their candidacy for the Standing Commission. For this, a preselection jury was created.
How many female officers currently serve in the military and in which branches?
Recent figures show that 1,653 female officers currently serve in the military out of a total of nearly 43,000 officers. In addition to the magistrate branch of the Attorney General and the army education body where the standing commission has already been given, the other eight branches to get female officers as standing officers are the signals, engineers, military intelligence, army air defense, Air Force Corps, Army Service Corps, Army Aviation Corps, and Electronics and Mechanical Engineering Corps.
What are the aptitude standards for female officers wishing to become members of a standing committee?
The military recently changed its fitness policy for female officers after the Supreme Court verdict. By changing its policy regarding the applicability of the Combat Physical Efficiency Test (BPET) for female officers / cadets / recruits, the Army made it mandatory for all female officers, including commissioners. before 2009 and over 35, who were previously exempt.
- The BPET is a series of physical tests designed to assess the physical condition of an officer or a jawan to perform military tasks. For female officers, this includes a five-kilometer run, a 60-meter sprint, climbing a vertical rope to a certain height, crossing a horizontal rope a certain distance, and jumping. of a 6 foot trench.
- These new instructions replace the instructions issued by the army headquarters in March 2011, which stated: “Officers who enter service before April 2009 and who are over 35 years old will be exempt from BPET and only their test. physical competition (PPT) will apply. “
Are there other conditions of eligibility for the granting of the Standing Committee to women civil servants?
After the order of the Supreme Court of February 17, 2020 according to the Standing Commission to all women officers with all the benefits that flow from it, the army began to detail women officers at the rank of lieutenant-colonels for the command course junior (JC) at Army War College, Mhow, for those eligible for the Standing Commission Women officers were invited to attend the courses offered at the university between July and October of this year.
- This course, which is normally taken by male officers with five to ten years of service, will now have the participation of female officers from most senior echelons, 15 and 16 years of service or more. In accordance with the instructions of the Director General of Military Training (DGMT), by order of the CS, female officers registered with the Standing Commission must follow the compulsory courses of their respective branches at the same time as the JC course.
Spaniard Rafael Nadal won his 20th Grand Slam
Spaniard Rafael Nadal demolished world number one Novak Djokovic of Serbia 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 in the Roland Garros final to win his 20th Grand Slam title on Sunday.
- With his 13th record win at Roland Garros, world number two Nadal is now tied with Roger Federer of Switzerland as the player with the most important titles in men’s singles.
- Nadal was the first attacker, drowning Djokovic to brutally win the first set after making just two unforced errors. He then kept a firm grip on a subdued Djokovic in the second set.
- Djokovic, seeking to win his 18th Grand Slam title, rebelled in the third set, falling back to 3-3, to give up his serve on a double fault in Game 11 before Nadal claimed his 100th victory at Roland Garros. nails on.
“First of all, of course, congratulations to Novak on another great tournament, sorry for today,”
said Nadal, who has now beaten Djokovic in his three Roland Garros finals.
“In Australia (in the 2019 final), it killed me. We have played so many times, one day one wins, another day the other wins. “
- Nadal, 34, would not think of matching Federer’s mark.
“Winning here means everything. I’m not thinking about 20th today and tied with Roger for this big number, it’s just a victory at Roland Garros and that means everything to me, ”
said the world number two.
“This love story I have with this city and this backyard is unforgettable.”
- When Nadal finished with an ace, he knelt down, grinned widely and waved his arms.
- Nadal, No. 2 in the standings, improved to 100-2 at Roland Garros, including a combined 26-0 in the semifinals and final, and clinched his fourth consecutive title in Paris.
- The 34-year-old had already organized four series of four French Open championships from 2005 to 2008, then five in a row from 2010 to 14, to accompany his four trophies at the US Open, two at Wimbledon and one at the Open. from Australia. .
- Nadal is now tied with Federer for the first time since neither man has had Slams to his name in 2003. Federer first came to Wimbledon that year; Nadal got his first in France in 2005.
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)
While Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar and Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi negotiated a five-point deal that they hoped would lead to a process of disengagement between aligned Indian and Chinese troops, on top of each other along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), it wasn’t just the host, Russia, who played a role behind the scenes.
- Indeed, on the occasion of its presence in Moscow, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) had an important role to play.
- The SCO was founded in June 2001, it was based on the regrouping of the “Shanghai Five” of Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan (Kyrgyz Republic) and Tajikistan, who had joined the post-Soviet era in 1996, to work on regional projects. security, reduction of border troops and terrorism.
- A particular focus during all these years has been “conflict resolution”, given its early successes between China and Russia, and later in the Central Asian republics.
- The 1996 Shanghai Five meeting, for example, resulted in an “Agreement on Building Military Confidence along Border Areas ” between China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Kyrgyzstan.
- Tajikistan, which led to an agreement on the mutual reduction of military forces at their common borders in 1997. It later helped push the countries of Central Asia to resolve some of their border disputes as well.
- The 1997 Shanghai Five meeting, for example, resulted in an “agreement on the mutual reduction of military forces along China’s borders with Kazakhstan” and other agreements that resolved “the Disputes between Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan over border issues and the Ferghana Valley enclaves” were facilitated by the group.
- In 2001, the Shanghai Five brought Uzbekistan into the group and appointed OCS, setting out its principles in a letter promoting what was called the “Shanghai Spirit.”
