Page 12 - Lok Sabha

Parliamentary panel to submit report on India's Covid response in LS today

Panel's chairman and BJP MP PP Chaudhary will lay the report on the table of the House

Centre to include private sector in boosting nuclear power capacity: Report

The NITI Aayog will come up with guidelines and regulations for new small modular nuclear reactors keeping in mind the safety standards and the impact on local communities

Delhi, Mumbai among 50 towns to have 5G services: Devusinh Chauhan

Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru are among 50 towns across 14 states where 5G services have started, minister of state for telecommunications Devusinh Chauhan informed Parliament on Wednesday. According to the information shared by Chauhan in Lok Sabha, Gujarat has 5G services available across all districts. "Telecom service providers have started providing 5G services in the country from October 1, 2022 onwards and as of November 26, 2022, 5G services have started in 50 towns distributed over 14 states and Union Territories," Chauhan said. In reply to a separate question on internet connectivity in villages, Chauhan said that as per data provided from the telecom operators, out of 6,44,131 villages, around 6,05,230 villages are having mobile internet connectivity in the country and 38,901 villages are not having mobile internet connectivity as of March 2022. In reply to a question on mobile coverage in tribal area, the minister said out of 1,20,613 villages with more than 25 p

Rahul Gandhi will contest 2024 LS polls from Amethi, claims Ajay Rai

Rahul Gandhi would contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections again from Amethi with which the Nehru-Gandhi family has old ties, Uttar Pradesh Congress leader Ajay Rai claimed on Wednesday. Rai, the regional head of the party in UP, also said that it is his appeal to the people of Amethi to send Rahul Gandhi to Delhi by electing him as an MP again with a huge margin. "The Gandhi-Nehru family has old relations with Amethi...no one can weaken it. Rahul Gandhi will contest from Amethi in 2024," Rai told reporters here. There has been no word from the party so far on the former Congress president fighting the next parliamentary elections again from Amethi. Rahul Gandhi, who had won the Amethi parliamentary seat for three times in a row, was defeated by BJP leader and Union minister Smriti Irani in 2019 elections. He is currently representing Kerala's Wayanad constituency in Lok Sabha. Rahul Gandhi's parents Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi had won from Amethi in the past. Speaking about the

Govt will further bring down inflation: FM Sitharaman in Lok Sabha

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday assured the Lok Sabha that the government will take measures to further ease inflation, which has dipped below the RBI's upper tolerance level of 6 per cent. Retail inflation has moderated to an 11-month low of 5.8 per cent in November from 6.77 per cent in the previous month. "We will bring down further for the sake of common people," she said while replying to a discussion on the first batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants 2022-23 in the Lok Sabha. The government is constantly watching the price situation of essential commodities, she said. The finance minister made it clear that there is no fear of stagflation as India is one of the fastest-growing economies with low inflation levels. With regard to fiscal deficit, the finance minister said the government would be able to meet the fiscal deficit target of 6.4 per cent of the GDP for the current financial year. The government is committed to the path of fiscal consolidation,

CBI has a sanctioned strength of 7,295 but 1,673 posts vacant: Govt

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. The number keeps on varying depending on the induction, promotion, retirement and repatriation of the officers, the minister said. Proactive efforts are made to ensure filling up of vacancies at all ranks expeditiously, he said. "CBI requests various organisations, including public sector banks, Ministry of Home Affairs for sponsoring names for the posts of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and Inspector on deputation in CBI," Singh said. All central police organisations (CPOs)/state police/banks e

1,472 posts of IAS, 864 for IPS officers vacant: Centre in Lok Sabha

There is a vacancy of 1,472 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers, 864 Indian Police Service (IPS) officers and 1,057 Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers, the Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday. The sanctioned strength of IAS officers was 6,789, 4,984 of IPS officers and 3,191 for IFS officers as on January 1, 2022, Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said in a written reply. Of these, 5,317 IAS officers, 4,120 IPS officers and 2,134 IFS officers, respectively, were in position, he said. "Occurrence and filling up of vacancies is a continuous process. It is the endeavour of the central government to fill up vacant posts expeditiously. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts examinations for filling up of vacancies on direct recruitment basis in IAS, IPS and IFS every year," the minister said. The government has increased the annual intake of IAS officers to 180 through civil services examination (CSE) till CSE-2021, he said. Further, a committ

Competition (Amendment) Bill: Panel wants annual review of deal valuations

Proposed Settlement and commitment mechanism

Over a billion unclaimed shares in IEPF, shows Lok Sabha data

Less than 2% of such shares with IEPF make their way back to investors, shows data before Lok Sabha

BJP President Nadda to prepare roadmap for 2024 Lok Sabha elections

Bhartiya Janta Party National President J.P. Nadda will constitute a committee to prepare a road map for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

2,639 govt jobs, 6,000 transit accommodation for Kashmiri migrants: MoS

As many as 2,639 government jobs have been provided to Kashmiri migrants under Prime Minister's Development Package (PMDP), 2015, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said in Lok Sabha. He also said the government has approved construction of 6,000 transit accommodation for Kashmiri migrant employees engaged or to be engaged in different departments of government of Jammu and Kashmir in the valley. "2,639 government jobs have been provided to Kashmiri migrants under Prime Minister's Development Package (PMDP), 2015," he said in a written reply. Further, the minister said the government of Jammu and Kashmir has launched a portal on September 7, 2021 to address the grievances of Kashmiri migrants. The government of India reimburses the expenditure incurred by the government of Jammu and Kashmir on providing the following facilities to the eligible Kashmiri migrants settled in Jammu, he said.

