Parliament Monsoon Session Highlights: Rajya Sabha adjourned till tomorrow

Parliament Monsoon Session Highlights: Lok Sabha speaker is upset at the repeated disruptions in the House and stayed away from the proceedings on Wednesday.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi speaks in the Rajya Sabha during the Monsoon session of Parliament, (PTI)

Parliament Monsoon Session Highlights: The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which was introduced in Lok Sabha on Tuesday, will be taken up on Thursday for consideration and passing, as the house adjourned minutes after resuming. ...Read More

Follow all the updates here:

• 2 Aug 2023, 08:24:03 PM IST

  Parliament passes bill aimed at mining reforms

  The Parliament on Wednesday passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023 that allows the private sector to mine key atomic minerals, including lithium, and deep-seated minerals such as gold, silver, copper and zinc.

  The bill was passed by Rajya Sabha by a voice vote after Lok Sabha passed it on July 28. It has amended the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.

  The discussion on the bill, which was moved by minister of coal and mines Prahlad Joshi, took place amid the Opposition staging a walkout demanding a discussion on the situation in Manipur and a statement by the Prime Minister.

• 2 Aug 2023, 08:03:38 PM IST

  Focussed on formalising vedic education: Govt to Parliament

  There was no formal system of Vedic education in the country before the Narendra Modi led government established Maharshi Sandipani Rashtriya Veda Sanskrit Shiksha Board ( MSRVSSB) last year, Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan informed the Parliament on Wednesday.

  Responding to questions related to the vedic education by several members of the upper house, Pradhan said that Vedas are the “basis foundation” of Indian knowledge, and it is the priority of the government to take the Indian knowledge tradition to the next generation and connecting Veda Vidya with the mainstream modern education system.

  “There was no formal system of Vedic education in the country earlier. Maharishi Sandipani Rashtriya Ved Vidya Pratishthan was given recognition by the Board of Education under the visionary leadership of the Prime Minister. Veda Vidya and Sanskrit education should reach every section of the society without any discrimination, it is the priority of this government,” he said.

• 2 Aug 2023, 07:20:28 PM IST

  India imparted training to over 3,100 international civil servants: Govt

  As many as 3,112 civil servants from foreign countries have been imparted training by the National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG), Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said on Wednesday.

  Of them, 2,099 participants were from Bangladesh, 818 from the Maldives, 97 from Myanmar, 49 from Gambia, 19 from other African countries (Kenya, Tanzania, Tunisia and Seychelles) and 30 from Cambodia, he said,

• 2 Aug 2023, 07:18:26 PM IST

  Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day

  Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day

• 2 Aug 2023, 07:15:41 PM IST

  Jan Vishwas (Amendmend of Provisions) Bill, 2023 passed by Rajya Sabha

  The Jan Vishwas (Amendmend of Provisions) Bill, 2023 passed by Rajya Sabha, by voice vote.

• 2 Aug 2023, 07:00:33 PM IST

  Regulate obscene content on OTT; BJP MP tells Parliament

  BJP Member of Parliament Sushil Kumar Modi on Wednesday urged the government to set up a mechanism to regulate the ‘obscene’ content published on Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms.

  During zero hour in Rajya Sabha, the MP said, "There is censorship for films by the Censor Board of Film Certification made under the Cinematography Act 1972. Similarly, there is the Cable Television Network Regulation Act 1995 to review the content to be telecasted on television. However, currently, there is self-regulation and no mechanism for the Government to censor or review the content published on these OTT platforms."

  He added that the content on these platforms depicts violence, vulgarity, obscenity, abusive language, glorification of killings, and the use of drugs, which makes it difficult for the content to be viewed with family. “The kind of abuses that we do not even use in our real life are heard in the serials run by these OTT platforms,” Modi said.

• 2 Aug 2023, 07:00:01 PM IST

  Mundra Port drug case: 2,988 kg heroin seized, 27 arrests, drugs originated from Afghanistan, says MoS Rai

  Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, while divulging details on the 2021 Mundra Port drugs case, said that two containers of a consignment of heroin weighing 2988.21 kilograms were seized, National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed four chargesheets and 27 accused have been arrested.

  "The drugs had originated from Afghanistan," he added.

  MoS Rai made the remarks in reply to a written question put forth by Congress MP Kumar Ketkar to the Minister of Home Affairs in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. Ketkar asked if the Government has found about the prime accused of three consignments of drugs landed that he alleged had landed at the Mundra Port.

