Rules for Filing Complaints with Lokpal Notified
Context :
The Department of Personnel and Training has issued a notification providing the rules and prescribed format for filing complaints with the Lokpal.
Key Points :
- The notification, under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, lays down the rules called the Lokpal (Complaint) Rules, 2020.
- Identity Proof: According to the complaint form, a complainant has to give a valid proof of identity, as specified therein.
- Foreign nationals can also lodge complaints.
- Only a copy of their passports will be accepted as proof of identity.
- Mode of Complaint:
- The complaint can be filed electronically, by post or in person.
- In case the complaint is filed electronically, it’s hard copy has to be submitted to the Lokpal within 15 days.
- No complaints can be filed against a public servant under the Army Act, Navy Act, Air Force Act and the Coast Guard Act.
- Language: A complaint may ordinarily be made in English, provided that the Lokpal may also entertain a complaint in any of the languages referred to in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution.
- The complaints, whose contents are illegible, vague or ambiguous, which are trivial or frivolous, do not contain any allegation, are not filed within the limitation period of seven years, or are pending before any other court, tribunal or authority, will have to be disposed of within 30 days.
- Protection:
- The identity of the complainant or the accused official will be protected by the Lokpal till the conclusion of inquiry or investigation.
- However, the protection will not be applicable in cases where the complainant herself reveals her identity to any other office or authority while making the complaint to Lokpal.
Central Fraud Registry
In news :
- There has been decline in frauds at Public Sector Banks from ₹50,329 crore in 2013-14 to just ₹3,781 crore in the first three quarters of 2019-20 (Finance Ministry)
- RBI has put in place a central fraud registry, which is a searchable database to help banks detect instances of fraud by borrowers early on.
- It also helps Banks in carrying out due diligence during the credit sanction process
- Frauds of below 5 Crore will be monitored by regional offices of RBI and above 5 Crore will be monitored by the Central Fraud Monitoring Cell (CFMC) of RBI.
The Economic Impact of Coronavirus
Context :
The Coronavirus outbreak is having a negative impact on the various sectors of the economy.
Impact on Indian Economy :
- GDP Growth Rate
- The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has slashed India’s growth forecast for 2020-21 by 110 basis points (bps) to 5.1%, warning that the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak on business confidence, financial markets and the travel sector, including disruption to supply chains, could shave 50 bps off global growth in 2020.
- Pharmaceuticals: Given the pharmaceutical industry’s deep linkages to China, the supply chain of raw materials of drugs has taken a hit.
- The production facilities in Himachal Pradesh — largest pharma hub of Asia — have warned of suspension.
- Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), also called bulk drugs, are significant ingredients in the manufacture of drugs. The Hubei province of China, the epicentre of the coronavirus, is the hub of the API manufacturing industry.
- India is heavily import-dependent for APIs from China. India’s API imports stand at around $3.5 billion per year, and around 70%, or $2.5 billion, come from China.
- Automobile Industry
- China is one of the leading suppliers of auto components in India, accounting for 27% of the total imports.
- The coronavirus is expected to have an impact on the Indian automotive industry and therefore also on the automobile component and forging industries, which had already reduced their production rate due to the market conditions and on account of the impending change over to BS-VI emission norms from BS-IV from April 2020.
- Stock Market
- On 28th February, the Indian stock market registered one of its worst crashes in a single day. Indian indices fell over 3.5%, marking the second biggest fall in Sensex history.
- The Sensex plunged 1,448.37 points to close at 38,297.29, while the Nifty tanked 3.711% or 431.55 points to settle a little above the 11,200 mark.
- The Sensex’s worst fall in history was on 24th August, 2015, when the indices fell 1,624 points on the back of a slump in the Chinese markets and rising crude oil prices.
- Currency
- The month of March is typically good for the Indian currency as remittances, from both overseas citizens and companies, tend to boost the exchange rate.
- In the past decade, the rupee has appreciated seven times against the dollar in March. But March 2020 could be hard on the exchange rate and the rupee’s sharp drop to 73.25 per dollar on 3rd March, 2020 is evidence of this. One of the reasons is an increase in the number of reported cases of coronavirus in India.
Global Scenario :
- Global Growth: The world’s economy could grow at its slowest rate since 2009 this year due to the coronavirus outbreak, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The OECD has forecast growth of just 2.4% in 2020, down from 2.9% in November 2019
- Fall in Customer Demand: Some people are choosing to avoid activities that might expose them to the risk of infection, such as going out shopping. Restaurants, car dealerships and shops have all reported a fall in customer demand.
- Travel Industry: The number of cases diagnosed is increasing around the world every day. Thus, many countries have introduced travel restrictions to try to contain the virus’s spread, impacting the travel industry massively.
- Beneficiaries
- Consumer goods giant Reckitt Benckiser, for example, has seen a boost in sales for its Dettol and Lysol products.The disinfectant is seen as providing protection against the spread of the disease, although its effectiveness has not yet been scientifically proven.
- The price of gold – which is often considered a “safe haven” in times of uncertainty – has also increased. Its spot price hit a seven-year high of $1,682.35 per ounce in February 2020.
Benefits of Free Trade Agreements
Context :
The Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) signed by India provide tariff concessions thereby giving opportunities for exports of products including those related to small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
In News :
- Some of the SME products on which tariff concessions have been provided by trading partners such as Japan, South Korea and some ASEAN countries fall into the category of readymade garments, leather goods, processed foods and engineering products like auto components.
- The specific export promotion schemes for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) include those for participation in international exhibitions and fairs, training programme on packaging for exports, Market Development Assistance (MDA) Scheme for MSME exporters and National Award for quality products.
- Some of the other measures taken by the Government which would promote trade and benefit exports from SMEs are specific schemes under the new Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2015-20 such as Interest Equalization Scheme on pre and post shipment rupee export credit, Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS).
- Services Exports from India Scheme (SEIS), double weightage for export entitlement to SMEs for grant of one star export house, electronic filing and issuance for specified FTP Schemes, online platform for preferential certificates of origin, etc .
Pradhan Mantri Laghu Vyapari Maan-dhan Yojana
Context :
Under performance of National Pension Scheme for Traders, Shopkeepers and Self-Employed Persons.
- Just over 34,000 people have signed up so far.
- The Labour Ministry’s vision document in 2019 had set a target of 25 lakh enrolments for the scheme in 2019-2020.
What is Pradhan Mantri Laghu Vyapari Maan-dhan Yojana :
It is a voluntary and contribution based central sector scheme. The government launched the scheme, entailing monthly minimum assured pension of ₹3,000 for the entry age group of 18-40 years after attaining the age of 60 years, with effect from July 22, 2019. Under the scheme, the government makes matching contribution in the subscribers’ account. The scheme is based on self-declaration as no documents are required except bank account and Aadhaar Card.
Eligibility :
- All small shopkeepers, self-employed persons and retail traders aged between 18-40 years and with Goods and Service Tax (GST) turnover below Rs.1.5 crore can enrol for pension scheme.
- To be eligible, the applicants should not be covered under the National Pension Scheme, Employees’ State Insurance Scheme and the Employees’ Provident Fund or be an Income Tax assessee.
Benefits to the family on death of an eligible subscriber :
During the receipt of pension, if an eligible subscriber dies, his spouse shall be only entitled to receive fifty per cent. of the pension received by such eligible subscriber, as family pension and such family pension shall be applicable only to the spouse.