Parliament Budget Session Highlights: Lok Sabha passes Bill to check malpractices in govt recruitment exams

The proceedings of Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 11 am tomorrow.

Indiscreet prescribing of antibiotics is one of the key causes of microbial resistance in the country, Minister of State for Health S P Singh Baghel told Rajya Sabha today. 

The Lok Sabha today passed the the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024, which seeks to deal strictly with malpractices and irregularities in government recruitment examinations, with provisions for a maximum jail term of 10 years and a fine up to Rs 1 crore.

A parliamentary committee suggested the department of water resources to explore the possibility of starting a fund on the lines of Clean Ganga Fund for Yamuna river so that work of cleaning the river need not be stopped for want of funds, reported PTI

While appreciating the ambitious Namami Gange Programme, the Standing Committee on Water Resources in its report 'Review of Upper Yamuna River Cleaning Projects up to Delhi and River Bed Management in Delhi' pointed out that the projects particularly in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh need to be executed in a fast 86 track manner in order to avoid cost and time overrun.

Students and candidates will not be under the purview of the proposed law to check malpractices in examinations, Union minister Jitendra Singh told Lok Sabha on Tuesday as the house took up a discussion on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024. The bill which seeks to deal sternly with malpractices and irregularities in competitive examinations with provisions for a maximum jail term of 10 years and a fine up to Rs 1 crore was introduced in the house on Monday. "We have not kept student or candidate under the purview of this law," Singh, Union Minister of State for Personnel, said, intervening in the debate. -- PTI

Opposition members in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday urged the government to hold assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir at the earliest: 

• Participating in a debate on The Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Hasnain Masoodi (NC) demanded that the polls in the union territory be held soon.
• Masoodi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Monday said his government will take big decisions. Polls in the union territory should be held before other big ticket decisions are taken, he said.
• TMC leader Saugata Roy also referred to the Supreme Court observation and pitched for early assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir
• Supriya Sule of the NCP demanded a timeline and "not a vague" answer from the government on holding assembly polls and giving statehood to the people of J-K.
• BJP member from Jammu Jugal Kishore Sharma said the Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Laws (Amendment) Bill would ensure justice to the other backward classes (OBCs) in the UT.
• Chinta Anuradha (YSRCP) said this is a progressive legislation and would help streamline the election process in the local bodies, including panchayats.

During a session in the Lok Sabha, a verbal confrontation erupted between T R Baalu and Union Minister L Murugan, sparking controversy. Baalu's comment against Murugan led to demands for an apology from the ruling BJP MPs who said that Murugan is a Dalit and the remark was an "insult" to the entire Dalit community and demanded an apology. However, Baalu repeated the word.

Despite repeated demands, Baalu refused to apologize, prompting Speaker Om Birla to expunge the remark.

Meanwhile,  the DMK members, along with Congress and Left MPs, staged a walkout.

The incident took place when the House was discussing a question related to flood relief to Tamil Nadu during the Question Hour.

In response to Congress MP D K Suresh’s “separate nation” remark, Union Law Minister Arjun Meghwal on Wednesday said, “ "In his reply (to Motion of Thanks on President's address) yesterday, the PM said that the Congress stands with those who want to divide the country. They are making false allegations over the issue of revenue. We have never discriminated against any state be it in the south, north-east.. whether they have a BJP govrnment or non-BJP government.

“Today, we are seeing development funds being given to North Indian states. We are seeing a lot of injustice. If we don’t condemn it, in the coming days we might be forced to demand a separate country due to the imposition on us by Hindi regions,” said the younger brother of Karnataka Congress president and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, reacting to the Interim Budget presented on February 1.

"It is very unfortunate that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is just not ready to accept the truth. Karnataka has been left with a small amount of money from the central allocation because the tax collected from Bengaluru is huge, but what they are giving is only peanuts (less)," says Congress MP Manickam Tagore over tax devolution allegations by Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Monday that despite the Union budget’s size having doubled over the last six years, allocation to Karnataka has not seen a proportionate growth. He gave a 'Chalo Delhi' call to protest against the alleged lack of tax devolution and grants-in-aid to the state by the Centre in the national capital on Wednesday.

The demonstration is scheduled for Wednesday at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. The Karnataka Chief Minister said that the Congress government in the southern state will continue to raise its voice against discrimination in the fair tax share and grant distribution of Kannadigas.

VIDEO | "It is very unfortunate that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is just not ready to accept the truth. Karnataka has been left with a small amount of money from the central allocation because the tax collected from Bengaluru is huge, but what they are giving is only… pic.twitter.com/EFPDe7SFBP

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 6, 2024

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is to move in the Lok Sabha today the Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, further to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989 (IX of 1989), the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Act, 2000 (XX of 2000) and the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Corporation Act, 2000 (XXI of 2000), be taken into consideration. Also to move that the Bill be passed. 