• 2 Aug 2023, 06:29:00 PM IST

  Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill

  The Bill empowers the central government to specify, by order, the terms and conditions subject to which any survey, such as reconnaissance, prospecting, investigation or exploration including seismic survey, shall not be treated as non-forest purpose.

• 2 Aug 2023, 06:13:35 PM IST

  Rajya Sabha passes Forest Conservation (Amendment) Bill

  Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed a bill that exempts land within 100 km of the country's borders from the purview of conservation laws and permits setting up of zoos, safaris and eco-tourism facilities in forest areas.

  The Upper House passed the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023 after a brief debate, though the opposition had walked out over the ethnic violence in Manipur.

  The Bill was passed by Lok Sabha on July 26.

  During the debate, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said the Bill exempts certain types of land such as forest land along a rail line or a public road maintained by the government and providing access to a habitation, or to a rail and roadside amenity up to a maximum size of 0.10 hectares.

• 2 Aug 2023, 05:50:48 PM IST

  Jairam Ramesh on Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill

• 2 Aug 2023, 05:26:43 PM IST

  The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023 passed in Rajya Sabha

  The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023 passed in Rajya Sabha by voice vote.

• 2 Aug 2023, 04:54:20 PM IST

  IT committee Chairman ‘disheartened’ at CPI(M) Brittas for questioning report on DPDP Bill 2023

  Lok Sabha MP and Chairman of the Department related parliamentary standing committee on Information Technology, Prataprao Jadhav took a swipe at Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader John Brittas who had challenged the IT panel’s recent report on the Data Protection Bill and said it was disheartening that the CPI(M) leader had questioned the committee and argued that the report cannot be adopted without the Bill being introduced in either House of the Parliament and it being referred to the members of the Standing Committee.

  In a statement issued by his office on Tuesday, Jadhav said, “I wish to clarify that our Committee has not examined the final version of the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023, as it is scheduled for introduction during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament. The Committee has tendered its recommendations on the general principles and provisions of the draft bill. Therefore, any claims suggesting otherwise are unfounded.”

• 2 Aug 2023, 04:52:11 PM IST

  Vice President Dhankhar says cannot direct PM to be present in the House

  Rajya Sabha chairman, Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday explicitly ruled out issuing any directive for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be present in the Upper House to discuss the situation in Manipur as has been demanded by the opposition parties, claiming by doing so he would be “violating” the oath of office.

  Dhankhar, who had a day earlier referred to the opposition’s demand for the PM to make a statement in the House as “constitutionally ill-premised" said, “I had in categorical terms indicated very firmly on a proper constitutional premise and precedent that from this chair, I will be violating my oath if I impart a directive for the presence of the Prime Minister.”

  He went on to say that such a directive has not come from the Chair in the past and the opposition’s insistence that he be present in the House is “ill-advised.”

• 2 Aug 2023, 04:40:32 PM IST

  BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri on Nuh violence

  BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri says, "Conspirators and hooligans should not be spared. A few people there have suffered losses in the riots. Rioters should be made to compensate for the losses. Action should definitely be taken otherwise such rioters will get emboldened. The rioters come from outside and incite youths, their parents should also get to know. Such rioters should get no place in the country and an Uttar Pradesh-like formula should be used -- their houses should be checked whether they are eligible to live there or not."

• 2 Aug 2023, 04:22:30 PM IST

  1.14 lakh posts vacant in organisations under MHA: Centre to Rajya Sabha

  As many as 1,14,245 posts are lying vacant in various organisations under the Ministry of Home Affairs and these include the CRPF, the BSF and the Delhi Police, Union Minister Ajay Kumar Mishra said in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

  Mishra said in 2023, advertisements for about 31,879 posts have been published, and out of these, 1,126 posts have been filled up.

  The Ministry of Home Affairs and its organisations, including the Central Armed Police Forces such as Border Security Force, Sashastra Seema Bal, Central Reserve Police Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force, Assam Rifles and Central Industrial Security Force, and central police organisations, including Delhi Police, has approximately 1,14,245 vacant posts at present, he said in a written reply.

• 2 Aug 2023, 04:20:19 PM IST

  More than 14,000 students displaced in Manipur violence; Education Ministry tells RS

  The Ministry of Education on Wednesday told Parliament that a total of 14,000 school children have been displaced due to the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur. The data released by the Ministry reveals that Churachandpur (4099) topped the list of the no. of displaced children, followed by Kangpokpi (2822) and Bishnupur (2063).

