Telecom Bill 2023: Here are 10 important changes that will impact you
The Telecommunications Bill, 2023, got a thumbs up from the Parliament on December 21. The Centre introduced it in the Parliament on December 18. The bill sought changes to current regulatory mechanisms in the telecom industry and provided for stringent requirements on verification, among other things. The bill consolidated different telecom laws of 1885, 1933, and 1950.
Telecommunications Bill: How will it impact mobile users and companies?
- If any person is found to be using another’s government ID to get a new SIM card, they will face jail of up to three years or a maximum penalty of Rs 50 lakh or both.
- If any mobile user has more than nine SIM cards issued on one Aadhaar card, they will be penalised up to Rs 50,000 for the first time and Rs 2 lakh for subsequent offences.
- If any company provides service without authorisation or gets it illegally, they can be put behind bars for up to three years or fined up to Rs 2 crore or both. Breaching terms and conditions may lead to a penalty of up to Rs 5 crore.
- If any criminal is found in possession of a custom SIM box or primary rate interface of any other device to make illegal international calls, they will be penalised up to Rs 10 lakh.
- Telecom companies can only get equipment from the Centre’s “trusted sources”.
- The Centre will have the power to establish rules for cybersecurity in telecom networks.
- The chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) should have at least 30 years of experience. For Trai members, the eligibility is 25 years.
- The companies need to get prior consent from users to receive advertising messages. The telcos also need to maintain a record of Do Not Disturb numbers. Moreover, an online redressal platform also needs to be set up.
- The companies need to get prior consent from users to receive advertising messages. The telcos also need to maintain a record of Do Not Disturb numbers. Moreover, an online redressal platform also needs to be set up.
- The telecom spectrum will only be issued through auction except in some cases of national security, defence, disaster management and transport.
SHREYAS (Scholarships for Higher Education for Young Achievers) SCHEME
The umbrella scheme of “SHREYAS” comprises 4 central sector sub- schemes namely “Top Class Education for SCs”, “Free Coaching Scheme for SCs and OBCs”, “National Overseas Scheme for SCs” and “National Fellowship for SCs”.
- Free Coaching Scheme for SCs and OBCs:
- Top Class Education for SCs:
- The Scheme will cover selected meritorious SC students for pursuing studies beyond 12th class.
- The ceiling of the total family income under the scheme is 8 lakhs per annum.
- Under the scheme, (i) full tuition fee and nonrefundable charges (there is ceiling of Rs. 2. 00 lakh per annum per student for private sector institutions (ii) Academic allowance of Rs. 86,000 in the first year of study and Rs. 41,000 in every subsequent year, to take care of living and other expenses is provided.
- National Overseas Scheme for SCs:
- Under this scheme financial assistance is provided to the selected students from SCs (115 slots); Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (6 slots); landless agricultural labourers and traditional artisan categories (4 slots), for pursuing masters and Ph. D. level courses abroad.
- Such students can be benefitted under the scheme whose total family income including the candidate is less than Rs. 8 lakhs per annum, having more than 60% marks in the qualifying examination, below 35 years of age and secured admission in top 500 QS ranking foreign Institutes/Universities.
- National Fellowship for SC Students:
The objective of the Scheme is to provide coaching of good quality for economically disadvantaged Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) candidates to enable them appear in competitive and entrance examinations for obtaining appropriate jobs in Public/Private Sector as well as for securing admission in reputed technical and professional higher education institutions. The ceiling of the total family income under the scheme is 8 lakhs per annum.
Under the scheme fellowship is provided to Scheduled Castes students for pursuing higher education leading to M. Phil. /Ph. D. degrees in Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences in Indian Universities/Institutions/ Colleges recognized by University Grants Commission (UGC). The scheme is being implemented by National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation.
MoFPI implementing a Central Sector Scheme- “Operation Greens”
The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has been implementing a Central Sector Scheme- “Operation Greens” (OG) under Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana since 2018-19, with the objective of enhancing the value realisation of farmers and minimizing post-harvest losses. Under the scheme, 53 projects have been approved across the country for eligible crops in identified production clusters with grants in aid of ₹634. 59 crores for total project cost of ₹2457. 49 crores. The scope of OG Scheme has been expanded from three crops namely Tomato, Onion and Potato (TOP) to 22 perishable crops namely Mango, Banana, Apple, Pineapple, Orange, Grapes, Aonla/Amla, Pomegranate, Guava, Litchi, Tomato, Onion, Potato, Green Peas, Carrot, Cauliflower, Beans, Gourd Family {Bottle Gourd (Loki), Bitter Gourd (Karela), Ridge/Sponge Gourd (Torai) Pointed Gourd (Parval) and Ash Gourd (Petha)}, Okra, Garlic, Ginger and Shrimp, during the 15th Financial Commission Cycle (2021-26).
Operation Greens:
‘Operation Greens’ initiated by the Government of India in the 2018-2019 union budget with the aim to stabilize the supply of crops and to ensure availability of crops throughout the country round the year without price volatility.
