Whatsapp/Telegram No Updates for Crux of Indian Economy for IAS Prelims 2018 February 2018 Edition.

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1 Whatsapp/Telegram No Updates for Crux of Indian Economy for IAS Prelims 2018 February 2018 Edition Update-2 States Startup Ranking framework 2018 launched by Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Objective The key objective of the Startup States and UTs Ranking Framework is to encourage States and UTs to take proactive steps towards strengthening the Startup ecosystems at the local level. About framework The framework will evaluate States on 7 pillars with 38 action points such as Pillars Action points Score assigned Startup policy and implementation Incubation support 3 20 Seed funding support 2 15 Angel and venture funding support 3 10 simplified regulations 4 13 Easing public procurement 5 14 Awareness and outreach 8 11 Total The Ranking Framework will measure the impact of each step initiated at the local level for building a strong Startup ecosystem. Each state will be ranked in June 2018.

2 Whatsapp/Telegram No The Bill, 2018 Key Features Replacement The new Bill will replace the Act, Bill 2015 has been withdrawn post the introduction of the 2018 Bill. Definition of consumer means any person who buys any good or avails a service for a consideration but does not include a person who obtains such goods or service for resale or for commercial purpose. It includes offline or online transactions through electronic means or by teleshopping or direct selling or multi-level marketing. Rights of consumers rights includes, (i) the right to be protected against the marketing of goods, products or services which are hazardous to life and property; (ii) the right to be informed about the quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard and price of goods, products or services so as to protect the consumer against unfair trade practices; (iii) the right to be assured, wherever possible, access to a variety of goods, products or services at competitive prices; (iv) the right to be heard and to be assured that consumer s interests will receive due consideration at appropriate fora; (v) the right to seek redressal against unfair trade practice or restrictive trade practices or unscrupulous exploitation of consumers; and (vi) the right to consumer awareness Complaint Complaint means any allegation in writing, made by a complainant for obtaining any relief provided under this Act, that (i) an unfair contract or unfair trade practice or a restrictive trade practice has been adopted by any trader or service provider; (ii) the goods bought by him or agreed to be bought by him suffer from one or more defects; (iii) the services hired or availed of or agreed to be hired or availed of by him suffer from any deficiency;

3 Whatsapp/Telegram No (iv) a trader or a service provider has charged for the goods or for the services mentioned in the complaint, a price in excess of the price (a) fixed by or under any law for the time being in force; or (b) displayed on the goods or any package containing such goods; or (c) displayed on the price list exhibited by him by or under any law for the time being in force; or (d) agreed between the parties; (v) the goods, which are hazardous to life and safety when used, are being offered for sale to the public (a) in contravention of standards relating to safety of such goods as required to be complied with, by or under any law for the time being in force; (b) where the trader knows that the goods so offered are unsafe to the public; (vi) the services which are hazardous or likely to be hazardous to life and safety of the public when used, are being offered by a person who provides any service and who knows it to be injurious to life and safety; (vii) a claim for product liability action lies against the product manufacturer, product seller or product service provider. CONSUMER PROTECTION COUNCILS Central Council The Central Government shall, by notification, establish the Central Council to be known as the Central Council. The Central Council shall be on advisory council and Minister-in-charge of the Department of Affairs in the Central Government shall be the Chairperson. The objects of the Central Council shall be to render advice on promotion and protection of the consumers rights under this Act. State Every State Government shall, by notification, establish a State Council for such State to be known as the State Council.

