Indira Gandhi National University for Women Bill introduced in LS

The ninth day of the Monsoon Session saw the introduction of the Indira Gandhi National University for Women Bill in the Lok Sabha.

The Indira Gandhi National University for Women Bill aims to set up the first university exclusively for women at a cost of Rs 500 crores during the 12th Five Year Plan period.

Due to continuous interruptions and adjournments, the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day at 3 p.m. and now stands to meet on Thursday.

The discussion in the Rajya Sabha was mainly focused on the issue of a loss of files relating to the distribution of coal blocks in the country. The Rajya Sabha was also adjourned for the day at 3 p.m.

As of August 18, the Lok Sabha has lost 85 percent of the time to be spent on legislative business, while the Rajya Sabha has lost 22 percent. Both the Houses together have been productive for 44 percent of the first half of the Monsoon Session.

In absolute numbers, the Lok Sabha has spent a total of 12 minutes in the first seven sittings of the Monsoon Session on legislative work, while the Rajya Sabha has spent 7 hours and 42 minutes.

In terms of time spent on Question Hour, four questions were orally answered in the Lok Sabha, while six were orally answered in the Rajya Sabha, as of August 18, 2013.

The total number of starred questions that needed to be orally answered in that time frame were 140 questions in each House.

40 Bills still remain to be passed as part of the legislative agenda for the Monsoon Session.