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<ul><li><keyword id="9875222" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="a-parliamentary-standing-committee" source="Orion">A Parliamentary Standing Committee</keyword> has taken note of the high air fares charged by some airline operators in the domestic sector.</li><li>The <keyword id="47865" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="committee" source="Orion">Committee</keyword> also pointed out the wrong information published by the private airlines on their websites, regarding the number of seats left in the flight and the prices of the tickets.</li></ul>New Delhi, A Parliamentary Standing Committee has taken note of the high air fares charged by some airline operators in the domestic sector, and held that they are misguiding the public and forcing passengers to pay more. The Committee also pointed out the wrong information published by the private airlines on their websites, regarding the number of seats left in the flight and the prices of the tickets. "The level of misinformation can be gauged from the fact that even after the last tickets have been sold, the same number of seats show on the website, as indicated before the tickets sale. This indicates that airline operators are misguiding the public and forcing passengers to pay more," the panel said in the Demand for Grants (2023-24) report of the <keyword id="58151" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="civil-aviation-ministry" source="Orion">Civil Aviation Ministry</keyword>. In view of the above, it recommended that the Ministry should formulate appropriate guidelines regarding rationalisation of fares and publishing the correct information on the website of the airlines. It also pointed out that 'Predatory Pricing' is being restored to by the domestic airlines sector. "A particular airline may sell its air tickets at such a low level, that other competitors cannot compete and are forced to exit the market. A company that does this will see initial losses, but eventually it benefits by driving competition out of the market and raising its prices again," said the report. The Committee desired to know whether aviation regulator, the <keyword id="6354787" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="dgca" source="Orion">DGCA</keyword> had at any point of time intervened to check the fares of air tickets. It also expressed concern at the fact that in the domestic sector, private airlines are charging different fares for the same sector, route and same direction of flights. This is specifically so for the northeastern region and hilly areas including Jammu &amp; Kashmir and Ladakh, where the prices of domestic sector tickets are, sometimes, even more than the international airline sector prices. The Committee took note of the fact that after the repeal of the Air Corporations Act, 1953, the airfare is market driven and depends on market fares, and is neither established nor regulated by the government. "It notes the DGCA's comments that the airfares were regulated for a fixed period during the Covid pandemic in compliance with <keyword id="1773277" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="aircraft-act" source="Orion">Aircraft Act</keyword>, 1934 and the regulation was withdrawn as the Covid pandemic abated and that airlines are free to fix reasonable tariffs under the Aircraft Rules, 1937, with regard to cost of operation, services, reasonable profit and generally prevailing tariff," said the report. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/how-is-gpt-4-different-from-chatgpt-and-what-makes-it-unique/articleshow/98688465.cms">How is GPT-4 different from ChatGPT, and what makes it unique?</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/googles-new-ai-features-for-docs-gmail-and-more-to-rival-microsofts-workspace-toolsheres-what-it-means/articleshow/98657324.cms">Google’s new AI features for Docs, Gmail, and more to rival Microsoft’s workspace tools—here’s what it means</a>

Airlines misguiding people, forcing passengers to pay more, says Parl Panel

The government is expected to propose amendments to the competition law after taking into consideration various suggestions of a Parliamentary panel, in the upcoming <keyword id="105431" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Budget-session" source="Orion">Budget session</keyword> of <keyword id="6354721" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="parliament" source="Orion">Parliament</keyword>, according to a senior official. Besides, discussions are going on with respect to amendments to the <keyword id="6354456" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="insolvency-and-bankruptcy-code" source="Orion">Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code</keyword> (<keyword id="192838" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="ibc" source="Orion">IBC</keyword>) as well as the Companies Act, 2013. The official also said that the corporate affairs ministry is examining a Parliamentary panel's suggestions for having a new digital competition law. The ministry is implementing the Competition Act, IBC and the Companies Act, and amendments to these laws are expected this year. A bill to amend the competition law was introduced in Parliament on August 5 last year and was later referred to the <keyword id="403206" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="parliamentary-standing-committee-on-finance" source="Orion">Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance</keyword>. The panel tabled its report on December 13 last year and the ministry will now be coming up with an amendment bill after taking into consideration various recommendations of the committee. The senior official said the bill to amend the competition law is expected in the <keyword id="6358021" type="General" weightage="70" keywordseo="budget" source="Orion">Budget</keyword> session of Parliament. The introduction of a 'Settlement and Commitment framework to reduce litigations' and incentivising parties in an ongoing cartel investigation in terms of lesser penalty to disclose information regarding other cartels were among the proposals in the bill that was introduced in August last year. In its report, the Parliamentary panel recommended various changes to the bill to amend the competition law, including bringing cartels under the scope of settlements as a "pragmatic recourse". The Budget session of Parliament will commence on January 31 with President <keyword id="2848422" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="droupadi-murmu" source="Orion">Droupadi Murmu</keyword>'s address to the joint sitting of <keyword id="6355187" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="lok-sabha" source="Orion">Lok Sabha</keyword> and <keyword id="48510" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="rajya-sabha" source="Orion">Rajya Sabha</keyword>. The session will have 27 sittings and will continue till April 6 with a month-long recess to examine the budget papers. The first part of the session will conclude on February 14 and after a break, reconvene on March 12. In another report on 'Anti-Competitive Practices by Big Tech Companies', the Parliamentary panel, on December 22, proposed a new digital competition law, ex-ante regulations and the creation of a category of systemically important digital intermediaries to curb anti-competitive practices in the digital market. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/i-belong-to-middle-class-understand-their-pressures-sitharaman-before-budget/articleshow/97031282.cms">I belong to middle class, understand their pressures: Sitharaman before Budget</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/over-5-4-lakh-housing-units-to-be-completed-across-top-7-cities-in-2023-anarock-report/articleshow/97029912.cms">Over 5.4 lakh housing units to be completed across top 7 cities in 2023: Anarock report</a>

