Page 7 - Rajya Sabha

China takes up land, ally US impose tariffs: Rahul Gandhi slams govt in LS

Rahul Gandhi claimed that the recently announced US tariffs is going to 'completely devastate' the Indian economy, particularly sectors like the auto industry, pharmaceuticals and agriculture

Anurag Thakur should resign if he can't prove allegations, says Kharge

Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday hit back at Anurag Thakur for hurling "wild allegations" at him, and dared the BJP MP to prove the charges or else resign. Referring to certain remarks made by Thakur in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday during the discussion on the Waqf bill, the Congress president said the remarks have damaged his reputation. Thakur's remarks have been expunged from the records. Several opposition parties also staged a walkout from the House on the issue. Raising the issue during the morning session in the Rajya Sabha, Kharge said his life has always been an open book, and he has always upheld the highest values in public life. "After almost 60 years in politics, I do not deserve this. Yesterday, completely false and baseless charges were hurled at me in the Lok Sabha by Anurag Thakur. When he was challenged by my colleagues, he was compelled to withdraw his defamatory remarks," he said. "But the damage has been done. All the media

Kiren Rijiju tables Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Rajya Sabha; discussions begin

The Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha by a division of votes, with 288 in favour and 232 against

Waqf (Amendment) Bill debate moves to Rajya Sabha - What's the road ahead?

The Waqf Bill now faces a key test in Rajya Sabha (236 seats). NDA needs 119 votes and has 125 with independents. The opposition holds 95, while 16 members remain undecided

Over 50 foreign varsities applied to UGC for approval: Pradhan in RS

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday informed the Rajya Sabha that three foreign universities are currently operating in the country and the University Grants Commission (UGC) is likely to grant approval to 50 qualitative foreign varsities in the coming times in the interest of students. Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour, the minister said the University Act, 1956 says that UGC can amend its rules going by the needs of the time. "Around 14-15 lakh students of the country study abroad and a lot of our resources go into foreign land. Keeping that in view and to develop higher research within the country, it would be proper to bring in foreign universities. With this in mind, UGC has amended its rules," Pradhan told the Rajya Sabha. He said not two but three foreign universities are operating in India currently. Over 50 qualitative foreign universities are in talks with different state governments and have reached the UGC for permission, he added. "In the

Executive alone responsible for governance in democracy, says VP Dhankhar

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said 'governance in democracy is solely the executive's role, not the courts', stressing its accountability to Parliament and the people who elect it

Waqf Bill up for debate in the Lok Sabha today: All you need to know

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, proposes key changes to waqf property management, sparking protests from Muslim organisations and opposition parties over concerns of government control

Highlights: Supreme Court refuses to release Ranveer Allahbadia's passport until Latent probe ends

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Waqf bill: NDA, India bloc issue whips as Parliament braces for showdown

With battle lines clearly drawn, the Parliament debate is expected to be heated as the incumbent NDA government and the Opposition face off over the implications of the Waqf Amendment Bill

Waqf Bill: LS debate on Apr 2, RS on Apr 3; TDP, JDU issue whip for support

The Lok Sabha will take up the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill for discussion and passage on Wednesday, setting the stage for a showdown between a government determined to push it through and an opposition united in condemning the proposed law as unconstitutional. Rajya Sabha is expected to take it up on Thursday, with the two Houses allocated eight hours each for debating the proposed law. Some BJP allies, sources said, continue to push for more changes in the bill. A senior member of a BJP ally expressed hope that the saffron party will accommodate their views, stressing that some of their concerns were addressed by the Joint Committee of Parliament which scrutinised the bill. However, he emphasised that the NDA will remain united on the issue. TDP and JD(U), the two biggest constituents of the NDA after the BJP, issued whips to their MPs asking them to support the government stand. The opposition INDIA bloc also presented a united face on Wednesday as its parties discussed th

