Parliament Diary

Three Bills that replace Ordinances currently in force were introduced in Lok Sabha today. 

These include:

The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2019

• The Bill amends the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004 
   
• The Act provides for reservation in appointment and admission in state institutions to SCs, STs, and OBCs. 
   
• It includes persons residing in areas adjoining the international border within the ambit of reservation.  

The Bill replaces the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019. The Ordinance summary can be read here. 

The Aadhar and other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019

• The Bill amends the Aadhar Act, 2016, the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.
   
• The Bill allows for 'offline verification' of an individual's identity. 
   
• An individual may voluntarily use their Aadhaar number to establish their identity for telecom and bank related KYC. 

The Bill replaces the Aadhar and other Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019. The Ordinance summary can be read here. 

The Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Bill, 2019 

• The Bill amends the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005. 
   
• The Act provides for the establishment, development, and management of Special Economic Zones for the promotion of exports.
   
• The Bill amends the Act to include two more categories to the definition of a 'person' by including a trust, or any other entity which may be notified by the central government.

The Bill replaces the Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019. The Ordinance summary can be read here. 

In both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, discussion on Motion of Thanks to the President's Address continued. Highlights from the President's Address, 2019 can be read here. During the discussion, members raised several points such as institutional autonomy, increasing women political representation, working of key schemes, water crises, agricultural growth among others. 

We have produced a short video explaining the role of our elected representatives in Parliament with the start of a new Lok Sabha. We discuss the importance of our MP's role in shaping national thinking on important issues. You can watch this video here on our YouTube channel.