Page 18 - Parliament Winter Session

Lok Sabha Speaker Birla calls meeting of MPs to discuss security lapse

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday said the security lapse in the House is being thoroughly probed and called a meeting of MPs from all parties later in the day to address their concerns over the matter. As the House met at 2 pm, amid concerns raised by various leaders, including on the threat video recently released by designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, Speaker Birla said it will not be right to discuss the issue in the House. In a major security breach on the 22nd anniversary of Parliament terror attack, two intruders jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour and released yellow gas from canisters and shouted slogans before being overpowered by MPs. Around the same time, two persons, including a woman, also sprayed coloured gas from canisters while shouting slogans outside Parliament premises. Birla informed the House that four persons have been arrested - two from inside the House, and two from outside Parliament in connection with

Members asking same questions with same words matter of concern: Vaishnaw

Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday said in Lok Sabha that it was a matter of great concern that some Parliamentarians are asking the same questions, at times with same words. During Question Hour, the Communications, Electronics and Information Technology, and Railways Minister also said he wanted to bring this issue to the notice of the Speaker. BSP member Ritesh Pandey asked a question related to net neutrality and while giving his reply, Vaishnaw also mentioned that the same question has been asked by other members, and one of them with the same words. The minister mentioned that Congress members in Lok Sabha, Muraleedharan and Vincent H Pala, as well as Rajya Sabha members -- Digvijaya Singh (Congress) and Priyanka Chaturvedi (Shiv Sena) had asked the same question. Referring to Pandey asking the same question, Vaishnaw said, "It is a matter of great concern" and sought to bring it to the notice of the Speaker Om Birla, who was in the chair. Pandey cited that the ...

Dharmendra Pradhan to move Central Universities Amendment Bill in RS today

The Winter Session, 2023 of Parliament commenced on December 4 and will continue till December 22 and will be having 15 sittings spread over 19 days

Government defends onion export ban as Opposition rakes farmers' issues

The government on Tuesday defended its decision to impose export ban on onion, stating that sometimes Indian consumers should get the priority to get essential goods at appropriate prices. She was responding to a question flagged by NCP leader Supriya Sule during the discussion on supplementary demands for grants in the Lok Sabha. India on December 8 banned exports of onion till March next year to increase domestic availability and keep prices in check, which is currently selling at about Rs 60 per kg. The minister said that the government carefully balance the interests of farmers and consumers. "I understand the concern, but if there are crop shortages and if there are difficulties of getting something as essential as onion to the market, we will have to ensure that Indian consumers get the priority and therefore, sometimes we need to come up with these measures," Sitharaman said. NCP president Sharad Pawar on December 11 joined a protest by onion farmers in Maharashtra's Nashik

LS nod to two bills extending women's quota to Puducherry, J-K assemblies

Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed two bills that seek to extend the provisions of the women's reservation law to the legislative assemblies of the Union Territories of Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir. Replying to a debate on the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Second Amendment) Bill and the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said the twin measures will enable greater representation and participation of women as public representatives in law-making processes in the two legislative assemblies. Hitting out at the opposition, Rai said that "be it the Mughal rule, the reign of aggressors, the British rule or Congress governments", women's rights were snatched, they were never given adequate opportunities to grow and injustice was meted out to them. Rai said post revocation of Article 370, widow pension has reached 100 per cent saturation coverage in Jammu and Kashmir and one-stop centres for the benefit of women have come up in every .

