Page 15 - Lok Sabha

LS speaker Birla urges political parties to curb disruptions in Parliament

Ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday urged all political parties to reduce disruptions in House proceedings and asserted it is time to change past practices. Addressing the national level conference of Urban Local Bodies here, Birla said that people would teach a lesson to political parties that resort to disruption of the House proceedings. Birla said there has been some reduction in disruption of the House proceedings in the 18th Lok Sabha, which had its first sitting in June last year. "It is time for change. If we have to strengthen democracy and hold democratic institutions accountable, we have to ensure that the Houses function in a proper manner," he added. The speaker said all political parties should make efforts to reduce disruptions in proceedings of the House. Parliament's Monsoon Session is scheduled to begin on July 21 and continue till August 21, a week longer than the original plan to conclude on August 12. Birla said

Urban local bodies should act like Parliament to resolve issues: LS Speaker

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday said urban local bodies (ULBs) should function on the lines of Parliament with regular Question Hour and Zero Hour to raise issues concerning citizens. He was addressing the first National Level Conference of Urban Local Bodies in States and Union Territories. "I am pained to hear about meetings of ULBs getting adjourned amid pandemonium and key agenda such as budget getting approved without any discussion," Birla said. ULBs should also function on the lines of the Lok Sabha and state assemblies and find solutions to civic issues through regular debate and discussion in Question Hour and Zero Hour, he said. Birla also said parliamentary proceedings, which were drowned in ruckus in the earlier Lok Sabhas, were witnessing fewer disruptions in the current Lok Sabha due to the efforts of leaders of all political parties. "Changes were witnessed in the 18th Lok Sabha, when political parties agreed to allow the House to function to raise issues of

Protecting lives paramount, lapses unacceptable: Rahul on Odisha stampede

Condoling the loss of lives in the stampede near Gundicha Temple in Odisha's Puri, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said protecting lives is paramount and any lapse in this responsibility is unacceptable. He said the tragedy is a serious warning that security arrangements and crowd management for such big events should be taken seriously and must be reviewed. "The stampede during the Rath Yatra in Puri is extremely saddening. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families, and I hope for the speedy recovery of the injured devotees," the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said in a post in Hindi on X. He appealed to the Odisha government to speed up the relief work and urged Congress workers to help in every possible way. "This tragedy is a serious warning - security arrangements and crowd management for such big events should be taken seriously and must be reviewed," Gandhi said. "Protecting lives is paramount, and any lapse in this responsibility is unacceptable," he ..

Income-tax Bill 2025: Digital data and the question of power and privacy

A Parliamentary Select Committee reviewing the Bill is expected to submit its report during the monsoon session

Parliament Monsoon session to begin July 21, first since Pahalgam attack

Monsoon Session from July 21 to August 12 set to address Operation Sindoor, border tensions, and an impeachment motion against Justice Yashwant Varma

AIADMK defers RS seat allotment, DMDK to reveal poll ties in Jan 2026

Apparently perturbed over AIADMK's decision to defer the allocation of a Rajya Sabha seat to it to 2026, the DMDK said it would announce its poll ties ahead of the Assembly election next year. Stopping short of accusing the AIADMK of not honouring its commitment made before the 2024 Lok Sabha election, DMDK general secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth said the AIADMK had already allotted a seat each to Dr Anbumani Ramadoss (PMK) and G K Vasan (TMC) in the past and now it was the turn of her party to get a Rajya Sabha seat. Playing down DMDK's decision to make known its stand on alliance on January 9, 2026, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami told reporters in Coimbatore on June 1 that the ties between the AIADMK and DMDK were smooth and attempts to break them would not fructify. On June 1, AIADMK Deputy General Secretary K P Munusamy announced that DMDK remained part of the AIADMK-led alliance and a Rajya Sabha seat will be allocated to that party in 2026. On May 31, DMDK .

LS Speaker Birla embarks on visit to Brazil for Brics Parliamentary Forum

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Sunday embarked on a visit to Brazil to participate in the 11th BRICS Parliamentary Forum where he is scheduled to present his views on reform of multi-lateral peace and security architecture. Birla is leading the Indian parliamentary delegation for the BRICS Parliamentary Forum which will be held from June 3-5 at Brasilia. The Forum will be attended by presiding officers of parliaments of BRICS members and invited nations. The theme for the Forum is 'The Role of BRICS Parliaments in Building a More Inclusive and Sustainable, Global Governance'. The BRICS grouping comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Indonesia and Iran. Presiding officers from Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Nigeria, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda and Uzbekistan too have been invited to participate in the forum meetings along with the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Tulia Ackson. The Lok Sabha Spea

Need Constitutional amendment to hold simultaneous polls: Shivraj Chouhan

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has called for a one-time Constitutional amendment to enable simultaneous elections, citing rising costs and governance issues, as well as national interest

