Questions

The Interstate Commerce Act of 1887 is a United States federal law that was designed to regulate the railroad industry, particularly its monopolistic practices.

The reason that the Interstate Commerce Act required that rates be published was to avoid secret rebates and similar deals. Until then, big shippers would demand rebates from railroads, which would in effect reduce their shipping costs without letting competitors know. This is anti-competitive.

Hence, the Act required that railroad rates be "reasonable and just," but did not empower the government to fix specific rates.

India Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project

• To conserve, project and manage the coastal and marine environment, the Ministry is implementing the India ICZM Project with the World Bank assistance.

• For the implementation of the project the Ministry has established a Society of Integrated Coastal Management (SICOM) as nodal body under the Society Registration Act, in Delhi.

• The ICZM Project is being implemented as pilot investments in the coastal states of Gujarat, Odisha and West Bengal.

• National activities are implemented through SICOM along with monitoring of activities carried out by three selected states.

• The project has four implementing agencies-MoEF at the national level with lead responsibilities, and the Departments of Forests and Environment (DoEF) of the threeparticipating states.