Structure of Parliamentary Standing Committees:
- A Standing Committee is a committee consisting of Members of Parliament.
- It is a permanent, regulatory committee, with standing committees for each parliamentary session without ad hoc committees.
- They are Rules of Procedure Committee, Official Advisory Committee and Rules Committee constituted from time to time by Act of Parliament.
- Its task is not only to do the work given to it by the Parliament of India on a voluntary basis, but also in complex situations.
- Both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha have similar committees with some exceptions.
- Parliamentary committees are small groups of parliamentarians or legislators formed to carry out specific tasks.
- It includes scrutinizing the law, examining government policies, conducting investigations and overseeing the activities of various departments and ministries.
- These committees play an important role in the legislative process by providing expert analysis, conducting inquiries and holding the government accountable.
- Independent India’s first Estimates Committee was constituted in 1950 and was the largest committee in Parliament.
- Heads of Standing Committees for Trade, Education, Women’s Development, Health, Home Affairs, Industries, Labour, People’s Grievances, Science and Technology, Environment, Transport, Tourism and Culture will be appointed from the Rajya Sabha and the heads of the Standing Committees for other departments will be appointed from the Lok Sabha.
- Each group has about 30 members.
Armed Forces Special Power Act:
- Due to law and order problems, the Union Home Ministry has issued a notification extending the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in effect in 3 districts of Arunachal Pradesh and 8 districts of Nagaland for another 6 months.
- Areas or districts where there is law and order disorder are declared as ‘disturbed’ areas under the Armed Forces Act to facilitate the functioning of the armed forces.
- The AFSPA Act empowers the army to conduct search, arrest and firing operations if deemed necessary to maintain public order in the area.
- The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) is an Act of Parliament that grants special powers to the Indian Armed Forces and state and paramilitary forces in areas classified as “troubled areas”.
- AFSPA – like many controversial laws – has colonial origins.
- AFSPA was first enacted as a law in 1942 in the context of the Quit White Movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi.
- Shocked by the massive violence across the country, the then Viceroy Linlithgow announced the Armed Forces Special Powers Ordinance in 1942.
National Zoological Park Launches International Animal Exchange Program:
- Delhi Zoo is the first to approach its foreign counterparts in Dubai, Israel, Africa and Europe for animal exchange programs with a view to increasing species diversity at Delhi National Zoo.
- Delhi National Zoological park acquired a Bengal tiger, a rhinoceros and a pair of pied hornbills as part of an animal exchange program with Assam.
- National Zoological park, also known as Delhi Zoo, was established in 1952.
September 27: World Tourism Day
- The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has observed World Tourism Day on 27th September.
September 27: World Maritime Day
- World Maritime Day is observed on the last Thursday of September every year to recognize the maritime industry
Important Facts:
- Bank of India, one of India’s public sector banks, has launched a 400-day seasonal fixed deposit scheme.
- Chief Minister Siddaramaiah launched Knowledge, Health and Innovation City near Dobbespet in Bengaluru.
- ‘KWIN City’, a commercial city known as the City of Knowledge, Health and Innovation, is being built near Dobbespet in Bangalore.
- Elizabeth Faure, UN World Food Program India Director.
- KR Shriram was sworn in as the Chief Justice of Madras High Court.
- The central government recommended UNESCO to declare Red Fort as a World Heritage Site.