Page 14 - Parliament

Highlights: Lok Sabha clears Waqf Amendment Bill after marathon debate

Parliament Budget Session updates: The government has decided to table the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Lok Sabha today. Catch all the updates here

Explained: Section 40 of Waqf Act and why its removal sparked controversy

Section 40 of the earlier Waqf Act allowed Waqf Board the 'power to decide' if a property is a Waqf property or not. It granted the board authority to classify properties as Waqf holdings

Waqf Bill row: Lalu Yadav's 2010 speech resurfaces, fuels BJP vs RJD clash

As Parliament clears the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, an old video of Lalu Yadav demanding stricter Waqf laws resurfaces, sparking a fresh political clash between BJP and RJD

When Waqf land claims turned lives upside down in Kerala and Karnataka

For decades, families in Kerala's Munambam and Karnataka's Vijayapura have fought legal battles over land they have lived on for generations - land now claimed as Waqf property

'Muslims welcome it, you must see it': Rijiju on Waqf Bill. Top quotes

The Centre introduced the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in Parliament today amid protests from Muslim organisations, including the All India Muslim Personal Law Board

Waqf Bill 1995 vs 2024: Key changes and why they matter, explained

From ownership rules to government oversight, the Waqf Bill 2024 changes key aspects of the 1995 Bill. Here's what's different and why it matters

'Why seek proof of Islam?' Congress' Gaurav Gogoi asks govt on Waqf Bill

Deputy Leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi criticised the Waqf Amendment Bill, alleging it undermines constitutional values, and targets minority communities

Waqf Amendment Bill: Does NDA have enough numbers to pass in both houses?

The Waqf Amendment Bill aims to bring changes to the way Waqf properties are managed in India. The government argues that it will bring more transparency and efficiency

Waqf (Amendment) Bill: Which parties support it and who opposes it?

The ruling BJP and its allies back the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, while the INDIA bloc opposes it, setting the stage for a heated debate in the Parliament today

Waqf Bill in Lok Sabha: What is a whip and how does it work in Parliament?

As parties issue three-line whips for the Waqf Bill, here's a look at what a whip means in India's parliamentary system and what happens if MPs defy it

Waqf Bill up for debate in the Lok Sabha today: All you need to know

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, proposes key changes to waqf property management, sparking protests from Muslim organisations and opposition parties over concerns of government control

Highlights: Supreme Court refuses to release Ranveer Allahbadia's passport until Latent probe ends

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Waqf Amendment Bill sparks row in LS, Opposition walks out over debate time

The Waqf Amendment Bill faces fierce Opposition in Lok Sabha, with leaders clashing over debate time, triggering a walkout amid concerns over its impact on Muslim properties

Parl panel suggests penalties for IAS officers not filing property details

A Parliamentary committee has suggested penalties or corrective actions against IAS officers if they fail to file their property details within the prescribed time limit. Ninety-one Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers did not file their immovable property returns (IPRs) in 2024 and 73 the year before, according to 145th report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice on the Demands for Grants (2025-26) pertaining to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). The report was tabled in Parliament on March 27. Vigilance clearance, mandatory to join certain posts, was denied to 15 IAS officers in 2023, 12 in 2022 and 14 in 2021, due to non-filing of IPRs for respective years. The panel recommended that a centralised compliance monitoring mechanism may be established to ensure timely filing of IPRs by all IAS officers. "This mechanism should involve creation of a dedicated task force within the department

Long stays in postings breed corruption, rotate officers: Parl panel

Long stays of officers in postings breed corruption and remedial measures should be taken to ensure that they do not stay beyond the prescribed time limit in any ministry, a parliamentary panel has said. There has been a rotational policy for all officers but it is not being implemented in toto, the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice said in its 145th report, tabled in Parliament on March 27, on the Demands for Grants (2025-26) pertaining to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). There are officers who are posted in potentially favourable ministries or places for over 8-9 years, especially in economic and sensitive ministries, and are continuing their stay despite heads of organisations being replaced four-five times. This trend should be assessed, it said. Instances have come to notice where officers have "manoeuvred their postings in such a way that their whole career has been in the same ministry and hen

News Highlights: India, Sri Lanka set to ink major defence pact during PM Modi's Colombo trip

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Highlights: We are reducing duty to become manufacturing hub for batteries, says Sitharaman

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Oppn leaders write to Speaker over 'disregard' for Parliamentary procedure

Opposition leaders voiced their concerns in their letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker regarding what they described as the government's increasing disregard for parliamentary procedures & democratic norms

Parliament approves Finance Bill 2025, completes Budget FY26 exercise

The Rajya Sabha on Thursday returned the Finance Bill 2025 to the Lok Sabha, along with 35 government amendments, including one that abolishes a 6 per cent digital tax on online advertisements, thus completing the 2025-26 budgetary exercise that started on February 1. The House also returned the Appropriation Bill (3) with a voice vote. Earlier in the day, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had moved the two bills in the House. The Lok Sabha had passed the Finance Bill on March 25 and passed the Appropriation Bill on March 21. Replying to the debate later in the evening, she said the tendency of the finance ministry would be to exercise caution and not let go of revenues. "But, here we wanted to use this opportunity to show our respect for Indian taxpayer. We have moved towards setting Rs 12 lakh as threshold up to which no one will have to pay any tax," Sitharaman said. The Union Budget 2025-26 envisages a total expenditure of Rs 50.65 lakh crore, an increase of 7.4 per cent ov

Release CSE-Prelims answer key immediately after exam: Parl panel to UPSC

A Parliamentary Committee on Thursday suggested release of answer key by the UPSC immediately after the civil services preliminary examination to enhance credibility, fairness and candidate's confidence. The civil services examination is conducted annually by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in three stages -- prelims, mains and interview -- to select officers of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) among others. The Commission informed the panel that it publishes the preliminary examination answer key only after completing the entire selection process. "This delays candidates' ability to challenge potential errors before advancing to the next stage, undermining transparency and fairness. Such a practice can demoralise candidates and raise concerns about the validity of the examination," said the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice in its 145th