Setup realistic but ambitious goals to stand up to aspirations of 600 million young Indians

The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that Ambition, Ability, Agility, Accountability and Achievement, are five important directions in which the country must move forward to reform our governance system cautioning officers not be complacent with current achievements.

Addressing the 64th Annual meeting of the General Body of Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), as its President, the Vice President stressed the need to acquire skills to increase efficiency and effectiveness while implementing schemes. He tasked officers with an aim to take the benefits of the programmes to the needy, most vulnerable populations.

The Vice President said that the bottom line of a development programme is the impact on human lives, the transformation it brings in the dignity, capability and prosperity of each citizen. He said resource institutions like the IIPA must take lead in order to make a leap forward in the way we govern ourselves.

The Vice President called for setting up of realistic but ambitious goals to stand up to the aspirations of the 600 million young Indians. He called on the civil servants and administrators to make efforts to meet the challenges such as the urban rural divide, the gender divide, discrimination against women and social groups like Scheduled castes, pockets of poverty, malnutrition, illiteracy and etc.

There is a need to develop the ability to adapt, improvise, innovate to create programmes and strategies to make them effectively address the challenges. We must be agile and pro-active, he added.

The Secretary to the Vice President, Dr. I.V. Subba Rao, the Chairman of IIPA, Shri T.N. Chaturvedi, the Vice President of IIPA, Shri Shekhar Dutt and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

Sale of Electoral Bonds at Authorised Branches of State Bank of India (SBI) Posted On: 27 OCT 2018 3:55PM by PIB Delhi

Government of India has notified the Electoral Bond Scheme 2018 vide Gazette Notification No. 20 dated 02nd January 2018. As per provisions of the Scheme, Electoral Bonds may be purchased by a person (as defined in item No.2(d) of Gazette Notification), who is a citizen of India or incorporated or established in India. A person being an individual can buy Electoral Bonds, either singly or jointly with other individuals. Only the Political Parties registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (43 of 1951) and which secured not less than one per cent of the votes polled in the last General Election to the House of the People or the Legislative Assembly of the State, shall be eligible to receive the Electoral Bonds. The Electoral Bonds shall be encashed by an eligible Political Party only through a Bank account with the Authorized Bank.

2. State Bank of India (SBI) in the 6th phase of sale, has been authorised to issue and encash Electoral Bonds through its 29 Authorised Branches (as per list enclosed) w.e.f. 01.11.2018 to 10.11.2018.

3. It may be noted that Electoral Bonds shall be valid for fifteen calendar days from the date of issue and no payment shall be made to any payee Political Party if the Electoral Bond is deposited after expiry of the validity period. The Electoral Bond deposited by an eligible Political Party in its account shall be credited on the same day

1. The Office of the Vice-President Article 63. The Vice-President of India is the second highest constitutional office in the country. He serves for a five-year term, but can continue to be in office, irrespective of the expiry of the term, until the successor assumes office.

The Constitution is silent on who performs the duties of the Vice-President, when a vacancy occurs in the office of the Vice-President of India, before the expiry of his term, or when the Vice-President acts as the President of India. The only provision in the Constitution is with regard to the Vice-President's function as the Chairperson of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha), which is performed, during the period of such vacancy, by the Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, or any other member of the Rajya Sabha authorised by the President of India.

The Vice-President may resign his office by submitting his resignation to the President of India. The resignation becomes effective from the day it is accepted.

The Vice-President can be removed from office by a resolution of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha), passed by a majority of its members at that time and agreed to by the House of the People (Lok Sabha). A resolution for this purpose may be moved only after a notice of at least a minimum of 14 days has been given of such an intention.

2. The Vice-President as Chairperson* (ex-officio) of the Rajya Sabha Article 64. he Vice-President is the ex-officio Chairperson of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha ) and does not hold any other office of profit. During any period when the Vice-President acts as, or discharges the functions of the President, he does not perform the duties of the office of the Chairperson of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and, is not entitled to any salary or allowances payable to the Chairperson, Rajya Sabha.

3. The Vice-President as Acting President Article 65. The Vice-President acts as President, during casual vacancy in the office of the President by reason of death, resignation or removal or otherwise, until a new President is elected as soon as practicable and, in no case, later than six months from the date of occurrence of the vacancy. When the President is unable to discharge his functions owing to absence, illness or any other cause, the Vice-President discharges those functions till the President resumes office. During this period, the Vice-President has all the powers, immunities and privileges of the President and receives emoluments and allowances payable to the President.

*In these texts, the expression 'Chairperson' has been used so as to be proper, genderwise. The statutory provisions however, contain the expression 'Chairman'.

