Amendment in Child Labour Act

The cabinet has approved of amendments in the Child Labour Act and has allowed children below the age of 14 years to work in non hazardous works after school hours and during holidays. Children between the ages of 14 and 18 years cannot work in hazardous industries. While the parents are not punished for the first offence, for a second or subsequent violation they can be fined for up to 10,000 rupees while the penalty for the employer for the first violation is penalty of 50,000 rupees for a second or subsequent violation they can be punished with imprisinment of a minimum of one year that can extend up to three years. Exception has been given as to where the child helps in family work provided it is not of hazardous nature. Exception is also provided where the child works in audio visual industry including films, advertisements, etc except circus. This exception is conditional to safety measures being taken.

Black money bill

The parliament has passed the black money bill to deal with tax evasions. According to the bill, those who conceal income and assets and indulge in tax evasion will be punished for a term up to ten years of rigorous imprisonment and will also be liable to penalty up to 300 times the tax on the undisclosed income and assets. There would be a short compliance window for those having assets abroad to come clean and pay thirty percent tax and thirty percent penalty. The bill will now be sent to the President for his approval.

Only Prime Minister, President and Chief Justice to feature in ads

The Supreme Court while dealing with a petition that challenged the use of tax payers money for gaining political gains, observed that only the pictures of the Prime Minister, the President and the Chief Justice of India can feature on government advertisements and that too only after their approval. The pictures of other politicians cannot feature on advertisements showing welfare schemes  and cannot be used for political gains.
The Court had earlier warned against advertisements of birth and death anniversaries of politicians being published by political parties out of tax payers money.
The Court held that these guidelines shall remain in force till the parliament passes any law in this regard.