Amendments to competition law likely in Budget session

The Budget Session of <keyword id="6354721" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="parliament" source="Orion">Parliament</keyword> will commence on January 31 and end on April 6, according to an official statement. It will be the 259th session of the Rajya Sabha and the 11th session of the 17th <keyword id="6355187" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="lok-sabha" source="Orion">Lok Sabha</keyword>. "The Eleventh Session of Seventeenth Lok Sabha will commence on Tuesday, the 31st January 2023. Subject to exigencies of Government Business, the Session is likely to conclude on Thursday, the 6th April 2023," a Lok Sabha secretariat notification said. A similar statement from the Rajya Sabha secretariat said the President has summoned the Rajya Sabha to meet on Tuesday, the 31st January 2023 at New Delhi and is scheduled to conclude on Thursday, the 6th April 2023. Parliament's Budget Session will begin from 11 am on January 31 with President Droupadi Murmu'<keyword id="16089537" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="s-address" source="Orion">s address</keyword> to the joint sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget for 2023-24 at 11 am on Wednesday, the 1st February 2023. The session will have 27 sittings and will continue till April 6 with a month-long recess to examine the budget papers. "In order to enable the <keyword id="4555511" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="standing-committees" source="Orion">Standing Committees</keyword> to consider the Demands for Grants of Ministries/Departments and prepare their <keyword id="34464" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="reports" source="Orion">Reports</keyword>, the House will adjourn on 13th February 2023 to meet again on 13th March 2023," the Lok Sabha statement said. "Budget Session, 2023 of Parliament will commence from 31 January and continue till 6 April with 27 sittings spread over 66 days with usual recess. Amid Amrit Kaal looking forward to discussions on the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address, Union Budget and other items. "During the Budget Session, 2023 the recess will be from 14 February till 12 March to enable the department-related Parliamentary Standing Committees to examine the Demands for Grants and make reports relating to their Ministries/Departments," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi had tweeted. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/ongc-reliance-industries-paytm-siemens-among-stocks-in-focus/articleshow/97045293.cms">Sensex, Nifty50 end higher powered by L&amp;T, HDFC twins</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/gold-prices-hit-life-time-high-amid-looming-recession-hope-that-fed-will-slow-its-rate-hikes/articleshow/97061060.cms">Gold prices hit life-time high amid looming recession &amp; hope that Fed will slow its rate hikes</a>

Budget Session of Parliament from January 31 to April 6

Amid a tussle between the <keyword id="6362177" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-government">Union government</keyword> and <keyword id="6354616" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Twitter">Twitter</keyword> over the new IT rules, members of a <keyword id="85516" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Parliamentary-panel">parliamentary panel</keyword> on Friday strongly objected to Twitter India officials' observations that they abide by their policy and categorically told them that the rule of land is supreme. According to sources, members of the Parliamentary Panel on <keyword id="6363148" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="information-technology">Information Technology</keyword> also asked Twitter why it should not be fined as it has been found "violating" rules of the country. Earlier this month, the Centre issued a notice to Twitter giving it one last chance to "immediately" comply with the new IT rules and warned that failure to adhere to the norms will lead to the platform losing exemption from liability under the IT Act. The Parliamentary <keyword id="6355940" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="standing-committee">Standing Committee</keyword> on Information and Technology, chaired by Congress leader <keyword id="42749" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Shashi-Tharoor">Shashi Tharoor</keyword>, had last week summoned Twitter over issues related to misuse of the platform and protection of citizens' rights. Twitter India's public policy manager Shagufta Kamran and legal counsel Ayushi Kapoor deposed before the panel on Friday. Members of the panel asked some tough and searching questions to Twitter India officials but there answers lacked clarity and were ambiguous, sources said. They strongly objected to the observation of Twitter India officials that its policy is on par with the rule of land and categorically told them "rule of land is supreme, not your policy", sources said. Twitter and the Centre have been at loggerheads over several issues for the last few months. The microblogging site had faced backlash when it briefly removed the 'blue tick' verification badge from the personal account of Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu and of several senior RSS functionaries, including its chief Mohan Bhagwat. Earlier, Delhi Police had sent a notice to Twitter, seeking an explanation of how it described an alleged "Congress toolkit" against the Central government as manipulated media. The police reportedly had also questioned Twitter India MD Manish Maheshwari on May 31 and visited the Twitter India offices in Delhi and Gurgaon on May 24 over the toolkit issue. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/low-skilled-it-jobs-in-india-are-definitely-at-risk-as-per-different-reports/articleshow/83633565.cms">Whether it's half a million or three million — 'low skilled' IT jobs in India are definitely at ris</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cryptocurrency/news/el-salvadors-bitcoin-experiment-is-gaining-momentum-even-if-the-world-bank-doesnt-want-to-lend-its-support/slidelist/83634654.cms">Here’s how El Salvador’s Bitcoin experiment is playing out so far — the good, the bad and the ugly</a>

