Union Home Minister Amit Shah speaks in the Rajya Sabha during the discussion of the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022 . (PTI)Parliament Budget Session 2022 Updates: The Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022 was passed in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. Union Home Minister Amit Shah moved the Bill for consideration and passing in the Upper House. The Bill seeks to authorize for taking measurements of convicts and other persons for the purposes of identification and investigation in criminal matters and to preserve records. Lok Sabha passed the Bill on Monday, April 4.
Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed The Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022. The Lower House was later on adjourned till tomorrow 11 am.
Speaking on the war in Ukraine a few days after the Bucha killings came to the fore, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in the Lok Sabha that India is “first and foremost” strongly against conflict. “We believe that no solution can be arrived at by shedding blood and at the cost of innocent lives. In this day and age, dialogue and diplomacy are the right answers to any dispute,” he added. Earlier, Jaishankar moved the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022.
Several opposition parties on Wednesday slammed as "unconstitutional" and "draconian" the bill that allows legal sanction to the police to take physical and biological samples of convicts as well as those accused of crimes and claimed it could be misused.
Taking part in the discussion on the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022, which was moved in Rajya Sabha by Home Minister Amit Shah, Congress leader P Chidambaram and other opposition members favoured sending the bill to a select committee for further deliberations, but the demand was rejected. The bill was passed by Parliament, with Rajya Sabha clearing it by a voice vote after Home Minister Amit Shah allayed opposition's concerns and assured the House that biometrics of political detainees will not be collected and brain mapping and polygraph tests will be excluded from its ambit.
Chidambaram claimed during the debate that the provisions in the bill can be misused as the police can arrest and take fingerprints and DNA samples of even those who are taking part in political rallies. "Is there anyone in this House who has not violated a law? I ask the honourable home minister who has had an active political career, have you never violated any law?...even if you are convicted of an offence where the punishment is Rs 100, this law applies," Chidambaram said. The former union home minister claimed that the worst sufferers will be the "oppressed and the poor". (PTI)
Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday accused former railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav of trying to paint the Godhra train carnage of 2002 as an accident and not a conspiracy by appointing a new committee to probe into it.
BJP MP Brij Lal mentioned the Godhra issue during a debate on the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill and questioned formation of the U C Banerjee Commission by then railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav in September 2004 to investigate the incident. While referring to the Godhra incident, Lal said a coach of the Sabarmati Express was put on fire on February 27, 2002, killing 59 people.
"The then railway minister of RJD formed one U C Banerjee Commission and it had submitted a report on January 17, 2005. The report said the fire was accidental and the coach was not put on fire," he said. (PTI)
"Every year seven and a half lakh cases against accused are dropped due to lack of evidence. Justice is also delayed due to lack of evidence," Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in Rajya Sabha while replying to the discussion on the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday hailed the discussion on the situation in Ukraine in Lok Sabha, saying the rich level of debate illustrates there is bipartisanship on the matters of foreign policy which augurs well for India at the world stage. A short duration discussion was held in the Lower House on 'Situation in Ukraine' on Tuesday with members of both the treasury and Opposition benches expressing their views over the matter and External Affairs Minister replied to the discussion on Wednesday.
"Over the last few days Parliament has witnessed a healthy discussion on the situation in Ukraine and India's efforts to bring back our citizens through Operation Ganga. I am grateful to all MP colleagues who enriched this discussion with their views," Modi said in a tweet. The rich level of debate and the constructive points illustrate how there is bipartisanship when it comes to matters of foreign policy, he said. (PTI)
Parliament passed a bill on Wednesday for the inclusion of the Darlong community as a sub-tribe of Kuki in the list of Scheduled Tribes of Tripura. Rajya Sabha passed the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill-2022 with a voice vote. Lok Sabha had cleared the bill on March 28.
Speaking on the bill in the Upper House of Parliament, Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Renuka Saruta said the inclusion of the Darlong community as a sub-tribe of Kuki will give it an identity in the list of Scheduled Tribes of Tripura.
