On the 12th day of the Monsoon Session, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman gave her reply in the Rajya Sabha after the much-awaited debate on inflation. The Lok Sabha, meanwhile, passed the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2021 after a debate, with many Opposition MPs highlighting the classification of vermins, invasive species and state governments’ reduced role.
Earlier in the day, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addressed questions on the consistent fall of the rupee and said in the Rajya Sabha that there has been “no collapse” of the Indian currency. The Finance Minister added that even after a series of factors affecting the world economy, the Indian currency has “appreciated itself”. In the Lower House, DMK MP Thalikottai Baalu questioned the efficiency of the reservation and social justice policies of the government.
Earlier on Monday, the Lok Sabha took up the long-awaited discussion on price rise in the presence of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who recently recuperated from COVID-19. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also revoked the suspension of four Congress members after seeking assurance from the Opposition that they will not bring placards to the House. The Rajya Sabha, although once again marred by disruptions and Opposition sloganeering, managed to push through the passing of two bills.
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Here are the live updates:
House adjourned for the day after taking up special mentions
Items are being brought down from higher tax rates to lower tax rates: FM
The Minister says prices are not increasing because of GST imposition. “Even those items which were under the 28% slab at the time of introducing GST, (there were more than 229 items under the slab) gradually through various GST council meetings, that 229 has now come down to just 28 items in 28% tax rate”.
FM on GST to States
Addressing whether the introduction of GST reduced the flow of resources to the States, she gave data from before GST till today. From 2015-16 to today, the total flow of funds to the States has increased substantially, she said, by an average of nearly 15% despite the pandemic.
FM defends Centre on cess collection
Pointing out that a lot of members express concerns about cess, she says that between 2013-14 to 2022-2023 belated, ₹3.77 lakh crores of cess has been collected and what actually has been utilised is 3.93 lakh crore, which means States have received it, have started using it, and have also spent it. She adds that nearly ₹20 lakh crore has been given to States as extra.
“States receive the cess as and when, the Centre does not collect and sit with it,” the Minister said, adding that it goes to the States promptly and sometimes more than what is being collected goes to them.
Finance Minister talks about Centre’s schemes for farmers and poor
Talking about farmers, she says that in 2014 there was no Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana but in 2022 the govt. has already deposited ₹6,000 a year each for 12.5 crore plus farmers.
As for the Jal Jeevan mission, she says that in 2019 there were only 3.2 crores getting piped water, and now 9.6 crore households are getting piped water.
Ms. Sitharaman defends Ujjwala LPG scheme
The Minister says that many members expressed concerns that the Centre’s Ujjwala gas distribution scheme was not working. “As of May 21st, when we announced the excise duty cut, we said that up to 12 cylinders at the cost of Rs. 200 per cylinder will be given to 9 crore beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana,” Ms. Sitharaman says. “But the cost of LPG is not in our hands, if we are importing it and the prices are going up, obviously we will have to make sure that we give it at a concessional rate and we’re giving it.”
Read more: Ujjwala scheme | 90 lakh beneficiaries do not get refills
Finance Minister talks about affordable healthcare for poor
Talking about the cost of medicines, Ms. Sitharaman mentions the Centre’s Jan Aushadhi Kendras, adding that the price of Jan Aushadhi medicines is cheaper at least by 50%, and in some cases by 80%-90% compared to the market price of branded medicines.
She says that the Jan Aushadhi Kendras have succeded as a mission in reaching medicines at affordable prices to the poor.
Talking about the Aysuman Bharat misson, she says that more than 3.28 crore persons have been treated free of cost as on 7th April this year.
FM gives data on nutrition levels
She says, addressing concerns about malnutrition, between 2015-16 and 2019-21, child stunting has been reduced from 38.5% to 35.5%; Child wasting has come down from 21% to 19.3%; underweight children from 35.8% to 31.1%; and malnutrition in women of 18-49 years came down from 22.9% to 18.7%.
