Parliament Winter Session HIGHLIGHTS: Three redrafted bills to replace existing criminal laws introduced

The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed a bill to regulate the appointment and service terms of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners. The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023, was passed in the Upper House of Parliament with a voice vote.

The government on Tuesday defended its decision to impose export ban on onion, stating that sometimes Indian consumers should get the priority to get essential goods at appropriate prices. She was responding to a question flagged by NCP leader Supriya Sule during the discussion on supplementary demands for grants in the Lok Sabha. India on December 8 banned exports of onion till March next year to increase domestic availability and keep prices in check, which is currently selling at about Rs 60 per kg.

TMC leader Mahua Moitra may soon be asked to vacate her official residence as the Lok Sabha House Committee is learnt to have informed the urban affairs ministry of her expulsion from the Lower House of Parliament. The housing and urban affairs ministry is learnt to have initiated the process to get her Telagraph Lane house vacated, sources said.

The Centre on Tuesday said no GST dues of any state are pending before it and that some state governments have not submitted AG's authenticated certificate for release of their share of funds. The narrative that GST dues are pending from the Centre is not correct and is a "misnomer" as states have not submitted AG's report, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said replying to a supplementary question in Rajya Sabha. "It is important to understand that if the AG's (accountant general) certification is (mandatory)...If the AG's certificate does not reach us, we can not clear," she said.

Lok Sabha has taken up discussion on Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Second Amendment) Bill, 2023 and Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the discussion on the bill will take place on December 14 and reply to the debate to be held on December 15.

Union Minister Giriraj Singh hit out at Rahul Gandhi over his jibe on Amit Shah and said that it seem that the Congress leader has "studied history written by Mountbatten".

The Lok Sabha on Tuesday cleared a net additional spending of Rs 58,378 crore in the current fiscal ending March 2024, with a large chunk going towards MGNREGA and subsidy on fertiliser. The gross additional spending sought by the government was over Rs 1.29 lakh crore, of which Rs 70,968 crore would be matched by savings and receipts.

National Conference Chief Farooq Abdullah attacked the Centre over Article 370 abrogation and accused the government of betraying people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Congress MP Manish Tewari has proposed an adjournment Motion in Lok Sabha to address the plight of Navy Personnel stranded in Qatar during the winter parliament session.

In response to DMK MP M Mohamed Abdulla's recent comments on Article 370 in the Rajya Sabha, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi firmly disapproves, stating, "I absolutely do not agree with it. Self-determination on the basis of race is wrong thinking and it (the statement) was expunged." The remarks from Chaturvedi highlight a divergence of views on this contentious issue within the political sphere.

Congress Member of Parliament, Gaurav Gogoi, has submitted an adjournment motion notice in the Lok Sabha. The motion aims to initiate a crucial discussion on the recent spate of train accidents and their consequential impact on the nation's transportation system.

Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal is set to present the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023 in the Rajya Sabha today. The bill aims to regulate the appointment, conditions of service, and term of office for the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners. Additionally, it addresses the procedural aspects governing the transaction of business by the Election Commission, marking a pivotal moment in electoral governance.

In a strategic move, the government is gearing up to present two bills in Parliament on Tuesday, aiming to secure a 33% reservation for women in the legislative assemblies of Union Territories, specifically Jammu and Kashmir and Puducherry, according to reliable sources.

The legislative initiative follows the Parliament's endorsement of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam in September, paving the way for one-third reservation for women in both Lok Sabha and Assemblies. However, the effective implementation of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam hinges on a delimitation exercise scheduled for 2029.

The proposed bills, anticipated for introduction on Tuesday, will address the representation of women in the assemblies of Union Territories. Puducherry, with its 30 assembly constituencies, and the newly delineated Jammu and Kashmir assembly, boasting a total of 114 seats, will see 33% of these seats reserved for women, marking a significant stride toward gender inclusivity in political representation.