Kuki is one of the main tribal communities in Northeast India and the Darlong community in Tripura will become its 18th sub-tribe. The minister said Tripura has a tribal population of around 11.66 lakh, which is 31.76 per cent of the state's total population according to the census of 2011. (PTI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah while replying to the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022 in Rajya Sabha said, 'Our law is 'bachha' (nothing) in terms of strictness as compared to other nations. There're more stringent laws in countries like South Africa, UK, Australia, Canada, US,which is why their conviction rate is better.'
The Bill has four objectives, increasing the rate of conviction, increasing forensic capacity, collecting scientific evidence by eliminating third degree, using the data through a certain process.'
Highlighting that politics should be kept out while considering security concerns of the citizens of the country, Saha said, 'Don't we want to move on? Won't we think of the country amidst the gulli-danda of politics? Politics should not be done on the question of public safety, punishment to the guilty.'
'We will ensure that the political agitators do not have to give their measurements. But if leaders are arrested in a criminal case, they will have to give their measurements,' the Home Minister added.
Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed The Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022. The Lower House was later on adjourned till tomorrow 11 am.
Congress member Dean Kuriakose on Wednesday asked the government to roll back the price hike of over 10 per cent effected on some life-saving essential medicines.
Over 800 drugs, including paracetamol and azithromycin, under the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) have become expensive, he said in the Lok Sabha during the Zero Hour. Prices have been increased by a steep 10.7 per cent, he said, adding, these medicines have profound impact on the lives of people.
"I urge upon the government to reverse this decision and ensure that life-saving drugs stay affordable to people of India," he said. Last month, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) announced a 10.7 per cent change in the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) for the calendar year 2021 over the same period in 2020. (PTI)
Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievance and Pension is using artificial intelligence (AI) to prevent corruption, the government told Lok Sabha on Wednesday With the use of AI, it is possible to analyse a petition and see if there is "something more" in it than what has been stated by the petitioner," Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievance and Pension Jitendra Singh said while replying to a question in the House.
It can read "between the lines", he said.
"Artificial intelligence is being used in various areas...You will be surprised to know that the ministry of personnel is using it in prevention of corruption," the minister told the Lower House during Question Hour.
"If a petition comes, what's there between the lines can be read through the help of artificial intelligence to see if there is something more in it than what has been stated (by the petitioner)," he added. (PTI)
As many as 87 civilians and 99 security personnel have been killed in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, as compared to 177 civilians and 406 security personnel in the previous five years, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai informed the Rajya Sabha.
The minister said the central government has a policy of zero tolerance against terrorism and there has been a substantial decline in terrorist attacks from 417 in 2018 to 255 in 2019, 244 in 2020 and 229 in 2021. As many as 177 civilians and 406 security personnel were killed from May 2014 to August 4, 2019 in Jammu and Kashmir, while 87 civilians and 99 security personnel were killed from August 5, 2019 to November 2021, he said in a written reply to a question.
"A robust security and intelligence grid is in place to prevent any terrorist attack. In addition, day and night area domination, round the clock checking at Nakas, patrolling and proactive operations against terrorists are being carried out," he said. (PTI)
Four Kashmiri Pandits among 14 Hindus were killed by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir since 2019, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. Rai also said that 34 people belonging to minority communities were killed by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir in the last five years., including 11 in 2021.
Replying to questions in the upper house, the minister said that after the repeal of Article 370 of the Constitution, 2105 migrants have returned to Kashmir valley for taking up jobs provided under the Prime Minister's Development Package.
"Four Kashmiri Pandits were killed by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir since 2019 while 10 other Hindus were also killed by the militants during this period," he said in a written reply. (PTI)
Congress leader P Chidambaram on Wednesday while discussing the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022 in Rajya Sabha said, "It's unconstitutional. It violates liberty, privacy & dignity of people. The Bill wasn't referred to a select committee."
He also said that the government has not taken into account the historic verdicts of SC in Selvi and Puttaswamy cases.
