Cabinet clears four Bills piloted by the Ministry of HRD
Distilled Policy Brief
- The Copyright (Amendment) Bill, introduced on 19 April 2010 in the Rajya Sabha, proposes to vest copyright in film directors alongside producers and the Standing Committee recommends dropping the director‑as‑author provision while retaining compulsory licensing provisions.
- The Protection of Women against Sexual Harassment at Workplace Bill, introduced on 7 December 2010 in the Lok Sabha, defines workplace sexual harassment, provides a redressal mechanism for all women employees (excluding domestic workers), and the Standing Committee urges gender‑neutral language and inclusion of domestic workers.
🎯 Prelims High-Yield Examination Points
Cabinet clearance of four HRD bills signals the government's legislative focus on intellectual‑property reform, higher‑education quality assurance, and workplace gender safety.
⚖️ Mains Analytical & Syllabus Linkages
Evaluate how the Copyright (Amendment) Bill and the Protection of Women against Sexual Harassment at Workplace Bill reshape rights of creators and women, and analyse the influence of Standing Committee recommendations on the final statutes.
🎯 UPSC Prelims Practice Drill
In the Standing Committee's report on the Protection of Women against Sexual Harassment at Workplace Bill, 2010, which group was specifically recommended to be included in the definition of "women employees"?
- [A] Domestic workers
- [B] Contractual staff
- [C] Interns
- [D] Part‑time employees
▶ Reveal Official Answer & Analytical Explanation
The Bill originally excluded domestic workers from the definition of women employees. The Standing Committee urged that domestic workers be included, recommending gender‑neutral language. The other categories were not mentioned in the committee's recommendation.
🏛️ Historical Twin PYQ Anchor (2021)
Consider the following statements regarding the "National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)": 1. It is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. 2. Central Pollution Control Board acts as the sole regulatory executive body.