  In a written response, the minister of state for education Annpurna Devi said: “As per information provided by the State Government of Manipur, a total of 14763 school-going children have been displaced due to the current Manipur situation. A nodal officer has been appointed for each relief camp to facilitate the admission process of the displaced students. 93.5% of the displaced students have been admitted to the nearest feasible school, free of cost.”

• 2 Aug 2023, 04:13:22 PM IST

  880 flats constructed in last 3 years for Kashmiri migrant employees: govt

  A total of 880 flats have been constructed in the Kashmir valley in the past three years for Kashmiri migrant employees who wish to return, Union Minister Nityanand Rai told Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

  Rai also said 5,248 two-room tenements were constructed in Jammu region -- Purkhu, Muthi, Nagrota and Jagti -- to accommodate the people who had migrated due to terrorism in 1989-1990 from their ancestral places of residence in Kashmir. These tenements were constructed in two phases till 2011.

• 2 Aug 2023, 04:12:55 PM IST

  Over 2.27 crore EWS students enrolled in private schools in last five years, highest in MP: MoE

  More than 2.27 crore students from the EWS category enrolled in private schools in the last five years, with Madhya Pradesh accounting for the highest number at over 53 lakh, followed by Rajasthan, the Union Ministry of Education said on Wednesday.

  The information was shared by Union Minister of State for Education Annapurna Devi in response to a written question in the Rajya Sabha.

  According to the data, 2,27,72,124 (2.27 crore) students from the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category enrolled in private schools from 2018-19 to 2022-23.

• 2 Aug 2023, 04:09:41 PM IST

  Muslim students' enrolment in higher education institutions up by 1.83 lakh during 2016-2021: MoE

  The enrolment of Muslim students in higher education institutions increased to 19.22 lakh in 2020-21 from 17.39 lakh in 2016-17, Union Minister of State for Education Subhas Sarkar said on Wednesday.

  The number of teachers from the Muslim community also increased significantly to 86,314 in 2020-21 from 67,215 in 2016-17, he said.

  The minister shared the statistics from the All India Survey on Higher Education, 2020-21, in response to a written question in the Rajya Sabha.

• 2 Aug 2023, 04:09:22 PM IST

  Opposition members walk out of Rajya Sabha demanding discussion on Manipur violence

  Members of the opposition INDIA bloc parties walked out of the Rajya Sabha for the second time on Wednesday demanding a discussion on the Manipur issue besides alleging that the leader of the opposition was not allowed to speak in the House.

  When the Upper House, which saw opposition members walk out in the pre-lunch period, reassembled at 2 pm, Union Minister for Coal and Mines Pralhad Joshi moved The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023, for consideration and passage.

  The Opposition members intensified their demand for a discussion on the Manipur issue and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement in the House.

• 2 Aug 2023, 03:53:20 PM IST

  Ask PM to speak in Parliament on Manipur, give roadmap for bringing peace in state: Opposition urges President

  Leaders of the opposition bloc INDIA on Wednesday met President Droupadi Murmu and submitted a memorandum over their demand for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement in Parliament on Manipur and to list steps needed to restore peace in the violence-hit state.

  They also demanded that the prime minister visit the strife-torn state and make an appeal to the warring communities to end violence and promote brotherhood.

  In the memorandum submitted to the President, 31 leaders of the opposition bloc also raised the issue of communal tension in Haryana's Nuh and alleged that the Central government was not bothered about the developments that are taking place "barely 100 km from the Prime Minister's Office".

• 2 Aug 2023, 03:51:38 PM IST

  Bill to allow private sector to mine lithium, 5 other atomic minerals passed in Parliament

  A bill that seeks to allow the private sector to mine six out of 12 atomic minerals, including lithium, and deep-seated minerals such as gold and silver was passed by Parliament on Wednesday, amid a walkout by opposition members demanding a discussion over the Manipur violence issue.

  Union Minister for Coal and Mines Pralhad Joshi moved the The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023, when Rajya Sabha reassembled in for the post-lunch period.

• 2 Aug 2023, 03:46:37 PM IST

  Bhupender Yadav moved the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023 in the Rajya Sabha

  Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav moved the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023 in the Rajya Sabha for its consideration and passage to amend the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. Earlier, the Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on July 26.

• 2 Aug 2023, 03:41:20 PM IST

  Bill passed by voice vote in upper house

  Passed by voice vote in upper house, Opposition members earlier staged a walkout over the Manipur issue, but debate on the bill continued followed by mines minister Prahlad Joshi's reply and subsequent passing.

• 2 Aug 2023, 03:39:21 PM IST

  Rajya Sabha passes Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation Amendment) Bill, 2023

  Rajya Sabha passes the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023 to amend the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. Earlier, the Bill was also passed by the Lok Sabha on July 28.

