Rajya Sabha Archives - National Times

12 Aug

India Ranked Sixth-Largest Global Economy with $3.92-Trillion GDP for 2025–26

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaEconomic Growth, IMF ranking, India economy, nominal GDP, Pankaj Chaudhary, Rajya Sabha

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): India has been ranked as the world's sixth-largest economy, registering a nominal gross domestic product of $3.92 trillion for the 2025–26 financial year. The data, cited by the Union government from the International Monetary Fund's April 2026 World Economic Outlook, was presented to Parliament by Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary in a written submission to the Rajya Sabha. The latest figures place Japan and the United Kingdom ahead of India, shifting the country from its previously reported fourth position to sixth in global economic standings. Addressing the parliamentary inquiry, Chaudhary explained that the rankings…

24 Jul

Ravneet Singh Bittu Resigns From Union Cabinet Following Completion of Rajya Sabha Term

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabCouncil Ministers, Rajya Sabha, Ravneet Bittu, Resignation, Union Minister

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): President Droupadi Murmu has accepted the resignation of Ravneet Singh Bittu from the Union Council of Ministers with immediate effect, acting on the recommendation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi under Clause (2) of Article 75 of the Constitution. An official government communique confirmed the departure of the leader, who served as the Minister of State in the Ministries of Railways and Food Processing Industries. The official step follows the conclusion of Bittu’s term as a Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament representing Rajasthan in June. Inducted into the central ministry in June 2024, the three-time former Lok…

20 Jul

Government Pauses Plans to Raise Ethanol Blending Beyond 20 Per Cent, Citing Scientific Analysis

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiabiofuel policy, carbon emissions, ethanol blending, petrol infrastructure, Rajya Sabha, Suresh Gopi

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): The central government has not yet taken any decision to increase ethanol blending in petrol past the existing 20 per cent cap, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi informed the Rajya Sabha on Monday. In a written submission, the minister clarified that any prospective expansion of the blending threshold would only be enacted following detailed scientific and technical evaluations alongside extensive consultations with automotive manufacturers, oil marketing companies, and research institutions. India achieved its benchmark 20 per cent blending goal five years ahead of its original target timeline, with average blending expanding…

05 May

Arvind Kejriwal Asserts Strong Pro-Incumbency in Punjab and Vows to Halt BJP Victory Streak

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAAP, Arvind Kejriwal, Bhagwant Mann, BJP, Infrastructure, Pro-incumbency, Punjab government, Rajya Sabha

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): At a meeting with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs from Punjab at Kapurthala House in Delhi alongside Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, Party's National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal asserted that Punjab is witnessing pro-incumbency even after four years in government. He asserted that the CM Bhagwant Singh Mann-led government is drawing widespread public support. The AAP Chief also launched a sharp attack on the BJP over vote deletion and addition, “stolen” Rajya Sabha seats, and denial of Punjab’s rightful dues. Addressing the AAP MLAs from Punjab who reached Kapurthala House after submitting a memorandum to the President,…

05 May

Punjab Chief Minister Takes Fight Against MP Defections to Rashtrapati Bhavan; Calls Defectors ‘Punjab de Gaddar’

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAAP, Bhagwant Mann, BJP, Constitution, Defection, Political crisis, President Murmu, Punjab, Rajya Sabha, Recall law

New Delhi/Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday took the battle over defections in Punjab to the highest constitutional office, meeting the President and demanding immediate cancellation of the membership of “Punjab de Gaddar” (defectors) Rajya Sabha MPs. Leading a unified show of strength, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann arrived in Delhi along with MLAs from Punjab and submitted a signed memorandum at Rashtrapati Bhavan, asserting that the dramatic rise in the BJP’s Rajya Sabha numbers despite having just two MLAs in Punjab represents a blatant distortion of the democratic mandate. Calling the seven MPs “not elected…

07 Mar

Nishant Kumar to Join JD(U) and Ascend to Deputy CM Role; Nitish Kumar Pivots to Rajya Sabha

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaBihar Deputy CM, JD(U), Nishant Kumar, Nitish Kumar, Rajya Sabha, Succession Plan

Patna (Gurpreet Singh) — In a move that cements a total generational shift in Bihar’s governance, Nishant Kumar, the son of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, is set to formally join the Janata Dal (United) on Sunday and is slated to be appointed as the state’s Deputy Chief Minister. According to close aides of the Chief Minister, the decision has already been finalized to induct Nishant into the Bihar Legislative Council (MLC) and subsequently elevate him to the high-ranking executive post. This development follows only two days after Nitish Kumar filed his nomination papers for the March 16 Rajya Sabha elections,…

21 Aug

Zupee Pulls Plug on Real Money Games as Online Gaming Bill Gets Parliament Nod

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusinessAshwini Vaishnaw, Online Gaming Bill 2025, Rajya Sabha, real money gaming ban, Zupee

New Delhi, August 21 – Popular skill-based gaming platform Zupee has announced it will discontinue its real money gaming services following the passage of the Online Gaming Bill 2025 in both Houses of Parliament.A Zupee spokesperson confirmed that while paid offerings will be phased out, its free games, including Ludo Supreme, Ludo Turbo, Snakes & Ladders, and Trump Card Mania, will remain available to over 150 million users across India. “We remain committed to delivering fun, engaging, and responsible gaming and entertainment experiences for free,” the spokesperson said.The Rajya Sabha passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill on…

30 Jul

Operation Mahadev Aimed to Deliver Justice, Not Revenge: Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaAmit Shah, CRPF, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Operation Mahadev, Operation Sindoor, Pahalgam terror attack, Rajya Sabha

New Delhi, July 30, 2025 — Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, declaring that Operation Mahadev was a decisive and deliberate act of justice in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, not an act of revenge. Speaking during the debate on Operation Sindoor, Shah said that the three terrorists killed in Operation Mahadev were members of the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, and their identities were confirmed during the investigation. He emphasized that the brutality of the Pahalgam incident where victims were asked their religion before being murdered in front of women and children demanded strong…

23 Jul

Parliament Set for 16-Hour Debate on Pahalgam Terror Attack and Operation Sindoor Next Week

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, PoliticsLok Sabha, Operation Sindoor, Pahalgam terror attack, Parliament debate, PM Modi, Rajya Sabha

New Delhi, July 25, 2025 — The Indian Parliament is preparing for a 16-hour-long debate in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha next week on the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent Operation Sindoor. This follows mounting pressure from the Opposition, which has demanded a clear response from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the matter.The Lok Sabha is scheduled to begin the discussion on July 28, followed by the Rajya Sabha on July 29, provided that the sessions proceed without disruptions. The decision comes after meetings of the Business Advisory Committees (BAC) of both Houses, where the government agreed to…

01 Jul

Sanjeev Arora Resigns from Rajya Sabha Following Election as Ludhiana West MLA

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabLudhiana, MP Sanjeev Arora, Rajya Sabha

Steps Down in Adherence to Constitutional Provisions 7 days before last date.Ludhiana, July 1, 2025: MP Sanjeev Arora has officially resigned from the Rajya Sabha following his recent victory in the Ludhiana West Assembly by-election. Arora personally met the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Jagdeep Dhankhar, Vice President of India at Vice President's enclave in New Delhi today to hand over his resignation letter. He cited constitutional provisions that prohibit simultaneous membership in both Parliament and a State Legislature after 14 days of Gazette Notification dated which is 24th of June, 2025 regarding election results.Arora, who served in the Upper…