- 2017: Introduced in Lok Sabha first.
- Subsumes following 4 Acts:
- Payment of Wages Act, 1926.
- Minimum Wages Act, 1948.
- Payment of Bonus Act, 1965.
- Equal Remuneration Act, 1976.
- Object: To transform old and obsolete labour laws.
- Universalizes the provision of minimum wages and timely payment of wages to employees, irrespective of sectors.
- Central Government will fix floor wages taking into account living standard of workers.
- It may also fix different floor wages for different geographical areas.
- Minimum wages to be fixed higher than floor wages.
- Advisory boards to be constituted by the Central Government and state governments to advise government on issues of fixation of minimum wages, increasing employment opportunities for women etc.
- Prohibits gender discrimination in matters of payment of wages and recruitment.
- Constitutional Provisions:
- Article 43: state shall endeavor to secure to all workers a living wage and conditions of work ensuring a decent standard of life.
- Labour is the subject of Concurrent List.
- Expert committee headed by Anoop Satpathy, submitted report on Determining the Methodology for Fixation of the National Minimum Wage.
Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan Yojana.
- The Union Ministry of Labour and Employment has launched it.
- Voluntary and contributory pension scheme for workers in the unorganised sector.
- Age-specific contribution by the beneficiary and the matching contribution by the Central Government.
- Eligibility:
- The unorganised sector workers, with income of less than Rs 15,000 per month within age group of 18-40 years.
- Not covered under New Pension Scheme (NPS), Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) scheme or Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).
- Not an income tax payer.
- Minimum assured monthly pension of Rs 3000 after attaining the age of 60 years.
- LIC is the Pension Fund Manager.
Operation Digital Board (ODB).
- Human Resource Development Minister Shri Prakash Javadekar launched Operation Digital Board to leverage technology in order to boost quality education in the country.
- On the lines of Operation Blackboard of 1987.
Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog.
- For conservation, protection and development of cattle population in the country including development and conservation of indigenous breeds.
Gross Domestic Knowledge Product (GDKP).
- The Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation in collaboration with Indian Statistical Institute (ISI).
- Provides a fundamental measure of growth by including factors that involve the creation and accumulation of knowledge.
The e-AUSHADHI portal.
- For online licensing of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy drugs and related matters.
Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP).
- The flagship program of the Election Commission of India for voter education, voter awareness and voter literacy in India.
Generalised System of Preferences (GSP).
- U.S. trade program designed to promote economic growth in the developing world by providing preferential duty-free entry for up to 4,800 products from 129 designated beneficiary countries and territories.
- India is the largest beneficiary.
GSAT-31
- India’s communication satellite.
- Launched by Ariane 5 rocket from French Guyana (South America).
- Placed in Geostationary Orbit (36,000 km above the equator).
Salt Satyagraha Memorial.
- Inaugurated at Dandi in Navsari district, Gujarat.
- It was dedicated by the PM to the nation on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s 71st death anniversary (30th January).
POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission).
- It targets to reduce stunting, undernutrition, anemia (among young children, women and adolescent girls) and reduce low birth weight.
- Swasth Bharat Preraks will be deployed one in each district for fast and efficient execution of the Abhiyaan across the country and act as catalyst for fast tracking the implementation of the Abhiyaan.