Congress MP Manickam Tagore gave an Adjournment Motion notice in Lok Sabha to start discussion on the impact of cyclone Michaung in Tamil Nadu and to direct the govt to early release Rs 37,907 Crore funds sought by the state govt towards flood relief.

Budget Session | Congress MP Manickam Tagore gives an Adjournment Motion notice in Lok Sabha to start discussion on the impact of cyclone Michaung in Tamil Nadu and to direct the govt to early release Rs 37,907 Crore funds sought by the state govt towards flood relief. pic.twitter.com/AEZEtcQcrl

— ANI (@ANI) February 6, 2024

Congress Lok Sabha MP Manish Tewari has moved an adjournment motion in the Lower House seeking a discussion on the border situation with China on Tuesday.

The MP from Sri Anandpur Sahib constituency sought suspension of Zero Hour, Question Hour, and other businesses of the day.

"Since 2019, there have been constant border clashes between India and China. The Government has stonewalled every attempt made by the Opposition to have a discussion regarding this urgent issue. Since this Budget Session is the final session of the 17th Lok Sabha prior to the General Elections, I request that this House be adjourned to discuss the India-China border situation," Tewari wrote in a letter to Lok Sabha Secretary General.

Union Minister Bhupender Yadav is to move in the Rajya Sabha today the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Bill, 2024 further to amend the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. The Bill will be moved in the house for its consideration and passage.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to move The Finance Bill, 2024 for its consideration and passage in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

"Finance Minister Sitharaman will move that the Bill to continue the existing rates of income-tax for the financial year 2024-2025 and to provide for certain relief to taxpayers and to make amendments in certain enactments, be taken into consideration. Also to move that the Bill be passed," the List of Business in the House for the day read.

Naga People's Front MP Lorho S Pfoze, while participating in the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address, said that the Union Government should seriously address the issues related to the ethnic violence in Manipur, news agency PTI reported. Pfoze pointed out that more than 180 people had lost their lives and several hundreds were injured since ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur in early May last year, expressing regret that the President's address did not mention the issue.

Quoting an Independence Day speech delivered by India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the former PM thought that Indians were lazy and of low intelligence. 'Nehru had said 'we do not work as hard the Europeans, Japanese, Chinese, Russians or the Americans. Do not think that these communities became prosperous by some magic. They have achieved this by hardwork and smartness',' Modi said.

He added that Nehru had given 'a certificate' to those who had belittled Indians, while adding that his daughter, former PM Indira Gandhi was no different. 'Indira ji had said from (the ramparts of) Red Fort, 'Unfortunately, it is our habit that when a good work is approaching completion, we become complacent. And when an obstacle comes, we lose hope. Sometimes it seems the whole nation has accepted defeat',' Modi said. He claimed that although she was unable to assess the people of the country, she had done an exact evaluation of the Congress party.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while talking about the pace of development and growth in the country, said that India was poised to become the world's third largest economy during the NDA government's 'third term', adding that this was 'Modi's guarantee'. He said that he could say so looking at the "strong economy and the manner in which the country is developing". 

VIDEO | "On the basis of the experience of these 10 years, and looking at the strong economy and the manner in which the country is developing, I can firmly say that in our third term, India will become the world's third biggest economy, and this is 'Modi Guarantee'," says PM… pic.twitter.com/VMLLtR3Aw9

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 5, 2024

Talking about the abrogation of Article 370, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the people of Kashmir had welcomed the decision, adding that they as well as the whole country had paid a heavy price for the mistakes of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Modi also said that former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, in their speeches, had portrayed the people of India as "lazy" and "slow", adding that their thought process was that the Indians can never be as hardworking as the Japanese.

Slamming the Congress in his address to the Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the country needed a trustworthy opposition, while alleging that the party had not allowed its young generation to rise through the ranks.  Taking a jibe at the Congress, he said, “Kharge has shifted from one house to another, and Ghulam Azad has switched parties. All of this is due to dynastic politics. Now, the time has come to close their shop.”

Talking about the Enforcement Directorate, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address said that the agency had seized 5000 crore worth of assets under the Congress rule, while adding that this figure rose up to 1 lakh crore under BJP-led NDA government. The Prime Minister also said that the investigative agencies were acting independently as per the constituion, acting that it was the judiciary's responsibility to judge the legitimacy of their actions.