Finance Minister says concerned that right information on GST is not reaching members
There are quite a lot of misconceptions about GST, the Minister says. Talking about bank chequebooks, she says that there is no charge on the consumer who withdraws money from the bank, instead, the GST has been imposed on the banks to give the printers who print the chequebooks. She says that the banks have been told to give GST when they buy chequebooks from the printers, as the latter pay various taxes on raw materials for manufacturing chequebooks.
She clarifies that there is no GST on crematorium, funeral, burial, or mortuary services, contrary to what was mentioned by an Opposition member. But, if someone wants to build a new crematorium, and buy electric incinerators and so on for it, then they will pay taxes on the items they buy for the construction.
Lok Sabha passes the Wild Life Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2021
The Bill has been passed through a voice vote.
The House has been adjourned for the day. Proceedings will resume on Wednesday, August 3, at 11.00 a.m.
Finance Minister quotes statistics about other countries
“No one is in denial about price rise,” she says, adding that the government is aware that inflation is above the RBI’s median proposed rate, and the government was working with the Central Bank to keep it in the median range of 4 plus or minus 2%.
While saying that she is not revelling in the situation of countries who are not doing well today, the Union Minister gave data on countries “which had been quoted on various indexes as being better than India”.
Talking about the neighbouring country of Bangladesh, she says: “There was a time when we were quoted repeatedly saying Bangladesh is doing well and you’re not.” She says that the per capita GDP at PPP in 2013 for Bangladesh was $3,143, and India’s was $5,057. In 2021, Bangladesh’s per capita GDP at PPP was $6,613, while India’s was $7,334.
Saying that India’s macro-economic principles are strong, Ms. Sitharaman said that Bangladesh is seeking $4.5 billion from IMF because they have balance of payment problems. Sri Lanka, she says, is asking for $3.5 billion, while Pakistan is asking for a total of $7 billion in different stages.
Power dynamics
Finance Minister responds to inflation debate in Upper House
“The situation of the Indian economy, compared to the situation prevailing in many of our peer groups and many of the developed economies, is definitely much better,” Ms. Sitharaman says. She adds, however, that it does not mean the government is running away from the problem.
If forests are our heart, wetlands are our kidneys: Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav
Wetlands purify our environment and should be saved, the minister says.
Sushil Modi asks why States notified the GST increase if they objected to it
The BJP MP from Bihar says that all states unanimously voted for increasing the GST levy on items. He says that it clearly means that States are in favour of the GST increase because why else would they notify the increase in GST rates in their States, giving the example of Bengal and Kerala.
Bhupender Yadav begins his reply after a discussion on the Wild Life Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2021
This government works on the principle of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” and is working towards the betterment of all wildlife species alongside humans, the minister says.
No mention of forest fires in this Bill: Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo
Forest Fires are a great menace and a constant occurrence, the MP says. She quotes the example of the 2021 Simlipal forest fire that raged on for over two weeks.
K.R. Suresh Reddy questions agricultural cess on petroleum products
The TRS member from Telangana states that the Centre levies an Agricultural Infrastructure and Development cess of Rs.2.5 on per litre of petroleum product. He asks the Finance Minister for the amount the government has spent on agricultural infrastructure in the last seven years.
“I haven’t seen any major irrigation project come up in the country, I haven’t seen any major incentives given to the farmer, but in spite of this the government is collecting (cess),” he says.
RLD’s Jayant Chaudhary talks about food production inflation
The Uttar Pradesh MP talks about the increase in the price incurred by farmers to produce food grains.
He says that the farmer was paying Rs. 3,000 in 2014 to till one acre of land in 2014, today he is paying Rs. 5,400 for the same. The farmer would buy seeds for Rs. 300 to sow rice on one acre of land, today he is paying Rs. 600. He would pay Rs. 3,000 for manure and fertilisers for one acre of farmland in 2014, and now the price for that has reached Rs. 6,000.
