Page 12 - Lok Sabha

India's media ecosystem doesn't require foreign validation: MoS L Murugan

India has a vibrant press and media ecosystem which does not need validation from foreign organisations, the government told the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L Murugan said this in a written response to a question from Congress MP K Sudhakaran, who asked about "India's decline in the Global Press Freedom Index ranking in 2024". "India has a vibrant press and media ecosystem, which does not need validation from foreign organisations," he said. In its report published last year, global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranked India 159th out of 180 countries based on journalists' ability to work and report freely and independently. India was ranked below Turkey, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, which stood at 158th, 152nd, and 150th positions, respectively. RSF has consultative status with the United Nations, UNESCO, the Council of Europe and the International Organisation of the Francophonie. Asked about steps taken by the governme

Waqf Bill in Lok Sabha: What is a whip and how does it work in Parliament?

As parties issue three-line whips for the Waqf Bill, here's a look at what a whip means in India's parliamentary system and what happens if MPs defy it

Waqf Bill up for debate in the Lok Sabha today: All you need to know

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, proposes key changes to waqf property management, sparking protests from Muslim organisations and opposition parties over concerns of government control

Govt moves Bill to remove licence need for Indian coastal shippers

Opposition claims bill promotes centralisation of power

Highlights: Supreme Court refuses to release Ranveer Allahbadia's passport until Latent probe ends

Catch all the latest news updates from India and around the world here

Waqf bill: NDA, India bloc issue whips as Parliament braces for showdown

With battle lines clearly drawn, the Parliament debate is expected to be heated as the incumbent NDA government and the Opposition face off over the implications of the Waqf Amendment Bill

Waqf Bill: LS debate on Apr 2, RS on Apr 3; TDP, JDU issue whip for support

The Lok Sabha will take up the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill for discussion and passage on Wednesday, setting the stage for a showdown between a government determined to push it through and an opposition united in condemning the proposed law as unconstitutional. Rajya Sabha is expected to take it up on Thursday, with the two Houses allocated eight hours each for debating the proposed law. Some BJP allies, sources said, continue to push for more changes in the bill. A senior member of a BJP ally expressed hope that the saffron party will accommodate their views, stressing that some of their concerns were addressed by the Joint Committee of Parliament which scrutinised the bill. However, he emphasised that the NDA will remain united on the issue. TDP and JD(U), the two biggest constituents of the NDA after the BJP, issued whips to their MPs asking them to support the government stand. The opposition INDIA bloc also presented a united face on Wednesday as its parties discussed th

Waqf bill: Congress issues whip to its Lok Sabha MPs for next 3 days

The Congress party issued the three-line whip after the government made it clear that the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill will be taken up in the Lok Sabha

Waqf Amendment Bill sparks row in LS, Opposition walks out over debate time

The Waqf Amendment Bill faces fierce Opposition in Lok Sabha, with leaders clashing over debate time, triggering a walkout amid concerns over its impact on Muslim properties

Govt presses on policy to shield local industries amid Trump tariffs threat

Jitin Prasada's reply in Parliament comes just a day before US President Donald Trump's proposed reciprocal tariffs come into effect

Waqf (Amendement) Bill to be tabled in Lok Sabha on Wednesday: Kiren Rijiju

The bill will be tabled after the question hour tomorrow for consideration and passing and following which an 8 hour discussion will be held

Modi govt taking several steps to increase farm income: Shivraj Chouhan

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday said the Modi government is taking several steps to increase farm income and has insulated farmers from high fertiliser prices in the international markets. "Our vision is to increase farm income and we will leave no stone unturned to achieve that vision. Farmer welfare is Modi government's guarantee," Chouhan said during the Question Hour in the Lok Sabha. He said the Modi government is giving Rs 6,000 per month to farmers under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. To a question by SP member Anand Bhadauria on whether the government will waive farm loans, Chouhan said "several steps are being taken by the Modi government to increase farm income, as well as to increase production, to reduce the cost of production and helping them to sell their produce. Farm loans are increasing, and under Modi (government), income of farmers is continuously increasing." Chouhan further said that fertiliser prices have been increasing in the ...

