Page 5 - Parliament

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Government fails to secure two-thirds majority as Opposition rejects compromise; related delimitation and UT bills withdrawn after defeat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

'An attempt to change electoral map': Rahul Gandhi on Delimitation bill

Rahul Gandhi alleged delimitation is an attempt to redraw India's electoral map, warns it could reduce representation of some states; govt hits back, calls remarks 'misleading'

No discrimination against any state under women quota Bills, says PM

PM Modi and HM Shah defend women's quota amendments in Lok Sabha, reject Opposition claims of bias against southern states and warn against blocking the legislation

BJP president Nitin Nabin, 15 others take oath as Rajya Sabha MPs

BJP national president Nitin Nabin, Union minister Ram Nath Thakur and senior Congress leader Abhishek Sanghvi, along with 13 other newly elected Rajya Sabha MPs, took oath of office on Thursday. Vice-President of India and Chairman of Rajya Sabha C P Radhakrishnan administered the oath to the 16 newly elected/re-elected members of Rajya Sabha, representing Bihar, Assam, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha and Telangana. Of the 16 MPs, eight are from the BJP and three from its allies. The other five MPs belong to Congress. After being elected as the BJP's national president, Nabin has moved to the Upper House following his resignation from the Bihar legislative assembly. He took the oath in Hindi amid the thumping of desks. Along with him, Union Minister Ram Nath Thakur also took the oath. He has been re-elected to the House from Bihar. Upendra Kushwaha (RLM) and Shivesh Kumar (BJP) also represent Bihar. Terash Gowalla (BJP), Jogen Mohan (BJP), and Pramod Boro (UPP-L)

Women quota law: Voting on 3 Bills in LS to be held at 4 PM on Friday

Voting on the three bills in Lok Sabha to amend the women's quota law and set up a delimitation commission will be held at 4 PM Friday, according to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Birla said there would be a debate of around 15-18 hours on the bills as voting would take place on 4 PM on Friday. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju suggested a 12-hour debate on the bills but said the decision to extend that would be taken by the Speaker. Earlier, Union ministers Arjun Ram Meghwal and Amit Shah moved to introduce three bills in Lok Sabha to amend the women's quota law and set up a delimitation commission amid protests by the opposition, which termed the proposed legislations anti-constitutional. 'The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026', 'The Delimitation Bill, 2026' and 'The Union Territories Laws (Amendment Bill), 2026' were introduced in the House. According to the draft Constitution amendment bill, Lok Sabha seats will be increased to a maximum o

Delimitation and proportionality: Why southern states are raising concerns

As the govt considers increasing Lok Sabha seats, concerns are rising in southern states that a population-based delimitation could reduce their share and alter India's federal balance

PM Modi to address Lok Sabha at 3 pm today as key Bills introduced

The opposition has raised concerns over the proposed changes, particularly the plan to redraw constituencies and increase the number of Lok Sabha seats from the current 543 to a maximum of 850

Govt tables bills to tweak women quota law, set up delimitation panel

The government has introduced bills on women's quota and delimitation in Lok Sabha, proposes increasing seats to 850; Opposition protests, calling the move 'anti-constitutional'

Historic step for women empowerment: PM Modi ahead of Parliament session

The Centre has called a special sitting of Parliament from April 16 to 18

Bills on women's quota, delimitation to be introduced in Lok Sabha today

Opposition parties said on Wednesday that fully support early implementation of women's reservation but expressed firm opposition to the Delimitation Bill

Women's Reservation Act will fulfil future resolutions, says PM Modi

Ahead of a special Parliament session, PM Modi termed amendments to fast-track Women's Reservation Act implementation by 2029 as a key reform and urged Opposition support

'Together, let us empower our Nari Shakti!': Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Amid festive celebrations, India stands at a historic moment to advance women's reservation and strengthen inclusive democracy

Jobs, empowerment and more: Unpacking manifestos in poll-bound states

From cash transfers to welfare schemes, women voters dominate poll strategies across five states, with parties competing to secure this electoral bloc

I go to Parliament to create impact, not ruckus, says Raghav Chadha

"I go to Parliament to create impact, not ruckus," said Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on Saturday as he rejected allegations levelled against him by the Aam Aadmi Party, calling them "false" and part of a "coordinated campaign". In a video, Chadha dismissed claims that he did not join opposition walkouts, terming the charge a "blatant lie". He challenged his detractors to cite even a single instance where he failed to participate and said parliamentary proceedings are recorded through CCTV cameras. Refuting another allegation that he refused to sign a motion related to the Chief Election Commissioner, Chadha said no party leader had asked him, either formally or informally, to sign it. He added that several other MPs from his party had also not signed the motion. The MP said his focus in Parliament has been on raising public issues such as GST, income tax, air pollution in Delhi, water concerns in Punjab, public healthcare, education, railway passenger issues, menstrual health, ...

Special session amid assembly elections draws Opposition criticism

While elections in Puducherry, Assam, and Kerala are scheduled for April 9, polls in West Bengal will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29. In Tamil Nadu, polls will be held on April 23