Lok Sabha passes Delhi Municipal Corporation Amendment Bill, 2022

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022. The Bill seeks to further amend the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957 and proposes to unify the three existing Municipal Corporations of Delhi into one  Municipal Corporation of Delhi. It envisages bringing about greater transparency, improved governance and more efficient delivery of civic service for the people of Delhi. At present, the three corporations in Delhi -- North, South and East Delhi Municipal Corporations -- have a total of 272 seats. While North and South corporations have 104 Wards each, the East corporation has 64 Wards. The Bill was moved by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the House. Replying to the discussion on the Bill, Union Home Minister Amit Shah countered the opposition allegations saying that this Bill has been brought by following all the constitutional norms. He clarified that as Delhi is Union Territory, Parliament has the right to legislate on the matters related to National Capital Territory of Delhi.

-Lok Sabha passed the Chartered Accountants, the Cost and Works Accountants and the Company Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2021. Speaking on the Bill, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday asserted that there is no proposal or intention to infringe upon the autonomy of these three institutions, ICAI, ICWA and ICSI. She was replying after the discussion on The Chartered Accountants, the Cost and Works Accountants and the Company Secretaries (Amendment) Bill, 2021 in the Lok Sabha. Mrs Sitharaman also explained the amendment regarding the restructuring of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). She said, having a non-CA as presiding officer is very much in line with the global best practices. The minister explained the structure of the Board of Discipline (BOD) of the ICAI. The BOD is currently a three-member body, a presiding officer who is a Council member, one member nominated by the government, and one member nominated by the Council. The Amendment Bill suggests changing the presiding officer to someone who is not a chartered accountant (CA) nominated by the government from out of the panel prepared and provided by the Council itself. She said, the amendments would being greater transparency and responsibilities of these instructions.

-The projection mapping show - Matrubhumi highlighting the facets of India will now be exhibited at the historic Red Fort throughout the year. Culture Ministry said, the show offers a grand spectacle using light, sound and music with state-of-the-art technology. It highlights rich and diverse culture of India through its long, amazing, and chequered history and stirs numerous emotions of patriotism to instill pride among the citizens. The Ministry said, a ten- ay Red Fort Festival - Bharat Bhagya Vidhata is going on and mapping Show Matrubhumi is receiving an overwhelming response at the cultural extravaganza. It said that even after the 10-day festival is over on 3rd April but the projection mapping show will continue throughout the year.

-Uttar Pradesh government has ordered special task force STF to probe the alleged leak of English paper of UP board examination in Ballia district on Wednesday. Government has suspended the District Inspector of Schools (DIOS) of Ballia district. The government has also decided to impose national security act on those who will be found guilty in this case. New date for the examination has also been announced. Uttar Pradesh madhyamik Shiksha Parishad popularly known as UP board's examination of English paper was cancelled in 24 districts after threat of the leak of a certain paper code. The examination was scheduled in the second shift on Wednesday afternoon. However the examination continued as per the schedule in rest of the districts of the state with the different paper code.  The examination of English paper of intermediate class in the listed 24 districts will now be held on 13th April. The examination will be conducted in the first shift in the morning, that is from 8:00 a.m. to 11.15am. government has appealed students to keep restrain and released fax numbers WhatsApp numbers and toll free numbers for their assistance. Students can ask about all of their problems related to the paper on the mail id- upboardexam2022@ Gmail.com On Facebook at upboardexam group  8840850347 And twitter handle @upboardexam2022

-Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) has become the first Urban Local Body in Nagaland to go digital by launching eKMC portal. The portal was officially launched by Advisor of Urban Development & Municipal Affairs, Dr. Neikesalie Kire at the Kohima Smart City office in Kohima on Wednesday.  With this introduction of online portal, citizens can now apply for services such as trade licenses, sales permit, temporary permit, advertisement registration, residential registration and others without physically visiting the KMC office.  CEO of the Kohima Smart City Development Limited, K Theünuo said, Kohima as a smart city is taking steps to introduce online digital systems by using the latest available software technology with the aim to propel city and the state to become a leader in e-Governance, and ultimately developing to a digital society and a digital government. He said, the portal is a complete end-to-end online system so that citizens and local entrepreneurs can apply for services from anywhere and at any time. He informed that the KMC office will also be able to process and approve applications completely online. Theünuo said, the approved licenses and certificates will also be digital and payments can be done both online and offline as per the convenience of the applicant.

-In a major political development in Ladakh, BJP Councillors have withdrawn their support to LAHDC Kargil. In a letter to Deputy Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer LAHDC Kargil, the councillors informed withdrawal of support. Presently the Council is headed by Feroz Ahmad Khan of National Conference since 2018. Out of 26 elected councillor seats, NC has 12 Councillors, while Congress has eight (8), three are Independents and BJP has three councillors and four are nominated councillors. Mr Mohsin Ali of BJP is an Executive Councillor in the present Council.  In a statement, BJP said due to the lackadaisical approach of LAHDC Kargil under the council is not serving its constitutional responsibilities. Lack of transparency in funds spending and accountability.