Parliamentarians in the Lok Sabha, during the second part of Budget Session of Parliament, in New Delhi. (PTI/File)Parliament Budget Session 2022 Live Updates: Congress MP in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi said that about 50,000 kms of road are constructed annually under PMGSY, which involves heavy usage of fuel, leading to carbon emissions. He inquired if the government is looking at adopting a new technology to build roads. Minister of State for Rural Development Sadhvi Niranjan responded by stating that the ministry is trying to bring appropriate technology to prevent any kind of environmental pollution under the Pradham Mantri Sadak Yojna.
The Opposition on Monday demanded a rollback in the hike in prices of fuel and cooking gas and sought a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the floor of the House over the issue. The Opposition members also dismissed the contention of the government that the rise in prices was due to the Russia-Ukraine war. Petrol price on Monday was hiked by 30 paise a litre and diesel by 35 paise, taking the total increase in rates in the last one week to Rs 4-4.10 per litre. This is the sixth increase in fuel prices since the ending on March 22 of a four-and-half-month-long hiatus in rate revision.
The Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022 was introduced in the Lok Sabha Monday by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Mishra Teni. However, Opposition leaders raised objections over the Bill with Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary terming the law “draconian”, saying it infringes upon the right to privacy. MP Manish Tewari called it “illegal” saying it violates Article 20 (3) of the Indian Constitution which states, “No person accused of an offence shall be compelled to be a witness against himself”.
Parliamentarians in the Rajya Sabha during the second part of Budget Session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Friday, March 25, 2022. (PTI)
Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that while the Trinamool Congress spoke about labour interest in the Parliament, the party is trying to thwart the labour movement in West Bengal
He added that unions that are on strike have highlighted issues, including scrapping proposed changes in labour laws, privatisation of any form and national monetisation pipeline, increased allocation of wages under MNREGA and regularisation of contract workers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked BJP MPs to undertake various programmes as part of "samajik nyay pakhwada" (fortnight dedicated to social justice) from its foundation day on April 6, and also asserted that it is the only ruling party which has recognised contributions of every prime minister by building a museum to honour them.
With the birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar, architect of the Constitution, falling on April 14, Modi at the BJP's parliamentary party meeting asked party MPs to reach out to people, especially the disadvantaged sections of society like Scheduled Castes, to highlight various government programmes for their welfare.
Quoting him, Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal told reporters that Modi asked parliamentarians to work to spread awareness about the central government's welfare schemes for housing, nutrition and free grains among others. (PTI)
Congress MP in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi said that about 50,000 kms of road are constructed annually under PMGSY, which involves heavy usage of fuel, leading to carbon emissions. He inquired if the government is looking at adopting a new technology to build roads.
Minister of State for Rural Development Sadhvi Niranjan responded by stating that the ministry is trying to bring appropriate technology to prevent any kind of environmental pollution under the Pradham Mantri Sadak Yojna.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will move the The Chartered Accountants, the Cost and Works Accountants and the Company Secretaries (Amendment) Bill, 2021 in the Lok Sabha.
The three Acts provide for the regulation of the professions of chartered accountants, cost accountants and company secretaries, respectively. The Bill seeks to strengthen the disciplinary mechanism under these Acts, and provide for time bound disposal of cases against members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, the Institute of Cost Accountants of India and the Institute of Company Secretaries of India.
Among the Bills listed for consideration and return in the Rajya Sabha are The Appropriation Bill, 2022 and The Finance Bill, 2022. After the discussion on these Bills, members will be allowed to outline topics raised under 267 notices and a labour and employment discussion will take place.
Meanwhile, Arjun Munda will move The Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2022, for consideration and passing.
BJP MP Vivek Thakur has given a Zero Hour notice in Rajya Sabha over the increase in MP quota (in both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha) to recommend students in Kendriya Vidyalaya.
Additionally, Congress MP K C Venugopal gave a suspension of business notice under Rule 267 in Rajya Sabha, over "the constant rise in the prices of petrol, diesel and LPG".
Middle class feels the heat of high petrol, diesel and cooking gas prices and the government should have a relook at the interest rate on savings bank accounts and tax exemption limit, NCP MP Praful Patel said.
During a discussion on the Appropriation Bill 2022 and the Finance Bill 2022 in the Rajya Sabha, Patel said comparing petrol prices of 2008-09 with that of today was not correct as the situation that time across the globe was different. He said the Ukraine conflict is going to impact all heads of the budget going forward.
"Middle class feels the heat of high petrol prices, diesel prices, cooking gas prices and all the general items on the inflation list which we normally see. Therefore, I feel that at least on the savings account, some kind of balance...for people who go for savings specially, small people. I think we need to have a relook because 3-3.5 per cent interest certainly does not do justice to anybody," Patel said. (PTI)
Over 10,400 women officers are serving in the three services, including 6,589 in the armed forces medical services, according to details provided by the defence ministry in Rajya Sabha.
In response to a question, Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt said the Indian Air Force has commissioned 15 women fighter pilots till date and the women officers are now being inducted in all combat roles. He said the Indian Navy has already deputed 28 women officers on board ships.
The details provided by Bhatt showed that the total number of women officers serving in the three forces was 10,493. According to the details provided by Bhatt, the Army has 1,705 women officers followed by 1,640 in the IAF and 559 in the Indian Navy. (PTI)
More than 37,000 users have joined the digital payment service meant for feature phones while 21,833 successful transaction have taken place since its launch on March 8, 2022, Parliament was informed.
