Page 38 - Rajya Sabha

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.

'INDIA' alliance MPs walk out of RS during Question Hour over Manipur issue

Members of the INDIA bloc parties on Tuesday walked out of the Rajya Sabha during the Question Hour over their demand for a discussion on the Manipur issue and a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the House. When the House reconvened at noon after a brief adjournment for about 35 minutes, opposition parties continued with the sloganeering but Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar continued with the Question Hour despite the din. The INDIA bloc parties staged a walkout at 12.30 pm. The Rajya Sabha members were on their feet from the beginning of the Question Hour, shouting "Manipur, Manipur". The Congress' chief whip Jairam Ramesh, said, "Today, too, the INDIA parties demanded the prime minister's presence in the Rajya Sabha to make a statement on Manipur, to be followed by a discussion." He also alleged Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge was not allowed to speak. "All INDIA (alliance) parties walked out around 12:30 pm," Ramesh said in a tweet later. The Rajya Sabha was ear

Rajya Sabha proceedings adjourned till noon amid Oppn protest over Manipur

Rajya Sabha proceedings on Tuesday were adjourned till noon amid protest by opposition parties demanding discussion on the Manipur issue in the House. Soon after the listed papers were tabled in the House, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar expressed anguish over repeated disruptions of the proceedings in the House on the "same issue". He said a short-duration discussion on the issue was scheduled the previous day, but it could not take place. Dhankhar also did not approve 60 notices for taking up discussion on the Manipur issue under Rule 267 of the Rajya Sabha which allows for suspension of the day's business to debate on any issue suggested by a member. Meanwhile, opposition members started raising slogans. Around 11.25 am, the Chair adjourn House proceedings till noon.

ICCs against sexual harassment of women at workplace in all forces: Centre

The Internal Complaints Committees for the prevention of sexual harassment of women at the workplace are functional in all forces, PSUs, ordnance boards, autonomous bodies, subordinate offices and all other organisations under the Ministry of Defence, the government informed Parliament on Monday. Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt said this in a written response to a query in Rajya Sabha. He was asked whether it is a fact that under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013, ministries are mandated to have an Internal Committee, to which he replied in the affirmative. "Internal Complaint's Committees for prevention of sexual harassment of women at workplace are functional in all forces, PSUs, Ordnance Boards, Autonomous Bodies, Subordinate Offices and all other organisations under Ministry of Defence," he said in his response. On the number of cases referred to the internal complaints committee in the last three years, he said, the figure stood at "1