Page 21 - Parliament Winter Session

Govt in process of clearing 112 names HC judges: Law Minister Meghwal

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Thursday told the Rajya Sabha that the government is in the process of filling up 112 vacant posts of High Court judges. Appointment of judges in higher judiciary is a collaborative and integrated process involving the executive and the judiciary. It requires consultation and approval from various constitutional authorities, he said during the Question Hour in the Upper House. Meghwal said the total sanctioned strength of high court judges is 1,114 out of which 790 posts are filled while 234 are vacant, he said. Different High Court Collegiums have recommended 292 names out of which, 110 have been appointed while 112 are in the process, the law minister added. He told the House that the sanctioned strength of judges in the Supreme Court is 34 and all of them are filled up as of now. Meghawal also mentioned that the Narendra Modi government raised the sanctioned strength of judges for both the High Courts and the Supreme Court. During the UP

Govt to move Bill to establish Central University in Telangana in Lok Sabha

Also, BJP MP Chhedi Paswan will lay the Statements of the Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (2023-24)

Shah to move Bills on J-K in RS, discussion on economic situation to go on

The two bills were earlier passed by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday

LS passes 2 bills on J-K; Shah targets Congress, talks of Nehru's blunders

The House saw a marathon debate over two days and passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill,2023 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill,2023

Domestic electronics manufacturing up 4-fold to Rs 8.22 trn in FY23: MoS IT

Domestic electronics manufacturing increased over 4-fold to Rs 8.22 lakh crore in the last 10 years, Parliament was informed on Wednesday. Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar informed the Lok Sabha that India has now reached a stage where 99.2 per cent of mobile handsets being used in the country are manufactured domestically, and from being an importer in the segment, the country has now become an exporter. "In FY 2013-14 the electronics manufacturing was Rs 1,80,454 crore (USD 29.8 billion) and has grown significantly to Rs 8,22,350 crore (USD 102 billion)in FY 2022-23, which is further expected to grow up to Rs 23,95,195 crore (USD 300 billion) by 2026," the minister said. He said the country exported mobile phones worth USD 11.1 billion in financial year 2022-23. "We have become a mobile exporting country with USD 11.1 billion exports in FY 2022-23 as compared to a mobile importing country in 2014-15 when almost 74 per cent of all mobile phones sold i

Govt recognises 114,902 entities as startups as on Oct 31: Goyal tells LS

The government has recognised 1,14,902 entities as startups as on October 31, Parliament was informed on Wednesday. These eligible firms are allowed to seek fiscal incentives under the Startup India Action Plan, which was launched in January 2016, and that includes income tax exemption for three years. Replying to a question in the Lok Sabha, Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal said the action plan includes 19 items spanning across areas such as simplification and handholding, funding support and incentives and industry-academia partnership and incubation. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) "has recognised 1,14,902 entities as startups as on 31st October 2023," he said. Replying to a separate question, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Anupriya Patel said subdued demand in major export destinations such as the US, Hong Kong, the Middle East and China and availability of raw materials at competitive rates were some of the challenges faced by

J-K Reorganisation, Reservation (Amendment) Bills passed in Lok Sabha

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to nominate two members from the Kashmiri migrant community and one representing the displaced persons from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to the legislative assembly. The House also passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to change the nomenclature of a section of people who are eligible for quota in appointment and admission. The bills were passed after more than six hours of debate spanning over two days and a spirited reply by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The home minister said the two bills related to Jammu and Kashmir brought by the government will give justice to those deprived of their rights for the last 70 years and asserted that reservation to the displaced people will give them a voice in the legislature. He said that Jammu and Kashmir has suffered due to two blunders committed by the country's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru - fir

LIVE: 50,000 to stage protest in Delhi to demand hike in minimum pension

Catch all the latest updates LIVE from across the globe here

Kashmir suffered for years due to Nehru's two major blunders: Amit Shah

Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday blamed India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru's "two major blunders" -- declaring a ceasefire without winning the entire Kashmir and taking the issue to the United Nations -- for the sufferings of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Replying to a debate in the Lok Sabha on the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, Shah said if Nehru had taken the right steps, a large chunk of territory would not have been ceded and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir would have been part of India. "I support the word that was used here -- Nehruvian blunder. Because of the blunder that was committed during the time of Nehru, Kashmir had to suffer. With responsibility, I want to say that the two big blunders that happened during the tenure of Jawaharlal Nehru, happened due to his decisions, because of which Kashmir had to suffer for years," Shah said. "Kashmir had to suffer due to Nehruvian blunders. One