"In the Selvi case, the court said that the polygraphy, narcoanalysis and brain electrical activation profile (BEAP) violate an individual's rights," Chidambaram added. (ANI)
The Weapons of Mass Massacre and their Delivery System (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022 is under discussion in the The Lok Sabha. The Bill has provisions to stop funding of weapons of mass destruction.
The indigenous 4G telecom network will soon be rolled out across India with the BSNL planning to install about 1.12 lakh towers throughout the country, Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
The minister also said the internet connection inside trains can be available only when the 5G network will be rolled out as communications get disrupted with 4G technology in trains running with the speed of 100 km per hour.
“I am happy to inform you that the 4G telecom network is ready for roll out soon and it is developed in India by Indian engineers and scientists. Our development of 4G network is being appreciated worldwide and it has a core network, radio network with full telecom equipment,” he said during Question Hour. The minister said the BSNL is in the process of ordering 6,000 towers immediately and then 6,000 more and finally 1 lakh to be installed all over the country for the 4G network. (PTI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday moved 'The Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill 2022' for consideration and passing in Rajya Sabha. The Bill seeks to authorize for taking measurements of convicts and other persons for the purposes of identification and investigation in criminal matters and to preserve records. Lok Sabha passed the Bill on Monday, April 4. (ANI)
The Rajya Sabha on Wenesday passed the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2022.
After the Parliament reassembled post-lunch during the ongoing second part of the Budget session, the Lok Sabha undertook discussion on matters under Rule 377. While, the Rajya Sabha floor is currently taken up by Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Renuka Singh Saruta, who is replying to the discussion on The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2022.
Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar informed the Lower House that the government of Ukraine has decided to allow a relaxation for medical students with respect to promotion from third to fourth year.
Nearly two lakh candidates were recruited for the central government jobs in the last five years, Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said.
During the last five years, the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) and Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) have advertised 1,85,734 and 27,764 posts and recruited 1,74,744 and 24,836 candidates respectively, he said.
Keeping in view the government's priority towards employment generation along with improving employability, various schemes have been undertaken, which include Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan, Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana, Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Grameen Kaushalya Yojana and Deen Dayal Antyoday Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission etc, Singh said.
The SSC had advertised 1,85,734 vacancies and UPSC had advertised 27,764 vacancies from 2017-18 to 2021-22 (a total of 2,133,498), the reply said.
The Modi government is capable and making efforts to restore assets to Kashmiri migrants and so far properties of 610 applicants have been returned, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityananda Rai said in Rajya Sabha.
Responding to queries during the Question Hour in the Upper House, the Minister said the District Magistrate has been designated as the custodian of the migrants' properties. The state government has also started a portal to resolve the complaints of migrants. "The Modi government and Home Minister is capable of returning the assets to migrant Kashmiris. Constant efforts are being made," he said. (PTI)
Congress MP from Nawgong Pradyut Bordoloi informed the Lok Sabha said that there is a difference of 30 degree longitude between Jairampur in Arunachal Pradesh to Jaisalmer, and Gujarat, leading to a time lag of two hours.
This results in Assam losing previous hours in day time and as a result, productivity. He pointed to countries as the United States which has 11 timezones. He further said that the British had a separate time zone for Assam, which was integrated into the Indian Standard Time (IST) post independence.
Union Minister S Jaishankar informed the Lok Sabha that the government of Ukraine has decided to allow a relaxation for medical students with respect to promotion from third to fourth year.
“The mandatory CROC exam has been postponed to the next academic year. As for the students in the sixth year, the degrees would be accorded without taking the mandatory CROC-2 examination. The criterion would solely be academic performance,” he added.
Jaishankar also said that India is in talks with Hungary, Romania, Kazakhstan and Poland for continuing the education of Indian students evacuated from Ukraine.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in the Lok Sabha that the challenges of Operation Ganga – the operation carried out to evacuate Indians from Ukraine – were unprecedented.
Stating that no country has carried out an evacuation like that of India, Jaishankar said, “Other countries were inspired by our example. They see India taking the initiative and feel they too should make similar moves.”
The Foreign Affairs Minister stated that Russians helped Indians during evacuation from Kharkiv and Sumy, adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s interactions with Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy made the evacuations possible.