Rule of land supreme, not your policy: Parliamentary panel on information technology to Twitter

A parliamentary committee has recommended setting up population-based cancer registries in rural areas to help data-driven and evidence-based policy formulation. It has also suggested raising taxes on tobacco products citing that increasing their market price would make them less affordable. This will result in lower consumption and decrease the risk of tobacco-related diseases, including cancer, the panel said. The <keyword id="46535" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="health-ministry" source="Orion">health ministry</keyword> must pursue with the Department of Revenue to expedite the decision on raising taxes on tobacco products, the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare said in its 147th report. It was presented in <keyword id="48510" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="rajya-sabha" source="Orion">Rajya Sabha</keyword> on Friday. It said for better policy formulation on cancer treatment and uniform distribution of cancer care, there is an urgent need to have realistic information about the incidence and type of cancers across the country. The committee said that the health ministry should take appropriate steps to persuade state governments to participate in the formulation of the cancer atlas so that the entire Indian population is covered under Population Based Cancer Registries (PBCRs). This will help in data-driven and evidence-based policy formulation, it said. It suggested that PBCRs can be linked to the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission to record data of cancer patients to get real-time information on cancer-related illnesses. "The committee has taken note that currently PBCRs cover 16 per cent of the Indian population only. Therefore, it is quite necessary that the National Cancer Registry Programme cover the population of India extensively, in order to have a unified national database for scientific understanding of epidemiology of cancer," the report said. Stressing a robust screening mechanism for cancer, the committee suggested that one day in a month can be fixed for cancer screening. While appreciating the government's impetus on an institutional framework for cancer care and management and financial support for combating cancer, the committee said cancer must be dealt with separately instead of being a part of other lifestyle and non-communicable diseases. It recommended the demerger of the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) from the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) to have a better focus on screening, early diagnosis and management of cancer. In its report, the committee said that in all the leftover districts Non-Communicable Diseases (<keyword id="131571" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="ncd" source="Orion">NCD</keyword>) clinics should be set up at the earliest and more healthcare professionals be trained for screening of common cancer. The panel highlighted that adequate human resource in cancer centres is crucial for their complete operationalisation and recommended setting up subsidised or free accommodation for patients and their relatives near cancer hospitals. The National Health Authority (<keyword id="672062" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="nha" source="Orion">NHA</keyword>) should consider including all types of cancer diagnostic tests under the Ayushman Bharat <keyword id="6524177" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="pradhan-mantri" source="Orion">Pradhan Mantri</keyword> Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), it said. It appreciated that in compliance with the committee's recommendations, the NHA has approved the inclusion of diagnostic tests under the AB-PMJAY with respect to breast, cervical and oral cancer. The committee noted that the health ministry has set up the e-Sanjivini Ayushman Bharat-Health Wellness Centre (AB-HWC), where doctor-to-doctor telemedicine services can be delivered through the hub and spoke model. It recommended that this model should be strengthened so that the opinions of experts can be provided to cancer patients in isolated and backward areas. The ministry should instruct National Cancer Grid (<keyword id="1502308" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="ncg" source="Orion">NCG</keyword>) officials to explore group negotiation of commonly used high-value cancer drugs with pharmaceutical companies through a transparent central tendering platform to have substantial discounts on cancer drugs. Since the mandate of the National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Authority is to ensure the availability of drugs at affordable prices, the committee reiterated that the pricing of cancer drugs should not be guided by profit as in the case of the other businesses. If it is not possible to reduce the profit margin of such drugs, the government may subsidise it, it said in its report. "The committee feels that the submission made by the Secretary, Department of Pharmaceutical, before the committee that over a period of about eight years or so the actual price increase in the drugs had been only between two to four per cent, does not mean that each manufacturer keeps the price of the drug below 10 per cent, as the mechanism permits them to make the hike up to 10 per cent," the report said. The committee said the government should rationalise the annual price hike limit of cancer drugs from 10 to five per cent in order to rescue poor cancer patients. It also suggested the ministry look at subsidising the healthcare cost for cancer patients and declare radiotherapy service as an essential commodity. The ministry should take the matter on board immediately and declare radiotherapy service as an essential commodity so that patients can get some relief from bearing the high cost of the service, it said. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/india-puts-curbs-on-laptop-and-tablet-imports-heres-how-it-could-impact-you/articleshow/102430014.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/india-puts-curbs-on-laptop-and-tablet-imports-heres-how-it-could-impact-you/articleshow/102430014.cms" target="_blank">India puts curbs on laptop and tablet imports – here’s how it could impact you</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/indian-smartphone-market-sees-a-declines-in-q2-vivo-in-the-lead/articleshow/102417485.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/indian-smartphone-market-sees-a-declines-in-q2-vivo-in-the-lead/articleshow/102417485.cms" target="_blank">Indian smartphone market sees a declines in Q2; Vivo in the lead</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/electric-two-wheeler-sales-recover-in-july-2023/articleshow/102347978.cms">Electric two-wheeler sales recover after spending June in the pitlane</a>

