Annual Policy Review
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ANNUAL POLICY REVIEW April 2017- March 2018 PRS Legislative Research April 2018 Institute for Policy Research Studies 3rd Floor, Gandharva Mahavidyalaya 212, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg New Delhi – 110 002 Tel: (011) 4343 4035-36 www.prsindia.org Contributors: Mandira Kala Gayatri Mann Nivedita Rao Prachee Mishra Roopal Suhag Roshni Sinha Sai Priya Kodidala Sanat Kanwar Vatsal Khullar DISCLAIMER: This document is being furnished to you for your information. You may choose to reproduce or redistribute this report for non- commercial purposes in part or in full to any other person with due acknowledgement of PRS Legislative Research (“PRS”). The opinions expressed herein are entirely those of the author(s). PRS makes every effort to use reliable and comprehensive information, but PRS does not represent that the contents of the report are accurate or complete. PRS is an independent, not-for-profit group. This document has been prepared without regard to the objectives or opinions of those who may receive it. ii Annual Policy Review: April 2017 – March 2018 PRS Legislative Research Table of Contents Finance and Industry ............................................................................................................ 4 Macroeconomic Developments .................................................................................................... 4 Finance ......................................................................................................................................... 6 Corporate Affairs ........................................................................................................................ 16 Commerce and Industry ............................................................................................................. 16 Labour ........................................................................................................................................ 19 Agriculture .................................................................................................................................. 21 Infrastructure ....................................................................................................................... 27 Civil Aviation ............................................................................................................................... 27 Railways ..................................................................................................................................... 29 Roads ......................................................................................................................................... 30 Shipping ..................................................................................................................................... 33 Power ......................................................................................................................................... 35 Petroleum and Natural Gas........................................................................................................ 36 Coal ............................................................................................................................................ 38 Mining ......................................................................................................................................... 40 Iron and Steel ............................................................................................................................. 41 Telecom...................................................................................................................................... 42 Space ......................................................................................................................................... 43 Development ....................................................................................................................... 44 Education and Skill Development .............................................................................................. 44 Health ......................................................................................................................................... 52 Urban Development and Housing .............................................................................................. 59 Rural Development .................................................................................................................... 64 Environment ............................................................................................................................... 65 Water Resources ....................................................................................................................... 66 Women and Child Development ................................................................................................ 68 Youth Affairs and Sports ............................................................................................................ 69 Minority Affairs ........................................................................................................................... 69 Culture ........................................................................................................................................ 70 Law and Security ................................................................................................................ 71 Law and Justice ......................................................................................................................... 71 Consumer Affairs ....................................................................................................................... 76 Defence ...................................................................................................................................... 77 Home Affairs .............................................................................................................................. 78 Social Justice and Empowerment .............................................................................................. 79 Personnel and Public Grievances .............................................................................................. 81 External Affairs ........................................................................................................................... 81 iii Highlights of the year Macroeconomic Developments Law and Justice to amend the no detention provision in the RTE Act, 2009. The Indian economy is Supreme Court held the right to The University Grants estimated to grow at 6.6% in privacy to be a fundamental Commission released the 2017-18. The RBI reduced the right. The Court held the Guidelines for Autonomous repo rate from 6.25% to 6% over practice of instant triple talaq Colleges, 2017. the year. As of March 2018, invalid; Lok Sabha passed a Bill retail inflation stood at 4.3% to make it punishable. The Coal year on year, and wholesale Court also permitted passive The new coal linkage policy for price index inflation was at euthanasia, subject to certain the power sector, SHAKTI, was 2.5%, year on year. conditions. announced. The Ministry of Finance Railways Coal also released the Coal Block Allocation Rules, 2017 The Goods and Services Tax The Rail Development regarding the process of was introduced across the Authority was created to frame allocating coal blocks through country from July 1, 2017. The guiding principles for tariff auction or allotment. Banking Regulation determination for freight and (Amendment) Bill, 2017 passed passenger segments. The Water Resources by Parliament allowed the RBI requirement of paying dividend Supreme Court delivered its to direct banks to initiate to the central government by the judgement on the Cauvery water insolvency resolution Railways was waived off. dispute, allocating 14.75 TMC proceedings against defaulters. Consumer Affairs water to Karnataka and reducing The Financial Resolution and the share of Tamil Nadu by the Deposit Insurance Bill, 2017 The Consumer Protection Bill, same amount. The Union was introduced. It seeks to 2018 was introduced to replace Cabinet approved setting up of a monitor banks and resolve them the Consumer Protection Act, tribunal to resolve the dispute in case of failure. 1986. The Bill contains between Odisha and provisions with regard to Civil Aviation Chhattisgarh over Mahanadi product liability, unfair river water. The Ministry of Civil Aviation contracts, and sets up district, proposed strategic disinvestment state, and national consumer Roads of Air India by way of transfer courts. The Motor Vehicles of management control and sale Health (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was of 76% equity share held by the passed by Lok Sabha. It seeks central government. DGCA The National Medical to address issues around road released rules for handling of Commission Bill, 2017 was safety and sets up a National unruly passengers. It also introduced. It seeks to replace Road Safety Board. Bharatmala released draft regulations on the Medical Council of India. Phase I approved. A total length civilian operation of drones. Cabinet approved the National of 34,800 km of roads have been Health Protection Mission to Commerce approved under the program. provide annual health insurance FDI in Air India will be allowed cover of up to five lakh rupees Labour up to 49% after disinvestment per family. National Nutrition The Code on Wages was by the government. 100% FDI Strategy, 2017 was released. It introduced