The Marine Aids to Navigation Act, 2021.

Summary of The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Act, 2020
Overview
*Enactment: The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Act, 2020, aims to regulate and promote the Indian System of Medicine (ISM), ensuring quality education and healthcare. *Objective: Establish a robust framework for ISM, focusing on accessible, quality education, and ethical medical practices.
Key Components
1. National Commission for Indian System of Medicine
• Composition: Chairperson, 15 ex officio Members, and 23 part-time Members.
• Head Office: New Delhi.
• Powers: Acquire, hold, dispose of property, and contract.
2. Autonomous Boards
• Constituted by: Central Government under the Commission's supervision.
• Boards:
1. Board of Ayurveda
2. Board of Unani, Siddha, and Sowa-Rigpa
3. Medical Assessment and Rating Board for ISM
4. Board of Ethics and Registration for ISM
• Composition & Tenure:
• Presidents and Members with postgraduate degrees, 15+ years of experience, and 7+ years as leaders in their fields.
• Term: Up to 4 years, not eligible for extension or re-appointment after 70 years.
3. Operational & Regulatory Aspects
• National Register: Maintained by the Board of Ethics and Registration.
• Staffing: Experts, professionals, and employees provided to Autonomous Boards as specified.
• Meetings & Decisions: Autonomous Boards meet at least monthly, with decisions made by consensus (where specified).
4. Appointment & Service Conditions
• Search Committee: Appoints President and Members based on recommendations.
• Terms & Conditions: Salary, allowances, and service conditions as prescribed.
Limitations of the Summary
• Based on partial context, omitting full functional details, regulatory powers, offences, and transitory provisions.

Legislative History:

The Marine Aids to Navigation Act, 2021

Short Title - The Marine Aids to Navigation Act, 2021

Act Number / Year - Act No. 20 of 2021

India Code Act ID -202120

Introduced In -Lok Sabha

Presidential Assent Date -July 31, 2021

Official Gazette Publication - 17th March, 2022

Enforcement Date -March 31, 2022

Nodal Ministry - Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways

Precedent & Statutory Rationale

1. Limitations of the Colonial 1927 Framework:

o Prior to 2021, the governance of navigational aids in India was anchored in the Lighthouse Act, 1927, enacted when lighthouses functioned primarily as passive visual signals. Over decades, advancements in marine technology transformed navigation into an interactive system supported by radar, radio, digital signals, and Vessel Traffic Services (VTS), which fell outside the scope of the archaic statute.

2. Global Compliance and Technological Modernization:

o Grounded in international commitments such as the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974 and guidelines by the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA), the legislation was enacted to update India's maritime infrastructure, promote ease of doing business, and replace obsolete colonial structures with modern standards.

Parliamentary Trajectory & Enactment

• Formulation: Developed and piloted by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways under the Union Government to revamp coastal navigation laws.

• Parliamentary Passage: Introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 15, 2021; subsequently debated and passed by the Lok Sabha and later cleared by the Rajya Sabha on July 27, 2021.

• Presidential Assent: Received formal Presidential Assent on July 31, 2021, entering the statute book as Act No. 20 of 2021.

• Enforcement: Brought into active operational force on March 31, 2022

Source: India Code and Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Official Records.