Parliamentary panel recommends setting up of population-based cancer registries in rural areas

<ul><li>If India bans virtual private networks, it would join the league of China, North Korea, Russia and UAE in doing so.</li><li>Popular VPN services, like NordVPN, ExpressVPN and IPVanish, give users anonymity on the internet and allow them to access sites that are banned. In India, <keyword id="752657" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="vpns" source="Orion">VPNs</keyword> were a rage when the popular mobile game PUBG was banned last year.</li><li>These are also used by companies to allow secure access to the company’s servers and data by employees working remotely who may be using public or unsecured internet connections.</li><li>Check out the latest news and updates on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/" data-type="tilCustomLink">Business Insider</a>.</li></ul>The Parliamentary Standing Committee on <keyword id="365819" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="home-affairs" source="Orion">Home Affairs</keyword> in India has urged the government to block virtual private networks (VPNs) in India. Just like Belarus, China, Iraq, North Korea, Oman, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates have. So who is it likely to affect? Popular VPN services, like NordVPN, ExpressVPN and IPVanish, give users anonymity on the internet and allow them to access sites that are banned. In India, VPNs were a rage when the popular mobile game PUBG was banned last year. <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; table-layout: fixed; width: 468pt;" class="redcator-table-advance"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Popular VPN services in India </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Free/Paid </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Commonly used for… </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">NordVPN </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Paid </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Speed and privacy </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">ExpressVPN </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Paid </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Fast speed and access to popular apps </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">TorGuard </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Paid </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Torrenting </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">IPVanish </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Paid </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Multi-device support </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">CyberGhost </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Paid </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Access to multiple servers </td></tr></tbody><tbody></tbody></table> These are widely used to watch anything from Netflix content in other countries to the hidden websites on the dark web as well as pornographic websites like Pornhub, Xvideos, and Youporn, which are also banned in India. In fact, India is said to have the highest adoption rate of VPNs according to <a href="https://atlasvpn.com/vpn-adoption-index">data</a> from Atlas VPN. VPNs provide greater privacy than even a secured Wi-Fi hotspot. These are also used by companies to allow their employees working remotely to log in to the company network from anywhere and keep company data secure through the encrypted network. So will the ban on VPN hurt remote work? “We believe the ban is primarily not really for VPN tunnels of large companies and business entities but targeting VPN companies which help Indian citizens in bypassing the current internet bans implemented in India to conduct cybercrime activity. We also think the government would allow companies that comply with Indian data laws regulations,” Ashara said. Is it possible to ban VPN? Yes, it is possible to ban VPNs. “The government would release a mandate to Internet service providers to block commonly used VPN protocols and ports used by these VPN services. Additionally, less technical ISPs will still have loose ends in having an effective blanket ban of VPN services,” said Darshit Ashara, Associate VP of CloudSEK’s research team. “Given the current technological world that we reside in, a popular technique named "Deep Packet Inspection" can be implemented to get this done. Alongside IP address or Port blocking techniques can also be used. We have earlier noticed Reliance Jio using SNI-inspection based filtering to block websites,” Ashara added. Why is this ban on VPN being proposed? The committee in its report presented to Rajya Sabha, highlighted the dangers of VPNs that can “bypass cyber security walls and allow criminals to remain anonymous online”. Since VPNs encrypt your internet traffic it gives you the protection of your virtual identity. Your online activities are hidden from the websites you visit and from ISPs as well. But the main purpose of VPNs is to help prevent third parties from tracking your online activities and stealing data. In addition to working with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and internet service providers (ISPs) to identify and block VPNs, the committee suggested a coordination mechanism be developed with international agencies to ensure that the VPNs are blocked permanently. It also urged the government to improve the tracking and surveillance systems to keep a check on the use of VPN and the dark web as well. The dark web consists of hidden internet sites that can be accessed only by a specialised web browser. These websites are used to keep internet activity anonymous and private. Like VPNs, the dark web can be used for both legal and illegal purposes. Will the ban be foolproof? More than the process of blocking <keyword id="12006435" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="vpns-in-the-country" source="Orion">VPNs in the country</keyword>, the task of ensuring that the ban is in place would be more important, Ashara added. Similar to how individuals can find ways to bypass bans on apps like PUBG Mobile, the same could be followed for VPNs as well. “If not so sophisticated users are able to evade bans, here we are talking about someone(cybercriminal) who is technically strong or very least knowledgeable,” Ashara said. 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Who should worry about the proposed VPN ban in India