New bill to boost aircraft leasing, strengthen banking: Union minister

Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu on Tuesday said the Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects Bill, 2025, will boost the Indian aircraft leasing industry and strengthen the country's banking ecosystem as it will address the inconsistencies in the leasing regulations. Soon after the Rajya Sabha passed the bill, the minister also said the push for the aircraft leasing industry was the need of the hour. The proposed legislation seeks to provide legal backing for the Cape Town Convention that mainly pertains to the leasing of aircraft. In a post on X, the minister said that for too long, inconsistencies in leasing regulations have made it difficult to lease planes in India. The bill will "boost the Indian leasing industry, incentivise domestic lessors, and strengthen our banking ecosystem -- ensuring a more accessible and comfortable aviation landscape. This push for the leasing industry was the need of the hour...," he said. India is one of the world's fastest-growing civi

India's fruit exports rise 47% in 5 years: Jitin Prasada in Rajya Sabha

There has been a 47.5 per cent increase in exports of fruits from India in the last five years, the government on Friday informed the Rajya Sabha. Replying to supplementaries during question hour, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada said the free trade agreements with the UAE and Australia have also helped increase exports of fruits to the UAE and Australia by 27 per cent and six per cent, respectively. "As far as fruits export goes, there has been increase of 47.5 per cent in the last five years. Major fruits exported from India are mangoes, grapes, bananas, apple, pineapple, pomegranate and watermelon. "I can assure you that the government is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that our fruits and food supply through exports is ensured," he said in the Rajya Sabha. The minister assured the members that the government is doing everything to ensure the quality of our products and fruits are of international standards, and pesticide level is very low. "Because

Over 60% wheat area sown with climate-resilient varieties: Govt to RS

The government on Friday said that more than 60 per cent of wheat area planted during the rabi (winter-sown) season was under climate resilient varieties. In a written reply to Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of State for Agriculture Ramnath Thakur said, "The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) through its All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on wheat has developed 114 varieties during the last 15 years which are suited to varying weather conditions. "...Out of total wheat area planted in the country during 2024-25, more than 60 per cent of wheat area is under climate resilient varieties. These climate-resilient varieties show less reduction in yield under stress environments," he added. The minister was replying to a question regarding the measures being taken to ensure that the wheat crop is not affected by rising temperatures in March. "The wheat varieties such as DBW187, DBW303, DBW327, WH1270, PBW872 have been developed and notified for the October planting an

Customs duty cuts not linked to Trump's tariff war: FM Sitharaman

Replying in the Rajya Sabha to the debate on the Finance Bill, 2025, and the Appropriation Bill of the FY26 Budget, Sitharaman said the government will continue to simplify customs duties

India working on 3 types of small modular reactors: Union minister

In the Union Budget, the government said India aimed to produce 100 GW of nuclear power by 2047 and half of it would be met by the state-run Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited

Indians not forced to remove turbans during deportation by US: Centre

The Ministry of External Affairs said it remains engaged with the US side regarding humane treatment of immigrants during deportation operations

BSNL revenue impacted by 4G delay, stiff competition: MoS Telecom

The revenue of BSNL is impacted due to delay in rollout of 4G services as well as stiff competition in the mobile segment, the minister said.

Dhankhar rejects privilege motion against Amit Shah, cites 1948 document

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar rejected Congress MP Jairam Ramesh's privilege motion against Amit Shah, citing a 1948 PIB document and stating there was 'no transgression'

RS chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar rejects privilege notice against Amit Shah

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday rejected a privilege notice against Union Home Minister Amit Shah after he cited a 1948 government press release to authenticate his statement that a Congress leader was part of the management of Prime Minister's National Relief Fund. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh had moved the notice against Shah for "casting aspersions" on Congress Parliamentary Party head Sonia Gandhi. Dhankhar said Shah had, after making certain remarks while replying to a debate on the Disaster Management Bill, 2024 in Rajya Sabha on March 25, agreed to authenticate his statement. The minister, he said, cited a press statement issued by the Press Information Bureau of the Government of India on January 24, 1998, wherein the then prime minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had announced starting of the PMNRF which was to be managed by a committee consisting of the Prime Minister, president of the Indian National Congress and certain other people. "I have .

Highlights: RBI releases Monetary Policy Committee meeting calendar for FY26

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