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- The Office of the Registrar General (Ministry of Home Affairs) released the Special Bulletin on Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) for India 2019-21. MMR refers to the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births within a specific period. India has committed to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of reducing MMR to 70 by 2030.
- Key Highlights from the bulletin include:
- India’s MMR has decreased to 93, down from 103 in 2017–19.
- Best-performing states include Kerala (MMR 20), Telangana (45), and Tamil Nadu (49).
- However, Empowered Action Group (EAG) states such as Madhya Pradesh (175), Assam (167), and Uttar Pradesh (151) continue to report high MMR, indicating a need for further improvement in these regions.
- The Competition Commission of India recently introduced the Cost Regulations, 2025, which provide new definitions aimed at addressing and curbing predatory pricing.
- About Predatory Pricing:
- Definition: Predatory pricing refers to the practice of selling goods or services at a price below cost in order to undermine competition or eliminate rivals.
- Section 4(2) of the Competition Act, 2002 classifies predatory pricing by a dominant enterprise as an abusive practice.
- Impact of Predatory Pricing:
- On Customers: While customers may benefit from lower prices in the short term, they eventually face fewer choices and higher prices once competition is eliminated.
- On Companies: Predatory pricing harms all companies initially. However, after driving out competitors, the dominant companies can raise prices and recoup lost profits, ultimately gaining a monopolistic advantage.
- A Karnataka MLA was disqualified following his conviction by a CBI court in an illegal mining case, resulting in a vacancy in the constituency.
- The disqualification was carried out under Article 191 of the Constitution and Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act (RPA) 1951.
- According to Articles 102 and 191, MPs and MLAs can be disqualified for various reasons, including holding an office of profit, being of unsound mind, being an undischarged insolvent, acquiring foreign citizenship, defection, or being disqualified under any law made by Parliament. Under Section 8 of the RPA, lawmakers convicted for offenses such as bribery, rape, or promoting enmity, and sentenced to two years or more can face disqualification. Convicted lawmakers are disqualified for the duration of their sentence and an additional six years, as per Section 8(3).
- The 2013 Lily Thomas v. Union of India judgment affirmed immediate disqualification after conviction.