What is the minister doing to prevent people from being killed by man-eating tigers in the Sunderbans, asks MP Saugata Roy
“In West Bengal, every year, tigers enter habitation area, and once they get some alcohol (locally produced mahua), they go mad and destroy property and kill humans.”
Similar situations are also common in North Bengal, the MP adds.
Sardar Simranjit Singh Mann questions the government’s process of reintroducing the cheetah in a Madhya Pradesh sanctuary
“Experts say that the chosen sanctuary is too small for the cheetah to survive,” Mr. Mann says.
NCP’s Fauzia Khan on GST on essential commodities
The Maharashtra MP says that the levying GST on basic commodities is “obviously” the result of the need for more money to run the government. “The same applies to the fuel cess,” she adds.
No plans to bring Census under the Concurrent List: Government
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai has informed the Lower House that the government does not have any plans to allow States to conduct the Census.
The Concurrent List consists of subjects of common interest to both the Union and the States. Both the Parliament and the State legislatures can make laws in subjects which are in the Concurrent List. — PTI
Loans worth ₹10 lakh crore written off in five years: Centre
Minister of State for Finance Bhagwat K Karad informed in a written reply that banks have written off loans worth nearly ₹10 lakh crore in the last five financial years.
He added, however, that during 2021-22, the write-off amount decreased to ₹1,57,096 crore compared to ₹2,02,781 crore in the previous year. — PTI
CPSEs under the Ministry of Heavy Industries
BJP’s Ghanshyam Tiwari says the Opposition’s discussion on inflation only political, not conducive to public benefit
Mr. Tiwari says the Opposition should look at the Modi government’s initiatives. He says that despite the COVID-19 lockdowns in the two years, the Centre gave free food to 80 crore people.
On fuel prices, he says that while the Centre reduced duty on petrol and diesel eight consecutive times, “Opposition states did not pass on the benefits”.
Changes that this Bill intends to introduce may do more harm than good: Agatha K. Sangma, NPP
The Meghalaya MP says that wildlife experts have pointed out that the changes, if implemented, may allow for commercial trade of live elephants.
“Existing Act specifically prohibits trade in wild animals including captive and wild elephants. But, an exception has been carved out in the Bill by excluding live elephants from the general prohibition contained in Section 43. The implication of the same is that the commercial sale and purchase is no longer prohibited under the Act.”
The Bill will legalise elephant trade for the first time in fifty years, Ms. Sangma says.
This Bill is proof that this government is committed to fulfilling the requirements of international conventions, says BJP MP Janardan Mishra
The Bill will help protect indigenous plants, especially medicinal plants, against hostile invasive species, Mr. Mishra says.
The MP gives the example of carrot grass, a plant that is not native to India, and has proven detrimental to locally-growing medicinal plants in his area.
Youngest member Raghav Chadha speaks on price rise
AAP member from Punjab Raghav Chadha says that the farmer is bearing the brunt of inflation both as a producer and as a consumer.
The cost of food production in the past year has risen by nearly 21%, he says, meaning that while the farmer is paying more for production, his income, which was promised to be doubled by the Centre, is not at par with his expenses.
As a consumer as well, the farmer is facing problems. “It has happened for the first time since independence that the rural inflation in the country is more than the urban inflation,” the AAP MP says.
Congress MP flags under-utilisation of Centre’s Ujjwala LPG scheme
Congress member from Maharashtra Rajni Ashokrao Patil quotes a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report to say that 65% of gas given under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Scheme is not being used by the beneficiaries. She says that this is because the price per cylinder has gone above Rs.1,000.
BJP’s Sudhanshu Trivedi says inflation is above 10% in 63 countries in the world
The Uttar Pradesh MP adds that while inflation in India is 7%, some countries have their inflation rates even at 50, 100, and 200%.
