Page 2 - Parliament

Govt to introduce Bankers' Books Evidence Bill in Lok Sabha on Monday

The proposed law will replace the 1891 Act, expand the definition of bankers' books and provide a technology-neutral legal framework for financial records.

R&D spending in India only 0.84% of GDP in FY24, govt tells Parliament

Gross R&D spending rose to Rs 2.45 trillion in FY24, while private industry overtook the government as the largest contributor to research funding

Lok Sabha passes Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026 amid protests

The Lok Sabha on Friday passed the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026, without a debate amid continued protests by the Opposition over police crackdown on students during the July 20 parliament march. The bill was taken up for consideration and passage after the House reassembled at noon with BJP MP Dilip Saikia in the Chair. It was passed by voice vote amid sloganeering by the Opposition members, several of whom trooped into the Well demanding the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah in the House. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju expressed displeasure over the lack of participation by the Opposition in the debate, saying the government wanted a discussion on the "important bill." "It is unfortunate. Please do not repeat this in the future. People who sent you to Parliament will seek answers from you," he said. Saikia said it was "unfortunate" that the bill had to be passed without cooperation. During the proceedings, BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi, who

Rajya Sabha adjourned to meet again on Monday amid Opposition protests

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day on Friday, shortly after meeting at 11 am, amid sloganeering by Opposition MPs. As proceedings began, papers were laid on the table of the House and Opposition members demanded that Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge be allowed to speak. Chairman C P Radhakrishnan later permitted Kharge to speak, but ruled that no notices under Rule 267 will be admitted after the Leader of Opposition sought to raise some issues under the provision. Opposition members then raised slogans, including on the paper leaks issue, and on the alleged theft of donations from the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Amid the protests, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan accused the Opposition of indulging in "sadak-chhap" politics and "playing with the dignity of the House". "They're doing sadak-chhap politics, playing with the dignity of the House. Democracy is being destroyed," Chouhan said. As the sloganeering continued, the Chairman adjourned the House for the day. The

Parliament passes anti-paper leak Amendment Bill with stricter norms

Parliament passed the amendment to the anti-paper leak law, strengthening penalties amid Opposition demands to reform or scrap the NTA and NEET

Lok Sabha adjourned again till 3 pm amid Opposition protests, sloganeering

Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 2 pm on Thursday, minutes after the House convened, amid slogan-shouting by the Opposition over various issues. Speaker Om Birla urged the members to let the Question Hour continue, but faced with an unbudging Opposition, he adjourned the House till 2 pm. On Tuesday as well, the Question Hour could not function. However, the bill to amend the anti-paper leaks law, with provisions for stricter punishment of up to 10 years in jail and a Rs 50 lakh fine, was passed by voice vote.

Rahul Gandhi's remarks spark uproar in Lok Sabha; Rijiju seeks apology

Rahul Gandhi's remarks during the debate on the anti-paper leak Bill sparked protests from Treasury benches, and were later expunged from the records

LS grants extension to One Nation One Election panel till Winter session

A joint committee of Parliament examining a bill to hold simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies was on Wednesday granted a fresh extension till the end of the Winter session. Committee chairman PP Chaudhary moved a resolution seeking extension of the deadline for submission of the Committee's report till the first day of the last week of the Winter Session. The resolution was passed by voice vote. Winter Session of Parliament usually begins in the last week of November and concludes ahead of Christmas. The 41-member Committee is examining the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024 to implement the One Nation One Election framework. The Committee has been conducting nationwide consultations on the proposed rollout of simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha, state assemblies and local bodies by 2029.

Lok Sabha takes up anti-paper leak Bill, Oppn slams action on protesters

BJP cites past leaks as Opposition targets Centre over protests and exam failures

Parliamentary panel summons Meta, Google, X over social media regulation

A Parliamentary panel has summoned representatives of major social media platforms, including Instagram, along with officials of the ministries of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and Home Affairs, on August 3 to discuss regulation of social media and digital platforms. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, who chairs the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology, said the panel has called representatives of Meta (Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp), Google, X (formerly Twitter) and Snapchat to explain how they protect the privacy of women, children, farmers, rural residents, labourers and the general public, and ensure public order. The meeting comes days after social media, particularly Instagram, was extensively used by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) to publicise and mobilise participants for its student protest at Jantar Mantar. The demonstrations, which were held over the NEET-UG paper leak and other issues, drew widespread attention online, ..