Speaking on the employment opportunities created under the NDA government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address highlighted that 18 crore new subscribers had registered with the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation in the last 10 years. 'Employment opportunities that are available for youth today were not available earlier,' Modi said. The Prime Minister also said that quality jobs would increase manifold. "We are gearing to empower skilled individuals for Industry 4.0," he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while concluding his address while replying to the Motion of Thanks, appealed all the parliament members as well as the parties to cooperate with the government and unite for the purpose of nation-building and for the development of the country. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the Parliament, said that the NDA government had filled up the 'ditches' left by the Congress in its first tenure and laid the foundation for a new India in its second term. The Prime Minister said that the BJP in it's 'third tenure' would look towards expediting the development of the nation and lay the foundation for the progress to take place in the next 1000 years.

While attacking the Congress on inflation during its tenure, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the Parliament, said that the NDA government had controlled the increase in prices despite two world wars. "History is witness that inflation increases every time the Congress party is in power," Modi said. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address, highlighted the Ayodhya Ram temple consecration, the abrogation of article 370, and more, pointing to the "country's potential and the power of the people". He talked about the various schemes under the NDA government's first tenure, including demonetisation, Swachh Bharat, Ayushman Bharat, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Digital India and Sugamya Bharat. "Lord Ram returned to his own home and we built such an temple that is inspirational to Indian culture and tradition," Modi said while talking about the Ayodhya Ram temple.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address to the Parliament, said that leaders from the 'Other Backward Classes' were insulted by the UPA government during its tenure. "We honoured such OBC leaders when Karpoori Thakur was bestowed with Bharat Ratna," Modi said, while adding that the Congress party had made several efforts to bring about the downfall of Thakur's government in Bihar. The Prime Minister further said that the National Advisory Council was formed when the UPA was in power, questioning whether it had any OBC member.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address to the Parliament, said that 25 crore people had been lifted out of poverty in the last decade under the NDA government. "If given the means, the poor have the power to defeat poverty themselves," the Prime Minister said, adding that the BJP government had provided them with the opportunity to do so. "This approach has not only uplifted the poor but also instilled a sense of self-respect among them," Modi said. He added that at present, 50 crore individuals from economically disadvantaged backgrounds have active bank accounts, and 4 crore families have been provided permanent (pucca) houses.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address to the Parliament, expressed his confidence that the Bharatiya Janata Party would win 370 seats, while the National Democratic Alliance will secure a total of 405 seats in 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He further reiterated that the 'third tenure' of the BJP would lay a strong foundation for the progress to take place in the next 1000 years.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address to the Parliament, said that the Congress party had historically placed their trust exclsuively in one party. Modi also slammed the opposition alliance, saying that there were evident signs that the "alignment" within the INDIA bloc had become dysfunctional. "When there is a lack of trust among alliance partners, it raises concerns about their ability to foster trust at the national level," Modi said. 

In his address to the Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, in their speeches, had portrayed the people of India as "lazy" and "slow", adding that their thought process was that the Indians can never be as hardworking as the Japanese. "Congress has always belived in one family; their vision and thought-process is limited to one family," the Prime Minister said. 

Taking on the Indian National Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the party's shop is on the verge of closure. The Prime Minister further added that the Congress is attempting to launch the same product again and again. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address, said that the rate of growth today is unimaginable for the Congress party. 'We built 4 cr houses for poor and 80 lakh urban poor. Had Congress built these at its own pace, then it would have taken them 100 years to complete this task,' PM Modi said. The Prime Minister further said that the sanitation coverage in the country has progressed from 40 % to 100%. 'With the pace of the Congress party, this would have taken three generations,' Modi added. 

Slamming the Indian National Congress in his address, the Prime Minister said that the party was promoting cancel culture. "If we say 'Make in India', they say 'cancel'... We say 'Atmanirbhar Bharat, they say 'cancel'... We say 'Vocal for local' they say 'cancel'..., We say 'Vande Bharat' they say 'cancel'...We say 'Central Vista', they say 'cancel'...," the Prime Minister said. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, replying to the Motion of Thanks, said that the President's address provided an accurate account of the pace of the country's progress. The Prime Minister also said that this 75th Independence Day, the inauguration of the new Parliament and the Sengol were "very impressive". 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the Parliament, said that India will become the third largest economy in his party's third term, adding that this was "Modi's guarantee".

Replying to the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address in the Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he  “appreciates” the opposition’s commitment to their promises. “They have pledged to stay outside the Parliament. Your dedicated efforts are recognised, and I assure you that the people, who are the embodiment of divine will, will determine your position,” he added.

