Rajya Sabha has passed the Constitution (126th Amendment) Bill, 2019 which seeks to extend the reservation for SCs & STs in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies by another 10 years till January 25, 2030.

The House also passed the Constitution (scheduled tribes) Order (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019 through a voice vote. The legislation specifies the tribal communities which are deemed to be included in the Scheduled Tribes list.

The House also passed International Financial Services Centres Authority Bill, 2019. It seeks to set up a single authority to regulate the financial services market in the International Financial Services Centres in India set up under the SEZ Act, 2005. The Bill has already been cleared by the Lok Sabha.

The Rajya Sabha has returned the Appropriation (No. 3) Bill, 2019, which seeks to authorise appropriation of funds from the Consolidated Fund of India for the services of the financial year 2019-20, to the Lok Sabha.

The Lok Sabha passed the Central Sanskrit Universities Bill, 2019, which aims to convert three existing Sanskrit deemed universities in the country into Central universities.

Today is the penultimate day of the winter session.

Here are the live updates from today's session:

Rajya Sabha | 9.00 p.m.

Rajya Sabha is adjourned till December 13, 2019.

Rajya Sabha | 8.40 p.m.

The Rajya Sabha accepts the Appropriation (No. 3) Bill, 2019, which seeks to authorise appropriation of funds from the Consolidated Fund of India for the services of the financial year 2019-20, and returns it to the Lok Sabha.

A money bill, after being passed by the Lok Sabha is sent to the Rajya Sabha for its recommendations. It has to be returned to the lower house within a period of 14 days, with or without its recommendations.

The House is now taking up special mentions.

8.20 p.m.

We will honour our commitment and pay the GST dues to the States, says Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Rajya Sabha.

Jairam Ramesh counters her and says that the dues have not been paid since August and Ms. Sitharaman should honour it.

Lok Sabha is adjourned till December 13, 2019.

Lok Sabha | 7.50 p.m.

Lok Sabha passes the Central Sanskrit Universities Bill, 2019.

Rajya Sabha | 7.45 p.m.

Manish Gupta of the AITC says that government borrowings have increased alarmingly. Already a lot has been spent on recapitalisation of banks, which are reluctant to lend further due to previous NPAs and other risks.

Lok Sabha | 7.30 p.m

Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank', Union Minister of Human Resource Development says that the path to a new India is through this Bill. These Central Sanskrit universities are being set up so that the 'granthas' within the Sanskrit language can be explored.

The Centre will take steps to consolidate all languages, he says.

Rajya Sabha | 7.20 p.m.

The Rajya Sabha passes the International Financial Services Centres Authority Bill, 2019.

It is now discussing the Appropriation (No. 3) Bill, 2019, which seeks to authorise appropriation of funds from the Consolidated Fund of India for the services of the financial year 2019-20.

Rajya Sabha | 7.00 p.m.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says that the Bill provides for setting up of a single regulatory body for financial products approved by other regulators.

As a result, some sections of the acts governed by the SEBI Act, Pension Regulatory Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India, and the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority will be amended, she says.

The CAG will audit the International Financial Services Centres Authority, she adds.

Rajya Sabha | 6.45 p.m.

Jairam Ramesh of the Congress party says that we have only one international financial services centre right now that is going to be regulated. The Bill is needed for a much-wanted project in Gujarat - GIFT - a centre planned by the then-CM in 2005 to create a Singapore-like city on the Sabarmati front under the SEZ Act, he adds.

The Bill is meant to regulate the GIFT city. However, after 9 years of existence, out of 62 million square feet, less than 3 million square feet of commercial property has been developed. Hence the project has seen abysmal progress and has created a ripple effect in India's NBFC sector, Mr. Ramesh adds.

Hence this Bill will be a 'gift to the GIFT project', he adds.

Rajya Sabha | 6.40 p.m.

Rajya Sabha passes the Constitution (scheduled tribes) Order (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019 through a voice vote.

The House is now taking up International Financial Services Centres Authority Bill, 2019 for consideration and passing.

Rajya Sabha | 6.30 p.m.

Renuka Singh Saruta, Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, says that the Centre has received proposals from 21 States to include some tribal communities in the Scheduled list.

But the Centre has to take into consideration several criteria like their economic and social situation, geographical bounds, etc, she says.

The House is now taking up clause by clause consideration of the Bill.

Rajya Sabha | 6.20 p.m.

Binoy Viswam of the CPI says that across India, tribal lands have been snatched away either by the government or land mafia. Kerala is also affected by this. The Forest Rights Act, brought in by the UPA-1 government with the Left's support is also being diluted in many places, even by way of legal orders, he says.

The Chair interrupts Mr. Viswam and he ends his speech.

Lok Sabha | 6.20 p.m.

Ganesh Singh of the BJP says that the Sanskrit language gave us knowledge of traditions and the alphabet. The country will progress only when the language is preserved, he adds.