The <keyword id="1575" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="congress" source="Orion">Congress</keyword> on Monday accused the Centre of not accepting the truth and alleged that since May 2020, the Modi government's preferred strategy to deal with the Chinese incursions in Ladakh can be summed up with "DDLJ -- Deny, Distract, Lie and Justify". Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh in a statement on Monday said, "External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's recent remarks attacking the Congress party are simply the latest attempt to divert attention from the Modi government's failed China policy, the most recent revelation being that since May 2020 India has lost access to 26 of 65 patrolling points in Ladakh." He said the fact is that there is no comparison between 1962, when India went to war with China to defend its territory, and 2020 after which India has acquiesced to Chinese aggression with denials followed by 'disengagements' in which India has lost access to thousands of square kilometres of territory. Jairam alleged that "EAM Jaishankar's implied cheap shot at Rahul Gandhi for meeting the Chinese ambassador in 2017 is ironic to say the least coming from someone who as ambassador to the US during the Obama administration presumably met with leading Republicans. "Are opposition leaders not entitled to meet diplomats from countries that are important from a trade, investment and security standpoint?" he asked. The Modi government should have been truthful from the start and taken the opposition into confidence by discussing the China crisis in parliamentary standing committees and debating the issue in Parliament. "At a very minimum it should have held detailed briefings for leaders of major political parties," he said. "It is extraordinary that EAM Jaishankar has admitted on several occasions that he has no idea why China has turned aggressive on the Line of Actual Control, notwithstanding the unusually frequent contacts between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping and the PM's boast that he enjoys a special 'Plus One' relationship with President Xi," Ramesh said. He said, "No amount of obfuscation can hide the fact that the Modi government has sought to cover up India's biggest territorial setback in decades that followed PM Modi's naive wooing of President Xi. "We suggest that EAM Jaishankar and the government spend more time trying to get Chinese troops out of Depsang and Demchok and less time on blaming the opposition for their own incompetence," he said. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/new-patent-suggests-that-apple-could-bring-a-foldable-iphone-with-a-self-healing-display-in-the-future/articleshow/97302738.cms">New patent suggests that Apple could bring a foldable iPhone with a self-healing display in the future</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/apples-mixed-reality-headset-could-feature-full-body-facetime-avatars/articleshow/97300580.cms">Apple's Mixed Reality headset could feature advanced hand tracking and may work as a second display for Mac</a>

Centre takes the DDLJ stand on Chinese transgressions: Cong

New Delhi, Nov 30 () All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) on Saturday demanded that the government should send the Industrial Relations Code Bill to a parliamentary standing committee before passing it hurriedly.
Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar introduced the bill in the Lok Sabha on Thursday amid protest by the opposition parties.
"AITUC demands that the bill be referred to the Parliamentary Committee on Labour, where the trade unions should be heard, before passing it hurriedly, as done with the Code on Wages," the union said in a statement.
It said that all the changes that the government was trying to bring in under the guise of amalgamating 44 labour laws, either take away the existing rights of the workers, or make them more stringent for the workers, and they
have been unanimously opposed by all the Central Trade Unions in India.
"But the government has simply ignored the view point of the trade unions," it said.
It is obvious that the government is acting at the behest of their corporate masters, it said.
"This kind of ease of doing business is no way to get the sluggish economy moving. What is required is to urgently put money in the hands of the workers, by strengthening MNREGA...," it added.
RSS-affiliate Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) too has demanded that the government should send the Industrial Relations Code Bill to a parliamentary standing committee for a redraft as certain provisions are against the interest of workers.
In a separate statement, AITUC made a very strong objection to the statement of Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad that the contractual workers in BSNL and MTNL should fend for themselves as they are on the rolls of the contractors and not on that of the BSNL and MTNL.
The reply of the minister in Rajya Sabha on November 28 "smacks of arrogance and is made in utter disregard to the laws of the land". RR BAL

