Economic bills set to get top priority during winter session

The decision is in tune with the Government’s thinking on giving a thrust to second generation economic reforms during its second tenure.

While Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) Bill, Foreign Exchange Management Bill and Securities Laws Bill were introduced during the first session after the elections, the Government could not table the Prevention of Money Laundering Bill.

All these measures have been given top priority"A" category in the legislative business for the coming session. On the political side, the Constitution Amendment Bill providing for women’s reservation, which is yet to be introduced, also gets top billing.

However, the Government is apparently soft pedalling the sensitive issue of creation of small states by downgrading priority for legislations for creation of Uttarakhand, Chhatisgarh and Jharkhand placing them in `B’ category.

The Special Protection Group Amendment Bill to extend elite commando cover to Congress president Sonia Gandhi beyond November this year gets `A’ category treatment. The Union Cabinet has already decided to issue an ordinance in this regard.

There is a heavy agenda of legislative and non-legislative business including over 100 bills for introduction and transaction.