Raising the issues of Ladakh and Maldives, Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that the President's address did not mention "a word on security concerns". "...The situation in Ladakh is deteriorating day by day...What is happening in Maldives?..." he said. In response to the question, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that he disagreed with Chowdhury, condemning his remarks. "...I express my disagreement with whatever he said in connection with China and LAC. I condemn this..." Singh said. (ANI inputs)

The government has collected Rs 600 crore as penalty for the delay in linking Permanent Account Number with Aadhaar, and 11.48 crore PANs were not linked to Aadhaar biometrics, Parliament was infomed Monday, as per a PTI report. In a written reply to a question regarding the details of government earning through the late penalty in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said that ""the total collection of fee from persons who have not linked their PAN with Aadhaar is Rs 601.97 crore from July 1, 2023 to January 31,2024". The last date for the linking was June 30, 2023, with the Income Tax department announcing that PANs of taxpayers who failed to do so would become inoperative from July 1, 2023. 

The Union Government on Monday sought the Parliament's approval on net additional spending of Rs 78,673 crore in the current financial year, as per a PTI report. Tabled by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the second batch of supplementary demand for grants for 2023-24 included additional spending of Rs. 10, 798 crore on MNREGA, and Rs 9,231 crore and Rs 3,000 crore towards food and fertiliser subsidy. The Interim Budget for 2024-25 has pegged the government's total expenditure in the current financial year at Rs 44.90 lakh crore, up 7.1 per cent from 2022-23, news agency PTI reported

Religious leaders representing various minority sections of the country met Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar. The leaders are expected to watch the proceedings of the Parliament and meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi later, news agency ANI reported.

#WATCH | Religious leaders representing various minority sections of the country meet Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar at the Parliament

They will later meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will also watch the proceedings of Parliament. pic.twitter.com/iVBsNc1tib

— ANI (@ANI) February 5, 2024

Speaking on allgegations claiming that Centre was not releasing funds to some states, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said that these were "politically-vitiated narrative", news agency PTI reported. Replying to a question by Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on the Karnataka government's claim, Sitharaman said that the "system is well-placed" and that the government works on the recommendations of the Finance Commission. ""This is just not a possibility that any finance minister can intervene to say that 'I don't like this state, stop payment' ... It can't happen that way. The system is well placed," she said. 

Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai today introduced a bill seeking to amend laws relating to local bodies in Jammu and Kashmir. Rai introduced the bill on behalf of Home Minister Amit Shah. 

The Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024 intends to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989; the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Act, 2000; and the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Corporation Act, 2000. 

The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024 was introduced in Lok Sabha.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented a statement of estimated receipts and expenditures of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir for the year 2024-25 in Lok Sabha.

FM Sitharaman, during Question Hour, dispelled claims of withholding state funds and said: 'There is no way political interests would come on the way of the states getting the funds. It’s a charge that vested interests would like to go around. I don’t have the discretion, it’s finance commission that takes the decision.'

This comes after the lone Congress MP from Karnataka, D K Suresh, the younger brother of D K Shivakumar, stated that after the interim Union Budget on February 1 that states in South India may be forced to seek a separate country if injustice prevails in fund allotments. 

In light of this, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will participate in a protest set to be held by elected Congress representatives from Karnataka in New Delhi on February 7 to protest the alleged “step-motherly treatment” of the state by the BJP government at the Centre in budget and other fund allocations.

A report on 'Countering Global Terrorism at Regional and International Levels,' crafted by a Parliamentary committee, is scheduled to be submitted in the Rajya Sabha today.

MPs Ashok Kumar Mittal and Prakash Javadekar will lay on the table, a copy (in English and Hindi) of the Twenty-Eighth Report of the Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs (Seventeenth Lok Sabha) on 'Countering Global Terrorism at Regional and International Levels'.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will lay Statements of the estimated receipts and expenditure (2024-25) of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir (with Legislature) and Statement under Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2006.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh is likely to lay The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024 on the table.

Lok Sabha proceedings have begun. Question hour is underway.

“There come junctures in the history of civilizations which shape the future for the coming centuries. There have been many such defining moments in the history of India too. This year, on January 22, the country witnessed a similar epochal moment. After waiting for centuries, Ram Lalla has now been enshrined in his grand temple in Ayodhya,” the President said in her address.

“This was a matter of aspirations and faith for crores of our countrymen and the resolution of this has been accomplished in a harmonious manner…For centuries, there was an aspiration to construct the Ram Mandir. Today it is a reality,” she added.

The references to the Ram Mandir received thundering applause and chants of “Jai Shree Ram” from the members. At one reference, even Congress leader Sonia Gandhi was seen thumping the desk.

Coninue reading 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday will reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s January 31 address to a joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The BJP has issued a three-line whip to all its Lok Sabha MPs to be present in the House. Modi’s speech will likely outline the government’s accomplishments and set the agenda for the Lok Sabha polls.