Page 13 - Lok Sabha

'Should leaders run govt from jail?': Shah defends PM, CM removal bills

Shah said the bills were introduced "on account of the Modi government's commitment to restoring moral standards in politics and in view of the public resentment towards the menace"

Online Gaming Bill: Lok Sabha passes legislation to ban online money games

The Bill was passed by a voice vote after brief remarks by Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw, amid protests from Opposition lawmakers

'Death knell for democracy': Opposition slams Centre's PM, CM removal bills

The bills propose that ministers who are arrested on charges carrying a prison term of five years or more and remain in custody for 30 consecutive days, will be removed from office on the 31st day

Real money gaming: 450 mn persons lose ₹20,000 crore annually, says govt

The government estimates that around 45 crore people lose close to Rs 20,000 crore every year in online real money gaming, an official source said on Wednesday. According to the source, the government has realised that online real money gaming is a major problem for society and chose to forego revenue loss in preference to people's welfare. "There is a rough estimate that 45 crore people lose money every year. The total impact of the loss is estimated to be tentatively around Rs 20,000 crore," the source added. The government has tabled "Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025" in the Lok Sabha, which proposes to promote eSports and online social gaming while banning money gaming in any form. "Online gaming involving money has become a major problem for society. Every Parliamentarian has raised concerns about its ill effects. Between revenue from one-third of the industry segment and society welfare, the government has chosen society welfare," the source said. Accordin

Online gaming bill introduced in Lok Sabha amid din over SIR issue

A bill seeking to prohibit and regulate online gaming was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday amid opposition protests over electoral roll revision in Bihar. Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw introduced the bill as opposition members continued to raise slogans and display placards. Manish Tewari (Congress) was asked by the chair to make his remarks on opposing the bill at the introduction stage. However, he said the House should first take up a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision exercise in Bihar. N K Premchandran (RSP) also refused to speak, saying the House was not in order. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju slammed the opposition for creating disruptions, saying even school students are now mocking the parliamentarians for their conduct in the House. As the Opposition protest continued, P C Mohan, who was chairing the proceedings, adjourned the House till 2 pm. The bill prohibits online money gaming or its ads and prescribes imprisonment or fine, or bot

Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha adjourned till 12 pm amid Oppn protest over SIR

Lok Sabha was on Wednesday adjourned till 12 noon due to vociferous protests by opposition parties demanding a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision exercise carried out by the Election Commission in Bihar and other issues. When the House met at 11 am, opposition MPs, including those from the Congress, were on their feet, raising slogans and showing placards with their demand for discussion on the voter roll revision. Speaker Om Birla told the protesting members that carrying placards attached with sticks is against the rules of the House. He appealed to the members to go back to their seats and cooperate in running the House. However, the protesting MPs ignored his appeal, forcing Birla to adjourn the House till 12 noon, just within 2 minutes of business. The opposition has been demanding a discussion on the SIR exercise initiated by the Election Commission in Bihar ahead of the Assembly elections there. Barring discussions on Operation Sindoor in both House, Parliament h

Amit Shah to introduce 3 bills in LS today; online gaming, J&K in focus

Home Minister Amit Shah to introduce three bills in Lok Sabha today, including a proposal to amend the J&K Reorganisation Act; Online Gaming Bill also listed on the agenda

Govt likely to introduce bill to restore J&K statehood in LS on Aug 20

On Aug 5, 2019, Centre abrogated Article 370 and 35A, ending J&K's special status

RS takes up Indian Ports Bill, passed by LS on Aug 12, amid Oppn walkout

A bill to consolidate laws relating to ports, promote integrated port development, facilitate ease of doing business, and ensure optimum utilisation of India's coastline was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, amid noisy protests by the Opposition. The Indian Ports Bill 2025 was passed by the Lok Sabha on August 12. As the Upper House reassembled at 2 pm, BJD's Sasmit Patra, who was in the Chair, informed the legislators that the Business Advisory Committee had decided to allot three hours for discussion on the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2025. He also said that the committee has approved one hour for consideration and passage of the Indian Institutes of Management (Amendment) Bill 2025, after it is approved by the Lok Sabha. Patra then asked Union Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to introduce the Indian Ports Bill 2025, which was listed on the agenda of the House. Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge

23% of 560 million PM Jan Dhan accounts remain inactive, says govt

As many as 23 per cent of the total 56.04 crore Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) accounts are inoperative, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said on Monday. Out of 56.03 crore PMJDY accounts at the end of July 31, 2025, 13.04 crore such accounts are inoperative, he said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha. Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of inoperative Jan Dhan accounts of 2.75 crore, followed by Bihar at 1.39 crore and Madhya Pradesh at 1.07 crore, he said. As per the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines dated February 18, 2009, a savings account should be treated as inoperative/dormant if there are no transactions in the account for over a period of two years. The government has taken various steps to ensure smooth functioning of PMJDY accounts, including Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). These benefits are transferred even to the inactive accounts. Banks inform account holders in writing through letters or email or SMS about the accounts which are to beco

