Finance
According to a government notification released on Friday, President Droupadi Murmu has given her consent to a law that aims to establish a procedure for the appointment of Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners.
A search committee headed by the law minister and two additional individuals not lower than the rank of secretary will be established under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023, in order to assemble a panel of five candidates for the selection committee’s consideration for appointment as CECs or ECs.
The measure also establishes a Selection Committee, headed by the prime minister, the head of the opposition, and a minister from the Union, whose job it is to recommend to the President that CECs and other ECs be appointed.
The Press and Registration of periodicals Bill, which aims to streamline the registration procedure for magazines and replace a legislation from the British era that regulates the publishing business, was also approved by the president. The Press and Registration of Books Act of 1867 is being replaced by the Bill. On August 3, the Rajya Sabha approved the bill.
“This bill is simple, smart and has a simultaneous process for registration of newspapers and periodicals. Earlier newspapers or magazines had to pass through an eight-step registration process. This can now be done at the click of a button,” Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said responding to the discussion on the bill in the Lok Sabha on December 21.
According to him, registration for newspapers and magazines will now take only two months instead of the previous two to three years.
The Provisional Collection of Taxes Bill, 2023 and the Central Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2023 were also approved by the President.
Source: IE
