The Government of India, on April 4, 2021, notified ‘The Tribunals Reforms (Rationalisation and Conditions of Service) Ordinance, 2021’. The Ordinance has effectively dissolved several appellate bodies, including the Intellectual Property Appellate Board, Airport Appellate Tribunal, etc. and transferred their functions to District and High Courts. The Ordinance also provides for selection, appointment, and tenure of chairpersons and members of existing tribunals.

Source – http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2021/226364.pdf

The Indian Space Research Organization, on behalf of the Department of Space has entered into an MoU with Indian Geospatial Technology Company M/s CE Info Systems Pvt. Ltd. (known for MapmyIndia) on February 11, 2021. The MoU has been entered into with a view to develop a fully indigenous mapping portal and geospatial services in India by combining the MapmyIndia’s digital maps and technologies with ISRO’s catalogue of satellite imagery and earth observation data.

Source:

https://www.meity.gov.in/writereaddata/files/Approved%20Social%20Media%20Framework%20and%20Guidelines%20_2_.pdf;https://www.mapmyindia.com/blog/isro-and-mapmyindia-announce-partnership/

The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), released its draft guidelines for “Influencer advertising on digital media” for stakeholder consultation in February, 2021. The guidelines are open to feedback until March 21, 2021. Based on the feedback and inputs, the final guidelines are slated to be issued by ASCI by March 31, 2021. The guidelines will be applicable to all promotional posts published on or after April 15, 2021.

Source – https://www.ascionline.org/images/pdf/guidelines-for-influencer-advertising-on-digital-media-draft-for-stakeholder-inputs.pdf

The Government of India, on February 25, 2021, notified the ‘Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021’. The Rules will regulate functioning of internet intermediaries, digital media outlets and streaming platforms. The Rules also aim to provide ordinary users of digital platforms an opportunity to redress their grievances. Source – https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1700749

The Ministry of Science & Technology, on January 2, 2021, released the draft ‘Science, Technology and Innovation Policy’ for public comments. The draft policy is open to comments from stakeholders till January 25, 2021. Part of the Government of India’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ vision, the current draft has been formulated following stakeholder consultations, the first of which was held in May, 2020.

Source – https://dst.gov.in/draft-5th-national-science-technology-and-innovation-policy-public-consultation