Besides, he says there is a need to understand the gravity and intensity of global inflation. Quoting a White House press release, he says that the world’s biggest economy America open its strategic oil reserve for the first time in order to curtail inflation. He quotes another U.S. govt. data point to say that despite opening the oil reserve, the oil price came down just by 40 cents per gallon, as on July 26, 2022.
Dr. S.T. Hasan of Samajwadi Party advocates killing animals, especially tigers, that turn into man-eaters
Currently, authorities are under extreme pressure by NGOs to not kill man-eating animals even though there is a provision to do so in the Wildlife Protection Act, Dr. Hasan says. “People start NGOs and become wildlife-lovers to make themselves prominent these days.”
In such situations, authorities are forced to only tranquilise the animals and not kill them, he adds. “You have to be at a distance of only 15-20 metres to tranquilise a tiger, but you cannot do that with an animal that has started eating humans. Also, you cannot tranquilise an animal at night.”
AGP member asks for fixed tax structure on petroleum products
AGP MP from Assam Birendra Prasad Baishya expresses confidence in the Modi government to bring down the inflation but requests the Finance Minister to introduce a fixed tax structure in all states for petroleum products. “The rate of petrol in Delhi, Maharashtra, and Kerala, this is because we have no common tax structure.”
YSRCP member says Inflation is taxation without legislation
YSRCP MP from Andhra Pradesh, V. Vijayasai Reddy, says that as per the RBI, inflation should be maintained at the median of four plus or minus 2% but as of June it is 7.01%, which is well above the median. The RBI has further said that it will remain above 6% for the rest of the year.
“Inflation is taxation without legislation,” he says, adding that inflation is violative of article 38 of the constitution, which states that the “state shall, in particular, strive to minimize the inequalities in income, and endeavour to eliminate inequalities in status, facilities and opportunities”. The present central government, he says, had failed to control inflation.
He advises the Finance Ministry two ways to control inflation-
1. Cash Reserve Ratio: CRR is at 4.5%, raising it by 50 more basis points will help control inflation accordingly.
2. The statutory Liquidity Ratio, which is maintained at 18% as of now, can be increased by the RBI, if needed, to the extent of 40%.
TDP MP Jayadev Galla highlights Red sanders’ smuggling
Speaking in support of the Bill, TDP MP Jayadev Galla seeks inclusion of Red sanders - home to Andhra forests - in a protected schedule. Referring to recent Telugu movie ‘Pushpa’, he highlights the rampant smuggling of the above-mentioned trees as shown in the movie too. Seeking clarifications on vermin, Mr. Galla also urges Centre to rely on science while respecting religious traditions with respect to animals.
Congress MP Adv. Dean Kuriakose also raises vermin classification, urging Centre to include wild boars in Kerala in the category. Regulating the boar population, he demands allowing boar hunting to cull their population and the villagers around the Idukki forests.
Opposition parties continue to slam govt on price rise
The AAP’s Sanjay Singh alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s friends have benefitted during his term but the common man has been asked to bear the brunt of high taxes. Vijayasai Reddy of the YSRCP said that just because there is inflation in Germany, U. S. and U. K., it is not an excuse for price rise in India, as the country has to manage it on its own.
Sujeet Kumar, BJD, said that if the price rise continues, bulk of Indian youth will fall into debt trap. The current inflation, he said, is caused by supply constraints. He also added that price rise has had a direct impact on mid-day meal schemes, and that the quality of mid-day meals has fallen and affected the nutrition of children in the country.
Non NDA MPs voice opinions on Bill, suggest amendments
BJD, BSP, JD(U) and Shiv Sena MPs speak in support of the Bill. Issuing his maiden Lok Sabha address, JD(U) MP Sunil Kumar urges Centre to keep in mind several species in Bihar while declaring them vermin.
Rahul Shewale (Shiv Sena) suggests the Centre to crack down on cybercrimes involved in animal smuggling, NCP MP Faizal P P Mohammed highlights fallacies regarding vermin classification, elephant trade and classification of species under schedules. Highlighting the identification of marine species in Lakshadweep - his constituency - Mr. Mohammed claims that the Bill lacks scientific study in certain areas.
