Current Affairs Jan 2016 - Various Committees
News 1 - Shyam Benegal to head the panel to revamp Censor Board.
02-Jan − The government has constituted a committee headed by eminent film-maker Shyam Benegal to look into the revamp of the Censor Board and submit its report within two months. The recommendations of this committee were expected to provide a holistic framework for those certifying films. The panel includes filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, adman Piyush Pandey, film critic Bhawana Somaaya, National Film Development Council MD Nina Lath Gupta and Joint Secretary (Films) Sanjay Murthy.
News 2 - Drastic reforms proposed by the Lodha panel for BCCI.
03-Jan − The Supreme Court-appointed Lodha Committee submitted its report in which it recommended sweeping reforms. A bar on ministers from occupying positions. Putting a cap on the age and tenure of the office-bearers and Legalizing betting.
The committee was a three-member panel, headed by Justice (Retd) R M Lodha.
News 3 - PMO sets up Arvind Panagariya panel to fast-track Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Corridor.
11-Jan − The Union Government formed a high level committee headed by NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog Vice Chairman, Arvind Panagariya to hasten the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Corridor meant for bullet trains between the two cities. The estimated project cost is Rs 90000 crore.
The members of the committee are:
- Amitabh Kant, Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion.
- AK Mittal, Railway Board Chairman.
- Shantikanta Das, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs Secretary.
- S Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary.
News 4 - Kamal Haasan & Gautam Ghosh join Shyam Benegal Panel on functioning of CBFC.
14-Jan − Actor Kamal Hassan and Director Gautam Ghosh were included in the Shyam Benegal Panel set up by the government to revamp the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The inclusion was done to give representation to more regions of the country. The government had formed this panel on January 1 to take a look at the functioning of this board that has been the epicenter of several controversies in the past months.
News 5 - Draft report of R V Easwar Committee to simplify the provisions of Income-tax Act, 1961 published.
18-Jan − A ten-member Committee which was constituted on 27th October, 2015 under the Chairmanship of Justice R.V Easwar (retd.) former Judge, Delhi High court has given their draft recommendations, which contain 27 suggestions for amendments under the Income-tax Act and 8 recommendations for reform through administrative instructions.
Key recommendations of the draft report:
Tax deduction at source (TDS) rates for individuals and Hindu undivided families (HUFs) to be brought down to 5 percent as against the present 10 percent.
Timely refund with interest and provision for payment of higher interest in case of late refund.
News 6 - Expert Committee Setup to Review the Specific Relief Act, 1963.
28-Jan − The Legislative Department in the Ministry of Law & Justice has constituted an expert committee to review the Specific Relief Act, 1963. This Specific Relief Act, 1963 provides for the law relating to certain kind of specific relief. The review of this Act will also ensure ease of doing business. The Specific Relief Act has not been amended since its inception. The Committee will have 5-members besides the Chairman. It will examine the Act and submit its report within three months.
News 7 - Supreme Court directs government to set up panels to fix salaries of nurses in private hospitals.
29-Jan − The Supreme Court (SC) asked the Union Government to set up a panel within four weeks to examine the living conditions and salary structure of nurses employed in private hospitals and nursing homes. A three-judge Bench led by Justice Anil R. Dave directed the government while hearing a petition filed by the Trained Nurses Association of India. The court ordered that the guidelines should be formulated within six months.
