Government Committees, Schemes & Bills - Current Affairs for April, 2016

LS on 25th April passed the Regional Centre for Biotechnology Bill 2016 to indicate statutory provisions for existing Regional Centre for Biotechnology in Haryana’s Faridabad. Bill seeks to provide national importance to Centre for transfer of technology and knowledge and creating a hub for biotechnology expertise

• The Bill seeks to disseminate knowledge through teaching and research facilities in biotechnology and linked fields
• Creation of biotechnology hub
• Improving transfer of technology and knowledge in SAARC and Asia
• Promote international cooperation
• Provide master and doctoral degrees and post graduate diplomas through the regional centre for biotechnology.

When the country is reeling under a drought and heatwave, Shri Pranab Mukherjee has recommended consideration of the Farmers of Arid and Desert Areas (Welfare and Other Special Provisions) Bill, 2014 which was introduced by senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel in Rajya Sabha in December 2014.

• The bill, if enacted, will involve expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of India.
• It is estimated a sum of Rs 20,000 crore may be involved as recurring expenditure per annum. A non-recurring expenditure of Rs 5000 crore may also be involved from the Consolidated Fund of India. A non-recurring expenditure of Rs 5000 crore may also be involved from the Consolidated Fund of India, the memo of the Bill says

Companies (Amendment) Bill 2016 unlike existing law allows for pecuniary interest in companies for independent directors. Proposed law allows directors to have their own transactions with companies where they are independent directors up to 10 percent of their total income.

PM Narendra Modi launched Stand Up India Scheme to promote entrepreneurship among SC, ST and Women entrepreneurs

The Kaushal Kendra (Skilling Center) under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana in Noida also came up

• The Scheme is intended to facilitate at least two projects per bank branch, on an average one for each category of entrepreneur.
• It is expected to benefit at least 2.5 lakh borrowers within 36 months.
• It provides for refinance window through Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) with an initial amount of INR 10000 crore and credit guarantee mechanism through the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company (NCGTC).

This bill is needed for the implementation of an EU agreement with Turkey for the return of refugees and migrants from Greek Islands to Turkey. Deal aims to end uncontrolled influx of refugees and other migrants following the crossing over of more than 1 million people into Europe last year. Bill was passed by 169 lawyers in a 300 member parliament.

• EU migrant crisis commenced in 2015 whereby a large number of refugees and migrants made the journey to the European Union to seek shelter