Parliament Highlights: RS passes Bill to rename New Delhi International Arbitration Centre as India International Arbitration Centre; both Houses adjourned

Track all the latest updates from the Winter Session of Parliament proceedings with DH.

Both Houses adjourn for the day

Rajya Sabha passes Bill to rename New Delhi International Arbitration Centre as India International Arbitration Centre

National Credit Framework released for public consultations: Govt

The government has developed the National Credit Framework meant to seamlessly integrate the credits earned through school education, higher education and vocational & skill education for public consultations, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan informed Parliament on Wednesday.

The Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship shared that the framework aims to enable the integration of academic and vocational domains to ensure flexibility and mobility between the two.

"The National Credit Framework (NCrF) is an inclusive umbrella Framework to seamlessly integrate the credits earned through school education, higher education, and vocational & skill education.

"Such integration enables numerous options for further progression of students and inter-mingling of school & higher education with vocational education & Experiential learning including relevant experience and professional levels acquired. The Framework has been released for public consultations on 19 October, 2022," Pradhan said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha. - PTI.

65 of 67 terror cases probed by NIA get conviction: Govt

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has so far registered 497 cases of terrorism and judgment has been pronounced in 67 cases of which conviction has been obtained in 65 cases.

Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said in Rajya Sabha that as on December 2, the NIA has registered 497 cases including the recent Coimbatore blast incident.

"Fairness and transparency in investigations by the NIA is evident from the fact that from 2019 to 2022 (up to December 2, 2022), judgment has been pronounced in 67 cases, out of which, conviction has been obtained in 65 cases and two cases have ended in acquittal," he said in a written reply. - PTI.

IRCTC received over 5,000 food-related complaints in 7 months: Govt

The IRCTC has received more than 5,000 complaints related to quality of food in trains in the past seven months, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Wednesday.

Replying to a query in Lok Sabha, Vaishnaw said between April 1, 2022, and October 31, 2022, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation received a total of 5,869 complaints of food quality in trains.

"On receipt of any complaint of food quality, appropriate action, including penalty, is taken against the service provider of IRCTC. It is the continuous endeavour of Indian Railways to provide good quality and hygienic food to passengers as per norms and standards prescribed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)," the minister said. - PTI.

Children will not have to wait if there are more parents who are ready to adopt: Smriti Irani

A child will not have to get adopted if there are more parents who are ready to do the procedure, Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani told the Rajya Sabha, underlining that more girl children are being adopted in India in the last three years against boys.

Replying to the supplementaries during question hour, the minister said the average time taken to adopt a child through court processes was so lengthy that a minimum of two years was needed by adoptive parents in terms of waiting and to reduce the time gap the ministry has proposed the amendment in the law, as in many cases it took up to 3.5 years.

"On September 23 this year, we notified the new regulation as there were close to 900 cases pending in states in our high courts. After the states acted on the new resolution, over 580 children have already been adopted, including children who are in the 'hard to place' category in older age groups who have never been adopted before," she told the House. - PTI.

Lok Sabha TMC MP Saugata Roy demands discussion on India-China border clash in Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh

Lok Sabha passes demand for excess grants for financial years 2019-20 and 2022-23

We gave 'ujjwala' when we held the 'matchstick', others did arson and looting, says FM Sitharaman

India seeing fall in demand for rural jobs, says FM Nirmala Sitharaman

CBI registered 15 cases over derogatory posts on govt, Constitutional functionaries since 2019: Jitendra Singh

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered 15 cases on the allegations of derogatory posts on government and Constitutional functionaries since 2019, Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said on Wednesday.

Out of these 15 cases, six cases are under investigation; while in 9 cases, 28 charge sheets have been filed against 28 accused persons, he said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

All the cases, in which charge sheets have been filed, are under trial, Singh said.

"CBI has registered a total number of 15 cases on the allegations of derogatory posts on government and Constitutional functionaries since 2019 and up to 30.11.2022," he added. - PTI.

