Parliament Diary

Six bills were introduced in Parliament today. The Insurance (Amendment) Bill, 2021 raises the FDI limit in Indian insurance companies from 49% to 74%. The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment Bill, 2021 mainly empowers the DM to authorize adoption orders to address delays in the process. This is currently being done by the courts. 

The other bills introduced are the Government of NCT of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021, the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2021, the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (Amendment) Bill, 2021, and the Marine Aids to Navigation Bill, 2021.

In Rajya Sabha, the National Institutes of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management Bill, 2019 was passed. The bill declares two institutes of food technology, entrepreneurship, and management as institutions of national importance.

Earlier in the day, the Home Affairs Committee also submitted its report today on “Atrocities and Crimes against women and children”. The Committee noted a sudden spurt in domestic violence and trafficking of women and children during the COVID-19 pandemic due to disruption in economic activities, work from home and family spending more time at home during the lockdown. One of the Committee’s recommendations is for steps to be taken under both rural and urban employment guarantee schemes focusing particularly on poor women so that cash transfers through DBT in their names can continue for a longer time. 

The discussion on the Demands for Grants of the Ministry of Railways was taking place in Lok Sabha at the time of sending this email. In Rajya Sabha, the discussion on the working of the Ministry of Jal Shakti was underway.