- Under its rules, the organization has two permanent bodies; the SCO Secretariat based in Beijing and the Tashkent-based Executive Committee of the Regional Counterterrorism Structure (RATS).
- The Secretary General of the SCO and the Director of the SCO RATS Executive Committee are appointed by the Council of Heads of State for a period of three years.
- The SCO board meetings are shifted between the eight members (including India and Pakistan).
- The SCO also has four observer states: Afghanistan, Iran, Belarus, and Mongolia, which may be incorporated at a later date.
Main objectives of the SCO
The SCO describes its main objectives, which are part of its Charter adopted in St. Petersburg in 2002, as; “to strengthen mutual trust and neighborhood between member states; promote their effective cooperation in the fields of politics, trade, economy, research, technology and culture, as well as in education, energy, transport, tourism, protection environment and other areas; to deploy joint efforts to maintain and guarantee peace, security and stability in the region; and to move forward towards the establishment of a new democratic, just and rational international political and economic order ”.
- Undoubtedly, the SCO was viewed with some suspicion by the United States and Europe because of this, not least because of its desire to build a “new international political and economic order”, and was even nicknamed “anti-NATO”, for offering military cooperation.
- In 2005, the Astana declaration called on SCO countries to work on a “joint SCO response to situations that threaten peace, security and stability in the region”, indicating that the strategic ambitions of the SCO.
- The West and NATO worries intensified a decade later, when they imposed heavy sanctions on Russia for its actions in Crimea, but China came to its aid by signing a deal- $ 400 billion pipeline framework over 30 years.
- Since then, thanks to the personal bond between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, the SCO has become a platform for Eurasian cooperation in a region rich in energy resources.
- The China Belt and Road Initiative, to which Russia is not a party but supports, and which is joined by all SCO members (except India), is also part of the SCO statements.
Contradictions
India and Pakistan joined the SCO as observers in 2005 and were admitted as full members in 2015. Membership of the SCO was considered one of the political options. The most important but confusing foreigners of the Modi government, as it came at a time when New Delhi was looking more closely at the West, and in particular at the maritime “quadrilateral” with the United States, Japan and Australia.
- India has explained its membership in these two seemingly conflicting groups as part of its principles of “strategic autonomy and multiple alignment”.
- Other contradictions were also noted. Since 2014, India and Pakistan have broken all relations, talks and trade, and India has refused to attend the ASACR summit due to tensions with Pakistan, but its two leaders there always attended in all meetings of the three SCO Councils: Heads of State, Heads of Government, Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, as well as other meetings.
- Although India has accused Pakistan of committing cross-border terrorism in all other multilateral forums, within the SCO, the armed forces of India and Pakistan even jointly participate in military and counter-terrorism exercises.
- Within the framework of the SCO’s regional counter-terrorism structure. In addition, the two countries are part of the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group, to discuss the future of Afghanistan, an issue on which New Delhi and Islamabad are deeply divided.
Bilateral Meetings
Over the years, the SCO hosts have encouraged members to use the platform to discuss differences on the sidelines. In 2009, India and Pakistan held the first talks after the Mumbai attacks on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Astana, where then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and former Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari met.
- They are fulfilled and in 2015 Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Pakistan. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the SCO summit in Ufa, for a meeting that even resulted in a joint statement.
- There have been no bilateral meetings between Indian and Pakistani leaders on the sidelines of the SCO since then, and the two sides have been deliberately ignored in recent years, although the SCO Secretary General has often voiced his opinion.
- We hope to solve your problems through dialogue, including last year after the Pulwama attack.
- Therefore, it should not have been surprising that the host Russian SCO encouraged and facilitated meetings between the defense ministers of India and China (September 4) and the ministers of the United States.
- Foreign Relations of India and China (September 10) to discuss the confrontation in the LAC region that has seen violent clashes, killings of soldiers and crossfire for the first time in 45 years.
- “The SCO Charter does not resolve a bilateral dispute, but it provides a comfortable platform to build mutual trust, expand cooperation, find common ground, and ultimately create the conditions for mutual trust.. Dialogue between countries”, said Russia’s Deputy Ambassador to India Roman Babushkin at a press conference this week.
- It remains to be seen whether the meeting in Moscow between the Indian and Chinese foreign ministers leads to real progress on the ground at the level of the line of current control, where armies remain firmly anchored and the PLA has mobilized both troops and heavy equipment.
- If so, that would be a feather in the hat for the SCO, and if not, the SCO will certainly continue to provide places of alternative meeting for its disputing members, which is why it seeks to build a continental coalition they hope for its founders may one day be as strong as some of the other coalitions out there in in the west and south.
Serological Survey
A serological survey by the ICMR reveals that 0.73% of the population in 83 districts of the country has evidence of previous exposure to the coronavirus, ICMR releases Sero-survey results, says no community transmission yet but large population at risk of Covid-19.
The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) said that India is not yet in community transmission, but that a large part of the population is in danger, this is why physical distance and other similar measures were to continue.
The ICMR has published the results of a serological survey conducted to establish whether or not there is community transmission in critical districts.
The survey was conducted in the third week of May, which means that the data shows the state of the districts since the last week of April.
According to ICMR chief Bhargav, the population-based survey was conducted in 83 districts, covering around 28,000 households with a sample of around 26,400 (people?). The survey was broad, covering urban-rural clusters, towns, and urban neighborhoods in 15 districts.
