President’s Address 2014-2018: A Status Report
Distilled Policy Brief
- Every year, the Budget Session of Parliament begins with the President's Address highlighting government achievements and legislative agendas, followed by a Motion of Thanks and discussion concluding with the Prime Minister's reply.
- The Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill amends the 1988 Act by making the giving of a bribe an explicit offence, alongside the rollout of Goods and Services Tax on July 1, 2017 to promote cooperative federalism.
- Labour law simplification led to draft codes on Industrial Relations, Social Security, and Occupational Safety alongside the Code on Wages Bill, 2017, after central minimum wages were increased by 40% in 2017.
🎯 Prelims High-Yield Examination Points
The President's Address under Article 87 triggers a Motion of Thanks in both Houses of Parliament; failure to pass this motion in the Lok Sabha amounts to a loss of government majority.
⚖️ Mains Analytical & Syllabus Linkages
Analyze the effectiveness of the President's Address as an annual instrument of executive accountability and programmatic oversight across key developmental sectors.
🎯 UPSC Prelims Practice Drill
With reference to the legislative and policy initiatives highlighted in the context of the President's Address and governance reforms, consider the following statements: 1. The Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act makes the giving of a bribe an explicit offence alongside the existing provision penalizing public officials for taking a bribe. 2. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) was introduced across the country from July 1, 2017, specifically to promote the concept of cooperative federalism. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- [A] 1 only
- [B] 2 only
- [C] Both 1 and 2
- [D] Neither 1 nor 2
▶ Reveal Official Answer & Analytical Explanation
Statement 1 is correct because under the original 1988 Act, taking a bribe by a public official was an offence, and the amendment bill made giving a bribe an explicit offence as well. Statement 2 is also correct as the Goods and Services Tax was introduced on July 1, 2017, with the objective of promoting cooperative federalism through 'One Nation-One Tax' and 'One Nation-One Market'.
🏛️ 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.