Page 46 - Rajya Sabha

RS okays bill to include Gond community in ST category in parts of UP

The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed a bill that seeks to include the Gond community in the Scheduled Tribes category in parts of Uttar Pradesh. The Rajya Sabha passed by a voice vote the Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Second Amendment) Bill, 2022, with some amendments. The bill was introduced by Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda on Tuesday. Replying to the discussion on the bill, Munda said the issue has been pending since 1980s and blamed the then Congress-led government for ignoring the plight of the community and denying them their constitutional rights through Schedule Tribes category. Munda also moved amendments in the bill, which will again go to the Lok Sabha for its nod. The bill was earlier passed by the Lok Sabha in April this year. The bill seeks to amend the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) (Uttar Pradesh) Order, 1967 (ST Order) and the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 (SC Order) with respect to its application to Uttar Pradesh

Ensure no gap in essentials supply to troops in high altitudes: Par panel

There should not be any "gap" in supply of clothing, equipment, ration and provisioning of accommodation for soldiers engaged in safeguarding the country's borders under difficult weather conditions in high-altitude regions, a high-level parliamentary panel said on Wednesday. In its 55th report tabled in Lok Sabha, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) pointed out inordinate delays in procurement of winter clothing for soldiers in high-altitude areas as well as implementation of the project for improving their housing conditions. It also recommended urgent revamp of the approach towards procurement of high-altitude clothing, equipment, ration and housing facilities for the troops deployed in those regions. Temperatures in some of the forward locations including in Ladakh drop up to minus 40 degree celsius during harsh winter months. The PAC's report on 'Provisioning, procurement and issue of High Altitude Clothing, Equipment, Ration and Housing' noted that the audit found instances o

Rajya Sabha mourns death of former MPs Yoginder K Alagh and R C Singh

The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday mourned the death of its former member Yoginder K Alagh and R C Singh with MPs standing in silence in their places as a mark of respect. When the House met for the day, Deputy Chairman Harivansh informed that Alagh passed away on December 6 at the age of 83 years. Alagh, who taught economics during his lifetime, served as a member of the erstwhile Planning Commission and was vice chancellor of JNU. He represented the state of Gujarat in the Upper House from November 1996 to April 2000. "In the passing away of Alagh the country has lost an eminent economist and an able Parliamentarian," he said. An agriculturalist and social worker Singh, who was an MP of Rajya Sabha from June 2008 to April 2012, died on December 10 at the age of 78 years. "In the passing away of Singh, the country has lost a veteran trade unionist and an able parliamentarian," he said. MPs stood in their places in silence as a mark of respect to the memory of the departed.

Bill to include Gonds in ST category in UP introduced in Rajya Sabha

The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday took up a bill that seeks to include the Gond community in the Scheduled Tribes category in parts of Uttar Pradesh. Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda introduced the motion for consideration and passage of the bill when the Upper House reassembled at 2 pm post lunch break. The Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Second Amendment) Bill, 2022 passed by the Lok Sabha in April this year. The bill seeks to amend the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) (Uttar Pradesh) Order, 1967 (ST Order) and the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 (SC Order) with respect to its application to Uttar Pradesh. It amends the Scheduled Castes order to exclude the Gond community as a Scheduled Caste in four districts of Uttar Pradesh: Chandauli, Kushinagar, Sant Kabir Nagar, and Sant Ravidas Nagar. It amends the ST order to recognise the Gond community as a Scheduled Tribe in these four districts. Pramod Tiwari of the Congress supported the bill but

'3,000 raids on opposition leaders', says AAP's Sanjay Singh in RS

He alleged that the government agencies were deliberately harassing the opposition

A new legislation for women's representation: The need of the hour

Bifurcating constituencies into two separate sections - each to be represented by a man and a woman respectively - can be accomplished within a few months

BJP's Sushil Modi demands to 'phase out' 2,000 rupee notes in Rajya Sabha

A demand to gradually phase out 2,000 rupee currency notes was made in the Rajya Sabha on Monday with BJP MP Sushil Kumar Modi saying citizens holding such banknotes should be given two years to deposit it. Raising the issue through a zero-hour mention, he said 2,000 rupee notes have vanished from most ATMs in the country and there are rumours that they may not be legal tender soon. "The government has to clarify on this," he said, adding the RBI stopped printing the 2,000 rupee currency notes 3 years back. The 2,000 rupee currency note along with a new 500 rupee note was introduced when the government overnight demonetised old 500 and 1000 rupee notes. "There was no logic of bringing a 2,000 rupee note when 1,000 rupee note circulation was stopped," he said and went on to cite examples of developed nations that do not have currency notes of higher denomination. He said 2,000 rupee notes are being hoarded and are often used in illegal trades such as that drugs, and money ...

YSRCP MP Vijay Sai Reddy raises instant loan app fraud issue in RS

He said the police arrested only the Indian agents and the companies were operating from China, and were also working without permission of the RBI

Where is the confrontation with the judiciary possibly headed?