The survey results provide a broad indication that can help the state and health agencies develop a strategy to manage the coronavirus pandemic. First, in urban groups, spread is much greater and risk factors are greater in urban and urban slums. Second, infection in containment areas is always high, contributing to more. In rural areas, the spread is less than in urban areas.
What is a serological survey?
Blood samples taken from the general population and analyzed for IgG antibodies (Immunoglobulin G.) If a person is IgG positive, it means that he has been infected with a coronavirus in the past. Sero-surveys could answer these questions:
- What percentage of the general population has been infected by the virus?
- Who are at a higher risk of getting infected?
- What are the areas where containment efforts need to be strengthened?
Key findings of the sero-survey
- 0.73% of the population in these districts have evidence of past exposure to coronavirus.
- Lockdown/containment has been successful in keeping the number of cases low & preventing rapid spread.
- However a large proportion of the population is still susceptible.
- Risk in urban areas and urban slums is 1.09 and 1.89 times higher than rural areas, respectively.
- Infection fatality rate is very low at 0.08%
- Infection in containment zones was found to be high with significant variations (still ongoing).
Takeaways of the survey
- Large proportion of the population is susceptible to the virus and infection can spread,
- Urban slums highly vulnerable to the spread of infection,
- Local lockdown measures need to continue,
- High-risk groups: Elderly, those with chronic morbidities, pregnant women & children below 10 years of age need to be protected,
- Efforts to limit the scale and spread of the disease should continue by the strong implementation of containment strategies by the states,
- The states cannot lower their guard & need to keep on implementing effective surveillance and containment strategies
What is community transmission?
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), community transmission “is evidenced by the inability to relate confirmed cases through chains of transmission for a large number of cases, or by increasing positive tests through sentinel samples (routine systematic testing of respiratory samples from established laboratories)”.
In other words community transmission is when there is no clear source of infection in a new community. This happens when you can no longer identify who was infected after being exposed to someone who interacted with people from the originally infected communities.
For example, a widespread community in India means that cases occur in people who have had no known contact with other confirmed cases of Covid-19, especially those who came with the infection from foreign countries. Community transmission means that infections within a population are not imported from another area affected by the virus.
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September PMI rose to 56.8
India’s manufacturing activity grew at its fastest pace in more than eight years in September as an easing of coronavirus lockdown restrictions fueled increased demand and production, however, a private investigation showed layoffs continued.
- Signs of recovery are good news for Asia’s third-largest economy, which is expected to mark its first annual contraction since 1979 this year. The pandemic is spreading in India at the fastest rate in the world.
- The Nikkei Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index, compiled by IHS Markit, rose to 56.8 in September from 52.0 in August, above the 50 level that separates growth from contraction for the second month in a row. It was the highest reading since January 2012.
- “India’s manufacturing industry has continued to move in the right direction, with September PMI data highlighting many bright spots.
- Due to the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, factories have been moving at full speed, supported by increasing revenues and jobs, ”said Pollyanna De Lima, IHS Markit Associate Director of Economics.
- While uncertainty remains about the COVID-19 pandemic, growers can at least for now benefit from the recovery.
- Tracking the production of a sub-index reached its highest level since December 2007 and new orders grew at the fastest pace since February 2012, helped by domestic and external demand, which increased for the first time in September month.
- Although input prices rose at a slower pace in September, manufacturers raised their selling prices after cutting them since March to secure sales.
- Despite the strong rebound, companies downsized for the sixth month in a row. Distortions linked to the coronavirus have already put millions of people out of work.
- The sector is unlikely to get much support from the Reserve Bank of India in the coming months, as still high inflation should force the RBI to stay on the sidelines.
- Earlier this week, the RBI postponed a scheduled policy committee meeting from September 29 to October 29. 1 and said it would be reprogrammed. She did not give a reason for the move.
- Still, business optimism for the next 12 months has reached its highest level since August 2016.
Sensex above the 40,000 mark
Sensex’s benchmark BSE index broke and closed above the 40,000 mark on Thursday and held gains even on Friday. In the last six trading sessions, the Sensex rose 2,209 points or 5.8% and closed at a seven-month high of 40,182.67.
- Following the Reserve Bank of India’s monetary policy announcement on Friday, where it kept the repurchase rate on hold with an accommodative stance, the Sensex gained more ground and rose more than 200 points, trading at 40,400. In his policy statement, the RBI governor said that several high-frequency indicators aim to ease contractions in various sectors of the economy.
What is driving the market rally?
- Better-than-expected figures on various economic fronts fueled the rally. If the good vehicle sales figures in September were one, TCS reported a strong performance for the quarter ending in September and raised the share prices of major IT companies.
- Electronic bills rose 10% in September and energy demand also saw double-digit growth.
- A Credit Suisse report showed that rail freight in the last 10 days of September rose 19% and the pharmaceutical market grew 4.5% in September.
- As all these numbers point to a better-than-expected rebound in the economy, equity markets reacted to the same.
- Credit Suisse, in its report, said the faster-than-expected normalization has raised expectations that GDP growth forecasts for fiscal year 21 will now be revised upward.
Does this sound sustainable?
- In its monetary policy statement, the Reserve Bank of India said that several high-frequency indicators point to easing contractions in various sectors of the economy and the emergence of growth impulses.
- He said that the deep contractions of the first quarter of 2020-2021 have been left behind, and the rays of light are visible in the flattening of the load curve of active cases across the country.
- Barring a second wave, India is prepared to ignore the deadly control of the virus and renew its appointment with its pre-COVID growth trajectory.