Job cards of over 54.8 million MGNREGA workers deleted in 2022-23: Govt

Over 5.48 crore job cards under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act were deleted in 2022-23, a 267 per cent jump from the previous fiscal, the Union Rural Development Ministry informed Lok Sabha Tuesday. In reply to a query by JD(U) MP from Bihar Dileshwar Kamait, Minister of State for Rural Development Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti said West Bengal saw the highest number of MGNREGA job cards being deleted at 83,43,469, which is 5,203 per cent more than 2021-22 when 1,57,309 job cards were deleted. In Bihar, job cards of 83,30,633 workers were deleted, which is 315.84 per cent more than the previous fiscal. Uttar Pradesh saw the deletion of 78,78,403 job cards, 608 per cent more than the previous fiscal, while Andhra Pradesh saw the deletion of 77,96,889 job cards, the minister said. She added that in total 5,48,27,121 job cards were deleted in 2022-23. This is an increase of 267.18 per cent compared to 2022-21 when job cards involving 1,49,31,801 workers were deleted

No GST dues pending, some states have not submitted AG's report: Sitharaman

The Centre on Tuesday said no GST dues of any state are pending before it and that some state governments have not submitted AG's authenticated certificate for release of their share of funds. The narrative that GST dues are pending from the Centre is not correct and is a "misnomer" as states have not submitted AG's report, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said replying to a supplementary question in Rajya Sabha. "It is important to understand that if the AG's (accountant general) certification is (mandatory)... If the AG's certificate does not reach us, we can not clear," she said. Some states, even after sending AG's certificate, tell us to hold on till they clear it finally, she said. The finance minister was responding to a question from Trinamool Congress member Saket Gokhale, who asked about the GST dues of states, especially to West Bengal. He also sought a reason for which the GST dues of the states were withheld. Replying to it, the finance minister said she wou

India exported 7.3 MT non-basmati, imported 1.9 MT pulses in Apr-Oct: Govt

India has exported 26.08 lakh tonnes of basmati rice and 73.18 lakh tonnes of non-basmati rice during the April-October period of this fiscal year. In a written reply to Lok Sabha, Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda shared export data of major foodgrains. As per the data, the exports of basmati rice stood at 45.61 lakh tonnes in the entire 2022-23 financial year while the shipments of non-basmati rice stood at 177.92 lakh tonnes. Exports of basmati rice stood at 44.15 lakh tonnes in 2018-19; 44.55 lakh tonnes in 2019-20; 46.30 lakh tonnes in 2020-21; and 39.44 lakh tonnes in 2021-22. The data showed that exports of rice (other than basmati) were at 76.48 lakh tonnes in 2018-19; 50.56 lakh tonnes in 2019-20; 131.49 lakh tonnes in 2020-21, and 172.89 lakh tonnes in 2021-22 fiscal. India's total rice production stood at 1,357.55 lakh tonnes in 2022-23 as against 1,294.71 lakh tonnes in the previous year. Rice output stood at 1,164.84 lakh tonnes in 2018-19; 1,188.70 lakh tonnes in 201

Winter Session: Sitharaman hits back on Oppn's charge on MGNREGA fund delay

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitahraman on Tuesday in the Lok Sabha said the economy is moving in the right direction, and India has become the fastest-growing major economy in the world. Replying to a debate on Supplementary Demands for Grants, Finance Minister Sitharaman said fiscal prudence is the top priority of the government without compromising on social welfare. The House later approved the Supplementary Demands for Grants, allowing the government to spend an additional over Rs 1.29 lakh crore, of which Rs 58,378 crore would be the cash outgo in the current fiscal. The remaining Rs 70,968 crore will be matched by the savings and receipts. "Our economy is moving in the right direction...Macroeconomic fundamentals are fine. We have become the fastest-growing economy. Q2 growth of 7.6 per cent is the highest in the world," she said. Responding to issues raised by the Opposition members on BSNL, the minister further said the government has earmarked Rs 11,850 crore capital infusio

