Lok Sabha Archives - National Times

11 Aug

Lok Sabha Clears Bills to Rename Kerala as Keralam and Expand NCDC Financing Amid Opposition Uproar

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaKeralam Bill, Lok Sabha, NCDC Act, Parliament proceedings

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): Amid continuous disruption and sloganeering from opposition parties over police action against protesting students and the Ram Mandir theft issue, the Lok Sabha passed two significant pieces of legislation within a span of 14 minutes today. Following a morning washout, the Lower House reconvened at 2:00 PM, where the government piloted and successfully passed the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, alongside the National Co-operative Development Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, before the House was adjourned for the day at 2:25 PM. The passage of the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, fulfills a long-standing demand from…

10 Aug

Lok Sabha Braces for Fresh Clash as Four Bills Listed, Opposition Plans to Raise Jantar Mantar Action

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, Politics, TrendingLok Sabha

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): The government is set to press ahead with its legislative business in the Lok Sabha on Monday, but the proceedings could once again be overshadowed by the continuing confrontation between the ruling side and the Opposition. Four Bills are scheduled to come up before the House, including the Tribunal Reforms Bill, 2026, while Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to move two separate pieces of legislation. At the same time, Opposition parties are preparing to raise the alleged police action against protesters at Jantar Mantar on July 20. The continuing dispute has already caused repeated interruptions…

06 Aug

Lok Sabha Passes Bill Amending Payment Systems Act to Allow Service Charges on Digital Transactions

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaLok Sabha, MDR levy, Nirmala Sitharaman, Payment Systems Act, UPI charges

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh)— The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, introducing crucial amendments to the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007. The statutory change authorises the Union government to permit commercial banks and payment service providers to levy service charges, including Merchant Discount Rate (MDR), on digital payments executed via the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and other notified electronic payment methods. Moved by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the legislation was passed by voice vote following a brief adjournment. The amendment directly alters Section 10A of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007,…

30 Jul

Parliament Passes Bill Making Insult to ‘Vande Mataram’ a Punishable Offence

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaIndian politics, Legislation, Lok Sabha, National Song, Parliament, Vande Mataram

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): Parliament officially approved the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, on Thursday, elevating the national song Vande Mataram to a legal status on par with the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana. The Lok Sabha cleared the legislation via a voice vote amid persistent disruptions and sloganeering from the Opposition, one day after the bill received approval in the Rajya Sabha. Once the bill receives assent from President Droupadi Murmu, any intentional act of preventing the singing of Vande Mataram or causing disturbances during its performance will become a criminal offence. Under the provisions…

29 Jul

Sangrur MP Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer Slams Centre’s Exam Bill in Lok Sabha

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAam Aadmi Party, Lok Sabha, Meet Hayer, Public Examinations Bill, Sangrur MP

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP from Sangrur Mr. Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, while speaking in the Lok Sabha on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, saluted the struggle of the country’s youth and said that the youth power has held up a mirror to the government that has been indulging in politics of division on the basis of religion and caste for the last 12 years. He said that instead of propaganda, real issues like education and unemployment have now come to the mainstream. He further said that the Prime Minister’s selfie video…

29 Jul

Lok Sabha Passes Anti-Paper Leak Bill Following Extended Parliamentary Debate

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaAnti Cheating Bill, Exam Reform, Jitendra Singh, Lok Sabha, Paper Leak, Parliament session, Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): The Lok Sabha has passed the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, following a lengthy legislative debate that extended over two days. The bill, aimed at strengthening the legal framework against test leaks and cheating in competitive examinations, was approved following a concluding address by Union Minister Jitendra Singh, who addressed both the statutory changes and political objections raised by the opposition. Under the amended legislation, penal measures for individuals engaging in illicit examination practices have been heightened, with minimum prison sentences set at five years and maximum terms extending to ten years,…

08 Mar

EAM Jaishankar to Address Lok Sabha on West Asia Crisis as Parliament Resumes Stormy Session

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaIndia, Lok Sabha, Parliament, S. Jaishankar, West Asia

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh)— External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is set to deliver a high-stakes statement in the Lok Sabha on Monday, March 9, 2026, regarding the rapidly deteriorating security situation in West Asia. The announcement, included in a revised list of parliamentary business circulated on Sunday evening, comes as the second half of the Budget session begins under a cloud of geopolitical and domestic tension. While the opposition-backed resolution to remove Speaker Om Birla was initially the sole item on the agenda, the government has now prioritized this foreign policy update in response to intense pressure from opposition benches…

13 Feb

Government Backs Substantive Motion Against Rahul Gandhi, Decision on Next Steps Pending

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaKiren Rijiju, Lok Sabha, Nishikant Dubey, Parliament Budget Session, privilege motion, Rahul Gandhi, substantive motion

New Delhi, Feb. 13: The government on Friday said it would proceed with a substantive motion against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey submitted a notice to the Lok Sabha Secretariat seeking action against the Congress leader. The notice calls for a motion to cancel Gandhi’s Lok Sabha membership, alleging that he made unverified remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and others in the House and acted in a manner supportive of “anti-national forces.” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the government has decided not to move a separate privilege motion it was earlier considering, as…

11 Feb

Sitharaman Defends Union Budget 2026-27, Announces Medical Hubs and Support for Labour-Intensive Sectors

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndialabour-intensive sectors, Lok Sabha, medical hubs, Nirmala Sitharaman, textile parks, Union Budget 2026-27

New Delhi, Feb. 11 — Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday addressed the Lok Sabha, outlining key priorities of the Union Budget 2026-27 and emphasizing employment generation through sector-focused investments. Responding to discussions on the Budget, Sitharaman said the government plans to establish medical hubs across several states, a move aimed at strengthening healthcare infrastructure while creating substantial job opportunities. She noted that the initiative would not only improve access to quality medical services but also boost local economies through allied industries and services. Highlighting the government’s employment strategy, the Finance Minister said special attention would be given to…

01 Feb

Watch Live! Union Budget Presented in Lok Sabha by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness, IndiaBudget Speech, Finance Minister, Lok Sabha, Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Budget

New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is presenting the Union Budget in the Lok Sabha today, laying out the government’s roadmap for economic growth, fiscal management, and development priorities for the coming financial year. The budget addresses key areas including public welfare, infrastructure expansion, employment generation, and policy reforms. The annual budget presentation is a crucial parliamentary event, as it outlines proposed government expenditure, revenue measures, and strategic initiatives that shape the nation’s economic direction. Members of Parliament and stakeholders across sectors are keenly observing the proceedings for major announcements and policy signals. The budget presentation and related parliamentary…