- The drop in COVID-19 cases over the past week has been of great benefit to the markets. With the numbers dropping, foreclosure restrictions have been further relaxed and central regulations now allow almost all activity.
- This is expected to further strengthen the recovery in economic activity across the country and help maintain momentum in equity markets.
- However, investors should be careful when selecting stocks, as multiple companies can trade at high valuations.
Self-Reliant India Package – Part 1
- Five pillars of AtmaNirbhar Bharat – Economy, Infrastructure, System, Vibrant Demography and Demand,
- Special economic and comprehensive package of Rs 20 lakh crores – equivalent to 10% of India’s GDP,
- Package to cater to various sections including cottage industry, MSMEs, labourers, middle class, industries, among others,
- Bold reforms across sectors will drive the country’s push towards self-reliance,
- It is time to become vocal for our local products and make them global.
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package: Rs. 1.70 Lakh Crore relief package under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana for the poor to help them fight the battle against Corona Virus.
- Insurance cover of Rs 50 Lakh per health worker,
- 80 crore poor people given benefit of 5 kg wheat or rice per person for next 3 months,
- 1 kg pulses for each household for free every month for the next 3 months,
- 20 crore women Jan Dhan account holders get Rs 500 per month for next 3 months,
- Gas cylinders, free of cost, provided to 8 crore poor families for the next 3 months,
- Increase in MNREGA wage to Rs 202 a day from Rs 182 to benefit 13.62 crore families’
- Ex-gratia of Rs 1,000 to 3 crore poor senior citizen, poor widows and poor Divyang,
- Front-loaded Rs 2,000 paid to farmers under existing PM-KISAN to benefit 8.7 crore farmers,
- Building and Construction Workers Welfare Fund allowed to be used to provide relief to workers,
- 24% of monthly wages to be credited into their PF accounts for next three months for wage-earners below Rs 15,000 p.m. in businesses having less than 100 workers ,
- Five crore workers registered under Employee Provident Fund EPF to get non-refundable advance of 75% of the amount or three months of the wages, whichever is lower, from their accounts,
- Limit of collateral free lending to be increased from Rs 10 to Rs 20 lakhs for Women Self Help Groups supporting 6.85 crore households,
- District Mineral Fund (DMF) to be used for supplementing and augmenting facilities of medical testing, screening etc.
Other Measures
- On the request of the Government of India, RBI raised the Ways and Means advance limits of States by 60% and enhanced the Overdraft duration limits,
- Issued all the pending income-tax refunds up to Rs. 5 lakh, immediately benefiting around 14 lakh taxpayers,
- Implemented “Special Refund and Drawback Disposal Drive” for all pending refund and drawback claims,
- Both the above measures amount to Rs. 18,000 crore of refund,
- Sanctioned Rs 15,000 crores for Emergency Health Response Package,
- Provided Relaxation in Statutory and Compliance matters, such as;
- Extending last date for Income Tax Returns to June 30, 2020,
- Extending filing GST returns to end of June 2020,
- 24*7 custom clearance till 30th June, 2020,
- Relaxation for 3 months for debit cardholders to withdraw cash free from any ATMs, etc.
- Allowing payment before 15 May, 2020 for Motor Vehicle and Health Insurance Policies,
- Mandatory Board meetings extended by 60 days till 30 September,
- Allowing Extraordinary General Meetings through Video Conference with e-voting/simplified voting facility.
Measures taken by Reserve Bank of India
- Reduction of Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) has resulted in liquidity enhancement of Rs. 1,37,000 crores,
- Targeted Long Term Repo Operations (TLTROs) of Rs. 1,00,050 crore for fresh deployment in investment grade corporate bonds, commercial paper and non-convertible debentures,
- TLTRO of Rs.50,000 crore for investing them in investment grade bonds, commercial paper, and non-convertible debentures of NBFCs, and MFIs,
- Increased the banks’ limit for borrowing overnight under the marginal standing facility (MSF), allowing the banking system to avail an additional Rs. 1,37,000 crore of liquidity at the reduced MSF rate,
- Announced special refinance facilities to NABARD, SIDBI and the NHB for a total amount of Rs. 50,000 crore at the policy repo rate,
- Announced the opening of a special liquidity facility (SLF) of Rs. 50,000 crore for mutual funds to alleviate intensified liquidity pressures,
- Moratorium of three months on payment of installments and payment of Interest on Working Capital Facilities in respect of all Term Loans,
- Easing of Working Capital Financing by reducing margins for loans by NBFCs to commercial real estate sector, additional time of one year has been given for extension of the date for commencement for commercial operations (DCCO).
Businesses including MSMEs
- Rs 3 lakh crores Collateral free Automatic Loans for Business, including MSME,
- Rs 20,000 crore Subordinate Debt for MSMEs,
- Rs 50,000 cr equity infusion through MSME Fund of Funds
- New definition of MSMEs
- Global tender to be disallowed upto Rs 200 crores
- Other interventions for MSMEs
- Rs 2500 crores EPF support for Businesses and Workers for 3 more months
- EPF contribution reduced for Business & Workers for 3 months- Rs 6750 crores
- Rs 30,000 crores Liquidity Facility for NBFC/HCs/MFIs
- Rs 45,000 cr Partial Credit Guarantee Scheme 2.0 for NBFC
- Rs 90,000 cr Liquidity Injection for DISCOMs
- Relief to contractors
- Extension of Registration and Completion Date of Real Estate Projects under RERA
- Rs 50,000 cr liquidity through TDS/TCS reductions
- Other Direct tax Measures
- Other Direct Tax Measures
Rs 3 lakh crores Collateral-free Automatic Loans for Businesses, including MSMEs
- Businesses/MSMEs have been badly hit due to COVID19 need additional funding to meet operational liabilities built up, buy raw material and restart business,
- Emergency Credit Line to Businesses/MSMEs from Banks and NBFCs up to 20% of entire outstanding credit as on 29.2.2020,
- Borrowers with up to Rs. 25 crore outstanding and Rs. 100 crore turnover eligible,
- Loans to have 4 year tenor with moratorium of 12 months on Principal repayment Interest to be capped,
- 100% credit guarantee cover to Banks and NBFCs on principal and interest Scheme can be availed till 31st Oct 2020 No guarantee fee, no fresh collateral
- 45 lakh units can resume business activity and safeguard jobs
- Stressed MSMEs need equity support
- GoI will facilitate provision of Rs. 20,000 cr as subordinate debt
- Two lakh MSMEs are likely to benefit
- Functioning MSMEs which are NPA or are stressed will be eligible
- Govt. will provide a support of Rs. 4,000 Cr. to CGTMSE
- CGTMSE will provide partial Credit Guarantee support to Banks
- Promoters of the MSME will be given debt by banks, which will then be infused by promoter as equity in the Unit.
Rs 50,000 cr. Equity infusion for MSMEs through Fund of Funds
- MSMEs face severe shortage of Equity.
- Fund of Funds with Corpus of Rs 10,000 crores will be set up.
- Will provide equity funding for MSMEs with growth potential and viability.
- FoF will be operated through a Mother Fund and few daughter funds
- Fund structure will help leverage Rs 50,000 cr of funds at daughter funds level
- Will help to expand MSME size as well as capacity.
- Will encourage MSMEs to get listed on main board of Stock Exchanges.
New Definition of MSMEs: Low threshold in MSME definition have created a fear among MSMEs of graduating out of the benefits and hence killing the urge to grow. There has been a long-pending demand for revisions.
Announcement:
- Definition of MSMEs will be revised
- Investment limit will be revised upwards
- Additional criteria of turnover also being introduced.
- Distinction between manufacturing and service sector to be eliminated.
- Necessary amendments to law will be brought about.
Existing and Revised Definition of MSMEs
| Existing MSME Classification | |||
| Criteria : Investment in Plant & Machinery or Equipment | |||
| Classification | Micro | Small | Medium |
| Manufacturing Enterprises | Investment<Rs. 25 lac | Investment<Rs. 5 cr | Investment <Rs. 10 cr |
| Services Enterprise | Investment<Rs. 10 lac | Investment< Rs. 2 cr | Investment<Rs. 5 cr |
| Revised MSME Classification | |||
| Composite Criteria : Investment And Annual Turnover | |||
| Classification | Micro | Small | Medium |
| Manufacturing & Services | Investment< Rs. 1 cr. and Turnover < Rs.5 cr. | Investment< Rs. 10 cr. and Turnover < Rs.50 cr. | Investment< Rs. 20 cr. and Turnover < Rs.100 cr. |
Global tenders to be disallowed upto Rs 200 crores
- Indian MSMEs and other companies have often faced unfair competition from foreign companies.
- Therefore, Global tenders will be disallowed in Government procurement tenders upto Rs 200 crores
- Necessary amendments of General Financial Rules will be effected.
- This will be a step towards Self-Reliant India and support Make in India
- This will also help MSMEs to increase their business. Global tenders to be disallowed upto Rs 200 crores
Other interventions for MSMEs
- MSMEs currently face problems of marketing and liquidity due to COVID.
- e-market linkage for MSMEs to be promoted to act as a replacement for trade fairs and exhibitions.
- Fintech will be used to enhance transaction based lending using the data generated by the e-marketplace.
- Government has been continuously monitoring settlement of dues to MSME vendors from Government and Central Public Sector Undertakings.
- MSME receivables from Gov and CPSEs to be released in 45 days
Rs. 2500 crore EPF Support for Business & Workers for 3 more months
- Businesses continue to face financial stress as they get back to work.
- Under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP), payment of 12% of employer and 12% employee contributions was made into EPF accounts of eligible establishments.
- This was provided earlier for salary months of March, April and May 2020
- This support will be extended by another 3 months to salary months of June, July and August 2020
- This will provide liquidity relief of Rs 2500 cr to 3.67 lakh establishments and for 72.22 lakh employees.
EPF contribution reduced for Business & Workers for 3 months- Rs 6750 crores Liquidity Support
- Businesses need support to ramp up production over the next quarter.
- It is necessary to provide more take home salary to employees and also to give relief to employers in payment of Provident Fund dues.
- Therefore, statutory PF contribution of both employer and employee will be reduced to 10% each from existing 12% each for all establishments covered by EPFO for next 3 months.
- CPSEs and State PSUs will however continue to contribute 12% as employer contribution.
- This scheme will be applicable for workers who are not eligible for 24% EPF support under PM Garib Kalyan Package and its extension.
- This will provide relief to about 6.5 lakh establishments covered under EPFO and about 4.3 crore such employees.
- This will provide liquidity of Rs 6750 Crore to employers and employees over 3 months.
