Page 101 - Parliament

Parliamentary panel says women in CAPFs 'abysmally low', demands action

A parliamentary committee has expressed its disappointment over the very minuscule number of women being recruited in Central Armed Police Forces like the CRPF and BSF and sought action to create a conducive environment at border outposts so that women are motivated to join security forces. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, headed by BJP's Rajya Sabha member Brijlal, noted that despite efforts of the home ministry to encourage the recruitment of women in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Assam Rifles, the strength of women personnel is "abysmally low". "The committee observes that in 2016, it was decided by the government to reserve 33 per cent posts at the constable level for being filled by women in CRPF and CISF to begin with and 14-15 per cent posts at the constable level in border guarding forces i.e. BSF, SSB and ITBP. "The committee is disappointed to note that women constitute only 3.68 per cent of the total strength of CAPFs. The committee ...

IGI Airport CEO asked by Parliamentary panel to discuss congestion issues

Amid rising complaints of congestion at New Delhi's IGI airport, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism, and Culture has summoned the airport chief to discuss the matter

2,302 insurance claims of Rs 50 lakh each cleared for Covid health workers

The government told Parliament on Tuesday that 2,302 claims of Rs 50 lakh each have been paid under the insurance scheme for health workers fighting COVID-19, and 465 of these pertain to the families of doctors. Fifty-three claims have been paid to the families of doctors in Bihar, 64 in Uttar Pradesh, 43 in Maharashtra, 38 in Karnataka and 37 each in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar said in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha. Pawar said the Government of India maintains data of total cases and deaths due to COVID-19 as reported by states and Union territories. Disaggregated data on deaths due to COVID-19 by profession or otherwise is not maintained centrally. The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP)-Insurance Scheme for Health Workers fighting COVID-19 was implemented with effect from March 30, 2020 to provide an insurance cover of Rs 50 lakh for providing comprehensive personal accident/life insurance cover to around

Parliamentary panel suggests changes to Competition (Amendment) Bill

A Parliamentary panel on Tuesday recommended various changes to a bill to amend the competition law, including bringing cartels under the scope of settlements as a "pragmatic recourse". In its report tabled in the Lok Sabha, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance also said the "current prima-facie opinion timeline and that of passing the order for approval of combinations, should remain unchanged". Under the Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2022 that was introduced in the Parliament on August 5, the corporate affairs ministry has proposed reducing the timeline for CCI to form a prima-facie opinion on a case to 20 days from 30 days. Also, it has proposed cutting down the timeline for approval of combinations to 150 days from 210 days. In this regard, the committee said that apprehensions were raised by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) and stakeholders that it will put the authority in a difficult and onerous position. "The committee is of the opinion that reducing th

Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi pay tribute to 2001 Parliament attack victims

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi remembered who laid their lives during the terror attack in Parliament in 2001, by saying that their sacrifice inspires us

Lok Sabha pays tributes to victims of 2001 terror attack on Parliament

Lok Sabha on Tuesday paid glowing tributes to those who laid down their lives while foiling a terror attack on Parliament 21 years ago. As soon as the house assembled, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said it was a sad day for the country as terrorists carried out a cowardly attack on Parliament. He said that the whole nation stands behind the family of those killed in the terrorist attack and the country stands solidly against any form of terrorism. The members of the house also stood in silence for some moments in memory of the victims. On December 13, 2001, terrorists attacked the Parliament complex and opened fire, killing nine people. The attack victims included five Delhi police personnel, a woman Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) trooper, two Parliament watch and ward staff and a gardener. A journalist who was injured died later. All five terrorists were shot dead.