Send Industrial Relations Code Bill to parliamentary committee on labour: AITUC

<ul class="summary-list"><li>APPGs could become "a backdoor means of peddling influence" without new limits, a report has found.</li><li>Restrictions on funding and who manages groups should be considered, the Standards Committee said.</li></ul>Limits should be imposed on who can manage all party parliamentary groups (APPGS), a group of senior MPs has said, amid a warning they could be used as a "front" by hostile actors or commercial lobbyists.APPGs are informal cross-party groups that have no official status within parliament. However there is growing concern they are being misused as vehicles to get access, influence, or preferential treatment within the UK political system.Chris Bryant, chair of the Standards Committee, warned that if measures aren't taken to better protect APPGs, they risk becoming "a backdoor means of peddling influence around the corridors of power or pursuing a commercial interest".Possible restrictions on the secretariats — who run the back office — include an outright ban on external groups, including charities, the committee's report suggests. Alternatively, specific organizations, such as <keyword id="12040025" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="lobbying" source="Orion">lobbying</keyword> firms, could be excluded. Foreign governments could also be prohibited from funding secretariats and MPs could be banned from attending trips paid for by a foreign government, and other restrictions. <div type="image" title="Chris Bryant in the House of Commons" height="1325" width="2651" msid="91193592" hostid="261"></div>Bryant's committee highlighted the case of Christine Lee — <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/british-mps-warned-by-mi5-to-avoid-woman-suspected-to-be-china-agent-2022-1?r=US&amp;IR=T">named by MI5 earlier this year as suspected Chinese agent</a> — whose involvement with the Chinese in Britain APPG had "brought these issues to the fore."More recently, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/qatar-install-conservative-appg-chair-sources-world-cup-2022-4?r=US&amp;IR=T">Insider revealed that Qatar's foreign ministry sought to influence its country-specific APPG</a> by having "eased out" the incumbent Liberal Democrat chairman, who was then replaced a Conservative former minister. <keyword id="11899680" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="qatar" source="Orion">Qatar</keyword> also requested a change to the long-term secretariat, resulting in a hedge fund taking over operations. "The expert evidence we have received to our inquiry shows that the risk of improper access and influence by hostile foreign actors through APPGs is real, though difficult to measure," the report said. "There is also evidence the risk has already materialized."The report also called for action to be taken to address the spiraling number of APPGs — which now stands at 744, more than the number of MPs in the House of Commons — in order to reduce vulnerability to security risks. APPGs should also become more transparent, the report said, including making clear the "ultimate funder" of the group and removing the £1,500 ($1,885) threshold for registering benefits or benefits in kind. MPs will now consult on the next steps."Today's report represents a wake-up call for us all. The evidence we have gathered is chilling and points towards an urgent need for the House to take action," said Bryant. "Parliament always has, and always will, be a target for hostile foreign states. But with better regulation and transparency around these informal groups, we can ensure they continue to make a positive contribution to our democracy."Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, said he had "for several years" been concerned about the security risks posed by APPGs "in terms of their indiscriminate engagement with state actors hostile to UK interests." He added: "I have also had fears about the proliferation of such groups, the influence of lobbyists over them, and the lack of transparency and regulation about their activities. "I'm told the proposals are currently being consulted on, and it will ultimately be a matter for the House as a whole to make final decisions on how to better regulate these groups to safeguard Parliament."

Parliamentary groups under threat from 'hostile foreign actors' and commercial lobbying, report finds

<ul><li>India’s IT Ministry will have its <keyword id="85206" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Parliamentary-committee">Parliamentary Committee</keyword> will be taking up the <keyword id="4298942" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Whatsapp-hack">WhatsApp hack</keyword> on November 20. </li><li>Meanwhile RSS activist, <keyword id="149676" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="KN-Govindacharya">KN Govindacharya</keyword>, is trying to get the <keyword id="6354977" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Supreme-Court">Supreme Court</keyword>’s attention. </li><li>Lawyers feel the petition will only result in the government citing national security and sealed cover. </li></ul>The WhatsApp security breach has caught the attention of India’s IT ministry. A Standing Parliamentary Committee (SPC) will be looking into the incident on November 20. The chairman of the committee explained that there had been a number of requests for comments on the disclosure of ‘snooping on Indians’, according to the <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/house-panel-to-take-up-whatsapp-snooping-issue-on-november-20-6105248/">Indian Express</a>. Meanwhile, a right wing activist from Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), KN Govindacharya, is trying to draw the attention of the Supreme Court to this matter. He <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/snoopgate-criminal-suit-in-sc-against-whatsapp-govt/articleshow/71913901.cms">filed a petition</a> asking FIRs to be registered against Facebook, Whatsapp and the NSO Group. But going to the Supreme Court might be redundant, according to lawyer Gautam Bhatai. “In recent times, the Supreme Court’s own record in matter where facts are still to established has been the strongest. There exist other institutions — including Parliamentary Committees — who have already stated that surveillance issues fall within their remit,” he tweeted. 
	
	<div type="twitter" handle="gautambhatia88" handlename="Gautam Bhatia" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/898610250181361664/2CoNa01q_normal.jpg" favoritecount="167" retweetcount="90" status="As we were informed when the scandal broke, the software is only sold to government or government affiliates. Going… https://t.co/vHjXSbHQMT" createdat="1572877774000" id="1191361850992201728"></div>




 In the name of national security Facebook <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/heres-why-facebook-is-suing-the-nso-group-over-the-whatsapp-hack/articleshow/71814518.cms">filed a lawsuit</a> against the Israeli security firm, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/whatsapp-hacker-pegasus-spyware-attacked-100-others/articleshow/71851228.cms">the NSO Group</a>, claiming that the privacy of 1,400 users was compromised by spyware — Pegasus. Overall, 121 Indian users were reportedly hacked — of which two dozen were <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/whatsapp-confirms-indian-activists-and-journalists-were-hacked-as-nso-claims-its-contractually-prohibited/articleshow/71831583.cms">activists, journalists and lawyers</a>. None of them have come forward to file their own FIRs yet. 
	
