Page 2 - Parliament

Govt ready for debate on student protests and police action: Rijiju

Opposition presses Amit Shah for a statement on alleged police excesses, while the RSS and BJP prepare a sustained outreach to Gen Z as the monsoon session winds down

Four days left: Parliament braces for key Bills amid Opposition protests

With four sittings left in the monsoon session, Opposition protests over police action are set to continue as the government prepares to introduce four new Bills

Parliamentary panel asks DRDO to set clear, measurable KPIs for projects

A parliamentary panel has recommended that the DRDO "expeditiously" finalise and notify clear, measurable Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) covering cost efficiency, technological maturity, target dates, completion time, and operational effectiveness. In its report, presented in Parliament on Friday, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence noted that the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) provides equal opportunities to women employees and has a well-established grievance redressal mechanism in place. It recommended, however, that all-out "efforts should be made to strengthen the complaint mechanism" and ensure strict adherence to the SOP on dealing with complaints under the POSH Act. The committee said it appreciates the role of the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), the Sexual Harassment Electronic Box (She-Box), and the appointment of nodal officers in each lab for a timely redressal of complaints under the POSH Act. The panel said it desires that the

'Internal affair': MEA rejects US criticism of proposed amendments to FCRA

MEA rejected US criticism of the proposed FCRA amendments, calling India's legislative process an internal matter as Parliament may take up the Bill next week

Lok Sabha clears tax breaks for foreign buyers of government debt

The bill replaces an ordinance issued on June 5 that exempted FII from tax on interest from government securities as well as capital gains from their sale, exchange or transfer

Indian Statistical Institute Bill, 2026: Why is legislation facing pushback

The Bill proposes sweeping changes to the governance of the Indian Statistical Institute, with faculty warning that it could weaken the institute's autonomy and centralise decision-making

Govt moves to end ISI's 94-yr society status, defends Bill amid backlash

The Centre says the proposed law will strengthen governance and expand academic opportunities at the Indian Statistical Institute, while faculty members warn it could erode institutional autonomy

No proposal for special session on delimitation Bill: Kiren Rijiju

Kiren Rijiju says there is no proposal to extend the Monsoon Session or convene a special Parliament session for the Women's Reservation and Delimitation Bills

Opposition protests in Parliament, seek Shah's statement on police action

Opposition MPs took out a protest march in Parliament House complex on Wednesday, demanding Home Minister Amit Shah's statement on alleged police excesses on students, discussion on "misappropriation" of Ram temple donations and statehood for Jammu and Kashmir. Carrying placards and raising slogans against the government, the Opposition MPs, including Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, marched from the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Prerna Sthal to Makar Dwar. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also participated in the protest and demanded accountability from the government. Taking a swipe at Shah, Kharge asked why hasn't he been coming to the House. "They are disrespecting Parliament. It has been so many days but they don't want to step inside the House. What is the issue in coming to the House and giving a statement?" Kharge told reporters. Are they deaf and dumb, he asked. The MPs carried placards slamming

Lok Sabha proceedings adjourned for day after passing Appropriation Bill

Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day on Tuesday after the passage of the Appropriation Bill, 2026 amid Opposition protest over alleged theft of donation at the Ram Temple and other issues. Soon after the House assembled at 2 pm after an earlier adjournment, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduce a Bill to replace an Ordinance which scraped income tax with regard to foreign investment in government securities. Opposition members, who had given notices to speak against introduction of the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, chose not to do so despite their names being called by the Chair. The Bill seeks to amend the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, the Income-tax Act, 2025, and the Finance Act, 2027. Amid the uproar, the Lok Sabha passed the Appropriation (No.3) Bill, 2026 by voice vote. The Bill seeks to provide for the authorisation of appropriation of moneys out of the Consolidated Fund of India to meet the amounts spent on certain services

Bill to increase number of SC judges passed by Lok Sabha without debate

The Lok Sabha on Monday passed a bill to replace an ordinance which increased the number of Supreme Court judges from 34 to 38, including Chief Justice of India, without a debate as opposition members raised slogans against the NEET paper leaks and alleged theft of Ram temple donations. A statutory resolution moved by the opposition members denouncing the promulgation of the ordinance was also rejected by a voice vote. After a brief introductory remarks made by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, the chair urged the members to speak on the statutory resolution but as sloganeering continued, the bill was put to vote and subsequently cleared. Last week a bill to amend the births and deaths registration was also cleared without a debate. After the passage of the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, the House was adjourned for the day.

Parliament to take up four bills today as Monsoon Session enters third week

Monday's agenda also includes a statement by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presenting the Demands for Excess Grants for 2022-23

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.