Review of this week's parliament proceedings

Passage of a Rs 47.66-lakh crore interim Budget 2024-25 of the union government, tabling of a White Paper on the Indian Economy and Prime Minister Narendra Modi reply to debate on the Motion of Thanks on President Address were key highlights of the week gone by. Today was the last day of session, the Both the House discussed on the construction of historic Shri Ram Temple and Pran Pratishtha of Shri Ramlala and adopted the resolution moved in this regard. ”         ” Key bills the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024, The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024 were also passed by the Lok Sabha. ”       ”While the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024 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, the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024 seeks to include Valmiki community as a synonym of Chura, Balmiki, Bhangi, and Mehtar communities in the list of Scheduled Castes in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024 seeks to add four communities — Gadda Brahmin, Koli, Paddari Tribe, and Pahari Ethnic Group — to the list of Scheduled Tribes in Jammu and Kashmir. ”         ” The Lok Sabha also gave its nod to two bills which seek to modify the list of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The bills are Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024. ”       ”While replying to the debate in Lok Sabha on the Motion of Thanks on President's Address on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed confidence that the NDA will get more than 400 seats and the BJP will win at least 370 seats in the coming general elections. ”         ” Modi said he was convinced that the opposition parties have lost the courage to contest elections and have resolved to stay on the opposition benches for a long time. He said the NDA's third term would be the one that would see big decisions and lay the foundation for the next 1,000 years. ”         ” Prime Minister Modi also hit out at the Congress on the issue of dynastic politics and saying it had a good opportunity to play a good opposition but failed in that role. ”       ” On Monday in the Rajya Sabha resumed the discussion on motion of thanks on President Droupadi Murmu’s address to the joint sitting of both the Houses of Parliament. Participating in the discussion, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy of Trinamool Congress alleged that there is huge economic inequality in the country. Members from other political parties also participated in the discussion. ”       ” On Tuesday in the Lok Sabha passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024. The Bill is intended to prevent unfair means in the public examinations.  Public examinations refer to examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission, Staff Selection Commission, Railway Recruitment Board, National Testing Agency, and Departments of the central government. The Bill is intended to prohibit collusion or conspiracy to facilitate indulgence in any unfair means. ”       ” On Tuesday in Rajya Sabha has passed the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Bill, 2024. The Bill seeks to amend the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. The Act establishes the central and state pollution control boards to prevent and control water pollution. The Bill decriminalizes several violations and imposes penalties. It will initially apply to Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and the Union Territories. ” ” Rajya Sabha also resumed further discussion on the Motion of thanks to President Droupadi Murmu's address to the joint sitting of both the Houses of Parliament. ”       ”On Wednesday in the Lok Sabha approved the Rs 47.66-lakh crore interim Budget 2024-25 of the union government and second batch of supplementary demands for grants. ”         ” The House also approved the Appropriation Bill authorising government to meet expenses for four months in the next financial year. ”   ”The lower house also approved the Rs 1.8 lakh crore budget of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. ”         ” The Lok Sabha also gave its nod to the Finance Bill, 2024, thus completing the exercise for passage of the interim budget 2024-25. ”         ” The Finance Bill, 2024, does not propose any change in the tax structure as the final budget will be tabled in July after the new government assumes office post the general elections in April-May. ”   ” While replying to a debate on the Union Interim Budget on Wednesday, Jammu and Kashmir Interim Budget and Supplementary Demands for Grants, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said retail inflation is stable and has come down within the tolerance band due to the steps taken by the government to check price rise, especially in perishable commodities. ”         ” India's retail inflation has declined from an average of 6.8 per cent in April-December 2022 to 5.5 per cent in the corresponding period of 2023. ”       ” Wednesday in the Rajya Sabha in reply to a discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address in the Rajya Sabah, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today took a potshot at Congress saying he prays that the opposition party saves at least 40 seats in the upcoming  Lok Sabha polls. He made these remarks referring to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee’s reported comments that the grand old party will not even cross the 40 seat mark in the General Elections.  In an apparent attack on former Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Mr. Modi alleged that Congress has made a start-up for its so-called Yuvraj, but he turned out to be a non-starter.   ”       ” After that, the Rajya Sabha today took up discussion on the Interim Union Budget 2024-25 and the interim budget of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir 2024-25. ”       ”On Thursday in Lok Sabha has passed the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2024 with Lok Sabha approving it today. The Upper House has already cleared it. The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024 is intended to amend the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 to modify the list of Scheduled Tribes regarding Andhra Pradesh to include Bondo Porja, Khond Porja and Konda Savaras communities in the list of ST. While the Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2024 proposes to amend the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 and the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 to modify the list of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in relation to Odisha. Under it, four communities of primitive tribes – Pauri Bhuyan, Chuktia Bhunjia, Bondo and Mankidia and 46 others who have not been included in the ST list due to phonetic variations or spelling mistakes will be the part of ST list. ”       ”  In Rajya Sabha on Thursday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today said government is taking the route of spending on public infrastructure creation and asset creation as it gives better returns. Replying to discussion on the Interim Union Budget 2024-25 and the interim budget of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir 2024-25 in Rajya Sabha, the Finance Minister said capital expenditure is spent on creating capital assets which can be used by all citizens equally which improves ease of living. She added that the route of spending money through public investment in infrastructure gives greater returns and in situ, generates more jobs. ”             ” Ms Sitharaman stressed that in the last 3-4 years, government has made sure that debt management is done well. She said the allocation for major flagship schemes like PM KISAN, PM AWAS Yojana, MGNREGA, PLI schemes, has not been curtailed or reduced.   ”       ”  On Friday in Lok Sabha Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said that since 2014, the government followed the path to take the economy forward by removing all the misgovernance and hurdles of the previous government. She said at the same time the government also focused on economic reforms. Replying to a discussion on White Paper on the Indian Economy and its impact on lives of the people of India, Ms Sitharaman said that the White Paper is a serious document with documentary evidence for everything what is stated in it. She added that it has been prepared with an intention of informing Parliament of the ten years' literal dedicated effort of the government to work in such a way to bring the economy on track. ”         ” Hitting out at Congress-led UPA rule, the Finance Minister said that the National security was compromised and environment clearances were delayed. She said that critical shortage of defence ammunition was the main feature of 2014 when the Modi government inherited the economy. Mrs Sitharaman said that Modi government has allocated six lakh 22 thousand crore rupees for defence budget from two lakh 53 thousand crore rupees in 2013-14. ”       ” On Friday in Rajya Sabha passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024 with Rajya Sabha giving assent to it today. Replying to a debate on the Bill, Union Minister of State for personnel Dr Jitendra Singh said, the Narendra Modi Government has given priority and attention to the youth as they had not received the desired attention during the previous governments. He said, the government has taken several youth centric reforms with transparency which includes doing away with attestation by gazetted officers, abolishing interviews in different selection process and rozgar melas. The Minister said, the government trusts the youth of the nation.   ”           ” The Bill is intended to prevent unfair means in the public examinations. Public examinations refer to examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission, Staff Selection Commission, Railway Recruitment Board, National Testing Agency, and Departments of the central government. ”       ”  The Bill intended to prohibit collusion or conspiracy to facilitate indulgence in any unfair means. Unfair means include, unauthorised access or leakage of question paper or answer key, assisting a candidate during a public examination, tampering with computer networks, conducting fake examination, issuing fake admit cards and offer letters. The objective of the Bill is to bring greater transparency, fairness and credibility to the public examination systems and to reassure the youth that their sincere and genuine efforts will be fairly rewarded and their future is safe. Candidates as defined in the Bill will not be liable for action within the purview of the Bill and will continue to be covered under the extant administrative provisions of the concerned public examination authority. As per the provisions of the Bill, committed offence will be punishable with imprisonment between three to ten years, and a fine up from ten to one crore rupees. All offences under the Bill will be cognisable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable. ”     ” Today in Lok Sabha which is the last day of the session Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, many game-changing reforms which will lay the foundation of strong India took place in the last five years. Addressing the last sitting of the 17th Lok Sabha, Mr Modi cited the abrogation of Article 370, abolishing Triple Talaq, and passage of Women Reservation Bill as some of the highlights of the outgoing Lok Sabha. He emphasised that the last five years were about reforming, performing and transforming the country. Mr Modi said, it is very rare that both reforming and performing took place in the nation and the transformation is right in front of people’s eyes. He said that the 17th Lok Sabha has 97 per cent productivity, and it was over 100 per cent in seven sessions. He expressed firm belief that the country will continue to bless the 17th Lok Sabha. ”         ” The Prime Minister thanked Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla for guiding the House in a balanced and impartial manner. He expressed gratitude to the Speaker for controlling the situation patiently while running the House in moments of anger and allegations. Mr Modi said, everyone used to discuss that there should be a new building of Parliament but no decision used to be taken. He stressed that it was the Lok Sabha Speaker’s leadership that decided this, took matters forward, and as a result, the country received the new Parliament building. The Prime Minister highlighted that India received the opportunity of G20 presidency and every state of the country displayed India's capability and its identity before the world. ”         ” Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said, the 17th Lok Sabha has been historic in many ways. He thanked the members for their cooperation in conducting the House in the last five years. Earlier, several members spoke about their experiences of the 17th Lok Sabha. ”       ” The Lok Sabha adopted resolution on the construction of  Shri Ram Temple and Pran Pratishtha of Shri Ramlala in Ayodhya terming it a historic and glorious achievement of the country. The resolution stated that it is an unforgettable moment in the development journey of the country adding that it is important from social, cultural and historical perspectives. Lauding the move, the resolution also said Lord Ram, Mata Sita and Ramayan are present in every aspect of India's culture and civilization. It added that the country's democratic and constitutional values of justice for all have been inspired by the ideals of Ramrajya. Reading out the resolution, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said the ideal of Ramrajya was in the heart of  Mahatma Gandhi. He added that the temple of Lord Shri Ram is not just a structure of stones, but full of infinite feelings of faith and devotion. The resolution added that every section of the society while showing complete unity and goodwill welcomed Lord Shri Ram from the heart. ”       ” In his valedictory address, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said this session registered 97 percent productivity, which is the highest productivity in the last five Lok Sabhas. He said that in the 17th Lok Sabha, 222 bills were passed and the House sat for an extra 345 hours from its scheduled time. He added that however, a total of 387 hours were wasted due to disruption in the Lok Sabha. After that he adjouned the House Sine Die. ”       ”  Today in Rajya Sabha there was a discussion on the white paper on the economy, where several members participated in the discussion and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman replied to the discussion. ”         ” The house also held a discussion on the consecration of the Ram temple. The short duration discussion was held on "Shree Ram Mandir ke etihasik Nirman aur pran pratishta", in which several members took part. ”         ” At the end of the session on Saturday, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said the overall productivity of the session in the house was 137 percent. ”         ” He said the house passed seven bills, including the one on Centre's Public Examinations (Preventions of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024 on unfair practices bill in exams, the Water pollution prevention bill and the Jammu and Kashmir (Local Bodies) amendment bill. ”         ” The Rajya Sabha held nine sittings during the short session. After that, The Rajya Sabha Chairman Adjourned the House Sine die. ”

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Review of this week's parliament proceedings