Rs 30,000 crore Special Liquidity Scheme for NBFCs/HFCs/MFIs
- NBFCs/HFCs/MFIs are finding it difficult to raise money in debt markets.
- Government will launch a Rs 30,000 crore Special Liquidity Scheme.
- Under this scheme investment will be made in both primary and secondary market transactions in investment grade debt paper of NBFCs/HFCs/MFIs.
- Will supplement RBI/Government measures to augment liquidity.
- Securities will be fully guaranteed by GoI.
- This will provide liquidity support for NBFCs/HFC/MFIs and mutual funds and create confidence in the market.
Rs 45,000 crore Partial Credit Guarantee Scheme 2.0 for NBFCs
- NBFCs, HFCs and MFIs with low credit rating require liquidity to do fresh lending to MSMEs and individuals.
- Existing PCGS scheme to be extended to cover borrowings such as primary issuance of Bonds/ CPs (liability side of balance sheets) of such entities.
- First 20% of loss will be borne by the Guarantor ie., Government of India.
- AA paper and below including unrated paper eligible for investment (esp. relevant for many MFIs).
- This scheme will result in liquidity of Rs 45,000 crores Rs 45,000 crore Partial Credit Guarantee Scheme 2.0 for NBFCs
Rs. 90,000 Cr. Liquidity Injection for DISCOMs
- Revenues of Power Distribution Companies (DISCOMs) have plummeted.
- Unprecedented cash flow problem accentuated by demand reduction,
- DISCOM payables to Power Generation and Transmission Companies is currently ~ Rs 94,000 cr.
- PFC/REC to infuse liquidity of Rs 90,000 cr to DISCOMs against receivables,
- Loans to be given against State guarantees for exclusive purpose of discharging liabilities of Discoms to Gencos.
- Linkage to specific activities/reforms: Digital payments facility by Discoms for consumers, liquidation of outstanding dues of State Governments, Plan to reduce financial and operational losses.
- Central Public Sector Generation Companies shall give rebate to Discoms which shall be passed on to the final consumers (industries)
Relief to Contractors
- Extension of up to 6 months (without costs to contractor) to be provided by all Central Agencies (like Railways, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Central Public Works Dept, etc).
- Covers construction/ works and goods and services contracts,
- Covers obligations like completion of work, intermediate milestones etc. and extension of Concession period in PPP contracts,
- Government agencies to partially release bank guarantees, to the extent contracts are partially completed, to ease cash flows
Extension of Registration and Completion Date of Real Estate Projects under RERA
- Adverse impact due to COVID and projects stand the risk of defaulting on RERA timelines. Time lines need to be extended.
- Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs will advise States/UTs and their Regulatory Authorities to the following effect:
- Treat COVID-19 as an event of ‘Force Majeure’ under RERA.
- Extend the registration and completion date suo-moto by 6 months for all registered projects expiring on or after 25th March, 2020 without individual applications.
- Regulatory Authorities may extend this for another period of upto 3 months, if needed.
- Issue fresh ‘Project Registration Certificates’ automatically with revised timelines.
- Extend timelines for various statuary compliances under RERA concurrently.
- These measures will de-stress real estate developers and ensure completion of projects so that homebuyers are able to get delivery of their booked houses with new timelines.
Rs 50,000 crores liquidity through TDS/TCS rate reduction
- In order to provide more funds at the disposal of the taxpayers, the rates of Tax Deduction at Source (TDS) for non-salaried specified payments made to residents and rates of Tax Collection at Source (TCS) for the specified receipts shall be reduced by 25% of the existing rates.
- Payment for contract, professional fees, interest, rent, dividend, commission, brokerage, etc. shall be eligible for this reduced rate of TDS.
- This reduction shall be applicable for the remaining part of the FY 2020-21 i.e. from tomorrow to 31st March, 2021.
- This measure will release Liquidity of Rs. 50,000 crore.
Other Direct Tax Measures
- All pending refunds to charitable trusts and non corporate businesses & professions including proprietorship, partnership, LLP and Co-operatives shall be issued immediately.
- Due date of all income-tax return for FY 2019-20will be extended from 31st July, 2020 & 31st October, 2020 to 30th November, 2020 and Tax audit from 30th September, 2020 to 31st October,2020.
Other Direct Tax Measures:
- Date of assessments getting barred on 30th September,2020 extended to 31st December,2020 and those getting barred on 31st March,2021 will be extended to 30th September,2021.
- Period of Vivad se Vishwas Scheme for making payment without additional amount will be extended to 31st December,2020.
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Section 8 (c) of NDPS 1985
With the Office of Narcotics Control charging Rhea Chakraborty in connection with the messages found on her WhatsApp chats in the first FIR and invoking Deepika Padukone, Sara Ali Khan, Shraddha Kapoor and Rakul Preet Singh, there are several questions as to the circumstances under which which law enforcement agencies can charge a person.
- Section 8 (c) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) 1985 states: “No one may cultivate coca or harvest any part of it; cultivate the poppy or any cannabis plant; or produce, manufacture, possess, sell, buy, transport, store, use, consume, import interstate, export interstate, import into India, export from India or transship any narcotic or psychotropic substance, except for any purpose medical or scientific and in the manner and to the extent provided for in the provisions of this law… ”Anyone who violates these measures may be charged under the NDPS law.
- Typically, in NDPS cases, a person is charged after being caught red-handed with drugs or money for “commercial use”. In cases of “consumption”, they are also asked to have a blood / urine test. The report of the contraband seizure and the blood test serve as evidence correlating the charge.