	<div type="twitter" handle="gautambhatia88" handlename="Gautam Bhatia" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/898610250181361664/2CoNa01q_normal.jpg" favoritecount="144" retweetcount="55" status="Among those targeted by the surveillance are human rights defenders, many of whom are lawyers. They have the locus… https://t.co/JXiL3XmBsB" createdat="1572877896000" id="1191362362009362432"></div>





 Some people believe that it’s not a strong case to begin with. “This is a case that is just asking for the government to come to court and shout “national security”+”sealed cover” as they have been known to do at the drop of a hat,” tweeted Bhatia. In January 2006, Amar Singh — a politician — filed a petition with the Supreme Court that his <a href="https://www.rediff.com/news/2006/jan/06flip.htm">phones were being tapped</a>. At the time, the Supreme Court barred the media from publishing any excerpts from these leaks. Five years later, the case was dismissed stating that Singh suppressed facts relevant to the case. In 2008, the government authorised the tax department to <a href="https://freespeechdebate.com/discuss/the-nira-radia-tapes-controversy-and-the-right-to-privacy/">tap Nira Radia</a>, a corporate lobbyist, for 120 days. In May 2009, that time frame was extended by another 120 days. Parts of these tapes were then leaked to the media — including excerpts that including details of the 2G scam. Rata Tata, then chairman of the Tata Group, along with NGO Center for Public Interest Litigation, <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Supreme-Court-to-examine-Ratan-Tatas-petition-on-Niira-Radia-tapes/article15579055.ece">filed a petition</a> to restrict the circulation of these tapes because it violated his right to privacy. That petition is still pending judgement. “It is a collusive litigation initiated by #govindacharya. Strategy being, file a weak case hovering round frivolous irrelevant averments so as to ensure its dismissal by court. The dismissal can then be quoted by the wrongdoers as 'vindication of their innocence',” tweeted former civil servant, NN Ojha.

Investigating the WhatsApp hack  — Parliament probe might trump the judiciary

New Delhi, Nov 29 () RSS-affiliate Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) on Friday demanded that the government should send the Industrial Relations Code Bill to a parliamentary standing committee for a redraft as certain provisions are against the interest of workers.
 Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar introduced the bill in the Lok Sabha on Thursday amid protest by the opposition parties.
 "Government should withdraw the provisions going against the interest of the workers in IR Code and send to Parliamentary Standing Committee to redraft it," the BMS said in a statement.
 The union also asked the government that it should urgently find ways to address industrial failures otherwise the burden is being conveniently shifted to the shoulders of workers in the name of labour reforms.
 The union has decided to discuss its further course of action on the provisions and about industrial failure in a meeting to be held in Haridwar from 11-13 December 2019.
 It pointed out that the draft law will create a battleground in the industrial sector as its many provisions are against the interest of workers.
 The large exemption regime proposed will create jungle Raj where parties will be compelled to settle their disputes with muscle power. Lack of expertise and vision is explicit in such an exercise of redrafting India's labour laws, it added.
 It is of the view that the present provisions prohibiting strike will make the industrial sector a conflict zone destroying industrial peace and will create friction at floor level.
 The bill provides for a notice of strike before 14 days and within 2 months.
 The union thinks that it is clearly a restraint on strike and asked to remove penalty for "illegal" strike.
 Fixed-term employment is a new definition in the bill, which was not in the last draft.
 Casualisation and contractualisation is going to create an explosive situation in the near future and it will also lead to below quality productive activities in Industrial sector and create an India of "casualised" labour, the union added.
 The BMS also said that the government has no business in interfering with internal matters of Trade Unions like fixing the rate of subscriptions payable by the members, prohibition on person holding an office of profit as office bearer, restraining outsiders as office bearers, protecting members of trade unions who do not participate in strike thereby creating split and weaken trade union etc.
 In the new chapter IX and X on the permission for retrenchment, closure and lay off has been reduced/retained at 50-100.
 Due to high mechanisation, companies can now run with 20-30 workers compared to 100 workers for same operations in olden times, BMS noted while suggesting that the existing threshold limit of 100 itself is on the higher side.
 It was of the view that if each unit in an industrial establishment or undertaking is considered as a separate unit, it is easy for the employer to split up into smaller units and get out of the threshold limit to circumvent the coverage of various provisions of the labour laws.
 On the definition of "wages", it said that it excludes a long list of allowances etc. which will assist unscrupulous employers to avoid payment to ESI (employees state insurance) and EPF (employees' provident fund) etc. which is against the Supreme Court decision in Group Four case.
 The union also objected to the definition of "worker" which expressly excludes apprentice.
 It is also against the provision which makes oral evidence in disputes about standing orders inadmissible and arbitrary powers given to the government to nullify the awards of Tribunals passed after a long trial.
 The time limit prescribed for the worker to apply for the execution of recovery of money as "within one year" is also an anti-worker provision whereas the general civil law says 12 years. This is to support unscrupulous employers, it pointed out.
 Different dates for implementing different provisions, exclusion clauses, Government's power to give exemption, complicated definitions, the threshold limit for coverage of certain chapters etc. are age old methods which are against the spirit of Codification and simplification, the union added. KKS KKS MR