1. The Vice-President is elected by an electoral college consisting of members of both Houses of Parliament, in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote and the voting in such election is by secret ballot. The Electoral College to elect a person to the office of the Vice-President consists of all members of both Houses of Parliament*.

2. The Vice-President is not a member of either House of Parliament or of a House of a Legislature of any state. If a member of either House of Parliament or of a House of a Legislature of any state is elected as Vice-President, he is deemed to have vacated his seat in that House on the date he/she enters his office as Vice-President.

3. A person cannot be elected as Vice-President unless he - is a citizen of India; has completed the age of 35 years, and is qualified for election as a member of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha). A person is not also eligible if he holds any office of profit under the Government of India or a State Government or any subordinate local authority.

4. An election to fill a vacancy caused by the expiry of the term of office of Vice-President is completed before the expiry of the term. In case a vacancy arises by reasons of death, resignation or removal or otherwise, the election to fill that vacancy is held as soon as possible after the occurrence**. The person so elected is entitled to hold office for a full term of 5 years from the date he enters office.

The Election Commission of India conducts the election to the office of the Vice-President.

Important Provisions relating to the Election of the Vice-President: 1. The election of the next Vice-President is to be held within 60 days of the expiry of the term of office of the outgoing Vice-President.

2. The Returning Officer usually appointed to conduct the Vice-Presidential elections is the Secretary-General of either House of the Parliament, by rotation. The Returning Officer issues a public notice of the intended election in a prescribed form, inviting nomination of candidates and specifies the place where the nomination papers are to be delivered.

Any person qualified to be elected and intending to stand for election as Vice-President is required to be nominated by at least 20 MPs as proposers and at least 20 MPs as seconders.

Nomination papers are to be presented to the Returning Officer at the place and upto the time and date, specified in the public notice. A maximum of 4 nomination papers by, or on behalf of, any candidate may be presented to, or accepted by, the Returning Officer.

3. A candidate seeking election as Vice-President is required to make a security deposit of Rs.15,000/-. This is the only amount that is required to be deposited by a candidate irrespective of the number of nomination papers filed on his behalf.

4. The nomination papers are scrutinised on the specified date by the Returning Officer in the presence of the candidate and his proposer or seconder and any one other person duly authorised.

5. Any candidate may withdraw his candidature by a notice in writing in a prescribed form delivered to the Returning Officer within the time specified.

6. In the election an elector has as many preferences as there are candidates. In casting his vote, an elector is required to record on his ballot paper the figure 1 at the space opposite the name of the candidate whom he chooses as his first preference and may, in addition, record as many subsequent preferences as he/she wishes by recording on his ballot paper the figures 2,3,4, and so on, in the space opposite the names of other candidates. The votes should be recorded in the international form of Indian numerals or in the Roman form or in the form of any Indian language but should not be indicated in words.

Every ballot paper represents one vote at each count. The procedure for counting votes consists of the following steps:

The number of first preference votes secured by each candidate is ascertained. The numbers so ascertained are added up - the total is divided by two and one is added to the quotient disregarding any remainder. The resulting number is the quota sufficient for a candidate to secure his return at the election.

If at the end of the first or any subsequent count, the total number of votes credited to any candidate is equal to, or greater than the quota, that candidate is declared elected.

If at the end of any count, no candidate can be declared elected, then; the candidate who upto the stage has been credited with the lowest number of votes shall be excluded from the poll, and all his ballot papers will be again scrutinised, one by one, with reference to the second preference marked, if any, on them.

These ballot papers will be transferred to the respective remaining (continuing) candidates for whom such second preferences have been marked thereon, and the value of votes of those ballot papers credited to such candidates. These ballot papers shall be transferred to the aforesaid continuing candidate. The ballot papers on which the second preference is not marked shall be treated as exhausted ballot papers and shall not be counted further, even if they contain third or any subsequent preference.

If at the end of this count, some candidate reaches the quota, he shall be declared elected.

If at the end of the second count also, no candidate can be declared elected, the counting will proceed still further by exclusion of the candidate who is now lowest on the poll upto this stage. All his ballot papers, including the ballot papers which he might have received during the second count, will again be scrutinised with reference to the 'next available preference' marked on each of them. If on a ballot paper received by him in the first count, the second preference is marked for any of the continuing candidates, it shall be transferred to that candidate.