Lok Sabha approves post office bill to replace 125- year-old act
The Lok Sabha passed the Post Office Bill, 2023, amid protests from the Opposition. The Bill was introduced into the House after its clearance in Rajya Sabha. The 2023 Bill seeks to repeal the 125-year-old Indian Post Office Act of 1898. This new Bill contains provisions that allow the Centre to intercept, open, or detain any item, and deliver it to customs authorities. The present Bill has removed Section 4 of the old Act, which allowed the Centre the exclusive privilege of conveying by post. This exclusivity was anyway lost by the 1980s with the rise of private courier services.
Post officers can “intercept” any item:
The Bill aims to “consolidate and amend the law relating to Post Office in India,” which today provides many services beyond simply mail delivery, the primary concern of the Indian Post Office Act of 1898. The Post Office network today has become a vehicle for delivery of different citizen-centric services, which necessitated the repeal enactment of a new law, the Bill states. Notably, Section 9 of the Bill allows the Centre to, by notification, empower any officer to “intercept, open or detain any item” in the interest of state security, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, emergency, public safety, or contravention of other laws. This provision also allows post officers to hand over postal items to customs authorities if they are suspected to contain any prohibited item, or if such items are liable to duty.
RS passes bill regarding appointment and term of office of Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners
The Rajya Sabha passed the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023. The Bill replaces the Election Commission (Conditions of Service of Election Commissioners and Transaction of Business) Act, 1991. It provides for the appointment, salary, and removal of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs). According to the provisions of the Bill, the CEC and ECs will be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of a Selection Committee. The Selection Committee will consist of the Prime Minister, a Union Cabinet Minister, and Leader of Opposition or leader of the largest opposition party in Lok Sabha. The salary and conditions of service of the CEC and ECs will be equivalent to that of the Cabinet Secretary. Under the 1991 Act, it was equivalent to the salary of a Supreme Court judge.
Government withdraws 3 new criminal law bills, plans to introduce them afresh
The three new criminal law bills that were introduced by the Centre in the Lok Sabha to revamp the criminal justice system in the country have been withdrawn by the government after recommendations by the parliamentary standing committee. New versions of the bills will be drafted based on the recommendations by the committee. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 11 along with Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam bills. The three bills seek to replace the Code of Criminal Procedure Act, 1898, the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, respectively. The BNS 2023 is meant to replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which provides protection from prosecution to a person of unsound mind. The BNS changes this to a person with mental illness. The Parliamentary panel, headed by BJP MP Brij Lal, was of the opinion that the government should bring back the term “unsound mind” since “mental illness” is “too wide in its import” and could even include mood swings and voluntary intoxication in its ambit.
PM Narendra Modi inaugurated ‘Uttarakhand Global Investors Summit 2023’ held at Forest Research Institute, Dehradun
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated ‘Uttarakhand Global Investors Summit 2023’ being held at Forest Research Institute, Dehradun. The twoday summit was held on the theme of “Peace to Prosperity”. ‘Uttarakhand Global Investors Summit 2023’ is a step towards establishing Uttarakhand as a new investment destination.
Uttarakhand:
- Capital: Bhararisain, Dehradun (winter)
- Governor: Gurmit Singh
- Chief minister: Pushkar Singh Dhami
VFS Global launches first sign language contact centre in India
VFS Global, the visa outsourcing and technology services specialist announced the launch of its first sign language contact centre for people of determination in India. Through this initiative, VFS Global aims to bridge the communication gap for the deaf and hard of hearing community, empowering them to access visa service information more easily and independently. The sign language contact centre provides information for visa services to Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland (including Finland Residence Permit), Germany, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and Switzerland as part of the first phase of this project’s implementation plan.
Centre approves reconstruction plan worth over 1658 crore rupees for Joshimath in Uttarakhand
Centre has approved the recovery and reconstruction plan of over 1658 crore rupees for Joshimath which was affected by landslide and ground subsidence early this year. A High-Level Committee under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister Amit Shah approved the plan. Under it, around 1080 crore rupees of Central assistance will be provided from the recovery and reconstruction window of the National Disaster Response Fund. The Uttarakhand government will provide over 126 crore rupees from its State Disaster Response Fund towards relief assistance. It will also provide around 452 crore rupees from its budget.
Election Commission withdraws permission given to Telangana government to disburse financial
assistance under Rythu Bandhu scheme The Election Commission (EC) has withdrawn the permission given to the Telangana government to disburse the financial assistance under Rythu Bandhu scheme after a Minister violated poll code by making a public announcement about it. The Commission said that there shall be no disbursement under the scheme till the Model Code of Conduct in Telangana ceases to apply in all its forms. The poll body has observed that Telangana Finance Minister T Harish Rao, who is also contesting candidate of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi, has not only violated the provisions of Model Code of Conduct but also violated the laid down conditions by publicising the release under the scheme. The Commission said the Minister also disturbed the level playing field in the on-going election process.
