Page 36 - Rajya Sabha

Rajya Sabha passes Bill facilitating offshore mining and mineral auctions

The proposed legislation aims to unleash the untapped potential of India's offshore resources and enhance transparency in the allocation of minerals

After 2016 attempt, no proposal yet to change names of high courts: Govt

There is no proposal at present to change the name of various high courts, Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday. In July 2016, the government had brought the 'High Courts (Alteration of Names) Bill to change the names of the high courts of Bombay, Calcutta and Madras as high courts of Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai respectively. Later, some fresh names were added to the list. But amid divergent views, the bill could not be taken further and lapsed due to dissolution of the 16th Lok Sabha, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said in a written reply. Giving out the history of the proposal to alter the names of some of high courts, he said with the enactment of the city of Madras (Alteration of Name) Act, 1996, the city of Madras was renamed as Chennai, following which the Tamil Nadu government sent a proposal for changing the name of the Madras High Court to the High Court of Chennai in 1997. Since the names of the cities of Bombay and Calcutta were also changed to Mumbai and Kolkata, and th

Govt passes Bill to provide fixed production lease for offshore minerals

A Bill to provide a fixed 50-year production lease for offshore minerals was passed by the Rajya Sabha on Thursday amid a walkout by opposition members over the situation in violence-hit Manipur. When the Upper House reassembled for the post-lunch session, Coal and Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi moved the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023 for consideration, even as the opposition parties insisted on a discussion on Manipur. The Bill to amend the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002 was passed by the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. The Bill seeks to provide a fixed 50-year production lease for offshore minerals. Under this legislation, the government aims to introduce auctions as the route to award production leases for offshore minerals. It aims at introducing a four-year timeline for the commencement of production and dispatch after the execution of composite licence or production lease, and a timeline of two years (extendable by

1,365 vacant posts in IAS, 703 in IPS: Jitendra Singh informs Rajya Sabha

There are 1,365 vacancies in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and 703 in the Indian Police Service (IPS), Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday. Besides these, 1,042 vacancies exist in the Indian Forest Service (IFS) and 301 in Indian Revenue Service (IRS), Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said in a written reply. "Occurrence and filling up of vacancies is a continuous process. It is the endeavour of the central government to fill up vacant posts expeditiously," he said. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Civil Services Examinations (CSE) for filling up of vacancies on direct recruitment basis in civil services, including IAS, IPS, IFS and IRS, every year, he said. "To fill up vacancies in IAS and IPS promotion quota, selection committee meetings are held by Union Public Service Commission with state governments," the minister said. The government has increased the annual intake of IAS officers to 180 through the CSE till CSE-2022, Si

Since 2018, CBI filed cases against 216 civil servants: Govt to RS

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered cases against 216 civil servants in more than five years, Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday. Giving a state-wise break-up, the government said 39 civil servants were from Maharashtra, 22 from Jammu and Kashmir, 21 from Delhi, 17 from Uttar Pradesh and 14 from Karnataka among others. "During the last five years viz. 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 (up to 30.06.2023), the CBI has registered cases against 216 number of civil service officers," Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said in a written reply. Of the total civil servants facing cases, 12 were from Bihar, 11 from Tamil Nadu, nine each from Gujarat, Haryana and Kerala, and eight each from Punjab, Rajasthan and Telangana, according to the reply. "The All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968, and the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964, lay down the code of conduct for central government employees to which every member of the service shal

Oppn bloc INDIA to skip meeting called by Dhankhar to end RS logjam

The opposition alliance INDIA will not attend the meeting called by Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday afternoon to end the logjam in the House over the Manipur issue, sources said. The opposition believes that a statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a comprehensive discussion on Manipur, which has been roiled by months-long ethnic violence, are non-negotiable, they said. Dhankhar has invited floor leaders of all parties for the meeting in an effort to end the impasse in Rajya Sabha. Proceedings in the Upper House have been disrupted as opposition parties are demanding a discussion on the situation in Manipur under Rule 267, which allows for suspension of the listed business for the day to discuss an issue. The government, however, has agreed to hold a short-duration discussion under Rule 176 of Rajya Sabha. Opposition parties will not attend the meeting called by Dhankhar, the sources said. The opposition is not particular about the rule under which a ...

Dhankhar invites floor leaders for meeting to end impasse over Manipur

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar will meet floor leaders of all parties on Thursday in an effort to end the logjam in the House over modalities of discussing the Manipur issue. The proceedings of the Rajya Sabh have been disrupted as opposition parties are insisting that the listed business should be suspended under Rule 267 and discussion on Manipur should be taken up. The government on its part has agreed for a short duration discussion under Rule 176 of the Rajya Sabha. Soon after the listed papers were tabled in the House, the Chairman said he has received 37 notices under Rule 267 on the Manipur issue, but he has not accepted any. Senior TMC leader Derek O'Brien said people want to hear on the Manipur issue, and opposition parties want to discuss it. He made a strong case for finding a solution to end the logjam as it was not helping anyone. The TMC leader also suggested that a six to eight hour discussion be held on the Manipur issue. The Chairman sought the views of

Govt, parties should be questioned for rubber-stamping forest bill: Ramesh

Former environment minister Jairam Ramesh on Thursday said questions should be asked of the government and parties that "rubber-stamped" the "insidious" Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023, asserting that securing the rights of forest dwellers will be a long struggle. Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023, after a brief debate, amid protests by opposition members and a walkout by them over the Manipur issue. The bill seeks to exempt land within 100 kilometres of the country's borders from the purview of conservation laws and permit setting up of zoos, safaris and eco-tourism facilities in forest areas. In a tweet, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh noted that "many environmentalists who by no means are bhakts have criticised the Opposition for having boycotted the Rajya Sabha when the amendments to the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, which many have been agitating against, were being discussed yesterday". "Let me clarify: The

