The government has introduced in the Lok Sabha the much talked-about Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, which seeks to criminalise the practice of instant triple talaq (or ‘talaq-e-biddat’).
The 25th edition of National Children Science Congress (NCSC-2017) was recently held Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
The theme of the five-day Congress this was ‘Science and Innovation for Sustainable Development’ with the special focus on persons with disabilities.
The Parliament has passed the Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy Bill, 2017.
Highlights of the Bill:
Institution of national importance: The Bill establishes the Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy, Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. It declares the Institute as an institution of national importance. The Institute aims to provide high quality education and research focussing on the themes of petroleum, hydrocarbons and energy.
Authorities of the Institute: The key authorities of the Institute are as follows: (i) the General Council; (ii) the Board of Governors; (iii) the Senate; and (iv) any other authorities declared by the statutes.
Composition and powers of the Board of Governors: The Board of Governors will comprise 13 members including: (i) the President (to be appointed by the central government); (ii) the Director of the Institute; (iii) two persons from the Board of Directors of companies that contribute to the Institute’s endowment fund (to be nominated by the central government); (iv) five eminent experts in the field of petroleum technology and energy; and (v) two professors of the Institute.
Powers of the Board of Governors include: (i) instituting courses of study and laying down standards of proficiency and other academic distinctions; (ii) considering proposals for taking loans for the Institute; (iii) creating academic, administrative, technical and other posts; and (iv) fixing fees and other charges.
Composition and powers of the General Council: The Council will comprise up to 20 members including the: (i) Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (Chairman); (ii) Chairman, Indian Oil Corporation Limited; (iii) Secretary, Oil Industry Development Board; and (iv) Principal Advisor (Energy), NITI Aayog.
The powers of the Council include: (i) reviewing the broad policies and programmes of the Institute; (ii) advising the Board with respect to new technologies in the domain of energy and hydrocarbon development; and (iii) suggesting improvements in fiscal management of the Institute.
Appointment of the Director: The Director of the Institute will be appointed by the central government. The Director will be the principal academic and executive officer of the Institute.
Funding: The Institute will be required to maintain a fund which will be credited with the funds that it receives from the central government, fees and money received from any other sources (grants and gifts). The accounts of the Institute shall be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor- General of India.
Settlement of disputes: Any dispute arising out of a contract between the Institute and any of its employees will be referred to an internally constituted Tribunal of Arbitration. The Tribunal will consist of: (i) one member appointed by the Institute; (ii) one member nominated by the employee; and (iii) an umpire appointed by the Visitor (President of India). The decision of the Tribunal of Arbitration will be considered final. In case of any dispute between the Institute and the central government, the decision of the central government will be considered final.
President Ram Nath Kovind recently dedicated the Andhra Pradesh Fibre Grid project which aims to provide on-demand affordable broadband connectivity.
Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has launched Livestock Disease Forewarning –Mobile Application (LDF-Mobile App).