The SC had declared NJAC Act unconstitutional, arguing that the primacy of the judiciary in judicial appointments was embedded in the 'basic structure' of the Constitution

RS to discuss Bill seeking inclusion of Gonds in ST category in parts of UP

The Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on March 28, 2022. It was passed in the Lok Sabha in April

National Judicial Commission Bill introduced in Rajya Sabha, AAP opposes

A private member bill to regulate the appointment of judges through the National Judicial Commission was on Friday introduced in Rajya Sabha by CPI(M)'s Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharyya but was opposed by AAP MP Raghav Chadha. The National Judicial Commission Bill, 2022 was introduced after the majority of voice votes were in its favour. Bhattacharyya moved the bill that aims to regulate the procedure to be followed by the National Judicial Commission for recommending people for appointment as the Chief Justice of India and other judges of the Supreme Court and Chief Justices and other judges of High Courts. The bill, if approved, will also regulate their transfers and to lay down judicial standards and provide for accountability of judges, and establish credible and expedient mechanism for investigating into individual complaints for misbehaviour or incapacity of a judge of the apex court or of a high court and to regulate the procedure for such investigation. It also proposes for the

Private member's bill on Uniform Civil Code introduced in Rajya Sabha

A controversial private member's Bill that seeks to provide for a panel to prepare a Uniform Civil Code was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on Friday. 'The Uniform Civil Code in India Bill, 2020' was introduced in the Upper House amid protests from opposition parties. BJP MP Kirodi Lal Meena moved for leave to introduce the Bill to provide for the constitution of the national inspection and investigation committee for preparation of a Uniform Civil Code and its implementation throughout India and for matters connected therewith during the private member's business. However, Opposition members from the Congress, CPI, CPI(M), Trinamool Congress protested against the introduction of the Bill saying it will "destroy" the social fabric and unity in diversity that is prevalent in the country. With the Opposition members seeking withdrawal of the Bill, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar called for division and the motion for introduction of the Bill was passed with 63 votes in favour an

RS witnesses uproar over introduction of private member's bill on UCC

Amid protests by the opposition parties, the private member's bill on Uniform Civil Code (UCC) was introduced in Rajya Sabha on Friday

Analyse pvt studies, data before referring to them while rasing issues: VP

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday urged members to analyse private studies or data before referring to them while raising any issue, saying such studies can be based on inadequate data or dictated by interests of others. Dhankhar said this during Question Hour when Union Minister Piyush Goyal was replying to a supplementary query on India's 107th ranking in the Global Hunger Index 2022. KC(M) MP Jose K Mani said India's rank was 107 among 121 countries. Neighbouring countries such as Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are ahead of India in the index and only Afghanistan is behind, he noted. Though the government has continuously questioned the methodology used in the index, the prevalence of hunger and poverty in the country is well seen, he said. "Has the government found out the reason behind this mismatch?" he asked. Goyal replied that as regard the hunger index, the name itself is a misnomer. Referring to the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY) under whic

3 controversial issues to be tabled as private members bill in Rajya Sabha

Three controversial issues will be introduced as private members bill in the Rajya Sabha on Friday

BJP MP gives Zero Hour Notice in Rajya Sabha to discuss Uniform Civil code

On the third day of the Winter Session of the Parliament, BJP MP Harnath Singh Yadav gave Zero Hour Notice in Rajya Sabha to discuss the implementation of the Uniform Civil code in the country

Winter session: Rajya Sabha passes Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill

The Bill seeks to implement India's obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

Bill to promote use of non-fossil fuels introduced in Rajya Sabha

A bill that seeks to promote the use of non-fossil fuels, including ethanol, green hydrogen and biomass, was introduced in Rajya Sabha for passage on Thursday. The Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2022, is also aimed at helping the country achieve its international commitments on climate change. The legislation was cleared by Lok Sabha in August this year. Piloting the bill in the Upper House, Power Minister R K Singh said the country is working towards reduction in emissions although its per capita emissions is about one third of the global average. "If we look at the total carbon dioxide load on the environment, our contribution is just 3.4 per cent even as our population is 17.5 per cent of the global population," he said. Yet, the county has emerged as one of the leading nations in energy transition and climate action, he added. "Today our non-fossil fuel power generation capacity is 42 per cent of our total capacity which is around 408 giga watt," he said, adding that t

Ex-PMs, senior MPs to get preference to express views on issues in RS: VP

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday assured the House that experienced MPs like former prime minister H D Deve Gowda would be given preference to express views on important issues, and not the rule book. While felicitating Dhankar as new Rajya Sabha Chairman on Wednesday, it was suggested by some that experienced members should be given adequate time to express views on legislations and issues of national interest. "Believe in the Chair. The Chair is not partisan. The Chair is national," Dhankhar said while making an observation during the Question Hour on day two of the winter session of Parliament. The chairman also urged the MPs to rise above party lines on important issues. Rajya Sabha rules provide for the allocation of time during debates as per the strength of a political party - the larger the number of MPs more is time is given to the party. Gowda is the sole member of his party (JDS) in the House and hence is allocated the least time to put forth his ...

Advise Centre to exercise restraint on comments: SC tells attorney general

In his maiden speech in the Rajya Sabha on December 7 and at a public event last week, vice president Jagdeep Dhankar criticised the Supreme Court's judgement overturning the NJAC