Page 3 - Parliament

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, .

CJP leaders meet JP Nadda as Parliament march triggers police action

Nadda said he would hold internal discussions with the government leadership and sought time before responding to the demands, which include the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan

Several CJP protesters detained at key locations during march to Parliament

Several protesters were detained and removed from multiple locations across the New Delhi district on Monday as forces stepped up action to prevent demonstrators from assembling and marching towards Parliament, sources said. Detentions were made from areas such as Mandi House, Patel Chowk, Janpath, Jantar Mantar, Parliament Street and other key locations where the protesting groups attempted to gather despite heightened security arrangements and prohibitory orders being in force, they said. At least seven people were detained near the Reserve Bank of India, close to Parliament. Those detained were being taken to different locations across the national capital, away from the protest site, to prevent them from regrouping and disrupting law and order, sources said. They will be released after being issued warnings, a source said, adding that police would verify the antecedents of those detained to ascertain whether any of them had previous criminal records. Security remained tight ac

Parliament Monsoon Session to begin today: Key Bills on the agenda

Opposition during this Monsoon Session of Parliament is likely to raise several issues, including the Ayodhya Ram Temple donation embezzlement case and the Neet-UG paper leak

Monsoon session heads into storm over paper leaks, Ram Temple row

Government prepares to introduce at least five new Bills this session

Sharad Pawar weighs survival against legacy over the delimitation bill

Sharad Pawar is assessing whether he will still land on his feet if he jumps from the safe perch of INDIA to the NDA. Can a Great Betrayal be presented as a tactical move?

Andy Burnham confirmed as Labour leader, to become UK PM on Monday

Andy Burnham was on Friday confirmed as the newly elected leader of the UK's governing Labour Party, becoming the prime minister-designate to take charge at 10 Downing Street next week. Labour's National Executive Committee (NEC) chair Shabana Mahmood made the announcement at a special party conference in London. "There was only one nominated MP hardly a nail biter," she said. On Monday, Burnham will be invited by King Charles III to form a new government after outgoing PM Keir Starmer formally tenders his resignation to the monarch.

VBSA Bill explained: Why higher education regulator plan faces pushback

The proposed law seeks to replace the UGC, AICTE and NCTE with a single higher education regulator, but critics say it centralises power and undermines institutional autonomy

Monsoon session: Govt skips women's quota, delimitation in 5-Bill slate

Government's legislative agenda includes a Bill to make insulting or obstructing the singing of Vande Mataram punishable, along with amendments to MSME and income-tax laws