In exercise of the powers conferred by clause 3 of article 77 of the Constitution,

## Policy Analysis Report: Government of India Allocation of Business Three Hundred and Fifty Ninth Amendment Rules, 2021 **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes the Government of India Allocation of Business Three Hundred and Fifty Ninth Amendment Rules, 2021, as published in the Gazette of India. This amendment modifies the Government of India Allocation of Business Rules, 1961, specifically by adding a new entry to the Second Schedule under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. This new entry assigns responsibility for coordination, research, standards, and policy matters related to ropeways and other innovative alternative mobility solutions to the Ministry. The key finding is the formal assignment of oversight for these emerging transportation modes to the existing Ministry. **2. Introduction:** The purpose of this report is to provide an informative analysis of the Government of India Allocation of Business Three Hundred and Fifty Ninth Amendment Rules, 2021, based solely on the text provided. This report aims to clarify the changes introduced by this amendment and their potential implications for relevant stakeholders and the transportation industry. **3. Policy Overview:** * **Amendment:** This is an amendment to the Government of India Allocation of Business Rules, 1961. * **Core Objective(s):** The core objective, as inferred from the text, is to formally allocate responsibility for policy and regulatory oversight of ropeways and other innovative alternative mobility solutions within the Government of India. **4. Background and Rationale:** Since this is an amendment, the rationale centers on the need to clarify or update the existing allocation of business rules. The likely reason for this specific amendment is to address the emergence and increasing importance of ropeways and other innovative mobility solutions. Previously, the responsibility for these technologies may have been unclear or fragmented. This amendment aims to consolidate regulatory and policy oversight within the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, potentially facilitating the development and deployment of these technologies. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** This amendment *specifically* introduces the following change: * **Specific Part of Original Policy Changed:** The amendment modifies *THE SECOND SCHEDULE* of the Government of India Allocation of Business Rules, 1961, under the heading *MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS SADAK PARIVAHAN AUR RAJ MARG MANTRALAYA*. * **New Rule/Provision:** A new entry *13A* is inserted after entry 13. This entry states: "Coordination, research, standards and policy matters in respect of ropeways and other innovative alternative mobility solutions." * **Difference/Effect of Change:** This amendment formally assigns the responsibility for all coordination, research, standards and policy matters relating to ropeways and other innovative alternative mobility solutions to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Prior to this amendment, the Ministry may not have had explicit authority in this area. This change ensures a single point of contact within the government for these evolving transportation technologies. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** Based on the text, the directly affected stakeholders include: * **The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways:** The Ministry gains increased responsibilities. * **Companies involved in the development, construction, and operation of ropeways and other innovative alternative mobility solutions:** These companies will now have a clearer understanding of the government agency responsible for their sector. * **Research institutions and standards organizations** working on these technologies. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible agency/bodies mentioned:** The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is the key agency responsible for implementing the new provisions. * **Timelines or procedures specified in the text:** The amendment came into force "at once" (February 1, 2021). The text does not specify any further procedures or timelines related to the implementation of the new rule. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is responsible for setting the procedures. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The likely intended outcome of this amendment is to provide a clear and consistent regulatory framework for ropeways and other innovative alternative mobility solutions. By assigning responsibility to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the government likely intends to: * Promote research and development in these areas. * Establish safety and performance standards. * Streamline the approval process for projects involving these technologies. * Encourage investment and innovation in the alternative mobility sector. * Increased safety standards for the alternative mobility sector. **9. Conclusion:** The Government of India Allocation of Business Three Hundred and Fifty Ninth Amendment Rules, 2021, represents a significant step towards formalizing government oversight of ropeways and other innovative alternative mobility solutions. By assigning responsibility to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, this amendment is likely to facilitate the development and deployment of these technologies, promoting innovation and enhancing transportation options. The amendment's significance lies in providing a clear regulatory framework for a rapidly evolving sector, potentially leading to safer and more efficient transportation solutions for the country.

Key Entities Referenced