• 2 Aug 2023, 03:38:04 PM IST

  Ruling party created a ruckus which led to the adjournment of the house: SP leader ST Hasan

  “Today, in the absence of the Union Home Minister, the ruling party created a ruckus which led to the adjournment of the House,” says Samajwadi Party leader ST Hasan as Lok Sabha gets adjourned for the day.

• 2 Aug 2023, 03:33:24 PM IST

  The country should know that the Opposition is doing their duty: Congress MP

  “The country should know that the Opposition is doing their duty and raising voice in the Parliament (about Manipur). However, the government has refused to listen to us, which is why we approached the President today and are hopeful that she will take cognisance,” says Congress leader Shayar Imran.

• 2 Aug 2023, 03:25:41 PM IST

  481 cases of  false promises bytouts, cheating, overcharging have been reported in last 1 year in Delhi: MOS Home

  "The cases reported to Delhi Police for false promises bytouts, cheating, overcharging etc. are registered under the Delhi Prevention of Touting & Malpractices Against Tourists Act, 2010. During the last one year and current year (upto July 15), 481 cases have been reported, out of which 61 cases have concluded into conviction and 1 case into acquittal": MoS Home Nityanand Rai to Rajya Sabha

• 2 Aug 2023, 03:20:37 PM IST

  1.33 lakh hectare area is reported to have been affected due to Cyclone 'Biparjoy': MoS Home

  "As per memorandum received from the Gujarat government, 1.33 lakh hectare area is reported to have been affected due to Cyclone 'Biparjoy' and it has projected an estimated total economic loss of ₹1212. 50 crores in agriculture and horticulture crops in the affected areas": MoS Home Nityanand Rai to Rajya Sabha

• 2 Aug 2023, 03:03:06 PM IST

  MoS Home Nityanand Rai on cases of heroin seizures at Mundra Port

  Two containers of one consignment of heroin weighing 2988.21 kg were seized. NIA has filed 4 chargesheets/supplementary chargesheets. 27 accused have been arrested. Investigations have revealed that the drugs had originated from Afghanistan: MoS Home Nityanand Rai on cases of heroin seizures at Mundra Port

• 2 Aug 2023, 02:59:51 PM IST

  No significant increase in the number of psychiatric cases in the Central Armed Police Forces: MOS Home to Rajya Sabha

  "No significant increase in the number of psychiatric cases in the Central Armed Police Forces has been noticed. The average rate of psychiatric cases has generally remained nearly the same during the last three years. However, to curb such type of cases, corrective steps are being taken by all Central Armed Police Forces": MoS Home Nityanand Rai to Rajya Sabha.

• 2 Aug 2023, 02:57:37 PM IST

  BJP issued a three-line whip to its Lok Sabha MPs to present on Thursday

  BJP issued a three-line whip to its Lok Sabha MPs to present throughout the day on Thursday, 3rd August to support Government's stand and some Legislative Business, which will be taken up for discussion and passing in the house

• 2 Aug 2023, 02:56:40 PM IST

  Illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and its abuse is a transnational problem: MoS Home

  "Illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and its abuse is a transnational problem, Govt. of India has entered into bilateral agreements with 27 countries, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with 16 countries and two agreements on security cooperation for preventing illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursor chemicals": MoS Home Nityanand Rai to Rajya Sabha

• 2 Aug 2023, 02:53:37 PM IST

  MoS Home on whether the Union government has any policy proposal to notify all the 22 Languages as official languages

• 2 Aug 2023, 02:46:52 PM IST

  Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan on baby Ariha Shah case

  "I am presenting Dhara Shah in front of everyone whose daughter Ariha Shah has been taken by the German govt for 2 years now...She has come to seek help from the parliamentarians. Due to cultural differences, they have taken a strict stand & we will put in a request to the external affairs minister & the German embassy as well...We request the Indian govt to bring the child & keep her in a foster home in India. The necessary judgement should be made by the Indian govt & not by the German govt...," says Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan on baby Ariha Shah case.

• 2 Aug 2023, 02:46:29 PM IST

  "This is government-sponsored adjournment," says Congress MP

  "This is government-sponsored adjournment," says Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury after Lok Sabha was adjourned ahead of discussion on the Delhi Services Bill.