1,673 vacant posts in CBI, says MoS Jitendra Singh

There are 1,673 vacant posts in the Central Bureau of Investigation, the Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday.

As on 30.11.2022, the sanctioned strength of personnel in CBI is 7,295 and the number of vacancies is 1,673 which includes 128 additional posts sanctioned in different categories issued vide order dated June 29, 2022, Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said in a written reply.

The occurrence of vacancies and their filling up is an ongoing process, he said. - PTI

54% of capex target of Rs 7.5 lakh crore for FY23 announced in Budget was utilised in first 6 months of the fiscal, says FM Sitharaman

Government has not shut any schemes, says FM Sitharaman in response to issue raised by RLP MP Hanuman Beniwal

20 new nuclear power plants to be commissioned in country by 2031: Jitendra Singh

India plans to commission 20 nuclear power plants by 2031, adding nearly 15,000 MW in power generating capacity, the government told the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

The first of these 20 nuclear power plants, a 700 MW unit, is expected to be commissioned in 2023 at Kakrapar in Gujarat, which already has three atomic power generating units operational.

According to a written reply by Minister of State Jitendra Singh, the 500 MW Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam is likely to be operational in 2024, followed by two 1,000 MW units at Kudankulam in 2025.

Two 700 MW units at Rawatbhata in Rajasthan are likely to be completed by 2026, while another two 1,000 MW units are likely to be completed at Kudankulam by 2027, he said. - PTI.

Parliament approves Bill to include Gond community in ST category in parts of UP

The Parliament 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, which was introduced by Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda on Tuesday.

The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha in April this year. - PTI.

Government constantly watching price situation of essential commodities, says FM Sitharaman in Lok Sabha

Indian rupee is strengthening against other currencies, says FM Nirmala Sitharaman

The existing strength of women personnel in Central Armed police Forces & Assam Rifles is 34,278 against the sanctioned strength of 10,12,568: Nityanand Rai

We will be able to meet fiscal deficit target of 6.4% of GDP for current fiscal, says FM Sitharaman

Committed to reducing inflation to reasonable level by 2025-26, says FM Sitharaman

719 NH projects facing delays, 438 may be completed in current fiscal: Gadkari

As many as 719 national highway (NH) projects are facing delays and 438 projects of these are likely to be completed in the ongoing fiscal, Parliament was informed on Wednesday.

As many as 268 projects are facing delays of less than a year, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari informed the Rajya Sabha.

In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Gadkari said, "The government constantly monitors sanctioned projects and as part of this exercise, 719 delayed National Highway projects have been identified across various states."(PTI)

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is addressing the Lower House on Supplementary Demands.

If Opposition leaders understood tribals, they would've withdrawn their presidential candidate, says Arjun Munda

Targetting the Opposition, Arjun Munda said that they (Opposition leaders) do not understand the tribals and had they understood them, they would have withdrawn their presidential candidate against Droupadi Murmu.

The Centre is committed towards the development of tribals, says Arjun Munda.

Tharoor slams government for 'small statement without clarification', calls for debate

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday hit out at the government for not holding a discussion in Parliament on the India-China border issue, and said giving out a "small statement" without any clarification is not democratic.

Tharoor's remarks came a day after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in a statement to Parliament, said Chinese troops tried to "unilaterally" change the status quo along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Yangtse area of Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang sector on December 9, but the Indian Army compelled them to retreat with its "firm and resolute" response.(PTI)

Many questions are such that they are not repeated, many answers are such that they are not told, says Arjun Munda.

In Rajya Sabha, Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda is now replying to the debate on the Constitution (SC and ST) Orders Amendment Bill.

Rajya Sabha proceedings resume; Arjun Munda addresses the House

Rajya Sabha mourns death of former MPs

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.(PTI)

Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 2:10 pm.

Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 2 pm.

15 lakh jobs created every month, says Rajeev Chandrasekhar

On an average, 15 lakh jobs are created every month, says Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Rajeev Chandrasekhar in Rajya Sabha.