Send Industrial Relations Code Bill to standing committee for review: BMS

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="11911533" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="boris-johnson" source="Orion">Boris Johnson</keyword> contacted deputy Labour leader <keyword id="13702115" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="angela-rayner" source="Orion">Angela Rayner</keyword> to condemn a "misogynistic" article about her. </li><li>A Mail on Sunday story quoted Tory MPs saying Rayner attempts to distract him by crossing and uncrossing her legs.</li></ul>Boris Johnson has contacted the deputy leader of the Labour Party, Angela Rayner, to make clear his condemnation of misogynistic comments apparently made by Tory MPs about her, <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-61213711">the BBC reported.</a>An <a href="https://www.mailplus.co.uk/edition/news/politics/174493/stone-the-crows-tories-accuse-rayner-of-basic-instinct-ploy-to-distract-boris">article in the Mail on Sunday</a> reported that Conservative backbenchers have claimed Rayner tries to distract the prime minister in the Commons by repeatedly crossing and uncrossing her legs.The article described Rayner's supposed tactic as "<a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10748141/Labour-deputy-Angela-Rayner-blasts-Tories-sexist-misogynistic-Basic-Instinct-claims.html">a Basic Instinct-inspired ploy to 'put him off his stride' at PMQs,</a>" comparing it to an infamous scene in the 1992 movie starring Sharon Stone.However, the article has prompted criticism across the political spectrum, with Tories and Labour MPs attacking its contents and the unnamed MPs quoted. Rayner hit out at the article, saying: "Boris Johnson's cheerleaders have resorted to spreading desperate, perverted smears in their doomed attempts to save his skin. "They know exactly what they are doing. The lies they are telling."But Johnson sought to distance himself from the story, tweeting that he "deplore[d] the misogyny." He subsequently contacted Rayner personally. The prime minister told broadcasters Monday: "I have to say I thought it was the most appalling load of sexist, misogynist tripe. I immediately got in touch with Angela and we had a very friendly exchange."He added: "If we ever find who is responsible for it, I don't know what we will do, but they will be the terrors of the earth. It's totally intolerable, that kind of thing."Caroline Nokes, a former minister and chair of the women and equalities committee, said she had contacted the Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle to ask if the journalist behind the story, Glen Owen, should have his lobby pass removed. Alicia Kearns, another Tory MP, said the article's misogyny was "unacceptable" and called colleagues' comments "utterly shameful."She added: "When women in <keyword id="11893346" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="politics" source="Orion">politics</keyword> are consistently demeaned and denigrated for their sex and appearance, misogynists across our country are empowered."Huw Merriman, chairman of the transport committee, also condemned the "bizarre" article, telling Sky News it was the type of "abuse" that could put women off entering politics. Chris Philp, a culture minister, told the BBC that Tory MPs who hold those views could face "serious consequences" if they were identified. In the Commons last week, Labour's Barry Sheerman, called for Quentin Letts, a sketch writer for The Times newspaper, to have his parliamentary pass revoked over a "sexist, misogynistic and totally unacceptable" column about female MP Lyn Brown.Hoyle dismissed such a suggestion, noting the importance of the "freedom of the press."However on Monday, in response to this latest article, he took a different approach, revealing he had arranged a meeting with the Mail on Sunday's editor David Dillon, and the chair of the press lobby to "discuss the issue". The speaker told MPs: "[Media freedom] is one of the building blocks of our democracy. However I share the views expressed by a wide range of members, including I believe the prime minister, that yesterday's article was reporting unsubstantiated claims that were misogynistic and offensive."The article was "demeaning, offensive to women in parliament and can only deter women who might be considering standing for election, to the detriment of us all," he added.

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Airlines misguiding people, forcing passengers to pay more, says Parl Panel

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Amendments to competition law likely in Budget session

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Budget Session of Parliament from January 31 to April 6

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Parliamentary panel recommends setting up of population-based cancer registries in rural areas

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Who should worry about the proposed VPN ban in India

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Centre takes the DDLJ stand on Chinese transgressions: Cong

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Send Industrial Relations Code Bill to parliamentary committee on labour: AITUC

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Parliamentary groups under threat from 'hostile foreign actors' and commercial lobbying, report finds

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Investigating the WhatsApp hack — Parliament probe might trump the judiciary

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Send Industrial Relations Code Bill to standing committee for review: BMS

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Boris Johnson contacts Angela Rayner over 'misogynistic' article amid calls for journalist to lose his parliamentary pass

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