Parliament Archives - National Times

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…

30 Jul

Parliament Enacts Stricter Anti-Paper Leak Legislation to Safeguard Examination Integrity

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaAnti-Leak Law, Education Ministry, Exam Malpractice, Government Of India, NEET, Parliament

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): Parliament officially granted approval on Thursday to the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, introducing severe criminal and financial penalties to combat systemic malpractice in public examinations. The legislation was passed in the Rajya Sabha via a voice vote, following its approval in the Lok Sabha a day earlier, despite a walkout by Opposition members. The newly enacted law aims to serve as a strong deterrent against the paper leaks that have frequently disrupted academic calendars and impacted student futures. Under the provisions of the amendment, individuals found guilty of leaking question papers…

27 Jul

Parliament Set for Heated Debate as Opposition Targets Centre Over Police Action During Student Protests

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingParliament

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): Parliament is expected to witness a stormy session on Monday as Opposition parties gear up to confront the Centre over the alleged use of excessive force against students protesting the NEET-UG paper leak controversy. The issue is likely to dominate discussions alongside the government's proposed legislation aimed at tackling examination malpractices. The Opposition has accused security agencies of using disproportionate force during demonstrations held on July 20, with allegations that pellet guns and other crowd-control measures were used against students demanding accountability over the examination controversy. Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi,…

20 Jul

Stormy Monsoon Session Expected as Government Pushes Bills, Opposition Readies Sharp Offensive

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, Politics, TrendingParliament

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma/Gurpreet Singh): The Monsoon Session of Parliament is expected to witness intense exchanges from its opening day, with the ruling NDA and the Opposition gearing up for a confrontation over a range of political and public interest issues. Ahead of the session, the Centre held an all-party meeting to seek cooperation for the smooth conduct of parliamentary business. While the government emphasised the need for productive debates and timely passage of legislation, Opposition parties outlined several issues they intend to raise during the proceedings. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju appealed to political parties to ensure meaningful discussions…

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…

19 Dec

VB-G RAM G Bill Triggers Sharp Divide in Parliament Over Rural Employment Reform

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaG Ram G Bill, Parliament

National Times Bureau :- The passage of the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, 2025, replacing the MGNREGA framework, sparked intense political confrontation in Parliament, exposing deep divisions between the ruling BJP and opposition parties over rural welfare. The legislation, approved by both Houses amid protests, raises the guaranteed employment entitlement for rural households from 100 to 125 days. Opposition parties, including the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party, accused the government of pushing the Bill through in haste and diluting long-standing safeguards for labourers. Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi termed the move a “blot…

01 Dec

Winter Session opens with PM Modi’s tribute to new RS Chairman; warns Opposition against turning House into ‘theatre’

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, Politics, TrendingNarendra Modi, Parliament, Winter Session

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): Parliament’s Winter Session commenced on Monday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi using the first day to both congratulate newly appointed Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan and deliver a pointed message to Opposition parties about their conduct inside the House. Speaking in the Upper House, the Prime Minister said Radhakrishnan’s elevation brought “a sense of pride” to the institution, noting that his background in grassroots social work and his years spent engaging with remote communities would enrich parliamentary functioning. Modi recounted the Chairman’s travels through some of Jharkhand’s least-accessible tribal areas, praising his “service-first approach” and his…

01 Dec

Opposition gears up for confrontational Parliament session, to push debates on SIR lapses, BLO fatalities and Delhi smog crisis

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, Politics, TrendingParliament

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): As Parliament readies to open its latest session on Monday, signs already point toward a volatile week ahead, with Opposition parties preparing to challenge the government on multiple fronts — from alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls to the deteriorating air quality choking the national capital. The Congress and Aam Aadmi Party have submitted fresh adjournment notices, demanding that the House set aside routine business to take up what they describe as urgent matters of public interest. Central to their protest is the reported distress among Booth Level Officers (BLOs) deployed…

08 Nov

Winter Session of Parliament from Dec 1 to 19: Shortest Sitting Planned in Years

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, Politics, TrendingParliament

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): The Winter Session of Parliament will be held from December 1 to December 19, lasting just 15 working days, making it one of the briefest sessions in recent memory. The announcement was made by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, who said on X that President Droupadi Murmu has approved the schedule. Rijiju expressed hope for a “constructive and meaningful” session that advances the people’s interests and upholds democratic values. This session will convene two weeks after the Bihar Assembly election results are declared on November 14, and is expected to be politically charged. The Opposition, led…

21 Aug

Lok Sabha Adjourns Sine Die, Let’s Look At The Key Bills Passed in The Monsoon Session

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaLok Sabha, Monsoon Session 2025, Om Birla, Parliament, sine die

New Delhi, August 21, 2025: The Monsoon Session of Parliament ended on Thursday with the Lok Sabha being adjourned sine die by Speaker Om Birla. The session, which began on July 21, witnessed frequent protests and disruptions, limiting effective debate to just 37 hours. Despite the chaos, the House managed to pass 12 significant legislations.Among the major bills was the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2025, which seeks to update maritime laws in line with international standards, focusing on safety and environmental protection. The Indian Ports Bill, 2025 was also cleared, replacing the colonial-era framework with a modern law on port governance.Other…