Cabinet relaxes NELP, pre-NELP pact rules
The Cabinet Committee has approved the policy framework for streamlining the operations of Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) for increased domestic production of hydrocarbon resources.
Three in five HIV-carriers now have access to drugs: UN
Almost three in five people infected with HIV, or 21.7 million globally, took antiretroviral therapy in 2017 a new record for anti-AIDS drug access, the UNAIDS said.
Law panel reviewing sedition legislation
The government told the Rajya Sabha that the Law Commission was considering the “scope and ambit” of the law on sedition and suggest amendments, if any.
Two-constituency norm reasonable: govt. tells SC
The government objected to a plea to stop candidates from contesting from two different constituencies, saying such a limitation infringes on a person’s right to contest the polls and curtails the polity’s choice of candidates.
Bill on death penalty for child rape to be tabled
The Bill to award the death penalty for those convicted of raping girls below the age of 12 will be introduced in the monsoon session of Parliament
DGTR proposes 25% safeguard duty on solar cells
The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), a unit of the commerce ministry
has recommended imposing a 25% safeguard duty on solar cells from China and Malaysia.
Govt. doubles duty on over 50 textile items
The Centre has doubled the import duty on over 50 textile products like jackets, suits and carpets to 20% in a move that is aimed at promoting domestic manufacturing.
Amendments Proposed to Central Motor Vehicles Rules
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has notified draft amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules.
Activists oppose draft anti-trafficking Bill
The Union Cabinet approved the draft Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill 2018.
RTI Bill to be placed in monsoon session
• The Right to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2018, which proposes to give the Centre the power to set the tenure and salaries of State and Central Information Commissioners, will be introduced in the Lok Sabha in the monsoon session.
• The current law gives Information Commissioners a tenure of five years and salaries which match those of Election Commissioners.