Current Affairs Question - 18 February 2020

Explanation :

• AGR is the usage and licensing fee that telecom operators are charged by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
• Telecom operators are required to pay license fee and spectrum charges in the form of ‘revenue share’ to the Centre. The revenue amount used to calculate this revenue share is termed as the AGR.
• According to the DoT, the calculations should incorporate all revenues earned by a telecom company – including from non-telecom sources such as deposit interests and sale of assets. The companies, however, have been of the view that AGR should comprise the revenues generated from telecom services only and non-telecom revenues should be kept out of it.
• Currently, telecom operators pay 8% of the AGR as license fee, while spectrum usage charges (SUC) vary between 3-5% of AGR.

Explanation :

• Part XIV-A of the Constitution provides for the Tribunals. The provision was added through 42nd Amendment Act, 1976.
• Article 323A and 323B provide for Administrative Tribunals and Tribunals related to other matters respectively.
• Under Article 323A, Parliament is empowered to establish Administrative Tribunals for the adjudication of disputes and complaints with respect to recruitment and conditions of service of persons appointed to public services and posts in connection with the affairs of the Union or of any State.
• The Administrative Tribunals Act in 1985 enacted by the Parliament authorises the Central Government to establish Central Administrative Tribunal and the State Administrative Tribunals.