ETEN Enlightens-Daily current capsules (Revision Modules) – 25thMay 2018

Department of Consumer Affairs

BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS (BIS) ACT 2016

A new Bureau of Indian standards (BIS) Act 2016 which was notified on

22nd March, 2016, has been brought into force with effect from

12th October, 2017.

The Act establishes the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) as the National

Standards Body of India.

It has enabling provisions for the Government to bring under compulsory

certification regime any goods or article of any scheduled industry,

process, system or service which it considers necessary in the public

interest or for the protection of human, animal or plant health, safety of

the environment, or prevention of unfair trade practices, or national

security.

Enabling provisions have also been made for making hallmarking of the

precious metal articles mandatory.

The new Act also allows multiple type of simplified conformity

assessment schemes including self-declaration of conformity against a

standard which will give simplified options to manufacturers to adhere to

the standards and get certificate of conformity.

The Act enables the Central Government to appoint any authority/agency,

in addition to the BIS, to verify the conformity of products and services to

a standard and issue certificate of conformity.

Further, there is provision for repair or recall, including product liability

of the products bearing Standard Mark but not conforming to the relevant

Indian Standard.Bureau of Indian Standards Rules, 2017 were also

notified

CONSUMER PROTECTION UNIT

An international conference on consumer protection was held on 26-27

October, 2017 in New Delhi in association with UNCTAD having

participation from countries in the East, South and South-East Asia with

the theme “Empowering Consumers in New Markets”.

The Union Government has approved on 20.12.2017 the introduction of

new Consumer Protection Bill, 2017 in Parliament to further protect the

interest of consumer by:

i) Strengthening the existing Act,

ii) Faster redressal of Consumer Grievances,

iii) Empowering Consumers, and

iv) Modernizing legislation to keep pace with ongoing change in market.

Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship

Investment in Skill Development Infrastructure

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras: allocated across 27 states

MSDE also laid down the Foundation stone of the First Regional

Vocational Training Institute (RVTI) of Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh.

Currently, there are 15 RVTIs spread across the nation.

Indian Institute of Skills (IIS)

These are state of the art center of excellence being set up across the 5

regions of India on the lines on ITE Singapore. The construction for the first IIS will begin soon in Mumbai, in

collaborations Tata Group. It will provide “hands-on” training in advanced courses such as energy

efficient construction, industrial electronics and automation etc.

Programs and Achievements made

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) and Recognition of

Prior Learning (RPL)

Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship is implementing

flagship scheme known as Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana

(PMKVY) on pan–India basis. PMKVY enables large number of prospective youth, which also

includes tribal, for taking Short Term Training (STT) and Recognition of

Prior Learning (RPL)

Fee Based Trainings

Under the Fee based model of skill development training being

implemented by National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC),

MSE has launched the same after approval from Chairman National Council for

Vocational Training (NCVT) across the country so as to standardize the

civil infrastructure of ITIs, so that ITIs across the country have similar

buildings and facilities.

Directorate General of Training under the aegis of Ministry of Skill

Development and Entrepreneurship has launched grading exercise for

ITIs to provide “Star Rating” to the performing institutes and give an

opportunity to the institutes lagging behind in some of the parameters, to

improve upon. The scoring shall be done against each of the 43 defined parameters as

per grading framework. The grading of ITIs is voluntary in nature.

SANKALP & STRIVE

Takshashila (Trainers and Assessors Portal) - National Portal for

Trainers and Assessors is an initiative by NSDC under Skill Indian

Mission.

The portal is a dedicated platform towards the management of trainers

and assessors training life-cycle and would function as the central

repository of information concerning the development of quality Trainers

and Assessors in the Indian skill eco-system.

MoU for Urja Ganga Gas Pipeline Project: In order to provide the skilled

manpower for Urja Ganga Gas Pipeline Project, a quadripartite

agreement has been signed today between National Skill Development

Corporation (NSDC), GAIL, Skill Development Institute (SDI),

Bhubaneswar and LabourNet.

MoU is to promote and enhance seamless skill development activities

related to Urja Ganga Gas Pipeline Project

National Entrepreneurship Awards 2017

In order to reorganize the entrepreneurial spirit of India’s youth and

encourage more young Indians to become entrepreneurs, MSDE

presented the National Entrepreneurship Awards for the 2nd year on 09-

11-2017 the third foundation day of the Ministry, in New Delhi to 10

Young Entrepreneurs

Recognition to States and Enterprises promoting Entrepreneurship

Further, in recognition of achievement for engaging apprentices, one best

State, one best Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE), one best State

Public Sector Enterprises (SPSE), and one best Private establishment

were also conferred with “Champions of Change” award on this

occasion. The award winners are i) State Government of Haryana (Best State

Category), ii) Bharat Heavy Electronicals Limited (BHEL)

Special Projects under PMKVY especially focused on tribal

populations have been initiated

Bru Project

The project aims for skilling of BRU TRIBE of Mizoram, who were

displaced and currently living in the Internally Displaced Person

(IDP) camps in the districts of North Tripura. Under the project, 556

candidates have been benefited

Katkari primitive tribe

Project aims to skill 1020 candidates from the Katkari tribe in

Maharashtra.

Skilling in Odisha

Project aims to skill 12,000 candidates from 62 indigenous communities

(tribes) of Odisha, of which 13 are classified as primitive.

Project YUVA with Delhi Police under PMKVY

Ministry of Skill Development also this year initiated Project YUVA

which is a joint initiative of NSDC and the Delhi Police under which

Delhi Police is connect young 3,000 deprived youth and across the

capital, 8 police stations under phase 1 of the project with training

partners so that they can upgrade their skill as per their capability post

which, they will be given placement assistance.

International Collaborations and Platforms of engagement

MoC with Government of Japan

A Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) on Technical Intern Training

Program (TITP) was signed between the Ministry of Skill Development

and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and Government of Japan

44th World Skills International competition was held in Abu Dhabi

Team India, led by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC)

under the guidance of the MSDE, competed in 26 skills at the event.

This year was one of the most successful year for Team India, which won

1 Silver, 1 Bronze and 9 Medallions for Excellence at the competition.

This is the best medal tally that India had since it started participating at

these competition in 2007.

Partnership with Ministry of Belarus

An MoU has been signed between MSDE and M/o Education of the

Government of the Republic of Belarus for Cooperation in the field of

Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

India - Africa Knowledge Exchange Mission

The Ministry in collaboration with World Bank arranged an India –

Africa Knowledge Exchange Mission in New Delhi with Minister Level

participations from Five African Countries viz. Rwanda, Ethiopia,

Nigeria, Ghana and Uganda besides 12 Technical Members and 2

members from PASET (Partnership for Skills in Applied Sciences,

Engineering and Technology), World Bank

Sources – PIB, Ministry of skill development, Ministry of Consumer affairs.