BSP MP Ram Shiromani Singh and BJD’s Sarmistha Sethi too demand higher powers be accorded to state governments by including state forest members in the national committee.
When people die, 18% GST to be paid even at crematorium: Tiruchi Siva
Tiruchi Siva of the DMK countered Finance Minister’s claim in the Rajya Sabha that the DMK has not fulfilled any its poll promises from last year. In one year, DMK government has fulfilled 70% of poll promises, he said, and then challenged the government about the promises made by the BJP in 2014.
He said that the high taxes are breaking the back of the common man and that the government must make efforts to improve the value of the rupee. He noted that even when a person dies, 18% GST is to be paid even at the crematorium.
We warned you about GST implementation: Derek O’Brien
Derek O’Brien of the Trinamool Congress asked in Rajya Sabha that if inflation in the U. S. is 9%, and India’s inflation is 7%, why was the rupee still depreciating against the dollar. He said that the government was warned by the opposition about the implementation of GST, demonitisation, lockdown but the government did not heed it. This, he says, is why the BJP lost in West Bengal.
He challenged Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to respond to questions on high taxes on essential items.
Centre explains salient amendments, Opposition points out fallacies
Listing the main amendments, BJP MP Kirti Vardhan Singh explains how CITES agreement will be implemented via the Bill, two new management authorities to be constituted and appointment of a Chief Wild Life Warden to regulate the conservation.
He adds that amendments also curb harassment of tribal people and protect India’s fauna and flora from invasive species.
Pointing to fallacies, DMK MP A Raja states that state governments have not been considered enough and empowered to implement the Bill. He adds that the classification of vermin and barring of invasive species lacked scientific merit.
Every country has inflation problems: Prakash Javadekar
BJP’s MP from Maharashtra Prakash Javadekar responds to questions on rising prices in the Rajya Sabha, says every other country has inflation problems, but the proportion to income is what matters. He went on to congratulate the GST council for all rates being fixed uniformly
Rajya Sabha session resumes
A discussion on the rising prices of essential items continues as Elamaram Kareem of CPI(M) says the government must tax the rich and not burden the common people. In the last five years, the price of rice, wheat increased by 24%, pulses by 20-30%, he points out. Cooking oil prices have also risen, making it unaffordable for people, he says.
Opposition appreciates Standing Committee’s contribution to the Bill
Thanking members of the Standing Committee which deliberated and amended the Wild Life Protection (Amendment) Bill, Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi reiterates the contribution of late PM Indira Gandhi to the Act. Mr. Bordoloi raises the animal smuggling rampant in Assam, urging the Centre to take steps to protect animals from human impact. He also highlights the need for protection of elephants via the Bill reminding to keep a balance between tradition and conservation.
Centre moves Wild Life Protection (Amendment) Bill
Union Minister Bhupender Yadav moves to consider and pass the Wild Life Protection (Amendment) Bill 2021 in the Lok Sabha
Read the amendments proposed in the Bill here
Data | A total of 330 people died between 2017 and 2021 cleaning sewers and septic tanks, reveals data provided by Lok Sabha
Rajya Sabha adjourned until 2 p.m.
The Upper House has been adjourned and will resume proceedings at 2 p.m.
Possible to develop monkeypox vaccine in India: Health Minister
Questions on steps taken to create awareness about monkeypox are asked in the Upper House. Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya says the government has set up a task force and steps are also being taken to increase awareness about the disease. He asks the citizen to not get panicked as the Central government has been working in coordination with the State governments to control the spread of the virus.
Upon being asked on the progress of vaccines for the disease, the Health Minister says studies are still being conducted to find proper vaccination for the disease. Only contact tracing and vaccinating people who were in close contact with a disease carrier required to be vaccinated and there is no need for a country-wide vaccination for this disease. Our scientists have isolated the monkeypox virus and I am sure they will also develop a vaccine in India itself, the Union Minister concludes.
