1. The Specified Bank Notes (Cessation of Liabilities) Act, 2017: The Specified Bank Notes (Cessation of Liabilities) Bill, 2017 was introduced in Lok Sabha on February 3, 2017.  The Bill replaces the Specified Bank Notes (Cessation of Liabilities) Ordinance, 2016 promulgated on December 30, 2016. The Bill provides that the specified bank notes (old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000) will cease to be liabilities of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) from December 31, 2016 onwards.  Further, these notes will no longer be guaranteed by the central government. These notes were demonetised on November 8, 2016 through a notification issued under the RBI Act, 1934.  The notification had allowed these notes to be deposited in banks or post offices by December 30, 2016.
  2. The Payment of Wages (Amendment) Act, 2017: The Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was introduced in Lok Sabha on February 3, 2017 by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mr. Bandaru Dattatreya.  The Bill amends the Payment of Wages Act, 1936. The Bill replaces the Payment of Wages Ordinance, 2016 which was promulgated on December 28, 2016. The Bill amends the 1936 Act to permit the employer to pay an employee’s wages: (i) in coin or currency notes; or (ii) by cheque; or (iii) by crediting them into his bank account.  The Bill removes the requirement of obtaining written authorisation for payment of wages by cheque or through a bank account.
  3. The Indian Institutes of Management Bill, 2017: Introduced on 9th Feb, 2017. The Bill declares 20 existing Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) as institutions of national importance and confers on them the power to grant degrees.
  4. The Repealing and Amending Bill, 2017: The Repealing and Amending Bill, 2017 was introduced in Lok Sabha on February 9, 2017 by the Minister of Law and Justice, Mr. Ravi Shankar Prasad. The Bill seeks to repeal 104 Acts in whole, partially amend one law, and make minor amendments to three other laws.
  5. The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2017: The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was introduced in Lok Sabha on March 10, 2017 by the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Thawar Chand Gehlot.  It was passed by Lok Sabha on March 23, 2017.  The Bill amends the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 and the Constitution (Pondicherry) Scheduled Castes Order, 1964. The Constitution empowers the President to specify the Scheduled Castes in various states and union territories.  Further, it permits this list of notified Scheduled Castes (SC) to be modified by Parliament.
  6. The Footwear Design and Development Institute Act, 2017: The Footwear Design and Development Institute Bill, 2017 was introduced by the ‎Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Commerce and Industry, Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman in Lok Sabha on March 14, 2017.  The Bill seeks to establish the Footwear Design and Development Institute as an institution of national importance. Currently, there are 12 campuses under the Institute.
  7. The Collection of Statistics (Amendment) Act, 2017: The Collection of Statistics (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was introduced by the ‎Minister of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Mr. D.V.Sadananda Gowda in Lok Sabha on March 20, 2017.  The Bill seeks to amend the Collection of Statistics Act, 2008 and extends its jurisdiction to cover Jammu and Kashmir for the collection of statistics pertaining to subjects that fall under the Union or Concurrent List of the constitution as applicable to Jammu and Kashmir including citizenship, education, banking, labour and forests.
  8. The Finance Bill, 2017: The Finance Bill, 2017 was introduced in Lok Sabha on February 1, 2017.
  9. The Indian Institutes of Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2017: The Union Cabinet on 1 February 2017 approved the introduction of the Indian Institutes of Information Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2017 in the Parliament. The amendment Bill provides for inclusion of Indian Institute of Information Technology Design and Manufacturing (IIITDM), Kurnool along with the other IIITs in the Indian Institutes of Information Technology Act, 2014. Subsequently, IITDM Kurnool will be declared as an institute of National Importance with the power to award degrees to students.
  10. The Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Act, 2017: The Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Bill, 2017 was introduced in Lok Sabha on March 27, 2017.  The Bill provides for compensation to states for any loss in revenue due to the implementation of GST.
  11. The Union Territory Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017: The Union Territory Goods and Services Tax Bill, 2017 was introduced in Lok Sabha on March 27, 2017.  The Bill provides for the levy of the Union Territory Goods and Services Tax (UTGST).
  12. The Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017: The Integrated Goods and Services Tax Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on March 27, 2017.  The Bill provides for the levy of the Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) by the centre on inter-state supply of goods and services.
  13. The Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017: The Central Goods and Services Tax Bill, 2017 was introduced in Lok Sabha on March 27, 2017.  The Bill provides for the levy of the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST).
  14. The Indian Institutes of Information Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2017: The Indian Institutes of Information Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was introduced by the Minister of Human Resource Development, Mr. Prakash Javadekar in Lok Sabha on March 27, 2017. The Bill amends the Indian Institutes of Information Technology Act, 2014.  The Act declares certain Institutes of Technology as institutions of national importance.  Further, it seeks to (i) develop new knowledge in information technology; and (ii) provide manpower of global standards for the information technology industry.
  15. The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017: The Maternity (Amendment) Bill, 2017, an amendment to the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, was passed in Lok Sabha on March 09, 2017 in Rajya Sabha on August 11, 2016 and received an assent from President of India on March 27,2017. The provisions of The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017 is effective from April 01, 2017. However, provision on crèche facility (Section 11 A) shall be effective from July 01, 2017. The Maternity Benefit Act 1961 protects the employment of women during the time of her maternity and entitles her of a ‘maternity benefit’ – i.e. full paid absence from work – to take care for her child. The act is applicable to all establishments employing 10 or more persons.
  16. The National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and Research (Amendment) Act, 2017: NITSER (National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and Research) Amendment Bill was passed in Rajya Sabha yesterday (26th July, 2017). The Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on 28th March, 2017. Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey, Minister of State (HRD) in Rajya Sabha informed that the Bill proposes to introduce two new Institutions namely Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Tirupati and IISER Berhampur in the Second Schedule of the NITSER Act, 2007. Five IISERs at Kolkata (2006), Pune (2006), Mohali (2007), Bhopal (2008) and Thiruvananthapuram (2008) mandated with promoting quality education and research in the sciences were established. With the establishment of the two new IISERs there are now seven IISERs.
  17. The Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 2017: The Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was introduced in Lok Sabha on March 31, 2017.  It seeks to amend the Customs Act, 1962, the Customs Tariff Act, 1975, the Central Excise Act, 1944, the Finance Act, 2001, the Finance Act, 2005, and repeal provisions of few Acts.
  18. The Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2017: Introduced in March, 2016 and passed by both the houses in March, 2017. The Bill amends the Enemy Property Act, 1968, to vest all rights, titles and interests over enemy property in the Custodian. The Bill declares transfer of enemy property by the enemy, conducted under the Act, to be void. This applies retrospectively to transfers that have occurred before or after 1968. The Bill prohibits civil courts and other authorities from entertaining disputes related to enemy property.
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Akshay Palande

Akshay Palande is a passionate teacher helping hundreds of students in their UPSC preparation. With a degree in Mechanical Engineering and double masters in Public Administration and Economics, he has experience of teaching UPSC aspirants for 5 years. His subject of expertise are Geography, Polity, Economics and Environment and Ecology.

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