Lok Sabha

India moves closer to being Maoist-free, Amit Shah lists govt's steps

35 'most-affected' districts in 2014 down to zero; only 2 remain: Shah

FM Sitharaman vs Opposition | Massive uproar in Lok Sabha over falling rupee

A heated debate broke out in the Lok Sabha as Opposition MPs clashed with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman over the sharp decline of the Indian rupee against the US dollar.

Finance Bill 2026 cleared; limit buyback tax to domestic entities

Amendments raise start-up tax threshold, remove arrest provisions and introduce safeguards in reassessment, aiming to ease compliance and reduce litigation

Lok Sabha passes Finance Bill 2026 with 32 government amendments

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Finance Bill 2026, along with 32 government amendments. With the passage of the Finance Bill 2026, the Lok Sabha completed its part of the Budgetary approval process. The Upper House, Rajya Sabha, will now consider the Bill. After the Rajya Sabha approves the Bill, the Budget process for 2026-27 will be complete. The Union Budget 2026-27 envisages a total expenditure of Rs 53.47 lakh crore, an increase of 7.7 per cent over the current fiscal ending March 31. The total capital expenditure proposed for the next fiscal is Rs 12.2 lakh crore. It proposes a gross tax revenue collection of Rs 44.04 lakh crore and a gross borrowing of Rs 17.2 lakh crore. The fiscal deficit for FY27 is projected at 4.3 per cent of GDP, lower than 4.4 per cent in the current fiscal.

FCRA Bill introduced in LS, govt asserts action against forced conversion

A bill to amend the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, with the government making it clear that individuals engaging in forced religious conversion through foreign funding will not be spared. Introducing the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai stated that the legislation aims to enhance transparency and ensure proper utilisation of funds received from abroad. Countering the opposition's charges that the bill is "dangerous", Rai asserted that it is "indeed dangerous" for those who engage in forced religious conversion using foreign contributions, as well as to individuals who abuse foreign funding for personal gain. "The Modi government will not tolerate any misutilisation of foreign funding and will take strong action against such elements," he said. Earlier, opposing the introduction of the legislation, Congress member Manish Tewari said that the bill would give ...

Amendment to women reservation law may be delayed; early adjournment likely

The government is unlikely to immediately bring a bill to increase Lok Sabha seats to 816 so that 273 of them could be reserved for women in the ongoing Parliament session, which may be adjourned early but will not be prorogued to keep open the option of reconvening after the upcoming round of assembly elections, according to sources. The sources indicated that there is very little chance of the government tabling the constitution amendment bill that will tweak the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, commonly known as the women's reservation law, in Parliament in the next few days. It is learnt that there was no proposal till Tuesday evening to bring the draft bill before the Union Cabinet, which is scheduled to meet on Wednesday. "There are requirements of seeking further deliberations with all political parties before finalising a schedule for amending the women's reservation law," a source privy to the development said. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had on Monday discussed the matter

LS passes Bill to amend law on protection and rights of transgender persons

The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed a bill to amend a law on protection and rights of transgender persons, which seeks to exclude social orientations from the ambit of the statute and provides for graded punishment based on the gravity of harm inflicted on such people. Responding to the debate on the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Virendra Kumar said the proposed legislation aims to provide protection to only those who face boycott due to biological issues. He asserted that the amendment will ensure that transgender persons continue to get legal recognition and protection. Kumar said while the 2019 law had a provision for a maximum of two years of imprisonment, the amendment bill provides for a maximum of 14 years in jail with a penalty. Before the passage of the bill, the House also rejected amendments moved by opposition members by a voice vote. While the government said the objective is to provide protection

Corporate Laws Amendment Bill to empower NFRA, ease compliance tabled in LS

The Corporate Laws Amendment Bill proposes decriminalisation, stronger NFRA powers, and simpler compliance norms, alongside reforms in mergers, CSR, and corporate governance

Govt working on strategy to handle West Asia crisis effects: PM Modi in Lok Sabha

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Lok Sabha on the West Asia crisis, stating that the government was working on a comprehensive strategy to handle its impact.

NEP does not impose one language on any state: MoS Education to LS

Union Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary on Monday said the National Education Policy (NEP) does not impose one language, including Hindi, on any state, rather it "explicitly promotes multilingualism". Responding to supplementary questions in Lok Sabha during the Question Hour, the minister noted that while Tamil Nadu has expressed some objection to the NEP 2020, the central government has released Rs 538 crore to the state under the Samagra Shiksha, a flagship central school education programme. "It is up to the state to follow established procedure and protocol in terms of expenditure, in terms of provision of UC (utilisation certificate) for further release," Chaudhary said. The minister said there was "absolutely no imposition of any language." "The three languages, as proposed in the NEP, align with the two-language formula... There is complete flexibility. There is no imposition of any language, including Hindi. It is up to the state to implement in toto." The

Lok Sabha refers Corporate Laws (Amendment) Bill to joint Parl panel

The Lok Sabha on Monday referred the Corporate Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, to a joint parliamentary committee comprising members from both Houses of Parliament for a detailed analysis and recommendations. The decision was taken following a voice vote after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman suggested it. Earlier, after the Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha, opposition members Manish Tewari (Congress), Saugata Roy (Trinamool Congress) and T Sumathy (DMK) strongly opposed it, alleging that the legislation sought to dilute the provisions of law under which companies mandatorily have to pay 2 per cent of their profits towards corporate social responsibility (CSR). The finance minister strongly refuted the allegations and said that the Bill has been introduced after two years of deliberations. She said the apprehensions of the members were unfounded as the Bill seeks to amend only the criteria of net profits, not the entire clause related to CSR. Sitharaman then suggested to Speaker O

Watch: LS Speaker’s first remarks after no-confidence motion was defeated | Lok Sabha | Parliament

Om Birla, speaking in the Lok Sabha on the no-confidence motion moved against him, said the Chair does not belong to one person and that he will uphold constitutional dignity in the Parliament.