Jaishankar, however, also said that an overall signal from Ukrainian authorities that emerging situation was manageable put Indian students in quandary. “Had the four ministers not gone to countries neighbouring Ukraine, India would not have got same level of cooperation,” he said in the Lok Sabha.
At a time when energy costs have spiked owing to the conflict in Ukraine, Union minister S Jaishankar said in the Lok Sabha that the common person in India should not be subject to 'additional and unavoidable burden'.
Jaishankar informed the House that the Centre believes it should adhere to four elements to cope with the consequences of the conflict in Ukraine. 'In terms of diplomacy, India advocates an immediate cessation of violence,' he said, adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to both countries - Ukraine and Russia - in this regard. “If India can be of any assistance in this matter, we would be glad to contribute,” he added.
On humanitarian assistance, Jaishankar said 90 tonnes of relief material has been sent to Ukraine. On food security, he said India’s export with respect to basmati, non-basmati, sugar and wheat have gone up. He informed the House that India would step up for global demand for food.
On the supply of edible oil, Jaishankar stated that India’s 'commercial diplomacy is trying to help the common people of the country'.
Speaking on the situation in Ukraine and the position adopted by countries across the world on the same, EAM S Jaishankar said even as countries express their position in words and deeds, "they also adopt policies that safeguard the well-being of their population".
"Members are aware that in a complex and globalised world, every nation takes into account the reality of interdependence," he added.
Speaking on the situation in Ukraine, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that India supports conducting an independent investigation with respect to the killings that took place in Bucha.
"The conflict in Ukraine has had significant consequences for the global economy and for our national economy. Like all countries, we too are assessing the implications and deciding what is best for our national interest," he further said in the House.
"If India has chosen a side, it is a side of peace and it is for an immediate end to violence," Jaishankar said.
Speaking on the war in Ukraine a few days after the Bucha killings came to the fore, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in the Lok Sabha that India is "first and foremost" strongly against conflict.
"We believe that no solution can be arrived at by shedding blood and at the cost of innocent lives. In this day and age, dialogue and diplomacy are the right answers to any dispute," he added.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, in response to a question of introducing internet on trains, said 5G is essential to provide internet on trains running at speeds of over 100 km/h.
He further said that 4G would cause network disruptions.
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, BJD MP Sujeet Kumar raised the issue of teachers not being appointed permanently in a central university in Odisha.
"Contract teachers are appointed on an ad-hoc basis with no service benefits, no job security and lower salary than regular teachers. This has caused discontent among the teachers,” YSRCP MP V Vijaysai Reddy said.
BSP MP Ritesh Pandey gave an adjournment motion notice in the Lok Sabha to discuss the "economic crisis roiling Sri Lanka".
"This crisis has triggered hunger and desperation across the island nation, forcing many to flee to South Indian shores. We must also keep in mind that climate change will only trigger disasters both natural and economic of unprecedented proportions – and this latest crisis is only the beginning," his notice to the Lok Sabha Secretary General read.
AAP MP Sanjay Singh has given a Zero Hour notice in the Rajya Sabha over the "suicide of youth due to unemployment in the country".
With the total number of municipal wards set to be revised following the passage of the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill-2022 in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, experts have said that the civic polls here is unlikely to take place before a year from now as a fresh delimitation exercise will be required.
A unified civic body will be "good for Delhi and "good for people", serving and former mayors of the city said. They, however, underlined that civic polls were not likely to take place before one year due to a fresh delimitation exercise. (PTI)
In the Lok Sabha, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will move the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022.
The House will also continue discussion on the situation in Ukraine and the need to promote sports in India and steps taken by the Centre.
Union Minister Arjun Munda will move on Wednesday the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2022 in the Rajya Sabha, which looks to include certain community in the list of Scheduled Tribes in Tripura.
Home Minister Amit Shah will also introduce for consideration and passage The Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022, which will authorise taking measurements of convicts and other persons for the purposes of identification and investigation in criminal matters and to preserve records.