Lok Sabha adjourned amid uproar, anti-paper leak Bill not taken up

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju accused the Congress and its allies of disrupting the debate on the proposed legislation

Govt likely to table bill to amend paper leak law in Parliament on Monday

A bill to amend The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, which proposes to increase jail term up to 10 years and fine up to Rs 10 crore for offences related to paper leaks, is likely to be introduced in Parliament on Monday. According to the Bill circulated to members ahead of its introduction, individuals involved in paper leaks or unfair means in exams will get jail terms for a minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 10 years, and a fine of up to Rs 50 lakh. For organised crimes, the bill proposes a minimum sentence of seven years and a fine of up to Rs 10 crore. All investigations will have to be completed within two months, it says. All states and UTs will be directed to set up fast-track courts, which will conduct hearings swiftly and complete the trial within three months of filing of the chargesheet.

Amit Shah meets LS Speaker Om Birla amid Parliament deadlock over Neet

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla against the backdrop of continuous opposition protests in Parliament over the NEET paper leak. The government has accused the opposition of attaching the pre-condition of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation before agreeing to a debate. Sources said Shah met Birla after the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day amid continuous ruckus. Earlier, top opposition leaders including the Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav met Birla. TMC leaders Saugata Roy and Mahua Moitra were also present in the meeting. During the Question Hour, Birla had asked opposition leaders to meet him to decide on the duration and date of the discussion on the NEET paper leak issue. The Monsoon session, which began on Monday, has so far been a washout due to opposition protests over paper leak and alleged theft of Ram temple donations. Police crackdown on Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protests he

Rule 176 and Rule 267: How are the two Rajya Sabha rules different?

Rule 176 and Rule 267 are often at the centre of Parliament disputes. Here's how the two Rajya Sabha rules differ in allowing discussions on urgent public issues

Parliament adjourned for day amid row over police action on CJP protesters

The proceedings of Lok Sabha were adjourned for the second time on Tuesday amid sloganeering by the opposition over various issues, including NEET paper leak and the ongoing protest led by the CJP. As soon as the House resembled at 12 noon after an earlier adjournment, opposition members started raising slogans. Ministers laid parliamentary documents amid the din. As repeated request by the Chair to the opposition members to return to their seats failed to elicit a positive response, the House was adjourned till 2pm. Earlier, as soon as the House took up the first question, opposition members started raising slogans on the NEET paper leak and police baton-charge on protesting students. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla assured the members that they will get to raise their issues as per rules. However, when the protesting members did not relent, Birla adjourned the House. This is the second day of the Monsoon Session and on both the days Question Hour couldn't be completed due to opposit

Thousands join CJP's Parliament march; Oppn slams govt for using tear gas

Nadda promises dialogue as protesters press 3 key demands; Wangchuk extends fast, demands meeting with MPs

Income-tax return e-filing portal largely stable, govt tells Lok Sabha

Contractual penalties imposed on Infosys for delay in IEC project, outages

Line ministries are being apprised of project spillages in real time: Mospi

The government told the Rajya Sabha that the PAIMANA portal is helping ministries monitor project execution gaps and delays in real time, enabling timely intervention

Sonam Wangchuk to continue fast, cites police action against CJP protesters

Activist Sonam Wangchuk announced on Monday that he would continue his indefinite hunger strike, saying the police action against protesters during the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) "Sansad Chalo" march has prompted him to extend the fast until youth leaders are allowed to meet parliamentarians or he is permitted to do so from the hospital. In a handwritten statement issued from the Safdarjung Hospital, Wangchuk said, "Seeing the brutality with which peacefully protesting youth are being dealt with, I have decided to continue my fast until the youth leaders are allowed to meet the parliamentarians at the Sansad Bhawan or I am allowed to meet them here at the hospital." "Hopefully, the government will fix accountability for the Education Minister before that," he added. Wangchuk said he is "touched and moved" by the manner in which the protesters have maintained peace despite "provocation". "I appeal to the government and the police force to resolve the issue by simply allowing the

Income tax department running short of 26,997 officers and support staff

The Income Tax Department is running short of 26,997 officers and support staff as of January 1, 2026, Parliament was informed on Monday. "The vacancies in Group A, B & C in the Income Tax Department as on January 1, 2026, are 26,997. Occurrence and filling up of vacancies is a continuous process," Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said in a written response to the Lok Sabha. As and when vacancies arise, such vacancies are filled regularly in accordance with the terms of the mode of recruitment prescribed in the relevant recruitment rules, namely direct recruitment through UPSC/SSC or through promotion as applicable, it added. Further, the introduction of the New Income Tax Act, 2025, has resulted in a landmark development to simplify language, remove obsolete provisions and consolidate & restructure provisions, it said. Measures have been taken to strengthen and modernise the tax administration by leveraging information and digital technology for ease of filing, .