No deputy speaker in eight state assemblies, says think tank report

Amid a debate over the absence of a deputy speaker in the Lok Sabha, data compiled by a think tank shows eight state assemblies not having anyone in the position, with Jharkhand not electing one for more than 20 years. According to a report on the Annual Review of State Laws, 2024, released by PRS Legislative Research, state assemblies sat for an average of 20 days, amounting to an average of 100 hours in total, last year. Article 178 of the Constitution requires state assemblies to choose two members as speaker and deputy speaker as soon as possible, according to the report. Assemblies of eight states and Union territories did not have a deputy speaker as of April 2025, the think tank said in the report. The list includes Jharkhand, which has not elected a deputy speaker for more than 20 years. While the previous Uttar Pradesh Assembly elected a deputy speaker in its last session, the current assembly, which is three years into its term, has not yet elected one. "The Constitutio

LS Speaker Om Birla performs ritual at wedding of Pulwama martyr's daughter

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, fulfilling a promise he had made six years ago, attended the wedding ceremony of a Pulwama martyr's daughter in Rajasthan's Kota, assuming the role of a brother to the bride's mother. Birla, who is also the MP from Kota-Bundi, attended the wedding in Sangod village on Friday evening and performed the traditional wedding ritual of Bhaat or Maira. State Energy Minister Heeralal Nagar also accompanied Birla at the ceremony. Birla fulfilled a commitment he had made six years ago by presenting customary gifts to 25-year-old Reena Meena, daughter of the late Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) soldier Hemraj, who was martyred in the 2019 Pulwama terror attack. In the Hindu wedding tradition, Bhaat or Maira is a ritual where a brother offers gifts to his sister on the occasion of her daughter's wedding. Birla and Nagar offered a ceremonial 'odhani' and other gifts to the late jawan's wife, Madhubala, who in return adorned them with a traditional tilak and ...

Parliament Budget Session concludes, both Houses adjourned sine die

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said as many as 16 Bills were passed during the session and the House productivity was pegged at over 118 per cent

Rajya Sabha adjourned sine die, marking the end of budget session

Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die on Friday, marking the end of the Budget Session that began on January 31. In his concluding remarks at the end of the 267th session of Rajya Sabha, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said the House passed key legislations, including the Waqf Amendment Bill, and discussed several important issues during its sittings. "The productivity of this session stood at 119 per cent. On April 3, the Rajya Sabha began proceedings and etched its name in the annals of legislative history with an unprecedented sitting from 11 am on that day until 4.02 am the following day, ie, this day, the longest in its history," Dhankhar said. He added, "This would send a very great message to the people at large and enhance belief in this great institution." Dhankhar appreciated members for participating in the debates and discourses with enlightened inputs and varying opinion shades. "After a long gap, the house witnessed welcome wit, humour, sarcasm and repartee, apart from ...

Parliament highlights: Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha adjourned sine die amid ruckus over Waqf Bill

Parliament highlights: Catch all the latest news developments here

Waqf showdown: BJP MP Nishikant Dubey demands apology from Sonia Gandhi

Sonia Gandhi's remarks did not sit well with the BJP and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who also chided her

Rajya Sabha passes Waqf Bill 2025; Amit Shah hails it as a 'historic day'

Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement came soon after the Rajya Sabha gave its approval to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, following its passage in the Lok Sabha on Thursday

Lok Sabha adjourned sine die as Budget session ends, 16 Bills passed

The Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die on Friday, bringing down the curtains on the Budget session which began on January 31. As soon as the House met at 12 noon after an adjournment over remarks by Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla read out his valedictory remarks and adjourned the House sine die (indefinitely till the new session is convened). He said as many as 16 bills were passed during the session and the House productivity was pegged at over 118 per cent. As he spoke, opposition members were raising slogans against Birla's observation against Gandhi that her claim that the Waqf amendment Bill was bulldozed without discussion was unfortunate and against dignity of the House. During the session, the government completed its budgetary exercise after the Lok Sabha gave its nod to the demands for grants for the various ministries as well as the Finance Bill. The budget for Manipur, under central rule, was also cleared. The Waqf amendment bill, which witness

Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 passed in Rajya Sabha: What's next for it?

Parliament approved the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, as Rajya Sabha passed it 128-95 after a 12-hour debate

Parliament Highlights: Waqf Bill not against Muslims, don't want to hurt sentiments, says Rijiju

Parliament news updates: Catch all the latest news developments here

Rajya Sabha witnesses marathon debate to pass Waqf Amendment Bill

Tabling the Bill in the Rajya Sabha, Rijiju listed the amendments that the government has brought in the redrafted Bill

LS clears Coastal Shipping Bill 2024 to boost maritime trade: Sonowal

The Lok Sabha passed the Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024, paving the way for a dedicated legal framework for coastal trade as the maritime sector aims to provide a economical, reliable and sustainable mode of transportation as it decongest road and rail network."The Bill seeks to unlock the full potential of India's vast and strategic coastline, providing dedicated legal framework for coastal trade," asserted Sarbananda Sonowal, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) as he introduced the bill in the Lower House earlier in the day.The Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024 aims to make coastal trade easier, more competitive, and better integrated with Prime Minister Narendra Modi Govt's overall transport vision -- the National Logistics Policy. With its manifold forward looking provisions, the bill provides a future ready legal framework while upgrading the dated provision of earlier legislations like Merchant Shipping Act, 1958. The proposed bill introduces key provisions ...