FM Sitharaman to introduce Appropriation Bills in Parliament today

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will introduce the Appropriation Bills 2022 in the Lok Sabha to seek nod for the payment and appropriation of amounts from the Consolidated Funds of India

India-China border clash to rock Parliament as several MPs seek discussion

A joint Opposition has planned to corner the government over the recent clashes along LAC between Indian and Chinese forces in Arunachal Pradesh with several MPs seeking discussion on the situation

India-China clash: Congress seeks discussion on border issue in Parliament

The Congress on Monday hit out at the Centre over the India-China troops clash along the LAC in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh and said the government needs to take the nation into confidence by discussing the issue in Parliament. The issue is likely to rock the Parliament on Tuesday with several Congress leaders set to move adjournment notices in both Houses for discussing the issue. The Congress has also alleged that the Modi government was suppressing the border issue due to which China was acting with increasing audacity. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, "Again our Indian Army soldiers have been provoked by the Chinese. Our jawans fought in a resolute manner and a few of them have been injured too." "We are one with the nation on the issues of national security and would not like to politicize it. But the Modi government should be honest about the Chinese transgressions and the construction at all points near the LAC since April 2020. "The government needs t

Bill to promote non-fossil energy sources, carbon credit trading passed

A bill seeking to mandate the use of non-fossil energy sources such as biomass, ethanol and green hydrogen was passed by Parliament on Monday. The Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2022 was cleared in Rajya Sabha by a voice vote on Monday. Lok Sabha passed the legislation in the previous session in August this year. The bill provides for penalties for violations by industrial units or vessels, and on manufacturers if a vehicle fails to comply with fuel consumption norms. The amendments also seek to promote renewable energy and the development of a domestic carbon market to battle climate change. The bill is also aimed at helping the country achieve its international commitments on climate change. It aims to introduce new concepts such as carbon trading and mandate the use of non-fossil sources to ensure faster decarbonisation of the Indian economy and help achieve sustainable development goals in line with the Paris Agreement. Replying to a debate on the bill, Minister of New

Owaisi to move adjournment motion in Parliament on India-China LAC clash

Alleging that the Central government kept the country in the dark over the incident of Indian and Chinese troops clashing along the Line of Actual Control, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday said he will be giving an adjournment motion on the issue in Parliament on December 13. In a series of tweets, the Hyderabad MP further accused that the "weak political leadership" under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has led to "this humiliation against China". "The reports coming from Arunachal Pradesh are worrying and alarming. A major clash took place between Indian and Chinese soldiers and the government has kept the country in the dark for days. Why was the Parliament not informed, when it is in session?" Owaisi tweeted. In another tweet, Owaisi said: "The army is capable of giving a fitting reply to the Chinese at any time. It is the weak political leadership under Modi which has led to this humiliation against China. This needs an urgent discussion in Parliament. I will be giving a

Shaji K V took charge as NABARD Chairman from Dec 7: Govt in Parliament

Shaji K V has taken the charge as Chairman of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) with effect from December 7, 2022, the government on Monday informed Parliament. He has taken over from Suchindra Misra, Additional Secretary, Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, who was holding additional charge, Minister of State for Finance Bhagwat Karad said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. Further, Karad said there are two board level vacancies in the organisation while 514 vacancies are at the group A level. Replying to a question, the minister said more than 12 lakh loans have been extended by public sector banks in rural areas across the country for setting up business, after the Covid period, that is, from April, 2020 to November, 2022. It has been conveyed by the RBI that they have received 1,230 complaints under RBI Ombudsman pertaining to 'Delay in loan sanction/disbursement or non-observance of prescribed time schedule for disposal of loan .

Enforcement agencies seize 3,083 kg gold till Nov; Kerala saw most seizures

Enforcement agencies have seized 3,083 kg of gold till November this year, with Kerala accounting for the maximum number of seizures, Parliament was informed Monday. Gold seizures across the country have gone up this year when compared to 2,383 kg seized in the 2021 calendar year and 2,154 kg in 2020. In 2019, 3,673 kg of gold was seized. In 2022 (up to November), 3,083.61 kg of gold was seized in 3,588 cases. In Kerala, 690 kg of yellow metal was seized in 2022, up from 587 kg in 2021 and 406 kg in 2020. In 2019, 725 kg was seized. Besides Kerala, states which account for high gold seizures this year till November 2022 are Maharashtra (474 kg), Tamil Nadu (440 kg) and West Bengal (369 kg). Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said the government makes policy interventions and takes operational measures to check smuggling. In the last three years, National Investigation Agency (NIA) has conducted investigations and filed charge sheets in three cases of gold smuggling, h

