Lok Sabha

Data centre sector gets policy boost as LS clears taxation amendment Bill

The Bill recognises leased data centres under the tax framework and removes notification requirements, with experts expecting faster investment and lower set-up costs

Lok Sabha passes MSME bill to tackle delayed payments without debate

The Lok Sabha on Friday passed without a debate a bill that seeks to empower and tackle the issue of delayed payments faced by micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), amid protests by opposition members. The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026 has now been cleared by Parliament. It was passed in the Rajya Sabha on August 3. The Bill seeks to address the current challenges faced by the MSME sector by improving the administrative structure and facilitating payment mechanisms. Provisions to deal with delayed payments to MSMEs by prescribing timelines to ensure faster adjudication of disputes, providing recovery of the settlement agreement, and addressing their liquidity issues are part of the Bill. It also seeks to empower courts to order payment of at least 50 per cent of the awarded amount to MSME suppliers if the application to set aside an order is pending for more than six months. MSMEs contribute 31 per cent to India's GDP, 36 per cent to

Lok Sabha clears tax breaks for foreign buyers of government debt

The bill replaces an ordinance issued on June 5 that exempted FII from tax on interest from government securities as well as capital gains from their sale, exchange or transfer

Digital payments need a sustainable funding model for future growth

The Lok Sabha's tax amendment Bill opens the door for future UPI merchant charges, reigniting the debate on funding India's fast-growing digital payments ecosystem

Indian Statistical Institute Bill, 2026: Why is legislation facing pushback

The Bill proposes sweeping changes to the governance of the Indian Statistical Institute, with faculty warning that it could weaken the institute's autonomy and centralise decision-making

Explained: What is the FCRA Amendment Bill and why has it sparked a row?

The Bill, which seeks to amend the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), has drawn sharp criticism from the Opposition, which has described it as 'draconian'

Lok Sabha proceedings adjourned for day after passing Appropriation Bill

Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day on Tuesday after the passage of the Appropriation Bill, 2026 amid Opposition protest over alleged theft of donation at the Ram Temple and other issues. Soon after the House assembled at 2 pm after an earlier adjournment, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduce a Bill to replace an Ordinance which scraped income tax with regard to foreign investment in government securities. Opposition members, who had given notices to speak against introduction of the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, chose not to do so despite their names being called by the Chair. The Bill seeks to amend the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, the Income-tax Act, 2025, and the Finance Act, 2027. Amid the uproar, the Lok Sabha passed the Appropriation (No.3) Bill, 2026 by voice vote. The Bill seeks to provide for the authorisation of appropriation of moneys out of the Consolidated Fund of India to meet the amounts spent on certain services

Colonial-era banking evidence law to go: What the new Bill changes

The Bankers' Books Evidence Bill, 2026 replaces the 1891 law by recognising digital bank records, setting new rules for electronic evidence and limiting when courts can summon bank officials

Monsoon Session: Taxation, Bankers' Books Bills on Lok Sabha's agenda today

The Lok Sabha will take up the Bankers' Books Evidence Bill, 2026 for consideration and passage, a day after it was introduced in the House

Bill to increase number of SC judges passed by Lok Sabha without debate

The Lok Sabha on Monday passed a bill to replace an ordinance which increased the number of Supreme Court judges from 34 to 38, including Chief Justice of India, without a debate as opposition members raised slogans against the NEET paper leaks and alleged theft of Ram temple donations. A statutory resolution moved by the opposition members denouncing the promulgation of the ordinance was also rejected by a voice vote. After a brief introductory remarks made by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, the chair urged the members to speak on the statutory resolution but as sloganeering continued, the bill was put to vote and subsequently cleared. Last week a bill to amend the births and deaths registration was also cleared without a debate. After the passage of the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, the House was adjourned for the day.

Govt to introduce Bankers' Books Evidence Bill in Lok Sabha on Monday

The proposed law will replace the 1891 Act, expand the definition of bankers' books and provide a technology-neutral legal framework for financial records.

Lok Sabha passes Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026 amid protests

The Lok Sabha on Friday passed the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026, without a debate amid continued protests by the Opposition over police crackdown on students during the July 20 parliament march. The bill was taken up for consideration and passage after the House reassembled at noon with BJP MP Dilip Saikia in the Chair. It was passed by voice vote amid sloganeering by the Opposition members, several of whom trooped into the Well demanding the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah in the House. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju expressed displeasure over the lack of participation by the Opposition in the debate, saying the government wanted a discussion on the "important bill." "It is unfortunate. Please do not repeat this in the future. People who sent you to Parliament will seek answers from you," he said. Saikia said it was "unfortunate" that the bill had to be passed without cooperation. During the proceedings, BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi, who

10 years in jail, ₹50 lakh fine: All about the tougher anti-paper leak Bill | NEET paper leak

The Lok Sabha has passed a tougher anti-paper leak law, introducing stricter punishments, higher fines, faster investigations and special fast-track courts to tackle examination fraud.

Lok Sabha adjourned again till 3 pm amid Opposition protests, sloganeering

Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 2 pm on Thursday, minutes after the House convened, amid slogan-shouting by the Opposition over various issues. Speaker Om Birla urged the members to let the Question Hour continue, but faced with an unbudging Opposition, he adjourned the House till 2 pm. On Tuesday as well, the Question Hour could not function. However, the bill to amend the anti-paper leaks law, with provisions for stricter punishment of up to 10 years in jail and a Rs 50 lakh fine, was passed by voice vote.

Lok Sabha passes anti-paper leak Amendment Bill amid Opposition din

Lok Sabha passes tougher anti-paper leak Bill as government and Opposition clash over student protests and allegations of police excesses

Explained: Key provisions of the Registration of Births and Deaths Bill

The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill-introduced by Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai-was cleared by the Union Cabinet on July 20.

Lok Sabha clears anti-paper leak bill by voice vote amid Opposition uproar

The Bill proposes stricter punishment for paper leak offences, higher fines for organised crimes and service providers, and time-bound investigations and trials

Rahul Gandhi's remarks spark uproar in Lok Sabha; Rijiju seeks apology

Rahul Gandhi's remarks during the debate on the anti-paper leak Bill sparked protests from Treasury benches, and were later expunged from the records

LS grants extension to One Nation One Election panel till Winter session

A joint committee of Parliament examining a bill to hold simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies was on Wednesday granted a fresh extension till the end of the Winter session. Committee chairman PP Chaudhary moved a resolution seeking extension of the deadline for submission of the Committee's report till the first day of the last week of the Winter Session. The resolution was passed by voice vote. Winter Session of Parliament usually begins in the last week of November and concludes ahead of Christmas. The 41-member Committee is examining the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024 to implement the One Nation One Election framework. The Committee has been conducting nationwide consultations on the proposed rollout of simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha, state assemblies and local bodies by 2029.

No assessment on whether higher tobacco taxes hurt farmers' incomes: Govt

The government told Parliament it has no assessment on whether higher tobacco taxes hurt farmers' incomes, while citing higher exports, better prices for FCV growers and anti-tax evasion measures