Govt introduces Jan Vishwas (Amendment) Bill 2025 in LS, sent to committee

The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill 2025, which seeks to decriminalise certain minor offences to promote ease of living and business, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday and referred to a Select Committee. Introducing the bill, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said the bill seeks to enhance trust-based governance for ease of doing business. The Bill was then referred to the Select Committee of the Lok Sabha. The committee has been tasked to submit its report to the House by the first day of the next session of Parliament. The Bill was introduced amid din as Opposition parties protested demanding a discussion on the voter roll revision in Bihar and other issues. As the protests continued, Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 2 PM. Over 350 provisions are proposed to be amended through this Bill. The legislation is part of the government's efforts to improve the business climate of the country. Earlier in 2023, the Jan Vishwas (Amendment to Provisi

Lok Sabha adjourned till 2 pm amid noisy protests by Oppn on SIR in Bihar

Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 12 noon on Monday following vociferous protests by opposition parties demanding a discussion on the voter roll revision in Bihar and other issues. When the House met at 11 am, opposition MPs, including those from the Congress, were on their feet, raising slogans and showing placards with their demand for discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar. Initially, Speaker Om Birla tried to continue the business of the House -- Question Hour -- by allowing members to ask six questions related to several union ministries and departments amidst the din. After about 15 minutes of proceedings, the Speaker asked the protesting members to go back to their seats and warned that if they try to damage government properties, he would be forced to take strong action against them. "No one has the right to damage government properties. If you try to do so, I will be forced to take action," he said, adding there were instances in some

Simple language, lucid, says FM as Parliament passes Income Tax Bill, 2025

Opposition members staged a walkout in the Rajya Sabha during the discussion, mirroring their protest in the Lok Sabha on Monday

India signs trade cooperation pact with Zambia to boost cooperative exports

India has signed an agreement with Zambia to promote trade alliances between cooperatives of both nations, Cooperation Minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday. The cooperation ministry is working to strengthen India's cooperative export ecosystem through Indian missions abroad, Shah said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. A memorandum of understanding was signed with Zambia on July 18 to promote cooperatives and provide facilities for trade alliances between cooperatives of both countries, he said. The ministry is working through Indian missions abroad to provide market information to National Cooperative Exports Ltd (NCEL) and connect with importers from specific countries, Shah added. NCEL has also signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with Senegal and Indonesia-based entities Sinton Vantage Trading and PT Sinton Surini Nusantara, he said.

Lok Sabha extends deadline for 'One Nation, One Election' panel report

PP Chaudhary, One Nation One Election Panel chairman, moved a motion seeking more time for the JPC to present reports on the 129th Constitution Amendment and UT Laws Amendment Bills

Lok Sabha forms 3-member panel to examine proposal to impeach Justice Varma

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla accepted a motion by 146 MPs seeking Justice Yashwant Varma's impeachment, days after the Supreme Court upheld an inquiry panel's recommendation for his removal

BJD to move Orissa HC on 'vote discrepancies' in 2024 Assembly, LS polls

The BJD said that it would approach the Orissa High Court regarding "discrepancies" during the 2024 assembly and Lok Sabha polls, as the EC has "failed" to give any satisfactory reply to the regional outfit on the issue. BJD spokesperson Amar Patnaik, MLA Dhruba Charan Sahoo and former MP Sarmistha Sethi made the announcement at a press conference here on Monday. "Around eight months ago, BJD had submitted fact-based evidence to the Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding the vote discrepancy observed during last elections and sought a reply, but a satisfactory reply has not been received yet. Therefore, the Biju Janata Dal has decided to approach the High Court regarding this matter," Patnaik told reporters here. "Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has recently raised questions about the transparency of the elections, following which the party's state unit is also raising the issue now. However, the BJD had flagged this long before that. Gandhi also sought the audit system demanded

130K minors enrolled under NPS Vatsalya Scheme till August 3: Govt

Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary on Monday said that 1.30 lakh minor subscribers are registered so far under the NPS Vatsalya Scheme launched in September last year. NPS-Vatsalya promotes inter-generational equity and financial security by encouraging early savings for children as well as promoting a culture and habit of retirement planning across generations, Chaudhary said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha. Under the old tax regime, income tax deduction u/s 80CCD (1B) up to Rs 50,000 has been extended towards NPS-Vatsalya contribution made by the parent or guardian with effect from April 1, 2025. As on August 3, 2025, a total of 1.30 lakh minor subscribers are registered under the NPS Vatsalya Scheme, out of which 29 minor subscribers are from the Dahod district, he said. The scheme is implemented through Points of Presence (PoPs), which include the bank branches and non-bank entities, under the regulation of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority .

Lok Sabha clears Sports Bill; Key reforms and highlights explained

Mandaviya emphasized that the bill is part of India's broader preparations for bidding to host the 2036 Summer Olympics, highlighting the need to elevate sports governance and performance.

Parliament passes Merchant Shipping Bill 2025 amid Opposition protests

Parliament on Monday approved The Merchant Shipping Bill, 2025 with the Rajya Sabha passing it with a voice vote. The Lok Sabha had passed the bill on August 6. The bill was passed in the Upper House amid a walkout by the Opposition that was protesting in the House and demanding a discussion on the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. The Merchant Shipping Bill, 2025 seeks to expand the eligibility criteria for ownership of merchant shipping vessels and provide for investigation and enquiries on marine casualties among others. Earlier, Opposition members protested the taking up of the bill and demanded that the SIR issue be discussed. Amid the din caused by Opposition members, the Rajya Sabha also saw a brief adjournment for a few minutes. Later, when the House assembled at 3 pm, the bill was taken up and passed.