- However, an OCN official said that in cases of illicit financing – article 27 (A) of the NDPS law – under which Chakraborty was registered in the second FIR in which she was arrested, was not necessary to seize narcotics and cash seizures might also suffice.
- NCB said it had details of Chakraborty who allegedly made payments to drug traffickers using credit cards. The amounts would be in thousands of rupees.
- Her lawyer, Satish Mandeshinde, countered this by claiming that the payments for the purchase of drugs were not part of a “drug cartel” as claimed by the CBN.
- There is a difference between small drug users and large-scale drug cartels, he said. A local court, while denying Chakraborty’s bail, said that under section 27 (A) no particular amount is required to prove the crime.
- According to law enforcement officials, there are three types of charges. Possession of small quantities, intermediate quantities and commercial quantities specified by the central government by notification to the Official Gazette.
- Different narcotics have different amounts that fall into these categories and carry different penalties. For example, in the case of cannabis, a small amount (up to 1 kg) is punishable by a rigorous prison sentence which can be extended to six months, or with a fine, which can be increased to 10,000 rupees. or both.
- The intermediate quantity of cannabis (between 1 kg and 20 kg) is punishable by a severe prison sentence which can be increased to 10 years and a fine which can be increased to 100,000 rupees.
- Commercial quantity (greater than 20 kg), with a rigorous prison sentence of a duration which will not be less than 10 years but which may be increased to 20 years and will be punishable by a fine which will not be less than 1 , 00,000 rupees but which can be extended up to 2.00,000 rupees. The court may, for reasons to be recorded in the judgment, impose a fine of more than Rs 2.00 000.
- According to Section 64 (A) of the NDPS Act, which means immunity from prosecution for drug addicts who volunteer for treatment, it says: “Any drug addict, who is charged with crimes related to small quantities of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances, who voluntarily seeks medical treatment for drug addiction in a hospital or institution maintained or recognized by the government or local authority and submits to such treatment shall not be liable to prosecution under any other section for offenses involving small amounts of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances; provided that said procedural immunity can be withdrawn if the addict does not undergo full drug addiction treatment. ”Simply put, if a person is caught smoking of marijuana, she may be granted immunity from prosecution if she is undergoing drug treatment.
- Actor Fardeen Khan, who in 2001 was charged with possession and use of small amounts of cocaine, is one example. He completed a three-week drug rehab program at KEM Hospital and was granted a waiver of prosecution under Section 64 (A) of the NDPS.
- However, an NCB official clarified that immunity can only be applied once the prosecution submits a charge sheet. It does not influence the investigation process.
- NCB’s first FIR (15/20) against Chakraborty is based on WhatsApp chats provided to the agency by the Applications Directorate. In this, there are discussions of “trying MDMA once” and “noticing marijuana.”
- In this case, in addition to Chakraborty and her brother Showik, there are five other defendants. This is primarily based on discussions and does not allow for the seizure of money or narcotics.
- An attorney who handles NDPS cases said that in her career of more than two decades there was only one case where the drug seizure was not there.
- “In this case, however, the agency confiscated money to substantiate drug trafficking,” the attorney said. So far no arrests have been made in this case. NCB officials say they cannot indict Chakraborty in this case.
- In the second FIR (16/20) registered their motorcycle by NCB two days after the first FIR, in which 19 people were arrested, including Chakraborty and her brother Showik, they have seizures in the form of 590 g of hashish, 0, 64. g of LSD leaves, 304 g of marijuana, including imported marijuana joints and capsules, Rs 1.85,200 in cash and Indonesian Rs 5,000 from an alleged street vendor, Anuj Keshwani, arrested in the case.
- It comes under the commercial quantity. This is the case where NCB told a local court that it wanted to “uproot the drug citadel in Mumbai, especially Bollywood.” The BCN plans to bill Chakraborty in this case and has six months to present the charge sheet from the time of the arrests.
- Communication such as WhatsApp conversations / messages, call recording where a person talks about buying, selling, consuming, cannot be used as evidence?
- It can be used in a case as long as there is corroboration of the conversation with evidence. For example, if there is a message in which a person places an order for a drug, there must be evidence that the drug was delivered.
- “The person can order and change their mind at the last minute and not have any medicine. A person can simply brag to someone who has used drugs.
- There are cases in which petty criminals brag about having killed someone even though they are not involved. Discussions alone may not be enough to prove drug use or any crime without corroboration, “said NDPS attorney Taraq Sayed.
- Unlike statements made to the police, statements given to OCN officials who are not technically considered “police officers” and therefore civilians, are admissible in court under article 67 (A) of the NDPS Act. Statements made by Chakraborty and others to NCB are, therefore, admissible as evidence in court.
- However, the Supreme Court hears petitions against allowing OCN officials not to be treated as “police officers” and the defense could use them if the OCN relies solely on statements, made in front of the agency. Several suspects, including Chakraborty, have already retracted statements they made to NCB, claiming they were made “under duress.”
- According to what the NCB has said so far, they have been summoned mainly on the basis of the WhatsApp chats found on the phones of Chakraborty and Jaya Saha and the confessional statements made by them to the police.
- NCB officials have said it will depend on what they say in their statement to decide whether they should be charged. The sources, however, said based on the evidence that the maximum that can be imputed to the suspect is insufficient alcohol consumption, so they can request immunity by agreeing to undergo re-education at the time of the charge if they do not wish to challenge him.
