Bansagar Canal Project to the Nation
- Shri Narendra Modi dedicated, The Bansagar Canal Project to the Nation in Mirzapur.
- The project will provide a big boost to irrigation in the region, and will be greatly beneficial to the farmers of Mirzapur and Allahabad districts of Uttar Pradesh.
- He also inaugurated 100 Jan AushadhiKendras in the State also dedicated a bridge over the River Ganga at Balughat, Chunar, which will facilitate connectivity between Mirzapur and Varanasi.
- The area of Mirzapur holds immense potential around the region
- The project was made a part of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, and all efforts were made to complete it as early as possible.
- About measures taken for the welfare of farmers by the Union Government, he mentioned the recent increase in MSP for Kharif crops.
- Also the measures taken to provide affordable healthcare to the poor, including Jan Aushadhi Kendras.
- The Swachh Bharat Mission is also proving effective in controlling disease and the health assurance scheme Ayushman Bharat would be rolled out soon.
Asia Pacific Region of World Customs Organisation (WCO)
- India has become the Vice-Chair (Regional Head) of the Asia Pacific Region of World Customs Organization (WCO) for a period of two years, from July, 2018 to June, 2020.
- The WCO has divided its Membership into six Regions. Each of the six Regions is represented by a regionally elected Vice-Chairperson to the WCO Council.
- Being the Vice Chair of AP Region of WCO will enable India to take on leadership role. India is a wealth of experience in promoting security and facilitation of cross border trade.
- To mark the assumption of Vice Chair, an event is being organised on Monday, 16th July, 2018 in New Delhi by Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) in partnership with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
- The event will be attended by the Customs delegations of 33 countries of the Asia-Pacific Region, Customs officers from different Ports in India, Partner Government Agencies and representatives from the trade among others.
- The underlying Theme of the Inaugural Ceremony is “Customs – Fostering Trade Facilitation”
- The Ceremony shall be followed by a Seminar on Cross Border Trade through e-commerce and the role of Customs administration.
- The Seminar would focus on the framework of standards spearheaded by WCO to cope with the exponential growth in e-commerce shipments and the tsunami of parcels that cross borders every day.
- Recognizing that e-commerce has become a Game Changer in the International Trade Arena, bringing in efficiency of clearance and delivery of low value and high volume shipments has become a matter of critical interest for every Customs administration.
- WCO represents 182 Customs administrations across the globe that collectively process approximately 98% of world trade.
- As the global centre of Customs expertise, the WCO is the only international organization with competence in Customs matters and can rightly call itself the voice of the international Customs community.
MCA has constituted a 10-Member Committee to review the offences under the Companies Act, 2013
- To review the penal provisions in the Companies Act, 2013 it has been setup to examine ‘de-criminalisation’ of certain offences.
- The MCA seeks to review offences under the Companies Act, 2013 as some of the offences may be required to be decriminalised and handled in an in-house mechanism, where a penalty could be levied in cases of default.
- It can also allow the trial courts to pay more attention on offences of serious nature.
The terms of reference of the Committee are as follows:
- To analyse the nature of all ‘acts’ categorised as compoundable offences viz. offences punishable with fine only or punishable with fine or imprisonment or both under the CA-13 and recommend if any of such ‘acts’ may be re-categorised as ‘acts’ which attract civil liabilities wherein the company and its ‘officers in default’ are liable for penalty;
- To review the provisions ally to non-compoundable offences and recommend whether any such provisions need to be re-categorised as compoundable offence.
- To investigate the existing mechanism of levy of penalty under the CA-13 and suggest any improvements thereon;
- To lay down the broad contours of an in-house adjudicatory mechanism where penalty may be levied in a MCA21 system driven manner so that discretion is minimised.
- To take required steps in formulation of draft changes in the law and other matter which may be relevant.
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