ED attached Rs 64,920 cr crime proceeds in bank frauds, arrested 150: Govt

The Enforcement Directorate has taken up 1,105 bank fraud cases, attached crime proceeds worth Rs 64,920 crore and arrested 150 people, the finance ministry said on Tuesday. In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Finance Bhagwat Karad said the total number of wilful defaulters having outstanding loan of Rs 25 lakh and above from public sector banks rose to 14,159 at the end of March 2023, from 10,209 at the end of June 2019. In case of private sector banks, the number of such defaulters rose to 2,504 at the end of March 2023, from 1,950 at the end of June 2019. "As per inputs received from the Directorate of Enforcement (ED), it has taken up around 1,105 bank fraud cases, including those pertain to willful defaulters, for investigation under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMIA)." "Necessary action as per the provisions of PMLA has been taken, which resulted in attachment of proceeds of crime amounting to Rs 64,920

Shah withdraws Bills on criminal laws, introduces new draft legislations

Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday withdrew the three bills to replace criminal laws and introduced a fresh set of draft legislations incorporating recommendations of a parliamentary panel in Lok Sabha. He said instead of bringing several official amendments to incorporate recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee on Home Affairs, the government decided to bring fresh bills incorporating changes. The discussion on the bills will take place day Thursday and voting will take place Friday, Shah told opposition members who demanded sufficient time to study the three bills. He said he introduced the bills on Tuesday so that the members could get 48 hours to study the draft laws. He said mainly five sections have been tweaked and most of the changes relate to grammar and language. The redrafted Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam bill seek to replace the Code of Criminal Procedure Act, 1898, the Indian Penal Code, 186

Govt says 10 PSBs transferred NPAs of over Rs 11k cr to NARCL from Jan-Nov

A total of 10 Public Sector Banks (PSBs) have transferred Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) of over Rs 11,617 crore to NARCL between January and November this year, the Finance Ministry said on Tuesday. In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Finance Bhagwat Karad said the National Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd (NARCL) has recovered Rs 16.64 crore as on November 30, 2023. He said recovery in NPA accounts is an ongoing process, and security receipts issued to lenders by NARCL, backed by government guarantee, provide a five-year time window for effecting the recovery in such accounts. "Further, corporate insolvency resolution process under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code is going on in some of the accounts acquired by NARCL. Recovery will be effected in these accounts after the resolution plans get approved by the National Company Law Tribunal. In remaining accounts, NARCL has recovered Rs 16.64 crore, as on 30.11.2023," Karad said. NARCL is bad ba

LS gives nod for additional cash outgo of Rs 58,378 cr in current fiscal

The Lok Sabha on Tuesday cleared a net additional spending of Rs 58,378 crore in the current fiscal ending March 2024, with a large chunk going towards MGNREGA and subsidy on fertiliser. The gross additional spending sought by the government was over Rs 1.29 lakh crore, of which Rs 70,968 crore would be matched by savings and receipts. Replying to a debate on Supplementary Demands for Grants, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that fiscal prudence is the top priority of the government without compromising on social welfare. She also said that the net additional spending by the government would be Rs 58,378.21 crore in the current fiscal. The additional expenditure includes Rs 13,351 crore towards fertiliser subsidy and about Rs 7,000 crore towards spending by the Department of Food and Public Distribution. The House also approved an additional outgo of Rs 9,200 crore spending by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Rs 14,524 crore by the Ministry of Rural Developmen

Rs 11 lakh spent under Green Hydrogen Mission so far in FY24: Govt

The government has incurred an expenditure of Rs 11 lakh under the National Green Hydrogen Mission to date against the revised estimates of Rs 100 crore for 2023-24, Parliament was informed on Tuesday. The Ministry of New & Renewable is implementing the National Green Hydrogen Mission, approved by the Union Cabinet on January 4, 2023, with an outlay of Rs 19,744 crore from 2023-24 to 2029-30, Union Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister R K Singh said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha. The overarching objective of the Mission is to make India a Global Hub for the production, usage and export of Green Hydrogen and its derivatives. Revised estimates for the Mission for 2022-23 were Rs 1,00,000 and there was no expenditure in 2022-23, he stated. Revised estimates for the Mission for FY 2023-24 are Rs 100 crore and expenditure is Rs 11 lakh to date, the minister told the House. The expected outcomes of the Mission, by 2030, are that India's Green Hydrogen production ...