After Union Home Minister Amit Shah Tuesday introduced the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022, in the Rajya Sabha, several members of the Upper House shared their opinions on the bill.
Stating that the Central government has not reduced even a single paisa in the Budgetary allocation for Delhi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah Tuesday said: “In fact, we doubled the amount being allocated for Delhi.”
He made this statement while addressing the Rajya Sabha during the discussion on the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022.
The government has allocated six times more funds for the development of infrastructure along the Sino-Indian border in Arunachal Pradesh -- from Rs 42.87 crore in 2020-21 to Rs 249.12 in 2021-22.
Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said in Lok Sabha that Rs 602.30 crore has been allocated in 2021-22 and Rs 355.12 crore in 2020-21 under the Border Infrastructure and Management (BIM) scheme to improve infrastructure along the international border in the Northeast -- with China, Mynamar and Bangladesh.
While Rs 42.87 crore was allocated under the BIM for the India-China border in the Northeast in 2020-21, Rs 249.12 has been allocated in 2021-22 for it, he said in a written reply to a question. (PTI)
Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday said in the Lok Sabha that in the aftermath of the Russia-Ukraine war, petrol prices in India have gone up by merely 5 per cent as against over 50 per cent in some of the developed countries.
Intervening in the short duration discussion in the Upper House on 'Situation in Ukraine', the minister rejected the Opposition's charge that Operation Ganga was 'operation transport' and not 'operation evacuation'.
The minister, who was one of the special envoys sent to countries bordering Ukraine to coordinate evacuation of Indians from the war-torn nation, said the Indian government did organise buses in Ukraine to transport stranded students to bordering countries in the last stages of Operation Ganga and that cannot be dismissed as 'operation transport'. (PTI)
Not an inch of land has been ceded since Narendra Modi became prime minister, Union minister Kiren Rijiju said in Lok Sabha on Tuesday, hitting back at an opposition MP who accused the government of giving away Indian territory "bit by bit to China".
Intervening in the discussion in the lower house on the situation in Ukraine, Rijiju took strong objection to the remarks made by BSP MP from Jaunpur Shyam Singh Yadav.
"Everyone knows that our claimed territory under the control of China and Pakistan dates back to earlier times. I don't want to take anyone's name. Since Narendra Modi has become prime minister, not an inch of land has been ceded," Rijiju said after Yadav alleged that Indian territory was being given away "bit by bit to China". (PTI)
The Centre has so far transferred Rs 2,616 crore to over 46 lakh eligible farmers in West Bengal under the PM-KISAN scheme, Parliament was informed on Tuesday.
In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar said the government has taken all the necessary steps to implement the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Yojana in all states/Union Territories, including West Bengal.
He informed that there is no state-wise allocation of funds under PM-KISAN scheme. The funds under the scheme are transferred via direct benefit transfer mode into the bank accounts of beneficiaries who are enrolled after due verification by states/UTs. (PTI)
Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday said the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war is a very sensitive issue and all political parties should speak with one voice on it.
During a discussion in Lok Sabha on the situation in Ukraine, the minister said, "We might be from different political organisations but for us, the country and its citizens should come first. This is a very sensitive issue and...there should be one voice." And with this ideology, thought and determination, the BJP government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working towards the progress of the country, he said.
The government is responsible towards 135 crore citizens of the country and 1.5 crore NRIs residing in 110 countries across the world, Scindia said. (PTI)
Ministers making students who were evacuated from war-torn Ukraine chant slogans in favour of the government was a "self-defeating spectacle", Congress leader Manish Tewari said on Monday.
Speaking on the discussion in Lok Sabha on the situation in Ukraine, the member also criticised the government, saying he had never seen such "self congratulatory ecstacy" as displayed during the evacuations.
India has a long history of conducting such evacuations and it has conducted 23 such evacuations since 1962-63, including from Burma, Kuwait, Lebanon and Libya, Tewari said as he lauded the way students were brought back from the European nation. (PTI)
The Congress' Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday asked the government to use its influence to mediate a truce between Russia and Ukraine engaged in a war for over 40 days.