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Data protection bill to be tabled in parliament, experts ask for discussion

Every digital platform may need to take consent from users before collecting any digital personal data, along with an itemised notice for the same

Monsoon Session: Rajya Sabha takes up Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill

The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday took up the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill 2023 that seeks to exempt land within 100 km of the country's borders from the purview of conservation laws and permit setting up of zoos, safaris and eco-tourism facilities in forest areas. The bill was passed by the Lok Sabha last month. Introducing the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill 2023 in the Rajya Sabha for consideration and passage, Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav said almost 45 lakh hectare land was diverted in the country during 1950 and 1980 when Congress-led government was in the country. BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi said the name of the bill has been changed to Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam and a preamble has been added to it. He said under the provisions of the bill, in border areas like those within 100 km boundary of the Line of Actual Control and Line of Control, if a project is declared as having strategic importance and concerning ..

114,000 posts vacant in central police organisations: Govt in Rajya Sabha

As many as 1,14,245 posts are lying vacant in central police organisations such as the CRPF, the BSF and the Delhi Police, Union Minister Ajay Kumar Mishra said in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. Mishra said in 2023, advertisements for about 31,879 posts have been published, and out of these, 1,126 posts have been filled up. The Ministry of Home Affairs and its organisations, including the Central Armed Police Forces such as Border Security Force, Sashastra Seema Bal, Central Reserve Police Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force, Assam Rifles and Central Industrial Security Force, and central police organisations, including Delhi Police, has approximately 1,14,245 vacant posts at present, he said in a written reply. Out of the vacant posts, 3,075 are in group 'A', 15,861 are in group 'B' and 95,309 are in Group 'C'. Of these, 16,356 posts are of Scheduled Castes, 8,759 posts of Scheduled Tribes, 21,974 posts of Other Backward Class, and 7,394 posts of economically weaker section and 59,7

What is Delhi Services Bill? How will it change the governance of Delhi?

Delhi service bill 2023 was finally tabled by Union minister Amit shah in the Lok sabha yesterday with the removal of sec 3A ordinance, no annual report and modification of appointment process

Parliament monsoon session: Opposition walkout, Bills passed, and more

Three Bills passed despite disruption in both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha as Opposition stage walkouts

Opposition leaders walk out from Rajya Sabha over Manipur situation

Opposition leaders on Wednesday walked out from the Rajya Sabha after the Chair did not admit their notices for suspension of the listed business and take up discussion on the Manipur issue. Soon after the listed papers were tabled, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said he has received 58 notices under Rule 267 of the Rajya Sabha demanding discussion on the ongoing situation in Manipur. He said the notices have not been accepted, triggering protests by opposition members. As the Chair moved ahead with the scheduled Zero Hour, the opposition members walked out from the House.

Jan Vishwas, Mines and Minerals among 3 Bills listed for Rajya Sabha today

Besides the two Bills, Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023 is also listed in the Upper House for its passage

Rajya Sabha passes Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill

It also lays down the process for liquidation of such cooperatives

Rajya Sabha passes Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill

Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill 2023 which seeks to strengthen cooperatives by making their functioning more transparent, introducing a system of regular elections and prohibiting appointment of related persons. Minister of State Cooperation B L Verma moved the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2023 for consideration and passage in Rajya Sabha. The bill, which had been approved by Lok Sabha on July 25, 2023, was passed in Rajya Sabha by voice vote. While replying to queries on the bill, Verma said that the bill provides for norms for appointment of employees, which ensures that there is no nepotism practices. He said that India's target of becoming a 5-trillion dollar economy cannot be achieved without the progressive role of cooperative sector. Noting that there is a limit for the private sector when it comes to employment generation, he said that the cooperative sector can spur jobs as the government is ...

10 people declared fugitive economic offenders since 2018: Centre

Ten people, including liquor baron Vijay Mallya and diamond merchant Nirav Modi, have been declared as fugitive economic offenders by courts since 2018, Rajya Sabha was informed on Tuesday. The Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA) was enacted by the Narendra Modi government in 2018 to crackdown on those who are charged with high-value economic frauds and abscond from the country to evade the law. Minister of State (MoS) for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, in a written reply, said the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed FEOA applications against 19 people till now. Of them, he said, 10 people -- Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, Nitin Jayantilal Sandesara, Chetan Jayantilal Sandesara, Dipti Chetan Jayantilal Sandesara, Hitesh Kumar Narendrabhai Patel, Junaid Iqbal Memon, Hajra Iqbal Memon, Asif Iqbal Memon and Ramachandran Vishwanathan -- have been declared as fugitive economic offenders by courts. The amount of "fraud involved in these cases is more than Rs 40,000 crore," Chaudhary said. A

Rajya Sabha passes Mediation Bill, 2021 to speed up proceedings to 180 days

Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed the Mediation Bill, 2021, which halves the maximum time for completing mediation proceedings to 180 days. The bill was passed with voice vote amid a walk out by opposition members, demanding a discussion on the Manipur issue and a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the House. Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said, "Under this we are making the Mediation Council of India. This is a neutral third party. This bill makes the process a time-bound mechanism which saves time and money of parties." The bill makes pre-litigation mediation voluntary instead of mandatory.