The UPI123Pay service is available for feature phones without internet. Prior to the launch of this service, the Unified payments interface (UPI) was limited to smartphone users.
Various steps have been taken by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to expand the reach of UPI outside India, Minister of State for Finance Bhagwat K Karad said in a written reply to Lok Sabha. (PTI)
A demand was made in the Lok Sabha on Monday for a law banning use of words 'vanvasi' and 'girijan' for tribal communities.
Congress member Suresh Dhanorkar made the demand contending the practice was 'highly demeaning' and 'insulting'.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Dhanorkar urged the government to take legal steps to ensure that the use of such words for tribals is banned.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore gave an adjournment motion in Lok Sabha to discuss 'the rank of New Delhi as the most polluted capitals in 2021, as per World Air Quality Report'.
Congress MP TN Prathapan gave an adjournment motion in Lok Sabha to discuss 'the fuel price hike in the country'.
Meanwhile, DMK MP Tiruchi Siva gave a suspension of business notice in Rajya Sabha over the "unprecedented price hike in fuel prices and LPG cylinders which affect the life of the poor".
Congress MP Shaktisinh Gohil has given a Suspension of Business notice under Rule 267 in Rajya Sabha to have a discussion on the two-day nationwide strike called by different trade unions to protest against government policies.
Additionally, Congress chief whip Kodikunnil Suresh gave an adjournment motion in Lok Sabha to discuss the same issue.
Four TMC Rajya Sabha MPs, namely Md. Nadimul Haque, Dr Santanu Sen, Mausam Noor and Abir Ranjan Biswas, have given suspension notice under Rule 267 on the ‘urgent need to check price rise in essential commodities'.
The Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022, introduced by Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Mishra in Lok Sabha, compels certain individuals, convicted and accused of offences, to share biological personal data. This has raised concerns about excess state surveillance and violation of privacy. According to the text of the Bill, it is “to authorise for taking measurements of convicts and other persons for the purposes of identification and investigation in criminal matters and to preserve records and for matters connected therewith and incidental thereto”.
Compared to the 1920 Act, the Bill expands the individuals it seeks to cover. It proposes that the law apply to three categories of individuals: 1. Those convicted of an offence punishable under any law for the time being in force.
2. Those ordered to give security for good behaviour or maintaining peace under Section 117 of the CrPC for a proceeding under Section 107, 108, 109 or 110 of the Code. These are provisions involving “suspected criminals” or “habitual offenders” with a view to preventing crime.
3. Those arrested in connection with an offence punishable under any law in force or detained under any preventive detention law. This would include the National Security Act or the Public Safety Act.
How will data be stored and what are the issues being raised against the Bill? Read our explainer here
A bill seeking to include the 'Darlong' community as a sub-tribe of the 'Kuki' in the list of Scheduled Tribes of Tripura was passed by Lok Sabha on Monday, with the government asserting that its programmes for tribal welfare are outcome driven and constant efforts are being made to ensure development reaches all.
Moving the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2022, in Lok Sabha, Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda said the Union government is working towards betterment of living conditions of the tribal community, and good results will be visible on the health, education and employment fronts. The government is committed to the development of tribal areas and sufficient funds have been allocated for the purpose, he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi believes that without the development of tribal land and tribals, comprehensive development of the country is not possible, Munda said. (PTI)
The government on Monday said that a total of Rs 3,343 crore has been received as foreign direct investment (FDI) in the defence sector since 2014.
In response to a question in Rajya Sabha, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the defence sector needs continuous investment for capacity enhancements and the creation of state-of-the-art technologies.
"During the period from 2001-2014, a total FDI inflow of about Rs 1,382 crore was reported and from 2014 till date, a total FDI of about Rs 3,343 crore has been reported," he said. (PTI)
A discussion on rising fuel prices and the Russia-Ukraine conflict is expected to be held in Lok Sabha after the Centre agreed for the same, members of parliament said on Monday.
The government has agreed to the opposition's demand for discussing the Ukraine war and rising prices in the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting chaired by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, they said. The discussion on both the topics will be held under Rule 193 of the Lok Sabha which does not entail voting, the MPs present in the meeting said.
While the Ukraine crisis will be discussed this week, the issue of rising prices will come up next week, a member of parliament (MP) said, adding that the exact date and timings have not been decided. (PTI)
Three BJP members of Rajya Sabha on Monday gave notice of privilege against Dola Sen of Trinamool Congress over her comments on the Chair for allowing Rupa Ganguly of BJP to speak on Birbhum Rampurhat incident during Zero Hour last week.
Sources said Rakesh Sinha, Sudhanshu Trivedi, and Rupa Ganguly moved the breach of privilege motion, and sought action against Sen for what they termed as "contemptuous remarks" by her on Deputy Chairman Harivansh.
Sen in a video post is said to have remarked that Harivansh functioned as a BJP worker in allowing Ganguly to speak during the Zero Hour. BJP sources said Sen's remarks on the Deputy Chairman amounted to breaching the privilege of the chair and of the House. (PTI)
The government has not given any farm loan waiver to farmers in the last five years and this year so far, Parliament was informed on Monday.
The government has initiated various steps to ease the debt burden of farmers in the country, Minister of State for Finance Bhagwat Karad said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
"No farm loan waiver scheme has been implemented by the Government of India during the last 5 years and the current year," Karad said. He was responding to a question asked by All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF)'s Badruddin Ajmal about the amount allocated and spent by the government to waive loans of farmers during the last five years and the current year in the lower house of Parliament. (PTI)