MHA denies considering proposal to bring caste terrorism under NIA purview

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday made it clear in the Lok Sabha that there was "no proposal" under its consideration for bringing crimes of caste terrorism under the purview of NIA

1.6 mn cybercrime incidents reported since 2020; over 32,000 FIRs: Govt

Over 16 lakh cybercrime incidents have been reported in the country in the last three years following which more than 32,000 FIRs were registered, Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday. Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal' (www.cybercrime.gov.in) allows easy reporting of all types of cyber crimes and the incidents reported on this portal are routed automatically to the respective State and UT law enforcement agency for further handling as per the provisions of law. "As per the data maintained, more than 16 lakh cybercrime incidents have been reported and more than 32,000 FIRs have been registered from January 1, 2020, to December 7, 2022," he said replying to a written question. The minister said, the 'Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System' has been launched for immediate reporting of financial frauds and to stop siphoning off funds by fraudsters. So far, financial fraud transactions amounting to more th

Lok Sabha pays tributes to victims of 2001 terror attack on Parliament

Lok Sabha on Tuesday paid glowing tributes to those who laid down their lives while foiling a terror attack on Parliament 21 years ago. As soon as the house assembled, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said it was a sad day for the country as terrorists carried out a cowardly attack on Parliament. He said that the whole nation stands behind the family of those killed in the terrorist attack and the country stands solidly against any form of terrorism. The members of the house also stood in silence for some moments in memory of the victims. On December 13, 2001, terrorists attacked the Parliament complex and opened fire, killing nine people. The attack victims included five Delhi police personnel, a woman Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) trooper, two Parliament watch and ward staff and a gardener. A journalist who was injured died later. All five terrorists were shot dead.

No Indian soldier seriously injured in Arunachal faceoff: Rajnath in LS

The Indian Army bravely prevented the Chinese PLA's attempts to unilaterally change the status in the Yangtse area of Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang sector on December 9 and confronted it with firmness, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday. In a statement in Lok Sabha, Singh said no Indian soldiers has died, nor has anyone been seriously injured in the faceoff. "The Indian Army bravely prevented the PLA from encroaching on our territory, and forced them to withdraw to their posts. Some soldiers from both sides were injured in the skirmish," the defence minister said. "I would like to assure this House that our forces are fully committed to safeguard our territorial integrity, and are always ready to prevent any attempt against it," he said. The chinese side was asked to refrain from such actions and maintain peace and tranquillity along the border. The issue has also been taken up with the Chinese side through diplomatic channels, Singh said. "I am confident that this entire

FM Sitharaman to introduce Appropriation Bills in Parliament today

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will introduce the Appropriation Bills 2022 in the Lok Sabha to seek nod for the payment and appropriation of amounts from the Consolidated Funds of India

GST claims of states to be cleared moment AG certificate is received: FM

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said GST claims of state governments will be cleared once she gets relevant papers along with a certificate from their respective accountant generals. She also said in Lok Sabha that the central government is committed to pay all Goods and Services Tax (GST) compensation to states and has been doing so continuously for the last five years. The respective accountant general (AG) has to provide a certificate that the particular state has to get this much of compensation, the finance minister said. "If there is a delay in the AG certified claim from states, obviously that (GST compensation) is pending. So, when the AG certificate along with the state's claim comes, at that moment the money will also get released," she said during the Question Hour. From the central government's side, it is up to date, and whatever money it gets as cess, is distributed among states, Sitharaman said. "We are up to date on all claims that came from sta

No shortage of teachers, principals in Kendriya Vidyalayas: Education Min

There is no shortage of principals and teachers in Kendriya Vidyalayas across the country, Lok Sabha was informed Monday. The Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), an autonomous body which operates KVs across the country, has carried out a rationalization exercise for ensuring availability of adequate number of regular teachers in the school, according to Ministry of Education. The information was shared by Union Minister of State for Education, Annapurna Devi, in a written reply in Lok Sabha. "There is no such shortage of principals and teachers as teachers are regularly engaged on contractual basis pending regular recruitment, for which advertisement has been issued recently. Also, KVS has carried out a rationalisation exercise for ensuring availability of adequate number of regular teachers in the school," she said. Responding to a question about whether there was no scheme for career progression or a transfer policy leading to many spending five to seven years at far-flung ...

Never refer to anyone's caste and religion in House: warns LS speaker

Om Birla warned members against referring to anyone's caste and religion in the House after a Congress MP alleged that FM Nirmala Sitharaman made certain remarks about his proficiency in Hindi

Samajwadi Party leader Dimple Yadav takes oath as Lok Sabha member

Samajwadi Party leader Dimple Yadav, who was elected to Lok Sabha from Uttar Pradesh, on Monday took oath as a member of the House. After taking oath, Yadav touched the feet of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, who was sitting in the front row of the opposition benches. Yadav greeted leaders of both opposition and treasury benches while going to take oath as well as after taking it. She took oath in Hindi. Her husband and Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav was seen sitting in the visitors' gallery. Yadav won the Mainpuri Lok Sabha seat in a recently held by-election that was necessitated following the death of her father-in-law and SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav.