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Paliament Winter Session
The government is planning to introduce a Bill in Parliament this week to raise FDI in the insurance sector to 100 per cent, with a view to providing insurance to all by 2047. The Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Act, 2025, seeks to amend the Insurance Act, 1938, the Life Insurance Corporation Act, 1956, and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999, according to the Bill circulated to members of Parliament ahead of its introduction in Parliament. The amendment will raise the Foreign Direct Investment limit in the insurance sector from 74 per cent to 100 per cent, it said. Despite the Bill to hike FDI in the insurance sector to 100 per cent, one of the top officials Chairman, Managing Director, or CEO must be an Indian citizen. It also paves the way for the merger of a non-insurance company with an insurance company. The Bill received the Union Cabinet's nod on Friday, paving the way for its introduction in Parliament. The Bill further ai
The government is redesigning the Prasad scheme aimed at encouraging pilgrim tourism in various states of the country, the Lok Sabha was informed on Monday. Responding to a supplementary during Question Hour, Culture minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said 54 projects have been sanctioned under the scheme in the last ten years. He said the scheme was aligned with the financial cycle and now that the cycle is on the verge of being completed and the ministry is redesigning the scheme. The Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive scheme was launched in 2014-15 to develop and revitalise pilgrim sites across India. Based on proposals moved by respective state governments, it has focussed on tourist infrastructure to improve the experience of pilgrims or tourists.
Leaders of several opposition parties met in Parliament on Wednesday to discuss their joint strategy for the Winter Session. Floor leaders of various parties, including the Congress, DMK, RJD, SP, JMM, CPI-M, CPI, IUML, NCP-SP, and SS-UBT, attended the meeting, while Trinamool Congress (TMC) skipped it. The TMC was also absent from the last meeting of Opposition leaders, held on December 1 the first day of the winter session. Leaders of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, were present at the meeting, which was held in Kharge's chamber. During the meeting, the leaders also stressed that their unity and continued pressure on the government have forced it to agree to their demand for a discussion on Electoral reforms, including SIR. They also called for the smooth functioning of Parliament, saying it is the government's responsibility to ensure it. The Opposition has been protesting in Parliament over their demand for a discussion on ...
The government has listed nine economic bills, including a bill to amend Insurance Laws and two others to levy tax and cess on sin goods like tobacco and pan masala, for the Winter Session of Parliament beginning Monday. Also, the first batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2025-26 would be brought in during the Winter Session which is scheduled from December 1-19. As per the list of Bills circulated with the members of Parliament for the upcoming session, the government proposes to introduce The Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025, to raise the FDI limit in the insurance sector to 100 per cent, from 74 per cent, as part of new-generation financial reforms. So far, the insurance sector has attracted Rs 82,000 crore through foreign direct investment (FDI). Besides, The Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and 'The Health Security se National Security Cess Bill, 2025' are listed for introduction by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Lok Sabha on Monday. The Bills
A bill seeking to open up the civil nuclear sector for private players is among the 10 new proposed legislations listed by the government for introduction in the winter session of Parliament, beginning December 1. Besides the crucial 'The Atomic Energy Bill, 2025', which seeks to govern the use and regulation of atomic energy in India, the Higher Education Commission of India Bill is also on the agenda. According to a Lok Sabha bulletin, the proposed law seeks to set up a Higher Education Commission of India to facilitate universities and other higher educational institutes to become independent and self-governing institutions and to promote excellence through a robust and transparent system of accreditation and autonomy. It has long been on the government's agenda. The National Highways (Amendment) Bill, also listed for introduction, seeks to ensure faster and transparent land acquisition for national highways. Another proposed legislation is the Corporate Laws (Amendment) Bill, .
The Winter session of Parliament will be held from December 1 to 19, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Saturday. "The Hon'ble President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu ji has approved the proposal of the Government to convene the #WinterSession of Parliament from 1st December 2025 to 19th December, 2025 (subject to exigencies of Parliamentary business)," Rijiju said on X. "Looking forward to a constructive and meaningful Session that strengthens our democracy and serves the aspirations of the people," he said.