Digital Communication Commission Disbanded

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in News?
• What is Digital Communication Commission? 
• What is the Composition of DCC?
• What is the need to disband the DCC?

Why in news?  

• In an important decision that has a bearing on policy making in the communications sector, the Central government has decided to disband the Digital Communication Commission (DCC) and hand over the crucial and large-budget decisions to the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance.  

What is Digital Communication Commission? 

• The Telecom Commission was set up by the Central Government in 1989.
• In 2018, the Commission was re-designated as ‘Digital Communication Commission’.
• The DCC is responsible for – 
  • Formulating the policy of Department of Telecommunications for approval of the Government;
  • Preparing the budget for the Department of Telecommunications for each financial year and getting it approved by the Government;

What is the Composition of DCC?

• The Digital Communications Commission consists of a Chairman, four full time members, who are ex-officio Secretaries to the Government of India in the Department of Telecommunications and four part time members who are the Secretaries to the Government of India in the concerned Departments.
• The Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Telecommunications is the ex-officio Chairman of the Digital Communications Commission.

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What is the need to disband the DCC?

• The DCC was being seen as an “unnecessary layer” that is leading to delays in decision-making on important telecom matters.
• The Government believes that since the Department of Economic Affairs’ in-principal approval is a must for any major communications industry project that exceeds Rs 100 crore when being cleared by the telecom secretary. 
  • Getting the DCC also involved in the process only leads to duplication and delays decision-making. 
  • This renders DCC effectively devoid of any administrative and financial powers (limited budget and establishment set-up).
• Even appraisal power is now circumscribed by requirement of in-principle clearance by the DoE. 
• The Government plans to disband DCC and transfer all the roles and responsibilities to the DoE.

Q1) What does the Department of Economic Affairs do? 

The Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance, assists the Central Government in maintaining sound public finances through efficient use of the nation’s economic resources, promoting conditions that accelerate sustainable economic growth through developing sound economic policies and preparing for future economic challenges and opportunities.

Q2) What is the draft Indian telecommunication Bill 2022?

The Draft Indian Telecommunication Bill, 2022 is an attempt by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), under the Ministry of Communications, to consolidate various laws that currently govern the provision, operation and development of telecommunications in India.

Source: Govt to disband telecom body DCC, finance ministry’s DoE to step in   |   Gov.in