Uttarakhand government passes Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill
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News18
an hour ago
- News18
Bolivia heads to presidential run-off as MAS ends two-decade rule
La Paz [Bolivia], August 18 (ANI): Bolivia is heading to a presidential run-off between a Centrist and Right-wing candidate, marking the end of nearly two decades of government by the Movement for Socialism (MAS), the country's electoral council more than 91 per cent of ballots counted on Sunday night, preliminary results showed centrist Rodrigo Paz of the Christian Democratic Party (PDC) leading with 32.8 per cent of the vote. Conservative former interim President Jorge 'Tuto" Quiroga, of the Alianza Libre coalition, trailed in second place with 26.4 per cent, meaning he will face Paz in a run-off on October 19. Candidates needed to surpass 50 per cent, or 40 per cent with a 10-point margin, to avoid a Jazeera's Latin America editor Lucia Newman, reporting from Santa Cruz de la Sierra, said the early results confirmed that MAS, which has governed Bolivia since 2005, is 'out of the picture".Newman added that the 'biggest surprise" is 'that the frontrunner is none other than somebody who was polling between fourth and fifth place up until now". She also noted that Paz is 'more to the centre" than his father, former President Jaime presidential candidates were in the running, spanning the far-right to the political left. Pre-election polls had suggested Samuel Doria Medina, a wealthy businessman and former planning minister, as one of two frontrunners alongside Quiroga. Former leftist President Evo Morales was barred from running, and outgoing socialist President Luis Arce, who had fallen out with Morales, opted out of the race, Al Jazeera division within the leftist coalition, coupled with Bolivia's deep economic crisis, meant few expected MAS to return to power. Official results are expected within seven days. Voters will also elect all 26 senators and 130 deputies, with officials assuming office on November is experiencing its worst economic crisis in a generation, with annual inflation of almost 25 percent and critical shortages of US dollars and fuel. Citizens have protested long queues for fuel, bread, and other essentials ahead of the election, Al Jazeera Morales, Bolivia enjoyed over a decade of strong growth and Indigenous upliftment, with gas sector nationalisation funding social programmes that halved extreme poverty between 2006 and 2019. However, gas revenues have dropped from $6.1bn in 2013 to $1.6bn last year due to a lack of new projects. With lithium still largely unexploited, the government faces a shortage of foreign exchange needed to import fuel, wheat, and other foodstuffs. (ANI)
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Govt tables Jan Vishwas Bill 2.0 to decriminalise 288 provisions for ease of business
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday tabled the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025 that proposes the decriminalisation of 288 provisions relating to minor offences in order to make doing business easier. The Commerce and Industry Ministry said the 2025 Bill builds on the Jan Vishwas Act of 2023 which decriminalized 183 provisions. The 2025 Bill has been referred to a select committee which is expected to prepare a report on it by the first day of the next session. The Bill proposes to amend 355 provisions in all. Besides the 288 provisions that are proposed to be decriminalised, the Bill proposes the amendment of 67 provisions under the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) Act, 1994 and Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 to facilitate ease of living, the Ministry said in a statement. The government said the proposals involve removal of imprisonment clauses for minor, technical or procedural defaults and have been replaced with monetary penalties or warnings. To reduce the judicial burden, designated officers have been empowered to impose penalties through administrative processes. Four Acts — Tea Act, 1953, Legal Metrology Act, 2009, Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 — which were part of Jan Vishwas Act, 2023 are proposed for further decriminalisation under the current Bill, the government said. As many as 47 provisions under the NDMC Act have been proposed for amendments. The proposal replaces the 'rateable value' method of property tax with Unit Area Method (UAM), introducing a transparent and formula-based system linked to property size, usage and location. 'This will simplify assessment, reduce discretion, and enhance compliance,' a ministry official said. The amendments proposed in the 20 provisions of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 will provide relaxation and clarity in compliance, including state-wide vehicle registration instead of jurisdiction-specific. For instance, the reporting period for vehicle registration cancellation extended from 14 to 30 days. Insurer intimation period on transfer of insurance certificate has been proposed to be extended from 14 to 30 days. 'These reforms aim to simplify procedures for citizens, improve transparency in property taxation, and provide relief in vehicle-related compliances,' the official said. The official said that that 11 offences under the Apprentices Act, 1961 like employer requiring an apprentice to work overtime without approval of Apprenticeship Adviser, refusal to furnish information or return, employing apprentice on work which is not connected to his training, etc. which are currently punishable with fine (Rs. 1000) are proposed to be converted to advisory for the first contravention and with censure or warning or penalty for every subsequent contravention. In the Central Silk Board Act, 1948, imprisonment up to 1 year and fine up to Rs. 1,000 has been proposed to be converted to only warning for first instance of contravention and penalty between Rs 25,000 to Rs 1 lakh for continuing or repeated offences for furnishing any false statement. Imprisonment up to 1 year and fine up to Rs 1,000 have been proposed to be removed for obstructing officers of the Board in exercise of any power, the official said. Under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act, 1985 (APEDA), fine up to Rs 5,000 has been proposed to be converted to warning for first instance of contravention and penalty with minimum Rs 10,000 for subsequent contravention for failure to furnish any return or furnishing a false report.