Lok Sabha | 6.00 p.m.

Arvind Ganpat Sawant of the Shiv Sena in his support for the Central Sanskrit Universities Bill says that whoever learns Sanskrit will be able to learn other languages too.

The House unanimously decided to extend the session till the passing of the Bill.

Rajya Sabha | 5.40 p.m.

The Constitution (scheduled tribes) Order (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019 is taken up for consideration and passing.

Rajya Sabha | 5.20 p.m.

Vice President Venkaiah Naidu says if we take up the Constitution Amendment, it needs atleast 2/3rd of the votes. "I appeal to all members to join and take part in the voting and see that the House takes up the issue as per the expectation of the people. If any unparliamentary is there, it will be removed from the records."

Ghulam Nabi Azad, Leader of Opposition says there is no disrespect to the House. "We get hurt sometimes. There has to be mutual respect. Respect begets respect. While we fully go by the direction of the Chair, we also expect some respect from the Chair. We were humble and we created institutions. My submission to the govt would be, you can't compete with the Opposition."

Mr. Naidu says everyone has a good experience and members should play their role in a responsible way.

The Bill is put to vote.

Desh Deepak Verma, Secretary General explains the voting procedure and then begins the voting.

Clause by clause voting taken up by the House.

Result: There were 163 ayes and 0 noes and 0 abstains for all clauses.

The Constitution (126th Amendment) Bill, 2019 is passed.

The Bill seeks to extend the reservation for SCs & STs in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies by another 10 years till January 25, 2030.

"I am disappointed that more than 80 members are not present in the House," says the Chair.

Lok Sabha | 5.00 p.m.

Beesetti Venkata Satyavathi (YSRCP) bats for Sanskrit to be included in research, computer science, mathematics and social sciences.

Rajya Sabha | 4.45 p.m.

The Constitution (126th Amendment) Bill, 2019 seeks to extend the reservation for SCs & STs in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies by another 10 years till January 25, 2030.

Ghulam Nabi Azad, Leader of Opposition says political empowerment is necessary for all communities and religion. "I seek the reservation for Anglo-Indians to be taken up in Lok Sabha and Assembly. Anglo-Indians are the ones who have worked on empowerment for women. Atleast 33% reservation is needed."

Thaawarchand Gehlot, Leader of the House says that the citizens will know what the govt has done for SC/STs.

Lok Sabha | 4.00 p.m.

Om Birla is in Chair.

Members list their grievances and questions on crop losses from their respective states.

Ramesh Pokhriyal, Human Resource Development Minister says let this bill be passed and make India better.

Rajya Sabha | 3.30 p.m.

K.K. Ragesh of CPI(M) says he should be supporting The Constitution (126th amendment) Bill, 2019 since it helps SC/ST. But he wants to oppose for the fact that it doesn't help Anglo-Indians.

P. Wilson (DMK) mentions that yesterday, a bill was against Muslims and today, this bill is against Christians.

V. Vijaysai Reddy (YSRCP) says that even after 70 years, there is no perceptible change in the status of SC/ST. "It is due to the party that has ruled this country for 50 years. The Congress party has not done anything for SCs and STs. I hope that the present govt would achieve this goal."

Lok Sabha | 3.20 p.m.

Stake in Air India

The government has decided to sell its entire 100% stake in Air India under the proposed disinvestment process, Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri said.

The national carrier, which has a debt burden of more than 50,000 crore, has been making loss for long and as part of revival efforts, the government has decided on disinvestment.

After formation of the new government, Air India Specific Alternative Mechanism (AISAM) has been reconstituted and the re-initiation of the strategic disinvestment of Air India has been approved.

AISAM has approved the 100 per cent sale of Government of India stake in Air India for the re-initiated strategic disinvestment of Air India, the Minister of State for Civil Aviation said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

Air Indias net loss in 2018-19 is provisionally estimated to be 8,556.35 crore.

The minister said various measures, including enabling swift transition of Jet Airways aircraft to other airlines, have been taken to improve the aviation sector.

Full service carrier Jet Airways shuttered operations in April due to cash crunch.

Airports Authority of India (AAI) has embarked upon a capital investment of over 25,000 crore in next five years for development/ upgradation/ modernisation of various airports and air navigation infrastructure, Mr. Puri said. - PTI

Rajya Sabha | 3.20 p.m.

Policies on non-personal data

A committee of experts has been constituted to study and recommend policies on non-personal data, Parliament was informed on Thursday.

In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Electronics and IT Sanjay Dhotre said it was decided that a committee of experts will be constituted under the chairmanship of Infosys co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan to deliberate on a Data Governance Framework and recommend measures...

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Parliament proceedings | LS passes bill to bring 3 Sanskrit universities under the Centre - The Hindu