If on any such ballot paper, the second preference is marked for the candidate who has already been excluded in the second round, such ballot paper shall be transferred with reference to the third preference, if any, for a continuing candidate. Similarly, the ballot papers received by him in the second round by way of transfer will also be scrutinised with reference to the third preference marked on them. This process of exclusion of candidates lowest on the poll will be repeated till one of the continuing candidates reaches the quota.

7. After the election has been held and the votes have been counted, the Returning Officer declares the result of the election. Thereafter, he reports the result to the Central Government (Ministry of Law & Justice) and the Election Commission of India and the Central Government publishes the name of the person elected as Vice-President, in the Official Gazette.

1. All doubts and disputes arising in connection with the election of the Vice-President are enquired into and decided by the Supreme Court of India whose decision is final.

2. A petition challenging the election of the Vice-President is heard by a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court of India.

3. The petition has necessarily to be accompanied by a security deposit of Rs. 20,000/-.

The Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2016 The Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2016 was introduced by the Minister of Tribal Affairs, Mr. Jual Oram, in Lok Sabha on December 14, 2016. The Bill seeks to amend the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 and the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950.

The two Orders were issued by the President under the Constitution specifying the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and the Scheduled Tribes (STs) of the various states. The Constitution further provides that a law of Parliament is required to amend the Orders.

Assam: The Bill seeks to add the following communities to the list of STs in Assam: (i) Boro, Boro Kachari, Bodo, Bodo Kachari, and (ii) Karbi (Mikir).

Chhattisgarh: The Bill seeks to clarify equivalent names of the following communities that are already mentioned in the STs list: (i) Bhuinya, Bhuiyan, Bhuyan, (ii) Dhanwar, Dhanuhar, Dhanuwar, (iii) Nagesia, Nagasia, Kisan, and (iii) Sawar, Sawara, Saunra, Saonra.

Jharkhand: The Bill seeks to remove the Bhogta community from the list of SCs in Jharkhand, and include it in the list of STs. It also clarifies the equivalent names of the Kharwar community in the list of STs: Bhogta, Deshwari, Ganjhu, Dautalbandi, Dwalbandi, Patbandi, Raut, Maajhia, Kairi and Kheri. It also adds a new community to the list of STs in Jharkhand: Puran.

Tamil Nadu: Under the Scheduled Tribes Order, 1950, the Malayali community is a ST for the districts of Dharmapuri, North Arcot, Pudukottai, Salem, South Arcot and Tiruchirapali in Tamil Nadu. The Bill amends this entry to make the ‘Malayali Gounder’ community a ST throughout Tamil Nadu. It also adds a community to the STs list: Narikarovan or Kurivikkaran.

Tripura: The Bill adds the following sub-tribe of the Kuki tribe to the list of STs in Tripura: Darlong.

The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2018 was introduced in Lok Sabha on July 18, 2018 by the Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Mr. Jayant Sinha.

It amends the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act, 2008. The Act established the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA). The AERA regulates tariffs and other charges for aeronautical services provided at civilian airports with annual traffic above 15 lakh passengers. It also monitors the performance standard of services across these airports.

Definition of major airports: The Act defines a major airport as one with annual passenger traffic over 15 lakh, or any other airports as notified by the central government. The Bill increases the threshold of annual passenger traffic for major airports to over 35 lakh.

Tariff determination by AERA: Under the Act, the AERA is responsible for determining: (i) the tariff for aeronautical services at different airports every five years, (ii) the development fees of major airports, and (iii) the passengers service fee. It can also call for necessary information to determine tariffs and perform any other tariff-related functions, including amending the tariffs if necessary in the interim periods.

The Bill provides that the AERA will not determine: (i) the tariff, (ii) tariff structures, or (iii) the development fees, in certain cases. These cases will include those where such tariff amounts were a part of the bid document on the basis of which the airport operations were awarded. The AERA will be consulted before incorporating such tariffs in the bid document, and such tariffs must be notified.

Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) is an independent body constituted to give advice on economic and related issues to the Government of India, specifically to the Prime Minister. The six member Council consists of economists of high repute and eminence: Dr. Bibek Debroy (Chairman), Shri Ratan P. Watal (Member Secretary), Dr. Surjit Bhalla (Part-Time Member), Dr. Rathin Roy (Part-Time Member), Dr. Ashima Goyal (Part-Time Member), and Dr. Shamika Ravi (Part-Time Member).

Terms of Reference of the EAC-PM: Analyse any issue, economic or otherwise, referred to it by the Prime Minister and advising him thereon.

Addressing issues of macroeconomic importance and presenting views thereon to the Prime Minister. This could be either suo-motu or on reference from the Prime Minister or anyone else.

Attending to any other task as may be desired by the Prime Minister from time to time.