Parliament highlights: Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha adjourned for the day amid protests

Parliament Monsoon Session highlights: Catch all the developments related to the proceedings in the Parliament here

Parliament highlights: Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar stepped down from his position on Monday night,  citing health concerns and the necessity to adhere to medical advice. His resignation, submitted to the President of India, was made under Article 67(a) of the Indian Constitution. In his resignation letter, Dhankhar conveyed his “deepest gratitude” to the President for her “unwavering support and the soothing wonderful working relationship we maintained during my tenure.”

 

He also acknowledged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Council of Ministers. 

With the sudden resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar, an election for the Vice President’s post is now imminent. Both the ruling BJP and the INDIA bloc are expected to begin scouting for potential candidates, though the numbers currently favour the ruling party, placing the opposition at a disadvantage.

 

The Monsoon session of Parliament opened contentiously on Monday, with the opposition repeatedly forcing adjournments in the Lok Sabha. Their demands included an urgent debate on Operation Sindoor and other pressing matters. Simultaneously, proceedings began in both Houses concerning the proposed removal of Justice Yashwant Varma, following the discovery of burnt bundles of cash at his residence.

 

A removal notice bearing the signatures of 63 opposition members was submitted to the Rajya Sabha Chairman, while a parallel notice backed by 152 MPs — including Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi — was handed to the Lok Sabha Speaker, marking a rare bipartisan initiative.

 

4:10 PM

Census 2027 preparations begin; govt issues notification, holds key conference

Preparations for Census 2027 are officially underway with the publication of a gazette notification on 16 June 2025, signalling the Government’s intent to conduct the next nationwide Population Census. In line with this development, a two-day conference was organised in New Delhi on July 3-4.

2:35 PM

India, UK in close contact over Free Trade Agreement: FS Vikram Misri

The two sides remain in close contact over the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA), with both countries actively engaged in finalising the deal, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said today at the MEA's press conference. Legal scrubbing  is currently underway, while last-minute efforts are being made to resolve any outstanding issues and complete the agreement, Misri added.

2:28 PM

PM Modi to meet business leaders during fourth UK visit: FS Vikram Misri

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on an official visit to the United Kingdom tomorrow, 23rd July, for discussions with Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He will also call upon King Charles III. Interaction is also planned with the business leaders, both from India and the UK. This will be Prime Minister's fourth visit to the UK since assuming office," says Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.

2:17 PM

Parliament LIVE update: Lok Sabha adjourned for the day following protests by opposition

2:16 PM

Parliament LIVE update: Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day amid uproar by opposition

1:58 PM

Ten judges appointed to two high courts

Six advocates and four judicial officers were on Tuesday elevated as judges of two high courts. Out of the 10 new judges, three have been appointed to the Delhi High Court and seven to the Rajasthan High Court. While Sandeep Taneja has been appointed as a judge of the Rajasthan High Court, Baljinder Singh Sandhu, Bipin Gupta, Sanjeet Purohit, Ravi Chirania, Anuroop Singhi and Sangeeta Sharma have been appointed as additional judges.

12:55 PM

Parliament Monsoon Session LIVE: Lok Sabha adjourned till 2 pm amid continued uproar over SIR issue

12:54 PM

Parliament Monsoon Session LIVE: Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 pm amid opposition uproar

The opposition raised demands for Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation, leading to disruption in the House

 

11:53 AM

Nadda says VP office was informed of his, Rijiju's inability to attend BAC meeting

Union minister J P Nadda on Tuesday said the Vice President's office was informed that he and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju would not attend a BAC meeting convened by Jagdeep Dhankhar last evening, shortly before he resigned from the post. Nadda's remarks came after Congress leader Jairam Ramesh raised questions over the absence of the leader of the Rajya Sabha and Rijiju at the Business Advisory Committee (BAC).

11:17 AM

Parliament LIVE update: Both Houses adjourned till 12 pm amid ruckus by opposition

10:37 AM

Polls to elect next vice president to be held as soon as possible: Constitution

With Jagdeep Dhankhar quitting as the vice president, the election to appoint his successor will have to be held "as soon as possible". According to Clause 2 of Article 68 of the Constitution, an election to fill a vacancy in the office of the vice president occurring due to his death, resignation or removal, or otherwise will be held "as soon as possible" after it goes vacant. The person elected to fill the vacancy will be entitled to hold office "for the full term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office".

10:34 AM

Trump administration released FBI records on MLK Jr despite his family's opposition

The Trump administration has released records of the FBI's surveillance of Martin Luther King Jr., despite opposition from the slain Nobel laureate's family and the civil rights group that he led until his 1968 assassination. The release involves an estimated 200,000 pages of records that had been under a court-imposed seal since 1977.

9:45 AM

Congress MP Manickam Tagore moves adjournment motion on electoral roll concerns in Bihar

Congress MP Manickam Tagore has submitted an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha, seeking an urgent discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls currently underway in Bihar.