Section 230, the law used to ban Donald Trump on Twitter?
Shortly after a slew of President Donald Trump supporters stormed the United States Capitol last week, their social media accounts were suspended by big tech companies like Twitter and Facebook for their role in alleged incitement to violence and dissemination of disinformation.
- The incident sparked renewed debate over Section 230 of the U.S. Communications Decency Act, the controversial internet law that allowed these tech companies to loosen their powers and ban the president in the first place.
- Over the years, reform of Section 230 has been a bipartisan issue, with Democrats and Republicans calling for its amendment, if not repeal.
- President Trump himself has harshly criticized the law, which prevents tech companies from being responsible for what users post online.
- President-elect Joe Biden has also criticized the law and has even offered to repeal it entirely. But while the law is widely criticized, most agree that ensuring a relatively free, secure and open Internet is essential.
What is section 230?
Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act was passed in 1996 and grants legal immunity to Internet companies for content shared on their websites. The law was first introduced to regulate online pornography. Section 230 is an amendment to the law, which holds users accountable for their comments and posts online.
- According to the regulation, “No provider or user of an interactive computing service should be treated as the publisher or broadcaster of any information provided by another provider of information content.”
- This means that online businesses, including social media platforms, are not responsible for content shared on their website by their users.
- Therefore, if a user posts something illegal on the website, the company is protected from legal action. In addition, the regulation also establishes that private companies have the right to remove content that violates their guidelines and values.
- So the big tech companies were within their rights when they decided to suspend Trump’s accounts.
- The legislation was drafted by Oregon Democratic Senator Ron Wyden and South Carolina Republican Congressman Chris Cox more than two decades ago to encourage tech startups and protect free speech, inscribed in the First Amendment to the US Constitution.
- U.S. The international digital rights group Electronic Frontier Foundation calls Section 230 “important law protecting speech on the Internet.”
What does this have to do with the Capitol site?
Shortly after a violent mob of supporters of United States President Donald Trump stormed the historic United States Capitol building last Wednesday, the guilty finger was pointed at on social media platforms and online forums, where right-wing extremists openly planned the attack for weeks.
- The posts, in which supporters of the US president described how they would break into the Capitol, raised questions about why violent content is often unregulated on social media sites.
- In the face of mounting backlash, Facebook, Twitter and Google have begun cracking down on social media users who share incendiary content online.
- From the time Google suspended the pro-Trump Speak social media site, to President Trump’s ban on nearly every major social media platform, the big tech companies have neglected nothing. The reason they were able to respond to the incident so quickly and so ferociously is due in large part to Section 230, as it protects these companies from future lawsuits.
Why is section 230 widely criticized?
While the regulation has far-reaching implications for social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook, critics are quick to point out that it was passed before social media existed in its current form. Political leaders and internet activists have long called for the law to be updated.
- The most conservative critics of the regulation argue that it in fact allows big technologies to engage in politically partisan activities. Republican lawmakers, including Trump, have alleged that platforms like Twitter
Why is section 230 widely criticized?
Although the regulation has far-reaching consequences for social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook, critics are quick to point out that it was passed before social media existed in its current form. Political leaders and internet activists have long called for the law to be updated.
- Most conservative critics of the regulation claim that it does indeed allow big tech to engage in politically partisan activity. Republican lawmakers, including Trump, have alleged that platforms like Twitter and Facebook display a clear bias against conservative voices and often abuse Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to censor right-wing users .
- On the other hand, some argue that the law allows websites like 4chan and Parler, used by many right-wing extremists, to refrain from moderating hate speech and violent content, whether derogatory or vile.
- In an interview with the New York Times last year, President-elect Joe Biden called for the regulation to be “repealed, immediately” because it has helped tech companies spread “lies they know to be false”.
- “For my part, I think we should consider removing [Facebook’s] exemption that they cannot be prosecuted for knowingly participating in the promotion of something that is not true,” he said in a previous interview with CNN.
- Websites have also faced backlash for the content they choose to moderate. For example, in 2014, Facebook was widely criticized for its inconsistent nudity rules when it took a photo of a mother breastfeeding her premature baby.
Did Trump try to change the law?
In May 2020, President Trump issued an executive order aimed at legal protection for tech companies under Section 230. He took the step after Twitter began labeling his tweets as a vote-by-mail disinformation.
- In response, the president alleged that social media platforms were selectively censoring content as part of a larger conspiracy to “rig the elections” against him.
- Trump’s order asked regulators to reassess Section 230’s definition and ordered agencies to gather complaints of political bias on social media platforms that could help revoke his statutory immunity.
- After Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election, he went further and called for the regulation to be repealed entirely.
- Last month he threatened to veto the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), an annual defense bill that authorizes billions in military spending, unless Congress agrees to repeal it entirely. article 23.
“Section 230, which is a gift of liability protection from the United States to ‘Big Tech’ (the only companies in America to have it, corporate welfare!), Is a serious threat to our national security and electoral integrity. Our country can never be safe and secure if we let it stand… ”
Trump tweeted late last month.
“the very dangerous and unfair section 230 is not completely removed as part of the [NDAA], I will be obliged to unequivocally VETO the bill when it is sent to the beautiful Resolute office”.
He added that if
Trump claimed Section 230 facilitates the spread of foreign disinformation online. However, members of Congress were quick to applaud Trump, saying the NDAA had little to do with social media businesses.
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