Winter session: Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is our own, says Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) is part of India and hence 24 seats have been kept reserved for the region in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly. Shah said this while replying to a debate in the Lok Sabha on the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill. The home minister said after the delimitation exercise in Jammu and Kashmir to redraw assembly and parliamentary constituencies, there will be 43 assembly seats in Jammu region -- up from present 37 -- and 47 in Kashmir Valley, up from 46. "As many as 24 seats have been kept for PoK because the region is our own," he said. Shah also said that Kashmir had to suffer due to two major "Nehruvian blunders" -- declaring a ceasefire without winning the entire Kashmir and taking the issue to the United Nations. When India's Army was winning and as soon as Punjab area was reached, the ceasefire was declared and Pakistan-occupied Kashm

India considering development of SMRs to fulfil clean energy transition

India is considering steps for the development of small modular reactors to fulfil its commitment to clean energy transition, Union Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh said on Wednesday. In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Singh said small modular reactors (SMRs), with their unique features of modularity, scalability, small footprint and improved safety, present themselves as an attractive option for repurposing of retiring coal-based thermal power station sites. "In order to move away from fossil fuel consumption, SMRs can be installed and operated for repurposing the ageing fossil fuel-based power plants," said Singh, who is the Union Minister of State in the PMO and also oversees the functioning of the Department of Atomic Energy. Singh said there is a thrust the world over for a strategy to use nuclear power that can reduce the reliance on fossil fuels over the coming years. He said deploying SMRs across the country, especially in locations not suitabl

BJP Parliamentary Party to meet tomorrow, likely to felicitate PM Modi

The BJP Parliamentary Party will hold its first meeting during Parliament's Winter Session on Thursday and is likely to felicitate Prime Minister Narendra Modi for leading the party to massive wins in three assembly polls. The BJP Parliamentary Party, which includes all its Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members, generally meets every week during the session. In the meetings, its leaders, including Modi, speak on different issues germane to the agenda in Parliament and also to its organisational and political campaigns.

Internet connectivity in govt schools at 24.2% in 2021-22: MoS Education

Internet connectivity in government schools in India improved from 5.5 per cent in 2017-18 to 24.2 per cent in 2021-22, with Bihar, Mizoram, Odisha and Telangana being the only states with fewer than 10 per cent government schools having Internet connectivity. The information was shared was shared by Union Minister of State for Education Annapurna Devi in a written reply to a question asked by the BJP's Dhananjay Bhimrao Mahadik in the Rajya Sabha. According to the Union Ministry of Education, apart from the Union Territories -- Puducherry and Chandigarh, which recorded 100 per cent Internet connectivity in government schools -- Delhi is the only state in the list. Other states with high Internet penetration in government schools are Kerala (94.6 per cent) and Gujarat (94.2 per cent). Rajasthan is the only other state where more than 50 per cent of government schools have Internet connectivity. The lowest in the rung are Bihar (5.9 per cent), Mizoram (6 per cent), Odisha (8.1 per

46,930 CAPFs, Assam Rifles personnel availed VRS in last five years: MHA

More than 46,000 personnel from the five CAPFs and the Assam Rifles took early retirement during the past five years, the government informed Parliament on Wednesday. The maximum -- at more than 21,000 men and women -- of the personnel who took early retirement were from the Border Security Force (BSF), which guards the Pakistan and Bangladesh borders. Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply that voluntary retirement cases in these forces "vary from year to year and no trend in this regard has been observed". According to the data provided by the minister, 46,930 personnel from the five Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and the Assam Rifles took up the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) between 2019 and 2023, with the maximum being from the BSF at 21,860. The BSF, tasked primarily with guarding the Indian frontiers with Pakistan and Bangladesh, apart from rendering other internal security duties, has a strength of about 2.65 ...

