Page 4 - Parliament

Don't ask me to end fast, join march on July 20 instead: Sonam Wangchuk

Activist Sonam Wangchuk has ruled out ending his indefinite hunger strike despite appeals from political leaders and supporters, saying breaking the fast without any response from the government would send the wrong message. "If I eat, what message will go? The message to the government will be that there is no need for accountability. Protesters sit and leave..." said Wangchuk and asked what would change if he ended the fast. Instead, he urged people to strengthen the Cockroach Janta Party's proposed Parliament march on July 20, saying students in schools and colleges should participate "in a real lesson in political science and democracy". In a video message shared late on Wednesday night -- day 18 of his hunger strike, Wangchuk said, "I have received thousands of messages asking me to break my fast. Many senior politicians have come to me and spoken to me with love and concern." Some have even approached the court seeking directions to make me eat, he said. Seeking to allay ...

NDA may introduce women's quota Bill in Monsoon Session of Parliament

The NDA is seeking support for a redrafted 131st Constitution Amendment Bill as the Opposition prepares a joint strategy ahead of Parliament's monsoon session

House panel backs suspension, not removal, of PM, CMs held for 30 days

Amid concerns raised by the opposition parties, a parliamentary panel has recommended that the prime minister, Union ministers and chief ministers be suspended and not permanently removed from their posts, if they are detained for 30 straight days on charges of serious offences. It also proposed an automatic reversal clause if such persons are acquitted or the prosecution does not proceed within a specified period. The joint committee of Parliament examining the 130th Constitution Amendment Bill made two specific and three general recommendations. Introduced last August, the BIll seeks to automatically remove the prime minister, ministers or chief ministers on the 31st day of their detention if they don't step down on their own. The opposition had dubbed the Bill a tool to destabilise governments run by them. Most opposition parties had opted out of the joint committee examining the Bill. In its report likely to be adopted this week, the panel has proposed that the term "removal"

Monsoon Session of Parliament: Key Bills, challenges, and numbers

The NDA has increased its numbers in the RS and gained in the elections to fill 27 RS vacancies

Monsoon session to be held from July 20 to August 13: Kiren Rijiju

The Monsoon session of Parliament will be held from July 20 to August 13, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren said on Saturday. In a post on X, he said on the recommendation of the government, President Droupadi Murmu has approved the summoning of both the Houses of Parliament for the Monsoon Session 2026. "The Session will commence on 20 July, 2026 and continue till 13 August, 2026 for meaningful debate, discussion and decisions on issues of national importance," he said.

Andy Burnham promises UK a 'circuit breaker' it needs for 'good growth'

Andy Burnham, the UK's PM-in-waiting who looks set to replace Prime Minister Keir Starmer as the next Labour leader, on Monday pledged to give the country the "circuit breaker" it needs for "good growth" in every corner. In his first major policy speech since returning to Westminster politics after being elected as the member of Parliament for Makerfield in a by-election, the former Mayor of Greater Manchester presented his vision for a model of "Manchesterism" involving greater devolved power for the different regions of England. The 56-year-old politician, whose leadership challenge and strong support within the governing Labour Party resulted in Starmer announcing his resignation last week, said his devolution plans will shift power out of 10 Downing Street in London to a new "No. 10 North" in northern England. "I am going to give Britain the circuit breaker it needs by building a more collaborative politics in Westminster by taking power out of the centre and putting it in the .

National parties fall short of 33% women's representation: ADR report

Only 10% fielded in 20 Assembly polls since passage of women's Bill in 2023, says report

Parl panel to study India's economic conditions amid global uncertainties

As conflicts and geopolitical uncertainties around tariffs cloud domestic growth, a key parliamentary committee has decided to examine the evolving economic condition of the country. According to a Lok Sabha bulletin, the Standing Committee on Finance has chosen 'Evolving Economic Conditions in the Country' as an additional subject for detailed examination during the year 2025-26. Parliamentary panels select their subjects soon after they are constituted. But they are at liberty to select additional subjects keeping in mind evolving circumstances. Indian economy is estimated to have grown at 7.7 per cent in 2025-26 (April-March), with a robust 7.8 per cent growth in the January-March quarter. India's GDP had grown at 7.1 per cent in the 2024-25 fiscal year. However, the RBI estimates GDP growth to slow to 6.6 per cent in current fiscal year as the ongoing conflict in West Asia pushes up cost of fertiliser and fuel globally. India is a net importer of both crude oil and fertiliser.

