Ordinance approved to amend Essential Commodities Act, 1955

  • IASbaba
  • June 11, 2020
  • 0
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Ordinance approved to amend Essential Commodities Act, 1955

Part of: GS-Prelims and GS-II – Policies and interventions

In News:

  • The Union Cabinet has recently approved an ordinance to amend The Essential Commodities Act, 1955, to deregulate commodities such as cereals, pulses, oilseeds, edible oils, onion and potatoes. 
  • The ordinance has introduced a new subsection (1A) in Section 3 of the Act.

Important value additions 

  • There is no specific definition of essential commodities in The EC Act.
  • Section 2(A) of the act states that an “essential commodity” means a commodity specified in the “Schedule” of this Act.
  • The Act gives powers to the central government to add or remove a commodity in the “Schedule.” 
  • The Centre, if it is satisfied that it is necessary to do so in public interest, can notify an item as essential, in consultation with state governments.
  • By declaring a commodity as essential, the government can control the production, supply, and distribution of that commodity, and impose a stock limit.

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