Nearly 100 million subscribers using 5G services: MoS Communications

The 5G networks have rolled out in 738 districts across the country, and around 100 million subscribers are using these services, marking one of the fastest fifth-generation rollouts in the world, Parliament was informed on Wednesday. Telecom service providers have also committed a total investment of Rs 2 lakh crore, including a commitment of Rs 1.5 lakh crore for spectrum acquired through auction in July-August 2022, Minister of State for Communications Devusinh Chauhan said in a written reply in Lok Sabha. "As on November 24, 2023, 5G networks have been rolled out in 738 districts across the country and a total of 3,94,298 base stations have been installed with around 100 million subscribers using 5G services," he informed. India, he said, has seen one of the fastest 5G rollouts, globally. "Further Gross Revenue of Telecom service providers has crossed Rs 3 lakh crore for first time in FY 2022-23," Chauhan said. The telecom sector growth has been aided by various structural and

Kavach has been deployed in three sections in South Central Zone: Vaishnaw

Kavach, an indigenously developed automatic train protection system, has been deployed in three sections in South Central Railway zone along with 139 locomotives, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. Vaishnaw responded to questions raised by two Congress MPs from Kerala - Benny Behanan and Kumbakudi Sudhakaran - on the total number of sections and length under various railway zones that are covered by Kavach. "Kavach has so far been deployed on 1,465 route km and 139 locomotives (including Electric Multiple Unit rakes) on South Central Railway...," Vaishnaw said in a written response. These sections are Lingamapalli-Vikarabad-Wadi and Vikarabad-Bidar section (265 Rkm); Manmad-Mudkhed-Dhone-Guntkal section (959 Rkm) and Bidar-Parbhani section (241Rkm). Vaishnaw said that Kavach is an indigenously developed automatic train protection system which is highly technology intensive and requires safety certification of highest order. "Kavach aids the loco

'Openings provided in Silkyara tunnel to help stranded commuters escape'

Amid reports raising questions on why under-construction Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi did not have a separate escape tunnel, the government on Wednesday said a separation wall was provided in the tunnel with egress openings at regular intervals that could be used as an escape route during an emergency. The 41 workers, who were trapped in the tunnel from November 12, were rescued on November 28. In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Union Road Transport and Highways minister Nitin Gadkari said, "In the Silkyara bi-directional tunnel on Dharasu-Yumunotri highway (NH-134), a provision of separation wall has been provided at the centre of the carriageway along with egress openings at an average interval of 565 metres for vehicular crossover and at an average interval of 300 metres for pedestrian cross passage for escape purposes during the emergencies." Gadkari was asked whether the government has conducted a probe as to why Navayuga Engineering Company Ltd (NECL) did no

As many as 65 illegal telecom setups unearthed during FY24: Govt

As many as 65 illegal telecom setups, that allowed international calls with spoofed Indian numbers, were busted during FY2023-24, Parliament was informed on Wednesday. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has directed the International Long Distance Operators (ILDOs) to drop incoming calls with no Calling Line Identification (CLI), or improper CLI or having certain prefixes. Moreover, DoT is blocking the apps allowing the origination of spoofed calls. Such apps are also blocked at Google Play Store and iOS App Store, Minister of State for Communications, Devusinh Chauhan said in a written reply in Lok Sabha. DoT in coordination with Law Enforcement Agencies and Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) is unearthing illegal telecom setups that allow international calls with spoofed Indian numbers. Such illegal setups are used to bypass the ILDOs for anti-national activities, cyber-crimes and financial frauds, Chauhan said. "So far, 65 such illegal setups during FY 2023-24, 62 in FY .

Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase I total expenditure at Rs 4.10 trn: Gadkari

A total expenditure of Rs 4.10 lakh crore has been made under Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase I (BPP-I) as on October 31, 2023, and the difference in actual project cost and normative cost is due to increase in cost of raw material and land acquisition, Parliament was informed on Wednesday. In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has made observation about the increase in cost of Phase I of the pariyojana. "As on October 31, 2023, the total expenditure (BPP-I) is about Rs 4.10 lakh crore...There has been no diversion of funds from other schemes in the execution of BPP-I," he said. According to Gadkari, certain BPP-I projects were earlier planned under other schemes of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRT&H) viz, externally aided project (EAP), National Highways Original works NH(O), and SARDP scheme, which were subsequently prioritized under BPP-I as per the ...

Ladakh introduced new tech for cultivation in harsh conditions: MHA

"This has considerably brought down the need of bringing vegetables from outside"