• 2 Aug 2023, 02:42:05 PM IST

  Government is conscious of requirements for inclusion of other languages in the Eighth Schedule: MoS Home

  "The Government is conscious of the sentiments and requirements for inclusion of other languages in the Eighth Schedule. Such requests have to be considered keeping in mind these sentiments, and the other relevant considerations": MoS Home Nityanand Rai to Rajya Sabha

• 2 Aug 2023, 02:37:49 PM IST

  Lok Sabha adjourned for the day amid oppn protest on Manipur issue

  Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day on Wednesday as opposition members continued with their protests on the Manipur issue even as Speaker Om Birla, upset at the repeated disruptions in the House, skipped the proceedings.

  As the House assembled for the post-lunch session, the opposition members trooped into the well of the House and raised slogans demanding a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the situation in Manipur, which has been roiled by months-long ethnic violence.

• 2 Aug 2023, 02:37:04 PM IST

  “Both Union and state govts must fulfil their duties…”: Oppn delegation briefs President Murmu on Manipur situation

  Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge, who led a delegation of Opposition leaders to the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday, said they briefed President Droupadi Murmu on 'atrocities' on women and the state of relief camps in violence-hit Manipur.

  At a press briefing after meeting the President at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha also called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Manipur and work towards restoration of peace between all communities, especially the Kukis and Meiteis, inhabiting the state.

  He informed further that the President assured that she would consider the demands put forward by the Opposition.

• 2 Aug 2023, 02:33:59 PM IST

  Construction of 6,000 Transit Accommodations for the Kashmiri Migrant Employees returning to Kashmir Valley underway: MoS Home

  "...Due to improved security scenario in Kashmir Valley,the Government has taken up the project of construction of 6,000 Transit Accommodations for the Kashmiri Migrant Employees returning to Kashmir Valley. 880 flats have been constructed in the last 3 years": MoS Home Nityanand Rai to Rajya Sabha

• 2 Aug 2023, 02:28:06 PM IST

  Opposition leaders politicising Manipur issue: Anurag Thakur

  Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Wednesday criticized the opposition parties for politicising the Manipur issue and accused them of “running away” from a discussion in Parliament on the issue.

  "Opposition leaders are not ready to discuss the Manipur issue, they are not taking part in the Parliament discussion. They are just running away from it, they don't take the Parliament seriously. They can go to Manipur but they cannot go to Bengal and Rajasthan. They are only doing politics" Thakur said.

• 2 Aug 2023, 02:27:47 PM IST

  Delhi services bill will not survive in Rajya Sabha: AAP MP Sanjay Singh

  AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh on Wednesday said the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which seeks to replace the Delhi services ordinance, will not survive in the Rajya Sabha.

  All members of the opposition bloc INDIA will oppose the proposed legislation in the Upper House, he told PTI video.

• 2 Aug 2023, 02:25:49 PM IST

  YSRCP supports Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill

  YSRCP supports Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023

• 2 Aug 2023, 02:19:45 PM IST

  Opposition ruckus in Rajya Sabha

  Opposition MPs shout “shame, shame” during the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha. 

• 2 Aug 2023, 02:15:51 PM IST

  Heavy sloganeering in Rajya Sabha

  Heavy sloganeering in Rajya Sabha by opposition MPs

• 2 Aug 2023, 02:15:20 PM IST

  Can't direct PM to be present in House: Dhankhar on oppn demand for Modi's statement on Manipur

  Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday categorically said he cannot issue a directive to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to come to the House as opposition leaders pressed for a statement by Narendra Modi on the Manipur issue.

  Opposition leaders, who have been demanding a discussion on the ethnic violence in Manipur under Rule 267 of Rajya Sabha, later staged a walkout in protest.

  Rule 267 allows for suspension of the listed business for the day to discuss an issue suggested by a member.

• 2 Aug 2023, 02:13:31 PM IST

  Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill moved in Rajya Sabha

  Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023 moved in the Rajya Sabha for its consideration and passage to amend the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.

• 2 Aug 2023, 02:12:18 PM IST

  Lok Sabha adjourned for the day

  Lok Sabha adjourned to meet again on 03 August, 2023 at 11:00am. Delhi bill will come up tomorrow.

• 2 Aug 2023, 02:07:26 PM IST

  Lok Sabha speaker expresses displeasure with BJP and Opposition over functioning of Parliament

  Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has expressed deep displeasure with both the ruling party and the opposition over the functioning of the House. Birla told both sides that he will not come to Lok Sabha until MPs behave according to the dignity of the House. Even today, when the proceedings of the House started, Birla did not come to the Speaker's seat.

• 2 Aug 2023, 01:17:52 PM IST

  Rajya Sabha also adjourned

  After Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha also adjourned till 2pm.