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
Delhi School Education Act 2025: What New Law Means For Parents, Schools
The Delhi Assembly recently passed the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025 during the Monsoon Session on August 8. The legislation, introduced by Education Minister Ashish Sood, is designed to bring accountability and transparency to how private unaided schools in the capital set their fees. The Act aims to curb arbitrary hikes by private schools, provide parents with a stronger voice in the fee-fixation process, and introduce strict penalties for violations. At the same time, it has sparked political debate, with the opposition alleging that the law could favor schools rather than parents. Here's a breakdown of what the Act proposes and what it means for parents, schools, and the larger education system. Why was this Bill introduced? For years, parents in Delhi have raised concerns over sudden and steep hikes in private school fees. According to the government, earlier rules under the Delhi School Education Act, 1973 covered only about 300 schools, leaving most institutions outside the fee regulation framework. The new law seeks to expand regulation to all 1,700 private unaided schools in Delhi, closing the loophole and ensuring that every fee hike goes through a transparent process. What are the key provisions of the Act? The Delhi Fee Regulation Act lays down clear rules for how private schools can increase their fees: Schools cannot raise fees without government approval Penalties for unauthorised hikes range from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh for first-time offences Repeat violations can attract fines up to Rs 10 lakh If schools fail to return excess fees within the deadline, penalties double after 20 days, triple after 40 days, and continue to rise with further delay Repeat offenders may also lose the right to propose fee hikes in the future and could be barred from holding school management positions How will fee decisions be taken now? The Act proposes a multi-level committee system involving parents, teachers, school management, and government officials. At the school level, committees must decide on fee proposals by July 15 each year At the district level, reviews must be completed by July 30 The final decision must be made by September If no resolution is reached within 45 days, the matter will go to an appellate committee This structure is intended to give parents veto power and ensure collective decision-making What powers does the government have under the new law? The Act authorises the Director of Education to exercise powers similar to those of a sub-divisional magistrate to ensure uniform action against violations. This provision is aimed at making enforcement stronger and faster. What are the criticisms of the Act? While the government claims the Act protects parents, the opposition has voiced strong objections. AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj called it a "bonanza for private schools", alleging that it removes audit requirements, curtails complaint mechanisms, and hands too much power to school management committees. He pointed out that some schools had raised fees by as much as 82% in April 2025, and argued that the Act legitimises such practices instead of stopping them. What does the government say in defence? Education Minister Ashish Sood argued that the Act is meant to end arbitrary hikes and ensure transparency. Speaking at a Parents' Town Hall in Janakpuri, attended by around 200 parents, he explained that the law was drafted after consultations with parents and education experts. He also criticised past governments for failing to build a transparent system of fee regulation, saying that the lack of strong government schools forced parents to turn to private institutions. Why does this matter for parents? With this law, parents are now formally part of the decision-making process for school fees in Delhi. The inclusion of parental veto rights and strict penalties for arbitrary hikes are designed to protect families from sudden financial burdens.