Lok Sabha adjourned until 2 p.m.
The Lower House has been adjourned and is set to resume proceedings at 2 p.m.
Delhi CM’s involvement in corruption case questioned
Ramesh Bidhuri (BJP) from South Delhi questions the involvement of the Chief Minister of Delhi in a corruption case, adding that one of his key party members has also been accused of corruption.
Visa procurement an issue for students, says MP
Gopal Shetty (BJP), MP from North Mumbai, draws the House’s attention to the pending visa applications for students who want to return to foreign countries to continue their education. He adds that this has been an issue following the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine crisis. Students are also not able to avail visas to travel to the United States. This is not India’s problem, but an issue with foreign nations, he adds.
Discussion on GST collection underway
On questions of GST collection, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says utilisation was more than what was collected under the GST. The collection in road and infrastructure cess has come down because of decrease in excise on petrol and diesel, the Finance Minister says. DMK MP Kannimozhi Somu says States are not getting their dues. Benefits do not reach States, the DMK MP says. The States are constrained by the need to develop new resources, she alleges. She asks the Finance Minister if the benefits will be shared with the States. The Minister responds saying she has already answered this question.
V. Sivadasan, CPI(M) MP from Kerala, asks if GST benefits will reach Panchayati Raj system. The contribution has already gone up, the Finance Minister responds.
L. Hanumanthaiah, Congress MP from Karnataka, raises the issue of multiple road taxes. The Centre charges road tax, then tolls are collected, States have their own road taxes, he says, asking, if something is being done about it. The Finance Minister says the matter will be answered by the Road Transport Ministry.
Reservation and social justice policy questioned
Thalikottai Baalu (DMK, Sriperambudur) questions the efficiency of the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) exam in recognising reserved candidates. The MP says that reservation policy must be considered while awarding employment to candidates.
No collapse of rupee: Finance Minister
Questions on “collapse of the rupee” reverberate in the Upper House as other Opposition MPs also ask for and explanation from the Finance Minister. “The rupee has declined 27 times in last year,” Opposition MPs claim. Ms. Sitharaman responds saying, “there is no collapse of rupee.” “If you compare Indian rupee with other currencies, it is appreciating its value,” the Finance Minister stresses.
Pramod Kumar of the Congress, taking a jibe at PM Modi’s remarks before the 2014 elections when he had said ‘when Rupee falls, country’s respect does too’, asks if during his tenure the rupee will cross the mark of his age when compared to the U.S. dollar.
Ms. Sitharaman says when Mr. Modi had given this statement, the inflation had gone down 27 times. Now, even with the Russia-Ukraine war, Omicron, COVID-19 pandemic taking a toll on world economy, Indian rupee is still holding on. This is the amrit-kaal for us, the Minister reaffirms. This is the amrit-kaal for us, the Minister reaffirms.
Zero Hour commences in Lok Sabha
The House takes up matters of urgent public importance. In the Chair is Rajendra Agarwal.
Rajya Sabha discusses rupee fall during Question Hour
Congress MP Vivek Tankha asks if the government is taking measures to curb the fall of rupee. MoS Finance Pankaj Chaudhary says Centre has taken steps to curb the fall, but Opposition members are not satisfied with the response. Mr. Tankha suggests introduction of Jan Dhan Yojana for all blue-collar Indians. “If say Bank of Baroda has a branch in the UAE and the govt. allows it to open such branches, Indians will be able to pay in dollars and it will help the government,” the Congress MP says.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman appreciates the suggestion and says that the RBI and the Ministry are already engaged into it, but Ministry of Finance cannot assure you on the floor of the House, she says.
Rajya Sabha resumes; Question Hour underway
Proceedings resume in the Upper House. Question Hour is taken up.
Question Hour ends in Lok Sabha
Quest Hour comes to an end in Lok Sabha. Speaker Om Birla requests that the members of the House address their questions to the Chair henceforth.