RS to discuss Bill seeking inclusion of Gonds in ST category in parts of UP

The Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on March 28, 2022. It was passed in the Lok Sabha in April

Govt seeks Parliament nod for net additional spending of Rs 3.25 tn

The move is spurred by a jump in expenditure on fertiliser and food amid the Ukraine crisis

Power deficit declines to 0.1% in October from 2% in April this year

Power deficit or gap between electricity required and supplied has fallen from two per cent in April this year to 0.1 per cent, Parliament was informed on Thursday. "The gap between energy requirement and energy supplied has been reduced from two per cent to 0.1 per cent between the month of April, 2022 and October, 2022," Power Minister R K Singh stated in a written reply to Lok Sabha. The data showed that the deficit was 2,752 million units (units) in April this year which came down to 124 MU in October, 2022. The power deficit was 609 MU (0.4 per cent) in May, 796 MU (0.6 per cent) in June, 434 MU (0.3 per cent) in July, 465 MU (0.4 per cent) in August and 312 MU (0.2 per cent) in September. In another reply to the House, the minister informed that as on March 31, 2022, the coal stock position was 25.6 Million Tonnes (MT), or 9 days of stock, and it increased to 26.1 MT on September 30, 2022 and further increased to 30.9 MT, or 11 days of stock, as on November 30, 2022. The co

Understand pain of new MPs: PM Modi on Day 1 of Parliament winter session

Urges MPs to make winter session productive, provide more opportunities to young parliamentarians

Govt recognises 84,102 entities as startups as on Nov 30: MoS Commerce

The government has recognised as many as 84,102 entities as startups as on November 30 this year, Parliament was informed on Wednesday. These startups are eligible for availing host of incentives, including income tax benefits under the Startup India scheme, launched in January 2016. Under this initiative, entities are recognized as startups by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). "As on 30th November 2022, 84,102 entities have been recognised as startups by DPIIT," Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Som Parkash said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. He said recognised startups are spread across 56 sectors, including agriculture, biotechnology and chemicals. Startup India was launched by the government on January 16, 2016. Under Startup India, to provide capital at various stages of business cycle of a startup, the government has implemented Fund of Funds and Startup India Seed Fund schemes. In a separate reply, Parkash said as on Nov

Broken rice exports up 33% to 2.4 million tonnes in Apr-Sep FY23: Report

Exports of broken rice increased 33.37 per cent to 23.82 lakh tonne during April-September FY23 as against 17.86 lakh tonne in the year-ago period, Parliament was informed on Wednesday. Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Anupriya Patel said there has been a sudden increase in demand for the Indian broken rice in the international market due to geo-political reasons. "India's exports of broken rice have increased from 17.86 Lakh MT in 2021-22(April- September) to 23.82 Lakh MT in 2022-23 (April-September), registering a growth of 33.37 per cent," she said in a reply to the Lok Sabha. The minister added that the export has increased about three times in the last four years from 12.21 lakh tonne in 2018-19 to 38.90 lakh tonne in 2021-22 in volume terms. In value terms also, shipments rose from USD 369.58 million in 2018-19 to USD 1.13 billion in 2021-22. Broken rice is mainly used for ethanol production and as poultry and cattle feed. Citing the first advance estimates for

Congress, TMC raise issue of denial of Parliament panel chairmanship in LS

The Congress and Trinamool Congress on Wednesday raised the issue of the two parties being denied parliamentary standing committee chairmanship as has been the convention in the past. Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha on the first day of the winter session of Parliament, Leader of Congress Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and TMC leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay flagged changes made in the composition of the committees in October. "The convention of appointing chairman of parliamentary committees from opposition parties is being done away with," Chowdhury said. Bandyopadhyay said that despite the TMC being one of the largest party in the Lok Sabha, it was informed by the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry that it will not be given chairmanship of any committee. In a reconstitution of parliamentary panels, notified by secretariats of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, chairpersons of several committees were changed in the Congress. The Congress and TMC had lost chairmanship of four key parliamentary pan