Current Affairs - Bills and Acts

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, responsible for making recommendations on various aspects of GST implementation, was constituted under Article 279A of the Indian Constitution. This Article was introduced by the 101st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2016. It provides for the creation of the GST Council, which includes the Union Finance Minister as the Chairperson and state finance ministers as members. The Council plays a pivotal role in determining tax rates, exemptions, and other key aspects of GST. Its formation was a significant step in ensuring cooperative federalism in India's tax administration.

The Forest Rights Act (FRA) was enacted to recognize the rights of forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers over forest land and resources. As part of the government's efforts to implement this legislation effectively, the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs approved the formation of district-level and state-level FRA cells. These administrative bodies are intended to support and accelerate the implementation process of the FRA. The establishment of these cells is directly linked to the provisions and objectives set out in the Forest Rights Act, which was passed in 2006.

The Indian Patents Act, of 1970, includes provisions for compulsory licensing under Section 84, allowing the government or third parties to produce patented drugs without the patent owner's consent under specific conditions. This is particularly crucial for making life-saving medicines accessible and affordable for rare disease patients. The Act balances patent protection with public health needs, ensuring that intellectual property rights do not hinder essential medical access. Recent demands by rare disease patients highlight the ongoing relevance of this legal provision in addressing healthcare affordability in India.

The Centre has issued regulations for Ladakh under Article 240, which empowers the President to make regulations for the peace and good governance of certain Union Territories. These regulations have introduced domicile-based job reservations, provisions for reservations, preservation of local languages, and representation for women. Although the Sixth Schedule status was widely requested, the Centre opted for regulations under Article 240 to address the demands of the people of Ladakh, providing some level of autonomy and protection.

India plans to regulate online real money gaming (RMG) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, aiming to enhance financial transparency and user protection. The move responds to the sector’s rapid growth and the associated risks of illicit financial flows. RMG platforms, including fantasy sports and poker, have surged in popularity, especially among youth, driven by affordable internet, mobile accessibility, and digital payments. However, concerns about money laundering through complex transaction layering and cross-border fund integration have prompted the government to consider applying the 2002 legislation to strengthen oversight and reduce vulnerabilities in the digital gaming landscape.