IMP Notes For UPSC

World Bank Supports Indian MSMEs Tech Programme A World Bank loan of US$200 million is supporting the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises’ Rs.2,200 crore implementation of Technology Centre Systems Programme (TCSP) for over 63 million MSMEs in the country. The TCSP is to establish 15 new Tool Rooms and Technology Development Centres (TCs) and upgrade the existing 18 TCs across the country, Work on 10 Technology Centres have started at: Rohtak, Bhiwadi, Baddi, Bengaluru, Durg, Puducherry, Vishakhapatnam, Sitarganj, Bhopal, and Kanpur. These centres will start functioning soon. Contracts for Technology Centres at Ernakulam and Imphal were signed in March 2018. Upgrade work has started at three existing Technology Centres at Bhubaneswar, Mumbai and Aurangabad. For development of North Eastern Region (NER), a special scheme has been framed under which work is in progress at Technology Centres at Tinsukia (Assam), Dimapur (Nagaland) and Agartala (Tripura). The Ministry is in the process of drafting strategies for encouraging women to set up their own businesses. Twenty-three agreements have been signed between Indian SMEs and SMEs of UK, Russia, Uzbekistan, Poland, Bhutan, Austria, Czech Republic, Cameroon and Sri Lanka. These agreements are for industries such as food processing, agriculture, textiles, defence, ammunition, waste management, dairy products, coal Jewellery, health care and Education. Four foreign SMEs have also signed Expression of Interest for entering into joint ventures with the Indian Government. The Ministry is setting up a Digital Trade Desk aimed at furthering more collaborations between Indian SMEs and other countries and for exchange of data. The SME Convention, held this year, will be an annual feature with 79 countries showing interest to participate in the next convention. During the 2018 Convention around 150 exhibitors from India and abroad had set up stalls showcasing their business and products. The MSME Ministry has launched an International Cooperation Scheme for the Indian MSMEs with the objective of technology infusion and upgrades and their modernization and promotion of exports.

Estimates Committee * The Government of the day formulates the economic policies and present demands to the Parliament for carrying out the policies. * In order to scrutinize the expenditure proposed by the Government in an informal atmosphere disregarding party lines, an Estimate Committee is constituted after the budget is presented before the Lok Sabha. This committee of the Lok Sabha examines the estimates in order to make suggestion in regard to— * Economy and improvement in organizational efficiency or administrative reform consistent with policies underlying the estimates. * Suggest alternative policies for bringing efficiency and economy in administration. * Examine whether the money is well laid out within the limits of the policy. * To suggest the form in which the estimates are to be presented to the Parliament. The committee functions would not include a Government undertaking which has been referred to the Committee on Public Undertakings. Constitution of the Committee * The committee shall not have more than 30 members. * The members are elected by proportional representation by means of single transferable vote. * A Minister cannot be elected to the committee and if after election a person is appointed a Minster, he ceases to be a member of the committee. * The members are appointed for a period not exceeding one year. * The report of the committees is not debated in the House. * The committee keeps on working throughout the year and places its views before the House. * The demand for grants made by the Government does not wait for the report of the Estimates committee. * The Estimates Committee makes useful suggestion and checks Government’s extravagance in making demands for the next financial year.

What do you understand by "judicial review" in Indian context? Enumerate the key provisions in the constitution with respect to judicial review in India. (15 marks) Approach Introduce with the meaning of judicial review Briefly note the grounds for judicial review Explain key provisions of the constitution with respect to judicial review in India. Conclude appropriately Model Answer : Judicial review is the power of the Supreme Court and the High Courts to examine the constitutionality of the Acts of the Parliament and the state legislatures and executive orders both of the centre and state governments. If the Acts, rules or actions are found to be ultra vires to the constitution, then such actions are declared null and void by the judiciary. The constitutional validity of a legislative enactment or an executive order may be challenged on the following grounds: Violation of fundamental rights Outside the competence of the authority which has framed it Repugnant to the Constitutional provisions In Keshavanand Bharti’s case, it was held that the judicial review is a ‘basic feature’ of the constitution and cannot be amended. Though the term "judicial review" is not used in the constitution of India, there are many provisions in the constitution conferring this power to the judiciary. Some of the important provisions include: Article 13: All laws inconsistent with the Fundamental Rights shall be null and void. Article 32: It guarantees the right to move the Supreme Court for the enforcement of the Fundamental Rights and empowers the Supreme Court to issue directions or orders or writs for that purpose. Article 226: High Courts can issue directions or orders or writs for the enforcement of the Fundamental Rights and for any other purpose. Article 131: Provides for the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in the centre–state and inter-state disputes. Article 132-134: Provides for the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in constitutional cases, civil cases and criminal cases. Article 143: The President can seek the opinion of the Supreme Court on any question of law or fact and on any pre-constitution legal matters. Article 245: Dealing with the territorial extent of laws made by Parliament and by the Legislatures of States. Article 246: Dealing with the subject matter of laws made by Parliament and by the Legislatures of States. Articles 251 & 254: Provides that in case of a conflict between the central law and state law, the central law prevails over the state law and the state law shall be void. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar had described the provisions related to judicial review as the ‘heart of the Constitution’. This power of judicial review has been utilised by the courts of India over time in cases like the Bank Nationalisation case (1970), Keshavananda Bharti case (1973) and recently in the NJAC case. However, the Supreme Court of India has cautioned the judges to respect and not encroach upon the domain of other organs of government by exercising restraint in using these powers. Subjects : Polity