Congress MP Hibi Eden moves adjournment motion over 'L2: Empuraan' row

Hibi Eden said that Empuraan 'is a world-class Malayalam movie' that has seen success at the box office, but the Sangh Parivar is attempting to suppress the movie

Sarbananda Sonowal to move Coastal Shipping Bill in Lok Sabha today

The bill will be moved to consolidate and amend the law relating to regulation of coastal shipping to encourage the trade and ensure that the country is equipped with a coastal fleet

Thackeray dubs 'Saugat-e-Modi' as 'Saugat-e-Satta', slams BJP's 'hypocrisy'

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday criticised the BJP for its 'Saugat-e-Modi' initiative for Muslims, labelling it as 'Saugat-e-Satta' intended solely for the upcoming Bihar elections, a remark that prompted strong response from the ruling party, which insisted it does not harbour anti-Muslim or anti-Christian sentiments. At a press conference in Mumbai, Thackeray accused the BJP of hypocrisy, arguing when the Shiv Sena (UBT) garnered significant support from Muslim voters in the Lok Sabha polls last year, the BJP condemned him for supposedly abandoning Hindutva, coining phrases like "Satta Jihad." "But now, the same people have reversed their position," he said. Questioning the sincerity of the BJP's 'Saugat-e-Modi' programme, Thackeray asked, "Will this 'Saugat-e-Satta' (gift of power) be limited to the Bihar elections (scheduled in 2025-end), or will it have a lasting impact? The BJP should also declare that it has given up Hindutva." In response, Maharashtra BJP

Rahul says he's never allowed to speak in Parl as INDIA bloc meets Speaker

Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday claimed he is "never allowed" to speak in Parliament, as a host of INDIA bloc leaders met Speaker Om Birla to raise the issue of the Congress leader being denied the opportunity to speak in the House the previous day. "I am never allowed to speak brother...I don't know what they are scared of," Gandhi told reporters on the Parliament complex on Thursday when asked about his allegations the House was being run "non-democratically". His latest charge come on a day several opposition leaders met Speaker Birla over Gandhi being denied the opportunity to speak in the House on Wednesday. They also flagged an alleged "politicisation" of the institution of Speaker. Congress' deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi said an INDIA bloc delegation comprising leaders from the Congress, SP, TMC, DMK, Kerala Congress, RJD, IUML, RLP and the MDMK, met the Speaker during Zero Hour. "We have given a letter, which was signed by many .

Amid Oppn pushback, Lok Sabha passes Immigration & Foreigners Bill, 2025

Various amendments moved by Opposition members were negated and the bill was passed by a voice vote

School enrollments drop in last 2 years: Union Minister in Lok Sabha

The country has reported a worrying drop in school enrollments in 2023-24, especially at the elementary level where numbers declined by around eight percentage points compared to 2021-22, according to government data presented in Parliament on Thursday. Replying to a question on the living standards of tribal people, Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Durgadas Uikey told Lok Sabha that the gross enrollment ratio of tribal students at the elementary level declined from 103.4 per cent in 2021-22 to 97.1 per cent in 2023-24. In comparison, the GER of students from all communities dropped sharply from 100.13 per cent in 2021-22 to 91.7 per cent in 2023-24. At the secondary level (classes 9-10), the GER of tribal students dropped from 78.1 per cent in 2021-22 to 76.9 per cent in 2023-24, the data showed. For students from all communities, the GER at the secondary level decreased from 79.56 per cent in 2021-22 to 77.4 per cent in 2023-24. At the senior secondary level (classes .

LS passes bill for 'Tribhuvan' Sahkari University, Amit Shah defends name

Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed a bill to set up 'Tribhuvan Sahkari University' in Gujarat's Anand with an aim to create a qualified manpower for co-operative societies. The university has been named after Tribhuvandas Kishibhai Patel, who was one of the pioneers of cooperative movement in India and instrumental in laying the foundation of Amul, Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah said during a debate on the "Tribhuvan" Sahkari University Bill, 2025. Shah took a swipe at some opposition members for their demand that the university should have been named after Verghese Kurien, associated with the growth of milk cooperatives in Gujarat, saying that Tribhuvandas Kishibhai Patel was a Congress leader who gave job to Kurien. The Amul's journey started in 1946 has transformed into the one of the world's biggest dairy brands with a turnover of over Rs 60,000 crore, he said. The proposed university will also address the long pending issue of capacity building of employees and board members in

Highlights: RBI releases Monetary Policy Committee meeting calendar for FY26

Latest news updates: Catch all the live news updates from around the world here