4 Whatsapp/Telegram No Council The State Council shall be an advisory council and Ministerin-charge of Affairs in the State Government shall be the Chairperson. Objects of every State Council shall be to render advice on promotion and protection of consumer rights under this Act within the State. District Council The State Government shall, by notification, establish for every District a District Council to be known as the District Council. The District Council shall be an advisory council and Collector of the district shall be the Chairperson. Objects of every District Council shall be to render advice on promotion and protection of consumer rights under this Act within the district. Central Authority The Central Government shall, by notification, establish a Central Authority to be known as the Central Authority to regulate matters relating to violation of rights of consumers, unfair trade practices and false or misleading advertisements and to promote, protect and enforce the rights of consumers. It will be empowered to investigate, recall, refund and impose penalties; The Central Authority shall have an Investigation Wing headed by a Director-General for the purpose of conducting inquiry or investigation under this Act Disputes Redressal District The State Government shall, by notification, establish a District Disputes Redressal, known as the District, in each district of the State: State Government may, if it deems fit, establish more than one District in a district. District shall have jurisdiction to entertain complaints where the value of the goods or services does not exceed one crore rupees:

5 Whatsapp/Telegram No State The State Government shall, by notification, establish a State Disputes Redressal, to be known as the State, in the State. State Government may, if it deems fit, establish regional benches of the State State shall have jurisdiction (a) to entertain (i) complaints where the value of the goods or services exceeds rupees one crore, but does not exceed rupees ten crore: (ii) complaints against unfair contracts, where the value of goods or services does not exceed ten crore rupees; (iii) appeals against the orders of any District within the State; (b) to call for the records and pass appropriate orders in any consumer dispute which is pending before or has been decided by any District within the State. National The Central Government shall, by notification, establish a National Disputes Redressal, to be known as the National Central Government may, if it deems fit, establish regional Benches of the National. National shall have jurisdiction (a) to entertain (i) complaints where the value of the goods or services exceeds rupees ten crores: (ii) complaints against unfair contracts, where the value of goods or services exceeds ten crore rupees; (iii) appeals against the orders of any State ; (iv) appeals against the orders of the Central Authority; and

6 Whatsapp/Telegram No (b) to call for the records and pass appropriate orders in any consumer dispute which is pending before or has been decided by any State. Any person aggrieved by an order of National may appeal to the Supreme Court. Mediation Cell The State Government shall establish a consumer mediation cell to be attached to each of the District s and the State s of that State. The Central Government shall establish a consumer mediation cell to be attached to the National and each of the regional Benches. The mediation shall be held in the consumer mediation cell attached to the District, the State or the National. E-commerce and direct selling. For the purposes of preventing unfair trade practices in e-commerce, direct selling and also to protect the interest and rights of consumers, the Central Government may take such measures as may be prescribed. Product liability action Punishment for false or misleading advertisement A product liability action may be brought by a complainant against a product manufacturer or a product service provider or a product seller for any harm caused to him on account of a defective product. Product liability action means a complaint filed by a person before a District or State or National for claiming compensation for the harm caused to him. Any manufacturer or service provider who causes a false or misleading advertisement shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 2 years and with fine which may extend to 10 lakh rupees; and for every subsequent offence, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 5 years and with fine which may extend to 50 lakh rupees ES 2018 Government of India had introduced the Bill, 2015, in the Lok Sabha. The Bill gives the right to consumers to 1. Seek redressal against unfair or restrictive trade practices 2. File a complaint for overcharging or deceptive charging Which of the above is/are included in the Bill? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

7 Whatsapp/Telegram No CCI issues order against Google for search bias and imposes penalty The Competition of India (CCI) has found Google to have abused its dominant position in online general web search and web search advertising services in India. The Order was passed in response to information filed by Matrimony.com Limited and Unity &Trust Society (CUTS) in Based on findings of contraventions against Google, CCI imposed a penalty of Rs crore upon Google after taking into account its revenue from its India operations only. RM s Advisory Committee on Ministry of Defence Capital Projects The RakshaMantri Smt Nirmala Sitharaman has constituted a 13 member RakshaMantri s Advisory Committee on Ministry of Defence Capital Projects (RMCOMP). The decision has been taken to expedite capital acquisitions to bolster armed forces preparedness. Shri Vinay Sheel Oberoi, Former Secretary, Government of India will be Chairman of committee. ********************** The End ************************