Participating in a short discussion on the 'Situation in Ukraine' in the House, he said India should not shy away from taking a morally correct position in line with its foreign policy.
About the country's foreign policy, Tharoor stressed, "it is neither Congress' nor BJP's foreign policy but it is Indian foreign policy." India, he said, could offer itself in a "mediating capacity" and play a role in putting an end to the conflict. (PTI)
The Congress on Tuesday said the bill to unify the three municipal corporations of Delhi is "unconstitutional and illegal" and would be challenged in a court of law.
The Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022, was piloted in Rajya Sabha by Home Minister Amit Shah and passed by Parliament on Tuesday.
At a press conference hours before the passage of the bill, senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said this bill is "unconstitutional and illegal" and should be withdrawn. It is administratively blunderous and politically hypocritical, he said. Slamming the BJP, Singhvi said it was damaging the federal structure and decentralisation. (PTI)
AAP Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh on Tuesday asked the Centre to rename the bill to reunify the city's three municipal corporations as the "Kejriwal-phobia" bill and alleged that it was brought by the BJP to avoid civic polls.
He also said in the House that to stop Arvind Kejriwal's AAP from coming to power, the Centre wants to take control of the three municipal corporations here.
"If you don't have to contest an election and run away from the election, then I will suggest again, name this bill the Kejriwal-phobia bill. This bill writes the story of your story of cowardice. This bill will write a story of you crushing the Constitution. This bill will write the story of ending the Election Commission by you. You have made Delhi a centre of corruption," Singh said. (PTI)
Parliament on Tuesday passed the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill-2022 to unify three civic bodies in the national capital, with the Rajya Sabha giving its nod through a voice vote after negating all amendments sought by the opposition.
According to the bill, passed by Lok Sabha last week, the unification of the municipal corporations will ensure synergised and strategic planning and optimal utilisation of resources.
Replying to the discussion on the bill, Home Minister Amit Shah said it has been necessitated after the AAP-led Delhi government meted out step-motherly treatment to the civic bodies. (PTI)
Rajya Sabha saw voice votes being taken a whopping 200 times for the passage of a bill on Tuesday as the House gave clause by clause approval, reflecting the procedural rigours involved in enacting legislation.
The debate on the Chartered Accountants, the Cost and Works Accountants and the Company Secretaries (Amendment) Bill, 2022 including the reply of the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman took about two hours and twenty minutes.
However, the process of voting on the 106 clauses and clause-wise amendments took over 30 minutes, Rajya Sabha officials said. According to RS Secretariat officials, it was after a long time that a bill with so many clauses and amendments was passed with voting taking substantial time. (PTI)
A total of 4,055 pressure swing adsorption (PSA) plants have been commissioned in the country, including those under PM-CARES, to enhance the capacity of medical oxygen production and supply at the facility level, the government said on Tuesday.
As on April 4, as many as 4,02,517 oxygen cylinders and 1,13,858 oxygen concentrators have been allocated to states and Union Territories, Minister of State for Health Bharati Pawar said in Rajya Sabha.
"As on 4th April 2022, 4,055 pressure swing adsorption (PSA) plants have been commissioned in the country. This includes PSA plants under PM-CARES, PSUs of various central ministries, and other sources to enhance capacity of medical oxygen production and supply at the facility level. (PTI)
Suitable penal action under fraud was taken against hospitals in respect to 18,606 non-genuine transactions and fines amounting to Rs 29.72 crore were levied, the government said on Tuesday.
Further, 144 hospitals are de-empanelled from the Ayushman Bharat Scheme based on confirmed fraudulent behaviour, Minister of State for Health Bharati Pawar said in a written response in Rajya Sabha.
"Suitable penal action in terms of anti-fraud guidelines was taken against hospitals in respect of non-genuine 18,606 hospital transactions. Penalty amounting to Rs 29.72 crore was levied on erring hospitals," she said. (PTI)
Earlier in the day, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi chaired a meeting of the parliamentary party and discussed the current political situation and the party's strategy in both houses of Parliament. Check out all pictures
The government on Tuesday moved a bill in Rajya Sabha to unify the three municipal corporations of Delhi to ensure a robust setup for synergised and strategic planning and optimal utilisation of resources.
The Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022 was piloted in the Upper House of Parliament by Home Minister Amit Shah. Lok Sabha had passed the bill, which seeks to amend the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act of 1957, on March 30.
While introducing the bill, Shah said it will unify the three municipal corporations -- North Delhi Municipal Corporation, South Delhi Municipal Corporation and East Delhi Municipal Corporation. He also accused the AAP government in Delhi of meting out "step-motherly" treatment to the three civic bodies for political reasons. (PTI)
Parliament on Tuesday passed a bill to revamp the functioning of the institutes of chartered accountants, cost accountants and company secretaries, with Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman asserting that the changes will usher in transparency and will not in any way impact the autonomy of these bodies.
Rajya Sabha passed the Chartered Accountants, the Cost and Works Accountants and the Company Secretaries (Amendment) Bill, 2022 with a voice vote after negating all amendments moved by the Opposition. Lok Sabha had cleared the bill on March 30.
Replying to the discussion in the Upper House, Sitharaman asserted that the new legislation would facilitate India in creating homegrown world class institutions soon, comparable with the 'Big Four' in the audit and accountancy areas, and meet the global demands. (PTI)
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman speaks in the Rajya Sabha as Home Minister Amit Shah looks on during the second part of Budget Session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Tuesday (SANSAD TV/PTI)
The government on Tuesday said action is taken against food adulteration under the Food Safety and Standards Act by state commissioners and food officers at the state and district levels, respectively.
In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister for Health and Family Welfare Mansukh Mandaviya said that Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has notified Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020 regarding requirements for labelling of packaged food.
This regulation's section related to nutritional information requires display of nutrients and their contribution to recommended daily allowance in percentage to enable consumers to make informed choice. "It is mandatory for food business operators to label the food package in accordance with these regulations," Mandaviya said. (PTI)
The income tax department, ED and CBI are investigating the case related to irregularities in co-location facility provided by NSE, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said on Tuesday.
In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, the minister said market regulator Sebi, after investigation into the matter involving NSE and other entities, has passed requisite orders.
"CBI, Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax Department are investigating the case related to irregularities in respect of Co-location facility provided by NSE and their investigations are still going on," he said. (PTI)
Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Tuesday said the government has made all arrangements for Haj, but a decision on the modalities has to be taken by Saudi Arabia.
The minister said this in Rajya Sabha during the Zero Hour, after Nadimul Haque of the TMC raised the demand for confirmation of date for restoration of Haj-2022.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) member pointed out that the International Haj Yatra did not take place in the last two years due to the Covid pandemic. It is the Saudi Arabian government which will decide the modalities of Haj and how many would be permitted for the pilgrimage from India, Naqvi said. (PTI)
States and union territories have reported 5,21,358 deaths due to Covid till April 4, the government informed Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
It also said that it had asked states to provide details of people who have died because of shortage of oxygen. Twenty states and union territories (UTs) have responded and none of them have reported confirmed deaths due to oxygen shortage, the government said.
"As on 4th April, 2022, states/UTs have reported a total of 5,21,358 deaths due to Covid in the country. The government of India maintains data of total cases and deaths due to Covid reported and updated by states/UTs on a regular basis," Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Bharati Pravin Pawar told members. (PTI)
The Congress, TMC, DMK and YSRCP on Tuesday opposed the bill to amend laws governing chartered accountancy, cost accountancy and company secretaries, citing infirmities in the bill and alleging that it was a blatant attack on professional autonomy.
After Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman moved the Chartered Accountants, the Cost and Works Accountants and the Company Secretaries (Amendment) Bill, 2022 for consideration and passage in the Rajya Sabha, the discussion started in the Upper House.
Initiating the debate on the bill in the Upper House, L Hanumanthaiah (Congress) pointed out "loopholes" in the bill and suggested corrections before its passage. He demanded a correction in Section 20 of the bill that deals with the registration of firms and verification of names registered through a single agency, saying this will put a burden on the people. (PTI)