GS- 2 Paper
Topic covered– Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
Competition Commission of India (CCI)
Context
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) received the first green channel combination filed under the Competition Act, 2002
About CCI
- Competition Commission of India (CCI) is a quasi-judicial statutory body of the Government of India responsible for enforcing The Competition Act, 2002.
- Competition Commission of India (CCI) and Competition Appellate Tribunal (CAT) were established under the Competition Act, 2002.
- It was established on 14 October 2003.
- It became fully functional in May 2009.
Composition of CCI
- The CCI is composed of a Chairperson and 6 members.
- The members of CCI are appointed by the Central Government.
- The CCI acts as a market regulator to check on the ill competitive practices in India.
Objectives
- To prevent practices having adverse effect on competition.
- Make the markets work for the benefit and welfare of consumers.
- To promote and sustain competition in markets.
- To protect the interests of consumers.
- Ensure fair and healthy competition in economic activities in the country for faster and inclusive growth and development of economy.
- Implement competition policies with an aim to effectuate the most efficient utilization of economic resources.
The Competition Appellate Tribunal
- The Competition Appellate Tribunal (CAT) was formed in 2009.
- It is a fully empowered body by the Constitution of India.
- The final appeal after this tribunal can be made in the Supreme Court of India.
The Competition Act, 2002
- The idea of Competition Commission was conceived and introduced in the form of The Competition Act, 2002.
- It was enacted to promote competition and private enterprises especially in the light of 1991 Indian economic liberalization.
- The Competition Act, 2002, is amended by the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2007.
- The Act prohibits anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominant position by enterprises and regulates combinations (acquisition, acquiring of control and Merger and acquisition), which causes or likely to cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition within India.
- The Commission is also required to give opinion on competition issues on a reference received from a statutory authority established under any law and to undertake competition advocacy, create public awareness and impart training on competition issues.
GS- 3rd Paper
Topic- Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
BS VI vehicular emission norms
Context
India to shift to BS VI vehicular emission norms by April next year: Union Environment Minister.
About BS Norms
- Bharat stage Emission Standards (BSES) are emission standards instituted by the Government of India to regulate the output of air pollutants from internal combustion engines and Spark-ignition engines equipment, including motor vehicles.
- The standards and the timeline for implementation are set by the Central Pollution Control Board under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
- These norms are mandatory for automotive manufacturers to sell their vehicles in India.
- These norms are applicable to all two wheelers, three wheelers, four wheelers and construction equipment vehicles.
- The Central government recently notified that India will leapfrog from the Bharat Stage (BS) IV emission norms that are now in force, to the BS VI norms from 1st April 2020.
- Besides, under BS VI, particulate matter emission for diesel cars and nitrogen oxide levels are expected to be substantially lower than in BS IV.
Difference between BS VI and BS IV
- The major difference between the existing BS-IV and forthcoming BS-VI norms is the presence of sulphur in the fuel.
- BS-VI fuel will bring down sulphur content by 5 times from the current BS-IV levels. It has 10 ppm of sulphur as against 50 ppm in BS-IV.
- In BS-VI fuel, the volume of PM 2.5 ranges from 20 to 40 micrograms per cubic metre whereas in BS-IV fuel it is up to 120 micrograms per cubic metre.
- The harmful NOx from diesel cars can be brought down by nearly 70%. In the petrol cars, they can be reduced by 25%.
- With BS-VI fuel, for every one kilometre, a car will emit 80% less particulate matter and nearly 70% less nitrogen oxide.
- Air pollutants in BS-VI fuel are much less as compared to BS-IV fuel.
GS- 3rd Paper
Topic- Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
National e-Assessment Centre
Context
Revenue Secretary inaugurates National e-Assessment Centre of IT Department.
About National e-Assessment Centre (NeAC)
- NeAC will be an independent office that will look after the work of e-Assessment scheme which is recently notified for faceless e-assessment for income tax payers.
- There would be a NeAC in Delhi to be headed by Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax.
- There are 8 Regional e-Assessment Centres (ReAC) set up at– Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata Ahmedabad, Pune, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
- Cases for the specified work shall be assigned by the NeAC to different units by way of automated allocation systems.
About Faceless e-Assessment
- e-Assessment scheme is to facilitate faceless assessment of income tax returns through completely electronic communication between tax officials and tax payers.
- Under the new system of faceless e-Assessment, tax payers will receive notices on their registered emails as well as on registered accounts on the web portal with real time alert by way of SMS.
- This new initiative of faceless assessment is expected to increase ease of compliance for taxpayers as the cost and anxiety of taxpayers are likely to be greatly reduced.
- No human interface with the Department would be a game changer.
- This is another initiative by CBDT in the field of ease of compliance for our tax payers.
Benefits of Faceless Assessment
- NeAC eliminates human interface between Assessing Officer and Assessee.
- New System optimises the utilisation of resources through economies of scale.
- NeAC introduces team based assessment with dynamic jurisdiction.
- Ease of compliance for taxpayers.
- Brings transparency and efficiency, thus improves quality of assessment and monitoring.
- Functional specialisation as only one agency dealing with faceless assessment.
- Expeditious disposal of cases.
- Standardisation and quality management.
For Prelims-
Ganga Aamantran
Context
Jal Shakti Minister launched Ganga Aamantran – a unique initiative to connect with Ganga’s Stakeholders
Highlights
- The ‘Ganga Aamantran Abhiyan’ is a pioneering and historic exploratory open-water rafting and kayaking expedition on the Ganga River.
- It will Start at Devprayag and culminating at Ganga Sagar, the expedition will cover the entire streatch of over 2500 kms of the Ganga River.
- The expedition will encompass the five Ganga basin states including Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar and West Benga.
- It will have with stops at Rishikesh, Haridwar, Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi, Patna, Sonepur and Kolkata.
Awareness exercises along the expedition
- Bal Ganga Mela, painting and slogan competition on the theme of water conservation and Ganga rejuvenation
- Interaction with colleges & universities by NMCG officials
- Educating students/youth on water footprint, wetlands and biodiversity conservation
- Test the water campaign by IITR, water testing kits
- Celebrating festivals during the expedition
- Exclusive tie-up with Rotary International for public outreach within community and schools
- Public outreach by WII, IITR, GIZ, Ganga Praharis, IAF, Army, Ganga Vichar Manch during the expedition