Govt moves Bill to regulate poll body authorities' appointment conditions

Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal moved the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023, in the Upper House

Doctor-people ratio in India 1:834, including AYUSH professionals: Govt

India's doctor-population ratio is 1:834 assuming 80 per cent availability of registered allopathic doctors and 5.65 lakh AYUSH doctors, Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar told the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. There are 36.14 lakh nursing personnel in the country and the nurse-population ratio is 1:476, she said. According to the National Medical Commission (NMC), there are 13,08,009 allopathic doctors registered with the State Medical Councils and the National Medical Commission (NMC) as on June, 2022, Pawar said in a written reply. "Assuming 80 per cent availability of registered allopathic doctors and 5.65 lakh AYUSH doctors, the doctor-population ratio in the country is 1:834," she said. Pawar also said the government has increased the number of medical colleges and subsequently increased MBBS seats. There is an increase of 82 per cent in medical colleges from 387 before 2014 to 706 as of now. Further, there is an increase of 112 per cent in MBBS seats from 51,348 b

No separate budget under Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav programme, says govt

There was "no separate budget" under the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and all the ministries, state governments and their attached bodies incurred the expenditure on the events organised by them from their budget heads, the government informed Parliament on Monday. Union Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy said this in a written response to a query in Lok Sabha when asked about the aim and objectives of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) programme, along with the list of state-wise events. The minister was also asked for details of the funds utilised for these events, state-wise. "There was no separate budget under AKAM. Hence, all the ministries/departments, state governments, UTs and their attached/subordinate/autonomous bodies, and PSUs incur the expenditure on the events organised by them from their respective budget heads," Reddy said. The 75-week countdown to August 15, 2023, not only commemorated 75 years of independence but also the glorious history and unique diversity of the ...

53 Chinese foreign companies established place of business in India: Govt

The corporate affairs ministry on Monday said there are 53 Chinese foreign companies that have established a place of business in India, but there is no specific data maintained about details of business activities related to providing loans through apps by these firms. A foreign company (incorporated outside India) can establish a place of business in the country after complying with the requirements of RBI regulations and other sectoral requirements, wherever applicable. Within 30 days of the establishment of such an office, it has to seek registration with the Registrar of Companies (RoC) (Delhi & Haryana) under Section 380 of the Companies Act, 2013. In a written reply to the Lok Sabha on Monday, Minister of State for Corporate Affairs Rao Inderjit Singh said that as per information available, there are 53 Chinese foreign companies have established a place of business in India. "However, no specific data is maintained about the details of business activities related to ...

Cooking gas for Ujjwala consumers cheapest compared to neighbours: Govt

The price of domestic cooking gas LPG at Rs 603 for a 14.2 kilogramme cylinder for beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) is the cheapest in India when compared to rates in neighbouring countries, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said in the Rajya Sabha on Monday. The minister, during the Question Hour in the Upper House, said India imports 60 per cent of its LPG requirement. Despite volatile and high global prices of LPG, the government absorbed it and kept the prices lower for the Ujjwala beneficiaries. "Ujjwala cylinders are available at Rs 603. It costs Rs 1,059.46 in Pakistan, Rs 1,033.35 in Sri Lanka and at Rs 1,198.56 in Nepal. We are providing LPG cylinders at 50 per cent of the price. ...We have absorbed the global price increase and that's why cylinders are cheapest in India," he said. The LPG price in Saudi Arabia has increased from USD 415 per tonne to USD 700-odd per tonne in two years, but the government has absorbed the rise in rates, he said.

31.6 million MSMEs registered between July 2020 and Dec 2023: Govt

Citing data uploaded on the Udyam Registration Portal, the Minister said all the 3,16,05,581 MSMEs included informal micro-enterprises. All the MSMEs were registered on the Udyam Assist Platform