Discussion underway on Kisan Credit Card Scheme
A discussion on the payment of farmers’ loans is underway in the Lower House, initiated by Dr. Veeraswamy Kalanidhi (DMK). MP Supriya Sule (NCP) asks if the Government is willing to waive the farmers’ outstanding loans. Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, says it was for the first time in last so many decades that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended the scheme to fishermen and dairy farmers as the KCC was earlier confined only to agricultural farmers. Speaker Om Birla intervenes to ask if any Government has pardoned these loans in the past.
Upper House adjourned till 12 noon
Opposition members demand the discussion on price rise to take place right after the papers were laid in the Rajya Sabha, but Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu says the discussion will only take place at the allotted time. As Opposition members continue pressing for the discussion, the Chairman asks “do you want the House to be adjourned for the day?” But ,since Opposition members persist with their demand, Mr. Naidu announces the Upper House to be adjourned till 12 noon.
Lok Sabha proceedings commence; Question Hour taken up
Members assemble, proceedings begin on 12th day of the Monsoon Session in the Lok Sabha. Question Hour is taken up in Lok Sabha.
Rajya Sabha proceedings commence
Proceedings on 12th day of the Monsoon Session begin in the Upper House. New members, including Krishna Lal Pawar, take oath as newly elected Rajya Sabha MPs.
What is the Family Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2022?
The Family Courts (Amendment) Bill, which will be taken up by the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, was first introduced in the Lower House on July 18, 2022. The Bill seeks to amend the Family Courts Act, 1984. The Act allows State governments to establish Family Courts. The Central government is empowered to notify dates for the Act to come into force in different States. The governments of Himachal Pradesh and Nagaland have set up Family Courts in their states under the Act. However, the Central government has not extended the application of the Act to these States.
The Bill also seeks to extend the application of the Act to the State of Himachal Pradesh, with effect from February 15, 2019, and to the State of Nagaland, with effect from September 12, 2008. The establishment of Family Courts in both the States will be retrospectively valid from these dates. All actions taken under the Act in both the States, including the appointment of judges, and orders and judgments passed by the Family Courts, will also be deemed to be valid from these dates retrospectively. - PRS
Business of the day in Lok Sabha
The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2021 is to be discussed in the Lok Sabha, in addition to a discussion under Rule 193 on the need to promote sports in India and steps taken by the Government.
What is the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2021?
First introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 17, 2021, the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2021 is expected to be taken up by the Upper House on Tuesday. The Bill seeks to increase the species protected under the law, and implement the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The Bill, which was initially referred to a Parliamentary Standing Committee, amends the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. The Act regulates the protection of wild animals, birds and plants. The Parliamentary Standing Committee submitted its report on April 21, 2022 and the Govt. is seeking for the Bill to be passed by the Lower House on Tuesday. - PRS
Business of the day in Rajya Sabha
Alongside a “short duration discussion” on “rising prices of essential items”, the Upper House will take up the Family Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2022 for consideration and passing on the 12th day of the Monsoon Session.
Parliament Watch podcast | Day 11
Opposition slams Centre in Lok Sabha over price rise and GST
In a dramatic twist to the debate on price rise in the Lok Sabha on Monday, Trinamool Congress (TMC) Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar bit into a raw brinjal to ask if the Narendra Modi government was encouraging people to consume raw food as cooking gas or LPG cylinders were no longer affordable.
Rajya Sabha passes two Bills amid protests over Raut’s arrest
The Rajya Sabha on Monday passed the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill and the Indian Antarctic Bill amid disruptions over the arrest of Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut.
Lok Sabha Speaker revokes suspension of four Congress members
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on August 1 revoked the suspension of four Congress members after seeking assurance from the Opposition that they will not bring placards to the House. The revocation of suspension, a week after the four Congress MPs were suspended for “unruly” behaviour, paved way for the resumption of normal business as the Lower House took up a short discussion on inflation.