There has been 68 cases of Vande Bharat trains hit by animals since June 1, 2022, says Ashwini Vaishnaw.

Now a child would not have to wait to be adopted, says Smriti Irani

In Rajya Sabha, Union Minister Smriti Irani says that the government has strengthened the rules for adoption, background verification of applicantsas well as opening of Child Care Institutions. Irani adds that the adoption process has been streamlined and now a child would not have to wait to be adopted.

Government redefining users, admins at AIIMS to protect network from cyberattacks, says Vaishnaw

Multi-dimentional work around cybersecurity is under way, says Vaishnaw. He adds that the government has taken multiple initiation against cyberattacks. With regards to the cyberattacks at AIIMS, he says, "Users, admins are now getting redefined to ensure the network is protected."

Now, the Indian Railways is laying 12 km of tracks every day compared to 4 km a day earlier, says Ashwini Vaishnaw.

PM Modi approved revival package of Rs 1.64 lakh crore to transform BSNL, says Ashwini Vaishnaw

PM Modi has approved a revival package ofRs 1.64 lakh crore to transform BSNL, says Minister of Communications Ashwini Vaishnaw. He adds that large amount ofmoney was swiddled by the government before the BJP.

Success rate of startups in India higher than other nations, says Piyush Goyal

TDP MP Jaydev Galla raises concerns of low success rate of startups in India. To this, Piyush Goyal says that the success rate of startups in India is higher than other nations. He adds that incubation centres run by the Centre provide startups an ecosytem to test their ideas.

Opposition leaders walk out of Rajya Sabha as Deputy Chairman denies discussion on India-China border clash

West Bengal MP Abir Ranjan Biswas urges the Chair to allow a discussion on India-China border clash as Opposition MPs continue sloganeering.

Ruckus in Upper House as Deputy Chairman denies discussion on India-China border clash

After Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge demanded a discussion on India-China border row,Deputy Chairman Harivansh denied the request, leading to sloganeering in the Upper House.

Opposition leaders demand a discussion on India-China border clash in Rajya Sabha.

Proceedings begin in both the Houses. In Rajya Sabha, MPs are now reading out the details of the papers to be laid on the table. In Lok Sabha, Question Hour is under way.

Opposition parties meet at Kharge's office to chalk out floor strategy in Parliament

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi gives Adjournment Motion notice in Lok Sabha to discuss "Why India’s dependence on Chinese imports has increased despite the ongoing border conflict with China."

Sitharaman to reply on discussion over demands for grants in Lok Sabha

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday will reply to the discussion on the demands for grants for the current fiscal and demands for excess grants for 2019-20 in the Lok Sabha.

She will also introduce the Appropriation Bills (Nos. 4 and 5) 2022 in the Lok Sabha to seek Parliament's nod for payment and appropriation of amounts from the Consolidated Funds of India for the current fiscal.

Congress MP Manish Tewari gives Adjournment Motion notice in Lok Sabha to discuss India-China border clash

Here's the outlook for today's Parliament proceedings:

Parliamentary panel suggests changes to competition law amendment bill

A Parliamentary panel on Tuesday recommended various changes to a bill to amend the competition law, including bringing cartels under the scope of settlements as a "pragmatic recourse".

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2001 attack anniversary: Ready to guard new Parliament if directed, say CRPF heroes

It has been a ritual for CRPF sub-inspectors D Santosh Kumar and Shyambir Singh to pay tributes to their fallen comrades on December 13 every year but a gush of adrenaline and emotions runs through them as they remember the 2001 terrorist attack on the Parliament.

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Congress to bring no-confidence motion against Shivraj govt

Madhya Pradesh's opposition Congress has decided to table a no-confidence motion against Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government during the winter session of the Assembly set to begin from December 19.

Senior Congress MLA and former minister P.C. Sharma handed over a letter signed by the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Govind Singh in the Assembly in this regard.