LS extends tenure of 'One Nation One Election' panel till Monsoon Session

The JPC is currently reviewing the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024

Suspension of eight Opposition MPs revoked after Parliament rapprochement

Lok Sabha revokes suspension of eight Opposition MPs after government and Opposition reach agreement to ensure smooth functioning of Parliament during the Budget session

Lok Sabha revokes suspension of 8 opposition MPs with immediate effect

The Lok Sabha on Tuesday revoked with immediate effect the suspension of eight opposition members, who were suspended from the House on February 3 for "unruly" behaviour, after Congress leader K Suresh requested the House to consider the matter. Following the submissions by several opposition members, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said there was a need to draw a 'Laxman Rekha' for the smooth functioning of the House, which both treasury and opposition benches agreed to. Speaker Om Birla said there is a need to ensure that no placards, posters, photos or AI-generated images are displayed in the House or inside the Parliament complex. Rijiju then moved a motion to remove the suspension of seven Congress MPs and one CPI-M member, which was adopted by a voice vote. The suspended MPs included Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Hibi Eden, C Kiran Kumar Reddy, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Manickam Tagore, Prashant Padole and Dean Kuriakose of the Congress, and S Ventakesan of the ...

Suspension of 8 opposition MPs from Lok Sabha likely to be revoked on Tue

The suspension of eight opposition MPs from the Lok Sabha is likely to be revoked on Tuesday, sources said, citing a decision taken at a meeting convened by Speaker Om Birla. Seven Congress and a CPI(M) MP were suspended for unruly behaviour, following a resolution passed by the Lok Sabha in the first part of the Budget Session. While the eight MPs were suspended for the entire session that is scheduled to conclude on April 2, opposition parties have been urging the speaker to revoke the suspensions during one of the sittings of the Lok Sabha. When Congress members had urged Birla to revoke the suspensions, he had said such action is taken when someone climbs on tables. The revocation of suspension of the eight MPs has been a key demand of the opposition since the second leg of the Budget Session commenced on March 9. The sources said there was a general consensus at the meeting that opposition members will restrict themselves in the Well of the House and not cross over to the ...

Govt to soon come out with revamped Stand-Up India scheme: Sitharaman

The government will soon come out with a modified Stand-Up India scheme to provide better benefits to SC/ST and women entrepreneurs looking to set up new projects, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Monday. Launched in 2016, the Stand-Up India scheme aimed to empower Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and women entrepreneurs by facilitating bank loans for setting up new enterprises. The scheme expired on March 31, 2025. Replying to a supplementary question in the Lok Sabha, the Minister said the modified scheme will incorporate lessons learnt in implementation of the original Stand-Up India scheme. "With studies done by Niti Aayog and others, this scheme is being redrafted and sooner the Cabinet will be given a proposal with which we will launch a new scheme to continue with this Stand-Up which benefitted SC/ST and women all over the country," Sitharaman said. The scheme provided loans between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 1 crore at the lowest applicable rate of the bank f

₹1 trillion stabilisation fund to give fiscal headroom: FM Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told Lok Sabha the Rs 1 trillion Economic Stabilisation Fund will help India respond to global shocks while keeping fiscal consolidation targets intact

Bill defining 'transgender', proposing graded punishments introduced in LS

A bill seeking to give a precise definition of the term "transgender" and provide graded punishments that reflect the gravity of the harm inflicted upon such persons was introduced in Lok Sabha on Friday. It also underlines that a transgender person "shall not include, nor shall ever have been so included, persons with different sexual orientations and self-perceived sexual identities". The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill was introduced by Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Virendra Kumar. It notes that it is imperative to give a precise definition for proper and definitive identification and protection of transgender persons, to whom the benefits of the present law must reach. The protection and benefits that are provided under the present 2019 law are vast in nature, and therefore, care has to be taken that "such identification cannot be extended based on any acquirable characteristics or personal choice or claimed self-perceived identity of an ...

Parliament panel urges NFRA to study sector-specific audit issues

A Parliamentary panel has suggested that regulator NFRA conduct sectoral studies to identify industry-specific accounting and auditing challenges as well as put in place sector-specific accounting guidance to help boost investor confidence. The National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA), set up by the government in 2018 under the Companies Act, 2013, regulates auditors and monitors compliance with accounting and auditing standards by companies. It also oversees the quality of audit services to ensure reliability in financial reporting. In a report tabled in the Lok Sabha on Thursday on the corporate affairs ministry's demand for grants 2026-27, the Standing Committee on Finance has made certain recommendations in relation to the NFRA. According to the report, the corporate affairs ministry should take expeditious steps to operationalise the separation between audit quality review and disciplinary functions within the NFRA to strengthen procedural clarity, institutional independen