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August 6th, 2019 PIB:-Download PDF Here
Consumer Protection Bill, 2019 gets Parliamentary approval
Context
The Parliament gave its nod to the landmark Consumer Protection Bill, 2019 which aims to protect the rights of consumers by establishing authorities for timely and effective administration and settlement of consumers’ dispute.
Significance of the bill
- The Bill will replace the more than three decades old Consumer Protection Act, 1986.
- new bill will provide a better mechanism to dispose consumer complaints in a speedy manner and will help in disposal of large number of pending cases in consumer courts across the nation.
- Setting up of a Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) to promote, protect and enforce the rights of consumers as a class.
- The CCPA would make interventions to prevent consumer detriment arising from unfair trade practices. The agency can also initiate class action, including enforcing recall, refund and return of products.
- The Bill also envisages simplified dispute resolution process, has provision for Mediation and e-filing of cases. The Consumer will be able to file cases in the nearest commission under the jurisdiction of which he resides.
- For the first time there will be an exclusive law dealing with Product Liability. A manufacturer or product service provider or product seller will now be responsible to compensate for injury or damage caused by defective product or deficiency in services.
5th National Handloom Day celebrations on August 7
Context
The 5th National Handloom Day will be celebrated tomorrow across the country. Union Minister of Textiles and Women and Child Development, SmritiZubinIrani, will preside over a function at VigyanBhawan in New Delhi to mark the occasion.
Significance
- The main event will be held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Bhubaneswar has been chosen as the venue for the main event due to its rich tradition of Handlooms.
- More than fifty percent of total weavers population of India resides in Eastern and North Eastern Regions and most of them are women.
- The prime objective of holding the National Handloom Day in Bhubaneswar is to empower women and girls.
- National Handloom Day seeks to focus on the contribution of handloom to the socio-economic development of the country and also increase the income of weavers.
- August 7 was chosen as the National Handloom Day to commemorate the Swadeshi Movement which was launched on this day in 1905 in Calcutta Town Hall to protest against the partition of Bengal by the British Government.
- The movement had aimed at reviving domestic products and production processes.
Parliament approves Resolution to repeal Article 370
Context
Union Minister for Home Affairs, Shri Amit Shah, introduced two bills and two resolutions regarding Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) in Lok Sabha
Bills and resolutions
- Constitution (Application to Jammu & Kashmir) Order, 2019 {Ref. Article 370(1) of Constitution of India} – issued by President of India to supersede the 1954 order related to Article 370.
- Resolution for Repeal of Article 370 of the Constitution of India {Ref. Article 370 (3)}
- Jammu & Kashmir (Reorganisation) Bill, 2019 {Ref. Article 3 of Constitution of India}
- Jammu & Kashmir Reservation (2nd Amendment) Bill, 2019 {Home Minister withdrew the Bill from both Houses as the provisions of this act would become applicable to J&K once article 370 gets repealed and the laws of Union of India become applicable there}
What the law says
- Article 370(3) provides President of India has the powers to amend or repeal the article by issuing a notification, based on a recommendation of Constituent Assembly of J&K.
- President of India signed the Constitution Order 2019 yesterday regarding Article 370(1), under which all the provision under article 4 would be applicable to J&K. J&K constituent assembly would be read as J&K Legislative Assembly.
- Similar changes to article 370 have been done in the past as well. Now since President’s rule is in force in the state, implementation of article 370 would cease to exist when President of India issues the notification in this regard, after this House passes the resolution.
Related Links:
| Article 370 | UPSC 2020 |
| UPSC Calendar 2020 | UPSC Mains |
August 6th, 2019 PIB:-Download PDF Here
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