IMPOTANT FACTS FOR EXCISE -TAXATION INSPECTOR HARYANA/SSC/HCS MAIN EXAM/IAS PRELIM 

Indian sportspersons at London Olympics and Paralympics 2012:

India won six medals (2 Silver and 4 Bronze), which is India’s best ever performance at Olympic Games.

Shri Vijay Kumar won silver medal in 25 metre Rapid Fire Pistol.

Shri Sushil Kumar won silver medal in wrestling (66 kg weight category) and thus became the first Indian to win medals for the country in back to back Olympics.

Ms. M.C. Markykom won bronze medal in boxing and became the first Indian woman to win a medal in boxing discipline.

Ms. Saina Nehwal won the bronze medal in badminton in women’s singles and became the first Indian to win a medal in badminton discipline.

While Shri Gagan Narang won bronze medal in shooting (10 metre air rifle),

Shri Yogeshwar Dutt won bronze medal in wrestling in 60 kg weight category.

In the London Paralympics, 2012, Mr. H. N. Girisha won silver medal in High Jump at London Paralympics 2012. .

81 sportspersons (57 men and 24 women) participated in London Olympics in 13 sports disciplines viz., Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Hockey, Judo, Rowing, Shooting, Swimming,  Table Tennis, Tennis,  Weightlifting and Wrestling.

10 Indian athletes participated in the London Paralympics 2012.

 

Panchayat Yuva Krida aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA)

 

Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme ‘Panchayat Yuva Krida Aur Khel Abhiyan’ (PYKKA), which was introduced in 2008-09 with the objective of broad-basing of sports by way of creation/development of basic sports infrastructure in all village panchayats and block panchayats of the country.

 

 Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme:

 Under the Central Sector Scheme ‘Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme’ (USIS), which was introduced in 2010-11 on pilot basis for creation/development of sports infrastructure facilities in urban areas, following 11 urban sports infrastructure projects such as athletic track, hockey turf, football ground, multi-purpose halls, worth Rs. 61.5 crore were sanctioned upto the end of November during 2012.

Measures taken towards ensuring Good Governance in Sports Bodies

The Ministry de-recognized the Archery Association of India for not following the provisions relating to age and tenure limits contained in the National Sports Development Code in election of its office bearers despite the Delhi High Court’s directive to the Association. The Ministry has advised the Archery Association of India to amend its constitution to incorporate the provisions of age and tenure limits, which are similar to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Charter and hold fresh elections in accordance with the amended constitution.

The Ministry also suspended recognition of the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation for the irregularities in the election of its office bearers.

The Ministry also set aside the election to the post of President, Secretary and Treasurer of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI). It was found that Clause XIV (b) (1) of the Constitution of AFI required that a person must be an existing member of the Executive Committee of the AFI for seeking election to the post of President/Secretary. This clause was found to be restricting the potential candidates and was also in violation of the National Sports Development Code 2011. It was also observed that the election to the post of Treasurer was also in contravention of the Department of Personnel & Training’s Circular dated 22.04.1994. AFI has been directed to amend its constitution to delete article XIV(b)(1) and hold fresh elections to the post of  President, Secretary and Treasurer.  AFI has been advised that if the above action is not carried out within a period of 60 days, or 28^th February 2013, whichever is earlier, the recognition of AFI shall stand withdrawn without any further notice.

 

Suspension of Indian Olympic Association by International Olympic Committee

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has taken a decision at its Executive Board meeting on 4.11.2012 to suspend the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). Reasons cited by the IOC for suspension of the IOA are IOA’s failure to comply with the Olympic Charter and its statutes, failure to inform the IOC in a timely manner, and as a protective measure against Government interference in the IOA’s election process.  The Executive Board of IOC has also confirmed that the IOA is not entitled to hold any elections until all pending issues are resolved and the Executive Board decides to lift the suspension. With this decision of the IOC, IOA will no longer be entitled to exercise any activity or right, including financial support, conferred upon it by the Olympic Charter or the IOC until the suspension is lifted by the Executive Board.

The Government of India is of the opinion that the IOC’s decision to attribute this suspension to the Government interference in the IOA’s election process is entirely misplaced, as the National Sports Development Code includes such age and tenure guidelines for office-bearers of Sports Bodies as are enshrined in the Olympic Charter itself. They are similar to the practices followed by the IOC and are drawn from the Constitution of the IOC and have been upheld by the Courts of Law in India. All that the Sports Code seeks to achieve is to ensure that the election of the IOA and others sports bodies are fair, transparent and in consonance with the Olympic Charter. Further, although the Government desires that the Sports Code should be adopted by all National Sports Federations including IOA, the trigger to the present election was not a directive of Government but an order from the Delhi High Court in a petition filed by a private person.

In fact, it is not the Sports Code, but the IOA’s constitution which is not aligned with the Olympic Charter. The IOA had agreed to amend its constitution in 2010, but has failed to bring about the necessary amendments in the past 2 years. Had this been done, there would have been no cause for intervention by the IOC.

The Government is also keen that the principles of ethics & good governance enshrined in the Olympic Charter should be rigidly adhered to in the elections of the IOA.

It was with the intention of resolving the impasse that the Government offered to hold a meeting with the IOC for discussing issues of good governance and fair election processes in Indian sports bodies.

The Government reiterates that it is ready to discuss with the IOC and the IOA all issues related to the Sports Code and its compatibility with the Olympic Charter. Government will take all possible measures to protect the interests of Indian sportspersons so that they can continue to participate in international sports meets under the Indian National Flag.

The Ministry has already started discussions with all stakeholders, including the National Sports Federations, eminent sportspersons, persons from the civil society etc in order to find a way out of the situation created by the action of the IOC.