Due to globalization and opening of Indian markets to foreign players Indian consumers today have an access to innumerable brands. In every industry whether it is fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) or durable goods or service industry there are more than twenty brands at national level catering to the needs of the consumers. This situation of plenty is giving the consumer an opportunity to choose goods and services from a wide spectrum. But is the consumer getting value for money? why is consumer protection becoming more important in today’s scenario? and is the concept ‘let the buyer beware’ still exists? or are we moving towards consumer sovereignty?

Union Government  approved a bill to allow foreign education providers set up campuses in India and offer degrees.

The Foreign Educational Institution (Regulation of Entry and Operation) Bill, 2010, was cleared by the Union Cabinet.

This paves way for its introduction in Parliament.

Apprehending trouble from opposition, Government deferred introduction in Lok Sabha of nuclear liability bill which is a key step in operationalisation of the landmark Indo-US nuclear deal.

“I have a request from the Minister Prithviraj Chavan that government does not intend to introduce the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill today,” Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar announced in the House.

Certain areas such as development of world class stations, establishment of super specialty hospital/medical colleges, setting up of manufacturing units for rolling stock, setting up of perishable cargo centres, infrastructure projects for port connectivity and several activities in catering/tourism and hospitality area have been identified for possible execution through Public Private Partnership/Joint Venture/Special Purpose Vehicle route.

National Literacy Mission (NLM) was launched in 1988 to import functional literacy to non-literates in the age group of 15-35 in a time bound manner. By the end of 10th Plan period, NLM had made 127.45 million persons literate of which, 60% learners were females. 23 per cent belonged to SCs and 12 per cent of STs. Despite significant accomplishments, 2001 census revealed that there were still 304 million illiterates in the country and gender, social and regional disparities in literacy continued to persist.

THE union cabinet has approved a legislation on civil nuclear liability which is being introduced in the parliament. Such a bill is being brought to meet the demand of the United States that a law be enacted to protect the US suppliers of nuclear equipment from liability to pay compensation in the case of a nuclear accident. The US has linked the completion of the Indo-US nuclear agreement to India’s capping of nuclear liability and that is why the hasty move to introduce this in parliament. The UPA government had, already before the ratification of the 123 agreement, given a written commitment that India will buy 10,000 MW of nuclear reactors from US companies. The nuclear liability regime demanded by the United States is to put a cap on the liability of nuclear operators and also remove all liabilities of the equipment suppliers.

National Aviation Company of India Limited (NACIL) is expected to incur a loss of Rs.5400 crores approximately during the year 2009-10. It had incurred a loss of Rs.2226.16 crores and Rs.5548 crores during the financial years 2007-08 and 2008-09 respectively. The trend of losses is likely to continue for few more years.

Driver’s fault accounted for about 75 per cent of deaths caused by road accidents in the period 2004 to 2007. As per the information made available to the Rajya Sabha during the question hour by Shri Mahadeo Singh Khandela, Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, while driver’s fault was responsible for 75.2 per cent accidents deaths in 2004, it accounted for 74.0 per cent in 2005, 73.3 per cent in 2006 and 75.1 per cent in 2007.

As per available information, details of the number of incidents, casualties of civilians, security personnel and number of terrorist/extremist killed and arrested in the State of Jammu & Kashmir and North-Eastern States are as under:-