Ex-LS Secretary General, constitution expert Subhash Kashyap passes away

Former Lok Sabha Secretary General and constitutional expert Subhash C Kashyap passed away on Thursday after prolonged illness. He was 97. Kashyap's end came at around 10 am at his Sainik Farm residence, officials of the Lok Sabha Secretariat said. He was suffering from age-related issues and died of cardio-pulmonary arrest, they said. Kashyap was part of the high-level committee headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind to prepare a legal framework on simultaneous elections. Author of over 100 books, he served as the secretary general of Lok Sabha from 1983 to 1990. He served Parliament for over 37 years from the time of Jawaharlal Nehru's first Lok Sabha to the 9th Lok Sabha. Born in 1929 in a family of freedom fighters at Chadpur in Bijnor in the then United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh), he actively participated in the national struggle for Independence as a teenager, leading local student movements first in Bijnor and later Meerut. He received his higher education and ...

Parliamentary panel flags weak private investment, FPI outflows

Parliamentary committee raises concerns over weak private investment, foreign capital outflows and global economic headwinds

Parliament panel to review groundwork for VB-G RAM G rollout on May 20

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj is scheduled to hold a briefing on May 20 with representatives of the Department of Rural Development on the preparatory work undertaken for implementation of the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission-Gramin (VB-G RAM G). According to information shared on the Parliament website, officials from the Ministry of Rural Development will brief the panel on the subject, "Preparatory work done for implementation of Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission-Gramin (VB-G RAM G)." The meeting comes days after the Centre announced that the VB-G RAM G Act will come into force across the country from July 1, replacing the two-decade-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The government described the move as a "historic transition" in India's rural development architecture aligned with the vision of "Viksit Bharat 2047". Under the new framework, every rural

Datanomics: Fewer sittings, but no decline in average Bills passed

Historical data shows that 4,070 Bills were passed by both Houses across 12,395 sittings during 1952-2025

Parliamentary committees on insurance must expand scope, sharpen focus

As India's insurance sector evolves, experts call for a dedicated parliamentary panel to address emerging risks, consumer protection and regulatory gaps

StatsGuru: Women's fair political representation still a far cry

Parliament rejects 33% women's reservation Bill, as data shows persistently low representation of women in legislatures despite gains at grassroots levels

Bill of contention: Failure highlights lack of consensus-building

Women's quota Bill defeat exposes political mistrust and flaws in linking reservation to delimitation, raising questions over consensus and timing

Rushed laws, reduced debate: Is Parliament losing its deliberative core?

Fewer sittings, rushed laws and shrinking debate raise concerns that Parliament's deliberative role is weakening amid rising disruptions and reduced scrutiny

Both Houses of Parliament adjourned sine die, Budget session concludes

The Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die on Saturday, drawing curtains on the Budget session that began in January. As soon as the House met at 11 am, Speaker Om Birla read out his concluding remarks, following which he adjourned the House sine die (for an indefinite period). The session concluded a day after a Constitution amendment bill to implement 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies by 2029 by increasing the number of seats in the Lower House from 543 to 816 was defeated by a division of votes. A three-day sitting of Parliament was held from April 16 to discuss and pass the bill along with two other enabling draft laws.

A divided House: Bill to implement women's quota fails Lok Sabha test

Government fails to secure two-thirds majority as Opposition rejects compromise; related delimitation and UT bills withdrawn after defeat

Nari Shakti Amendment Bill fails two-thirds vote test, defeated in Lok Sabha

Out of 489 members present, 278 voted in favour, while 211 voted against the proposed amendment

Delimitation, UT quota Bills put on hold after women's quota Bill loss

"Opposition loses historic opportunity to honour women," Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said after the Constitution Amendment Bill was defeated in the Lok Sabha